Open Studio 2011

Open Studio 2011 is coming to a close. I'm writing this post in between visitors. It's been a blast as usual, meeting new people, seeing long time friends, and sharing what I love. Throw in good snacks, what more could you want? Thanks to you that stopped by to take a look around. I hope those of you that signed up for workshops are looking forward to them, I know that I am. If you weren't able to stop by, contact me for the workshop schedule. I will be teaching the tempered glass class several times in 2012, along with new polymer clay classes. I also plan on posting some fun tutorials in the near future. The first one will be a vintage pumpkin, adorned with paper leaves and polymer roses. It's really cute and super easy to make, the perfect hostess gift for the fall holidays. I recently had my first article published in Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts magazine. If you have a bag of scraps and love to cut out circles, you should check it out. But I warn you that I've been getting emails from people, that say they may need a six step program, as circle cutting can be very addicting. I've found that in my busy life, it is sometimes relaxing to do a repetitive project that you don't have to put a lot of brain power into. It keeps your hands busy while you ponder your next project. If you're like me, you always have several creative projects brewing in your head.  It's no wonder I forget the important things, like when to take the dog out, when to pick up the kids, and when to go to bed. Oh well nobodies perfect. Thanks again for making open studio a great success.

Open Studio 2011 Preview

 Well, it's only a week away:  Open Studio 2011. I look forward to this event all year, but as it approaches, I always stand in the middle of my studio and yell, "One more week, I just need one more extra week!"  This year I was so sure that I would be ready on time,  I committed to a Friday night reception, as an early bird customer appreciation. I hope this is well attended.  If you get my card, you will have the info, if not, it is from 6-8 pm.  My address is in the catalog.  As usual, I have a little of this and a lot of that.  Something old, something new, something borrowed and lots of blue.  If anything else, you have to come by and see the walkway I made from broken concrete, it's really cool.  I also will be more organized with my workshop signups.  Last year I just took names and tried to put together classes on the phone.  Now I know that this is very time consuming, and nearly impossible to work around everyone's schedule.  Sorry to those that were disappointed. Come by and please give me another chance.  I have some great new classes in mind, and I will definitely teach the tempered glass and polymer clay workshops.  Well, I need to get back to work, I have a zillion things to do, and only one more week to do them in.

Sew Sari

 I love, love, love, recycled sari silk. If I had a talk show and I was giving away my favorite things. I would be throwing rolls of sari silk into the audience and shouting, I loovvee sarrrri Sillk!!!! The crowd would be jumping up and down, hugging their neighbors, and with tears streaming down their faces they would be  dreaming of all the creative things they would make with this magical product.  Ok I've gotten a bit carried away, but it really is dreamy stuff. The first time I saw sari silk was a year ago at the Long Beach Quilt Show.  I loved the rolled up rainbows of color. Every time I pasted the booth displaying it, I spotted another color combo I just couldn't live without. I ended up with about 20 rolls before the weekend was over. It took me about a year to get to the bottom of my basket of sari silk. It was a very sad day indeed. But happy days are here again, because I found Nicole at Darn Good Yarn. Nicole is a doll, and  helped me mix and match colors to put together the perfect combination. She didn't even mind my phone calls as I impatiently waited for my package to arrive clear from Maine. It was well worth the wait.  The first thing I made were these flower pins, that will be available at my Open Studio Tour this month. More info on that to come in a few days. So I'm happy that my sari silk basket is once more full, and that I have a great source when I run out again. Check out Darn Good Yarn and read their story about how they help women in Naple support their families with this business.