BUSY, BUSY, CHRISTMAS TIME

I have been so busy making Christmas gifts that I almost forgot to blog!  I took time out this morning to post a few pictures I took of my husband's handiwork in the decorating field.  The pictures never look as good as in person.  Everything is painstakingly placed, every light perfect, every bow tweaked into the wee hours of the night.  We look forward to our family every year and they delight in the beautiful wonder of his decorating.  Everything from the pig in the rocking chair, the tree on the porch, and the dalmation with the neck bow is noticed.  Well, back to wrapping and baking!  Merry Christmas!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

I am having a Black Friday sale on my Etsy shop.  It starts immediately and will continue up until midnight Saturday, November 27th!  Everything you purchase will receive 10% off.  Now is the time to get that quilt you have had your eye on!  Ready, set, go.

WINTER GARDEN

Our weather has been so great lately that all of the flowers and plants are completely cooperating and doing what they should.....except the tomatoes....it is almost Thanksgiving and I am still picking tomatoes!  The chrysanthemums are spectacular and my little winter veggie garden has really taken off.  I hope to harvest broccoli, broccoli/caulifllower, and swiss chard before too long!

SPECTACULAR SKIES

As I looked out my sewing room window this morning I was blown away by the beautiful sky I was looking at.  The colors were too pretty to capture on my camera......pinks, blues, golds, yellows, purple.....  What a great sunrise!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS !!!

YAAAAYYYYY!!!!!  I AM SO HAPPY THE GIANTS WON!   THAT IS MY BIRTHPLACE....SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA!  I AM VERY PROUD OF THEM!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Every year my husband decorates our home for all the seasons.  Waaaayyy too much work but he does it every year.  Doesn't it look great!

WELCOME

HALLOWEEN PORCH 2010

TOMATOES AND STRAWBERRIES

We are almost into winter and I am still picking strawberries and tomatoes!  That is California for you.  I hate the heat in the summer but everything else is great.  I put in a little veggie garden but will not show you until my plants are bigger.  I planted swiss chard, broccoli, and caulibrocoli.  (A cross between broccoli and cauliflower....it looks like cauliflower, is light green and taste just like broccoli!)  Yummmm

It is a wonderful rainy day today so I had better get busy sewing!

P.I.Q.F. AND THE DIET PACT

Had a wonderful time at PIQF (Pacific International Quilt Festival)!  So many spectacular quilts to view, vendors to visit, and, not to mention the good company of daughter, sisters, neice, and many friends.  Something to look forward to every year!  Now we have a pact to keep....several of us have decided to be ten pounds lighter next year!  Needless to say, I went off sugar the day I got back....I swear, if I can not each sugar (in any form other than natural fruit) and butter, I can certainly do that.  I am trying not to eat anything white.....rice, potatoes, bread, sugar, well, you get it.  Hidden in almost everything other than fruits and veggies is SUGAR.  I swear, I love it.....I am doing good though...switched from coffee to tea, am using an artificial sweetener, and I am really enjoying it  Well, stay tuned.

McALLISTER

And here is McAllister....12" all handmade German mohair all jointed teddy for your collection!  He is all dressed up in his finest tartan plaid wool vest.  HERE ARE SOME NEW THINGS I HAVE ADDED TO MY ETSY SITE.

Here are some new things I have added to my Etsy shop.

ART AND SOUL RETREAT

What a great trip and a beautiful place.....Portland, Oregon.  It was so nice to get away and be with others who love what they do.  They had great teachers, rooms were perfect, food was excellent, and I got a little down time but still was able to finish some unfinished projects.  I took a class on how to dye silk and it was a real joy.  Easier than I thought!  It was like Christmas every time I unwrapped a dyed piece of silk.  I made a silk scarf with silk yo yos on the bottom for my friend whose idea it was to go!  Hope I can go next year!  Just a few more days and I will be off to PIQF (Pacific International Quilt Festival) in Santa Clara, CA.   I have been attending this event for fifteen years and look forward to another spectacular time.

SHABBY FALL BUNNY

Looks like Easter but this is a cute bunny doll I made because the pattern was sitting there staring at me!  Who says you can't have bunnies around in the fall?

FALL GARDEN

Went out to see what my fall garden looked like after I spent so much time gathering up leaves which have really started falling.  Well, it looks just like before I cleaned them up.  I guess that's why they call it FALL!  Took a picture of my angel watching over the pot of parsley and the gorgeous late tomatoes.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Not much of anything happening here, so when my good friend's email was called "wild idea", I was very much interested.  We are going to the ART AND SOUL RETREAT in Portland, Oregon!  What a nice week long gathering of like minded comrades and friends we have not yet met.  Just think:  cool weather, inspiration, fun and laughter, and did I mention INSPIRATION?  The idea of retreats like this one are so good for the soul and therefore very befitting the name Art and Soul retreat!  It is so nice to get away and come back refreshed and flowing over with new ideas and creativity.  I am so looking forward to it!  Her husband is a pilot and my son is a pilot.....so when I told her husband how weird was the idea of us both being afraid of flying he said "maybe you two know something we don't!"  We will be holding each others' hand upon every takeoff and landing!  Where there is a will, there is a way.  See you when I return fully refreshed and with a new creative spirit.

IT IS OFFICIAL!

Ok, it's official......I am going back to my roots.....teddy bear making!  I cannot stand it a minute longer.  After everything I do, I can't stop thinking about what fun it was....the clothes, the different faces, etc.  Be looking for what I create next!

WHOOPS!  And I almost forgot.....every creation station has to have a beautiful chandelier!  And here is mine.

WHERE THIS WOMAN CREATES

I took a break today in between making thirty six (36) small berries to add to an applique quilt I was finishing.  After burning my fingers on these nifty little critters that seemed like thirty six HUNDRED,  I decided to take a break......BAD IDEA!

I decided to sit down and peruse my new magazine "Where Women Create".  Next thing I knew I was digging my camera out of my purse and practically broke my neck standing on a small rabbit stool I have to take the pictures at the right angle.....yes, I HAD to take these pictures!  This magazine is so inspiring I cannot stand it. 

Now, I need to get back to my mohair teddy bear making, while quilting, altered art creating, antiquing, glittering of the world, and, did I mention, getting out all my Amy Butler fabric!!??

Serves me right!  I should have stuck to small berry making!  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

WHERE THIS WOMAN CREATES