Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from my home to yours. In whatever way you celebrate, I wish you joy and the many blessings the season brings. May your New Year be filled with happy and creative moments and good health.

Fiber Junkies - Hooray

It's that time of year - lots of gatherings with special friends. My Fiber Junkies certainly fits that bill, such special and talented ladies whose friendship I value so much. There are only 6 of us and we do manage to have buckets of fun as well as creating and experimenting each time we meet. 

Our annual holiday party was at Gens this year. 

Gen had a beautiful table and we all brought some yummy things to share. I particularly loved the centerpiece made with popcorn, cranberries and a candle - how clever!

Denny who has been absent due to a family medical situation always brought the Yule cake which was lavish and delicious. Kate took over the job this year and created a delicious sponge jelly roll cake filled with whip cream, chocolate glaze and colorful holly.

Gen had these very clever napkins which she made and unfolded into a half circle to use and then folded back to a tree. Gen let me borrow one so I can make some for my table. I thought these could be made in a variety of prints for different seasons - flowers for summer, autumn colors etc.

This is what they look like when unfolded...

and the various folds

to wind up as a tree.

We had so much bubbly even some pretty blue which was quite yummy!

The whole day was delightful but by far the best part is our gift exchange. Since there are so few of us, we decided several years ago to do a gift for each person. Knowing and working with each other so closely, we know each other's styles which makes it even more fun. Mary is a wonderful felter and doing more and more very intricate things. She made each of us a small bowl, picking the one she thought was most suited to what we love. Mary knows I love polka dots and here's mine. It's wonderful and it will sit in my studio where I spend the most time and want to be surrounded by my favorite things.

Kate made covers for these little notebooks; all the fabric was made by Kate.

and a place for a pen inside. It's already in my purse as this will be used constantly.

Val made us small rice-lavender heat bags which I've already used for my sore shoulders. Val made all the fabric and then screened designs on top. Not only is it functional but beautiful and smells so nice with the additional lavender.

Gen who is probably the best knitter I know...Seriously...this woman can make anything! She knitted us all scarves which are gorgeous, each one a little different. Well, it's been quite warm here but friday night in Asheville with the wind chill - it was 10 degrees. We were out and about and guess who was wearing this beautiful new scarf and loving it!

I made note cards using sky fabric I photographed and printed on fabric as a background. I also had lots of photos of trees I've taken over the years. I made them into small silk screens and screened them onto the background and adhered them to notecards.
Every gift was so thoughtful and useful, so like this group. In counting my blessings this year, this wonderful group of ladies is at the top of my list.
Hope your holidays are happy and bright, the countdown is on...

A Very Merry PTA Christmas

Our wonderful annual PTA Christmas party took place last week at my home. I am a little behind in posting as the next morning I left for Atlanta, came back late monday and running ever since but it was a great gathering and worthy of sharing. 

 The house was clean - no dust bunnies in sight - appetizers out....

 table set...

 and everyone arriving ready to eat, drink and be merry.

 Everyone outdid themselves with the dishes they brought to share, so delicious!

 And luckily we were able to squeeeeeze everyone around the table.

 I did run out of chairs but someone brought some folding ones.

 And then onto afternoon activities. One of the most fun things we do is our white elephant. One person's trash is another person's treasure. Sometimes you really luck out and pick something nice but often it is taken by the next person in line.

 Tons of presents all shapes and sizes. We all had our numbers and eagerly awaiting our turn.

 Mary got a beautiful scarf and since I was right after her, I had the option to take hers or pick from the pile of presents. Well since I wear scarfs and loved the color - Boo on me but I took the scarf from Mary allowing her to pick something else.

 Gen seems like a happy camper.

 Janice loved the package bow and put it in her hair. She also opened a big bin of yarn which our resident knitter - Barbara, quickly took!

 Mary is working on her second go-round.

 Like I said sometimes you get lucky and get something really cute...

 like Linda...

 and Cathy.

But sometimes you have it taken away. Oh Dear - a new smock for Linda.
Hope your holidays are going well and you're taking time to smell the Holly. I'm trying my best to find those moments.

Christmas Pillows

I haven't had much time in the studio with holidays, shopping, company but I did manage to squeeze in some sewing time over the Thanksgiving holidays. Actually, my daughter Jill, wanted Christmas pillows in plaid which were impossible to find. I knew I had seen many plaid fabrics at some of the chain sewing stores nearby so I suggested we take a look. Pillows can be time consuming but if you keep them simple - no binding, piping or fancy inserts etc., it's basically 4 seams. Well, we decided to make a flap back so a little more work but this makes the insert removable and the pillow cover washable.

 I also had a silkscreen of some pine boughs which seemed to work well in the corner. There will be some other smaller, fancy pillows in front covering up a large area so I thought putting the design in the corner would allow it to show.

 I did a mirror image on the pillows as they'll be on 2 chairs next to each other.

 I used Lumiere paint which has a high metallic content to screen the images.

 I made the flap deep enough so I wouldn't need buttons or snaps to keep it closed...

and the plaids don't match but we didn't have enough fabric to get a match....AND it is in the back...AND they are only out for a short time....AND...I know enough excuses....but they are cute from the front!

We had enough small pieces to make this very small pillow which is filled with pine needles. I save our Christmas tree from the year before out in the compost pile - a little separated from the rest When the needles dry out, I try and gather them. They make fabulous little pillows and the pine needle smell lasts for years - a fun project.