Birds, Flowers and Crafts

Friday Night Out ...

2011-10-23T18:21:00.002-04:00

and worth every penny. It is a wonderful feeling to sit in a auditorium full of people that are all laughing at the same time. I enjoyed hearing everyone's laughter as much as I enjoyed hearing Sedaris reading excerpts from new stories.

A Day in New Hampshire ...

2011-10-10T22:33:00.000-04:00

We have been in our home for 7 years and in all that time we rarely venture out to just explore our surroundings. On weekends we always have a destination and a tight time frame. So this weekend we decided to take time and explore New Hampshire. We just 'followed our noses' and I am so glad we did. This whole area, Northern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire is very beautiful; horse and apple farms, pumpkins and mountain views.

We found this beautiful lake just 20 minutes from home. The water was amazingly clear and reflective and with the leaves beginning their change, it held us captive.

Do you see the little fish in this picture? Look in the upper left hand corner.

The water was chilly but very comfy after a minute or so.

Then we stopped for a late lunch/early dinner - Parker's is a Sugar House, Restaurant and Gift Shop all in one. My kind of place ! and it has the very best homemade turkey dinners.

See you all later.

Hypertufa Planter ...

2011-10-08T18:42:00.000-04:00

Has anyone tried making a hypertufa planter or trough? I just unmolded my first attempt and frankly I feel a bit proud. Mixing the cement, peat moss and perlite is a bit tiring but it was fun too. I especially like the cost compared with buying something manufactured for retail sale. I'll also wait for warmer weather as playing with water in the fall is chilly.

On my 'To Do' list for the winter will be finding more items to use as molds. In the pictures below I used a plastic desk bin about 8' X 12' and 6 inches deep. I love the way the mixture poked through the holes in the basket.

If you 've made something from hypertufa I'd love to see it. If you want to try it for yourself just google hypertufa to find many great resources.

Ch Ch Ch Changes ...

2011-10-08T02:22:00.001-04:00

It is cold, 34 F ... oh wait, that was yesterday. Today it is close to 80 F. Did anyone else feel that the summer just flew by. Here are a few pictures of the action around here.

Pastel Paintings...

2011-06-17T15:09:00.001-04:00

I take a class in pastel painting with the lovely Joelle Feldman. You can learn more about her, view her wonderful work and see the work of some of my classmates here.

Over the next few weeks I will post some of the other paintings I have completed. The one below is part of a series of spring flowers.

This is also a good time to finally join in Creative Every Day 2011. Um - yup halfway through June and here is my first post in 2011. :-)

An Orange Spring...

2011-06-17T14:50:00.001-04:00

Summer is almost here. Our spring in the Northeast has been beautiful but rainy. Most of the plants love the extra water and when the sun comes out they really sparkle. Last year I planted alot of orange flowers and they really look great this year. Here are a few of my favorites along with two of the five orioles that spent the spring with us.

Lovely Spring...

2011-04-16T21:57:00.000-04:00

Enjoy

Am I Wrong...

2011-04-16T14:53:00.001-04:00

We are working on the walls in our living room. There are two layers of wallpaper topped by the most horrendous layer of plaster I have ever seen. I have no issue with textured walls, but our walls are lumpy, bumpy and well - just awful.

This is what it looks like after removing the plaster layer and revealing different stages of the wall paper. Would it be wrong to just leave it like this? I won't, but still...I like it ! What do you think?

April 1 ... not at all funny

2011-04-01T13:30:00.003-04:00

If only it was an April Fool's Joke. This has to be the last of the snow for this season. After all, it is spring isn't it?

But, I have to be honest - it is beautiful. I am really looking forward to the warm/hot air and the garden this year, but when it is time for the snow to return I will be ready and welcome it back.

Last weekend I was going to cut the stems on my butterfly bush but there had been rumors of snow, so I held off. Maybe this weekend.

We ALL do it...

2011-03-24T22:18:00.002-04:00

We all have blogs we follow that completely fascinate us. Whether it is the writing, the art, the pictures - checking in on those special blogs are a routine. For me, Stephanie Lee's 'Semiprecious Salvage' is one of those blogs. I mean, how could anyone resist checking in on a blog that includes writing about children, homelife, cooking and ART! I had seriously considered taking her 'Homesteader's Metalsmithing eCourse' but it didn't work out.

So I was delighted to discover Stephanie Lee was teaching Metal Magic in person at the ArtBliss Workshops in Sterling Va. Not exactly down the street from me but close enough! So off I went. My first class involved making a book with metal covers. The supply list was amazing: lace, buttons, ribbons, plaster gauze and - - - metal, micro torches, solder, flux, hammers, files. The pages in the book are plaster! Just amazing!

Here are just a few scenes of the the work areas of my fellow students and my book from the Handbook of Elements class.

Enjoy ! If you have the opportunity to join Stephanie in one of her classes, go for it. She is warm, friendly, witty and great fun.

What To Do...What To Do...

2011-02-23T22:56:00.001-05:00

It was well over a year ago when I grabbed a 4 x 4 wood panel and covered it with a coat of turquoise paint. After adding a few light swipes of pink and blue paint on top of the turquoise, torn pieces of tissue paper and a flower cut out from fabric was added to the surface with Modge Podge. The final touches included red dots.
Now I wonder if this really is complete or does it need something else? Black silouette of a bird or a tree? More flowers? What do you think?

OWOH Winner !

2011-02-21T05:32:00.002-05:00

My apologies for not getting this posted sooner. This is definitely a violation of the rules. Thank you to everyone who left a comment. I have visited many of the participants of OWOH and intend to continue exploring blogs via Lisa's OWOH list. I understand she has something else up her sleeve for 2012, so take a peek at the announcement for One World One Art. Exciting stuff.

So on to the good stuff...the winner is Laurie from the lovely 'Indulge Your Shelf' blog. Here is Laurie's comment.

It's a great gift - I would love to win those pencils! Thank you for offering them! If there's still time, please come by and enter my giveaway, too!

It Is Still Snowing...

2011-02-01T18:00:00.002-05:00

** If you are here for OWOH, just go down one more entry. I am not sure how to keep that post on top.**

Just a few images of today's snow fall. It is beautiful but the heated bird bath is almost buried. The barred owl we hear calling all year long decided to spend some time on our back fence. The cardinals were out in force. I hope you enjoy the view - especially if you are snug and warm.

One World One Heart 2011

2011-01-31T04:55:00.004-05:00

*** Comments are closed. Thank you to everyone who stopped by. I will choose the winner later today - after work. :-) ***

** Comments will close at midnight - just about 2 1/2 hours. It is now approximately 9:39 P.M EST. Almost time to choose a winner !! So hurry and comment below **

Hello and Welcome ! My name is Lois and I live with my 3 cats and husband in Massachusetts not far from the New Hampshire border. I sew, knit, crochet, paint and garden. I am so happy you are visiting me.

If you arrived from the OWOH blog you may already know all about OWOH. If you have stumbled across this post, then please do check out the link above and visit all the other lovely blogs that are participating in the 5th and final One World One Heart event.

