Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Years Eve!

What will you do differently in 2011?

Jane Sassaman is coming to Stuart, FL!

Wow...she'll be teaching at 
the Jam Patch Quilt Store on
February 7,8 & 9, 2011
You can get all the info by clicking
on the link to the quilt store.
Hurry and sign up !

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

American Cancer Society, Relay For Life @ Martin County High School (Florida)

I saw these wonderful women participating in the Relay For Life...they really live the phrase joie de vivre

A White Christmas in Batesburg, SC

These photos were taken by the Manchesters:  Art, Margaret, Mel and Riley. Thank You so much.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Vehicle Insurance in Florida....

Did you know...per the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation...a Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Assessment is included in your total policy premium. This assessment is for your CAR insurance!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

This is Melanie Testa!


I love her art, her chutzpah, her cat...everything! And now I love her even more because now I know how to prop the Flip recorder to make videos when there is no one around to help. YEAH! Click on her name:    Melanie Testa

Great finds at the Hospice Thrift!

I found a Cool Tool by LeCreuset for 25 cents. I really loved it for the color and "jelly-ish" feel. I had to google it to find out that it's a trivet, pot holder, skid mat, jar opener, and garlic peeler (yep). Then I found Lilly Pulitzer fabric. Lilly is Lilly...I'm making a project to submit to Altered Couture magazine and you could too...just check out their submission page. I'll let you know how it goes in a future post! Hospice Thrift in Stuart, Florida info: http://www.tchospice.org/thrift-store

Ho, ho, ho...need a free HP Printer to print fabric?

Well, Pioneer Woman is giving away a ton of stuff. I already have THREE printers and each one does something special that I like. Then I thought if I got this one I could get rid of the three...unless YOU win it. I've been printing fabric sheets of photos of friends and making personalized Christmas gifts.

Printed Treasures (by Dritz) is a great product with excellent results. They offer quick and easy, step by step instructions and it's pretty much fool proof  (I was successful! ha, ha)
I finished my projects and wrapped them...forgot to take a photo, but I'm ready to do more and will post them in a future blog post.

Here's the link to the HP site where you can get more information:  http://h71028.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/784-0-0-39-121.html

P.S. Pioneer Woman is also giving away a Candy Apple Red Kitchen Aid Mixer (I think they cost over $200). I have a hand mixer in the cupboard and I haven't seen it in 20 years. Once, I considered making banana bread and bringing it out...then I found some chocolate cookies in the frig....and forgot all about the mixer...ha, ha, ha.

Oil Spill Activity: Sorting the Gulf Ecosystem


Illustration: A painting of the layers of flora and fauna in the Gulf of Mexico.The rich habitats of the Gulf of Mexico help make it one of the most ecologically and economically productive bodies of water in the world. Its environments range from sandy, ever-shifting barrier islands to muddy, tide-washed marshes, from frigid dark zones miles deep to immense islands of floating seaweed. Even before the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion on April 20, 2010, which spewed millions of barrels of oil into the water, the Gulf was battling serious problems, including overfishing, extensive wetlands loss, and a huge oxygen-starved "dead zone" at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The oil spill is affecting every habitat, testing the Gulf's resilience.






Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Teal Duet Rayon Scarf

                                                                             Create this quick and easy scarf with a half yard of each fabric in a kit. There is enough fabric to make it 18" wide and 89" long. That's a lot of scarf for some innovative wrapping, tying, and knotting. See the fabric swatches below for the true colors. Or just get the scarf.


Thursday, December 16, 2010

Self Collar & Cuff Jacket with Leaves

I've been working on this quilted jacket for a few years. It took a long time to do the free motion and the
    satin stitching...and I was almost done and ready to sew it up into a jacket. Then, I beaded ONE leaf....
    OMG....

