Altered Art/Paper Craft Studio

At the end of last summer I decided to set up a little studio in our garage, as I wanted to separate out my fabric and sewing supplies from the ever-growing supplies of my paper art creating.  I had started making crowns, memory boxes, paper dolls, and many other things and it was getting too confusing trying to store and mix everything in my small studio/sewing room.  I would have glue and glitter here and there, as I make a complete mess when crafting things.
Now that the weather is not too cold I am ready to go back into the garage and create in my once started studio.  So, tonight I made a fairly large studio sign to get me pumped up to clean and organize all my supplies.  There is a shop in Nevada City that I truly love called My Favorite Things.  Tina, the wonderful owner, has a little shop out back where you can purchase supplies and create to your heart's content.  She calls it her GLITTER GIRL STUDIO.  I loved that name, and since I am not setting up a commercial shop, I do not think she would mind me using her name for my little space!  Here is my sign but I will not show any pictures until my space is nice and neat.....then you will see it.

I don't know if you remember, but I told you I was planting a winter garden a few months back....well, here is what has transpired so far.  I have several broccoli and cauliflower/broccoli plants and they have actually started growing REAL veggies!  Don't they look nice?  I will probably have a real hard time harvesting them.....you know how hard it is to open a really pretty package?  Same thing.

MY VEGETABLES

GARDENING DELIGHT

What a perfect day to garden.....getting all those pesky leaves cleaned up, deadheading flowers, pruning here and there....and all of a sudden I NEEDED to go to the garden center....yes, I NEEDED to go.  I do not need much coaxing at all!  Found a few annuals to start me off

Happy New Year!

So here we are into the year 2011.  Boy, does that sound strange!  No rip roaring New Years parties here.....I went to bed at 9:30 and my husband stayed up late:  11:30.
Next important thing on my list is to work on my entries for our quilt show which takes place every February.  I am entering my chicken quilt because I feel someone might like it.  I took a lot of time running all over heck picking out my Kaffe Fassett fabric to make this wonderful Lightning quilt.  I had visions of granduer I guess because, once I made my templates, I discovered I REALLY did not want to make this quilt which included cutting a million paralleograms (sp?).  Therefore, I just chose a quilt I have been wanting to make for a long time and got on with it!  I actually finished the quilt top in just one day.....funny how fast things can go when you get your way and make what YOU want to make, instead of making something you think OTHERS would like to see.

So.....my new years resolution will be :  Make myself happy in all my creating
                                                                Don't make things to please others
                                                                Take time to smell the roses
                                                                 Enjoy family and friends and make THEM happy.....

Because......when you are happy, they are happy!    So....Happy New Year!
                                                               

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.