Max'd out!

Well, I'm not really "max'd out" but getting there!  You'll understand later in this post!   Carol and I took Mary out to lunch today for her birthday!  We had a nice visit and even had some show & tell...but I didn't take pics of those! 

Mary is on the right and I think she enjoyed her lunch.  It was really good!  So I did 'max' out on food!

  

On the way home I picked up another one of my beaded pieces that I had framed!  I love this little bird...the quilted/beaded piece measures 8 1/2" x 11".  You can see the first piece I just had framed here. 

I hung both pieces together just to see how they look.  Now I need to finish the other four pieces...I'm doing hand embroidery work on the quilted background leaves on each piece so it will take me sometime to finish the other four.   Maybe I can finish in Florida and have them framed there or when we get back in the spring.

Now to get to "max"!

This is one of my dye tables set up with my print paste and dyes ready to mix up!  I need to paint a background piece for Peter Max and the Inspired by Exhibit. 

I found this image that was created in Photoshop by Rick Thiemke.  Rick is photographer and Fine Art artist that manipulates some of his photographs in Photoshop.  I was taken by his Tribute to Peter Max piece and email Rick asking if I could use his photo.  He graciously agreed and I can't wait to get this piece finished!  I'm hoping it will turn out as the picture in my mind!
I poster printed Rick's image on Tyvek fabric in four pieces then sewed them together.  The Tyvek fabric sews easily even if you're hand stitching.  Next I'm going to paint the pattern area so it's even brighter, using fluid acrylic paints or whatever else I have in the colors I want.  Next I'll cut out the design area and stitch to the painted background (that's the white fabric on the bottom waiting for it's color!).   I'll paint the white piece using only blues, purple and oranges to mimic the corner areas you see above.  That's the plan!

Once the entire piece is quilted then I'll burn areas!  Scary part but you have to take risks, right!    I've shown the piece below on another post.  This is the same method I'll use on my Peter Max...paint tyvek, stitch down, sandwich and quilt then burn!

I'm hoping Peter Max turns out....Rick has some other really cool pictures that I'd like to transpose to fabric!   Maybe doing some screen prints of his design onto fabric!   Let's hope what I see in my mind can be put to fabric!!  Thanks again, Rick! 

So now that the the 1st of the winter holiday is over with, I hope to get back to some art work! 

Back to my quilting roots!

Well, I guess you could say I'm back to my quilting roots!  Sometimes you just have to do some traditional type work! 

I've finished 3 of the folded pot holders and have 3 more to make!  I also did more hand work on my patchwork piece but I won't bore folks by posting its picture again...but I just might be next week!  Hope to get some more stitching done tonight while catching up on some of our shows. 

Tomorrow we are taking out our friend Mary for a BD lunch.  Should be a nice afternoon with friends and food!  Can't beat that!! 
Weather today was quite nice in the 40's and sunny.  Kalee and I ran some errands and did walking in one of the smaller downtown areas...and of course we visited our local pet store, Lucy's,  that I love.  Bob and I both like to support our local merchants and Angela (owner) will order any product we need. 

Well, off to do some emails then settle in and stitch and watch TV! 

Back at it!

Well, looks like I'm back at it!  Pics and all.  This is the family this past weekend as we celebrated Thanksgiving with Ron, MaryJo and Ian.  Ian is SO tall!!  Oh my gosh...he's such a nice young man!  Funny, personable and just someone you like being around.  Of course we always have a nice visit with the kids.  We did miss Kayla this year but certainly understand she'd much rather be with Nate since they don't get to see each other that often.  I understand she was with his family for Thanksgiving so at least they were surrounded by family too!

So now to get back to working on some art work!  Maybe!  I met up with a friend for lunch today and did some shopping online.  Now to update that Christmas list and see what else I'm missing.  I sent  my Christmas cards in the mail yesterday so at least I accomplished something!  Now to play!

Well, who knew!

No pics to post...not because I don't have any but because I've run out of space on blogger!!  Go figure!  Now I need to pay a monthly fee to add more pics!  Hmmmmmmmm  It is what it is!!  

Next part of the story is....I have one credit card I only use for online purchases and low and behold it was hacked into last week!  Fortunately for me, Chase emailed to alert me about charges that just were suspicious.  One charge was for $920!  Whew!  Of course, I don't have to pay for them but now I'm waiting for a new CC to arrive in the mail.  I won't use my everyday CC online....so until then have a great day! 

