A New Chapter.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I am sooooo ready for 2014!

There is a lot to look forward to and 

so many things to put aside in the box of memories.

FOCUS

That is the word for this new year.

I need to find a way to make the important things

more of a priority and not waste time on the little

things that I seem to do to fill time so I feel like I 

am actually DOing something!

No more over-planning and over-committing.

My friend, Greta and I have made a vow to keep one another

on track with this....be each other's 

encouragement and "check-in" person.

Not to say that those little things are not important..

they certainly are!

a taste of fresh bread from the oven - still warm

a big hug from a dear friend

"Hello" from a stranger

an entire afternoon to sit and stitch (!)

a long chat over a cup of tea

cozy-ing up on the couch

creative days with girlfriends

so much to be grateful for....

...so much to look forward to...

...and so much love for those I adore.

Take a minute every once in awhile 

and think about a little something you can do for someone

when they least expect it.....

Happy Days ahead....

XO

The Holiday Faire

Today was the Waldorf School's

Holiday Faire.....and it was GReAT!

It has been so cold around here...the high today was low 20's

I think it is supposed to be around 6 degrees F tonight...

......brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Thought it might not be the best day to get out, but
the Faire was well-attended.

The snow has been beautiful - I do love winter.

Dear Alison returned from Florida last night

after being with her mother-in-law following the death

of her father-in-law a little over a week ago.

She came with me to set up this morning and stayed

most of the day to help out with sales.

Thank you, Alison!!
I think you are my Good Luck charm.

(I am glad you are home....)

The day was wonderful.

There were even two, or three (!) women

who put together little scenes of many of the pieces

I had made and then bought them all!

It was so wonderful to see people playing with the trees and toadstools,
fairies and tiny houses as I do ...
......and find a little joy with each one.

Now that the Faire is over, I PROMISE to get the app

necessary to post photos of all of these goodies on my iPad.
Can't wait any longer to share them with you.

Big Hugs all 'round!

...and Happy Holidays Week One...

XO

another day.....sigh....

gosh.....

so many photos to share...and no Internet on the computer

housing them all

....grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

I have been getting things made

for the Waldorf School Christmas Faire

It is on Dec 7th and I am FULL of ideas.

I have been painting tiny German figurines and

lots of red &white toadstools....

There are some wonderful wooden trees

that are full of patterns in multiple greens.....

and some French knot hearts..

and tiny houses, horses and little jars

filled with paper flowers.

Are you curious?

I promise to get some photos on here SOON!

In the meantime....I am thinking about you all

...hope your holidays are 

FILLED

with joy and surprises and love.

XO

still no photos.....

no internet in the studio.......

don't know how to get photos from my iPad

I am very frustrated.

have spent the day today clearing out 

the room the Grayson has been in.

he has moved out to the casita

GOOD MOVE

for ALL of us!

hope to have photos soon.

gotta find a way to make it happen.

gorgeous weather here this weekend

AMAZING

....sigh....

FRANCE...ahhhhhhhh

I am back

...and it was fantastic.

I have to go through the photos before I post them.

but it was just the thing I needed to pull me out 

of my funk.

I was able to see myself from a new perspective.

(my friend, Oolie told me she has never seen me happier)

I learned so much about myself and how I like to work.

..and my comfort zone is much wider than I thought.

Teaching is something I really do love.

I always have some insecurity - hoping those who attend

will enjoy what I teach and see a way to 

incorporate what they learn into what they do already....
wondering how my class might compare to others they have taken.

The comments from this class were quite positive.

We played a lot and learned a little something every, single day.

It was a spectacular group of talented ladies

with strong creative spirits and GREAT ideas.

The enthusiasm was terrific and the support for one another

gave everyone an extra boost.

We never ended the day at 4 pm......

...we were always struggling to get to dinner by 7:30!

The venue is perfect.
Accommodations, FOOD, friendships,
French countryside (!)

Thanks to everyone for coming to paradise

to take my class and be a part of the magic at Briancon.

I will post photos soon.

..seems so long ago already...sigh...

ComiCon

My son Grayson and two of his friends 

made these heads to go to a ComiCon

 They took the train from Santa Fe to Albuquerque

and when they got to the Convention Center,

they were greeted like Rock Stars!

sooooooo cool..

             

guest room re-do

The last couple of weeks I have been 

CLEANING!!

One thing I did was move most of my 

TOADSTOOL COLLECTION

to a glass shelf in the "new" guest room:

Since Grayson moved into the "old" guest room, 

the new one has twin beds and will be FUN to

dress and re-dress seasonally.

Lots of art on the walls and sunshine...

Claim your space, visitors!

cut-out faces

I have been cutting paper like a mad woman!

Thought I'd share a few of the characters:

I am practicing for the course in France.

