Many thanks to Jenny Doh for featuring me as one of her Guest Curators for this week's Art Saves. If you haven't been there yet be sure to visit her blog and her new art community, Crescendoh. I believe most artists, today owe Jenny a big "Thank You" for all she has done for the creative world. As the past Editor in Chief for many of the Sommerset Studios magazines she helped to change the way we create art and express ourselves. She continues to do so with Crescendoh. Thank You, Jenny! I hope you will check back this week to see other artists that I have grown to love and hold as dear friends! They will also be featured in Crescendoh's Daily Archives. Art Saves Fifteen years ago I took a trip out West that changed my life. It was a time in my life when the ground itself seemed to be giving way. I had questions about my marriage, my children were all moving in different directions, and I wondered what the future held for me. Deciding some time alone was in order, I found myself drawn to the western United States. The rocks, canyons and caves held the images that Native American Indians created centuries ago. Those petroglyphs tell the ageless stories of their spirit and truths and have been passed to us through time. It moved me deeply that these simple images were a part of their everyday life stories. I felt connected to some universal... Continue reading

Oh what happened to summer? Tonight I saw several little clients. They had returned to school this morning. I hadn't really thought much about the fact that September was actually creeping up on us. Yet, here it is! All day long I wrote "9/01/10" on my paper work and every time I wrote it I was just a little bit sad. There is always a part of me that is sad about the end of summer. I turn into a reluctant child again. Labor Day always reminds me of taking in the pier, putting away the boat, leaving all of my friends and returning to school. I was a free soul in the summer but Labor Day always meant that the next day was the beginning of school. I went to a Catholic grade school. I mean the old stereotypical school with the nuns that rapped you over the head with a ruler if an answer didn't come quick enough. I know NOW that I have ADD. I did not know that as a child. Nobody knew about ADD then! (Oh how I'd love to bring a few of those old nuns before me and educate them about it!) I just knew that school was torture for me and going to a Catholic Grade school in the 50's was the worst thing that could happen to a kid with ADD. Not only do I have ADD but I am also a nocturnal sort of soul. I have NEVER been a... Continue reading

All of the new items are up on PFATT for the month. My sister Cindy and II spent a few weeks putting together a few notebooks. It is Back to School time..... These books would be great for any age. The only requisite is that you’ might want to take notes in style! Here are a few ideas (in case you need and excuse to get one for yourself)...They are great for journaling, recording family recipes, keeping track of creative ideas, making a log for all your passwords and important information gathered online, writing down addresses and phone numbers, making a scrapbook for grandparents or grandchildren…or even jotting down ancestry information. They would make a great gift for that college student that is going away for the first time or great for the traveler who wants to keep track of events and places. Write your music, draw your art or keep your grocery list. $18 each or 3 for $50 4.90 for shipping and handling in US only. Payment can be made through Paypal, money order or personal check Please specify the number of the book or books you wish to order in your email as well as the type of payment you wish to use. If you want to use Paypal we will need the email address you wish to have your invoice sent to. .....Or choose one of these.... ....or these These journals were made with the idea that you may want to add your own frills and... Continue reading

When visiting my daughter earlier this summer she and I had lots of time to chat and enjoy hot summer days. Jenn has replaced her glasses with her Mason Jars. I think it is very cute and practical. She serves up a mean cup of ice cold water. It's hard to beat an ice cold glass of water when you are thirsty. I love the pickle cukes in it. Try it...it is really refreshing! When I was young my Grandmother always cut off the end of a cucumber and gave it to us to press to our overheated little foreheads, faces and wrists. As a child I thought that she made up the phrase, "Cool as a cucumber." If we begged her she would give us more cucumber slices to put on our eyelids. We would tumble on to our backs under the shade of her apple trees. There we would unwind for a bit...She knew how to tease us into a few minutes of rest. I can almost smell the cucumbers and hear the sound of the cicadas droning in the hot summer afternoon. What memories of summer do you have? Continue reading

