SNOW DAY!!

Because it looks like this today...I got to stay home from work...yea!!!! It's actually the most snow we've had this season...no complaints. Poor Terry had to go up to Columbia University in Harlem to ref a game tonight. He just left at noon for a 7PM game (normally a 1 1/2 hour trip).....fingers crossed!.

THis is what's on my design wall at the moment...I'm trying to use up some pieces of my dyed fabrics before I dye anymore in the Spring. The row on top is pieces from last year's Melody Johnson workshop...still need to be finished.

When in Florida last week Keri (she's doing great) and I went to Ikea...I loved this polka-dot rug and carried it back on the plane. We have an Ikea here but it is a trip to go there...and I didn't know if they would have this....it sits in my sewing room.

Speaking of Melody...this small quilt/wall hanging was made from one 3 yard piece of her luscious fabric...stripped...pieced...stripped again...pieced again...all the while trying to get the design that I did end up with...her fabric makes my heart sing...and she's pretty cool herself, too :)

Aren't these rich primary colors just fabulous!!!!

Nothing but another piece of Melody's fabric would have been good enough for the back...I've had some of her fabric in my stash since way back when she and Laura we're first in Paducah...not in the main arena but downtown at an alternate site. I've been hooked ever since.

I sent the top to Eileen Keane at Designing Quilts http://www.designingquilts.com/ and she did a wonderful job....I highly recommend her. This piece was quilted with variegated thread and I love the result.

Marcia

Play Day

Last Sunday a group of six of us met at Val's house for a play day...to share ideas, show and tell, and just talk about fabric, techniques, shows, books, quilting, and great classes we had taken...or want to take.


Nancy Bailey showed her beautiful sheers (silk organza and netting) that she discharged and/or dyed.
I played with a black sateen fabric and discharged it with bleach pen through a thermofax screen, and with discharge paste...same fabric...different results. I love the color this bleaches to.

Below are two small quilts by Diane Kopec...she does "Journal Quilts".....I love the size and all the feelings behind these very personal pieces.

Lisa Chipitene was working with linen canvas...she was expressing herself with red, white and black paint.

Nancy had dyed and made this jacket last year and wasn't satisfied with the way it turned out...so Pat Rodgers took it home and worked her fabric and stitching magic and this was the result....beautiful!

Below is a piece by Pat...showing her savvy with threads, paint, needle felting etc.....she has many talents...we just sit and stare in awe.

Finally...this is a grouping of Val's work. Val does fabulous surface design...and she displays it proudly in her studio...love this ladder idea.

She paneled and fixed up her basement wet studio, and the six of us were totally comfortable working there. Stamps are easily accessible....

Dyes and paints can all be seen...a place for everything...she has at least six of these racks around the room.

I'm off to Orlando tomorrow to see Keri and Mike....that belly is growing and I don't want to miss it all...I think we'll start preparing the nursery, buy some furniture and set up a registry...can't wait!

Marcia

Heide's Fabric

Heide Stoll-Weber dyes and sells some of the most beautiful fabric I have seen...it is cotton sateen, and so yummy. I bought some pieces from her and when I went to Jan Myers -Newbury's class at the Crow Barn, I decided to take some with me and shibori over-dye it. I love the results and promised some people I would put it on the blog.


The background colors were done by Heide...the darker lines are a result of the shibori dyeing.

These red pieces will all be put into my class piece...hopefully this year. I did promise myself I'd finish what I've started...it's about 5th in line however. Stay tuned....

Marcia

Resolutions!

Since I didn't have to make my normal get in better shape, lose weight resolution, I decided to resolve to use up a lot of the fabrics and supplies I already have in my stash. I have a whole bolt or two of a heavier weight canvas...too heavy to use for my jackets. So I will be making bags out of some of it. This one made up quickly and I'm very pleased with it. So now I have to get some yardage dyed and a pattern made, since I made this up as I went.

Marcia

Itchin to Stitch!

I finally got the chance to spend some time in the sewing room today. Terry is still at the Golf Show in Orlando, so my time is my own. I had cut out this bag a couple months ago...so sewing it together was a few-hour job....the fabric is so yummy...a nice upholstery weight. I bought more...I think I'll make a jacket.


Speaking of the sewing room...my new sewing table and cabinets are just what I needed...it is more ergonomic....and the amount of storage is welcomed.

I do need a day or two to straighten up and find a place for everything...someday.

Next job on the sewing table is a baby quilt...blues of course!

Marcia

No sun...loads of fun!

I asked for an ocean-view room as far from the lobby as possible (good forced exercise!) and this was our view. Spectacular! The weather only got a bit better on our last day...but the temps were still in the 50's. Oh well...we had a great time. The shopping was incredible...best I've ever seen...of course, buying at this size is so much more fun. We drank margaritas and ate wonderful food....but I walked and walked...didn't gain or lose...YEA!

One night's theme was dress as your favorite TV or movie character (if you wanted to...otherwise just dress up nicely)....the Blues Brothers were there....

and Homer and Marge Simpson....

and Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.....

Brittany and her Mom.....and numerous others. Maui Jim Sunglasses is a very casual, family-oriented, successful company...they put on some sales meeting...I was very impressed!

I did my walking on the beach....that will get your muscles working....felt good...and reminded me of summer at Snyder Beach :)

When the weather was a bit better on the last day, I looked out the window and...wow!...there was Catalina Island...lost in the fog and clouds for three days.

