It's how big!

Bob and I just got back from a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Mr. Lucky's. I had their grilled chicken (with Zip's sauce - which is FANTASTIC!) and Bob had a Rib Eye and a baked sweet potato. The portions at Mr. Lucky's are always enough that you can take home left overs for another meal...but check out Bob's sweet potato! I weighed it when we got home..almost 2 lbs..so with what Bob ate this was a 2lb sweet potato! You'd think whoever grew it would have kept it to enter in the state fair somewhere! Yikes! We have enough for 3 more meals!
So I want to share some sun printed fabric one of my friends did. Karen has made some wonderful nature pieces doing her sun printing. We had our Aussome fiber meeting yesterday and she brought some of her latest creations. I'm posting two of them (without her permission but I'm sure she won't be upset!). Aren't they beautiful! I can just see them as a whole cloth being quilted whether with hand or machine stitching.

We're talking Karen into selling some of her sun printed yardages.

If anyone is interested, there's another contest...go figure! Anyway, check out what else Lark Books is up to for keeping us on our toes and productive!

Sat. is date night but I think I'm being taken on a date! My daughter is picking up Amber and Nick and taking them to her house to prepare dinner for all of us! Isn't that nice! Darrin and Kris will go on their 'date' and I'll have a date night with my daughter, my SIL, Jeff, and the grand kids. I'm looking forward to this!

Just too cute

This is a picture of the grouping of our Inspired by Masters Exhibit by four of us in the Aussome group. These are representing the work of Katsushika Hokusai. It's the only artist that we each used the same painting of Hokusai - The Wave!


Mary's, LoisAnn's, Carol's and my 'burnt' tyvek piece. The exhibit is on display at the Auburn Hills Library for Nov. and Dec.

This is just way too cute!

Metal Work

Someone asked me about the banner quilt I have on my blog....so, since I don't have anything of interest to show today I thought I'd recap for her this piece. It measures 14" x 18" and is mounted on to foam board.


This was actually a challenge piece in 2007 for our CCC fiber group. We had to make some type of art work using metal. I use two pieces of shibori, one a silk piece my daughter gave me and a bleach resist shibori piece for the border. The black bleach shibori was from our CCC group shibori exchange we did several, several, years ago. I traced out branches and reversed appliqued the black fabric. The piece was free motion quilted then the leaves were added.


I took a leaf pattern, which was actually a cardboard advertisement from a company in Canada, and traced onto a lightweight metal. I just cut out the metal leaves with my craft scissors. Each leaf was then stitched down and I added some black fabric paint as shadows behind some of the leaves. This piece hangs in my living room and I was happy with the way it turned out.

Metal is such fun to work with. I've used metal in some of my smaller journal pieces and in one of my Art Diary pages. I've also used it as a binding on some smaller pieces and ATC's. I'm not particular with the type of needle I use but I prefer not to use a large need (90) as it tends to leave holes bigger then I care to see. As far as threads, I've used Signature and Sulky with no problems. Metal comes in so many different colors and weights and there are some really good books out there on different techniques working with metal. 'The Art of Stitching on Metal' by Ann Parr is a good reference books. She has lots of techniques and examples for stitching on metal and for adding color to metal.

This is a picture of page 3 in my Art Diary. If you click on the picture you'll see each item has metal sewn into it or is metal as a stand alone embellishment. The top right piece was put through my crimper to get the texture for the leaves. This was a fun piece to work on. Guess all my pieces are fun to work on for me!! It doesn't take much to make me happy does it!

Temps in the 60's again yesterday and supposed to be in the mid to high 50's today. Just beautiful fall weather so far. Enjoy it while we can. Of course, Bob is golfing this week, no surprise there!

Party Time

I forgot I had Mary's quilt here at the house!! So this is a better picture then the one below! Due to the way 'blogger' works..if I move the pic down you can't click on it to see the detail. Hence, I'm leaving this pic here! You'll have to read further down about it!

