messing around with linen and buttons and lace..wip

This is an old linen napkin that I dipped in coffee [ with vanilla ] . a work in progress .....

I don't know if I like the stitching or the aroma of vanilla coffee more ,

I used to do this years ago but it doesn't come easy to me .... and I really don't know how to embroider [ I fake it ] ... I drag out my mother's old embroidery instruction book , look at the diagram photos and wing it .

but

as I looked at Flickr photos one night > I found Pam Garrison . She inspired me to try again

Yes > if you enlarge this photo you will see two drops of blood . HA ..... but I keep stitching . I should be painting or drawing or CLEANING but I will keep stitching away .

I like the week after Christmas . It's a time to just relax and play a little .

HAPPY NEW YEAR ....

P.S. > the idea for adding vanilla to coffee wasn't my idea ..... I read it on someone's blog but now I forget who it was ! well if I remember I'll let you know

another heart pillow hanging

busy making Valentine's Day things !

in my shop > this little heart pillow

Thinking cats and hearts.... new pillow

I hope every one had a beautiful and happy Christmas . Ours was very quiet because Michael was sick Christmas Eve AND Christmas day .

He had a terrible sinus headache .

so .... I made cat pillows while he moaned and tried to sleep .

I had fun with this pillow . I stitched on lots of little seed beads and found a great old green button .

It is in my shop .

click to enlarge

Have a happy Monday !

Isaiah 53

I sit and read ... in this peaceful place ....at my dining room table .

Have a very happy Christmas week

Sunday Snow

we didn't get as much as I thought we were going to get ...

BEFORE the snow [ click to enlarge ]

Waiting for the snow !.... It's noon Saturday .

It is very cold outside ... Jerry wanted to ride his bike because later it will be covered with snow !

I'll try to post photos tomorrow

hearts and lace , pearls and ribbons CLICK to enlarge

Many years ago ... I made these hearts and this doll and painted roses in this wood bowl .

...bits of lace, embroidery , fabric pieces , crochet doilies , old buttons , pearls and ribbons .

The pink pin cushion was made by my grandmother . I would guess 1930's .

I'm feeling nostalgic and melancholy .... I think about painting but I'm drawn to lace and thread.

I want to make these things again .

Do you think it's good to take a break from your usual art ? to go to another medium .... I am thinking so much we do is for our spiritual peace ...

It's hard to understand why we make the art we make .

I love The Stratford Antique Center....click photo to enlarge

Do you love old things ????

I went to The Stratford Antique Center in between going to the Post Office and Rite Aid .

I bought this metal dust pan with the crimped edges and the beautiful green color , it says Everlast and it is HEAVY .

and the lamb .... I had a rubber lamb JUST like this one when I was a baby . I remember it very well . Do you remember any of your baby toys ?

This lamb has Akron Ohio stamped on it .

and the scissors.... I picked them up and I HAD to buy them because of the SOUND they made . These heavy scissors made a squeaky metal against metal sound .... it reminded me of my mother .... ha ha . ANd the dust pan reminded me of my Uncle Matty .

I didn't spend a lot ... I think $24.00

GOOD old stuff made in the good old U.S.A.

These things will last another 100 years

CLICK to enlarge the photo

If you ever come through Connecticut ... stop at this antique center . Call me ... I'll meet you there and then you can come to my house for tea !

Diane wins

Princess Stuffed Glove picked Diane's name from the hat !.. not sure where Jerry is .

I'll send the snow angel out this week Diane !

Thank you to all who left a comment .... thanks

visit Diane's blog to see her beautiful paintings.

Snow Angel giveaway

My Christmas giveaway !

I sculpted this angel mama and baby with polymer clay .

Dressed in gold and glittered , she stands 6 inches tall.

Please leave your name !

Jerry will draw a name on Sunday

Thanks

Merry Christmas !

Jerry and Princess Stuffed Glove.... click to see these two large !

These two are planning the next giveaway .....

they are deciding what it will be

come back soon !

Little Willow .... pillow

Thanks for writing to me about Twitter and Facebook ..... I know now why I have a hard time with both .