There are so many beautiful giveaways from each of the participating blogs. I like to give away supplies in the hope it will encourage everyone and especially the winner to create something of their own. It is very satisfying not to mention FUN ! So, this year I am offering a set of the same drawing pencils I gave last year. Sorry for the repeat, but I had three sets given to me and I held on to the extra sets with this event in mind.

If you would like to win the pencil set, please leave a comment prior to February 17th. Your comment should include how I can get in touch with you if you are the winner and also allow me to visit your blog.

The event is open to anyone worldwide that has an active blog. The winner will be drawn at random and notified via the method specified in your comment. I will also announce the winner here on my blog.

I hope everyone has fun and I look forward to 'meeting' you.

One World One Heart - 2011...

2011-01-16T11:36:00.002-05:00

The fifth and final One World One Heart (OWOH) 2011 begins on Sunday January 30th and runs through Thursday February 17, 2011. Winners are announced on February 17.

Lisa from 'A Whimsical Bohemian' is the organizer of this fabulous event and has announced this will be the last year. You can find out more and read the rules by going here.

Hope to see you there !

A New Year, Snow and Colds...

2011-01-15T18:30:00.002-05:00

As 2010 wrapped up my thoughts were all about 2011- it will be a good year. I can feel it.

So far it has been a mixed bag. Like many people in this area, my first 'cold like' illness of the year lasted 7 days with an accompanying cough that still lingers. This illness has really worn out it's welcome and I want it gone, gone, gone. Being sick does have it's rewards as my cats climb on the bed to offer sympathy - - and we all snooze the day away. Here is Jack Boy.

Then there is the snow. We have had two Nor'easters in a short span of time. There may be more pictures of the snow another time but this image of the sky as the snow slowed a bit was breathtaking. Once again, 2011 feels magical to me.

Doll Challenge at Cloth and Clay...

2010-11-21T16:24:00.002-05:00

A new doll challenge is brewing as part of the Cloth and Clay Doll Workshop. Voting is currently underway for the kind of challenge and the suggestions are great: Angel dolls, dolls based on nursery rhymes, anthropromorphic dolls, modest women, winter wonderland and so on. There are many suggestions and all sound exciting.
I suggested the challenge be based on characters from children's stories. This is the book I had in mind - wouldn't a doll based on one of the fabulous illustrations from Fern Bisel Peat be wonderful? As the images below show, some of her characters are drawn as doll-like to begin with. The doll I would make would have a cloth based with an application of paper clay and paint. It would probably stand on a base. Cannot wait to see whch challenge it will be. If it is not the characters from books, I will have to find another subject. What fun !

My Favorite Season

2010-11-20T17:37:00.001-05:00

The end of November, just before Thanksgiving, is beautiful. The air is crisp and chilly. The sky blue and bright but silent as the loudly honking geese in their famous V-formations are long gone. The lawn is covered with Juncos, sparrows and chickadees as they sprint about grabbing seeds from the dried garden flowers. The trees are bare; their leaves all curled and folded on the ground. Their bright colors all but gone. The crunch of the leaves under my shoes is a joyous event; so familiar and welcome.
It is dusk at 4:15. Throughout the year Cardinals linger at the feeders and call. It is the same now except the Blue Jays jostle for the coveted position of last bird at the feeders.

Late fall is the very BEST season. (But then, I say that with every season)

Home Sick on a Rainy Fall Day...

2010-10-06T16:11:00.000-04:00

I love fall but with the change in weather everyone is getting sick. So today I rested and in between played around with some of the features in Picassa. This was so much fun. I hope you enjoy the results.

The Changes Fall Brings...

2010-09-27T20:57:00.001-04:00

I love the fall. For many years my 'summer vacation' has been in the fall. Two weeks used to explore the changes fall brings. Here is just one example.

The pictures to the right are of the same flower. The flower on the left was taken yesterday. The one on the right was taken in late July. I love the change in color - each has it's own unique beauty.

I also love the smell in the air, the long shadows and the coolness of the evenings.

Do you have a favorite season?

of Jon Gnagy, Elizabeth MacCrellish and Squam...

2010-09-14T16:48:00.004-04:00

I am aging myself by even mentioning Jon Gnagy. If you remember him, we are most likely around the same age. Jon Gnagy was America's first television artist with his initial broadcast airing in 1946. I watched him in the late 50s to early 60s. Whenever he appeared on that small black and white TV screen I was transported to another world. Completely mesmerized as he explained his step by step approach to drawing. I especially loved the way he added shadows and the ease with which he used the chalk to fill in the sky or other structure. When my father brought home the Jon Gnagy 'Learn to Draw' kit I was thrilled. The first time I held those chalks in my hand, 1 black, 2 shades of grey and 1 white, I knew I too could learn to draw. The kit included sandpaper to grind the chalk and a 'stomp' to rub into the ground chalk for shading. A few carbon pencils, a booklet and several sheets of paper rounded out the kit. My father was a tool designer and already a talented artist, but he would sit with me and talk as I drew and shaded the 'cube, ball, cone and cylinder' that are staples of the Gnagy lessons.

These are a few of the pages I did as a child of about 8 or 9. My father passed when I was 10, so for me, these examples of our collaboration are priceless.

BTW, the paper is beautifully naturally aged.

So by now you may be wondering just what it is that Jon and Elizabeth have in common? Maybe the following quotes will help.
In 'A note from Elizabeth' the introduction to 'the journal volume one' the beautiful book about the Squam Art Workshops retreat, Elizabeth writes:

Something magical happens when creativity gets to come first, when it is encouraged and celebrated, when it is honored as one of the best ways we can spend our time. I can't explain why this is, but I know it is to be an immutable truth.

And as thrilling as it is that people travel from such distances to experience a retreat here, I am also keenly aware of those who would love to join in, but simply cannot make the trip at this time. It matters to me that everyone gets to share in the magic.

So this journal has been specifically designed to share the beauty and spirit of Squam Art Workshops with everyone, whether you have attended or not. Our hope for this small volume is that it will accompany you on the subway, in the cab, on the train, in the airport, on holiday etc.
May it remind you of what you love and what captures your imagination, as well as introduce you to new people and ideas, but most of all, may it prove to be a good companion on your journay.

In the introduction to Jon Gnagy's 'Learn to Draw' instruction book he wrote:
I BELIEVE that you have an unexplored talent. My conviction growns stronger every year as I find thousands of people just like you searching to express something. If you have not made a prefessional career of art I'd like to talk to you all the more.
I BELIEVE in the life of everyone there comes a time when the Art Spirit is dominant. You may have passed it when you were 5 or 7 or 11 years of age. But it will come again several times in your life when you are looking for something outside your practical everyday routine.
I BELIEVE that you have moments when you drop your cares and wish that little spark of immortality that needs nourishment from the beauty of the world around you. This universe is full of wonders that few of us see until some part of our brain and soul is reawakened, when we again become aware of 'the long reaches of peaks of our song, the rift of dawn, the reddening of the rose,' as poet Edwin Markham has so aptly put it.
THIS NEW BOOK is my contribution to you the beginner to help you awaken that hidden talent so you may fnd happiness and genuine fun in the world around you through the hobby of drawing and painting.

