WAITING

I grabbed my camera early this morning to go outside

quickly with no coat, to get some sort of photo to

that might suggest Spring is around the corner.

What I found half way down the hallway,

was some of my umbrellas catching some cool

shadows, which don't show in this close up photo.

I decided to post the cheerful colors and the

promise of April showers that will bring

May flowers.

Blue Babbette

I thought my painting of many titles,

(one being "Babette" as she looked to

be from Toulouse Latreuc's era) fit

my feelings over ze weathers we are

having. I have blued her to give the

message that I am going bonkers

waiting for the sun to come back in

all its glory!

Rabbit Gifts

Not feeling so hot today, just wondering

when I saw this photo I took in Vermont, if

anyone sits right down and eats a bunch of radishes.

I might manage two right from the garden and

later a couple more in a salad but that's it---they

will sit around for several days and then

get tossed off the porch like

missiles, to hit imagined targets in the big

spruce and I think how the wild rabbits

will be pretty darned thrilled.

Sing it Maurice !

Tuesday Feb 26th 2008

The day is has turned dark out and

the house is quiet. An old Seinfeld

show is on with the audience laughing.

I feel I must put something on my

Blog each day for some reason or

other to do with sticking to things.

I love this photo from the recent

art show in the old town hall---what is

up above the big meeting room

is a mystery to me but I can almost

hear the French accent, and words,

"I'll build a stairway to paradise...

with a new step every day...I'm gonna

get there at any price---step aside

I'm on my way---" and then the

music fades ........

Spider Conch by Tide Edge

above see actural tide edge on York Beach

in Maine

(clicking on any of these photos makes them larger)

Monday Feb 25 2008

I am done with the sumptuous surface sewing----I have never done so much texture on a surface before and felt being a widow, with no meals to prepare, helped me obsess on working on this piece so much the past few days. Now I will go through the process of making it a postcard to learn how that goes with the helpful sites Sharon mentioned. I'm thinking I could make a pillow usuing an exsisting one (that sounds like a plan to me) that I will collage things on---one being the postcard--and then other sea themed items I round up will make it worth a king's ransom!

WORRYSTONE ERASER

Sunday Feb 24 2008

This eraser caught my eye in a store

yesterday----an eraser I didn't own.

Looking pristine, with the cool

triangle shape to get in those small

places that really need a touch of cleaning.

And made by General, one of the old

stand bys in the pencil eraser drawing

world. When I got it home and removed

from the package I was able to heft

it's weight, feel it's smooth and look

forward to using it soon. What small

things there are out there

for many walks of life, that

can make the heart dance and

wash away life strains.

Crow in Shirt Sleeves

Saturday Feb 23 2008

The email that was sent around with the eagle

attacking the fox and winning the match, had

some birds for an audience by the bony carcass

they were squabbling over. Didn't look like

much was left to eat for the Eagle when he was

finished with the fox, that I bet he wished he never

decided to check out what those birds were

hunched over---well, the above photo is the

only shot I got of a Magpie in Listowel Ireland

flying off from the bushes as I probably scared him.

You can't see his white shirt in the front and the

window I was behind was decorated with the

family dog's nose rubbings. I sure have not

ever seen one in New England--they are wicked

striking....

Special Snowman

Friday Feb 22 2008

This was made down the road

last winter, and is one of the best

snowman I've seen for it's simple

beauty. She did not return this year

and may have never known how

wonderful she was.

