sredeluxe

Porthole # 30

2008-07-06T11:24:00.002-04:00

I skipped adding beadwork to this one...as I had a small metallic tatted bit (Kreinik # 4 ) that I've been wanting to use, and this one seemed to fit.

The centre fabric was another of my Goodwill finds ... I liked the swirly pattern on it. I enhanced what was there by adding Colonial knots in two colours and extended the swirl to the yellow patch, first working an outline in backstitching going over it with Detached Buttonhole stitch using purple Jeans Stitch.

The LD fans on the purple patch are Pearl Crown Rayon; for the split Chevrons I used Cotton Perle #5 in blue and Pearl Crown in green; on the wine patch I used black Cotton Perle #5 for more LD fans.

Porthole # 29

2008-07-02T10:55:00.004-04:00

I'm excited to show you this one because it's the first one that I added a Free Form edging to!

These pieces are created first then couched in place...they are really versatile as one picece could be used a number of ways (variations shown below).

Though I started with a rather dark background, I love how the edging brightened it ... and then pulled from these colours for other seams.

The real beauty of this method ... is it's flexability ... you can repeat the pattern however many times you need to fit where you want it to go ... whether it be 3" or 12" ... then simply pin it in place, couch it down and voila! ... one cool seam! Beyond that...you can further embellish with stitchery to enhance it (you wll see some of this on other Portholes).

But ... it doesn't stop there! Imagine creating these edgings to embellish clothing! Just picture how stunning it'd look to dress up a collar & cuffs of a jacket ... or trim a neckline of a dress or shirt! With the precision of creating a seperate piece the fit will be exact.

I have some holiday time coming soon ... and planning on using some of it to put together pattern sets ... which will be available soon! Oh yes...for sure...I will let you all know...I'm very eager to share these patterns with all ... as I'm confident that you'll love the technique as much as I do!

Enjoy!

Porthole # 28

2008-07-01T09:41:00.004-04:00

A while back I posted about spending two hours in a miniature rose garden ... this is what I was referring to!

The "wrought iron" fence was stitched with Kreinik metallic #4 then I added the French Knot roses & leaves. On the royal blue patch I worked a row of yellow Chevrons then two rows of Herringbone in wine silk, and used Candlelight gold for the LD fans, crosses and knots. Opposite on the wine patch more gold in stacked Chevrons overlayed with black metallic Chevrons with fly stitches added to form triangle points. The royal blue Chain Stitch vine is Ribbon Floss. On the small black patch the LD feather is Kreinik Metallic ... Ruby #4.

Stay tuned ... tomorrow I will share # 29 ... which is the first one featuring one of my Free Form Embellishments!

Happy Birthday Canada !

2008-07-01T09:18:00.003-04:00

Today we celebrate Canada's 141st Birthday ... I have always been thankful that I was born here and proud to call it home.

How lucky we are ... to live in a place where we are free to live as we please. When I see some of the atrocities that happen in other places around the world ... I count my blessings.

Yesterday the store was busy...and as part of our Canada Day event we were handing out small flags to each customer. The kids especially were thrilled...those innocent smiles when handed their gift...made it more special...and they waved them happily!

Tag ... I'm It!

2008-06-27T09:33:00.002-04:00

Betty Pillsbury has tagged me, and asked me to answer the questions that she posted on her site...so here goes!

TEN YEARS AGO ...
I was working in the billing department of a courier company in downtown Toronto, commuting via GO train an hour each way. I used this time to do a lot of stitching...and often got into conversations with fellow travellers about it. I was just beginning to realize that I was a designer!

