Summertime!

So, it seems that my last post was on the first day of Spring and I'm wondering how a whole season could have gone by so quickly. Life is zipping along at the speed of light. Now it's a time for long days, beach jaunts, and projects galore.

I enjoyed a painting workshop at the studios of Lisa Kaus yesterday. Lisa has a lovely home and garden, and a wonderfully appointed downstairs studio full of artwork, as well as an area for a group of 11 or so students to spread out and create. It was Father's Day, something I didn't realize when signing up for the class so we did our family thing on Saturday morning, which worked out better for everyone. I didn't feel too guilty yesterday as hubby was able to spend the whole day with a new HD television all to himself. A well-deserved day of doing absolutely nothing in particular. Anyway, I've posted a couple of pics of the painting I did in workshop. It was fun to do something loose and whimsical.

I'll be heading over to Reed College in Portland on Wednesday for Artfiberfest! My personal vacation time; 3 days of fiber-related workshops and fellowship. This will be my third time at AFF and it's the first year it's being held in Portland. I'll come home with a load of inspiration and new projects. Promise to share some of that when I return.

Cinn-ful Saturday

Remember these? Bread makers were all the rage for a while but seem to have gone the way of the Ronco Veg-O-Matic. My in-laws handed this down to us several years ago when they moved from their condo to assisted care. It's been sitting on the floor of my pantry since, that is, until this morning. On a whim, I decided to look for a cinnamon roll recipe yesterday, just in case we had a "I need something with my coffee" moment this weekend. Mind you this isn't what you want to indulge in on any ol' Saturday or Sunday, but maybe once in a while.... So I decided on these.
Whipping up the dough was a snap in the bread maker. Rolled up with brown sugar and cinnamon and ready to go in the oven. I adjusted the butter by spreading 6 Tblsp. on the dough and using ony 2 Tblsp. instead of 8 Tblsp. in the icing (while increasing the cream cheese to 4 ounces). Big reduction on the guilt factor, too...not!

Oh. My. Goodness.

Meanwhile, out in the yard. One of the gnarly, old flowering plum trees that line our street doing its spring thing.
Happy Weekend.

In a sunny corner

It's been a while since I've been at my little blog. Life can carry us along on a wave of daily chores and detours. And there was that hour lost to daylight savings time, but I'm not complaining. Love the longer evening light, and we've enjoyed some bright days here lately in the Land of Liquid Sunshine. I set up a small table last week in my favorite spot to paint, in front of a south facing window. This face will be incorporated into a portrait quilt commissioned by one of my art friends.

Did you remember that registration started today for Art & Soul, Portland? I'm excited about taking a class with Katie Kendrick this time, and nudging my painting into a new direction. I love her whimsical, folksy style.

See you later.

I'm making a real effort to avoid buying new textiles. With fabric designers tempting us at every turn, it isn't easy! So the thrift shops are providing my fabric fix lately. I love the graphics and colors on these vintage tea towels. They'll be worked into something, perhaps totes, or quilts.



Speaking of bags, here's my latest embroidery finished off and stitched into something to carry around this spring and summer.
Yep, it's stitched on the back, too.

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.