mon 6/15

been up and at it for a good while.  decided it was time to bite the bullet and just do it – the ‘cabachon’ thing.  so, here is how it’s going.

i can see why these things cost so much!  it goes just about as fast as applique. ^_^  and, once again, i am having the ‘not enough beads’ feelings.  got lucky with this one.  i have 20 of these glass pieces – not really beads, no holes.  they were buttons when i bought them, but managed to ‘unglue’ the shanks to convert them.  i found those green beads i used to encircle it first.  they are irredescent and shine kind of pink – just like the large one!  then, found those other little ones that are pinky/purple in the middle.  the outer glass is probably more turquoise, but looks green enough on the green fabric.  having a good time and learning as i go.  now all i need is double hours in each day! ^_^

just tried to add a new category and couldn’t.  what’s up with that??  so, will use uncategorized for now.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

 

thurs 6/11

this is not what i am supposed to be doing!  i have just a couple hours before i must be on the road, headed for lake tahoe.  yes, it’s a tough life, but someone has to do it! ^_^  actually, i am going for ‘work’ – doing a ‘mini trunk show’ (whatever the heck that is!) and a ‘mini class’.  yikes!  all of that is supposed to happen in just 3 hours.  gonna be interesting, at least!

the real purpose of this post is to show you some pictures of a really really old oak tree – the kind we have here in calif.  i had to take these with my cellphone camera, so not the best quality.  and the one i enlarged, so it’s not even all that sharp.  still, the purpose is to show the huge-ness plus how ‘crooked’ the branches are.  they are simply amazing trees.  these are on the property where ruth lived for awhile and where we stayed this past weekend.

ok, so the first one ended up at the top.  not going to take the time to move it!  hopefully the second one will go right here!!

and now i am out of time!!  talk to ya when i return!!

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

 

very different

decided to take this picture out the kitchen window to show how much things change with the seasons.  i think we sometimes just forget to notice the everyday miracles!  the last picture i posted that was taken looking out this way was to show the first (and leaning) snowman.  and now look!

i’ve noticed that all the dogwoods in town are loaded with blossoms this year.  must have been ideal winter for them.  the close up pine is the norfolk that spends the winter in the big house.  it’s not looking its best right now – some brown on the tips of nearly every little branch.   we’ve had some pretty chilly weather since i brought it down.  at least i was smart enough to not put the fig outside yet.  did have to remove it from up there also – so it has been in the bedroom.  probably thinks it’s been outside! ^_^  kinda chilly in there!  i was about to put it out – glad i didn’t as it’s been barely 40 deg last couple nights.

so, the class yesterday.  it went very well, tho we didn’t get as far as usual.   i had originally stated that in order to take the advanced class you had to take my first one – that was definitely not the case yesterday.  there were some who just couldn’t get to the first one.  then, there were 2 new members – who happened to also be brand new to applique – as in ‘never done it’!  and even those who took the first one were at varying levels – only a few had actually finished the first piece – don’t know how many even worked on it at all – like “practiced”!  somehow we muddled thru and everyone left happy – or at least ’satisfied’. ^_^  as for me – happy and a little tired.  did just about nothing once  back home – after trip to bank and grocery.

today i’m going to see if i can get the 4th simple design sewn.  at least give it a good go!  have the fabrics chosen – that’s half the battle. ^_^  i’ll post as soon as it’s done.

