GREEN THERAPY

Until last week, we had not seen the ground since Dec 27th. The snow pack in the backyard is still about 12 inches thick in places. Wanda and I were in desperate need of green therapy. So Wanda planned a mystery trip to the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. It was very windy and cold outside but we enjoyed the balmy moist air of the greenhouse.

Wandering through room after room of astonishing color and earthen smell made us feel like spring was just around the corner.
These precious pink and white stamens are what is left after the petals fall and I am sure they will find their way into a beaded interpretation at some point.
The waterlilies were in bloom. The only thing missing were the fish and the mosquitoes.....not that we missed the bugs at all!!!!

After we had enough "green" (and red and yellow and...well, you get the point), we headed for Little Italy for a delicious lunch. It was a perfect day and maybe....just maybe....we will make it to spring.

BEAD JOURNAL PROJECT-January

I am on track so far! Ok I have to admit that I am the world's best procrastinator. And I thought long and hard before signing up for the Bead Journal Project. But I have completed my January "page". I am working with 4 inch crazy quilt squares that will represent each month of the year. I hope to either frame them as a unit or quilt them into a wall hanging.....which is why the edges are unfinished. I will be placing a unifying fabric around each square.

This year there has been SNOW.....everywhere.....and for a very long time with another storm or two predicted for this week. Hopefully I will get a jump start on February's quilt square with ample time to get to the store for beads before the next storm hits.

COLD AND SNOW

It has been cold here in New Jersey and this little snow person is feeling right at home. I created her some time ago but just never got around to sharing her with you. She is right at home in my studio and ofter helps to hold down the freezer paper that I use under my wet and messy pieces as I create them.

The holidays are upon us and once again I realize that I have not spent nearly enough time in the studio and not shared nearly as much asI have wanted to on my blog. No resolutions this New Year....just more doing that which I love.

Have a blessed and happy holiday season.

STENCIL FUN

Autumn has been very busy without much time in the studio. Mom's 80th birthday was celebrated in Santa Fe, New Mexico and what a fun time we had. I really enjoyed the art world that inhabits that place....everything from fine art to architectural art. What a feast for the eyes!!!

Back here in New Jersey, I have been playing with stencils. I have been taking Mary Ann Moss' Stitched and Stenciled online class. These beautiful clear autumn days are perfect for stenciling since I use spray paint and need to be working outside.I am working on several pieces in both paper and fiber and using stencils as the background. The one above started with paper doilies as a base and the stencils were layered on top.

This page started with a base coat of paint and a large swirling pattern as the base.

This page started with lace and sequin waste. I am finding that I love sequin waste but it is difficult to work with...it wants to curl and I haven't found an adhesive that will hold it flat to the paper but still the dots seem to come out ok. Now that the stenciled part is done, I need to add the stitched part!!

SCHOOL DAYS

I love shopping for school supplies. Markers, notebooks, crayons and folders grab my attention by mid-summer and I am ready to hit those well- laden isles of any and every store that carries such delights. I no longer have anyone who needs that last-minute run to the store for that special 3 ringed binder that a particular teacher requires but that we forgot to get on the last trip to the store but I still think of September as a "new year" with new beginnings and unlimited potential.
With that in mind, I decided there was no better time to post a few "notebooks" that have found their way out of the studio notebook and into existence.

This is the first notebook I created. It is a stamped, piano-hinged beauty created on card stock. I haven't decided what I will use it for yet but the possibilities are endless.

When I became fascinated with polymer clay, I decided that a notebook cover might prove an interesting challenge and so this second notebook was born. It, too, has yet to find a purpose.
I found wooden rulers in a collection of school supplies left behind as my children moved onto college and not wanting them to go to waste, I decided to try a tag book with a ruler hinge. It has that industrial look that I find appealing.
And finally, a book that reminds me of a very special trip to Cape May, NJ complete with shells collected from that adventure.
May those of you who have loved ones heading off to classes or are heading off to classes yourselves have a blessed and fulfilling school year!

WOOL FELT AND SUMMER PERFECT TOGETHER?

Sometimes inspiration hits at the most inconvenient times...like working with wool felt on the hottest days of summer (at least so far!!!) A bundle of wool felt arrived on my doorstep a few days ago and I just had to work with it right away. Now, if you haven't yet discovered it, I LOVE autumn and so what better motif to explore than pumpkins?

Scissors Case

There was just enough black felt to make a project pocket, scissors case and a needle book. The body of the pumpkin was made with wood felt and the center of the pumpkin and stem were made with Wonder Under lined wool.

Project Pocket

The motifs were enclosed with buttonhole stitches and the raw edges were also finished with buttonhole stitches.

Flap on Project Pocket

The detail on the flap of the project pocket is beaded feather stitches and french knots.

Needle Book

The needle book has pages that are also made from wool felt. Each is labeled with the type of needle that can be stored there. The labels are made from muslin that have been stamped with the needle type. All the pieces are lined with printed cotton.

Needle Book

Needle Book

Wool Felt Stitching Necessities

This project was really fun and I am ready to start another one...maybe with a summer motif!!!

ART SHOW!!!!!

I am entering my very first art show. Atlantic Health holds a yearly art show of work created by employees and their families and this year I decided to enter. "The Birdhouse" is my entry. It is a mixed media art quilt made from hand painted fabric, commercial fabric, paper fabric, wire, yarn and copper foil. I am excited/anxious about entering my work in such a venue but we shall see...oh, and we are allowed to sell the pieces should we choose so, of course, this piece is for sale.

Life here is finally getting back to normal after having the bathroom renovated. Seven weeks of deconstruction/construction most of which we had no shower or bathtub facilities has made things interesting. At least the toilet was working for all but a few days....since this is our one and only bathroom, we moved out for a few days, borrowed a friend's shower on most days (thanks so very much, Wanda) and punted the rest of the time. The new bathroom is beautiful and I am very glad it is finished.