One night they took everyone (about 500 people) to an Asian-themed Dance Club...great food and a fabulous band (that Maui Jim hired) called Polyester Express....this is the smaller group we were with....another great night...and the music was all late 70's and early 80's....we danced and ate and knocked ourselves out. (I hate this picture of me, but everyone else looks great!)

Next year the meeting is in Dallas.

Marcia

Off to California!

Terry and I are off to this beautiful place tomorrow morning...the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, for the Maui Jim Sunglasses sales meeting....all expenses paid. Unfortunately the weather is not going to be stellar....50 -60 degree days and some rain...I'm hoping for the best. We had a 20 degree day here today...anything is better. At least there will still be shopping!!!

I hope to get some great pictures....the hotel is right on the beach. My friend Gail (mouseketeer at the wedding) will meet me on Sunday and we will either do Disneyland or shopping. She lives in Oceanside, CA.

Marcia

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Before this Christmas I knew nothing about the Wii entertainment system. Amy bought Keri one and gave it to her a couple days early...and we all played bowling and tennis and golf. What a blast this is!!! Here's Terry showing us his form :)



What Amy didn't know was that I had bought her one...so on Christmas Eve she got hers...and we bowled some more. On Christmas Day Jeff found his game after a few frames.

And on Monday when I went to Target to get the girls a game for the Wii's...they were selling a new shipment of machines....so, since Terry had such fun (me too!!!) I bought one for him. Below is my son-in law Mike throwing another strike! It is so realistic and great exercise.

I hope to have other pictures soon...Amy has to send them to me....Keri looks and feels great...she napped a lot. They are now in Lancaster, PA with Mike's family.

Marcia

Our New Display Cabinet

I just love this new cabinet from Crate & Barrel...and the old armoire looks great in the bedroom. All of my collectibles have been switched and the decorating is done.

I made a couple stockings this year forMike (Keri's husband) and Jeff (Amy's boyfriend).....just because. We will all be together this year for Christmas....we ar very excited. Very exciting is the news that Terry and I are going to be first-time Grandparents in June...let the spoiling begin!!!!!

This cute little wreath is a gift from Toyoko and Yoko, our dear friends from Osaka, Japan. They are CRAZY Disney fans...that is where we met eight years ago, at a Disneyana Convention in Walt Disney World.

Putting in the larger cabinet made it necessary to move around the paintings. I now only have room for two...so I told Amy she can finally have one. These were done by Keri for three Disneyana Conventions....based on their themes for the year. They held silent auctions for all the paintings (done by many artists each year) and the proceeds went to local charities.

Five words......I had to have them!
This is the one Amy wants...The Fox and the Hound.

This is Goofy's family from the theme year "Reunion". Goofy is Keri's favorite character of the fab five.

I can't remember the name of the movie this is from...cute, huh?!

Today it's cookies day....gotta be strong and not eat any though...I've lost 30 pounds and I intend to keep it off and lose more.

Marcia

More Christmas Decorating

I have been looking for a larger cabinet to display Keri's designs that I have acquired over the years....so I went to Crate and Barrel this week to check out one I had seen in their catalog. I loved it, and it will be delivered on Monday. So I had to empty this cabinet out (I put this armoire in my bedroom for my clothes...love it.) I thought I'd get a picture for you...she started designing for Disney almost 10 years ago...so I have a few things :)




These two elves are very special to me....I bought these years ago with my friend Cheryl, at the Hancock Shaker Museum Show in Massachusetts. They are made by June Weaver (Out of Knowwear) from recycled clothing. I also have four santas done by June. Cheryl and I used to fight over who would get these...all in good fun.

The amount of work in these elves is amazing... in person, the face (mostly eyes) on this one reminded me so much of my brother, so I had to have this one.

I made the santa holding the tree about 10 years ago. The santa in the back center I purchased from an art student at Buffalo State College 23 years ago when I worked at a fabulous quilting store there. It was made with Jinny Beyer fabrics, which were a new phenomenon then, and the shop owner challenged this girl to use them...I BEGGED her to be able to buy it.

This four-foot tree is covered with very special ornaments. They were gifts, handmades, travel keepsakes etc. I wrap a sheet around this in January and put it away like that...emptying it every year is not an option :)

And this little tree sits in the kitchen corner...it has minis, handmade swedish paper stars and handmade beaded snowflakes.

This is a closer view of the Disney ornament tree...mostly to show the folded paper stars, beaded snowflakes and icicles, and beaded garlands. The garlands are so easy to make (just string beads), and really add a nice touch to any tree.

Marcia

Decorating for Christmas

I am 90% done with my decorating....I always do it early (although more and more people seem to decorate early now). It is a labor of love for me. I used to put up about 8 to 10 trees of different sizes...now I'm down to four. I collect trees and santas...nothing outrageous, just enough to make a nice small collection. The first photo is my mantle....featuring a sleigh and reindeer by artist Jim Shore...who incorporates quilt patterns into his carvings.


This is my small grouping of Byer carolers...many were gifts. They sit on my beloved antique family furniture from Kentucky.

I made these ceramic carolers in 1971, when I took a class with my Mom in Buffalo. I just love them, they are very special to me. The white tree was made (in early 70's...by me) from styrofoam trays cut in circles and then cut again...very hard on the hands and hard to explain!

These ornaments were all designed by Disney artists, and many of them are signed. Ever since my daughter became a Disney artist I have collected the ornaments that the group of artists she works with designed. There's about 6 of Keri's on here.

And lastly is my staircase...I really should have cleared off the stairs before I took this...oh well.

All I have left to do is my big tree....should be done tomorrow.

Marcia