Both Elizabeth and Jon, each in their own way and 60 plus years apart, work to provide the tools we need to embrace the creative impulses within us. As I pack to leave for Squam I am grateful to Elizabeth for creating a environment where my days will be filled with creativity. I also cannot help but remember the first person that provided so many simple but effective drawing lessons and for sparking my creative beginnings.

Where Did the Summer go...?

2010-09-13T01:09:00.004-04:00

Wow - just yesterday it was June and now it is September and I am getting ready to go to Squam.

My summer was beautiful. Lots of creativity due to my art classes here. I am taking a class in oil painting and one in drawing. So much fun and great to connect with other creatives.

We have also continued work on our garden. We built a new trellis and added new plants. Here are some of our new plantings this year.

A new hydrangea

A Hummingbird moth visited the new butterfly bush
as we were planting it.

Flocks

Close-up of the flocks

Brown Betty Meets Pastel ...

2010-06-13T11:28:00.010-04:00

I inherited a beautiful Brown Betty Teapot from my mother. It belonged to her mother. This teapot was one of my favorite household items when I was a child and is easily one of my favorite possesions; beautiful shiny dark chocolate brown with a gorgeous round design. I often pair it with Fiesta Ware pink/peach teacups and plates. A green napkin completes the setting.

This past Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in a last minute panic that comes from procastination, I grabbed Betty et al and hastily arranged the picture below. I needed to have a plan for my 7:00 p.m. art class and Betty seemed perfect. My plan was to do a quick sketch and paint it in acrylic.

My art teacher had other plans and suggested I complete a quick study using pastels. I had one hour and did not finish it but here is the result. Pastels are a brand new medium for me and I love the results.

This weekend I tried the pastels again with Brown Betty as the main subject.

If you have worked in pastels and have tips to share, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks for stopping by.

My Commute...

2010-06-10T21:38:00.005-04:00

Like many people I work long hours and I have a long commute. The way I manage to stay awake while driving is to change my route frequently. I also love to watch the seasons change; the way the light plays in the trees and on the road. The views are beautiful no matter which route I take and I feel so very fortunate to be witness to such interesting scenery. This is one in a series of acrylic paintings on wood of my commute. This is Route 2 West in Ayer, Ma.

Spring in My Step...

2010-05-17T22:42:00.005-04:00

Hello everyone. Did you ever have one of those days where everything just went wrong. Today was one of those days for me. As one example, I decided to have a healthy salad for lunch and ending up wearing a tomato with balsamic vinegar. I was wearing a brand new top! That's what I get for being healthy!

Now it is almost bed time and I just finished downloading pics from my digital camera. With the exception of the pesky 'no-see-ums' that zoom around my head and the high pitched screech of mosquitos, it is the perfect time to be outdoors - and I could not let one more day go by without checking in here. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Beautiful weekend...

2010-04-25T19:55:00.003-04:00

Another beautiful weekend. The weather was perfect and we did not have to be anywhere. So we hung out at home. Of course we did some yard work but it was enjoyable. We also had visitors...some were camera shy but we caught this little fella and my favorite bird - a robin.

Here is our chipmunk friend. He watches everything we do and complains quite loudly if we get out of line.

and I cannot resist another pic of flowers.

Beautiful Spring...

2010-04-19T19:03:00.005-04:00

After a weekend of rain, today was chilly and partly sunny early in the day but sunny and warm later in the day. The sun was very welcome. It is Patriot's Day and the 114th running of the Boston Marathon was this morning. I would think the chill in the air with a slightly overcast sky made for ideal conditions.

No work today, so by 7:00 a.m. I was checking out of the grocery store and by 8:00 a.m. I was painting. Lately, all my spare time goes into some sort of creative endeavor.

This is the beginnings of a cover for a new art journal. The tulips were drawn onto an old page out of a crumbling paperback book; gesso the page, sketch and paint. Easy peasy. I like what I have so far and will add detail over the next few days.

No pics yet of the other paintings I am working on, so I thought some spring pics might be in order.

Thanks for visiting

I'm Baaack ...

2010-03-31T10:06:00.003-04:00

It is hard to believe my last post was in February. Well I am back and it is spring...YAY for the flowers and longer brighter days. Not so much for all the rain and flooding. We were marooned on our street for four days a few weeks ago - no way in or out. But so far we are faring well with this last round of rain.

Here are a few pics of spring - I know some people get tired of seeing crocus - not me. I can never get enough. So if you have added pics to your blog of spring flowers let me know, I'd love to see them.

February Storms and CED ...

2010-02-25T16:51:00.003-05:00

Spring seemed so close - a few days ago it was warm and sunny. Since then we've had 6 inches of snow followed by non-stop rain. It's all good, but I will be so happy for spring and gardening.

In the meantime - here are a few offerings for Creative Every Day. I hope you enjoy them. I love reading your comments so please feel free to say a few words.

Happy Creating

Spring is Coming - Isn't it?...

2010-02-17T16:02:00.003-05:00

This morning I took this picture of my backyard from my office window. I remembered taking the same picture last spring and I thought it may be fun to compare. No filters were used - it was early morning and every picture I took has the same blue cast.

Ah, Spring Fever is Incurable!

Life After OWOH...

2010-02-17T10:46:00.010-05:00

Like many others, my on-line life has been consumed with visiting the over 1000 blogs that participated in the One World One Heart Event. Every minute was enjoyable and full of inspiration from the beautiful work of all the lovely creative people in the world. I also want to thank the people that chose to follow my blog over the last few weeks. It is very much appreciated.

So, today is a return to my creative life. Here is my long overdue CED entry. Can you tell I am on a diet and thinking of lovely cakes and ice cream?

Below is another close of up view of the ice cream.

In response to a question, this is how I create the ice cream.
* Draw the shapes of scooped ice cream free hand on card board to use as a template.
* Use the template to trace the scooped ice cream shape onto nice sturdy paper, followed by a coat of gesso and several coats of a base color.
* While the paint is wet, Golden's Medium Gel was used to create texture. A wooden coffee stirrer was used to spread the gel in those swirls and shapes ice cream has when scooped. :-) At this point, if the paint is still wet, the gel will pick up some of the color of the paint.
* When the paint and gel are both dry, paint over the scoops again and add a bit of shadowing.
*Finally, the shapes are cut out and applied to a prepared surface using your favorite collage glue.

The cones are done in the same fashion.

Let me know if this was helpful or if you need more information.

Happy Creating

CED - new painting

2010-01-31T14:32:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone - I have been very wrapped up in the OWOH event this past week and have not posted to CED. This is a painting I completed last weekend, but never posted.

I definitely need more practice and experience in painting faces but I love to paint them. I will get there. :-) I hope you enjoy it.

One World One Heart Giveaway 2010 ...

2010-01-25T02:42:00.012-05:00

Comments are Closed and we have a winner:

bockel24 left this comment 'Oooooh, I love Derwent pencils, and I´d love to win! Please enter my name to your drawing!'. Congratulations bockel24 ! I will send an email to you shortly.

Thank you to the 437 bloggers that left comments and to Lisa Swifka for organizing this fabulous event. It was alot of fun and I loved meeting everyone.

