Sunday Stitches

I've just completed my first week of the challenge One Year of Stitches: 2017. I decided to make a mandala, choosing different embroidery stitches as I go along. I'm using a Pilot Frixion pen to keep the rings fairly symmetrical - the ink of this pen disappears when ironed.

The fabric I'm using is about 14" square, and of course the rings will get larger and larger, so it may just take a year to finish. I'll probably frame it when done, since a pillow would be far too tempting for curious cat claws! 

It's also something I can work on every Thursday morning at the stitchers group I belong to. This group is one of the joys of my week, and I consider myself so lucky to belong to it. I would love to show you the blog I created for this group of talented ladies to showcase their work. It is called 'Around the Creative Table' and you can link to it here, If you have a minute to check it out, please consider leaving a comment. Yours could be the first comment we get!!

I've also started another textile class with my favorite instructor, Amy Ropple. And I'm excited about some new books I received for Christmas. Here are two of them...

 So, onward and upward - new ideas to try and new things to learn in this coming year. I'm planning to have a new character to share every week, starting this week, in a category called 'Friday Faces'. And maybe some little stories to go along with them! Stay tuned and

Have a great week!

Thanks for visiting!!

A Fresh New Year

There is something so wonderful about a new year -

a clean slate, a fresh start!

I'm looking forward to some new creative ventures -

more cut paper, machine sketching,

hand embroidery,

and character creating.

I'm excited, and I hope you are too,

as we enter a brand new year of hope and creativity.

I look forward to sharing and seeing what you are up to!

Let's go on this journey together!

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

My mother gave me this little manger scene when I was first married.

Over the years I have thought of updating it, but each Christmas,

as I set up the sweet little figures, I think of my mom

and know that it is just perfect.

I hope that, as you read this, you are enjoying a very 

Merry Christmas,

Happy Chanukah,

or simply

the blessings of 

the winter season.

With love,

Judy xo

'Twas the Week Before Christmas...

I'm a bit behind in my preparations for Christmas, as usual, but so far, no panicking! As I dig through the remnants of materials used to make artwork for two different shows this Fall, I keep coming across old or unfinished projects. Here are a few I've found:

These two snowscapes, which need a few stitches

 and some bright red cardinals to complete them...

My hand embroidery, which is nearly finished.

I added some color and I'll add more stitches after the holidays…

And an older fabric appliqué, made with sheer fabrics and beads.

I'm so looking forward to having our daughter here for Christmas and her boyfriend

Jason arriving Monday. We'll have some good conversations, cooking and eating sessions,

lots of laughter, perhaps a movie or two, a visit to my sister, and some much needed advice 

from daughter to mother about my various electronic devices!!

Our tree is on the porch, away from the cats, until Christmas eve 

when we'll bring it in to decorate with treasured ornaments.

For now the lights are festive enough!

I hope that your week is going well, not too stressful

and filled with anticipation, as mine is!

xo Judy

Paper Angels and a Landscape

I really loved the little angels I made for a recent show.

I've always had a thing for angels and these were inspired

by some kraft paper doilies I found in my stash.

Since they were so much work, I decided to frame them instead of using them for cards,

and, since they did not sell, I'll use them as small Christmas gifts!

I was also pleased with the cards I made from small fused fabric landscapes.

I made the landscapes exactly the size I wanted for the cards,

had them copied at Staples on white linen paper,

then cut them to size and glued them to the front center of some

Strathmore watercolor cards I had purchased a while ago.

This one came out a bit dark, so I enhanced it with a gold pen.

If you know me at all, you know that I don't often praise my own work, 

but I felt something different coming over me this past weekend.

As I looked at my artwork, I felt a fondness for it, and a quiet

satisfaction that I am finally identifying with my own style

and it is ok.

I'm looking forward to trying some new ideas in the coming year and

I'm grateful to have this blog as a way to share them.

Thank you for stopping by.

Have a wonderful week!

A Holiday Exhibit

Our show was very enjoyable this weekend and

I'm so happy it's over!!

We had gridded racks on which to hang our work,

and I brought two small folding tables to place in front

with a tablecloth over them.

I hung a quilted collage piece which I've shown here before

on the back of my display.

The building was packed with people on Saturday, 

and a bit quieter on Sunday.

I explained a bit about my work to several interested onlookers,

enjoyed chatting and laughing with other artists,

but sold only two cards, which paid the fee for my participation.

A bit disappointing, but it was such an enjoyable show!

Now to move on to preparing for Christmas!

Our daughter is coming for a visit for the holiday

and I can't wait!

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend 

and that you'll have a terrific week to come.

I plan to continue blogging regularly,

so please stop by again!

A Final Piece

I've posted a photo of this piece before, but today I added some

lines of stitching to the scene, and a frame.

It is my last piece for this weekend's show.

I'll be putting my cards together tomorrow, then on to cleaning

up all the messes I've created all over the house lately!

Being in an art/craft show is a good experience - it's nice

to put your work on display, talk about it to interested people

and hopefully sell a piece or two.

But it is also a tremendous amount of work and this will be my second show this Fall.

I'm looking forward to drawing, doodling, making faces with little stories

and generally, being creative at a more leisurely pace.

Thank you for stopping by!

Hope your week has gone well!