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

Doll Quilt Swap 9 Received!!

I planned for my next blog post (this one) to be about Hoop Up! Round 2 and the embroidered blocks I've stitched so far.....but I received my Doll Quilt Swap 9 package Thursday evening and I couldn't wait to share it with you!!!

All the way from Vancouver, BC, Canada, Janet created "Birds of a Feather", a gorgeous masterpiece of a doll quilt, for me! I am so in love with it and it is perfect in every way! Can you believe the incredible quilting she did on it?!


I swear she is the best "stalker" ever! Doll Quilt Swap is a secret swap--we don't know who is sending to us until the little quilty arrives. To learn about our partner and their likes/dislikes, swappers can secretly check out/"stalk" the partner's flickr photostream and blog (if they have one). Janet definitely got it right when she chose colors and design based on what she learned about me! Amazing!


She also sent a quilt pattern that I love and can't wait to make and a bundle of beautiful fabrics. And a mug rug, the greatest mug rug, so pretty it makes my morning coffee taste better than ever!


When Janet completed my quilt, she blogged about the process here. It's really fun to see her photos all together in one post.

Janet, I cannot thank you enough...here I am, two days later, still gushing, lol! Although, really, who wouldn't be?!

Marilyn

Don't Be a Square...or a Rectangle

I was never really sure of the official theme name for April's Swap Til You Drop mini quilt swap, but that just added to the fun!

My fabulously good-time-swap-partner, Dolores (deeroo designs), dubbed it "hip to be (not) square, or rectangle". I also saw "Don't Be Square" and "Don't Be a Square" but whatever the official-ity, no doubt you've guessed that our mini's were to take any shape but.....square!

And "square" it isn't---this gorgeous rainbow-shaped, ticker tape style mini that Dolores sent my way:


I'm in love with it...everything about it! Is that binding not perfectly placed?! Amazing!!

And how about these fun gifties she sent too?!


Those four beautiful fat quarters are laying on my ironing board waiting for me to decide what they'll become. I'm leaning towards a tote bag, for summer--wouldn't the fabrics be perfect?

: - : - : - : - : - :

The mini I sewed up for Dolores is, as you can see, octagonal. The 1" squares were cut from a second charm pack of Tula Pink's "Plume" that I ordered after falling in love with it in Project Plume.


And a couple of little extras...


Dolores, you made it the most fun--thanks very much!!!

Marilyn

Sweet Boy.......

I spent my days this week with this handsome young man...

...our 3 month old grandson, Liam ;)

And I get to do the same thing again next week and for seven more weeks after that...because I am the lucky grandmother providing day care for the little guy.
I love my job!

We had a great week and I'm learning quickly about the new equipment and toys available since my children were babies! Who knows how up to date I'll be by the time summer arrives:)

The change to my schedule is moving around the time I have for crafting, at least initially. But when it comes to prioritizing, there are two things I always find time for, family and creating!

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

Whole Lotta Lovin' Goin' On

Soooo, this is one reason why my poor little blog has been neglected lately...

But, really, which one would you choose?! (Can you believe he's one month old already!)

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I am finding time for some embroidery too---for the Hoop Up! Stitch & Send swap. I just started on this block for a group member whose theme is "Japanese Garden"...


...and I just finished this one for a "Whimsical Forest/Woodland" theme.

(pattern by Hannah)

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This one isn't for the swap but it's one I started in early autumn (hence, the leaves, acorns and fall colors) but set aside. I worked on it around the holidays to keep my hands busy and finished it up---not sure what I'll do with it yet?

(pattern from Sublime Stitching)

I hope to get around to my regular blog visits again soon. I've missed seeing what you all are up to and your gorgeous creations!

Marilyn

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

Mini-Quilt Swap or Santa?

Tuesday afternoon, when the weather had turned nasty and was beginning to get nastier--cold rain turning to snow--a Fed Ex truck pulled up in front of my house. The windows in the craft room face our street so I often have a little warning before the driver lays on the doorbell and drops a package on the porch:)


There were a couple of things different about the delivery. I actually couldn't recall if I was expecting anything--could be a gift--but the really unusual part was the driver was walking to the door! I'm glad he was playing it safe in the slick snow, but have you ever seen a Fed Ex driver on foot that wasn't racing?! It was a first for me.

All of that was unimportant, however, when I saw the return address on the box.....I knew chances were good it was going to be a quilt from a mini-quilt swap with John (Quilt Dad)!


And it was! And it's beautiful! The fabric choices, the design of the blocks and the quilting--I love it all!


And all of the extras he included, well, it felt like Christmas...thanks so much, 'Santa' John!


That teeny cup has got to be the cutest one ever...the little critters on it are so adorable:)




Here is the mini quilt that I made and sent to John:

(front)

(back)

I was inspired by ComfortStitching's Half Hexagon Quilt-a-Long and it was really a lot of fun.

Hope you're having a nice weekend during this holiday season...

Marilyn

Ready...Set...Go!

Sooo, the holiday season has started. It began in the most wonderful way at our house Thanksgiving Day---all of the kids and kids-in-law and grandbaby were able to be here for the day. It was a fun, fun time spent with all of them:)

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Looking ahead to Christmas, I've decided to make a Christmas-y quilt...


It all started with a Spoonflower fabric designed by Aneela--the tea set, houses, laundry line pieces in the photo--so adorable that I had to buy some of my own! Then yesterday she posted a quilt tutorial in the most perfect style, and off I went! It's been such a fun project that I've had a hard time staying away from it:)

(2 Dec. ETA: Aneela posted the picture of my project on her blog today...I feel like a celebrity, hehee!)