5 THINGS ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST
- Post this Blog & dump the ton of "bulk" e-mails that arrived today
- Make a chore list for the kids
- Hit the bank & grocery store before work
- At work - get ready for our big Canada Day Event
- After work - continue stitching on my Jean Drag Bag & Porthole # 38

SNACKS I ENJOY
- Fruit ... and/or fruit salad
- Frozen yogurt
- Carrot cake muffins...complete with Cream Cheese Frosting!
- Butter tarts with raisins
- Pecan tarts or pie
- Sweet & Salty Granola bars

THINGS I'D DO IF I WAS A MILLIONAIRE
- Donate a big chunk of change to Sick Kids Hospital ... they do amazing work!
- Visit all my favourite e-friends around the world
- Buy that huge mansion we've always wanted
- Set up trust funds for my kids
- Create an Artists Endowment Fund ... to support fledgling artists in their quest for greatness
- Travel ... to all those exotic places that I've always wanted to see

PLACES I'VE LIVED
- Mississauga
- Nakina
- Sault Saint Marie
- Georgetown
- Toronto
- and currently ... in Pickering

Thanks Betty ... this was fun!

Porthole # 27

2008-06-25T11:34:00.002-04:00

#27 started with a piece from one of those infamous silk ties that I found at Goodwill. I loved the colours in this one. Added the tatted medallion first, then the wine LD fans in cranberry silk (Gobelins I think). Opposite that on the cranberry patch I used Ribbon Floss to make Buttonhole points trimmed with Detatched BH and opaque E bead centres. On the navy patch I started with overlapping Herringbone...two rows in tan and the third in turquoise was topped with fly stitches for the points. I finished off the bottom with a Bullion Stitch cable.

Food For Thought - The Power of the Net

2008-06-22T21:36:00.002-04:00

How small our world has become thanks to the Internet.

I was reminded recently that the first List I signed up on recently had it's 10th anniversary, and this gave me cause to reflect on what has happened over that time.

I remember being quite computer-illiterate back then. Fortunately, others around me had more knowledge about how it worked...and helped me to get out there. My brother for one had set up a small site hosting pages featuring Canadian artisans...mostly family and friends...showcasing their talents and providing contact information for those interested in purchasing goods shown for sale.

Funny thing is...I didn't sell one thing from this venue...but...what it did do was connect me with a few individuals who saw my work...connected me to resources...and in their own way changed my future!

Maryanne Croome.....a fellow Canadian...(hailing from Burlington ON) had begun this thing called a List for Silk Ribbon Embroidery enthusiasts. She e-mailed me to invite me to participate in this group and as it was free...hey...why not? It was fabulous to see that there were lots of people out there in the world who loved this as much as I did...and I was able to see pictures of what kinds of things others made using this medium. (At this point I did not have a scanner...so my descriptions were all I could offer.)

Next I was contacted by another Mary Anne ... Griffin! She found the Circle of Hands site and was eager to meet other SRE designers to chat with. (At this point I didn't even think of myself as a designer.) We became fast friends and I told her about the list that I had joined, then she joined too.

That year my DH gave me a scanner for my birthday...so now I could create images of my work to share with my net-friends. I was like a kid in a candy store...once I got the hang of creating pics...I was sharing all of the new things I had made...which were abundant then...and getting such positive feedback ... I was thrilled! But more than this...there were several who insisted that my creations were good enough to publish. Denial was my first response...thanks...nice of you to say but...I wouldn't have a clue how to do that.

I met one lovely lady on the list who unwittingly empowered me. Nora Creeach had a birthday...and decided to share a gift with the List members via a draw. She put names of interested parties into a hat and pulled out a winning name for this gift....and it was me! Cool! She sent my gift in the mail...a book called Ribbon Basics by Mary Jo Hiney and Joy Anckner. It is such a beautifully done publication...featuring awesome alphabetic creations in silk ribbon.

While looking through all the mapped out patterns, it struck me how to pattern my own pieces!

See...my forte has always been in creating originals...not creating a pattern first and working from it. I had to work backwards...making a the original and then patterning from it. When I realized that all I needed to do was to trace over my original through a clear acetate sheet...the designer in me was finally unleashed! All I had to do was get some fine permanent markers...and map the design with pattern graphics.....and I could create a pattern that others could recreate! My original acetate could be scanned to create a reproduction that could indeed be copied.

Armed with this knowledge I took the next step. My friend Terry Albright had provided me with contact information to the editor of a magazine called NeedleWorker. I mustered every ounce of courage that I had...forwarded some scans of my work...and waited for a reply. What was the worst that she'd say?....your work is lovely but...

I was not prepared for the reply. She did indeed find it publishing material...and would like to present it as part of a set...so did I have some other ideas that could work with my sachet as a trio?

The rest....so they say...is history! The "Silk Ribbon Boudoir Accents" consisted of the original sachet, an oval doily and a tissue box cover (both of which I created only drawings for...not expecting to have to actually make patterns for...but forced into putting my money where my mouth and sketches were...I actually did!) It was a "Special Feature" in the October/November 2000 issue!

Let me tell you...there is no greater high than seeing your work professionally photographed and in print for the very first time...declaring "Designs by Marie Alton". I felt immortal!

Did I forget to mention?.....the editor then was none other than the incredible Deanna Hall West?

Can you imagine how my hands trembled sending that first e-mail to her?

That all seems so long ago and far away...because since then I had a total of three articles presented by NeedleWorker....one a collaboration with Deanna....and a fourth presented by Quilting Arts magazine featuring my very own Melanie Rose.

So there.....that is how it all came to be...and I thank you all....for changing my life!

Porthole # 26

2008-06-17T10:54:00.002-04:00

I finally had the time to scan in the next batch of Portholes.

# 26 is another of the deep jewel tones. The scan does not do this one justice. The stacked Herringbone on the teal patch was done with Pearl Crown and the purple Colonial Knots in #5 Perle Cotton. The Feather Stitch spray is actually done in Candlelight Gold with Midnight Colonial Knots. The travelling chains are Ribbon Floss. On the purple patch I used black#8 Kreinik metallic for the Chevron row topped with #4 Amethyst for the LD fans and Copper #8 for the Herringbone / crosses overlay.

Better ... and New Blogs!

2008-06-17T10:28:00.004-04:00

Well I'm pleased to report that my back is much better now...managed a full day at work yesterday (being careful not to do anything too strenuous) and off today to rest it again...then will have an easy 3 days in the office to get back to 100%.

I was not able to sit at the computer very much these past few days...so spent this morning catching up and poking around my faves...and...discovered two new ones by long time favourite stitchers and Net friends....Crazy Mary and Victoria Adams Brown!

I've added them to my sidebar...so I can visit often! Check them out!

Damned Weeds!

2008-06-13T10:11:00.003-04:00

I went down to the front garden beds on Wednesday night to see if the seeds I planted recently had sprouted yet...and was glad to see a multitude of shoots everywhere...but there was also a whole new crop of weeds.

I hadn't planned on weeding...and would have been better off if I had just left them alone...but noooo...had to start pulling them out...and while I didn't even do that much...I must have moved just the wrong way...now my back is out!

It is an old recurring problem...but has been about a year since the last time this happened. I've been horizontal for the most part since then...and will be getting back to that shortly.

Will post more another day...when it doesn't hurt to sit!

Portholes # 24 and 25

2008-06-08T23:08:00.005-04:00

The roller coaster has stopped briefly to take on more passengers...and let me off for a brief reprieve....but will be going full speed again tomorrow. In my short time off I managed to plant a flat of impatience...and did a bit of clean-up and weeding! I really don't like weeds...they are way too hardy...and make short work of free time.

This will be the last pair shown...as I'm closing in on the last done of the pieces...so will back off to one per show after this.

#24 .. black & pink & green...I like this combo...dark and sharp. Black roses from a piece of lace...Griffin Buds on the green patch...metallic half wheels with detatched buttonhole on the pink patch...staggered pink buttonhole stitch topped with Colonial knots...purple long & short Chevrons embellished with knots and LDs.