Here's a picture of the CCC fiber group that met at our house for our annual Christmas Party! We were missing Karen who was sick with a cold and/or the flu and Lois Ann who is in Italy.

Back row: Debra, Joetta, Mary and Marty
Middle row: Joyce, Carol, Elsie
Floor ladies: Chris, Michelle, Judy and me (I'm holding the phone pretending it's LoisAnn..she called us from Italy!).

Yep, we meet in Nov. as it's so hard to ensure most can make the party with all of the get-to-gether's folks have in Dec. This seems to work out pretty well and gets us in the spirit. OK, maybe the 'spirits' get us in the spirit! Actually, we didn't have that much to drink! We really had a great time and I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the food table(s)! Yes, I said tables. I had the pool table covered for some other 'business' items but we had so much food on the main table we ended up putting all the desserts on the pool table. Yum!!! We do like to eat!

Here are some bookmarks I made for the ladies. I try to make a new bookmark each year. But I'm running out of ideas! I used a stamp my friend, Carol, from Florida gave me last year. I love the stamp! Thanks, Carol!

So here are some pictures from our 2009 construction/snow fencing challenge! We were each given a piece of this fencing and here are some of the creations. I'm missing one photo of a bookmark my friend Carol made but I'll upload as soon as she sends me the picture.

This is a 'dye bag' Michelle made! She's the one who gave us all the fencing last year at our party. How cool is this! We are just curious as to the size of the dye pot she's going to use! More pictures of that in the spring at the dye camp weekend. Should be interesting!

This is a quilted piece Chris made. She stenciled and stamped with the fencing. Clever and very appealing I think! Chris made another piece which is further down. She was ambitious.

This is a purse that Joyce made! How cool is that!! Joyce is our bargain finder lady! If there is a estate sale or bazaar, Joyce will find the 'finds'! Her lace she used came from one of those sales. Who would have thought of a bag!

Our international member, LoisAnn who is residing in Italy right now, sent a quilt she made. Actually, she made 3 or 4 of these pieces! Her husband thought this was the best one. She cut away some of the circles from the fencing. Clever and actually an art quit I'd hang somewhere!

Of course our Mary did one of her great art works. This is a journal size piece that she screen printed and stamped (I believe). She did machine and hand stitching on this. Click on the pic for a closeup. The pic is a little blurry but you'll get to see some of the work up close.

And this is my book cover I made from deconstructed screen printing with the fencing. Then the fabric was free motion quilted and beading added.

Our winner of the challenge was by Joetta! Congrats!!! She made a great book out of the fencing and used the fencing for stenciling onto paper. That's a closure for the book in the center! Joetta makes some of the best books around. I'm talking about leather bonded books! She also teaches bookmaking. Wonderful work and well deserved on the use of the fencing!

These are just some of the pages in her book.

Another page from the book.

This is Chris' 2n piece. It's mud cloth that she stamped with the fencing! I didn't get a picture of the entire piece which is too bad. It's a great piece! Chris taught mud cloth at one of our meeting last winter (of course I was in Fl. and didn't get to participate!).

This is the bottom for the support of a flag Debra made! Yes, she drilled a hole in the book; added the funnel and squash......

Then she wove dried weeds into the fencing! Clever!!!

So all in all we had a great time as I said. It was nice to just sit and talk and see all the show and tell everyone had. We didn't have to worry about rushing through show and tell so we could do a project which was refreshing for a change. Maybe we need to have Christmas in July! Just have a food night and show and tell...hmmmmmm Sounds like a discussion item for when I get back from Fl. It's 68 degrees out right now! Can you believe that! I have widows opened and Mandy and I already took a walk earlier. It's just beautiful outside! One of the last of the nice days I would think..but it's Michigan so who knows!

