Beth's Elephant

I've been teaching the students on my bus to use the French knitter. The first project is completed.

The elephant turned out so sweet. Many of the students on my school bus want to make projects with the french knitter.

They are going to have to wait until I return from a medical leave. One of their questions when I introducted them to the sub driver was, does he know about our knitting projects? I told them one of my first questions to Mr. Kurt was do you know how to knit and he said "no". And I added he doesn't even know how to french knit. They were disappointed.

Drawing used for the ...

Purple and Mauve purse. The actual purse is on the next post.

But, I have to take a break and work in my office today.

Purple & Mauve Purse in progress...

Working on a purse for Kathy in Dr. Lofstroms office. It's a gift for her mother.

Sandy at 212 mentioned that she'd like to see it. The color are actually bright and sparkly. Some where between the digital camera and the computer the color is washed out.

I took a flower from the lining and used it for the design on both front and back. I still have a ways to go.

Earth Challenge / Greeting Card

Each person entering the Earth Challenge, made a greeting card. That will be sold for $5.00, to raise money for Food Gathers.

Earth Challenge entries

The felted hats represent Planets, the manicans represent Space. "Earth, the New Prespective" is a book we used for inspiration, in creating our earth challenge piece.

At the beginning of each chapter is the planet earth, one for Fire, Earth, Air and Water.

The Earth challenge show goes up in Janurary 2010, at the Two Twelve Art Center.

Feedback from Sophie's mom

We heard that Sophie loves her Fairy door so much, that she didn't want to leave it to go to bed. She thought that because it appeared on her birthday, that it might disappear by the next day.

Her mother says that the fairy has not left her hand since she found it.

And, all her meals are eaten in front of the fairy door.

A Holly Kreag, beautiful, felted Pointsetta

This morning was 212 secret pilgrim gift exchange. I was so pleased to pick Holly's gift. I collect her pieces. She is the instructor at 212 that taught me so many felting techniques.
Thank you Holly.
Also, Kelsy at 212 picked my secret pilgrim gift, Watchful Spending.

Cookies for the Riverside Art exhibit

I made cookies for my first Art reception, with the Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Guild.

Creative Paths in Fiber.

Watchful Spending

Is my 212 secret pilgrim gift. I'm stuck on a eyeball theme lately.

Watchful Spending

Fairy Door complete

Fairy Door made with Cedar, Oak, Walnut, Gold Frame, a mirror inside donated by Washtenaw Glass, Carving and Design by Paul.

Fairy inside her home.

Isn't she sweet.

Fairy Door with resident fairy

My friend Sophie wrote a letter, inviting me to come live with her. I'm going to surprise her tonight, for her birthday.

Can You Say.....

FAIRY DOOR !!!

Two Twelve Logo

I was commissioned to needlefelt the Two Twelve Art Center logo .

Thank you Kat for the picture. My camera wasn't working when I completed this piece.

Felted purse with embroidery

Purse in the works..

I was experimenting with a popcorn stitch. I like the way this purse is turning out.

Purse in the works

Unfinished.... I'm just waiting for some open time.

Winner of the Pumpkin Carve

Michi ... Senior at MS. and friend of our sons.

pumpkin carve

pumpkin carve

Two Twelve Sea Shell Challenge

I made a Keepsake for my husband, from the sea shells he and his grandmother gathered.
The book took third place and I won a gift certificate for a class at the art center.

Next challenge is to make a Fairy Door. My art assistants are drawing up some possible designs for me to create.

Close up of cover

the shells are so beautiful. It was like a puzzle glueing them on the cover.

Inside page, Grandmother and Poem

Sea Shell Keepsake...

The memories of time spent together, gathering...

On the warm sandy beach finding colored shells...

I hear the soft sounds of her encouraging voice.. with the ocean waves rolling into the shore.

Each shell is a keepsake in time of a grandparent,

now pasted and treasured.

And, held close to my heart forever.

Page 2 watercolor

A pianting done in Jean's beginner watercolor class, at the 212 art center.

New 212 Canvas Rose bag

I visited the, 212 Inspiration Station, at Harvest of the Arts... and painted another bag.
The computer guy Steve loaned us a computer, until ours is repaired/updated.
It's never fun when the computer crashs. The paperwork piles up quickly.

Made three Encaustic paintings

Yarn

Multi media, encaustic painting.... just had to try yarn .

Vase of Flowers

Encaustic painting class I took at the 212 art center.

Our new guard dog?

little did we know, that the next in line, as pack leader... is Pikachu. She now sleeps at the front door of the house keeping guard. If anyone comes to the door she gives them dirty looks, puts her ears back and piers at them.
We also have another akita, but it never was her job to bark at the door or to keep guard. She also doesn't scratch at the back door to have someone let her and Pik in. It's Pik's job and if your not right next to the door, you'd never hear her soft little paws against the door.

In Memory....

... of my sweet friend Buekeboom.

Ity Bity Quilt

African purse in progress

Hope to have this purse finished by the Artist reception this Friday.

Hand painted the strap

Used fabric paint...not mud.

Purse in progress

Needle felted design, it's also lined with pockets. Soon to be accessible.

African purse design from Mali

Almost complete. Need to attach the handle and come up with a button.

Mud Cloth / Bogola

The director of the Two Twelve Art Center, took all the friends of 212 on a field trip. We attended a workshop at MSU, at the Arts & Humanites College, to tour their African textile museum. After a great lunch, all of us were instructed by our friend Lillian on how to make our own mudcloth. It's not as easy as it looked in the video at the museum. All the symbols have a meaning.
Center square, pays homage to all women who dye the cloth, either side,"panther's skin, top & bottom, fish bones.

This field trip has inspired a purse design.

Sold the Eyeball Hat !

I delivered it yesterday, to it's new owner. A Optometrist in Ann Arbor who collects eyeball art.

A piece of jewelry with no metal, wire or hard objects

except for the clasp. That was the 212 Art Center challenge. And I won, first place :)

a Beautiful Birthday gift ....

... made by my Sweet Sister Sally.
Thank you very much.
You can't see but, there's already a knitting project inside.

Summerfest

I was invited to share a space with friends, Kat and her sister Connie at the Summerfest in town this weekend. Both Connie and Kat make beautiful mosiacs, and Kat makes one of a kind art quilts and purses. I had a few felted purses and pins in the show. Kat had the most colorful, eye catching, and fill to the brim tent in the craft show. We saw so many people we new.

And a special thanks to our husbands who helped with providing and cleaning the van and for loading/ unloading and setting up the tent.

Everyone creates a theme for their home...

and our's are shovels.

Shovels in the sky or (the stairwell)

One of my husbands art pieces.

Tribule Shovels in the Hosta garden

My husband painted tribule faces on our broken shovels and placed them in the hosta garden.

Tribule shovels in the Hosta garden

In all four seasons they stand guard in the hosta's.

added Paintstiks

I thought it needed a bit of glitter. What do you think?

212 Art Bag

I've been painting my second, Two Twelve Art Center, Spart bag.

Now, Laura you don't have to crane your neck.

Could you take a pic of your portrait purse and send it to me so I can put it on my blog? Thank you ;)

Starry Night

Van Gosh, I love his paintings.

Umpa Lumpa Slippers

I now have a reason to learn the digital camera.
Slippers/Women small/with room for extra toes :)