For Cora With Love, Nana


   We have a new grandchild on the way. Our little Cora is due the middle of March and we are very excited.  My artwork has been set aside to make time for all things baby.

   I made this Moses basket a couple of years ago after, what I thought would be my last, grandchild was born. I figured that it was safe to finally make one for myself. Now I am passing it on to our new little love. It will be filled with all kinds of baby goodies.

    The quilt is made up of new and vintage chenilles some from as far away as Australia. I love making baby quilts from chenille. Babies love all the different textures. Of course by the time it was is finished there was a blizzard of tiny chenille fragments everywhere.

    This was a pattern I had never tried before. Very simple but if you lose count you could end up with a big mess. The photo doesn't do it justice. The yarn has tiny little sparkles running through it. Every girl needs a little bling no matter how new she is.

   My friend Nancy introduced me to this adorable crochet pattern. It is so simple but looks so complicated. Very delicate and so sweet, perfect for our newest sweetheart. Everything will now be wrapped and put in the basket along with all the million outfits and baby must haves that I have been picking up for the last few months. Can't wait to meet our sweet baby Cora.

 Snow is Just a Four Letter Word!

A dear friend of mine from Florida sent this to me. She knows me so well. I will keep this image forever. I am so over this winter already and there's a lot more to come! I'm California dreamin.......

Mindy Gledhill

A very big thank you to Miss Vanessa for posting this on her blog.  It is beyond dreamy and wonderful.

Wish I'd Been There!

An Artful Week


  My life has been so busy lately that very little time is left for making art. Finally this week afforded me the time to catch up on a swap for the "In This House and Garden" Yahoo art group. I even had time to fit in a class with the fabulous Tim Holtz at Absolutely Everything in Topsfield, Ma.

   The class I took was "Ultimate Alterations". If you have taken any of Tim's classes you will know how fast things move along. You sit down at your table, blink your eyes and before you know it, four hours have passed and something wonderful sits before you.

   The Pocket Swap consisted of seven pieces. Two ATC's three Moo Cards and two surprises. My theme was about the word Bliss. I seem to have a lot more of it now that the kids are in school and there is time to be in the studio and get back to creating. The above piece is the design for my Moo Card.

This is my design for the ATC. I got to play with water soluble crayons. Love them.

   These are my surprises. We could do anything we wanted as long as it was small. They can be worn as necklaces or hung as ornaments. My list of projects is long and now with a new grandchild on the way the list keeps growing. I'm a busy girl.

From a Woman's Soul
Through a Woman's Eyes
By a Woman's Hands

  Fall is finally here. It is without a doubt my favorite time of the year here in New England. I love everything about it. The smells the colors the whole package. The best part is that after nine long years of full time day care of the grand kiddies, they are all in school all day long and I will finally get back to those projects that have been waiting so patiently for me to return and get back to work. I love them to death, but let's face it, I am not getting any younger!

  I have some long overdue thanks and blogs to share with you. I actually won a couple of give-aways from amazingly gifted artists participating in Vanessa Valencia's Mad Hatter Tea Party! First I have to say that I never win anything so I was totally thrilled. 

  This beautiful painting comes from Lauren Startzman from Fair Rosamund. You can find her at fairrosie.blogspot.com. Her work is so amazing. My granddaughter Kate took possession of it the second it was unwrapped.

  This fabulous character comes from Whisperings 13 who can be found at wadsworthnollstudio.blogspot.com. He hangs in a little birdcage in my studio and looks over my shoulder as I work. 

   This last goody comes from a talented cookie maker who used to take dance with my daughter many years ago. I wanted something special to put in the grandchildren's lunch boxes to surprise them on their first day of school. Needless to say these were a huge hit! Alyson Avoglia of Corner House Cookies makes cookies for just about any event you can imagine. They come beautifully wrapped and are totally delicious. You can check out her creations at cornerhousecookies.blogspot.com. She is also on Etsy.




   So now it's back to work and thanks again for all my special gifts. There is nothing like receiving beautiful things made by hand.

"A Mad Tea Party" part two

"But rabbit." exclaimed Katey Alice, "Why can't we open the door?" The White Rabbit explained to her that only the Mad Hatter would be able to open the door for her. "Where do I find Him?" She asked. He told her to go sit on the bench in the forest garden and close her eyes until she heard his mad and wonderfully magical music. Then open her eyes and he would appear.

She hadn't been there but a few moments, when beautifully strange and wonderful music filled the air. She opened her eyes and there he was sitting across from her! His music was so magical and she listened for some time before she worked up the courage to ask him the question she had searched him out for.

"Mr. Hatter" she began, " my name is Katey Alice and I have been invited to Miss Vanessa's Tea Party and I need you to help me open the door." "I know who you are." he told her. "Miss Vanessa has sent me to escort you to her Party. It is a wonderful party that happens only once a year. Come with me and I will show you the way."

He took her by the hand and led her back the same path that she walked with Rabbit. When they reached the party door it opened easily and let them in.

There inside sat Rabbit already at the table hiding behind a book. "Again Rabbit! You pop up at all the right places." She laughed.

The Mad Hatter , behind a book of his own exclaimed, "Well are we going to visit or help ourselves to all this deliciousness?"

And so they did. Round and round they went sampling every delicious treat.

Every bite better than the last.

After tasting everything, and feeling quite full, the Mad Hatter proposed a toast to their fabulous hostess. "To the lovely Miss Vanessa for such an amazing feast. Every year gets better and better." he exclaimed with a sly smile on his face. "Till next year, Miss Katey Alice."

And in the blink of an eye he vanished! Miss Katey Alice knew that she would have to wait till next year to do it all again.

A huge thank you to Miss Vanessa of "A Fanciful Twist" for the chance to be part of her Mad Tea Party. I have learned so many new ways to enhance my photos thanks to this wonderful project. I have also gained a few new obsessions! I can not tell you how much fun this was, for me as well as my grand children and the wonderful Miss Karen.