Happy Halloween and/or Happy Fall

I made this little watercolor card for my girlfriend...then copied it and printed out copies for my adult children, grand children and brother and mailed them off! I think they are getting them tomorrow. Oh well, it's the thought that counts! I used the letter stamps I bought at Art and Soul for the first time too. Consider it your card too okay? Happy, happy fall holiday! Will you go to a costume party? Will you dress up? Or will you like me turn off the lights and hide from the revelers and lay low? I have many wonderful memories of fun Halloweens when I was a kid. My girlfriend Patty's mom, (across the street) would put on a party for all the neighborhood kids in their rumpus room downstairs. We'd bob for apples in a silver tub of water; some years she'd hang the apples on strings from the ceilings and we'd have to try to bite into one with our hands behind our backs; she made carmel apples and popcorn balls. And she, the mom, would dress up as a witch with a big green nose! She was scary. Remember those orange and yellow and white triangle candies called candy corn. I think they still sell that. What are your childhood memories of Halloween? We could have a party here! Perhaps post a costume on your blog that you would be wearing when you come to my party!

Lights Out Put Us Back a Century!

The other night the electricity went out in our neighborhood for some unknown reason (not weather related)...so there was a mad hunt in the dark looking for candles and matches. (After we renovated everything was put in new places it seemed...but finally I found them). So I was able to sit and embroider by hand on this quilt I am making for a new show. I'll finish this weekend and take in on Sunday. I think it needs a few beads for some added pizazz!

In the meantime my little yam cutting has put out more leaves to enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed my Friday off today. Exercise then lots of machine thread-painting sewing; swifting floors, making Halloween cards; completing my work claims; and a run to the post office to mail them all off. Then a swing over to the thrift store next door where I picked up a couple of free books, some inexpensive beads, and a gorgeous black beaded jacket that I will offer to my daughter. If she does not find it to her liking I'll use it for the beads in my artwork. Have a fun weekend.

Another Tour of the Art I Visited Last Weekend.

Well, you just had to see the two headed cow/steer whatever it is, right? I could not deny you that pleasure!

Another Phillip Glashoff metal art piece!And here's another wonderful painting by Kenneth Chew.

I do believe it's the very marina at which the Lawler House Art gallery sits. And so many of you raved about the silk necktie quilt I just know you'd enjoy a close up view.

I like this one. The show was called "Fall" and this painting depicted this best of

all in my estimation.

Ann Jacobs has many pieces of wonderful mixed media art in this show and

I've seen her work in our local gallery as well.

Well, it's powerful, not?

Sorry I did not get the artists name.

I liked this one too!

I see quilts everywhere...these light fixtures no exception.

This a little alcove behind the gallery.

I like the little doorway under the planter of flowers.

Maybe a fairy lives there.

You think?

Enjoy your Friday.

I know I will mine.

;-)

Grateful Thursday and God Bless The US Mail!

This very very sweet package arrived in the mail on Wednesday. I had placed an order at Annie Coe of Blissful Bohemian's ETSY store at www.BlissfulArts.etsy.com. Annie wrapped the order in this pretty package, with delightful handmade cards in pink bubble wrap! Annie makes these very delicate and pretty ceramic art pieces...

I got one for a gift and guess what? I got a gift for me from Annie! Thank you Annie, I am wearing it now and I love it. Xoxo to you too sweet friend.

I hope you will visit Annie's ETSY too.

You will love all the lovies she has there.

Very reasonably priced too!

;-)

I was also happy to get my art supplies that I had my son mail to me from Portland

so I did not have to take them on the plane.

No wonder I am making a large quilt now. All my paints and journal making

supplies are in this box!

And I also received my second Blog Book!

I am self published again. These books are real treasures.

They chronicle, as this one does, the entire year of 2008 of my blog.

So all my art work done that year, all the changes in my garden, my noontime walks,

all our vacations, our family events are there in chronological order

in words and photos!

I love my book. I have two now. And two to go (2009 & 2010)

The company is SharedBook.

They offer a 15% off coupon this month.

Do it!!!

And here is day 3 or 4 of my yam shoots multiplying.

Julie wanted to know how I did it.

Yes, Julie, I just cut off the end of the yam that started to develop "eyes"

and sat the flat part of the cut in this bowl of water so the water covered the tiny

root that was shooting out at the time.

Come to think of it I used to do this with avocado pits too.

I'd stick four toothpicks around the middle of the pit and sit it with the toothpicks

balanced over a glass of water. Half the pit in the water and upper half out of the water.

Roots grew down into the water

and leaves grew up and crawled across a counter top and up the wall

where ever you wanted to guide them to go.

Indoor plants that need little to no care...just keep the water in the bowl or glass. I am grateful today for getting past my artist's slump while making my latest art work:

the quilt. I always seem to get to a place in my creating where I question what I am doing,

if it's any good, where it is going, what more does it need, etc.

I think I am on the other side now with this one and it's almost done.

As soon as I make the last finishing touches, it has to be done by Sunday,

I will show you.

I am back to exercising on my treadmill again and my energy level which

had started to lag has once again picked up and I feel great.

Newly charged! The serotonin in my brain, the endorphins have kicked in

and I am going full speed ahead once more.