It is so interesting seeing how each one turns out.

a bit odd, but fun

Just found these little dolls that I made 

the first year I went to Briancon

I really like them - a LOT

 front (above) and back (below)

Maybe it is time to make a few more of these lovelies.

I have been in the studio for days!

I am getting some work done, but my hand is tired.

Wonder if sewing would make it feel any better?

Hope everyone is doing well.....

xo

cousins

Grayson is on his way back from a weekend in 

California with his cousins.

Posing in the front yard:

Grayson (the BIG one )

with Cece on his back 

and Haiden in the tuxedo (!)

I know they had a GREAT time!

french knots

Last week, my brother and I drove a BIG truck filled to the brim 

with the contents of the last storage unit of my mom's things from Austin to Santa Fe.

They are in my garage.

Two days later (Friday) our son Grayson hopped in the truck 

to accompany my brother to LA to help empty the rest of the things.

On the first leg, I spent many hours stitching these little french knots:

It is a 12 hour trip in a car (!) but took us closer to 14 hours.

We were happy to get home and John decided to take an extra day

to enjoy a little of Santa Fe while he had the chance....

...and recouperate before getting on the road again.

Grayson flies home on Monday.

Happy MOTHERS' Day

This is a wish for all you MOTHERS out there

for a happy day today.

Above is one of my mom's paintings from years ago.

I think it is absolutely beautiful -

filled with forget-me-nots

This is a tribute to my mom (below)

with me (age 2?) sitting with her discussing books.

I have always loved this photo of us.

Thanks Mom, for being who you are and allowing me

 to be who I am... from a very young age.

I bet I was a challenge and I am SURE I gave you grief

from time to time.

As a mom now, I appreciate you even more than ever.

Hope your day is lovely and filled with happy memories.

See you on Saturday morning....

xo

FABRIC SQUARES

These are part of my latest collection of fabric:

"FLY"

"nurture"

"create"

"tea"

They are still unfinished .....sigh...... but I am working on them every, single day.

It has been a BEAR!

click HERE to see the other four designs

lavender

so, last weekend I painted 20 bunches of lavender

They are on metal that my pal, Jodi cut out.

They look so good all together, drying in the sun.

I don't have a photo of the ones with the twine

tied around the stems as if they were real bunches.

.... even better .....

Lavender will be blooming soon around here...

and all summer long.

I can't wait!

Track Star

Last Saturday, Grayson was in a track meet in Albuquerque.

Here he is getting into place:

 preparation:

 taking off:

 sailing over the bar:

a shot from the other side:

this was his first year to do track & field

he did the High Jump (highest 5'6") and the Long Jump
and he ran the 100 mtr and 200 mtr

not bad for a "newbie"

sure was fun to watch him go.....
I'll miss that.....

inchies

here is a group of the inchie initials that 

I have been working on for our Pantry Violets project

It has been two years plus and we are almost

D O N E

I can hardly wait to see what they look like completed.

I know that everyone has done something

WONDERFUL

for each "inch square"

For a few individual initials 

click HERE

xo

Goodies Going Out

I have been putting together some small things to go to someone 

to see if they would like to reproduce them......

Here are a few close-up "introductions":

The bunnies are quite small

1 1/2 inches tall...

They are FIMO that I painted after they were baked.

I can't imagine how I did that!

little houses in a row

...sat down and made a few.....

 ... and then painted a few "teensie" laser-cut eggs (!)

...and aren't the rooftops sooooo cool?

I really like 'em.

Think I'll make a few more.....

Happy Easter

My kitchen table last night....

 .....getting ready for the bunny(s) to come..

Hope your Easter is beautiful and yummy!

It is sunny here...

...yippee! 

don't you LOVE when you imagine something 

and once you attempt creating it, it actually ends up

looking like what you imagined? (!!!)

 I adore this tiny landscape 

(approx. 1"x 2")

....and this is a special one, too.....

I am having SOOOo much fun with this!

To see a few more (I have almost finished 10 of them)

just click HERE

It is snowing here today.

Hope you are having a lovely day, too.

xo

a MOUSE in the HOUSE

One day I walked into the studio and found....

Poor sweet thing was scared to death 

....and hardly moved!

 I fell in love with this tiny creature.

So delicate and "perfect"

I am glad it waited in the sink for me
to retrieve my camera 

to document our chance meeting.

stitched heart

This heart turned out just as I envisioned:

 I think the colors are good......

 ...and the stitches are fun....

.. and it feels REALLY good in my hand.

I filled it with lavender (what else?)
There are still a couple of stitches I'd like to add...
but it is not a bad "first attempt"

For more "stitching" click here.
ENJOY!

BLISS

....that is what it was this past weekend

up at Corkin's Lodge

Barb and Trudy knitting

Sarah sorting photos

Kathie and me ready to EAT!

It was an amazing weekend with moms from school.

We all have been on the PA forever and really enjoy one another.

We had such a great time that we have TWO MORE planned already!!

...more photos tomorrow...