Sending and Receiving.

Hello!  I've been finishing up pieces that sold from the open studio and getting them off to their new owners.  I made one delivery out to a farm.  It was great to take some photos.  It was sunny as I bundled up, but as I drove out, the sky clouded over for the rest of the day.  Oh well.  I got this image which I think is awesome.  I don't think I would stitch it, but I love the spooky view.

It wasn't foggy out.  There was a very fine snow falling over the land.  I love the way things just disappear into the distance.

I finished up a piece for a woman who spied a sample at my studio that was not for sale as it was in progress.  She fell in love with some silk work I had done, and asked if I could stretch-mount it as is without a frame.  So that's what I did.  This is only the second time in five years that anyone has specifically asked for no glass.  I thought that was pretty cool.  I ended up using a stiffening starch to maintain the cheesecloth.  I got the idea from that cheesecloth starched ghost I was showing you.  We discussed various ways of keeping it in place.  I could have stitched it down, but that would change the look.  She liked it just the way it was.  It worked out so great - I'm really proud to send this one off now.

 Here is a detailed shot of how it's mounted.  I did clean up all the lint fyi.  ;)

When I got back home, I had a postcard waiting for me!!  It's from Michelle Eaton with the St. Albert group that I ran a class for in May.  That's awesome!  It even came with a 'Haunted Canada' stamp on back.  Spooky!

It's such a beautiful pop of colour, isn't it!?  Awesome. 

And hey!  If you are interested in joining a postcard swap, Brandy Lynn has one open again.  (She did the Canada Day Maple Leaf swap earlier this year after our postcards podcast.)  This round, the theme is Snowflakes!  *  You can sign up as many times as you want.  It's free.  If you sign up three times, you'll get three quilted snowflake postcards in the mail.  You just need to buy stamps.  How cool is that?  : )  Sign up & info is at the very bottom of her page HERE. 

Have a great day everyone!

End of Summer - Catchin' Up with You : )

Oh, it's the end of summer.  I have mixed feelings about that.  The days are good and hot (REAL hot), yet the sunshine is crawling further across the floor of my home every afternoon.  Today was a big work day.  It was Kari's last day of summer employment.  **Notice I didn't say last day period.  I have really enjoyed her companionship over the summer.  I think we have a long friendship ahead of us.  (Thank you Molly for the match-making.)  I'm writing this at 8 pm and still not done revamping the sewing room.  What a big job of sorting and organizing.  Look what she brought me this morning!

Yes, it's a little brownish-charcoal colored ball of yarn, quite small in the palm of my hand.  (wool?  yarn?  What is the right term?)  It's a very special little brownish-charcoal colored ball of yarn.  It's BISON hair!  It's the natural color as far as we figure.  It's especially sweet since I stitched a few bison onto a postcard this summer.  That turned out to be a big hit.  I want to stitch more of that beautiful beast.  Now I have this yarn!?  How authentic is that!?  COOL.  Kari - you rock.

You know that when most bloggers disappear, it's because they are up to something BIG.  Not me.  I just tended to home and family and school supply shopping.  ; )  I did finish up my little silk ribbon floral though!  I think I'll lace it and frame it up.  I don't know if it's perfect, but I sure love, love stitching with ribbons.

about 7x9"... hand dyed silk ribbon & yarn.

: )  If you follow my facebook page, you might have seen the photo of this in progress.  I was working on it outside.  As I threaded up another ribbon, I looked over to see a giant dragonfly had landed on the flower petals!  I clicked a crappy cell phone picture and posted it.  I thought that was a good omen.  Isn't that neat?

This commission is nearly done.  There's some finished touches I have planned, so this is still Work-In-Progress.

work in progress...  about 6.5x9"

It's looking pretty lush in the foreground, so I don't know if I want to put birds in the sky to balance it or not.  I will add a bit of yellow poking out from behind the buildings to pull it all together.  I've stopped stitching into the skies on some pieces.  I can't decide on that either.  To FMQ or not to FMQ?  hmmm... I'll wait and see what she says.  : )  I can't wait to photograph the final piece!

I should take this time to let you know about upcoming classes in Saskatoon as well.  If you sign up to my blog via email, you probably aren't aware of the running announcements at the top of my blog page.  Here you are:

* * * TEACHING * * * @ Creative House in Saskatoon. Call 306 652 0455 to register.
Creative Quilted Postcards Workshop Monday Sept 9
Handstitching 101 Wednesday Sept 11
Beginner Threadpainting Monday, Sept 16

I believe the maximum class size is larger now as they can seat up to 12 students instead of 6 or 8.  That's good news!  I likely won't be running anymore Saskatoon classes until the spring.  Also, please note that Creative House is open Monday to Thursday only unless you make an appointment via telephone.  So, if you are calling to book for those classes, you should avoid calling on the off days.  : )  If you need more information about the classes, you can find that in the "Workshops" tab at the top of my blog as well.

Okay!  Have a great week.  I'm linking to WIP Wednesday @ TN&TN.

(and WHOOPEE the blog has hit 500 followers!  Thanks everyone!)

Public Demonstrations

Friday night, I headed off to the Saskatoon Exhibition - not for the rides, but for a demo I was asked to volunteer for.  I did this last year, but MY GOSH it was so much busier in there this year!  I had a big table full of stitching samples as a representative of the Bridge City Needle Arts Guild.  It was a fun night.  I met a lot of people.  There was party music, food, entertainment, and lots of smiley faces.

I brought along some photos of lilacs I took at the university earlier this year, and some silk ribbon that i dyed that afternoon.  Here's a photo of what I was working on.  There's so much more that was filled in by the end of the night.  We were there for hours.  : )

a very pretty work-in-progress

I got the dyed scrim with my last order from Meinke Toy.  I have many colors, but I liked the way this looked.  The grey kept the whole thing with a very soft feel.  The silk ribbon is perfect for lilacs!  I can't wait to show you how this is working out!

Demoing with me that night was award winning local leather artist Stan Garchinski.  That's why I brought my boy.  Liam got heavy into leather work last summer.  I was told that Stan would be there, and that he is 'very friendly and talkative', so I figured he would enjoy the interest that my youngest boy shows in leather art.

my boy getting a leather art lesson from Stan Garchinski

Stan got a big red ribbon last year for a saddle he made.  I think I heard him say it took 300 hours?!  Wow.  At the end of the night, Liam said, 'this was a great birthday night, but the best part of it was that I got to work with Stan Garchinski.'  Liam won't forget tonight.  Stan made an impression on him much like Rickey Lair did with his woodworking.  I like that about Liam - he love to create, loves to be industrious.  He would rather create than play video games (GASP!)  Stan was a great teacher too.  Liam learned so much!  Thank you very much Mr. Garchinski!  : )

Stan & Liam.  The cabinet panels behind them are Stan G's creations!  W O W.

The detail is incredible.  He instructed Liam along, and Liam ended up with this!  Look at the detail!  It's not one single stamp.  Every mark in it is from a tool.  Very impressive!

After 10:00pm, my boy and I ran around out in the dark for a couple hours and enjoyed the Saskatoon Exhibition - just me and him.  It's his birthday tonight.  He got fireworks.  At 2:19 am, he turns ten years old.  (sigh) Happy birthday sweet Liam!  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.  You rock.

xo Mama.