Welcome and thank you for visiting and participating in the One World One Heart Giveaway. This giveaway begins January 25, 2010 and ends at 4:00 PM EST on February 15, 2010. I am excited to be a part of this event and hope you are having fun.

If you are unfamiliar with OWOH, click here find out more and locate other participating blogs. Thanks to Lisa from A Whimsical Bohemian for creating and keeping this event going since 2007. Every year it gets bigger and bigger.

My giveaway is a Derwent Aqua Pencil Library. The collage picture is of my personal set. Yours will arrive in an unopened box - brand new and unused. Use this link for more information about this set. I love my set and use it on a daily basis.

It could not be easier to register to win. There are only two rules: you must have a blog and you must leave a comment on this posting by 4:00 PM EST. Be sure to include your email address for me to contact you. It is that simple.

Please note: If I choose your name, you have until 4 PM EST on February 18 to contact me. Otherwise I will choose another winner.

Best Wishes !!

I scream... You scream...

2010-01-20T22:09:00.005-05:00

I love how this came out. It is mixed media; tissue paper, watercolor paper, acrylic and watercolor paints and watercolor crayons on wood.

Better to paint ice cream than eat ice cream. Well, not better - just better for me! This is my round about way of getting to the CED theme of body for this month.

Thanks for visiting

Snowy Day...

2010-01-18T15:31:00.007-05:00

Today was a day off for me and it was a lazy day. Fresh snow on the ground made it feel warm and cozy inside. I stayed in my jammies and painted until 11:00 am then showered and put on another pair of clean fresh jammies. Then I painted some more. I love days like this - do you?

This is the painting we did in last Mondays's watercolor class. There were a few details I needed to add at home.

I also worked on a few more pages for my art journal.

Lovely Saturday...

2010-01-16T16:53:00.003-05:00

It was a beautiful warm (46 degrees F) Saturday and it was sunny. The sun has been a rare sight in this area so it was very very welcome.

This is an acrylic painting on wood. Thanks for visiting.

Cupcake ...

2010-01-11T05:36:00.003-05:00

Another Monday and another CED week ahead. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's work for this week.

Thanks for visiting

CED - Birch Trees

2010-01-10T12:13:00.003-05:00

Every Monday night I take a class in watercolor painting. This was one of my best decisions and well worth the time and expense.

Honestly, to me this course is priceless. I am not only creating a painting each week, but also interacting with a great group of people with a common interest. and while we each paint the same subject each week, our individual styles come through and each painting is completely unique.

Watercolor ...

2010-01-07T05:31:00.004-05:00

1/10/2010 - I changed the image on this post as I mistakenly added a copy of the incomplete painting. (ooops)

I loved working on this painting. It required alot of measuring and masking areas with tape. In fact, it is still taped to the board as it completes drying. It took additonal time to do all that taping, but as with anything involving paint and brushes, it was very soothing to work on.

Creative today ...

2010-01-06T21:56:00.004-05:00

So, maybe the scenes of winter sky and trees are getting a bit boring? I hope not. This is a watercolor. The first picture I posted was a bit dark so I replaced it today - 1/10/2010.

Thanks for visiting

Treasure or Trash?

2010-01-03T15:18:00.007-05:00

This is what was sitting next to the trash bin at work. It is a user's manual for an application my company no longer uses. It just had to come home with me as it was destined to be my new art journal. It is about 7 x 9 inches and since it is about 10 years old the paper is sturdy with a great patina. It will stand up well to glue, paint etc.

Here are a few pages I have started. I love recycling and repurposing so for me this is the ultimate find.

Welcome 2010 ...

2010-01-02T12:35:00.003-05:00

The first day of 2010 was a beautiful lazy day. Snow drifted to the ground and we snuggled in to watch movies. I also painted.

I am completely taken with the beautiful sky during the sunrises and sunsets that make up the scenery on the drive to and from work. It definitely makes up for the general lack of light during the week.

This isn't finished - it still needs detail in the snow to add dimension. This is one of the views on my way to work but the small tree on the right replaces a big house. Artistic license - right?

Happy Holidays ...

2009-12-20T14:08:00.006-05:00

As in every home it has been very busy here. Company has arrived and the holidays are in full force. I am taking a break from company and adding this post as once again I have been away from this blog too long. This will change for 2010.

I am going to start the new Year off with a giveaway for my followers. There are only a few of you so the odds of winning will be high. YAY

I have joined the group at Creative Every Day and encourage you to do the same.

I will also be part of the One World One Heart Giveaway and also encourage you to join the fun. Check out the link on my side bar.

2010 will be a great year - can you feel it also?

Creative Every Day - 14

2009-11-14T13:45:00.002-05:00

This was the view outside my window last night. Sunsets are one of my favorite things - along with whiskers on kittens. Thanks for visiting.

CED - 13

2009-11-13T23:05:00.003-05:00

Late again in posting my pictures. Tonight I had issues with my camera and loading the pictures. Anyway, I did a little more experimenting - love pink hair !

Creative Every Day - 12

2009-11-12T20:32:00.004-05:00

Today I painted the body of the cloth and paperclay doll I began months ago. I wanted a raspberry color but could not get the mix right. I've done it a million times but for a small amount. So, pepto pink it is. Still, I like it and will make it work.

Posting every day really does motivate me - I am sure I am not alone in that feeling. Thanks to everyone who visits - this is fun.

Here is the doll painted black after the paperclay was applied.

My Pink Lady

Creative Every Day - 11

2009-11-11T09:41:00.004-05:00

Hello - I have been doing alot of 'practice' paintings. Trying new colors and experimenting with faces and hair. Especially eyes. I am not looking for realistic. Just unique and fun. These are painted on cardboard salvaged from a box. It works very well and it is less expensive to experiment on salvaged cardboard than a nice canvas or board. Sometimes I gesso the cardboard first. Here's a tip - don't use the cardboard packed with the books from Amazon. It warps. (Unless you want that effect.)

Creative Every Day - 10

2009-11-10T23:51:00.006-05:00

For Creative Every Day a photograph of the orange zinnia in my garden after the first frost of the season. I was very taken by the zinnias this year - to the very last. :-)

Did I miss day 10? It is after midnight. oops

Creative Every Day - November

2009-11-09T22:17:00.003-05:00

I decided to join the Creative Every Day challenge hosted by Leah Piken Kolidas . The idea is to do something creative every day. You don't have to complete a huge project, just do something creative. The challenge began November 1 but I joined late. So this is my first contribution; a water color painting.

My Squam Experience ...

2009-10-14T20:50:00.010-04:00

From September 16 - 20th I was one of over 100 people that made their way to Squam Lake in New Hampshire for the Squam Art Workshops. There is alot written about the location, food and beauty of Squam Lake so I will not cover that here. My little view of that time is about my classes.

My first class was in a large room with a huge fireplace along one wall complete with a crackling fire. There were twinkle lights wrapped around posts and a long wall of windows that looked out over the lake. The class was 'Book in a Day' taught by Marisa and Christine.

