PTA January 2015

Our first meeting of the new year for PTA  was at Georgia Bonesteels home; it brought lots of laughs (as always) and wonderful inspiration to give us a jump start on some new projects. 

 Dort is using up lots of scraps to create some beauties like the one above and

 this beautiful landscape.

 I love the choice of fabrics and the unique way of depicting the 4 seasons through a
"mountainscape".

 Linda is still busy knitting some wonderful, warm (all wool) socks which should come in handy in the next couple of months....although I for one think they need to be framed and hung up.

 Mary, our resident felter is always busy and producing wonderful things. She makes some beautiful bowls which get better and better.

 Another one of Mary's pieces which is a wonderful piece. The photo doesn't do it justice as it's a bit blurry.

 This was my favorite piece of Marys. I think the use of deconstructive screen printed fabric is so well done as it's such a difficult fabric to work with.

 Mary had a cabuchon she wanted to highlight but it had an odd shape, so what to do...add some beads. Great idea and focal point.

 This is a quilt Kate made at a former retreat. I made the same pattern only in soft roses and greens. Kate is an amazing piecer and sailed right through this. I on the other hand am very challenged by piecing. I did finish mine but still waits to be quilted.

  We all decided that this quilt of Kates should be called "a Happy Quilt", that is the first thing I think of when I see it. Her use of fabric is so uplifting.

 And a detail.

 And another one of Kates in earthtones. This was made square and a sleeve will be put on both top and side so anyone can change the orientation of the stripes and being square, it will fit the same way in either direction.

 And a detail.

And Rosie the cat who decided she needed to be part of our group, made herself quite at home on top of Georgia's patterns.
It was a great day, full of inspiration, good food and lots of laughs. What a wonderful way to start the New Year.

All Packed Up and Ready to go......

back into my studio. It was a wonderful holiday season and with my birthday tucked in-between, making it even better and a little more hectic. I'm finally back on track and sooooooo ready to get back to creating. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and I wish you a very blessed, healthy New Year. Tucked in with my good wishes is the hope that you'll all find lots of wonderful moments for creating or just doing what you love to do. 

 So first on my list for this week...first week of January...was to take down all the decorations. Fraggle wanted to help so desperately but just created more craziness, but you gotta love him!

 I do a lot of decorating, it's a lot of work but I love the way it looks and keep it up a long time.

 So consequently, the take down is just as much work. There is tissue, bags etc everywhere.

 There are 10 of these bins to be filled, so half way there

The table is full of stuff...

 The tree is bare...
 
 along with the mantle...

 and bannisters...

 So when everything is packed up, vacumned (although I know I'll be finding pine needles for a long time) it's my time to get out some books I love and spend time perusing for inspiration. SAQA puts out a wonderful publication every year called Portfolio. It features work from the professional members of SAQA. Every page features a different artist; the artist chooses what she/he wants to be featured on their page.

Another series I turn to is the "Masters" series featuring artists who were invited to participate. The Masters has many different books each concentrating on a different art form. Of course my favorite is the art quilts. Each artist has 4-5 pages dedicated to their work so you can get a good feel for their style.

And I love Elizabeth Barton and her newest book - Inspired to Design and all the Benn and Morgan surface design books. So hopefully very soon, I'll be listening to the sound of my sewing machine and again...Thanks so much for hanging in there with me....and a very Happy New Year to each and everyone of you my dear readers!

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.