Stuart Green Market

The Stuart Green Market is located in front of the City Hall

Music for the Green Market

Behind City Hall

Dock behind City Hall

Boardwalk from the dock

Short walk around the corner

To the Downtown area

Step down and have a seat

And wait while the band sets up for afternoon Jazz

Then to Mulligans for a beer

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Robert Redford's request for help in saving the Bryce Canyon, Utah area

The headline reads:  Utah approves a mine next to Bryce Canyon for coal America doesn't need.

An excerpt:  The truth is we don't need this coal. The developers claim they have a contract with a Utah utility, but they won't disclose which one. It's questionable whether local utilities even have the need for such sizeable quantities of coal. Instead, rumors indicate that a lot of the coal will be hauled to a West Coast port for shipping, possibly overseas. If the company is so confident there is a market for its product, it should name its buyers.

Read the entire article here.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Papaya crop...

Well, I guess one papaya a year ain't bad...I guess the birds and bugs felt bad for me...they let me have one.

Alexander McQueen Clutch



Saturday, December 11, 2010

Leather and Denim Cuff by Mano Bello




This is an awesome "cuff" made by Mano Bello

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Jensen Beach, FL is mentioned on the Ellen Show this morning

The Jensen Beach Target got a mention today...well, Target was the inocent bystander. A man was arrested for sunbathing nude at the intersection to the Target store. Well, 'tis the season...

Turning the television off now.

Win a Nikon D90 from Pioneer Woman

No, I don't work for Ree at Pioneer Woman but I have been following her blog for a while. She gives away awesome gifts. This is the second camera since I've started following her blog! All you have to do is answer her question in the "leave a comment". This is a lovely camera. Also, check out her Photoshop editing challenges!

Spinach and Gruyere Soup from Pioneer Woman

OMG! Two of my most favorite food...spinach and Gruyere cheese...it has a little garlic too...but that goes without saying...I'm just sayin'. We had two days of cold weather in the 50's. Palm trees don't like it any colder than that. But anyway...I digress...it's soup weather here. I want to makes sure that you know I got this from my favorite blogger "The Pioneer Woman". When I first looked at her blog...I thought, "What could we have in common?" She lives near Tulsa, has wild 'stangs, cooks up a storm on the Today Show and The View, she doesn't sew, I don't cook...well, the answer is:  her great sense of humor!

As I was writing this post (and watching the Today Show) Ree (aka The Pioneer Woman) and Al made cinnamon rolls. No garlic...forget it!

Monday, December 6, 2010

On the Rocks - Lady Gaga - Bad Romance


This is one of the groups on the "Sing Off". The've gotten over a million hits on Youtube.

Aqua, teal, and brown Rayon Batik

As someone who dyes fabric (and loves all fabric), I couldn't resist these two coordinating rayon batiks. I love everything about them. And they drape well. Wow.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Silk Painting by Susan Moyer

Silk Painting The Artist's Guide to Gutta and Wax Resist Techniques
This is my favorite book on Silk Painting. Once you've read this book...you will not have any questions. The photos of her samples and step-by-step instruction are beyond belief. It makes you want to dive right in and start...but, be sure to have several days set aside because you won't want to stop to eat or sleep. Make sure you have lots of supplies and silk fabric. You'll be amazed at the excellence of your silk painting...the first time! Make a big pan of sausage, oven dried tomatoes, and pasta and tell your family where it is so you don't have to stop. Oh, put lots of cheese on the pasta.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Cheese solves everything...

Something was missing...add a lot of cheese...

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Juno Shoe Girl: Experience Shoevana!

Juno Shoe Girl was at the Stuart Craft Show. She had the cutest sandals that had snap on embellishment that you can change. How cool is that? The sandals themselves are cool enough. I tried on the different styles and found them to be very flattering for even wide, small feet (that would be me). All the leather is top quality and the embellishment selection is beautiful enough to be jewelry! I was fascinated by the turtles and her stylized realism. She has blinged flowers, sealife, abstract shapes, and it was difficult to decide. I guess that's the marketing plan! Juno Girl sandals will be in Tootsie's in the Spring.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Orchid Inspiration

I was thrilled to see these blossoms because I usually lose the plant after I buy it. So this orchid got a reprieve and this is year two.