I'm not good at small talk , chit chat ... like " How are you , nice day " etc

When someone says to me ... how are you .... I want to tell them weird things they don't want to know ! I can be a little intense .

anyway ... if you are on either................... ....be my friend ? [ a line from "The Godfather " ]

and so now

here is a new pillow ...............................

I named her " Little Willow "

I am a BIG fan of The Beatles and that includes Paul McCartney . Little WIllow is one of his songs which of course I love .

and I like the sound of ............................... Little Willow pillow .

in my shop

a new pillow

I made this pillow today and now it is in my Etsy shop

AND

AND

I joined Twitter.

[ great .... like I know what I'm doing ]

So

I'm on Etsy

Blogger

Facebook

Flickr

Twitter

I find this sort of fun but VERY exhausting

and I never know what to say on Twitter or facebook

Tell me if you are on any of these and if you like it

I have to go lay down now .

Fancy Red Hat

This cat pillow is a soft green color , linen .

Buttons and lace

It's in my shop

Have a great Friday !!!!

just sold

this little cat is going to Washington state !

thank you Janine !

visit my friend Kirsten's blog

Kirsten is having a give away .... you could win one of her pretty rings

I love all the things she makes

I hope you will visit her blog !

same little cat made into a heart pillow...just sold

This drawing of mine must remind a lot of people of their own cat , because she keeps selling !

This is really my Holly . She always has a look of surprise ... every new paper bag on the floor , every piece of furniture I move ,

she looks at me like " WHAT"S THIS ABOUT ?"

so I made this little heart pillow

It's in my shop now

Thanks !!!!

SOLD.... going to Canada ... Thanks Heather !

Funny Ears pillow

In my shop

Crabby Cat pillow in my Etsy shop

I just finished this Crabby Pillow.

I used little seed beads around Crabby and seed beads on the buttons too .

I love Crabby with the butterflies .

I will be putting this in my shop soon but I couldn't wait to get this on my blog .....

I have to take smaller size photos for Etsy .

I still miss Crabby .

click to enlarge so you can see details .

please visit a beautiful blog >.... It's called ....

Fleur de Boheme

I got the idea from Kirsten to use seed beads on the buttons .... she does beautiful work

I hope you will visit her blog.

She has an Etsy shop too

Crabby pillow is IN MY SHOP now

15 inch tall .....bunny art doll

this bunny art doll .... this oh so pink bunny....

this pouty, pink ,cranky.....little doll bunny

is

in

my

Etsy shop

another pillow ... I AM BUNNY

I am BUNNY

I am BUNNY

in my shop

it's in my shop.....sold

bits of old lace and buttons

the doily was my mother's . so it's old !

some hand embroidered details

tea stained frayed checked fabric

the whole pillow is a soft pink linen front and back

it's in my shop

bookmarks

bookmarks in my Etsy shop !

Wonder Wanda , A Prudent Girl and Polka Dot Paula

I am pleased to say that

"Wonder Wanda "

[ the first bookmark here ]

made it into the Etsy gift guide

in the bibliophile section

Greeting cards

Just put some packaged greeting cards in my shop

They are small gift cards

Have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY !

bookmarkers

I had big plans for today .... all kinds of ideas but I woke up in PAIN .... oh my gosh .... It felt like there was a knife in my back . It dropped me to my knees in pain four times but then I dropped to my knees in prayer ....and He touched me . ...now at midnight I am feeling better . Of course husband gave me the half a minute back massage .... " Feel Better ? " and he's on his way out the door . ha ha

but he helped me clean up after dinner and he 'felt bad ' for me .

I made these bookmarks last week

Do you call them bookmarks or book markers ?

You use a book marker to book mark your page ?

Oh .... I don't know .

Odd Boy pillow now in my Etsy shop

I've been drawing my little odd boy for many years , with his dog , with his mom , at his house etc.

Here he is on a pillow

in my shop

thanks for visiting !

a new LITTLE pillow... " funny ears "... sold

a little pillow

6 x 6 inches

in my etsy shop

sold

it's in my shop

remember this pillow ?

It's in my Etsy shop

thanks .