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Archive for the ‘Serendipity’ Category

A Visit to MOMA

Posted in Serendipity, Travel, tagged Hopper, Johns, Matisse, MOMA, Mondrian, Museum of Modern Art, pollack, Van Gogh on February 12, 2018| Leave a Comment »

I got to spend a few hours at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City yesterday.

I love seeing the size of paintings that we see in books and then realize how large…or small they really are.

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Happy Birthday Big Mama!

Posted in Recipes, Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Big Mama, Crochet, Recipes on February 10, 2018| 3 Comments »

Big Mama, Sister, Brother and me

Big Mama and Papa Honeymoon photo

One of my favorite photos of Big Mama with Morgan

Mama, me, Brother & Big Mama – 1961

Big Mama, me, Mama, and Sister -early 90’s

Big Mama

NOTE: I am repeating a post I made several years ago in honor of Big Mama’s birthday. She was so special and I miss her every day.

Anyone who has taken a crochet class (or almost any other type of class I teach) at The Studio has heard me talk about Big Mama and all that she taught me.

She was my maternal grandmother and a wonderful person who lived a good long life….almost 100 when she passed. Today would have been her 110th birthday! Everyone loved her. Once I took some friends home to meet her and when they got back home to Kentucky they sent her a thank you note for the lovely lunch she made for us. They didn’t know her name…only Big Mama. So they mailed the envelope to “Big Mama, Offerman, Georgia” and it was delivered without delay. LOL

She taught me so many things….things I still use to this day and that I try to share as I teach.

I have written about Big Mama before to share some of her recipes…most recently when I made the Carrot Cake at Thanksgiving. I also shared her recipe for Syrup Candy and talked about her in a Plum Jelly post. I love her recipes and making anything that she used to make for us always brings back floods of memories.

Crocheting was the thing she taught me the most about. She loved it and was almost always making something. The amazing thing about her crochet was that she just kept patterns in her head. When I would asked her to teach me to make a certain stitch or design she would just pick up a hook and start crocheting. She would tell me what she was doing and I would write it down. I think that is where I get my “making up” patterns from. I think she would like that!

So today I am so grateful that I got to know all four of my grandparents and am especially blessed that Big Mama played such a big role in my life. I wouldn’t be enjoying this creative life I am living with having known her. Happy Birthday Big Mama!

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Lincoln’s Been Waiting

Posted in Dogs, Serendipity, tagged calendar, Lincoln on February 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Lincoln has been waiting for this day! He is Mr. February in the Humane Society’s calendar. And he thinks he looks good. He chose this photo of his with “Possum” while they were napping. He said he’s so glad that everyone can look at him for this whole month! 🙂

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Happy Birthday Jackson Pollock….and Mama

Posted in daily painter, Little Known Facts, Serendipity, tagged mama, Pollock on January 28, 2018| Leave a Comment »

SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA Known for his drip style of painting, Jackson Pollock was an abstract expressionist painter. Born on this day in 1912, he led a volatile life. You can read more about him here.

And today I am also remembering my mama. My biggest wish is that she would have lived long enough to see The Studio. I think she would have loved it and what we are doing there. I hope she knows. Happy 76th Birthday Mama. We miss you every day. (Read more about my mom here.)

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Belle Grove’s Nanny Rocker

Posted in Serendipity, Travel, tagged Belle Grove, Nanny Rocker, Rocking Bench on January 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

20180113_074950495727157 While at Belle Grove this week I got a couple of photos of one of my favorite things there….a Nanny Bench Rocker. “Nanny rockers” (in some cases called “mammy rockers”) are benches that have a place for the caretaker to sit while the baby lies beside her. There is a slat in front of the baby portion to prevent the child from rolling off as he or she is rocked gently back and forth. Sometimes the slats are removable so the bench can be used by two people once it’s not needed for the baby.

True “nanny rockers” were most often made in the Windsor style and usually date to the first half of the 19th century. The one at Belle Grove is estimated around 1820. As luck had it there was a staff member with her baby there taking photos for their newsletter so I got a shot of how it really works. And in the last photo you see the placement of the rocker….often in front of the fireplace. Interesting things you’ll see at Belle Grove.

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Show at Belle Grove

Posted in daily painter, Furniture, Little Known Facts, Serendipity, Travel, tagged Art show, Belle Grove on January 13, 2018| 3 Comments »

I’m excited to announce that I have been invited to show my art at Belle Grove this June along with two other regional artists. We visited the house yesterday to meet and discuss the show. It’s the first time they are going to display local art throughout the house. I’m so excited.

This beautiful old home is a terrific place to show art and for people to see a wonderful example of a manor house. We will keep you updated on all the details as we get closer to the show on June 22-24, 2018. There will be an “Meet the Artists” Reception on June 23rd as well as classes and workshops on June 23rd and 24th. It will be a great time to visit Belle Grove.

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Happy Adoption Day Jed!

Posted in Dogs, Serendipity, tagged Jed, Jed's Adoption Day on January 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Nine years ago today we drove in a terrible snow storm to St. Clairesville Ohio to adopt our sweet boy, Jed. Read more here. He is just the BEST BOY! (Of course, Lincoln’s crazy antics just make Jed look that much better. LOL) Happy Adoption Day Jedder Bean!

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Lattice Bridge

Posted in Serendipity, Travel on December 30, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday we drove over to see Stone Mountain and also saw this delightful Lattice Covered Bridge. Nice reference photos.

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Crocheted Sweater for Duffy

Posted in Crochet, Dogs, Serendipity on December 28, 2017| 3 Comments »

We’re visiting Brother and family in North Georgia and met their new pup, Duffy. He’s adorable! They’ve had a hard time finding a sweater to fit so last night I made him this one…and a matching hat for his mom, