A Single Photo

I want to share a single photo..they are all different. A truly, vintage, crazy quilted lace place mats. I am so honored....

Secret Pal Package

I want to share the awesome package I received this morning from my Secret Pal from the Embroidery Swap Group I belong to...The photo does not do justice to the beautiful vintage lace, crazy quilt design place mats I received...Four pieces with such detail, design, and a delicate selection of lace pieces. They are a treasure. She also included three additional lace packages and a 100 year old thimble for my collection! I also received over a yard of Christmas fabric, four FQ of my favorite colors, six spools of thread, thread pullers, and a velvet pouch with a magnifying glass...much needed tools of the trade! She was so very generous...I am thrilled and filled with appreciation.

Faeries Among Us

This Fairy Box was created for my dear friend Gena in France. This art challenge was to make a fairy door. After several different attempts my endeavours resulted in this.

It worked out well since I could include treasures in the box!

The Merry Month of May

"The Merry Month of May..."

I am delighted to be a part of a group of talented women that are crating Paper Doll Calendars for 2010...what a collection it will be!

My month is May, and I have created Miss May. She is eager to be included in this years Calendar. I will post the Paper Dolls as I receive them...FUN!

Oma's Project Bags - Embroidery Swaps

The request was for a "Grandma Theme." I made each side for the Grand-Girls and Boys...Such fun to make with great fabric patterns! A Ballerina Doll in the pocket; a neat Bubblegum Pin; Hand Embroidery; Machine Embroidery; lots of Vintage Lace.



The next bag was made with a "Flower Theme." Neat with Vintage Lace; Hand Embroidery; Beautifully designed Fabric; a huge Vintage Button!

I used Rosalie Quinlan Designs - Oma's Project Bag

Such fun to create.....

Yongosona Wuuti - The Storyteller

Now that I have established my breathing and dried my tears, I want to share with you the extraordinary Blume Doll Barbara M., special Yahoo Group Art4Mail, created. I am so honored to receive this caringly made and researched doll. Her name is Yongosona Wuuti. In Hopi language this means Tortoise/Turtle Woman! Barbara conducted extensive research in naming her. "In the Hopi Culture, the women were responsible for all things domestic. They were nomadic and followed the quest to futile soils. They carried their belongings (houses) with them much like a tortoise, hence her name."

The first Stoyteller was made by a contemporary Pueblo woman in New Mexico, honoring her grandfather who was a storyteller. Storytellers dolls are always depicted with open mouths because they would sing their history. They would also keep their eyes closed. Turtle Woman is a real treasure.

What Barbara did not know is my Niece is a Navajo Indian from the Alamo Reservation, Alamo, New Mexico. Her daughter won the Miss Teen Alamo Navajo 2006-2007 title.

Art4Mail conducted this Ethnic Doll Trade. It is so special that Turtle Woman came to me and our family.

Friendship

This is a photo of the package contents I received from my dear friend Gena in France. Included was a Zine she created about D-A-N-C-E, "Quelle Couleur Estla Danse?"

Is it the color of Nature? Of Joy? Is it Feminine? A Mystery!

"One of the earliest structured uses of dances may have been in the performance and telling of myths." It was also sometimes used to show feelings for one of the opposite sex."

How interesting to delve into the origins, movements, interpretations, and emotions of this human behaviour called Dance! Gena offered an to express a personal reaction to the narration in the Zine.

"Make Your Own Dancing Spirit"

Fabric, flowers, ribbon, yarn, textured material, even faces---all included to begin the dance with Her!

Her - Gena, the Completed Doll, the Connections With You, Mother Earth....Let's Everyone Reach Out and D-A-N-C-E.

Thank you dear Gena for sharing the beautiful melody!

Big Horn Sheep!

The heard of sheep was grazing off our bedroom balcony!

What a beautiful experience watching them climbing the hill...The older males leading and occasionally butting horns...so neat.

The neighborhood enjoys the sheep everyday in the park near our home. It is sweet watching the heard and the children on the swings, slides, and picnicking all around them.(Photos posted on an earlier date-do scroll down!)

We were fortunate to watch them return in the evening to the mountain near our home. Over 50 big horn sheep crossing the street, stopping and grazing, then continuing up the stone and dirt terrain.

Summer Sandal's - Bookmark

Summertime-Sand, Shells, Sun, and SANDALS....

These are Bookmarks-they are fun to construct. This year's fabrics offered a perfect sandal print. I also used a postcard with lots of purple pansy's.

The back of the sandal-bookmark has a pocket to insert a summer punch recipe and a small paper umbrella.

Each one is always a bit unique. They are well received as hostess gifts, RAKs, and party favors. I included, in the picture, the back of a bookmark...you can see the blue umbrella.

Chain of Hearts

"A Cup of Tea" offers hand embroidery with a quote, "Each cup of Tea Represents an Imaginary Voyage" -C. Douzel. Two vintage fabrics with teacups are complimented with a contemporary rose print. A vintage pressed scalloped button and a charming old photo-transparency of a lady sitting on the edge of the tea cup. It measures 6 x 6.

"Blooming"

This Heart is machine embroidered with a decorative stitch around the parameter. The focal point is this awesome photo of a deco woman draped in tulips..this is created with dual transparencies. A lacy pink bow and a vintage tiny green button complete this very uniquely created heart.

"Love Lyrics" is the title of the book the beautiful reclined woman reads. The quote, "Tea and Books...Hmmm, Two of Life's Exquisite Pleasures That Bring Near-Bliss." The background fabric is a decorative tea-theme from Australia. The composition is complete with a clear faceted button. Hand embroidery is done on the pieces with a machine design around the edges. This heart measures 6 x 6. "People" This next Heart uses two interesting fabrics. "Step by Step" by Alexander Henry. This simple, yet complex graphic style offers illusionary steps brought to life with silhouettes . "In Crowd" is another fabric design by Alexander Henry. A retro print of 50's 60's faces. This is an 2006 out-of-print design. The large vintage button (almost 2 inches) complete this Heart.

The Hearts are for trade in the Yahoo Group Chain of Hearts. If you are interested in purchasing one please email me. They are ideal to enhance a dress, shirt, or a jacket. The Hearts can also be used to enhance many of your accessories; a scarf, a bag, or even a chapeau...

Mini Vintage Wall Hanging

Dear Gena received her birthday gift...I can post it..I had such fun creating this little piece of art. A 12 x 12 mini wall hanging with a friendship theme. I used angelina fibers and fun buttons (Thank you Linda!) The photo was in my Secret Pal's package I received last month.

I also made another mini quilt for my child hood friend in New York: the quote reads, "Friendship is the knot tied by angel's hands." Lots of vintage buttons!