Everyone was greeted with the statement 'We believe in hugs' and arms opened and folded until everyone had received their hugs. I could not have felt more welcome. We watched demos of various bookmaking techniques by Marisa and Christine and then spent the day cutting chip board, poking holes with awls, cutting and folding paper, playing with glue and embellishing with paints, photos and just about anything else imaginable. The supply of material was endless and inspiring. I left the class with the book shown below and another still in process. I also left with a new passion for bookmaking. Thanks so much to Marisa and Christine for sharing their knowledge and providing a supportive and fun environment.

This is a collage of the first book I made. It was so much fun to make and I love the result.

My second class was 'Creating a Painting in a Day' a class also taught by Marisa. I knew Marisa through her e-course and was familiar with her paintings. She is very generous with her knowledge, a skilled artist and is sincere in her desire to see everyone succeed. I just knew it was going to be a great class.

We were in the same lovely room with the crackling fire, twinkle lights, hugs and beautiful views of the lake. I felt very much at home and comfortable. I listened to Marisa speak about her process and I began to feel encouraged and brave enough to just pick up a brush, dip it in paint and well - paint! Then a wonderful thing happened. Something sparked inside me like a connection that had long been lost and then suddenly repaired. I could not wait to dive into the paints. When I finally put my brush down and looked around me everyone was smiling and to me it appeared as if they were very proud of what they had accomplished - just like me. This class will remain with me and inspire me for a very long time. Thank you Marisa.

Unfortunately, I was not able to stay at Squam beyond the first 2 days due to personal reasons. Sometimes life just takes these twists and turns that we can neither predict nor control. All that is to be done is to hang on and go for the ride.

As a result I could not attend my third class, provide my book for 'show and tell' or say good-bye to some of the really wonderful people I met. It is disappointing but I have been a Red Sox fan my whole life and as we sox fans say 'There is always next year'.

Good Choices ...

2009-10-12T01:06:00.019-04:00

It all began when I found Marisa Haedike's blog Creative Thursday. Marisa's colorful paintings and delightful characters along with her podcasts made me a frequent visitor. When she offered her first e-course 'life in the fish bowl' I signed up! This was the first in a series of Good Choices.

By taking Marisa Haedike's e-course, I learned more about the on-line world than I ever would have on my own. The class consists of weekly podcasts with a follow-up video that together provide advice, questions to ponder, her own experiences and lots of encouragement. Marisa is a successful artist and a natural teacher with a unique viewpoint and a desire to inspire others to follow their dreams.

Everyone has the option to share their own personal experiences in a safe and supportive environment. AND if they choose to share, you have the opportunity to get to know other bloggers and peek into their unique on-line world. It is all so exciting and supportive.

Yup, a Good Choice. Check in later this week for another Good Choice. Thanks for visiting.

Beautiful Days ...

2009-10-06T22:39:00.003-04:00

Fall has to be one of my favorite times of the year. The beautiful clean crisp air and warm sun combine to make the days like heaven on earth. When I checked my blog today I could not believe how long it had been since my last post, so here are just a few things that have been grabbing my time and attention.

The wonderful butterflys that are visiting the last of the flowers in my garden. They literally flit all over the yard which makes watching them so much fun. They are also not always willing to 'sit' for a photo and that makes it even more fun.

I am still completely enchanted by the zinnias in my yard. I must have at least a hundred or more pictures of them as they change constantly so there is always something new to see. This is a gold zinnia and one of only 2 or 3 that made an appearance this year.

This little gold zinnia also has a kiss of pink. Just beautiful!

Our shed was just about ready to collapse so a new shed was in order. It is in a new location just to the right of the original. Today was a gorgeous day and we stained three sides of it with a redwood stain. Prepping the space and building the raised beds took alot of time this fall. I am glad this project is just about over.

This is the book I made at Squam in September. I really enjoyed that class and will add a post about it soon. The class inspired me to plan several other books and I am slowly gathering the supplies needed. I cannot wait to get going on them.

I hope you are all enjoying the fall also. Thanks for visiting.

The Fall Garden and a bit of SAW

2009-09-23T22:19:00.001-04:00

I attended the Squam Art Workshops last week. It was my first time there and I am certain it will not be my last. There is alot to think about and process so I will keep that for another post.

In the meantime, fall is here and the cold nights are taking a toll on the flowers in the garden. They are still beautiful...just a bit tattered is all. I hope you enjoy them.

The variation in color and petal shape is amazing. It is always a surprise to see what comes from the seeds planted in spring.

A gorgeous bud that is so architectural in shape. I love the black outline.

The long thin spidery petals appeared this year. I don't remember these from any other year I have grown zinnias...but I love them.

This poor little zinnia is really fading.

This is a view of the underside of the flower below.

This flower has amazing color - this picture does not do it justice.

DQS7 ...

2009-09-20T21:12:00.009-04:00

I joined my first Doll Quilt Swap I found on flickr. It has been around for a while because they are up to DQS7. If you are a quilter and you have not participated in a swap, try it out. It is fun to see everyone's contribution and since your swap partner is a secret, there is the fun of designing and making your quilt as well as the anticipation of which quilt will be sent to you. It is a great surprise to receive the package from your mystery swap partner in the mail.

When you sign up for the swap you can comment on the things you like. My partner's comment was the following:

'My likes are things that are fun and colorful- I love the little houses people are doing and I love log cabin blocks. I like the more contemporary designer prints and am not such a fan of things that are overly cutesy. I love images from nature and I prefer bright fun colors over darker or really washed out color. I hope that helps!'

I really hope her request was met. What do you think?

THE QUILT I RECEIVED:

I am completely honored to receive this quilt. It is so very beautiful with it's scalloped edge and florettes with a bead center. I just love it! It was made by the very talented member of Doll Quilt Swap Sewz4fun. She also included a fun package of ribbons, flowers, ric rac and buttons for use in my doll making. AND she included a handmade card. She is one very talented woman.

Thanks so much!

I hope to be included in DQS8 in January.

I am ready for my close-up...

2009-08-23T01:59:00.003-04:00

As you probably know that line is from Sunset Boulevard, one of my all time favorite movies. I was finally able to get decent pics of my completed doll. The strawberry red hair was not intentional but I like how it came out. Her name is Betty. What do you think?

Sunshine...

2009-08-09T21:44:00.002-04:00

warm weather and a bit of rain will make flowers grow and bloom. The Dwarf Orange Cosmos one week later.

I hope you enjoy them.

Update on the Orange Creamsicle Garden...

2009-08-02T22:35:00.006-04:00

Here in the northeast we are still wondering when summer will arrive. We have had lots of rain and unusually chilly and humid days. The rain has been great for the lawns as ours is normally pretty sad looking by the time August rolls around. This year the lawn is still wearing it's spring colors; several shades of lush green. We love the tapestry of texture and color that comes from allowing clover and other 'weeds' to grow in with the grass.

Anyway, I started seeds for dwarf cosmos, zinnias and sunflowers in the Orange Creamsicle Garden. I had to completely replant it when all the seeds failed in the heavy non-stop rains of June. What did grow became salad for the chipmunks. We had late afternoon sun yesterday and this is how the garden looked. Still a few empty spots where sunflowers have been planted.

Dwarf cosmos ready to burst into bloom. Come on sun! I decided not to show the zinnias as they are pretty sad looking. Almost all their leaves have been chewed and ripped. As long as they are still able to flower I will be happy.