Working away

You'll have to ignore the background messy matt in this picture...I couldn't get a very good color when taking a picture of my latest Tila bracelet I'm working on.  The light doesn't show up the pretty color of the green Tila's on the outside nor of the matt center green Tila's.  It looks really good on my wrist...but I had to order more Tila's for the outside.  I only need about 15-20 more but....
Then I started working on these folded Star hot pads...they are so much fun to make.  It takes more time to cut each square to make the triangles but once that part is done they work up pretty quick.  The colors in this one are brown(s) and green(s) and I'll bind it in the same dark brown you see in the photo.

And this is another project I'm working on...I'll talk more about it later.

 I also have to make a self portrait for the Art Quilts Around the World blog.  I have several ideas for this one too!!!  Just too many ideas in my small, pea brain!  I just might explode before they are all finished!

Girls Night Out

Hard to tell what this is but....it's the empty wine tasting containers!  Yep, there was wine, some tasty treats and LOTS of women last night at Holly's Ladies Night Out!

I met Alice and we headed to the Holly Village office to pick up our tote bag.  Along with over hundreds of other women!   This is just a small shot of the line of women waiting to sign up for our bag.

The bag contained lots of GREAT items like a Toothbrush!  A Sewing kit!    Is that funny or what!  I think it was great for the store owners to provide the bags...honest, I do.  I just thought those two items were funny!  My bag is still full of advertisements from all the different businesses in the downtown area.  I really didn't know they had so many different and very unique stores.  One of the best stores was Great Lakes Market Place (107 S. Saginaw St.), which sells only made in Michigan items.

This is the inside of that store which is filled with just unusual and unique items.  They even had flutes and clarinet's that were made into lamps!  Who knew!  Beautiful pottery and of course lots of food items made in Michigan.  Some of which, I've purchased on my Sunday trek w/Mary at the Grand Blanc Market.

I did buy a few treats at the Market Place...but I was so hungry on the way home I ate one pretzel stick!  I was good at only eating one!  And I was nice and offered Bob one when I got home.  We have these left over! 

Alice and I did sample wines at a few of the stores and we both purchased a bottle.  Of course, I'm a Merlot kinda gal so I bought this one.  It's brewed at the Fenton Winery which isn't that far away. 

I don't think of going to winery's in our area....I know there's one in Burton too....guess I need to start checking those out.  Maybe Alice and I will have to meet at a winery next!  But...we need to eat before or after!  I ended up having some peanut butter toast when I got home! 

Thanks, Alice!  I had a fun evening!  Look forward to our next 'girls day/night out'!

Boy, am I embarrassed!

Golly!  Am I embarrassed or what!!!!  My sister said I've led a "sheltered life" and I guess so!  On my post yesterday I put a picture of an 'item' my hubby and his friend found on the golf course.  I won't repeat what I posted, if you didn't read it you can by clicking here. 

So, I also posted on my FB page a picture of the 'item' and asked if anyone knew what it was.  My sister called me last night laughing hysterically!  I mean really hysterically!  She said her daughters (Erin/Kelli) were also laughing along with her.  In between my sister's laughter she let me know what the 'item' is!  Are you ready!!!

It's a container for a  "one hit weed" smoke. OMG!

 I would never have thought of that and didn't!  Some of the comments on my post were:  toothpick or cigarette holder, or for packing snuff!  Even a golf tee holder!  I did wash out the 'item' and also soaked the holes with alcohol...yes, I'm using it for holding needles!  

For those of us who didn't know what this was,  I think we must live under a rock! Or are sheltered!  I just want to know how those who "knew" what this item was, how did they know it!!  Now that's a good question!!  I'll be sure to question my sister and nieces when I see them next!  Until then, my face is still red!  And it's not from sunburn!  

So what is it?

My hubby is always bringing me things home that he finds (mostly on the golf course!). 
He brought this home a few weeks ago one of his buddies picked up on the golf course.  Bob and I don't throw anything out so of course he brought it home for me thinking I could use it. 

And he's right I will use it!

You can see the lid twists around so I thought it perfect for my needles. 

And of course, since it's made in the USA you know I'm going to keep and use it!!



But what do you think it "REALLY" is???  I know what my hubby's friend told him it was but I'm curious if anyone else knows. 

It measures 1 1/2" wide x 3" long.