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

 

home again

it is monday, and my weekend from h____ is over. i am safe. and that is about all that i can think of that’s really positive to say. ^_^ guess that’s pretty important, tho.
i did get a commission job while there. that will be fun. someone has already done the piecing and wants 3 motifs – one in each of the blocks. it’s a 3-block piece, blocks set horizontally and will hang above her bed. size-wise, kind of like a table runner. she wants my flowers. the backgrounds are pastels – peach and green, primarily. so, am looking forward to doing that.

also approached by a woman who does “digital” quilts. she has co-authored a book on it. anyway, she is looking at adding applique to her quilts, and wants to use my designs. we’ll see if that pans out. i am going to go into photo shop and see if i can learn to do what she does. no, not to compete! just to learn something new. ^_^ i’m fascinated by the fabric designing aspect. i know i can do that. and who knows where that could lead?? ^_^ so, for those of you who are still too afraid of applique, or just plain hate hand work – but, do like my designs. there just may be a way you can use them. stay tuned. ^_^

love and beauty www.artfullyapplique.com

 

smile!

it is wet, chilly and a little grey here and i know it is totally grey ‘back east’ during this month. sooo – thought i’d just cheer you up a bit. ^_^

if you live in calif – love to see you at the show in watsonville this coming weekend. it’s at the santa cruz county fairgrounds.

love and beauty www.artfullyapplique.com

 

new design

just finished a new design sample. not sure how it will be received at shows. not anything like anything else i’ve done. there will be at least two of these ‘mandala-type’ and then, who knows. the series will probably be named “In a Word” (and still For the Love of Applique)and all the designs will have a one word name – this one being “Love”. i have a flower one drawn (very roughly) that will be “Hope”, if it makes it off the drawing board. ^_^ and the one i am about to begin sewing is “Patience”.

yes, that is ‘reverse applique’, but with a twist cause there’s some regular applique on top of it. i wasn’t sure how difficult it would be. am happy to report that reverse applique seems easier than regular in some ways – so, it’s ok.

obviously i (we) are not homeless. wolves not completely gone, but we at least have some time. hopefully the daycare will be up and running soon and providing some income. and i have shows beginning next month. on a rather tight budget for now! orders would certainly help. ^_^

love and beauty www.artfullyapplique.com

 

1/2 buckle my shoe

ok, not really – i had intended to just type the date, but ya just never know. ^_^
mostly wanted to again say Happy New Year.
we are still not ‘out of the woods’ here (or out IN the woods either), but won’t be getting kicked out within a couple months, at least. still, the danger has not completely passed – so the ’sale’ remains on the webpage. and even if the house were secure – my personal finances are in a shambles. ahhh, the mystery of it all.
i remain optimistic and trusting in TGW to guide me thru safely.

love and beauty www.artfullapplique.com

 

an update

we are safe and housed for one more month – and still have water and electricity. that’s a good thing. a little chilly these days.
thank you to those who helped – and please, continue to pass the word, if you would. still don’t know how we are going to pull this off. so keep those prayers going. ^_^

love and beauty www.artfullyapplique.com

 

Merry Christmas

God Bless us, every one! ^_^

love and beauty www.artfullyapplique.com

 

maybe

these are the thoughts that came to me during and just after my morning journaling practice.

Maybe we are at a moment of Spiritual Evolution as a race – because, until now we have misinterpreted our Divine Urge for ‘Expansion’. As a race at it’s level of development we turned the Divine Urge into a belief. And beliefs operate at the level of doing and having, and are, by nature ‘false’. So, the urge for ‘expansion’ for Spirit became the ‘need’ for more at the level of doing and having – more stuff, more fame, more status, more, more, more. At any cost. That belief has now been driven to extinction and we must evolve.
We are evolving into the Truth of Expansion which is about becoming “more”. Evolution by its nature requires transformation, which may look like the ‘death’ or disappearance of some ‘things’. And at the individual level, that disappearance/change can look a lot less than wonderful.

Some of us seem to be caught in that part of this evolution – and are in ‘real’ danger of losing our homes, have already lost our jobs, etc etc etc. So, I am trusting in TGW (The Great Whatever, as my writer friend calls It).
As I sat in my chair my eyes were drawn to these wonderful flowers I had brought in from the yard. And I couldn’t help but think – how DOES that happen? How does that little brown bulb turn into these beautiful and complex flowers and leaves – every year at this time???? How DO we humans think we really know anything??? How could we ever believe WE are ‘in contol’ here? my my

love and beauty www.artfullyapplique.com