Open House and Visitors

Open Studio

We had a very successful studio open house May 23rd.  Thank you to everyone who came out to visit and support us!  The new studio is working out so well for us.  We all enjoyed the wonderful and very tasty appetizers prepared and served by our talented and hardworking cooking friend, Patty B. and our eldest daughter, Sarah.  All our jewelry and artwork was displayed beautifully with the artful eye of our youngest daughter Molly.  She never ceases to be our cheerleader and behind the scenes supporter.  Anyone who purchased a piece got to meet Molly and her husband Joe - they were our check out crew for the evening.  If you missed this one please watch your email for the the fall open house invitation and join us for fun, food and conversation!

Heralding Spring
The wrens have been singing their little hearts and souls out for a month or more.  Can't believe they can keep singing from sun up to sun down!

We have had lots of other visitors to our spring yard including a wild turkey.  It may not be unusual for some of you to see such  sight, but we live in a very busy, house after house area.  From our new covered summer porch we have been watching all kinds of birds visiting our yard.  Curt caught a picture of the red bellied woodpecker working up and down on one of our maples.  Now our yard is coming alive with all of the roses.  Hope everyone is enjoying this great Michigan spring!

red bellied woodpecker

spring hellebore in my garden

Sew Crazy!

Two of the latest pieced table runners I can't stop making!  Just having too much fun with color and pattern while learning to sew again.  Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring day.....

Dresser Runner

I have been working on a runner sewn with Kaffe Fassett fabrics for our new bedroom.  This picture shows two different choices for the binding.  I think the dot fabric from the border wins out because I don't want the binding to be more colorful than the runner.  I stitched leaves and curly lines along the borders.  I followed my friend Kat's suggestion and stitched arches along the middle sections.  I'm happy with the results even though I still need a lot more practice AND it took me hours!  I'm so slow at this but I know I will improve!  Back to finishing the binding.....

Spring Visitor

Eastern Screech Owl

 Anyone who knows me or follows my jewelry creations realize how much nature inspires my designs.  This little spring visitor posed for his close up for over an hour.  He was so nestled into the camouflage of the branches I was working on my asparagus patch for half an hour before I noticed him.  I suspect his likeness will inspire some more etched jewelry.  How did he know owl images have been in my brain lately?  He finally flew off after Curt and I tried moving some branches to get a better picture.  He sure was enjoying his afternoon nap...We were sorry we woke him up!

New Jewelry

  

Curt and I really like to etch metal and this bracelet uses one of those etched pieces.  It is made from patterned copper, etched copper, wired links and a hand forged clasp.

New Studio

Remodeling was a HUGE upheaval...from this

                     
to this wonderful studio space!

     After four months we are still settling in but I spent some time creating and sewing thanks to my wonderful friends Kat, Deb and Nan.  I started two projects -

 

The first project I worked with are pieces Kat cut for me two years ago.  I knew I would get to it eventually!  It is called short stacks and was a lot of fun for it to be my first quilt top.  What's not to like - all those scrumptious Kaffe Fassett fabrics!  I still have borders to add but I started another project.  Kat and Deb found an inspiration starter-a randomly pieced background then add circles.

I was literal with my creation.  I'm sure they will post their gorgeous creations on Life in Stitches and Stitchnut.  It will have more added but I wanted to post my beginning.  After spending time with such creative friends I went into my gift bag from Gail.  I used four of her little pieced panels to practice sashing, borders and free motion quilting.  Miss M will love using this little quilt!

My new studio space is wonderful!  I'll post pics from time to time to show the organizing solutions my fabulous daughter comes up with.  I'm determined to keep an empty table top to work on - a big challenge for me!