#25 ... White lace motif embellished with green SRE and gold metallic knots...Jeans Stitch cranberry herringbone tacked and topped with green LD leaves...finished off with gold metallic quarter buttonhole wheels and Colonial knots.

Minutes to Midnight

2008-06-04T23:53:00.003-04:00

It is ... and it's what I happen to be listening to now as well ... Linkin Park!

This is a band I picked up on from my kids and I think they are really awesome...musically and especially lyrically. This is their third album and I really like the direction they're going...a bit away from the previous two...with lots of maturity showing through.

Next time you're checking out You Tube ... look for their video from this album called "What I've Done". It's reality magnified...past, present and future.

Spent this day off working...laundry, scheduling and a bit of planning out the next series of Portholes...have # 33 done and 34 to 40 ready to stitch. Evolution on this project is surprising even me...(as most of you know I'm my own harshest critic)...and I'm really liking the results of my latest creations...I'm thinking that the recent infusion of new fabric has spurred more creativity ... coupled with the Free Form pieces that I've added...way cool stuff.

It's now Minutes Past Midnight ... and back to the grind tomorrow.

Better head up...and get horizontal. Later!

Porthole # 22 and 23

2008-06-03T09:01:00.004-04:00

Okay...well my plans to garden today have been dampened by rain...so will play inside instead. Have lots to do and want to get some completed things scanned...like the next batch of Portholes and some Free Form embellishments!

This pair was done in similar colourway...both began with fabric from the same source, namely a piece cut from the bottom of a long dress that I shortened. It's a beautiful floral rayon with gold enhancement.

Porthole # 22

The piece of fan-lace was a small bit left over from my wedding...it trimmed the flower girls dresses. Tacked the top edge down with some Colonial knots in grape cotton perle #5 and the bottom edge was yellow quilting thread. I used YLI Pearl Crown Rayon for the Fuchsia LD feathers. Below that, the same grape #5 in 1/4 buttonhole wheels trimmed with detatched buttonhole using Jeans Stitch in Lavender. The stacked Chevrons in purple were also Jeans stitch. On the gold patch a row of Herringbone in purple Pearl Crown was overstitched with turquoise Silk 30.

Porthole #23

I rather like the effect on the white patch...started with a row of long/short Chevrons then used purple Jeans Stitch to connect points diagonally, tacked the cross points and added LD trios at each top bar. On the yellow patch is a spray of LD done in Aqua Ribbon Floss with Colonial knot florettes in white Ribbon Floss. (This stuff is fabulous for adding texture.) On the purple patch ... a series of Buttonhole 1/4 wheels in Cranberry Jeans Stitch. On the patch below that I used Kreinik gold cord for LD flowers with Colonial knot centres in Pearl Crown. Below it a fine row of Herringbone in purple Pearl Crown and turquoise Silk 30 Chain vine with grape #5 cotton florettes.

The Front Bed in Bloom

2008-06-02T23:53:00.003-04:00

Melanie captured more of the gardens for me yesterday...warm sunny days have coaxed the Giant Germanic Irises to bloom...and how could I have forgotten the bushes behind the bed...not entirely sure of the species except that I think they are a type of Honeysuckle bush.

The Creeping Phlox is in full bloom now too and the big fountain of thin leave will be orange Day Lilies later. Have planted some seeds there which will take a while to show...but should be way cool when they do...and a few yellow lilies too...one of which I broke when weeding...poo.

There is only one bed left to deal with...which I hope to clean up tomorrow...the centrepiece of it will be Delphiniums. I didn't even get to see them last year...just too busy!

The Co-op in Bloom

2008-05-27T22:47:00.004-04:00

One of the things that I am not good at...is photography! Melanie however has a great mastery of such things including downloading same...so she and I went for a short walk and snapped some pics of the flora that is blooming in our little world.

We didn't make it all the way down to the front beds...but aside from some white Creeping Phlox down there not too much of interest...so decided to stick to what has the most on show up the hill.

There is a long tree-lined drive coming into the property...and the gardens you don't see are way down at the road...will get them another time when in bloom.

