Queen of Arts Show and Sale in Solvang, CA

We had a beautiful day and nice turnout for the Queen of Arts show and sale last weekend. I managed to get some photos taken before the crowds arrived.  So many wonderful things to look at!

Cindy's display full of glittery things.

Syd's wonderful paintings and fun stuff.

Jill's beautiful jewelry.

Angela's colorful felted scarves and ornaments.

Georgeanne's kimono fabric purses and scarves.

Tina's fun needle felted owls.

Norah's earthy ceramics.

Cari's cuddly softies.

Mike's cool cat tails-metal and ceramic.

These are just a few of the amazing artists that participated in the show.

Thanks to all who came and helped support the local artists!

Busy making stuff....

The annual Queen of Arts show is coming up this weekend and I've been busily making stuff for my booth. Lots of stitching and hooking going on! Plus we had a forest fire on our mountain last week and we had to evacuate, luckily only for one day. The firefighters were wonderful and protected our little mountain home and neighborhood. Our neighbor lost quite a few avocado trees and as we left the flames were about 4o feet high. 

And now our hearts go out to those on the East Coast and we hope you weathered the storm and have power back on soon. Thinking of Jude and Morna, blogging and stitching friends!

Two wooly cats with clothes made from recycled sweaters.

owls with hats, ready to party!

a herd of cashmere elephants...

lots of dog ornaments...

of course some hearts made from vintage quilts....

felt bird pins...still working on these...they now have a little bead eye and more stitching...must finish before Friday!

lots of little wool kitties, 

more pins or brooches...

Hooked up two angels just for fun...

and two birds that need to be finished up....

owls with babies...one with triplets!

I am signing up to do the Waldorf Christmas Festival on Dec. 1 if you can't make it to the Queen of Arts show. Off to do more sewing and hooking!

And Oh! Happy Halloween!!!

New pumpkin and Fun workshop!

My latest hooked pumpkin went to live with Amy Hanna, hopefully delivered by Pam Garrison who came up to Solvang and did a wonderful workshop with fellow artist Jennifer Mercedes.

got some new owls stitched up..these have a pocket on front with a baby owl "nesting" inside...photo taken on our front porch with beach rocks and pumpkins..

Here is the lovely and entertaining Pam Garrison doing a Demo at the Art Clinic on Sunday....

And multi-talented Jennifer Mercedes working on an art journal on Monday. Such generous teachers- we all enjoyed an art filled weekend, lots of painting, a little collage, a bit of rummage shopping,  Mexican food, cupcakes, and more.

Pam's wonderful embroidery pieces were for sale..

and Jennifer's whimsical paintings....

Pam brought her wonderful art journals for us to look at...

and here's Syd with one of her journal pages in progress...

happy girls...Pam holding the painting I was working on before it got all covered up with layers of paint....

My "M" painting was the first project I worked on. Pam did the background for me as I missed the first day due to my store duties at our plumbing store. Everyone did such fun, colorful and different things.

Pam and Jennifer shared so many techniques and painting tips with us that we were all filled with inspiration to last a year at least! A great workshop with wonderful talented ladies at every table. Grateful for being able to attend the Art Clinic festivities! 

Workshop in Oaxaca, Mexico 2013

Here is the information on our upcoming Workshop! You will have to click on the image after following the link to make it big enough to read... for more info or to sign up please email Colleen Darling at:

colleen950@gmail.com

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Big pumpkin

Last night I finished hooking this big guy. It has a sort of primitive look I think. 

It's ready to take to "Imagine" tomorrow. Measures about 12" by 11" tall and took over 6 hours to hook.

Here's the back. A soft orange wool blanket backing and felt heart to cover up the opening.

And while I was delivering some things to Imagine yesterday they showed me my cat in the new issue of "Season's" magazine. 

Off to the Art Clinic today....happy stitching!

Pumpkin time!

it's Fall and time to hook some pumpkins! I got busy and hooked up these three small pumpkins for a local shop.

this is the back. I sewed all around the hooked pieces twice and turned it inside out. then stuffed it and will sew up the opening and cover it with a felt or wool heart. 

Group photo...

Meanwhile Mr. Henry takes a nap....

while his cousin poses like a sphinx on the deck....

Oh Happy Day!

Sometimes it seems the Universe smiles upon you...at least that is how it felt on my last trip to Art From Scrap!  I was rooting through the fabric bins looking for linen to use for upcoming shows and one of the lovely helpers said she had some quilt pieces that I might be interested in. Out came a bag filled with "cutter" pieces of wonderful vintage quilts and a Grandmother's flower garden quilt top!

There is something so special about the soft vintage fabrics from old quilts. I have plans for some fun cats with dresses and other things.... just had to share some of the great prints with you. I feel the quilter had a fun color sense as I look at the combinations she put together.

love the soft blue with red flowers..it has a cow being milked on it!

this is another "cutter" quilt that I bought a few weeks ago along with the one below....may not be able to cut that one up....may just have to mend it!

And Henry seems to be glad we are back home. He likes to join me in the morning as I check email and spend way too much time on Pinterest!