SPIDER CONCH DESIGN START

Thurs. Feb 21 2008

Here's my main Spider Conch shell motif---it's one from my living room that I have often admired the unusual shape. I think this angle lends itself to a postcard size design which may end up on a pillow to plop down in just the right spot to catch some light on just the right places. I fretted and finally went ahead with this subject even if it reminds me of Sharon's Crab design---and in almost the same colors, too. That almost stopped me from going for the shell, but it's so right for where it will live and feel comfortable. Since the walls and ceiling are both painted a flowerpot clay color and the rug is in that family----I am planning on using more blues in various shades and weights---then accent with the coppery colors. Drats, still seems like the crab design---I did allot of photos and drawings and then backstitched the outline in a variegated darkish blue (love that Stef Francis stuff from Joggles)--never had done this stitch right and got pretty good at it by the time I was finished. You can see how I added strips of an extra material to the edges of the linen, so I would get more linen backgrounds for other projects I have in mind with a turtle and frog. The added strips help me tighten the block good for ease of stitching and doesn't fray much. Also here's a photo of the back of the Spider Conch which is just beautiful, too. Can't wait to add some spider stitch roundy things! I'll no doubt put up the finished "card" one of these days.

First Sunrise over a Town on the East Coast

Wed Feb 20th 2008

I have to wait till next

October to sit at this

table in Eastport Maine,

drinking coffee while

watching the sunrise

over Campobello Island..

By Bunratty Castle

To be in Ireland's Durty Nelly's Pub,

sittin' there, drinking a Hot Whiskey

would do my aching back

a world t' good!!!!! That and a

friend to share stories with.

I may have my pubs names mixed up---

not hard to do......

Chewy Cookies

Monday Feb 18 2008

I made these Beatrix Potter

chewy Gingerbread cookies

to bring to a party. The recipe was

in the above book, and are they

ever flavorful. I must keep

my head and leave them alone!

SELECTED STASH

Sunday Feb 17 2008

Above, see "stash" (some things

have been around for long time)

that may be used in a piece to

compliment my living room colors I

posted a few days ago.

I have orderded some deeper

blues and the right background material

and now I have to like the design

very much and I don't yet----

I keep thinking of different

things that have good outline

shapes---maybe today

I will come up with just the ticket.

JUST KNOCK THREE TIMES

Saturday Feb 16th 2008

Searching for shadows just after noon is sometimes

rewarding---I really liked the look here and

wonder how many Staffordites will recognize

the exact location.

HOW TO MAKE A COMPOSITE

Friday Feb 15 2008

This is a composite of things in my living room

that I want to keep in mind for a colored

project next for my online Sumptuous Surfaces class.

I took the photos I took to PSP7, printed them

on one sheet with all sides touching, then scanned the

photo, cropped it to size I wanted and stored it for future use.

Greetings !

Thursday Feb 14 2008

Wednesday Feb 13 2008

Lorraine Satkowski's good friend Sandy

sent some photos today of a recent

coastal trip near San Francisco/Carmel

-----I liked this one of the "Gathered Gulls"----

right now seems like a good time to be

out there seeing that part of the

country with no coats,

just jeans, shirt and sunglasses.

Package of Collage goodies

Still Tuesday Feb 12th

A fun package of what the sender called

"junk" was a delight to open and see all the

things from many colors of seed beads, jewerly

discards for various reasons, gold chains,

watch straps other sundry items---

Thank You very much to

Marilyn in Taunton, Mass!

Sumptuous Surface

Tuesday Feb 12 200This is the first post card size Sumptuous Surface

I finished while taking an online class with

Sharon Boggor from Australia. We were

to have a silhouette of whatever

we wanted as the theme. I picked a

white finger star shell.

The top background stitches represent

under sea flora and

doing it in 3 layers in differnt subtle

colors gives the texture

this assignment is all about.

We were to not use much color

and stay monotone

as much as posssible to see,

in the final result how

texture done in various ways,

is used in fabric art.

On the bottom are are varied stitches, such as

wagon wheels, Colonial and French knots,

satin stitch, phuff and others---plus embellishments

including some great white turquoise,

abalone, tiny shells, buttons and beads. If I

had started using a white background

I would not have filled the

sea star, but it's slender shape became

lost till I outlined it in the darkest shade I dare

use and then filled it with

glass beads to represent how the sea is so often

shimmering This concept is so different

then doing a painted design to me, that

it does stretch my outlook and also

being involved helps bring more understanding

and appreciation of the fiber arts.