Out back of our unit (actually behind my neighbour's yard) is a huge fragrant Lilac bush that is just glorious...in sight and in smell!

My neighbour in Unit 75...Anita...is directly across from the Memorial Garden. She had a student nurse residing with her for two years...and she added some lovely beds during her stay. Anita's house faces south and gets a lot of sun...so her Irises are the first in bloom...the rest come a week or two later.

The tulips I planted last fall were just about done...the daffodils definitely past their peak...but the Lemon Balm is quickly taking over...and my one surviving Baby's Breath is gaining in size. Behind this I am going to plant some Cosmos for a splash of colour and that lovely feathery foliage.

You can see the Leopard's Bane in full splendor...the yellow daisy-looking ones...as are the Forget - me - nots ... which kinda like it there. We missed pics of the Jacob's Ladder which is to the left of these...but they're not in bloom yet. I have had purple ones for many years...added two white ones this year...and anxious to see them!

At the top of the rock slab wall is a patch of Lamium...also called Dead Nettle...which was started in my backyard...a donated plant from a neighbour a few doors down...that small patch found its home in this garden...and spread like wildfire! The foliage has a lovely green/white combination with tons of small purple flowers that the bees just love...and is spectacular when in bloom.

Over in the corner I have four or five Hostas...their leaves take over one entire corner...and come late summer they shoot up spikes that bloom into pale violet flowers that will go until September. Once the Leopards Bane finishes...there will be a big flush of Black-Eyed Susans.

Above the Lamium on the rock wall are more Hostas, some Violets and Lily-of-the-valley...all were taken from mother plants in my back garden.

The whole lot of beds has been a progressive labour over the years...and I didn't even take any pics of the 5 "Up the Hill" beds...as they are still have much to bloom a bit later!

I just love this time of year!

Porthole # 21

2008-05-27T08:49:00.003-04:00

It's almost time to get scanning the next batch of these...hopefully get to that soon. Once I hit # 25...that's all the pics I have...so will slow down to one a share for now.

# 21 is of mixed moods...dark, jewels and pastel. One of the ties I got at Goodwill was used for the centre patch...has butterflies on it. Added a couple bits of the Black Rose lace, YLI Candlelight Midnight on the black silk patch done in buttonhole half wheels with extension points a la fly stitch, Candlelight Gold for the LD vines, and on the gold patch turquoise Silk 30 for herringbone / cross stitched overlayed with black Kreinik cord herringbone.

Stitched All Night . . . and Porthole # 20

2008-05-25T01:23:00.005-04:00

I was going to plant some flowers tonight...until I heard fabric whispering to me...it was that stuff that I scored from Mary Anne last visit...I hadn't even opened it yet. I also realized that I was working on the last one that I made from the last batch...so decided to get a few more made. Managed to get 3 done and picked out fabric for another 3...so a pretty productive night.

As I was stitching I realized that the next Porthole had a small sampling of a thread I had talked about recently on Stitchin Fingers ... namely Jeans Stitch. So thought I'd post it now rather than later.

Porthole # 20 - I love the colours on this one ... rich floral tones. The piece of lace was from a cut-up collar trim...added a Midnight B-fly...feather stitching in gold cord...Pekinese stitch in white silk buttonhole (which I've forgotten the brand name of). The multi-coloured seam : the turquoise shade herringbone is YLI Silk 30, the lilac cretan is Jeans Stitch, the half Chevrons and Colonial knots at top are Pearl Crown rayon.

Portholes # 18 and #19

2008-05-24T17:22:00.005-04:00

DH has the BBQ thing happening and the rest of dinner under control...so have a few minutes to share more of the Portholes.

