Back from vacation and down with a cold

Mexico was relaxing!!!!!!!!! Lots of laughs with our Navy Friends, great food and drink. I came back with a cold that tended to drain all creativity out of me. But I'm mending!!!!!! And back in the Studio.

The following images are 2 creations for my darling daughter. Jim and I were out in Vegas for the holidays. I helped take down Kara's Christmas. She promptly put up her valentines. Over the years I've make members of my family fabric valentines. Up they went. On one of Kara's big walls she placed a teeny valentine - I had to remedy that and quickly made a crazy patch valentine! Not an art piece but a holiday decoration. The purple piece is a needle felted cover for Kara's datebook. Using her favorite colors (colors of her upcoming June wedding, I felted lavender and green felt, cheesecloth and then machine stitched.

Yesterday, I played with the machine needle felter again. I'll upload pics soon. Experimenting and learning to trust my art.

It's raining and I can't beach walk!

So, I thought I'd take some images to show what I've been working on. Not a lot of product but lots of playing. When I say playing, I really mean experimenting and practicing. And a lot of practicing comes before a decent product. Thread doodling and canvas - from real life and from internet images. Trying to thread doodle every day to start my work session. I've also become to collage like fabric colors together for future background. The upper left and lower right 4x6ers(in the composite image) are examples - I've needle felted and machine stitched on top. I've got to use up my scrap piles. I'm been having a ball experimenting with my new machine needlefelter. I've discovered cheesecloth - painting it and then needlefelting it!

I've included an image of Saturday's sunrise - simply glorious!

I've cut up some previous art quilts (ones I really didn't like so much) to make into purses - I've upload some images when completed. I've been recycling crazy patch cornucopias - Christmas ornaments - into neat little hangings that buyer can insert own photo. I gave a similar one to my brother and sister-in-law for their 40th wedding anniversary. Am pleased so far with the results.

Oh, some great, great news. A new Art Boutique - 3 Eclectic Chicks Art Boutique, Jacksonville, FL. called and said I came highly recommended - so my work is being shown there!!!!! Am thrilled!