A visit to "Castle in the Air"...

A visit to Berkeley, Ca. is not complete without enjoying the magical world of Castle in the Air.
Shari and Clint welcomed me into this enchanted place and let me take as many photos as I wanted. Every where you turn there is something to delight the eye and spark the creative spirit.


Looking up...

Just one of several Christmas trees...they get the award for most red and white mushrooms on a tree!
There is a new gallery and workshop space upstairs....







View from the gallery...that's the sweet and gracious Shari at the counter and Clint in the background.
Masks on display for upcoming workshops....


A fun little place where you can have your picture taken with the marionettes...
Hope you enjoyed your visit to the "Castle"!

I got my little gnome finished up last night. I re-did his face a little bit and had to re-hook one of his shoes....since I draw all of my patterns free hand things aren't always the same on both sides and when I had it all done and looked at it for a bit his right shoe bothered me and I had to add a half inch to fix it.
I've been in busy mode again this week making things for the local farmers market and another one of my favorite stores up in Napa Valley, "Muse" requested some things before Christmas so non-stop crafting around here!
The Painted Cave Farmers Market will be Sunday, Dec. 12, 9am to 12 noon at 4844 Ogram Rd.
I will be selling my fiber art creations and other local crafters will be there too. Wonderful live music, local produce and goat cheese from Laurel Springs Ranch. We also have a world renown Peruvian shaman visiting the community who will be doing a earth healing ceremony this weekend. For more info on that visit: www.sacredearthfound.org or call 719-966-2005,

Gnome time!

One of the shops where I sell my things wanted some gnomes before Christmas so I had to get busy this weekend and do some hookin'. This little guy looks a bit stern so I may have to do some fine tuning before I sew him up.

Here he is from the first night's work...

And this is actually another gnome that I drew up to hook. He is holding a baby rabbit.
Hope to start work on him tonight. I have a chance to sell some things this upcoming weekend at our community Farmer's market so I still am busily making more things to sell.

It was cold and rainy last night. We had hail, wind and rain and a nice fire made the house a bit more cozy. The cats huddled up together to stay warm by the fire....


As soon as I get a little more "blog" time I will post some photos of my recent adventures in Berkeley and Summerland.

Who let the dogs out?

Sorry, couldn't resist! When I got back from my trip to Berkeley I had to get right to work on this order for doggie ornaments for" Just folk" in Summerland. I got them delivered yesterday and they are already on their beautiful Christmas tree. I made 14 for them and may make a few more for friends. I couldn't resist the spotted wool skirt fabric.
Just a quick post, meeting my friend Kate to go check out the Gem Faire and the Tribal Marketplace!

Off on an adventure...

Here is a little sneak peek at the article in the new Somerset Sew. So fun to see the quilted houses in print!


Here's the cover....
We had a nice quiet small family Thanksgiving. We all took a hike by the San Marcos Trout Club while the turkey was cooking. Some beautiful old oak trees and an old home site were part of the adventure....



Really old cactus branches...

and clover for good luck...

Back home Henry is enjoying the winter sun...
And today I go off on another adventure to No. Calif to take Jason and his two friends back up to Berkeley. Will spend the night and come back home on Monday. Been a busy week with no art making, but that's Ok...loved spending family time with my boys, cooking, building fires in the fireplace, taking walks and going to the farmer's market.
Sorry my blog looks so funny....having trouble getting the banner in the right size and place...will have to keep working on it...
Bye for now...

Getting ready for Thanksgiving...

Somehow I got the table cleared off a few days early! Baskets of fabric went out to the art studio. No one recognizes the house anymore! Jason arrived home late last night and is still asleep. I think I will take a walk in the brisk morning air...there is still ice in the bird bath...but the sun is out and it's a beautiful day. Thinking of making pies later today and checking to make sure I have everything I need for tomorrow's dinner.
Got a fun surprise in the mail yesterday. The new issue of Somerset Sew has a nice article on my little fabric houses. The funny thing is that one year ago today I drove down to Laguna Hills for a photo shoot with Jenny Doh and the girls. It was really fun to see where all the magazine magic is created and meet those who put it all together. I have a few more things up my sleeve to send in!
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!!! I have so much to be grateful for and wish the best for you all!