Here is the garden from another view. The white butterfly bush is beginning to bloom. The iron head board in the back will have morning glories but they too are barely growing. A few good weeks of sun will get them moving.

Then there are the coneflowers and day lilies. Whether there is alot of rain, no rain, sun or no sun - coneflowers and day lilies will grow. Gotta love them!

My New Passion...

2009-07-29T21:52:00.007-04:00

On the right side of my blog is an icon for a group I joined called 'Cloth and Clay Doll Workshop'. Through a series of videos, Jane DesRosier demonstrates how to complete a doll from beginning to end. One of my favorite parts is her demonstration of the use of paper clay to sculpt the head and face. As I watched the videos it became very apparent to me that this paper clay stuff is very cool.

The other day I completed my first ever 'sculpture' and I love it. Do I think it is a great work of art? No. But in just 45 minutes I was able to create something that looked pretty much like a face and hair. I am enjoying this so much that just about all my other projects have been put aside until I complete this little gal.

This is a view of the head just after sculpting that also includes some of the tools I used.

This is a closer look of the head. This is also just after I finished the sculpting. She is definitely not perfect and she does have spooky eyes that seem to follow me.

This last one is a bit hard to see, but on the left is the same doll shown above with a black base coat and the first coat of her dress. On the right is a second doll I started. I wanted you to see what the doll looks like in the beginning before sculpting the face.

I will post other pictures as she progresses.

Early Morning Visit...

2009-07-17T20:49:00.003-04:00

I love waking early - especially if it is a non-work day. I open the kitchen door that goes out to a screened in porch and my three cats run out and jockey for the best spots to watch the chipmunks and birds. One recent morning the cats burst back through the door and scampered around desperately trying to hide under something - anything! They had been startled by the black bear that stops in every so often. He usually grabs a feeder filled with sunflower seed and then slips back into the woods as quietly as he arrived.

Win a Madsen Cycle...

2009-07-12T18:49:00.003-04:00

I realized today that I placed a link on my sidebar to the contest to win a Madsen Cycles Cargo Bike but never mentioned it. I heard about this giveaway around the same time SEWN and SewMamaSew had their giant giveaways. So, I was busy checking out all the web sites and entering giveaways. By the way, I didn't win a thing. Except some new friends and that really is what it is all about - right?

Anyway, I digress - back to Madsen. Please click on one of the links and check out this giveaway. It ends soon and my motto is (as always) you cannot win if you don't enter. Brillant - right? The giveaway ends this week - July 15 - so go ahead. Clink on the link. It is a gorgeous bike and just the thing to save on gas.

Rain, Rain and More Rain...

2009-07-09T21:01:00.008-04:00

This spring has been very rainy. We have only seen the sun for 7 out of the last 39 days. Today was one of those wonderful sunny days and some of the flowers in my garden shook off all the rain and just blossomed. Here are two of my favorites. The first photo is of Pink Canterbury Bells and the second is of large greenish-yellow day lily. These wonderfully resilient flowers are among my favorites and I wanted to share.

As you can imagine, all this rain has kept us indoors on weekends. During a recent storm, as I worked on the doll for the Cloth and Clay Doll Workshop, my great little Quality Control expert examined my work.

Progress is also being made on the quilt for the Red Barn Quilt Along. All my stripes have been sewn and I am in the process of cutting them into blocks. I am enjoying this so much and slowly making progress.

Red Barn Quilt Along ...

2009-06-28T21:18:00.002-04:00

I am so far behind on this quilt. This weekend I cut my strips and sewed them into strips of 6. I am now in the process of cutting the blocks.

This has been alot of fun. I do look at the flickr site to see everyone else's work. But the more time I spend there the less time I have to sew. You know how that is, I am sure. If you are stopping by from the Red Barn Quilt along, please say hello and leave a link to your quilt. I would love to see your work.

Spring Flowers - Iris

2009-06-28T13:30:00.002-04:00

Here are a few of the Iris from my spring garden. I hope you enjoy them.

True Confessions - I am a goldfish...

2009-06-23T21:40:00.007-04:00

Hello

If you knew exactly what the title of this entry means, than you must be a goldfish too. Welcome!

For those of you who don't understand the title, let me explain. Many of us are fortunate enough to be part of a e course taught by Marisa of Creative Thursday. The title of the class is 'Life as an Artist.Online. in the fishbowl' We are heading into our second class and this posting - though a bit late - is part of the homework. (or as some call it 'headwork') If you have a chance to take this course in the future - grab it.

As a fellow goldfish I know you are here to find out a little bit more about me and perhaps check out my answers to Marisa's questions.

The first question from the first class is: Why do you love what you create?
Because it is so much fun and very satisfying. Taking little bits of this and that and pulling it all together into something else is the best feeling in the world.

The second question: What are you working on when you get lost in your creativity?
Everything and anything. I get completely lost in the process and can spend hours locked away in my creating room. All sense of time is gone and the only thing I care about is one more stitch, one more panel, one more painting.

Well I hope everyone is having fun. See you in class !

Winner of the SEWN Launch Party Giveaway ...

2009-06-08T14:45:00.004-04:00

The winner of the 6 fat quarters is Liz B. Liz's comment is shown below and was chosen at random.
how very generous you are! thanks so much for the chance to win.

SewMamaSew May Giveaway Winners...

2009-06-07T19:53:00.004-04:00

I am back from vacation and spent a good portion of today reading through half of the over 400 comments left for this giveaway, while trying to determine the best way to choose the winners. I decided to creat a folder in my email and moved all of the comments for the giveaway in that folder sorted by date. Each entry was numbered. I used the random number generator, but did not think to keep a copy of the results - sorry.

I decided in advance to choose the Grand Prize Winner last and here they are !

The Third Place Winner is Christina Lowry who left the following comment:
Hi! Please count me in! There is just nothing like a suprise give away.

:)

PS. My word verification is 'feral'. Ha ha...

The Second Place winner is dailydoseofme and she left this comment:
Who doesnt love a surprise?!
How generous of you to have decided to pick 3 winners (i hope i am one of them)

AND, TA-DA - -- - The Grand Prize Winner is Amy and her comment was:
Your surprise package sounds intriguing. I'd certainly love to get a sewing related mystery package in my mailbox. Thanks for the opportunity. :)

All winners have been notified by email.

May Giveaway Day with SewMamaSew...

2009-05-26T21:51:00.010-04:00

***COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS GIVEAWAY. THANK YOU FOR ENTERING AND FOR ALL YOUR GREAT COMMENTS.***

JUST A REMINDER: I AM AWAY UNTIL JUNE 7 AND WILL CHOOSE A WINNER AFTER THAT DATE. I MAY NEED A DAY OR SO TO PULL MYSELF TOGETHER, BUT I CANNOT WAIT TO CHOOSE THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER AS WELL AS THE SECOND AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS !

Here is another fun giveaway - don't you just love giveaways! This one is organized by the Sew,Mama,Sew! Blog.

My giveaway will be a selection of crafty items: buttons, ribbons, lace, fabrics, beads and who knows what else! I will be searching all my storage areas for those very special items. It will definitely be a nice package - one that I would like to receive myself.