A "guess where" photo

Monday Feb 11 2008

This is a "guess where" photo, mostly for the one

person that checks my Blog daily----

I'm almost positive she'll know so

she and only she, must name the month, too.

Good Luck!

Think He'll Get The Job?

Sunday Feb 10 2008

This a diagonally across the street and taken Feb 3rd...

I loved the shadows spilling off the lawn into the drive..

Since this photo was taken, a sign has been added near the drivway

end---which says, "Ron Paul for President".....only place I've seen

one of those.

Silver Wedding

Feb 9 2008

Tonight we celebrate Kevin and Linsley's

25 Silver Wedding Anniversary.

They were married on Valentines's Day,

the same as Francis and I.

A ballet was performed, choreographed

especially for them after the ceremony

SCARY SCARECROW

Friday Feb 8 2008

I see the day is slipping by and I have not blogged yet.

While looking at Maine photos I came across this

scarecrow in Durham Maine and it became

my pick. It is interesting to note that Steven King

lived in Durham in his teen years and used to hitch

to Auburn/Lewiston area, where I lived, to see the

latest horror flick playing. If you ever drive

the road to Durham from Auburn you will feel the

darkness thicken as you pass cemeteries and dense

piney woods with their beckoning boughs.

Preserved Gift

Thursday Feb 07 2008

Here's a fun way to preserve a gift of flowers or anything you want. All natural things from your yard can be a beginning. You must have a scanner and lay the items down till you like the way they looked when viewed on your computer screen. This can happen quickly or take time. One scan may lead to another totally different design etc. Maybe I should do a class in this way to be creative with your scanner. The results are so large they must be resized to email and the clarity of the result much sharper than with the camera.

TWO FOR THE SHOW

Tuesday Feb 5 th 2008

above, the exhibit that watched

the lookers

above filming and interviews being done

***************

and so tommorrow will have just one last exhibit photo.

Started using a new 320 GB External hard drive

today to store my photos etc.

THREE TO PACK UP

Monday Feb 4 2008

"Light's Canvas"

Soft Focus on a Presence

Near closing time, the shadows on the walls

were exhibiting their own works

The Portraits of Stafford Art show is over and it is said that is was the most succesful show they have had. The photos I am showing were taken at the end of the show which was so expertly taken down in one tenth time it took to put it up.

Thank you !

Sunday Feb 3rd 2008

At the art exhibit yesterday I was surprised

with some very cheerful flowers from

Gail and John Kapinos-----I took photos

this am and then couldn't resist

playing around and liked this magical look.

Flowers really are welcome this

time of year when they are beneath

the fallen snow in many places---

I'm not a gardener but appreciate

them and bet some are pouring

through the seed catalogs now

---with dreams and plans for this Spring.

Beaterice Potter

Saturday Feb 2nd 2008

Here's Beartrice in a painting done by a D. Banner,

at my age---I'm thinking, you put

that hat, coat and shawl on me

there's a resemblance...

she was such a hard working woman

on her 4,000 acre farm

in the high fells country.

Hardwicke Rawnsley

Friday Feb 1 2008

I think you'll appreciate Hardwicke Rawnsley's words written for the opening of Amitte Library in 1912---he was the Vicar of Crosthwiate Church near the Lake district where Beatrice Potter first summered and then lived and worked---he also was a poet and journalist and B Potter donated much of her work to his Library---his death was life changing to her-----

I think of shells and people I admire when I read this:

As in some inland solitude a shell

Still gently whispers of its home,

the deep,

So from the world of being

beyond all sleep

Where those two happy sister spirits dwell,

This book-lined room, this simple student's cell

Shall, in the silence, pure memorial keep

Of those who sowed that others might reap

Their wisdom was from wood and lake and fell.

And as we gather up their gentle lore,

Made rich by jewels from their treasury,

The whispers grow, "Behold! these souls had power

Because with patient heart and loving eye

They learned that man and beast and flower

Were in God's purpose friends for evermore."