And my tree and decorations are all up!!!  Yippee!!!  In fact, I got on this cleaning kick and threw out LOTS of old decorations and other items that were in our storage area.  Bob finished off our family room and made a nice closet under the stairway so it's perfect for storing all the Christmas and other holiday items.  But now I have lots more space.  My car is filled with items to take to Goodwill so Amber and I will do that after I pick her up from school this afternoon.  Sun is out so a good day to be productive!  Gotta love that sun!  I won't get any sewing done as I have to leave in an hour but tonight is a good TV night so I hope to hand stitch on my patchwork piece.  Enjoy the day!

It's a frame!

Yep, it's a FRAME!  I have six of my beaded birds and butterfly's completed but was so undecided on how to mount them. 

In our little town, we have a frame shop where I have had some work done a few years ago.  I took my beaded piece in to Sonja and we decided to just mount it and frame it.  I really like the color of the frame and there is a dark inside edge,  which helps set off the piece.  I'm really happy with how it turned out...so much so that I did drop off one of my beaded birds for her to frame.


But before I did, I took the  beaded piece to the machine and did some stitching on the leaves.  I had previously painted some of the leaves that were free motion quilted just to give it more definition (the leaves and flower in the butterfly piece are hand painted and hand stitched - background on all my pieces are just free motion quilted).  But I haven't done any more hand stitiching on the pieces since I finished my butterfly piece above.  

You can see in this picture the leaves on the left side have been stitched and on the right are just painted. 

Just a closeup shot of the leaves...I didn't have time to do the hand stitching, hence, falling back to using some of my embroidery stitching on the machine.  I stitched this up yesterday before I picked up kids at school and then dropped off the piece last night to Sonja.

I have no idea what this stitch is called...but it triple stitches each straight stitch which gives it a heavier feel... I could have used my 12 or 28 wt thread and just straight stitched but I didn't have the right color thread in the heavier weight.  This works for me!  I use this stitch for edging the facing on my snap bags too. 

And this is the finished piece I dropped off for framing.  The frame color matches the background quilting thread perfectly...although in this picture it doesn't look as gold.  I used Superior thread/Ricky Tims poly #104).   All of these pieces are approximately 8 1/2" x 11". I can't wait to see this piece in a frame too!  

Today is work day at home.  I want to clean up Bob's workroom of cobwebs and dust!  He's off to bowl so I can get in there without any distraction(s)!  I know it's a room no one sees but me and it drives me crazy.  His workroom is across from my wet room where I do my painting/dyeing/playing! 

Kalee and I took a walk this a.m. and it's beautiful out.  It was only in the low 20's @ 7:00 a.m. but already it's in the mid 40's, no breeze and lots of sun!  Perfect day actually.  Bob's thinking of golfing tomorrow so I hope it's as nice as today! 

One Circle to Go!

I only have one more circle to embroidery/hand stitch.  You can see part of it in this picture upper left corner. 

This is such a good piece of work to do while watching TV!  I am thinking of doing some machine stitching or else continue with hand work just using a running stitch in the empty spaces.  I have the design I want to do (no, it's not more circles!) but not sure if I'll do hand or machine work. 

Here are the other two circles I've finished.

There sure are a lot of stitches in this piece! When you're working on it you don't realize how much thread or time it's taking...that's what's nice about doing a little at a time and not overwhelming yourself with a project.  No target date...no hurry to finish....work on it at leisure.  Love having more than one project to work on.  Keeps me from getting bored or feeling like I have to rush to finish!

  Today I'll pick up both kids from school since there's no basketball (game) or football (practice)!  It will be nice to spend time with the kids and Kalee can go with me as well.  Now to hope the sun comes out!!!  It was only 27 @ 7:00 a.m.  but it's suppose to get warmer by the weekend.  Bob's even talking about golfing!  Let's hope!

Happy Birthday, Darrin!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARRIN!




YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY!  

Love ya!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY AS WELL! 


When Darrin was born, I voted via absentee ballot!  Darrin was born the next day! 
 

Sunday Dinner

I got to make Thanksgiving dinner for all the kids (minus Jeff!, who was traveling for his job) yesterday!  It was SO nice to have the kids up for dinner.  With all of their busy schedules, I feel like I'm imposing on them to take time out of their weekend!  But I figured no time would be good so just set a date and go for it! 

The kids took Kalee outside to play.  It was cold but kids don't care do they!!!  Brrrrrrrrr The sun did come out at times but thank goodness it was nice and toasty in the house!  Kids and I even got to play a game ow WigOut after dessert!!

I made usual Thanksgiving dinner and my old time lemon pie recipe and a pumpkin pie recipe from this month's FoodNetwork magazine.  It's a little too sweet for me but I'll let Bob be the judge.  He didn't eat any dessert last night so he'll get his slice tonight.