To win, just comment on this post and leave an email address in order for me to contact you. The giveaway opens tuesday 5/27 and runs until 5/31. There are many other participants in this giveaway so be sure to comment here and then head on over to sewmamasew and enter other giveaways. If you don't win anything it will not be because you didn't try. :-)

Be sure to read the following: I will be leaving for vacation on May 31 and will return June 7. Depending on how accessible the internet will be to me, I may not be able to choose a winner until I return. I hope you understand. Only comments left on or before midnight on 5/31 will be considered for the drawing.

Thanks and have fun. I will post some pics tomorrow.

UPDATE 5/29/2009: I am in awe of all the comments. Thank you all so much. I am having so much fun looking at everyone else's blog and have entered many giveaways myself. Anyway, with over 300 comments, how can there possibly be only one prize. There will be three winners drawn. The grand prize will be the biggest, but the other 2 will not be shabby. I promise.

Sew-Along...

2009-05-20T23:12:00.005-04:00

Alot of firsts for me lately. This is my first sew-along sponsored by Dana at Old Red Barn Co. I decided on my fabrics but I reserve the right to change my mind ! :-)

Take a look at the fabric choices of all the other participants at the Old Red Barn Co flickr group . There will be lots of chances to win some very nice prizes and we all love those ! You may want to join in all the fun.

New Orange Creamsicle Garden...

2009-05-18T14:02:00.019-04:00

I've been thinking about this one spot in my yard and debating whether to add a new garden. So, I set it up with a wire sculpture chicken and a large box of flowers and lived with it for a few weeks just to get a feel for the position and how it would look.

Saturday was a beautiful day - warm, beautiful breeze, sunny with occasional clouds. I liked the spot and decided to go ahead and add a new garden. I also decided on a theme - Orange Creamsicle. As a child, I loved the color combination of this ice cream and sherbet more than the taste !

So I pulled out my pitch fork, spade and claw rake and began to dig !

It seemed like such a small spot, only about 6.5 ft long by 3 ft wide, but it took 7 hours to complete. When I began, my husband was working in the front yard, but he pitched in to get this done. Otherwise, I would probably still be there - digging away. Grass is sure alot of work to remove once it is established.

Here is how it looks now. I have orange pansy flowers in my wire chicken. The little butterfly bush on the end will grow to between 4 - 6 ft (depending on conditions) and about 2 ft around. It has gorgeous white blooms so it is right in line with my theme. At the beginning of June I will also seed the area with Orange King and Polar Bear zinnias.

If you are interested, I will be adding additonal pictures to my Orange Creamsicle Garden flickr page.

Now I hope to get back into the sewing room for some crafting fun. :-)

SEWN Launch Party Blog Giveaway...

2009-05-10T14:25:00.014-04:00

Hi everyone. It is now June 8 - 12:05 EST and this giveaway is closed. I will choose a winner tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for all your great comments and for entering my giveaway.

**UPdate - Fabrics Added**

In celebration of the launch of the new Australian website SEWN, I have decided to participate in the Sewn Launch Party Blog Giveaway - my first ever !

Take a look and see what all the fuss is about. The Creative Director is Sarah Fielke and she promises some great things. Here is a small piece of her announcement:

'The website will have just about everything you can think of that you would want online as a sewer. There are forums, online advice from industry experts, conversion charts, colour wheels, free patterns and class listings.'

Be sure to check it out as there are many other bloggers participating in the giveaway so you have lots of chances to win.

In the meantime, please enter my giveaway. My prize will be six fat quarters and the winner will be drawn at random from the comments left on this post. Comments entered up to midnight on June 7 will be considered and the drawing is June 8

Here is my decision on the fabrics - I am going to let you decide which six fat quarters you would like. The pictures are posted here on my flickr site. I will be adding new fabrics right up until June 7, so you are sure to find something you like !

So go check out the SEWN information and enter to win !

Where have I been...

2009-05-03T17:32:00.006-04:00

Hi - It has been a while since my last post. Spring is normally very busy for me. In addition to the usual gardening work, my late mother's home is under agreement and should close at the end of May. I grew up in this house and my mother lived there for 54 years. As anyone in this position knows it is a difficult and emotional job. Much of what she owned is packed away but there are several pieces of furniture that ended up in my sewing/craft room. Here is a lovely cabinet that was always in our living room. It has plenty of room for storage and lots of memories too.

Thanks mom.

Lil Wonky ChickN is finished...

2009-04-12T00:34:00.004-04:00

At least the poor thing is able to run now.
I had fun with this one. Only 'as-is' scraps were used. The comb and beak were rejects from another project, but I did buy the thread to trim it up.
Enjoy the weekend.

Fabric Surprises...

2009-04-10T23:29:00.006-04:00

I stopped at Jo-Anns Fabrics on my way home from work today. My only purchase was going to be just the right color gold thread for my poor wonky chicken shown in my previous post. Straight to the thread and then out.

Then I saw it; 30% off of quilting bundles. That meant five 18' x 21' inch squares of fabric for $6.99. HAD TO STOP and look. I am soooo glad I did.

The first bundle spotted had several fabrics from the Heather Ross' West Hill line.

The second bundle had the most adorable cow with stripes, dots and gingham. Neither of these bundles could be left behind.

So, 30 minutes later I left Jo-Ann's with thread, two fabric bundles and Junior mints.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Here chick chick chick...

2009-04-06T20:50:00.003-04:00

Ok - I'll admit it. I was a bit bored and a tad lazy tonight. With only about an hour to spend in the sewing room, it just seemed too much of a task to pull out the fabric for my "Jump Into the Stash" quilt - but the urge to create was strong. The only items I had within reach were my sewing machine, scissors, thread and my scrap bag. An hour later little chick was here, ready to run off. If only he had legs! Poor little chick is definitely not finished and very wonky - but it was fun ! What do you think?

Purses and a necklace

2009-04-06T00:13:00.009-04:00

It always seems as if the holidays are the most busy time of the year. Everyone is on the go from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years. I always forget - until it is here - how busy spring is too. We've been rearranging closets, cleaning windows and clearing storm debris from the yard. My flower seeds will be in their pots tomorrow. I've also completed two of the purses previewed in a previous post.

Both purses zip on top and have pockets on the inside. The one with the flower will be sent to my niece for her birthday along with the necklace below.

This is a washer necklace from a design by Anni Albers. It is really easy to make (thanks to the tutorial) and alot of fun. If you would like to make one for yourself, check out the tutorial at The Small Object.

http://www.thesmallobject.com/stenopad/wordpress/index.php?s=washer+necklace

New Beginnings...

2009-03-21T01:41:00.006-04:00

Many people think of Spring as a time for new beginnings - a rebirth. For me spring is the ultimate chance to start over whether it is in a personal way or literally replanting a garden. A newly tilled garden is the visual representation of how I feel each spring. Completely cleared and ready to grow and learn.

In my area, we had unseasonably cold weather for the first day of spring, but the birds are singing anyway. Squirrels and chipmunks chased each other around and the sun was bright and high in the sky. But it was COLD. So, I spent the first day of spring looking through pictures of my garden and the wildflowers I found on walks in the spring and summer. Here are a few examples - I hope you enjoy them.

