Stop and Smell the Roses!

Just sending out wishes to everyone who stops by

for a very happy Valentines Day!!

This is the card I made for my husband, a fabric picture 

of the Kids (as he calls them!).

Angus cannot resist investigating

and smelling my Valentine roses!!!

I love you all, my blogging friends. I'm always thrilled to get comments and to read your blogs.

I always wanted to have a penpal when I was a girl,

and now I feel that I have such friends all over our country and in other parts of the world!

Hope everyone has a lovely day!

xoxoxo

Just a Few Things...

February has always seemed like kind of a dark month to me, and this winter has certainly had its challenges! Here in New England, we're buried in snow, have leaky roofs from ice dams and are now going through some truly freezing weather! 

But there are always ways to create mid-winter cheeriness

with color and comforting things!

I received this wonderful hand cut valentine from my clever friend Elaine! She tells me that, at one time, some men's neckties had designs like this. I can't imagine what would be written on a necktie these days!

I recently purchased this book, after perusing its pages for just a few minutes! A really spontaneous purchase! Maybe it was the phrase "25 Heartfelt Projects" on the cover, or maybe it was some of the sweet projects and photos within:

I love the combination of quilting, embroidery and beading here,

and the wool applique combined with quilting here.

It's a bit late to start projects for Valentine's Day, but I think this book will provide me with plenty of gift ideas to use throughout the year.

I'm still recovering from the surgery I had at the beginning of February. Apparently it was a difficult surgery - the gland  was quite inflamed - and the area is still swollen. Today I put on makeup, felt great and went out for brunch with a friend. An hour later I was in pain again. So, this is definitely a time for patience. I'm trying to live in the moment, enjoy being indoor with the kitties, and work on a few low-key projects. I hope to share some of my landscapes soon.

Spreading out fabrics, embroidery threads, beads and fibers is always uplifting to me!

I hope that everyone who reads this has a wonderful weekend!

I certainly intend to!!

Hearts and Flowers

With Valentine's Day approaching, I took out some of my favorite papers and fabrics, preparing to make some special cards. As I grow older, I find myself attracted more and more to the color pink or soft rose. In my stash there are plenty of examples of this color, in various prints and patterns, so I don't have to buy a thing! This is always an enjoyable part of February for me.

And in the spirit of Valentine's Day, my friend Andrea sent me some wonderful photos of a tree in a neighboring town which is decorated every year with handmade hearts. The tree stands in front of a church and gladdens the hearts of all who see it! A great idea for any tree - I've thought of trying it myself!

Tree Photos by Andrea Willey

And I just have to add these funny photos of the kitties.

Today, as I came into the living room, I caught sight of this display.

No, Rosie is not falling out of the bed -

She is sleeping this way,

and stayed like this for about twenty minutes!!

You could say that she was just

"Hanging Out"!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

Hope everyone has a great week!

This and That

I'm sitting in my living room, listening to the evening news as I use my computer, and I realize that I've heard the word "snow" around thirty times in the last two minutes. Yes, we are buried, and yes, we have 2 new storms coming this week. The snow is piled about as high as a snowthrower can throw it, and snowplows have created mountains on every street corner, making it impossible to see oncoming traffic at intersections. Heavy accumulation is expected and the news media is doing a great job of intensifying everyone's anxiety!
So, I went through my photos, looking for something non-snow related to share!

This is a quilt I bought several years ago from a fellow member of an arts and craft society I used to belong to. The quilt artist's name is Diane Johnson and she used silky fabrics from a book of decorator fabric samples. It hangs on the wall directly opposite our front door and I love seeing when I come into the house. The colors perfectly reflect colors in our living room, so there's a nice flow.

I've been busy organizing my fabric

and my notions in my sewing room!

No, seriously, these photos are from Mood in New York City,

yes, the same Mood we see contestants go to on Project Runway.

We went there a couple of years ago when visiting our daughter.

I was so overwhelmed I didn't buy anything!

And, finally, I've been revisiting some fabrics I painted last year

and I'm readying them to create some fabulous landscapes!!

Tomorrow is my surgery and I'll be back in a couple of days!

Have a great week!

The Joy of Painting

Thank you, friends, for all of your kind comments on my last post. I'm going to have surgery this coming week to remove my salivary gland, and that should take care of my poor sore mouth!! But I really appreciated your helpful, concerned and sometimes funny comments!

Today I decided to do something soothing and creative. I've been going through my fabrics, concentrating on commercial prints which I feel can add some texture to the landscapes I now have in progress.

I have many batiks like this which are very beautiful. I like to take pieces of these fabrics and overpaint them with Setacolor transparent paints, giving them new blended colors, yet retaining the markings of the original design. When I painted this fabric, I came out with this result:

Of course, the way I cut up fabrics, any tiny corner could be valuable to my latest project.

This over-painted piece holds many treasures:

I find just the right section to use by cutting a window from a piece of paper to make a view finder.

I have a few pieces drying on my porch table, out of the reach of certain furry creatures!

Some have salt to disperse the paints and the colors always dry lighter than they look right after painting.

So, it will be fun to see how they look in the morning!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Down in the Mouth

That's me on the right!

In case you're wondering where I've been, I've been dealing with not one, but two separate oral problems. The first took place a few weeks ago, due to what was thought to be a failed root canal. After the endodontist/oral surgeon had cut open my gum and performed 3/4 of the surgery to correct it, he determined that it indeed was not a failed root canal and the tooth would have to be extracted. Of course, he could not do the extraction, so he sent me off with a huge bill and a very sore gum. 

Before I could make an appointment with a regular oral surgeon, the opposite side of my mouth became severely inflamed with an infected salivary gland. (there is a stone inside that needs to be removed) Yesterday I was seen by two doctors, and I have a consultation with an oral surgeon tomorrow. That is where I stand right now, with a huge swelling in my lower jaw, on antibiotics and pain meds, unable to eat much and just a bit miserable. 

I know this doesn't have anything to do with Hartfelt Fabric Art, but it feels good to vent! Sympathetic comments are welcomed and encouraged!!

I'm off to take my Percoset. Perhaps in the altered state of mind it puts me in, I'll create some lovely artwork. Or sleep. Or watch a movie.

I'll be back when I'm feeling better!

Hope you are having a great day!!

Everyday Life

I've been wanting so much to create something new to post on my blog, but I've been immersed in organizing, cleaning and shoveling snow! My husband is away on business, and this is the week when Mother Nature decided to send us two snow storms! It snowed last night and today, and this is what greeted me when I went out to shovel:

Driveway

Front Walkway

Now, I just know this is due to the fact that, in my last post, I boasted about my superior strength after a year of working with weights at the gym! That will teach me!!

Inside, some of us are cuddling for warmth.

And, while cleaning, I came across this little stuffed kitty that my mother used to keep on her bed. 

She named her "Betsy". It is stretched out on a beautiful afghan my mom made for me years ago.

Although it has been 3 1/2 years since my parents passed away,

I still miss them terribly.

And, finally, I'm adding a photo of some roses, past their prime, but still beautiful.

The doily was made by my grandmother, probably 50 years ago!

As I said, just the stuff of everyday life!

And, by the way, that is the name of one of my favorite blogs,

written by Lyn who lives in England (West Yorkshire)

and who is a truly wonderful photographer!

I'm working on a small journal quilt and hope to show it to you tomorrow!

Stay warm and enjoy your weekend!