BIRDS

paper clay is so cool.

years ago, I bought some little clay birds in Mexico.

(should've taken a photo of them, too)

yesterday I made some little birds of my own.

above, little white ones...

and below:

once the paint goes on...

it is fun to see all the different personalities

as patterns appear in the paint.

GRAYSON

Just had to take a couple of photos of my 16 year old

He was getting things together to wear to a dance tonight

He wanted to have a bow tie like my dad

He was cleaning his shoes on the counter,

but I had to get this shot...

(love the curls!)

He is wearing my grandfather's fedora from the 20's

and a velvet bow tie

I think he has decided to wear a white buttondown instead

and some white shoes

Can't believe how fast we got to this place

whew!

Perfection

Just thought I would share with with all you ladies a picture of my first grandchild.

  

Lenny Zed (named after his grandfathers) was born on St Valentine's Day, the Year of the Dragon - how lucky is that! - and he is, of course, gorgeous.   I have been knitting blankets and matinee jackets, little hats and booties, like crazy; and  Sheila, (she of the fabulous gateaux on "Show and Tell Day") made a divine little teddy bear out of antique French linen to give to the little man when he is a little older.

Sheila's teddy with a little mouse commissioned from Chloe Antiques

Finally some superb finds from Verteillac brocante which I shall keep for the first visit.

Can't wait!

my first canvas

package of two on sale last week

I bought a package...

and painted one of them..

I added more paint this morning...

...a few birds.

no idea how this will turn out,

but the process seems like fun so far.

Quilt Squares

The quilt squares for the summer Julie Arkell class are ready and have been sent. I can't wait to see what shows up in my mail box!

Here's a little preview.

xo,

paula

At The TEA

So, we had to go to the Tea for breakfast, or brunch....and the "Flats" had to join us.

Sami and Becky sat with Oolie

And they also got to meet Nancy - my pal!!!

(she's "mercurial")

After the Tea, we came home and did a little sewing.

Oolie played with some wonderful hearts

and I cut and arranged little "garden brooches" - aren't they fun?!

Love to all...

wish you were here with us..

xo

West Dean with Julie

Here is Julie looking as sweet as ever

 The adventure began when Di picked me up at the train station and we zoomed over to West Dean. The campus is beautiful. This was the view from my room. It was a chilly week but most of the happenings were indoors anyway.

Kim's husband always knows what to get her as a gift

 On the first night Julie talked to us about the course and we got acquainted with each other. Most of the women were from England. The next day was spent making our paper mache figures and applying the newspaper. Luckily the radiators gave off a lot of heat to dry everything in time.

 The next day we began dressing and decorating our figures. These are two of my unfinished rabbits. I struggled with the knitted hat (quite easy for a knitter) but was pleased with the results afterwards. Dressing the characters was fun and a bit challenging.

Julie brought in some puppets she made and encouraged everyone to make a puppet. Mine is not finished yet but will be a two headed puppet.
The most coveted pieces of the class were Di's donkeys. They are so adorable. I am not showing a picture of them because I wanted to let Di be the one to show them off. Unfortunately Di lost her sister on the last day of the class. It is a terrible loss for her and her family. Thinking good thoughts to you and your family Di.
I enjoyed the course very much. It was a lot different than the workshop. Fun to get to experience both media and locations.

OOlie's HERE!!

Oolie arrived on Monday...

and to greet her in her room were all the flats

Happy Day!!

So happy to have her here

a wonderful distraction from the daily grind.

Love to all of you.

Promise to post our creations as they come down the pike....

oops!

I posted my last two posts on the wrong blog!

This was to be on polkadotponie....and the other one, which is there, is supposed to be here!

oh well.....

These are ornaments in preparation for Valentine's Day.

Happy Hearts to all of you.

Can't wait to hear about Miss Arkell's Class at West Dean (!!!!!!)

Taylor and Di, hope it was wonderful!

xo

Left overs

Happy New Year Pantry Violets. It has been ages since I blogged, but I have been enjoying all your work. I have just finished a quilt from left over pieces from the bunting I made and was quite delighted to find a use for those Suffolk puffs. I took the quilt to a nearby church yard (1000 year old norman church) to photograph it and fell in love with the burial stones. I particularly liked Martha Palmer of 1768.

Joanna

Hello violets!
You may be interested to know that I have finally started a blog

Les petites marguerites
- Voyages à travers les textiles - Travelling through textiles

http://lespetitesmarguerites.blogspot.com/
which will mostly be about the textiles I admire or create myself, a bit about my travels or other discoveries I would like to share. Since I live in a multilingual environment, the texts will be written in French, followed by an English version.
I hope you will enjoy your visits to my blog

WHERE DID LAST YEAR GO??