I am planning a project and I usually look at a color wheel for some help. But this time I'm looking at nature to provide the color scheme.

Purple and green always go well together. The duo provide enough contrast while allowing you to bring in related hues.
We had rain...finally! It makes everything even greener and the best part is that it stopped the leaves from the tree across the street from blowing over to me.

Hope you have flowers to cheer you up...if not, print these and put it on the frig door.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Lunch at Dune Dog



Well, the Thanksgiving feast is over ... I had the turkey sandwiches and I need a break till turkey soup. I checked  Facebook and some friends were shoveling snow and some were putting up Christmas trees.


Hmmm ... I think I'd rather take a short trip to Dune Dog in Jupiter, FL. There was a 15 minute wait for a table but it was worth it. It was a hot day ... no snow to shovel ... thank goodness those fans (see top of photo) were running. See that big silver heater (left in photo above)? That means they're ready for a cold, winter day too. We'll still be in shorts and flip flops, but we're ready to brave the 62 degree weather. The hot dogs and beer will warm us from the inside out.

I like that the picnic tables are topped with stainless steel. No ants crawling through the wood! I hate sharing my food with them.

While you're in the area ... Jupiter has some great antique and thrift shops on Center St.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

"Haute Handbags" by Stampington

Haute Handbags is my favorite magazine and it's like Christmas twice a year when they're published. Well...better twice a year than just once a year. What's even more fun? Submitting a project! I've submitted something for the next issue and I have my fingers crossed. This is the submission page for all their magazines.

When you submit proposals for their magazines, be sure to take photos:  1) of the complete project without a distracting background   2) of close ups to show the texture   3) with good lighting to get the true colors   3) and offer some information about your project (especially the inspiration). You never know if you'll be selected.

The photo to the right is a close up slice of my project. I just love the color, the jacquard weave in the silk, and the fact that this fabric is from a vintage Kimono that is over 50 years old. When I design with old Kimono...I always wonder what stories they could tell...

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving from Me !



Hey, do you think that cloud is shaped like a drumstick...it's almost time to EAT!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Trio of turtles on the St. Lucie River - Florida

This photo was taken by Margy Mills of Martin County, FL. The location is the south fork on the St. Lucie River. She took this photo near Halpatiokee Park with a Nikon Coolpix p100. Talk about being in the the right place at the right time...with a camera.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

World Quilt Show - Florida - my art quilt entry "Dragonfly Dream"

Karen Marchetti, a fabulous award winning quilter, uploaded this photo of my art quilt. It is almost 4 feet by 6 feet including the canvas. It has a lot of dimensional embellishment. Thank you Karen...and Steffie Foster "tagged" it on Facebook.

Friday, November 12, 2010

The inspiration for my Dragonfly Dream art quilt...

These beautiful dragonflies were created by Marianne Zebedee. She is a wonderfully talented quilt artist. This is her photo, so if you see her at the show....stop and say Hello!

"Dragonfly Dream" art quilt at the World Quilt Show - Florida

This is a portion of my art quilt in the I Candy Collection at the show.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

MC Quilters Log Cabin Challenge

   The Martin County Quilters 2010 Challenge required the log cabin technique. We had free rein as long as there was a log cabin. Of course...my BEST (ha, ha) ideas are spurred on by stress and a deadline. This comes from years of working in the design industry. This is my (singular) log cabin quilt. I figured if I made the strips big enough I could come close to the second requirement (not bigger than 36" x 36"). 
   My inspiration was the Koi fabric that has lived in my stash for many, many years. I love the green and blue combination and the Koi supplied the "warm" colors. The log cabin is in the middle and I have a lonely yellow fish in the center. I have a wonky strip pieced border along the top and I used "whole cloth" to include a group of fish at the bottom.
   I really enjoyed making this quilt and made a nick into my stash. There were 45 entries and we won't know the winners (I am in the non judged group) until after the World Quilt Show this weekend in West Palm Beach. All 45 are hanging! More photos....coming soon!