Look Ma, I'm an Artist

I took a fabric painting class with Linda Visnaw last week.   We used Tsukineko inks to create these flowers on fabric.  We then did machine quilting to add thread details to the flowers.  I only finished one because I had to give my piece of batting to someone else in the class (I have lots of batting pieces here at home!). 

I haven't had time to do anymore painting, but I've got lots of ideas.  Stay tuned...

Another finished project

The last few days have been spent finishing this quilt.  The embroidery designs are originals that my friend and I created using our embroidery software.  We then taught classes on how to create each block.  This represents a whole year of teaching!  Today the quilt is going to competition for the Husqvarna Viking convention.

A Life Changing Experience

Last year Alex Andersen told my friend that she needed to attend the Ricky Tim's Super Seminar. She said it would change her life. How can you resist something that will change your life? We joked about it and signed up. Four of us traveled to Glens Falls, NY and all I can say is "wow". We received a spiral bound book with all of the instructions for every technique that was demonstrated. There were three days of instruction and so much shared that our heads were spinning. We didn't know what we wanted to try first when we got home! Check out Ricky Tim's website and get to a Super Seminar if you can. He does four of them a year in different parts of the country.

Ricky Tims

Libby Lehman

Alex Andersen

What a talented group of quilters...and now my life is changed!

Look what I've been doing...

I entered the American Sewing Guild's 2008 Creativity Contest.  I chose to enter the 5 piece wardrobe category. (yes I'm crazy).  What fun I had!  This contest is sponsored by the Simplicity pattern company.  I could choose from one of the selected patterns and adapt, adjust and modify to my heart's content.  I chose Simplicity pattern 3634 and off I went to my stash.  I was originally a garment sewer, but I have been primarily quilting for the last 15 years or so.  That didn't stop me from still buying garment fabric and my stash is quite a large one.  The only fabric I purchased for the challenge was the skirt fabrics.  Everything else was already in my possession.  I guess you would call it a "stash busting".   Here are my 5 pieces:  a reversible skirt, sleeveless top, long sleeved top, sweater knit jacket and capri pants (with embroidered trim).  

I had to send a folder with photos and fabric swatches. If my entry is chosen as a finalist I will have to send the actual garments for judging. Stay tuned...

One month later

I have been a lazy little blogger. I've been very busy...I just haven't been blogging!
I picked up my framing. These are both pieces by Merry Cox. If you are a needleworker and you've never taken a class from Merry you are missing out. She has a very limited teaching schedule so check it out and get to one of her workshops! I am very lucky because she comes to our sampler guild every spring to teach her latest pieces. We know it's spring in Western NY when Merry Cox comes to town.

Ahh Vacation

I spent the last week in the warm sunshine of Florida...ahhhh...just what I needed. First on the west coast watching my youngest on the baseball fields.
Then a few days on the east coast visiting my parents.

It was so relaxing. I read two books and did some knitting on the wallaby sweater for my no. 2 son. Now it's back to the real world with a new vitality!

Snow can be good...

We got a foot of snow here over the weekend. I was happy to be stuck at home. I started to clean up and organize my sewing space. The operative word here is "started"...I have a long way to go, but I'm feeling much better about myself. All of my stuff was beginning to creep toward me and rise up around me. So far I have two large garbage bags to go out in the trash this week with more to follow. There will also be some donations to charity and maybe even some things showing up at etsy. Stay tuned...

Working away...

There's been a lot of finishing going on here. I took two needlework samplers to the frame shop on Saturday, and a quilt just came back from the quilter. The battery on my camera is dead so the quilt photo will have to wait. I have another needlework piece that I am focusing on right now. The knitting has taken a back burner (sorry Dan, your sweater is moving very slowly), but I am going away for a week and it will be in my suitcase! I have also been working on a silk top that just needs buttons and a hem in the sleeves. I have been very good about not buying or starting anything new...we'll see how long that lasts...stay tuned!

More of Beautiful Vienna

Here are some more of the beautiful sights in Vienna.

Christmas in Vienna

On Christmas Day we went to mass and heard the Vienna Boys Choir. When the mass began the priests and this choir entered the church. When these men started to sing I was sure we had been had!

Then a few minutes later the boys choir started singing from the upper balcony. It was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard!

Vienna, Day 2

On Christmas Eve we had breakfast on Prater's Ferris Wheel. My husband loves the movie, The Third Man. This is the same ferris wheel that is in the movie. You can just go for a ride on it...or you can have a catered meal.

The views were amazing.

Happy New Year

I love the new year. It's a clean start, a fresh slate, a new beginning. I always have great plans for great things on this day, but before I get to that I have to go back and give you a little review of the Christmas holiday because this year it was a special one. The whole family met in Vienna, Austria to celebrate...no gifts, the trip was the gift, which meant no crazy last minute shopping for me! We spent five days in Vienna and two days in Salzburg. It was a dream come true!
We stayed in a beautiful hotel in the heart of the "Old City". We were able to walk everywhere and everytime we went out we saw something new. Here is what it looked like from our hotel window.


...and that was just the beginning! Stay tuned...