Leaving home...

I took all of my rug hooked critters down to "Imagine" today for the Holiday season. It 's my favorite store in Santa Barbara so I feel honored to have my things in there. The wool birdies below will be there too and so we had a little good bye party.
The house feels a little empty now, but I have some gnomes to hook up and brooches to make and the table to clear off so I am sure to keep busy in the days ahead. And of course there is Thanksgiving to prepare for. So happy that Jason will be coming home from college for a few days.
And if you want to make some of those wool cupcakes, take a look at the book by Betz White called Warm fuzzies. Lots of fun projects to stitch up.

Time for Dessert!

Thought I'd make a few wooly cupcakes for Holiday presents. Didn't really put a dent in my boxes of felted wool sweaters but they are fun to work on during the cool fall evenings.

Taking it easy...

Just had to show you Colleen's sweet little cottage pin cushions from the Queen of Arts show.
They all sold the first day but I managed to get a photo before everyone came. She combined needle felting and embroidery stitching and some fun embellishing to create these fun little houses.
I'm taking it a bit easier after the show but still can't resist making some things for a neighborhood sale coming up. My first 3 elephants sold the first day so I made these two while watching Dancing with the Stars.

And this funny bird got some spots sewn on....

And here is my work (dining room) table before the show! I promised to have it cleared before Thanksgiving! The trouble is that I love to have my sewing machine right in the heart of the house where I can just stitch a little something when I need to and the moment strikes and not go outside to my art studio. I may just move it out for the Holidays so we can eat like a family.

Now appearing at the Queen of Arts Show and Sale

The little bug pin cushions got their legs. Some have already found new homes. The show continues on Saturday from 10 to 4....hope to see some of you there!


Here is my little corner at the show. I took this photo just before the doors opened. We had a great turnout for the first day. Lots of local valley residents showed up and shopped. There was wine and appetizers and a long line at the checkout table.

These cool cats were there...

Wool heart ornaments were fun to make and embellish...

Blue wool birdie found a friend. I have two more ready to go.
Off to bed..it's late. Another day of show and sale tomorrow in beautiful Solvang!

Home again!

We were in Berkeley Saturday morning for breakfast and I managed to get a few quick photos of one of my favorite shops, "Castle in the Air" on Fourth st. No time for shopping with 3 hungry menfolk, but we will be back in the area in December and I hope I will have a little more time to look around.

This is little red riding hood in the front window. The wolf is on the other side of the bed dressed in Grandma's nightie.




Next door a whole store full of Japanese fabrics!

One of my wooly birds I am working on for the show this weekend.

Some cashmere elephants I made this week. My friend Grace sent me a fun elephant card and it made a great pattern idea so i went with it. Thanks, Grace!

Another hooked bird I just finished up for the show.
Still lots to do before Friday...I've been stitching non-stop since I've been home from our weekend trip...and loving it!

Warm and Fuzzy....

It's so nice to have internet friends to share and trade with. Look what the lovely Dot sent me!
Hand felted and stitched with the tiniest stitches and embellished with beads and buttons. I love the wonderful fiber creations that are coming forth from the Australian art ladies! I've done some fun exchanges with Jacky, Elizabeth and Dot and love having fiber friends in faraway places.

Dot also sent me some beautiful sari and kimono silks and ribbons...almost too nice to use...almost....have some ideas brewing...I am thinking of the cloth weaving projects...we will see.

Our family is off for the weekend to Northern California for a family wedding. We will pick up our older son, Jason over in Berkeley. He gave me a list of things to bring him as he left his car at home. Hope to have a fun lunch in Berkeley or Palo Alto on Sunday and then home again!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Oh, by the way...thank you for the softie bug leg ideas! I decided to add legs out of black felt, cut out of one piece and sewed to the bottom. Photos soon! Adios for now!

Human Arts in Ojai, CA

Got in a quick trip to Ojai and visited one of my favorite stores of contemporary art, a fun place called Human Arts. They have so many wonderful things from furniture to fiber and jewelry ...just got a few photos of some things that caught my eye this visit.