I'M HOME

hi everyone,
I am home from retreat amd what a great time we had.
We stayed at 5-Oaks in Paris..... NOT FRANCE!! but Ontario.. We have been going there for about 15 years twice a year to sew and enjoy the company of  friends.It is far from the maddening crowds  and the are has lots of trails for walking and enjoying nature. Unfortunately the weather was horrible with snow and rain so we just stayed inside and worked on our projects!

Everyone brings snacks. Seems they were taking over the cutting station!ever

Our meals were provided and sooooo yummy.

Someone was fooling around with my camera!!!

Hi-HO-HI-HO OFF TO RETREAT I GO

This week-end is my quilt guild retreat.

I'm not missing in action here. just away having fun.

will post some pics when I get home

Hope you will miss me ;-}

Needle Punch

I have been working on some needlepunch pictures

I LOVE PEARS

Needlepunch is done from the back and the loops show up on the right side...
It is a very relaxing passtime.

FUNTIME

Isn't this a fun bag!! You never lack for attention when wearing it.

Just finished this one fdor a friend.

PLAYTIME

Well I had some quiet time and a glass of wine and settled down after I had such a frustrating time with the computer this afternoon.

I was experimenting with some thread painting and worked on this dragonfly.The little one was my first attempt and the big one was my second. I think this has wonderful possibilities for additions to crazy patch.. I hooped two layers of tulle netting and used a varigated thread. When I was happy with that I used some gold thread and put in some accents by hand.I am totally excited with the idea........What do you think?

I

CATCHING UP

Hello Dear Friends, Here I am at last. I have been so busy. The Studio Tour for Artists of Oxford County is fast approaching and I have been working hard on my ideas. There will be a "Sneak Peek" on Friday for all the artists involved. I will post pics of that on the week-end. This is an Embroidered box that was so much fun to make. It is a pale green silk with a deep purple silk lining.Each section is 4"x5"and is embellished with other bits of silk and beads. The color is not showing up but I think it gives you an idea. I plan to do some more of these boxes. They have been so much fun.

Since it is the "Year of the Rabbit" I wanted to do some of these pincushions.. It measures 4" x 6" and is mounted on a wooden pedestal.

The cat is adorable too and it measures 8"x6". They are both made from the beautiful wool I use for rug hooking ($24.00 and yard! yikes, but I thought they were worth the best). The white patches are hand sewn on with the buttonhole stitch.

The wooden pedestals I finish with a white paint with gold accents.

They are stuffed tight as a drum and can be used as a soft sculpture piece or a pin cushion.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my latest effort.

Now I am off to a meeting and then back to my studio to work.

It is starting to look like spring, the birds are singing, it is a sunny day and NO SNOW!!!! yeah!

One World One Heart

This was what I won from the One World One Heart event.This is Barbara's blog.....such a talented lady. I just LOVE wearing this pendant and have received so many compliments. Thanks again Barbara for your generosity. It was such an exciting event and I met so many wonderful bloggers.

CATCHING UP

It has been too long between posts and I am sorry.

I have been so busy preparing for upcoming events.


The Spring Quilt Retreat is fast approaching as well as the studio tour the 1st of May.


I have been trying to get some things done for the sale.....BUT!............................


I have taken time to just enjoy some quiet time to myself and this is it.


I have really enjoyed learning traditional rug hooking... Shading is the hardest and most challenging but I thought I may as well try to master that right from the start. This is the rug I am working on. I cannot tell you how many times I have ripped out and started again , but I need to get the right feel of it..I am happy with the results so far It is a fairly large rug, 3'x4'.. The centre will be off white as you can see the outline around the flowers.I treated myself to a beautiful hooking frame with gripper strips all around the edge to hold the linen taut. I love the stand as it takes the weight off my lap as I hook.. Anyway.. so much for the pension cheque this month
I had to put it aside for awhile as I got an infection in my thumb!!! Spent 8 hours in emerge for that.. Read a whole book...Oh Dear! Don't know how I got the infection but it is OK now.

So that is it for now.

I'm off to the city to run a few errands so will catch you later.

Thanks so much for stopping by and please say hi if you can. It means so much

Busy Busy with New Things

I did not do any posting while One World One Heart was running......HOWEVER>>>>> that does not mean I was not busy creating!

Everyone knows how much I love beading and I was in a beading frenzy,

I made several pairs of earrings using swarski crystals, and pearls. I am using a differnt clasp which I find very comfortable and very secure on the ear.
I used pearls along with crystal.The different colors available are black, white, blue, grey and pink.Other colors will come along soon. I completed this 60" beaded scarf using gold bugles and bronze seeds. The fringe is an assortment of bronze and amber beads and charms.

I was working on some beaded amulet bags in different colors. Wouldn't the white/cream pearl ones would be pretty for a bridal gift to her attendants.

I have to finish the flaps yet using more beads and charms .. They have a generous length rope which seems to accomodate most bodies.

And here is another beaded scarf done in a glorious shade of plum iris bugles and matching seeds. The drop crystals are a beautiful deep amythest.

It is 60: long as well and can be doubled as you would a long scarf and worn as a choker... Stunning...

Any of my items are for sale along with free shipping. Email me with any questions.

Thank you.

I LOVE Old Men

Years ago I studied oil painting. I liked oils because of their slow drying character. If I wanted to change something I had the time.
I really enjoyed portraiture and studied with a well known artist in western Canada by the name of David Johnston.
My favorite subjects were old men wearing hats. Apart from having live models I often turned to National Geographic for some interesting subjects.Hands were always a challenge but enjoyable to try.
I also had a period of time when I studied different Indian Chiefs... If my memory serves me I think this one is "Poundmaker" Must look that up to verify...
I have not formally painted for a long time but I am getting the urge again.
I think I would like to resume my watercolors. I found this medium a big challenge but it is less messy than oils.I still have all my tubes of watercolors so maybe I will just do that.
I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of the paintings I have kept. Most of my work is in private collection.
Thanks for stopping by.

OWOH Winner

CONGRATULATIONS

to Jenn of Just Jenn Designz winner of the amulet bag.

I want to thank everyone that stopped by my blog. It was a pleasure to meet each of you .

I will be popping by to visit each of you as time allows... Hope you will come back and visit me too.

A big thank you to Lisa for arranging such a spectacular event for so many years. It has been such fun....Let's not say good-bye but let it be an open door for wonderful friendships to enter.

One World One Heart

Thanks to Lisa Swifka One World One Heart is about to begin again.
If you want to get in on it and you have a blog then follow the link to get all the details.
It has been such a fun way to visit other blogs and make new friends all over the world.
This will be the last time for the event..... I guess all good things must come to an end.
so..... I send my heartfelt Thanks to you Lise , for organizing such a wonderful opportunity

This is a picture of what I will be offering for the winner on my blog.

It is one of my handmade beaded amulet bags on a beaded rope($59.00 value). I was trying to think of what would make a nice give away and this is what I came up with.
All you have to do is leave a message in this post . If you do not have a blog then you must leave an email address whereyou can be reached should you be the winner.
If I have a lot of entries I will offer a second and third prize.
Thanks to each one of you that participates.
The fun will begin after midnite on Jan. 30th. and the winner will be chosen on Feb.18th,2011

Hope to see you then,

LET THE FUN BEGIN.

(PS... I had such a time trying to get the picture of my bag to enlarge, result.. 2 pictures but only one will enlarge! so I am leaving well enough alone!!)