Hello Violets!


Happy New Year!  Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas.


I'm getting very excited about my first workshop of the year!  In about 10 days I'm off to West Dean to do Julie Arkell's paper mache workshop!  Yes again!


Last year you will recall, I made these figures:

I had a great deal of trouble dressing them as they all had limbs all over the shop and it was not nearly as easy as I had imagined!  I got little Iris, finished before Christmas (the little figure with her arms in the air) and have made some progress with 'Bless', the figure above in a shawl:

She still needs a bit of work but is pretty much there.  

Given my experience last year, this year I have decided to try more sculptural projects - which need no dressing!  I have a few ideas to conjure with and will post when I get back.

Very exciting too, I will be meeting Taylor! I'm so looking forward to having a Pantry Violet to work with.  I'm also looking forward to being in a workshop with Julie again, And seeing more of her lovely work - which I now truly appreciate!   

Here is her collection from last year ...............

Love to all

xx

Di

"Inchies" Make A Noise!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear, Dear Clare-

I am not sure how to reach you......! Hopefully you have settled into your new home and are enjoying it immensely! The last time we were in contact was before Christmas, at which point you had 5 inchies left to do and were going to try to get them off to Katie. Please let me know if that plan worked and if they are indeed in France. If not......and you still have them....let's go to "Plan B"! Let's return to the original mailing list that Jone drew up, giving the next Violet a heads up before they are sent on in case of a request to have them mailed to a work address or a change in plans due to extensive travel, etc. People are asking me what is up with this project and by communicating here on the blog we can let everyone know easily. Please respond here on the blog when you get a minute.

Di is next on the list (I think!) and may want them sent to her office. Can you two get in touch please?

If they are at Briancon, Carol can you let us know the status? That would be so helpful!

Thank you everyone involved. Jone and I are so looking forward to putting the finishing touches on them and getting a finished Inchie sent to all of you! LOVE- Oolie

the "Girls"

Here they are:

The Collection of Fridas

what fun....

Happy New Year!

Stitched Classes

Hi All,

Just wanted to let you know about these online classes. I think there are 20 in all and some look very interesting.

Hopefully the link will work.

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

xopaula

Click here to view more details

Russian Nesting Dolls

I was in San Francisco last weekend visiting my niece and her family. She is an interior designer and has the most wonderful little gift shop next to her design office on Hayes St. I fell in love with this set of cloth dolls in Jeannie's shop and am enjoying them on the window panes as I lug bags of groceries thru that door every day! When you have a free moment, check out her web site.....it is very fun: Lotus Bleu Design. I am presently surrounded by sick family members and am keeping my fingers crossed that I do not succumb! I am making chicken noodle soup to ward off the germs and help them all feel better! What I really want to do is hide in a corner and papier mache a box with children's book illustrations, inspired by a lovely gift under my tree!!!!!!!!! Hope all you Violets out there are well! LOVE- Oolie

Merry Christmas

to ALL

May the Holidays be Merry and Bright!

I love and miss all of you Violets...

You are always close inside...

xo

Happy Holidays Violets!!!!!

Dear Violets-

It is Christmas Eve here in Colorado and my thoughts go out to all of my lovely "stitching friends" scattered around the world! I am home after 2 trips up to the Boulder area which just got 14.5 inches of snow which is now melting in 50 degree temperatures and sunny skies!!!!!! We barely got the lights and a few ornaments on our tree! We will be sleeping in tomorrow, and then out for a hike followed by a meal cooked by Hartley, Laurel and myself......very low key! Mark thankfully does all of the dishes!

When I came upon this fun vintage needle card lately, it made me think of one of our "Julie Arkell stitching workshops" in l'espace at Briancon!!!!!! So many fun creative times spent together in that lovely corner of our world! May your stockings be stuffed, and your hearts full of peace and love during this holiday season! LOVE to all- Oolie

Merry Merry Christmas!

Dearest Pantry Violets!

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

Love You All

Vintage Fairy Tales Rebecka

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Pantry Violets,

I imagine you're all very, very busy getting ready for the Festive Season and making lots of beautiful things to delight your friends and family.

Wishing you the happiest of days and looking forward to seeing some wonderful posts in the New Year.

This is a photograph from one of my artistic endeavours this year - we made a huge piece of knitting as a group, then all exhibited our individual (artistic) responses to the experience. The exhibition explored the connections, joy and comfort of making things together! (Guess you can all figure what inspired that thought!).

Much love to you all.

Jodie

XXXXX