The summer has been busy. Beginning of June I spent nine days visiting Jenn and the kids. We got two quilts done for the kids. They had a chance to pick the fabrics they wanted and I think they turned out perfect! We mixed a wonderful fantasy dragon print, a flame print and some brilliant star material to make quilts the kids will enjoy for years to come. I have been gone from my blog too long. Posting more often has become a big goal of mine. So look for more this week. I am having problems with posting pictures here on Typepad. Apparently I am not able to move them or determine and order for them to appear. Has any one else had this problem? Continue reading

It started in the morning with a phone call from my son, Paul ...."We were just wondering if you would like to go to the Flea Market in Elkhorn with us today."......WOW.....Would I ever! I flew out of bed and got ready as quickly as I could. Oh...my camera....have to bring my camera! Something I haven't shared with you is that in the last six years I have had back surgery, two hip replacements and two knee replacements. For me to be able to walk the Fair Grounds is something I am very proud of! I was so excited to go again. Paul, Laura, and I have spent many Sunday afternoons looking at all the wonderful and wierd items at this great fair. My oak kitchen table came from there. (I love it!) So did the bench on my front porch. There are little items here and there in both of our homes that are we treasure. I don't buy as much as I did in years past but I always bring my camera because you never know what you are going to find. We had the most beautiful day to be out in the sun again. I took lots of pictures. My intention was to share them if you weren't able to go. So sit back and take a walk through the fair with us. I love the tub with the wooden lip....but I simply had nothing I could do with it. Perhaps some day when I have my... Continue reading

Every so often I get stuck....stuck in my daily routine, stuck in figuring out where I go from where I am, stuck in my ways of thinking, or just plain stuck in my past. I think I've been there too much lately. It's always good to visit the past or to dream about the future but I like it best when I am in the moment. It is usually in the moment that I find what I most need. Tonight I was looking at pictures of old art work and thinking I may have tried it all when I came across this picture. So I'm going to bed for the night. Tomorrow is another day and I shall take my own advice and try try again to remember there can always be magic just around the corner. Sweet dreams come to those that believe they are always happening. Continue reading

Look who was at the Quilt Show! Do you know her book? If not then I am telling you that you have to go get it! I had just bought it before going to the show and I was happy to meet her there....Here is a hint.... I love her use of color and she is full of really cute ideas to stir up your creativity. Her book is in the upper right had corner....just a glimpse of it....do you know yet???? Ok...here it is..... and it is good! Kelli's blog is equally as wonderful....to go there click HERE. Thanks go to Kelli for being patient while my camera battery ran out of juice just as I was about to click! It must have been all of those pictures I took of the quilts! Stitch Alchemy is available on Amazon. Have fun and if you visit Kelli"s blog tell her I said "Hi". Continue reading

So...I simply can not go into a whole convention full of creative people without talking to some of them. It is impossible! Meet Kim and Tami from Handbeng Felts. I love wool. I love felt. So it's not a far stretch to say I love wool felt balls. Look at these... I just fell in love with them....always loved acorns too. Tami was kind enough to tell me how to make them. Continue reading

Last Saturday our local quilt shop, Sew and Save offered a bus ride to The Chicago International Quilt Festival 2010. I grabbed a seat and went down for the day. The convention center was transformed into a visual artist's sensory overload! It was a day well spent with a group of wonderful ladies and also alone with my camera! The slides below are just a small sampling of the beautiful quilts I had the opportunity to see. It's amazing to see what these quilters have done with fabric. I have soooooooooooo much more to share from the quilt show but I wanted to get this slide show out to inspire all of us to get going on our art, craft, quilting, sewing, sculpting, glass blowing, photography or whatever medium ...just get going! More to follow! Continue reading

It is time for the new PFATT items for April. Check out all of the vendors (including myself). I have another painting up for sale at the same site. Our friend Sandi Wood (from Sam I Am) works her heart out to make this site fresh and new every month. Continue reading

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