Stamps, hearts and book covers...

The Gee's Bend Quilt stamps are finally in at the Post Office! The colors are a little off but I still like them.

Yesterday, Syd was bringing in some of her wonderful "Scissor Maidens"(and other cool stuff) to the coolest store in Santa Barbara, called Imagine ,and I got to come along. I brought some of my fiber art to show the owner and she asked me to make some of my stuffed rug hooked things to sell in the Fall! It will be so exciting to have some things in this wonderful store....it will fulfill one of my secret desires .........
So once I get my other projects completed I will be making more Gnomes, toadstools, birds and squirrels. We had a yummy lunch at CPK and a tiny bag of See's candy for desert...what a perfect day!

Above is one of my new hooked hearts.....and the first photo is
the funky cover of my little "to do" book that I tote around with me. the "crazy quilt" was originally a mini-skirt from the Gap which I cut up for fiber art projects and added to and embellished....

After running around and doing the usual errands, my son Justin and I headed to the beach for an "end of summer" boogie board riding day. A perfect beach day! Actual waves to ride, sparkling ocean to gaze at, a snack bar for Justin, cute doggies and owners walking by, and a fun visit with an old friend who happened along...if only the dolphins had showed up!
I have a custom clock order to work on in addition to my fiber art portrait, plus getting my art studio back in order! That ought to keep me busy for a while.... plus I need to make some new samples for my ArtFiberFest class for 2007 for the new workshop listing....

Beach day...Santa Barbara

A mini display of Petrified Wood at our Spa

The Model Bakery in St. Helena... a favorite stop

Calistoga Bank..now a Shoe store!

Home again....

Had a good time on our trip up north....loved the hot springs, walks and good meals out. Picked up the new Fiberarts magazine at the bookstore and it has some cool stuff in it...especially love the dolls. Wanted to go to the DeYoung and see the Gee's Bend quilts but not enough time this trip.
Waiting for me in the mailbox was the new Art& Life no.5 from Teesha Moore! I love it..so much good info. and lots of guest writers and artists. It is so comforting to be a part of this art tribe. I managed to work on a few embroidery projects on our trip and that was satisfying since I haven't gotten as much done this summer as I've wanted to. But School starts on Mon. so things will get back to our other schedule and hopefully I can get my art studio organized and get more work done.

Off to Calistoga

We'll be gone for a few days on vacation to No. Calif..to our favorite get-away- "Calistoga Hot
Springs". It is such a cool little town with good restaurants, fun hikes, book stores, galleries and great natural hot springs to soak in. Get to visit with relatives in San Mateo on the way up, then over the Golden Gate bridge and on up to the Napa Valley. Bye for now!

Tin sisters...

Dolls...paper and tin...

Just for fun thought I'd post the articulated paper doll samples I made about 5 years ago for the kids art class I used to teach, and the one my son, Justin made with his photo from 2nd grade. It was a fun way to use some of the many rubber stamps that I have collected over the years. The kids had a great time rummageing through the box and choosing what stamps to use.
Also, above are two tin dolls that I made. The "Bird Girl" may need some more embellishing...we'll see.

Justin and sample paper dolls...

love these colors....

Pepa's Garden Party..

Oh, what a fun day we had celebrating Pepa and Susan's birthday! We gathered in Pepa's lovely front yard complete with statues and a walking labyrinth for a delicious mango and chicken salad, iced tea, and after presents, yummy birthday cake.
We each had a box at our place with our name on it and filled with party favors. The girls loved their presents and I must say, Syd's "portrait pillows" were a big hit.It doesn't get much better than celebrating with your Art lady friends! I took a few photos of Pepa's house and yard. She has a wall that has little ceramic stars with the names of loved ones who have passed on. The back sides of her house are pink, blue and purple...and the cute sign is in the guest bathroom.