How's Your Day?

The sun is out! I'm daydreaming about Spring already and my latest "pick-up" project is all about it. The piece of thrifted tablecloth here will soon be a new bag, although it's looking a little rumpled and hardly there at this point. I decided to go with the tradition of redwork embroidery and it's looking kinda cheerful against the white and yellow plaid.
The pattern is from Kathy Schmitz, which practically jumped in my basket while I was here. Had to edit the design somewhat so there will be a chance of the stitching being done before spring--or summer!-- are long gone.

I came across an article by Cesar Millan, the "Dog Whisperer", in last Sunday's Parade magazine section titled, "What Your Pet Can Teach You". Maybe you saw it, too. This is from the article:

"For a dog, every morning is Christmas morning. Every walk is the best walk, every meal is the best meal, every game is the best game. We can learn so much by observing the way our pets rejoice in life's simplest moments. Take time every day to celebrate the many gifts that are hidden in the ordinary events of your own life".

So Long, 2008

A few of my favorite bits from the holiday season...

Making peppermint soap with daughter Jessica, gifts for her co-workers. Another "good thing" from Martha Stewart. These were a lot of fun to make and a big hit at the office.

The delicious kolaches made by new daughter-in-law Jenn on Christmas morning, with savory sausage, cheese, and jalapeno fillings. Kolaches are a specialty in Jenn's hometown, Houston, but apparently nowhere to be found in the Northwest. Lucky for all of us that Jenn has learned to make her own. Yum!

White Christmas at the Newlywed's with the whole family.

Finishing the little cardboard cottages I started making last year. They need a few more little details...



The appearance of four young deer on the dunes across from our beach house on New Year's Day; I managed to catch a couple of them with my camera.

I'm excited about the New Year and looking forward to all that unfolds! Hope you are, too.

Binding a book is much like reading a good book, at least in my opinion. It's a process to be savored; handling the covers and each page, one section added to the next like chapters, from beginning to end. This blank journal has a buttonhole binding, a method learned recently in a workshop with Albie Smith at Art and Soul in Portland. Albie is a wonderful book artist and teacher, and also makes beautiful paste papers. I made my cover papers here with dye inks, stencils, and mica powders in polymer medium. The inside pages are drawing paper.

'Til Next Year

The PAC holiday show and sale was a great success in terms of attendance and sales, as well as the level of camaraderie and teamwork amongst the participating artists.

I was pleased to have real hanging art this year! If only things could have gotten started a little earlier...but a busy fall schedule and the procrastination thing got in the way. Next year will be different...:)

There's nothing like a deadline to move the creative process along. This piece will go into a 12 by 12 inch shadow box frame ( unlike the photo, it's actually square), and hang in the PAC holiday show...whose dates are coming up at an alarming fast rate! My intent is to have 5 finished art quiltlets by December 4th. I've managed to make quite a bit of jewelry, so far, and will try to share more photos soon. Meanwhile, it's back to work!

Shared Joy

A couple of fabric journal pages using a piece made in Ruth Rae's workshop at ArtFiberFest.


Shared joy is a double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow.

--Swedish proverb

Brand New Day

Congratulations to our new President Elect, Barack Obama. I'm so proud for our country today. Proud to be an American.