Happy, Happy, Happy to You!!

Since my last post, I've enjoyed some fun sewing and crafting (and I have photos of those projects which I hope to show you very soon), but this is a glimpse of what's mostly been going on the past month...

...and more to come. Family and friends, that's what it's all about this time of year:) I hope you're enjoying your days and doing all of your favorite things too! Best wishes to you and yours this holiday season!!

Marilyn

Seussisized.....

Liam loves books...

Liam really loves Dr. Seuss books...

Liam turned ONE last weekend...and the theme for his party? Dr. Seuss, of course;)

Oooohhhh, I said to his mother, I've seen some new Dr. Seuss fabrics recently that are colorful and fun--surely we can think of something to do with them!!


We decided on a cover for the gift table, and that worked out beautifully, but after the party, it could transform into a quilt for the Seuss lovin' boy.

Liam and his book nook...

Seussisized!!

Marilyn

It was a beautiful day today...

Excellent weather for a lovely drive to Karla's and craft day!


It seems a while since the last time our regular group got together. Karla, Beth, Mary and I were there today. We missed Shawn this time...she delivered a beautiful baby boy a couple of weeks ago! And don't you know we're looking forward to when he gets to join us for the day:)

It also seems a while since I played in my gluebook, but again lucky, because that's what I had a chance to do today.


Especially fun because I've signed up for Mary's Your Vintage Gluebook Online Class and I can't wait for the first lesson on Sunday, May 16th! Nine lessons total and gorgeous images from Mary's incredible collection are provided in the cost of the class.

If it's something you'd like to try too, just go here to register and be ready to learn from a most talented collage artist!

Marilyn

A Very Fine Day, Indeed!

Another fun craft day at Karla's yesterday with Beth, Shawn and Bethany and, of course, Karla.


I worked (maybe 'played' is a better description) on a page for Beth in our "casual" Book Round Robin. I added a pocket to the page for a paperdoll tag...


...and one of the dolly's outfits on the back of the page. It seems I don't put as much stuff on the backs---intentional? or too ready to be done? I'm going to call that one a rhetorical question:)


Beth was working on a pretty centerpiece project that involved a cone. Temporarily, however, the cone became a birthday hat while I was being serenaded...


...and blowing out my candle on this adorable little cupcake!

Thanks guys...it was really very sweet of you!!


I finished up the day working in my gluebook. It's been a long time and I always forget how fun it is.


That off white strip in the lower left corner--it's embossed with the letters N-O-P-Q-R-S-T. It didn't scan all that great and I wouldn't want you to think that I just stuck a random strip of blank paper there, hehee! Although, art being in the eye of the beholder--if 'blank' is more your style, alrighty then:)

Marilyn

Yay! for Modern Quilts

This is where it all started, thanks to Alissa, in October, 2009...and now branches are beginning to pop up all over the country, Canada and Australia!

But the really good news is there's a Kansas City chapter!!! The organizational meeting was Saturday...34 of us squeezed into the studio space at Urban Arts & Crafts and it was incredible!



I got to meet some blogging acquaintances in 'real life'...always a fun thing! I was inspired over and over by members' quilts.

But the most amazing part was the instant connection of 34 people, excitedly chatting and laughing and planning, brought together by a passion for creating and a desire to share it!

Marilyn

P.S. *happy birthday to me* (teehee)

Christmas Joy!!!

Our beautiful new grandbaby!

A boy, Liam, born Friday, 18 December 2009 at 1:41am
7 lbs. 2 oz. ~ 20 inches

SWEET SWEET BABY !!!

Marilyn

He's Here!

Our first grandchild!
A boy, Cole, born Tuesday, 5 May 2009 at 9:45pm
8 lbs. 4 oz. ~ 20.5 inches long
SWEET and ADORABLE!!!

Marilyn

My Heart Is Filled With Gratitude

I have been completely giddy over the response to my One World~One Heart giveaway in the previous post! Your generous and encouraging comments have been a heart-warming and humble encounter and my gratitude is immense! It is yet another wonderful thing to come out of the One World~One Heart blogging event.

Because of the positive response to my QUILTY removable comp-book cover, and because it was so fun to make, I sewed up a similar cover and listed it in my Etsy shop. The fabrics in this one are also colorful and vibrant with lots of purple.

Front:

Back:

Inside front:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


That's what I had today thanks to my thoughtful, creative and amazing hubby! And next weekend, we'll celebrate both of our birthdays (his was 12/26) with our incredible kids...don't you just love to stretch out the partying:)

Marilyn

Christmas Bits

I hope your holidays have been good. We've had a lovely time. It's been relaxing and nicely paced and I haven't been able to tell you what day of the week it is for days. I think that's a good sign.