Yes, these are my kids (blonde is Kris, DIL; Darrin and Auntie Dawn!) working on their computer at their mom's house for Thanksgiving!  Go figure!  In their defense, Darrin is making several different collages for the coaches of Nick's football team.   Nick has their award dinner this coming weekend and Darrin is trying to finalizing the collages.  Dawn took most of the photo's this football season so she and Darrin were coordinating pics.  I did enjoy having everyone up (missed you Jeff!!!  But you have some turkey, stuffing and gravy waiting for you!)...it's always nice to surround yourself with family.  We don't get to do it enough!!!

I forgot to post a video from dinner with the kids on Thursday after Amber's last basketball game.  It's Darrin's BD tomorrow (Tuesday) and the folks who know him at the restaurant surprised him with a song.  He also ended up with some whipped cream in his face!  I didn't know they were going to do that so I only got a quick shot of his face.  It was too funny! 

Today, Gracie gets her manicure!  Tomorrow I get highlights, Wed. I pick up kids from school, Thursday is Friends of the Library meeting and Friday, I'm meeting Carol T. to do some Christmas shopping!  Whew!  I'm tired already!  I am sewing on my patchwork piece and really happy with how it's turning out.  At least I feel like I'm getting some sewing in!  Sun is out and temp is 36 so far!  I'll take Kalee to ride along to the vets for Gracie today.  At least it gets her out of the house.  Too cold for me to walk...I need 40 degrees!  Or lots of sun!

Weekend starting

No I didn't make these yesterday (I made lots of these about a year or so ago..just search for 'ring' on my blog and you'll see most of them). I made a matt black one for myself while watching the final show of 'Into the West last night'!  We loved that series as well as 'Hell on Wheels'.  Really good shows.  Now we're going to be watching all the other TV series that we Tivo'd while watching baseball! 

And, tada!  My hex strip is finished!  Yippee!

 Just because it's fun to count (with a calculator that is! Well, I run out of fingers!)...there are 8 one inch hex's in each row and 28 rows!  That's a total of 224 hex's!  I'm going to put the strip along with some fabrics I want to use in my project bag to take to Florida.  I still have hand work to do on my patchwork piece so I'll have something to work on at night. 
With the holiday's approaching and Christmas shopping, packing, planning, I don't see me completing this piece or my Peter Max/Dr. Seuss (for our fiber group) until Florida.  I do have to finish the snap bags I'm quilting but I need to buy some more metal tape measures!  I used up my last one!
Today I'm going to get busy making some Thanksgiving dishes as the kids are coming up for an early Thanksgiving dinner.  Darrin and family are going to Mexico with the kids and Dawn and Jeff go to his family for Thanksgiving.  Kris usually does the Thanksgiving dinner for the families but this year she'll get a break. 
I'm looking forward to making dinner for the kids...haven't made a Thanksgiving dinner in years and years for them!!!
So off I go...don't forget the Small Paws Rescue online auction!!!  I'm bidding on 3 items right now...hope I get them!!

Let the bidding begin!

Don't forget!!  The Small Paws Online Holiday auction starts today!  Don't miss out!!  There are lots of great items for you to bid on!!!  And it's all for a great cause!!

Click here or on my sidebar where you see the picture above!

Halloween!

This was our little angel last night!  Kalee was a doll!!!  She loves kids, people and other dogs so to have so many kids come to the door was a real "treat" for her. 
For those who don't follow Kalee's blog, plz head over to see a video of her greeting the kids.  Her blog is here. 

Bob and I both had tears in our eyes last night because she reminded us of Mandy so much and we were just so pleased with how well behaved she was.  Not once did she bark when the kids would knock at the door or ring the bell!
Kalee was just as good last year but this year she was perfect! 

This afternoon is Amber's last basketball game so I'll be heading down to pick up Nick from school then head over to watch the girls play. 

Kris sent their school pics for this year.  I can't believe how grown up these two are getting.  Amber is 13 and in 7th grade and Nick is 9 and in 4th grade. 

It's hard to believe Kayla will be graduating from college in the spring (2013)!  And Ian is driving and will turn 17 in 2013! 
They are all such great kids and we're so lucky to have them in our lives!! 

Temp in the 30's and overcast but sun is suppose to be out by tomorrow!  I may still take Kalee for a walk after lunch just to get her out for awhile!  As long as the snow holds off I'm fine with that!