One of Mandy's day jobs

Before I get to Mandy's day job...a few days ago I showed in one of my posts a scarf I made using yarn Dawn brought me from Alaska. Well, Laurie Ceesay sent me an email and just happen to mention that it did resemble a wreath. I thought this as well but figured if I posted that folks would think me weirder then I already am. But guess what! In preparing for my Christmas party for the CCC fiber group on Sat. I ran downstairs and wrapped the 'scarf' around a vase I put some beading in! Guess what! It looks great! Thanks, Laurie for 'prompting' me to use it as a wreath until I get the bead and loop sewn on! By the way..check out Laurie's blog and her work! Laurie creates figurative art quilts which are spectacular!

Here's my wreath!
So now to some pics of Mandy and her 'friends' at their monthly day job at the Good Shepard School.

Mandy really does listen to the kids and I enjoy some of the stories as well. Sometimes she falls asleep and the kids will unconsciously start petting her while they are reading to her. It's so great to see.
Mandy looks like she saying "what, I was listening"! This is Sally being read to. Sally is a sweetheart and allergic to wheat! Go figure!
Tammy Bartz is one busy lady. She does the arranging of quite a few of the reading programs as well as other Therapy Dog visits. I'm not sure how she does it or how she keeps everything she does in order! This is one two dogs she brought today. They are always well behaved even if they are puppies! Another one of Tammy's dogs. Sleeping! This was during lunch break so sleeping is allowed then too! I don't know this dogs name...but she sure liked her belly rubbed! She had the cutest little 'howl' when she came into the building. Like she was giving everyone notice she was there! And, again, I don't know his name but what a doll!! I love his head/face!! He's only 8 months old! I'll find out his name for next month (we only meet for the reading program at this school once a month).
Here he is 'working'! He's going to be a great Therapy Dog. Check out Therapy Dogs, Inc. here. It's a great organization and some interesting stories on the dogs and their handlers.
Temp on Friday @ 7 was 20.4!! It did warm up to the 40's but yikes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

Yep, my youngest is 41 today! Hard to believe these kids are getting 'old'! This picture is from Darrin's kindergarten or 1st grade. He's close to the same age as Nick and you sure can see the resemblance! And here's my 'baby' now! Still has that same 'smile' in his eyes doesn't he.

Enjoy your day, Darrin! At least I didn't post the pic of you wearing the cowboy hat and boots! We'll let Dawn be the 'calendar' child in this family!

Mid week

I received this email from my son yesterday. How cool is this! Congrats Nick & Amber on jobs well done!


Mum, We talk about how proud we are as parents and also so Thankful for what our parents have taught us and shared with us over the Years…Well; last week Amber nailed it once again on the Challenge words and then Nick brought home is first official Perfect Attendance recognition from 1st Grade! Thanks again Mum for all the Years you taught us as Kids…it’s rubbing off on our Kids, “Just do the Best You Can and Never Give Up!” Darrin

Here's Nick's award....

And Amber's 101%! I think she got 101% because of an extra credit word. She's a good student. On Wednesday's I ask if she has homework and she'll say "yes, but I have to wait and have my dad help me". I remember what those days were like! I'm sure Darrin and Kris feel like they are back in school at times!

I did finish another twisted knitted scarf (pattern from issue 1 of Thr3fold journal from my favorite fiber artists). The yarn was a gift from my daughter when she and Jeff went to Alaska. It was handmade in Sitka by Raven Frog Fiber Arts and I love the color. Only problem I didn't have enough to make a long twisted scarf so I was given a 'design opportunity'! I ended up with a size that fits perfectly around my neck. I looked through my beads today and I found a pretty pink shell type bead about 1" in size. I'm going to make a chain loop and sew on the button (on the left side bottom in this picture) and I'll have a neck scarf! I think it will work out perfectly!

I'm looking forward to having our CCC fiber group over on Sat. for our Christmas Party! Yep, it's early but with Thanksgiving and Christmas it's so hard to find a date that one of us doesn't have another holiday commitment. We've met the past two years early in Nov. and I think it works out best. My tree is up, table set up ready and I have two recipes I'm going to try! Yum..can't wait..we always eat well as everyone brings a dish to pass! And of course we do have some drinks...wine, etc.