#18 took me back to some darker rich colours dictated by the centre patch which came from one of those Goodwill silk ties. Did some gold cord buttonhole fans with a few LDs in between, more LDs on the teal patch done in YLI Candlelight - Midnight. On the royal patch I did two rows of herringbone stacked and added two straight stitches for the arrow top. Beside that on the biege patch there's a row of Cast-ons in Perle Cotton with gold beads inside. On the purple patch is a row of chevrons and a part chevron row to close it. Last I tacked on a few metal florettes (which used to be little cup shaped things that I flattened out) with a few more beads trailing behind them.

#19 was quite an intense project all on its own! The centre fabric was preprinted with silver spider webs that I couched more silver thread over...and added clear Aurora Borealis seed beads as water droplets. On the pink patch was an oriental motif that I enhanced with gold cord and the fuchsia thread is YLI rayon done in Pekinese stitch. On the white patch a whole spray of pale blue French Knot roses. On the pale blue patch the chain stitch is VC Hand-dyed #12 Silk Pearl with a trio of Colonial knots in Pearl Crown. A small lace motif was left from a piece I had and fit in there well...added a wee red bead at centre. Finished off with LD vines along the floral patch.

Stitchin Fingers ... Fabulous Forum!

2008-05-21T09:15:00.004-04:00

I spent some time yesterday exploring the newly created Stitchin Fingers network!

Sharon Boggon had this great idea to create a "hub" for all textile related activity ... and I am really impressed with the whole concept. It's like an e-group but better...as you can join groups within the whole group depending on where your personal interests lie. I joined in on the CQ, Beading, and Hand Embroidery groups. Each person has their own page with link info to their site/blog as well as other info about interests, and the ability to share photos of personal creations.

There are a lot of familiar names and faces who have joined, and am sure that when we all get used to this new forum's workings it'll become everyone's fave hangout!

If you haven't been there yet ... check it out!

http://stitchinfingers.ning.com

Portholes # 16 and #17

2008-05-20T09:17:00.005-04:00

I completed # 32 last night and while looking through the batch from 26 to 31 noticed that I was mistaken thinking that 31 was the first to which I had added Free Form embellishment...it was actually 29...not that it matters...but you'll all get to see it sooner!

This pair has one thing in common...butterflies!

#16 started out with the lace embellishment; French Knot roses and some beads. To the right of it I added a row of herring bone and enhanced it with extra stitches. At the top I added a chain stitch vine in YLI Silk 30 (one of my fave threads) with small glass leaves. I used YLI Candlelight (Midnight) and feather stitching to make the spray of branches and added 3 b-flies on top.

#17 began with the black rose lace motif, then the spray of yellow Griffin Buds. On the black patch I worked two lines of herring bone, finished off with purple metallic beads. The chain stitch vine and leaves were done in Pearl Crown rayon and the purple clusters of Colonial knots in Perle Cotton. Lastly I added a feather stitch vine and a gold b-fly.

Hmm...I just noticed...many of the same stitches were used on both...but the look is very different!

Food For Thought : Tragedy So Young

2008-05-19T19:01:00.004-04:00

Our lives roll along and then all of a sudden something happens that kinda jerks your reality, or moreover lives of those around us.

I was quite taken aback last night when my daughter informed me that she was going to a viewing with her friend Kayla.

I had to stop a moment...a viewing. She has never uttered this word before and it only means one thing. She proceeded to tell me that a young man that Kayla had dated for a while last fall had committed suicide. I didn't ask how...not that it matters...the end result was death.

While I had never met this boy he was a brief romantic encounter for one of Melanie's close friends and she felt bound as a friend to go with her for support.

It's one of those sobering life experiences that you always dread.....even more when it's someone so young...and something so tragic...an experience you hope your own children never have...but one you cannot shield them from when it happens.

Being a parent of teens I feel so sad for his parents...they must be wondering what could have been so wrong with life that he would resort to this? They must be so emotionally torn up...trying to think of what they could have done different.....and why they didn't see it coming. An accidental death would be no less easy to endure.....but deliberate death must be unbearable.

I hope God is kind to them all...and that His love will help to heal such a devastating wound.

OMG ... Has it been a whole week?