Two of the cutest photos from Christmas Day...our grand-dogs:)

Stella (sitting on first daughter's lap)...


and Dexter!


The Christmas tree at church decorated with the ornaments we made from recycled materials turned out looking quite pretty, I think.


I made only one Christmas gift this year...a doll quilt size (19" x 19") wall hanging for second daughter. The colors in the quilt will go well in any room in her apartment so I'm anxious to see where she hangs it.


I made twelve artist trading cards for a Christmas themed ATC swap, which was a lot of fun.



The best part of Christmas has been spending time with all of our kids, my sister, my brother, my niece and nephews. And the food--oh my gosh--the food has been delicious! Rick's birthday is the day after Christmas, so in addition to all of the holiday goodness, we went out for birthday-barbeque and came home for birthday-pie:)

This week, it's the New Year's holiday (which explains why I'm still confused about what day of the week it is) and an excuse for another delicious meal with friends on New Year's Eve--an early meal...our big party days are behind us.

And next week? I guess my treadmill avoidance time will be over. But that's next week.

Marilyn

Show and Tell

Thought I'd give you a peek at what I've been up to the past couple of weeks.

Karla's Great-Aunt Caroline will celebrate her 100th birthday next month. When Karla goes to the party, she will be taking 100 birthday cards to give to Caroline. The cards are from readers of Karla's blog. Each card is created by the reader to honor the crafting that Caroline has done all these years. Here's the one I sent:

These are the panels I made for Karla & Beth's Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap. In early June, I will receive panels from four different artists that Beth and Karla will have assembled into a one of a kind screen. An interesting part of the swap is that everyone was to use at least one image or background from The Vintage Workshop collections that were provided--a bonus in itself!





The canvases that I'm painting in my online Mixed Media Landscapes workshop are making progress. I finished painting my trees--here's a look at three of them.Last week's assignment was to paint houses on the hills. I'm almost finished with those and I'll be ready for our final assignment this week, where we add some finishing touches to our canvases.


I also finished my project for Bella-Enchanted's Mermaid Swap and sent 'er off Friday to my swap partner, Terisa (Running With Scissors). After Terisa receives her package, I'll post pictures. Now, Terisa posted sneak-peek photos of her creation for me on her blog and after seeing them, I am more excited than ever to get it! I have seen some of Terisa's other works and I am very confident that it will be gorgeous!!! She mailed my package on Friday also so I'll be sharing with you again, soon.


Marilyn

checklist...?

How often, especially around this time of the month, do I wonder "where did the month go and what did I do with it?" As a crafter, it is difficult for me to hold back such thoughts and question if I've done one single creative thing this month?!

I don't care to measure my days by the number of crafty items I've produced, but I do like to hope that I am being attentive to the creative side of life. My head is constantly spinning with ideas...so if I don't "do", will I lose those ideas or will they get tangled up with each other and turn into lousy ideas? Or worse yet, will I go crazy because the creative outlet door is closed? OK, a bit dramatic but just where did this month go and what did I do with it?

Immediately, I can tell you that our family celebrated two birthdays, #26 for both second-oldest-daughter and daughter-in-law. And, if I say so myself, we have the best birthday parties around, lol! Not because of anything we do, but because of who we are and how much we enjoy one another!

We also attended the wedding of a special young couple this month. We've known the bride since her middle school years and we adore her. Her new husband is delightful and we couldn't be happier for the two of them. The wedding was lovely and the reception was great fun. I didn't have to do a thing except enjoy the specialness of the evening!

You know, I'm already starting to feel like it's been a full and fruitful month--that's good!



As for creativity, how about other possibilities? Like baking...











Rick does all of the cooking at our house (yes, I am very lucky!) but every now and then I feel like baking something.










Or decorating...I framed and hung this poster of a Santa Fe Village--I love the colors!














Oh! I made a bracelet for the first time!

It was a kit that I purchased from French General--gotta love trying something new.








And I changed the look of my blog and I started my online workshop and I'm sewing a garment for a friend and I'm reading a novel!











I think I'm on a roll. But it's not a checklist. It's life and not all of it is tangible--in fact, the best parts aren't!

Well, alrighty, so much for my lament of April...there's a whole week left!

Marilyn

Does this fall under the heading of shameless self-promotion?

Another year older and enjoying every minute!

Marilyn