WoW! Time really does fly!

It can't really be Feb 14.  We just had christmas.  My Fiftieth Year is half gone and I still have yet to get more than 3 hours at a  time in the studio!  I had intended to quilt and create every day, all day this entire year!  So much for resolutions and great plans of...

Have entered myself in two challenges this spring, a "Artdoll Quilt" challenge and a "green postcard" challenge to get myself into the studio regularly.  Have many ideas swimming around for both--nothing definite.

My artfdoll has a face courtesy of Graphixoutpost at Etsy.  She will be wise and wonderful if she ever gets a body or a quilt.  Hand painted and hand dyed fabric will make her body with beading and fiber for hair.  Wise and whimsy will be her cloak.

For the green postcard challenge, I will probably make several and choose the best.  Have been saving many fun embellishments since my days of altered books so this shouldn't be so hard.  We will keep you posted with pics soon!

Close ups!

Felted "Penny Rug" style wall art

Well I finally took some pics of the penny rug style family art pieces. This is the reason for the new embellisher that I just had to have. I started these last year for Christmas but discovered that time was not sufficient to finish them. Each tongue features the names of the family members. As I have 4 brothers, each one is similar but all different too. Dad got the first one.  They are all wool felt, some new most recycled and dyed with kool-aid or acid  dyes.  Will post again when I have more finished.

Felting Going Strong!

My new Pfaff felting/embellishing machine is the best new machine in a long time, and this from a self-proclaimed gadget girl.
It works just great! Will post other pics of the main reason for the purchase, but for now here are the cup cozies that I'm selling on Etsy.



They are selling well so far. My tags are not finished yet but they work really well for hot drinks or cold. I think I've finally found something that indulges my need to collect fiber and yarn when knitting is not my thing.

Penguins are DONE!

Yeah! The last of the penguins "flew" via UPS to Cali last wednesday night! Just in time for a great Thanksgiving holiday! Just one of the many things I can be thankful for this season. Grandma's health is improving, the husband's business is going well and my son is home this weekend from college...picking out engagement rings with his girlfriend of eight years. My darling daughter is coming home for Christmas and all is right with the world.

Finally got to do some work for myself this weekend and got started on the felted cup cozies hat I have been planning the last four weeks making 60 penguin costumes. While I'm just getting started with them, I found them fun and creative and they will make great little tuck-in gifts for friends and family. I have listed some of them in my Etsy store as well.




Many quilts were hatched while waiting in doctor's offices while we see what's causing Grandma to feel so bad. Some surgury and lots of tests later; we think she is on the mend, finally. So now back to work!

OK so it's not tomorrow...

Wow the weeks just seem to fly by. I finally have taken the time to post again. Penguins are coming, slowly. They each take about 3 1/2 hours from cutting to sewing so they are taking a large amount of time.

Pics are done for the balance of my work to date. There are two others but I do not have photos. One is in my dear daughter's home and one was a raffle prize for the local Catholic school fund raiser. I await any and all comments!

Made in 1995, old flannel shirts
Made in 1996 during a stay in the Poconos, quilted with a gymnast on the rings in the center, Owned by my son, Gable,a former gymnast
Made in 1997 from an original oil painting by my great grandmother using the snippets method.

Penguins! Penny Rugs! and Possibly a new Bernina?

The Young Americans' penguin costumes have taken over the sewing room. The first ten are sent and I've cut 5 more...only 55 more to go...then to sew them.

Took a day off from penguins and worked on the family set of "penny rugs". I use this term loosly as they are really not penny rugs at all in the traditional sense. I was inspired by the work of Jane Sassaman and my the style of Mary Engelbreit. I love black grounds with bright colots and had always wanted to work with wool. I thrifted alot of wool clothes, and used up wool from my stash. Koolaid dyed and felted they are "sew" much fun. I really enjoyed getting to use all those embroidery stitches I learned in high school again. Needle felting them is getting tedious and so today I went to the local Bernina dealer to check out the attachment and found that it only works on new machines...so........I just had to check out the new machines.

The new 730 is so nice and I've never had a new machine....several wonderful bernina's over the years ..all of which I still have or have handed down to my daughter....maybe it's my turn to get the whole ball of wax...they will throw in an embellisher in the deal...won't clog up the new bobbin case of the 730. Will post pics tomorrow!