Sunday, June 30, 2013

Getting ready for the 4th of July


I've been busy making things for our annual 4th of July show and sale near the Santa Barbara Mission.
These are little wool felt houses-pincushions perhaps...


here is what they look like before sewing up....
I put crushed walnut shells and stuffing inside. A fun way to use up those little fabric scraps...


Tiny fox and friend....I need to learn how to knit tiny sweaters for my creatures. I bought the small one at a craft show years ago and finally found a way to use it.


Still working on my puppets....I have two raccoons coming up...


I took these kitties to finish up on our trip to Calistoga. Now I need to get them all dressed and ready for the big show!


Craft day with Grace in Santa Barbara- we made little journals covered in handmade paper and played with Paper clay. These little owls showed up. Still need to sand them a bit and then paint them...


And big news! The Art Workshop-studio is getting near completion. Of course I may have to let my son Justin live in there for a while, but my hope was to have a place for art classes and to teach rug hooking to small groups. 

We are having a major heat wave here this weekend and this is where I went yesterday to cool off. The ocean was refreshing and I may have to go back down today as it is already in the high 90's before noon! The cats are trying to keep cool by lying on the tile floors and hiding under the beds.

Cat Report:

Henry likes to watch the construction work from the ladder to the tree house.
More work to do...have a great week!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Too much fun!


Pam Garrison, Mary Ann Moss, and Syd McCutcheon and I got together this week to play, paint and shop. Here is Pam in one of her quieter moments. (Ha!) Thank you Pam for getting us all together and keeping us laughing for two whole days!


Syd's painting always inspires...


some of the handmade paper we played with....


I got in a little water color doodling...
Such a treat to meet Mary Ann! I've been a fan of her blog for a long time and she now has a new online class called "SEWN"...that looks like a good summer play date! Her blog is "Dispatch from L.A."..go subscribe if you haven't already.


Started a new hooked rabbit last night...


and used some of my Japanese paper for some little journals I plan to sell...


more kitties with sweaters...


a hooked heart that went to lovely Constanza (Peregrine Blue)....


a couple of new foxes...


and 3 owls made from fabric- stuffed and painted...ready for the 4th of July show...

And we are off tomorrow on a little vacation to one of our favorite places...Calistoga. Justin has finished his first year at UCSB and a little much needed time off for Dennis for Father's Day. Time for a soak in the hot springs, a hike to the Bale Mill and some tasty dining in Napa Valley.
Hope you all have a creative week ahead!