2008-05-19T03:14:00.003-04:00

My ... time sure flies when you're having fun ... or in my case busy as a beaver at work!

Still going a 100 kph on that roller coaster...gardening season is nearly as crazy as Christmas for us .... then throw in staffing issues ... that "prom" time of year ... not to mention the first long weekend of the summer ... and ya ... right up to my perverbial neck in it!

The up side is that I actually start my long weekend now...3 glorious days off...and boy I need it! Just bagged from two intense days. Came home tonight...had dinner and then proceeded to pass out for about 5 hours(which is why I'm still up after 3am).

Played around with some beads tonight.....lately I have this fascination for turquoise blue and silver that I aquired recently...and managed to finish off Porthole # 31 ... the first one that employed the addition of my new "Free Form" creations ... I'm impressed with the look!

Later today am planning doing some gardening...I aquired some Canna Lily roots from a gal at work and have the perfect spot for them ... plus will plant some seeds in one or two beds.

I noticed that one bed of those Giant Germanic Irises is about to bloom.....so may get some pics to show too.....as well as the tulips that I mentioned recently.....before they fade.

Well ... I guess if I'm going to do all that I better get to bed now so that I don't sleep the day away. Later!

Portholes # 14 and # 15

2008-05-11T19:14:00.004-04:00

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there!

Sharing more of the Portholes Project with you today... as it may be another few days before I'll be able to share more.

Porthole # 14 ... hmm ... in retrospect I don't find this one too exciting...must have been in a dull mood that day or something. Had a big piece of lavender trim that seemed to go, and stitched over the "leaf" centres with darker thread. The wandering vine is threaded through with gold cord but does't show well in the scan. The navy Chevron bit was over-stitched with chain and detatched buttonhole. The seam above that has a herringbone row stitched over with cretan and Colonial knots. The hot pink seam is buttonhole half wheels with Lazy Daisy filler and metallic beads.

Porthole # 15 has a lot more excitement. The lace was a gift all the way from Israel. I used gold Ribbon Floss to tack down along top and Colonial knots further down. I had a vase button from which I removed the shank and added a bouquet of roses and "glads"? Opposite that is a Cast-on stitch rose and leaves. The vine looks like I meant to add more...and might yet. On the off-white silk panel I added a double row of herringbone and crosses.

(Hey Gwen ... look what I did! Couldn't cut....but did click and drag!)

Fun on My Day Off

2008-05-10T01:07:00.004-04:00

Well...my sis and I had a great day with Mary Anne Richardson today,,,there is that old saying that "one's man's (womans's) junk is another man's (womans's) gold mine! MA was looking to clean out her stash in the basment and we helped her out.....big time!

Cathy being a seamstress found two whole boxes of fabric she could use to make stuff from....which got her really excited. Me...I found bits of this and that to work into CQ stuff...two whole bags worth...so everyone wins.......MA cleaned up her basement and we carted off a trunkful of stash!

In addition we scored more beads...to embellish same. It doesn't get any better!

We did a share of beads tonight........and works for us.....so all is well!

Work tomorrow.....early.....so best close.

Fabric and bead dreams......ahhh.

Introducing....Robin Cymbaly

2008-05-06T16:08:00.003-04:00

I want to tell you about my friend Robin!

We have known each other for over 5 years, working together at Canadian Tire.....but beyond her day job (like me) she has artistic talents that she indulges in ..... and since completing school she is searching for a position where she can use her skills.

When I was patterning my ornament covers, I wanted to include shots of them hanging...the end result and how it would be seen. My sis was going to help but just when I was ready to do them ... all plans had to change as she had to start packing to move.

I asked Robin if she could help as I wanted to have the pictures done before the Artfest show so that I could sell the prototypes. She agreed and we spent about three hours hanging - snapping -changing - hanging - snapping. It was fun...and we got them all digitized!

Thanks Robin for a job well done!

I've added a new link on the sidebar to her site ... where you can see her work!

Enjoy!