Happy Spring

Daffodillhill too giveaway...

2009-03-18T22:03:00.003-04:00

Here a a nice giveaway...Candice is offering 4 chances to win. Don't miss this one ! The giveaway ends this Friday.

http://daffodilhilltoo.blogspot.com/2009/03/march-fabric-giveaway.html

2009-03-10T22:18:00.003-04:00

I am in the process of making a few small purses to keep on hand for gifts. I love making these as they work up quickly so you get a real sense of satisfaction. They are pretty small - maybe 7" x 9" with a zip on top and several pockets on the inside that can hold a lipstick, small hand lotion etc. There are many ways to make these and quite a few tutorials out there in blogland. No need for a pattern - just cut out the size you want based on the sizes of scraps you have on hand. My kind of project !
Please check back if you would like to see the finished product.

Thanks to Heleen...

2009-03-07T13:45:00.007-05:00

I was very excited to see the package from the Nederlands waiting on my kitchen table. It is from my swap partner as part of the 'wishing it was spring' swap. I just love my goodies which also included dutch chocolate. Thanks so much Heleen . Visit her blog here: http://dutch-colours.blogspot.com/

Another Wonderful Giveaway From V and Co...

2009-03-02T08:56:00.002-05:00

There are so many wonderful giveaways out there and this is a great example. Use this link to check it out. Vanessa also has some great tutorials so check it out.

http://adayinthelifeofthechristensons.blogspot.com/2009/03/sweet-and-swanky-giveaway.html

The Fabric Shopper: 5 Weeks of Amy Butler (Week 2) - Bag Pattern & Fabric Giveaway!

2009-03-02T07:22:00.001-05:00

Another fabulous pattern and the fabric this week is from Contemporary Cloth. I am really enjoying this giveaway. Don't miss out - head on over and read how to enter multiple times.

The Fabric Shopper: 5 Weeks of Amy Butler (Week 2) - Bag Pattern & Fabric Giveaway!

Add to the Stash...

2009-03-01T21:28:00.007-05:00

Just a few additions to the stash this weekend. Is there anything better than fabric shopping on a snowy day?

I just love dots and the colors in this are great. I may use it as a lining to a bag. The blue kitty fabric is very retro looking nice quality.

Shoes and apples. Can't go wrong. The little girl with tulips is more peach color than the scan is showing. I buy lots of fabric and the quilt shop I buy from gives discounts via a punch card. So for 4 fat quarters and 4 yards I spent $18.00. Fun !

Post Office Saturdays...

2009-03-01T10:42:00.003-05:00

I was very happy to get my fabrics in the mail to the Netherlands for the "wishing it was spring" swap at Stitches and Scissors. http://www.stitchesandscissors.com/

Yesterday the post office was very busy and since there are only two windows, the line snaked around the corner. I made it just under the wire as it was close to closing when I took my place behind 30 other people. The cost to ship the package was a bit confusing. There were 3 choices offered: $29.00 and a delivery date of 5 - 10 days or $27.oo for a delivery date of 6 - 10 days. The third choice was $5.50 - with a delivery date of 6 - 10 days. I just don't get how the USPS sets their prices and determines delivery times. With no change in delivery times - I opted for the $5.50 cost.

I won't post pictures of what I sent just yet - surprises are always best. Pictures will be added at a later date.

The Fabric Shopper: Giveaway! Fabric Bundles from Matatabi Japanese Fabric Shop

2009-03-01T10:35:00.002-05:00

Here is another great giveaway with several opportunities to win. Don't miss this as the fabrics are gorgeous

The Fabric Shopper: Giveaway! Fabric Bundles from Matatabi Japanese Fabric Shop

Another Giveaway at Lovely Little Handmades

2009-02-24T20:26:00.005-05:00

Here is another giveaway. This one is for a lovely little japanese charm pack. Don't miss out.
You have until Saturday February 28. This picture of the charm pack is from Lovely Little Handmades.

http://lovelylittlehandmades.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway-japanese-charm-pack.html?showComment=1235525880000#c6753131171206286400

The Fabric Shopper: Five Weeks of Amy Butler - Bag Pattern & Fabric Giveaway!

2009-02-23T22:35:00.005-05:00

The winner of this giveaway was announced today - congratulations to KatieR.

This is a great opportunity. Check it out before March 1. Good Luck !

The Fabric Shopper: Five Weeks of Amy Butler - Bag Pattern & Fabric Giveaway!

Giveaways...

2009-02-23T21:05:00.008-05:00

I recently won the Fat Quarters giveaway of Anna Maria Horner's New Good Folks Collection on The Fabric Shopper Blog. It was a great feeling to win and like most people - I never win anything. Here are the 12 great fat quarters I won - thanks to Cynthia Mann at http://www.fabricworm.com/. The picture does not do justice to the lovely colors.

In order to allow other first time winners to experience the thrill of a win, I want to tell you about another giveaway. Use the link above to check out the Five Weeks of Amy Butler - Bag Pattern & Fabric Giveaway.

Thanks and Good Luck !

Cross Stitch - found again

2009-02-22T20:52:00.008-05:00

Hi - I have been cleaning out closets and unpacking the smaller boxes left over from my move to this house - five years ago.

Look what was in one of the small boxes way back on a top shelf. These little squares were completed probably 20 years ago. The patterns for them must be in one of my books sitting on my shelf. I use to do alot of cross stitch but then switched to sewing and knitting. Now that I see these little guys - there will be alot more cross stitching in my future.

No one is home...

2009-02-13T22:58:00.009-05:00

Hello - This is my second post to my blog. To the casual observer it probably appears nothing is going on here. Not so. I have agonized over so many things; is it ok to just add the blogs I like? or is it considered rude to add without asking. I have so much to learn.

I changed my template, resized my picture, changed the name of my blog, reworded my first post at least 10 times (I really need to relax about this). See? I've been busy.

Every few days I will add pics of my favorite things. Everyone has something they just love and it is fun to share. My first is The Shoes. Don't you just love them?

Unfortunately, I do not actually HAVE the shoes...just a pic. They were sold on eBay and the auction had already ended. I was too late. Otherwise they would have been mine! :-)

I plan to use the picture as inspiration for a fancy dress doll or lovely shoes for paper dolls.

That is all for today - hope to see you soon.

Thanks

So very new to blogging...

2009-02-08T20:26:00.006-05:00

and yet here I am. My first post. Most people must do some research before they create a blog. Not me. Nope. Nah.

I have been viewing all the wonderful blogs on Lisa Swifka's One World One Heart Event Blog 2009 and decided that next year will be MY opportunity to join in and offer something I have created to this fabulous giveaway. Since my natural tendency is to procastinate, it was now or never. It seemed logical that my first step needed to be setting up a blog. So, here I am.

Since I am not a participant in the OWOH event, there is no link to Lisa's blog from here. However, if you google 'One World One Heart 2009' you will find it.

Please check back every so often. I will keep working on this and try to make this a much better experience for you. If you have any suggestions - please chime in. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks