Back again!

I have to say, I'm an expert at avoiding doing things that are close to my heart. I have a mess of art ideas percolating in my brain that I haven't even begun to realize and, much as I love my blog, I keep it tucked away in a corner of my brain and keep saying, "I'll get to it!"

Well, here I am again and it's Autumn, my favorite season. I've been doing some embroidery, applique artwork and a bit of playing with cut paper, and here are a few of my recent projects

I finally finished and framed the fabric applique portrait of my parents which I had begun a few years ago. The figures were done but I wasn't happy with the original background, so I built a new one around them! The stone wall was made from many different pieces of fabric and stitched in place with a zig zag machine stitch. The picture was inspired by a 1940s photo of my parents and I added a yellow rose in my dad's hand. He grew yellow "peace" roses and often cut one for my mom and left it in a bud vase on the kitchen table for her. It feels good to have finished this.

Here's a little embroidery I did

and a page for the fabric cat book I'm working on.

And this month I've been working on some cut paper people,

little portraits made for fun!

Last month, my husband Bill, daughter Kate and her 

boyfriend Jason gave me a beautiful 70th birthday party!

Our house was filled with wonderful, creative friends 

and neighbors and it was so much fun!

70!!

I can't believe it!

Anyway, here's my take on getting older:

...among other things!

Hope everyone who reads this is doing well.

Thanks for visiting!!

Things to Come

Hello Friends!

I'm writing this as though someone is reading it, although it seems that I've lost most of my readers by leaving this poor blog neglected. Too many irons in the fire is my excuse, with Instagram and another blog about my stitching group (hop over there if you want to see some beautiful handwork) as well as Facebook distracting me.

But then yesterday I went over to visit my friend Simone's blog and some of her links and remembered how enjoyable blogging can be. Thanks, Simone!

This morning was very dark and rainy - the kind of day when you need to turn the lights on,

which can be cozy, but it is also extremely hot and humid.

 I'm grateful that our air conditioning is back in service now after some mice built a nest in the electrical box in the outside compressor and gnawed through one of the wires! All fixed now, thank goodness.

This is our dining room which looks out on the porch. Over the table is my mom's chandelier, a bit outdated, but which I love as it reminds me of her. On the table is a stack of fabrics which I recently washed and pressed and will soon cut up for a lap quilt. Things to come!!

Also, here are some fabrics I'm looking at for a new blog header design. I want to reconfigure my blog, but I'm pretty inept. I always struggle with Blogger, but I'll see what I can come up with.

THINGS to COME!!

I love this:

We'll see what happens!

Love to all who read this!

Judy xo

Hello Spring!

This seems like the perfect time to come back to my blog. It's May and springtime is finally kicking in after some very un-springlike weather in April! The little spring-green leaves are heady in their sweetness and flowering trees are popping up everywhere. Our kinetic sculpture, Ollie the Owl, is flapping his wings in the breeze and the daffodils are in full bloom.

The last few months have been filled with lots of stitching and making. I impulsively agreed to participate in a couple of local exhibits, which gave me the incentive to create some new pieces. The first exhibit, which took place in early March, was called Art and Edibles, with a theme of food and drink.
I decided to focus on one of my favorite beverages, coffee, and to add a bit of humor to it. And so, that first cup in the morning, a cat waiting to be fed...."7:10 AM".

The next exhibit, which took place in March, had a 60's theme and was called "Flower Power".  My subject matter was pretty obvious, but I really enjoyed making my flower child. A large piece for me, she measures 16x20 inches and I stretched it over a canvas with no frame. I used a combination of appliqué, machine and hand embroidery, and it now is hanging in my studio.

I also did this smaller picture of a loosely textured flower with raw edged appliquéd leaves on a textured fabric background, also stretched over a canvas.

Finally, I was part of our local Arts Collaborative's Spring Show, where I showed the previous pictures as well as a few older ones. All of the shows were fun and well attended, and it's nice now to have a break from exhibits until the Fall comes around.

I've also been doing some small embroideries and fabric and cut paper pictures, which  you've probably seen if you follow me on Instagram (@judyhartman_artandstitch), so I apologize for that. But here are a few...

Finally, I'll share these beautiful irises, sent by my daughter Kate

for Mother's Day...

Until next time,

take care!

Thanks for visiting!!

A New Year

It's the evening of January first and I'm feeling a bit reflective, as I suddenly realize that this is my 12th year of blogging. It's also the year I'll be celebrating my 70th birthday. The latter fact seems impossible to me, yet it is true.

This has been a tough year in many ways, but I feel so fortunate to have something I'm passionate about which gives me joy and makes me feel fulfilled. Creativity buoys me up, both when I draw or stitch something beautiful, as well as when I enjoy and appreciate the work of other artists. I feel like I know so many creative people, through organizations I belong to, groups I stitch with, classes I take, bloggers I've become friends with, Instagram friends and others I've known over the years. Making, drawing, stitching, painting, beading, creating - these pursuits have been my salvation through good times and bad, and I'm very glad to have had a love for them ever since I was a child. They truly make life more joyful and even magical.

I've decided that my word for 2018 will be "SOAR". I want to fully commit myself to art-making this year, do a series of fiber art pictures for an exhibit, be more imaginative with my ideas and try to create stories with my images. I'm excited to try some new ideas and see where they take me.

I wish that wonderful blessings will come to everyone who reads this. Let's all have a terrific year, filled with love, creativity, good health and contentedness. Let's all be firm in our beliefs and strong in our convictions, and let us be good to each other. 

Happy New Year!

Love,

Judy xo