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Also exciting, my copy of the Itty-Bitty Circus book arrived in the mail over the weekend and it's fabulous! Rhonda, the swap hostess for this round, posted a slideshow of the pages on her blog.


I'm not sure if I posted a picture of the Fairytale Itty-Bitty Book when I received it, but it's another cutie!


And so is Tea Time with it's teacup shaped pages. I didn't actually participate in this swap but received one of the books a week after my surgery from one of my itty-bitty swapper friends. It was such a sweet and touching surprise.



Marilyn

In the Pink Artists Drawing, Everyone Wins!

For a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure through The Pink Artists Drawing, Part 2, my name was entered...and drawn for one of the amazing 63 prizes gifted to the Prize Wheel by 63 equally amazing artists!


Specifically, an incredible mixed media piece, "Sailing Through It" by "Nikki" Lee Anne Ghilain, (Sun Soul Art Thoughts)!! It's gorgeous and I can't thank Nikki enough for her generosity!!

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So, this is what it's looked like around here for a couple of days...

(Image from DryIcons)

Oh so dreary! But before the cold rain moved in, it was sunny and warm and I gathered up a few of the autumn leaves from our yard.


I decided to scan them...


...although, I'm not sure what to do with them.


Maybe you have an idea? Please feel free to use them:)

Marilyn

From "I Think I Can" to "All Done"

I have to admit that the I Heart Zines swap turned out to be a very satisfying project.

(my I Heart Zines front cover)
But I had doubts along the way...

The mere size of the zine was somewhat looming--five folded pages/20 sides (I chose a 8.5 by 5.5 format) and did I have enough in my noggin to fill those pages? If I did, how would I communicate my ideas?

I also was feeling some intimidation, without any basis as I don't know who I'm actually swapping with. But, typically, I was sure the other swappers' zines would shine up against my little first attempt:)

Lastly, would I be able to complete 10 copies before the November 13th deadline? I signed up to participate in mid-July...four months = easy peasy...right? But then that little bump in the road, my August hysterectomy, and a few other swaps I signed up for. I'm usually pretty good about timing my swap participation, but perhaps removing one's uterus affects one's wise swapping judgement! Suddenly it seemed that several swap deadlines were falling very close to one another!

(I Heart Zines back cover)
But this is where the satisfying part comes in...I did it! I finished my zine original, compiled 10 copies and popped them into the mail last Saturday, a full six days ahead of the deadline!

I took it one page at a time and focused on that project, not the twenty page project. I wrote about things I know (duh!). It's amazing how easy it is to fill a page with things you know, lol. And I ignored the intimidation, even if it didn't disappear completely...it was my zine--it could only reflect me--and that had to be good enough.

My pages were done in a cut-and-paste style...collaged backgrounds with printed text cut out and pasted onto the backgrounds. That style allowed me to really play with color and pattern and magazine/catalog pictures that I'd torn out and kept in a "I'll use it someday" file.


I included articles about my own discoveries of inspiration for color and creating...and lessons learned:) I talked about a couple of my favorite books and added a few helpful quotes I've come across. I talked about nature and traveling and laundry (yes, color inspiration in your laundry!)...and pinking shears, teehee. I included a copy of one of my smaller mixed media pieces and some quicky instructions for a patchwork pillow that mixes up four different patchwork blocks. And there are a few things tucked in for the other swappers to play with: fabric, ribbon, decorative paper, etc.

When Alma emailed me earlier this week to let me know that my package had arrived, she said some very nice things about my zine and it gave me just enough confidence to share it with others in my Etsy shop.

This is probably a good time for me to thank all of you for your sweet and encouraging blog comments over the past almost two years. It's the give and take of blogging, and the support of one another's artistic endeavors that gives me the push to try new things. What a gift...thank you!!

Marilyn

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Last year, I celebrated Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by participating in Stephanie's (Rodrigvitz Style) Dia de Bloglandia 2008. This year, Stephanie is again hosting a blog celebration--Dia de Bloglandia 2009.

I didn't sign up to participate again his year because, well, how is it November already?! But I wanted to remember the day in our home and created a Day of the Dead runner for our table.




If you'd like to check out Dia de Bloglandia 2009, you can go here for a list of the participants. I can't wait to visit them!

Marilyn

Doll Quilt Swap 7 - Received AND Sent

For me, one of the best mail days is when a Doll Quilt Swap package shows up in the mailbox...like today!

It's ADORABLE! And it's from Natalie...and did I say it's adorable?


Taking note of my fancy for Japanese prints, she made a coin pattern quilt with some of the cutest prints I've seen!


I think the brown solid fabric really shows off the prints, and I love the decorative stitch she used for the quilting.


The back is every bit as wonderful!


Along with the doll quilt, Natalie sent some gorgeous fabric (the pink & orange dot is one of my favorite color combos and the other, a Valori Wells design, is another favorite)...


and a fabulous embellished Moleskine sketch book:)


How lucky am I?! Thank you so much, Natalie!!

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

I also sent my Doll Quilt Swap package today. What do you think about that coincidental timing!

I can't say where it's headed just yet...


but I can show you the matching drawstring bag I made


to hold a graph paper booklet, cute tissue, chocolate and any other necessities he/she may want to add:)



Have a great holiday weekend!

Marilyn