;-)

For that I am grateful.

And you?

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Well, actually I like it when it rains. It turns everything bright green...Henry likes it too. He's looking out over this drenched welcome mat deciding if he's ready to brave the great outdoors...he jumps the puddles but doesn't seem to be at all bothered by the damp or wet...I think his thick coat acts as a good rain coat and insulator for him.

I thought you'd be able to see the rain coming down in these photos but maybe not...

the sad remains of our humongous fig tree...I am missing the leaves turning to yellow and covering our back lawn...

No one is sitting out watching the rain but I can see it coming down against the dark fence in this photo, hope you can too! No need for the sun umbrella, guess I should put it in the garage!

This purple sage is so pretty, it's the furry velvety variety, nice to run your fingers along.

Ah there, now you believe me!

It rained!

My "aunt Mimi" Jade loves it too.

Whens the last time you did this?

Put a cut from the top of a yam into a bowl of water to watch it grow?

I used to do it a lot in the 1970's when my kids were little.

I am excited to see if this one develops into the large plants I remember

from back then.

We shall see. I'm keeping an update of it on my side bar.

Stay tuned.

and

Happy Animal Wednesday!

A Quilt In A Day!!!

It's been so long since I pieced together a quilt top that I wasn't at all sure I could do it. That I'd remember how. This would be a simple affair, as it is to be the foundation for a greater art quilt. But even so...

finding just the right fabrics on my design table from my stash...for the top, the border...

and the back... (I had to make a run to Joanne's for batting and more thread)

came home pinned and sandwiched that much together and then got busy free motion sewing to quilt the layers together...

using this self styled squiggly swirly design...and then found that I remembered how to make the binding from more fabric used on the back...and saw how nicely the colors all came together...I sat in the evening in front of the TV hand stitching the binding to the back.

and to be reminded that I still cannot stitch in the ditch any better than I could at that first quilt store class I took in 2007~ LOL But who cares, this is to be an "Art Quilt"...

When pinning it all together I found this Chinese cookie fortune sitting on top staring up at me:

and so tomorrow and in the following days I will attempt to make this quilt something entirely different and hopefully very special. Wish me luck!

Awesome Metal Sculpture: Phillip Glashoff

On Saturday I stopped off in Fairfield on Rockville Road...across the street from an old Victorian we lived in for a year and a half in 1985-7 at the Glashoff property where Phillip Glashoff is artist in residence. He makes the most amazing sculptures from throw away metal I have ever seen. We have several pieces at our local art gallery. Go to this article to see more of his fun art pieces and read all about him there.

This art work is standing outdoors and I just pulled my car off the road into his driveway to snap my pictures.

I would have loved to have been invited into his studio to watch him work...

but no one was around, at least not that I could see...

I used to go over there when we lived across the street to shop, as they had a barn full of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on their acreage...I'd load up and take them home for dinner.

I love this pretty lady! I tried asking her where she got her hair done...but she was meditating I think, and not available for conversation. Isn't she stunning though? It was a fun photo shoot, and romp down memory lane.

My daughter graduated high school when we lived in that house across the road.

My mother was still alive then.

The community college is just a ways further down the road, where I got my AA degree and

where I took my last undergraduate class to get my BA from Sonoma U. in 1977.

And where I have more recently taken some drawing and painting classes.

There were a long row of orange trees on the side of the house and a persimmon

tree in the front yard. They were all so delicious, juicy and sweet.

The farm next door grew cherries I think and white blossoms filled the field out my kitchen window and after they were picked the field filled with bright yellow mustard plants.

I have a

a painting of the old unpainted wooden barn still standing behind the house

that a friend painted for us back then. Like I said, lots of memories.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

HCM

Saturday Chores and Art Fun!

The day started off with a visit to the Vet for Henry. He's fine. But is was time for his annual exam and two shots. He weighed in at 14.6 pounds. From there we went to the bank and later I got the oil in my car changed... And then I took off for Suisun City to the Lawler House Art Gallery to check it out and

see the current show. Ken Chew who does amazing paintings had a few hanging in the show this being one of them. Doesn't it just invite you into the house? I love the shade shadows too. See more of his work on the link by clicking his name above.

And I met docent Jane Waters, a professional photographer/artist, former director of the gallery, before Ken took over that position. Jane was in the process of setting up her studio in the attic of this wonderful old house. Her window faces the water of the Suisun Slough. What a dream spot. Slanted ceiling, plenty of room to roam and create. She creates wonderful digital photos and she told me all about the one she will enter in the Quilts of a Different Matter show. I can't wait to see it. See more of her work on her website by clicking on her name above.

Jane Waters These are two of her photos nicely framed in the gift shop.

I really enjoyed the variety of artists showing more digital works...

Art quilts (Mary Berry, who I have met at the Vacaville Art Gallery. I may have shown this quilt shown there before. But it is so well done it deserves another showing here). See more of Mary's work by clicking her name above.

Paper sculpture by Ken Chew.

And this wonderful quilt made from silk neckties are just a few of my favorites.

Tomorrow I will show you the metal sculptures I saw in Fairfield in a field across the road where we once lived for a short time.