Friday is day job for Mandy at the school for the reading program. Mandy loves being with the kids and I have to admit I enjoy it as well. So until later.....

Other kids!

Dawn took some photo's of the little ones for Halloween! Amber said they had a good time but Nick got cold and didn't go to all the houses she and a friend went to. Amber thought running kept them warmer! It was really windy for Halloween...you could see some of the kids who came to our house were even cold. I did feel bad for the little ones but I'm sure after some of the candy they felt 'warmer'!

It was a day of beauty treatments for Mandy, her hair appointment and Gracie for her manicure. Tomorrow is my day! Getting roots dyed which is a good thing! As far as art work, I'm still beading on Frankenthaler, but it's getting there!

You Tube to Watch

OK, this is a great YouTube to watch! And I think it's a great idea!!! We all need to walk more and this obviously does entice folks to do just that! I do enjoy walking but I don't walk here in Michigan as much as I do in Florida. In Michigan I walk on the treadmill rather then outside (other then taking Mandy for a walk) but in Florida I walk everyday. Anyway, check this out!

Kids, bleach and projects

Kids, bleach and projects. Hmmm doesn't sound all that good as a title does it! So we'll start with the kids of course!
Since Bob and I moved into our sub in '96 we've always been shell shocked at the number of kids who come Trick or Treating. We always seem to run out of candy but last year we only had 98 kids. Unsure on how many we would have I only bought 185 pieces to give out. A good thing as last night we were back up in the count! We ran out of candy at 7:15 giving out 182 pieces (Bob ate 2 and I ate one piece!). It's amazing the number of kids that are actually driven into our sub. We still don't know what the reason was for lack of kids in 2008 (weather was nice too!) but we'll plan for 200 for now on. The highest number of kids we had was in 2006 and we ran out at 298 pieces of candy!

So here are 'our' kids all dressed up (Cody had a flower necklace on to greet the kids and Mandy was in her French Maid outfit).

Aren't they cute!!

Cody liked getting his picture taken. Looks like he saying "Hey, where'd you go!" to Mandy! He barked at the first few door bells but after that he just sat and watched the kids. Mandy just LOVES when the kids come. Her tail never stops wagging!

So now on the 'bleach'. I was watching one of Laura Kemshall's latest web video's on bleach resist fabric and thought I'd give this a go since I haven't done any bleach resist in quite awhile. So I started off with using Soft Scrub as this always seemed to work quite well in the past.

I used my foam stamps and with the first letter you can see it was on pretty thick. I just dipped the letter 'C' in the Soft Scrub. After that I used a foam brush to apply the bleach.

Here it is all stamped out.

And here it is all dry and ironed. Funny how a piece of white fabric that is hand dyed and then bleach resist doesn't bleach back to white.

So the next bleach I tried was using liquid bleach full strength. I just poured my bleach into my stamp pad and using a piece of foam started stamping.

Again, this is an old piece of green fabric I dyed years ago.

After rinsing and washing here's the bleached piece. I really liked the colors in this piece and thought I should do something with it.

So now for my 'project' part of this blog. I know..the colors are different but that just depends on whether I've used the flash or not! Sorry about that.. I think this is more the true color of the piece. I had a piece of hand dyed fabric in a similar color so I cut up the bleached piece and added a small strip just to break up the piece. I thought this would make a nice Art of Nature journal piece for November.

I wanted to add some other color to the piece so I made a stencil from a Dover book of a flowers and used Oil Pastel crayons to add the color.

I sandwiched the piece and started stitching away. Here's the stencil part just outlined with stitching. And here's the finished stitched piece. I just did free motion stitching to fill in areas. I didn't care much for the green I used on the leaves and wanted to change that. So I found some old painted fusible webbing I had on hand and I ironed that on top of the green leaves. I think it looks much better. I really liked how this turned out and I decided I'm not cutting it down to the 8 1/2" x 11" journal size. It's 10" x 12 1/2" and I think I'm keeping it this size. I'll just have to make another AON journal for November. So guess that's what I better get moving to do, right!