Playing in the Studio

August 1st - I don't know whether to say the heat wave is almost over (joyous) or oh no, summer is almost over (sadness). This has been a long, hot summer but I'm not sure I want it to be over yet - so I will just continue to enjoy the heat (but not the humidity).

OK - so here's the latest out of my studio. What do you think? I'm thinking nursery wall hangings here, small 10" by 10" size. (Did you note the hand quilting - still needs work, but getting much better.) I have another one under way in blues with a train engine on it.

While I was playing, I also made a little larger autumn leaves wall hanging. I think I like this one a lot. The colors feel good to me. (Big T says still too bright - wait till he sees the purple one coming out.) I will probably machine quilt this one for a more polished look.

M and The Dude leave for a whole week in CA tomorrow morning. Sure will be quiet around here - just me and Big T talking to each other and ourselves. M has a consulting engagement and The Dude is going to stay with K&A and the Little Miss in San Diego for a week. They are both excited. The Dude has been practicing how to have a tea party and play Ring-around-the-Rosie this week. I think his aunt K and uncle A have a few surprises in store for him.

Off to play in the studio (after I make a three bean salad to let it marinate).

Hugs - Marie

How to feel old and senile

Our trip to San Diego was peaceful, restful and relaxing. We played with the baby and did all the things grandparents do (including a trip to the zoo to watch the monkeys and the flamingoes) and still squeezed in time to go to the graduation. If you have never spent an hour in front of the flamingo cage at the San Diego zoo, you don't know what you are missing. They must have 40 flamingoes all sitting on eggs presently. Their nesting habits were fascinating to watch and the Little Miss just sits and watches.

We saw this poster as we were leaving the zoo. I am fascinated by the expression, especially the eyes. I keep thinking about what type of fabric to try something like this.



And now for the lesson in 'how to feel old and senile' in less than 10 minutes. First let me say that we tried and tried to get our younger daughter to just drop us at the curb in the airport in San Diego. If she had done as we asked, my embarassment would have been witnessed by only Big T - but no, she insisted on walking in with us and spending every possible minute with us before we left.


Big T and I used mileage to go to San Diego this time. We flew in on US Air and assumed we were flying home on US Air - NOT SO! When we checked in, a very nice young lady informed us, we were not scheduled on any flight out that day (or any other). After my protest, she looked at the itinerary I was waving in her face and politely informed us that we were flying home on United Air which was in the other terminal and about 1/2 mile walk. Of course our younger daughter by this time is sure that her mother has completely lost it and Big T is beginning to wonder.



Needless to say, we walked to the other terminal, checked in and saw our daughter watch us through security. Our layover was in Chicago where we had a 4 hour layover. Our older daughter was to take our car to the airport in Raleigh and leave it for us with a phone message telling us where she parked it. All worked like it was planned. EXCEPT - she parked it in terminal 1 (which is where we left from) and we were going to come in to terminal 2 after midnight.

So by now both daughters think their mother is totally senile and has lost it completely. Big T has been sure of it for several years and just shook his head at the happenings. I may not be allowed out without a keeper for awhile. And to think that I traveled professionally from coast to coast as a consultant for several years (and recently at that).

More to come - hugs to all of you.

Marie

Getting Ready for the Holidays

December 15, 2009

All right, I gave up and ordered “Google Blogging for Dummies” from Amazon. Everything I try beyond simple posting takes far too long for me to figure out. Of course, if I weren’t such a control freak, I could ask for help. But no, I have to figure it out myself.

I am so excited – Big T and I were browsing a bookstore today and saw a book co-authored by our older daughter (M). It was front and center on a center aisle shelf. There was her name and her book for the whole world to see.

The holidays are here. I finished my homemade gifts for everyone and am busy wrapping. I have not even sat at a sewing machine in almost a week. I am too busy finding the things that Big T and I acquired for everyone throughout the year and stashed in a safe place. Every year I say I am going to keep a list; but that’s Big T’s job and he does it well. I think everything has been found and is either wrapped or sorted to be wrapped.

We are having multiple holiday celebrations – one here and then one in San Diego. Yes, we are going back to San Diego again. We are ALL going this time so the entire family will be together at the holiday season. What a special treat for all of us.

My Christmas cactus is blooming. The first bloom was spotted the day after Thanksgiving. Big T and I started this one from a single stem cutting (I won’t tell you where we got it though). The last two years it has bloomed at Christmas. (Of course, it also bloomed last May.)

I am working on my plans and goals for 2010. I don’t like to call them New Year’s resolutions because I have never kept them in the past. Why would I think things would change this year? I am very goal oriented so I will approach things how I work best.

I need to start focusing on building up my readership of this blog. Any suggestions from you would be appreciated. If nothing else, it would prove there is someone out there reading this. Sometimes I feel as if Big T and I are the only ones reading this (and I’m not really sure about Big T). Leave me a comment and let me know you exist.

During our walk through the arts and crafts show on our last trip to CA, we sampled some delicious quick breads from a bakery called Mama Houli & Sister T. The breads were absolutely great. Their website is www.mamahouli.com. Check it out. My favorite was the lemon ginger bread – I think I went back several times for samples.

I have taken several e-classes online the last month or so related to embroidery and appliqué. The classes at www.embroidery.com are a perfect way to learn a new technique. I like the concept of sitting at my desk watching a demo on my PC while in my grubbies, barefoot and no makeup. This is the only way to learn - beats those college lecture halls with 200 students and a professor who was microphone-shy and couldn’t be heard past the 3rd row. You will start to see some of these new techniques on www.hummingbirdtreasures.etsy.com in the coming year.

From me to you, lots of hugs and thanks for joining me in my new adventures of learning to be creative and artistic. Happy holidays to all of you!

Marie