Bits and Pieces

The Wonderful Wallaby is now in pieces again. It was a little snug and a bit too short. I only had to rip it back to where the sleeves were attached because it fits perfectly around the picky one's body. I will start knitting again as soon as I am done with my annual "sewing for others" projects.
I made these purses for a friend...and after the holidays you will see them in my etsy store.



I just had someone pick up three Christmas stockings that she cross-stitched and I put together...I forgot to get a photo of those...and now back to the sewing machine to finish three more stockings. A huge snowstorm is on its way so I've got to get them done so I can sit by the fire and watch the snow fall!

Give Thanks

I am not cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time in about 5 years. yippee!! Thanks to my little sister and her husband, I will be enjoying someone elses cooking this year. This is also the first time my children won't all be home for a holiday. I'm very sad about that so a change of venue is good. It will seem different anyway!
The Wallaby sweater should be finished this weekend (unless I have to take it apart after the picky one tries it on), but my number 2 son wants one too. I have been finishing up a quilt that I started a few years ago, but more about that later...stay tuned.
Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Big Knitting

I have always just knit for myself or for baby gifts. The last baby gift I knit was The Wonderful Wallaby sweater. My son saw it and asked if I could make him one. Sure, I said. He picked out the color (a lovely navy blue) and I started...and I knit...and I knit...and he tried it on because he's VERY particular and I knit some more...and he commented that the sleeves looked puffy so I had him slip one on...and I knit some more...and I'm still knitting! It takes a long time to make a sweater for a picky, young man who just asked me "What if I don't like it?" Arrrgghhh!

Autumn slump

I'm in my typical autumn slump. I'm not sure I know why I detest this time of year...maybe the cold, the shorter days, everything going dormant...how about all of the above!
I am particularly sad this year because my mother-in-law passed away last week after a very, very short illness. I try not to get too personal in this blog because it's supposed to be an account of my accomplishments and projects, but when I am not accomplishing anything I have to explain why.
I am trying to look on the bright side right now...my mil was going to have months of suffering ahead of her, our children were all home (including my son who is in school in Scotland) and I married into a great family. That's it--my cup is half full--things are looking up already.

A Time of Learning

I have busy learning new things since I last posted.

My husband bought me a new laptop for my birthday this summer. It's a Mac so I am trying to learn how to use it. It's pretty easy, it's just different from what I'm used to and I find I still need to use the PC for many things.

My #2 son is spending his junior year in college in Scotland so I am also learning how to "Skype", I love it because I can talk to him and as soon as I find a camera that will work on his Mac I will be able to see him too!

I learned how to knit a toe-up sock called Anastasia...well, I have the toe done, but that's all because I am also knitting a sweater for my #3 son and it's taking a long time! I have also been getting back into some needlework projects that I want to finish. Here is a photo of "command central"--my phones, my needlework, a couch, a TV and a computer all nearby (oh and the knitting bag is right on the floor!) I'm ready for winter!

So I think you can see why I haven't been posting, but I'm back...stay tuned.

Holding on to summer...

This summer has been the fastest one yet! I'm in shock that the calendar says September. Today was my son's first day of school. As he mentioned last night, his "last" first day of high school. I realized when he said it that we will be having a lot of "lasts" this year. I am going to try to enjoy every minute!


I have been knitting up a storm. I have finished a Wallaby sweater and two of my sons would like me to make them one! I'm really going to be knitting now!!!

The beginning of the school year always has me thinking about organization...I think it's all those clean notebooks and folders and new pens and pencils. So off I go to do something organizational...stay tuned!

A Weekend in Newport

Last week we spent a few days in Newport, RI. I love this city...it has everything...beaches, mansions, a great night life and beautiful scenery everywhere you look.

We stayed at the Hydrangea House Inn...lovely!

Here is a scene from the busy downtown port...

and a view from the Cliffwalk looking out to the ocean. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me when we walked by the mansions or when the antique cars were parading down the main street...what must it have been like there in the "old" days?

A project or two

Some photos from the shop hop where I collected a new project or two...

shop #1 Mission Rose in N. Syracuse, NY

My friend NJ with her new friend...

Shop #2 Calico Gals in Fayetteville, NY

I left my camera in the car for shops 3,4 &5!

Late evening bubble blowing contest...

pretty good...

much better...

the grand champion!

I bought lots of stuff for new projects or to just beef up my "stash". Here's the first one I have finished (it just needs buttons)...oh did I forget to mention that a couple of the quilts shops had yarn too!!!

This is a size 2T...it's for the new granddaughter of one of my quilting friends...very cute.

I also have one of the quilt tops almost together...stay tuned...

Another update

I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted here...things will be slowing down here in the next few weeks... I hope!! I have been working full time at the Sewing Gallery and that will stop (one way or another) this week. I did take time out for a two-day getaway with my quilting friends that was too fun to even talk about! We shopped at five different quilt shops and bought something at each one.

I am adding some new items to my etsy shop. I made this monogrammed towel as a graduation gift and it turned out so cute that I am adding it to the shop.

I have lots of new fabric and projects in mind since the shop hop (or more of a crawl) getaway so stay tuned...