"Bling String"

It was a wonderful trip and I was so pleased to be able help Margie...but it's good to be home.  I was greeted by a wonderful package from Ellen...who, if you remember got a box of goodies from my stash not that long ago.

She made me one of her "bling strings"...with some of the things from the box...and some of her own stash.  She called it "Rainy Days and Mondays" and I just love it!

There is a different design on each side of the shapes...and in no way do the pictures do it justice.  I will find just the right place for it....probably in my guest room in Maine...which is "Ellen's" room when she visits. Thanks Ellen!

Punch List

Today I crossed the last thing off the punch list and Margie is all set for first floor living. I think we were quite successful "shopping the house" and moving things around to create a warm and accessible space.

What was once an office....

...is now a soothing bedroom.

As you go down the hall into the new bedroom there is a "peace and justice wall"....one of my favorite things....and certainly speaks to Margie's passions.

It includes Gandhi's Seven Deadly Social Sins, Martin Luther King Jr's What is Your Life's Blueprint?, a Lion and the Lamb Peace pewter tray....and my favorite poster... "It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber!"

We relocated and reinvented her memory shelves with her childhood treasures I wrote about last time I was here. We are using her old dining room stackable hutch as her dresser and storage.

Silhouettes of her three kids hang over the bed...Elizabeth, Paul and Alyson.

We created a mini office in one of the closets...thanks to a very helpful cable guy.

We were on a roll...so we reinvented the dining room. To fully appreciate the "after"...I had this before photo which was taken right in the middle of the move when it was the staging area and a huge mess.  I had Margie's blessing to include it.

We relocated a small curio cabinet to break up the large wall and shopped the house for the rest.  I just love this room now! The only thing we purchased was the stand for the plant and the small shelf.

We relocated a favorite "gratitude" painting and basket tray from the kitchen....

...and featured three beautiful African figures...which go nicely with the rustic branch carving. It all has a nice earthy vibe!                                                                                      

And....just for fun...and a splash of color...I'm including a picture of a crazy "Rockies" wreath made by cousin Caren that was relocated to the font door...which goes well with the "purple mountains majesty" of the stained glass.

So there you have it. The upstairs bedroom is a work in progress...but is functional for guests and has plenty of room for scrapbooking and other projects. Tomorrow it's time to head back to Lexington to start working my own punch list.

Heart Felt....

...pun intended.

I actually got a little emotional a few days ago when we came across a very special box while treasure hunting at Margie's. I wonder if anyone else gets emotional about felt.

We were shopping the basement looking for things to style some of the new spaces when we came across Margie's box of finger puppets and felt scraps.

I learned all about Aunt Jenny...Paul's grandmother Doris' only sister. She was a crafter...and always had something in her hands...something I can relate to. She loved kids and enjoyed making these little felt finger puppets. Years ago she had given Margie a whole set for her kids, Paul, Liz, and Alyson.

And because Margie was such a good caretaker of them...here they are....some of them nearly worn out...all of them well loved.

Jenny inspired Margie to start making them and here are some of the ones she made...many of them patterned after Jenny's....some her own design.  I absolutely love that she made the poodle pink! Brilliant!

The best part of this is that I get to take all of them home including the awesome box of old school felt scraps. I will find some special way to display these wonderful "heart felt" treasures. Thanks Aunt Jenny....thanks Margie! Maybe I'll even try making a few some day.

For those of you who have followed this blog may remember that I actually have a finger puppet collection that was inspired by ones that Margie made for my boys...and you can read about it here.

I'd Rather Get....

...rocks than roses! 

Happy Valentine's Day!  

This totally works for me....and has, as a matter of fact.  I've gotten some really cool rocks from Paul over the years....many of them heart shaped.


I had this photo on my computer....I think Paul actually gave me this comic one year for Valentine's day...which was just as good as a rock.

This picture was in one of Margie's boxes....still the love of my life! We were married on Memorial Day...the day after we graduated from college.

May 25, 1981

Just Right Light

Today has been a productive day of putting things back together at Margie's...this is the fun part!  I'll share some pictures at some point soon.

Last April I wrote about the stained glass "mountain view" I made for Margie and Dave.  Today the setting sun was just right and the reflection on the side wall was prettier than the stained glass piece itself.

Imagining

It's been an imagining kind of day....

Another story of the day from Story People.

Self Portrait

One of our main job this week at Margie's is moving her bedroom down to the first floor...into a space that has been her office.  What that means is that we are going through lots of boxes and bins uncovering all kinds of treasures.  

Years ago after one of our visits to Colorado, I took home several of Paul's art pieces he did as a kid...like this self portrait...as well as some of the notes and artwork my kids sent to grandma and grandpa over the years. I followed that up by making a calendar for Margie with images of some of the artwork. Keep in mind this was way before I was doing anything digitally....I made this calendar just using my word processor and a photocopier. I could do such a better job these days.



I tried to find pictures or sweet little notes that matched some of the holidays in the month...so it may not have been their best work...but it was a sentimental calendar.

Planes, Trains.....

....and automobiles....and a bus.  (I've used this line before...but I kind of like it.)

I love the architecture at the Denver airport.

I was up early this morning...Paul drove me to the first red line train of the day which took me to the silver line bus which took me to my United flight to Denver.

I'll be helping Margie, my mother-in-law for a week with lots of puttering around her house....which means less puttering on the blog. But who knows what the week will bring!

Rainbow Birthday Book

Connie's birthday was today...and I made this tiny little rainbow accordion book...with a mix of her artwork...and some of my little photo collages. It's only about 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.

The little poms on each page...are needle felted and cover is collaged with tissue paper.

The back folds are covered with washi tape. Every color scheme has a copy one of her little pieces of art and a little collage.

I actually started this several years ago...but stopped in the middle because I thought it was a little too goofy. But I came across it a few weeks ago and decided to finish it for Connie's birthday. After all....a lot of my artwork is a little goofy...so why stop now.

There's a little snippet of her old curtains on the red page and a little piece of Paul's grandmother's tatting on the purple page.


Happy Birthday Connie!

 

 

The little bird images are cut from this sweet little planner/calendar I used several years ago by Geninne...an amazing artist from Santa Fe.  I have talked about her before....I just love her art...especially her birds.  I have spent hours and hours on her blog... check it out here.

Gallery Blink

If you live in the Lexington area and haven't been to Gallery Blink....I highly recommend it. My niece Clarke and I went through the current exhibition this afternoon called "Winter Promise." There are over 100 pieces by 20 artists...and it's awesome!

Gallery Blink is such a great addition to Lexington...and I love that it's walking distance from my house.

Gillian Ross does an amazing job weaving the artwork into her lovely home...making it look like it all belongs. It's just beautiful. Art is tucked everywhere and there are special little touches all through the house that are just right. I even liked the artful way the kindling was displayed in the basket by the fireplace.  I asked her permission to take a picture of this bookshelf....I just loved the sweet jars of buttons displayed in front of the books. One of her own pieces is displayed on the chair. I hope you check it out...it will be open again next Sunday from 11-5.

Bon Appétit

Paul and I had the good fortune to be invited to a seven course gourmet dinner tonight.  It was offered for the church youth group auction by our friends, Carol and Al. The proceeds from the auction fund the youth group's yearly mission trip to Kentucky where they build and repair homes for those in need. It was purchased and hosted by our friends, Melodee and David. 

I thought it was clever that Melodee put different words by the place settings and we had to find the one that she had chosen for us....our names was on the back.  Ironically enough...mine was faith and Paul's was imagine...opposite of what you might expect....but that was perfect.  As was the meal, the company, and the generosity of good friends.

Bon appétit!


The menu can speak for itself!

Snow Day Stole!

The blue bottles in the back yard were pretty in the snow.

Paul and I came up to Maine yesterday....and today it snowed all day. I had no place to go and things are pretty simple up here...so it set me up for a very productive and enjoyable day. And...I'm quite proud of myself because I started the day getting my taxes 95% organized and ready to send off. They would be 100% done if I hadn't forgotten a few things.

Paul took this one in our little park while he was out on a walk.

Another goal for today was to sew together the strips of fabric for Paul's stole.  It was pleasant sitting at my table in the guest room/sewing room watching the snow while I worked. 

I started by sewing two strips together at a time....just pushing them through. Then I pressed them...and did a little trimming before I sewed those sets together. My goal was to be at about 45 inches...

...and I came pretty darn close. I will add more reds at the top....but this is where is it will start to curve around the neck...so I need to think through this.  I'm just winging it...and making decisions as I go along.                                                                                                           

I decided I wanted a 3 inch wide band for each side of the stole. The second ruler on the right helped me get a perfect 3 1/2 inch cut.  The extra 1/2 inch is for seam allowance on both sides when I add the red edging.  (use the link above to see the inspirations stole)

The best part is now I have a 7 inch extra piece to play with for something else....and I have a couple of ideas.  The two stole pieces on the right are ready for the next step.....but that might be a little while. But I did make good "snow day stole" progress.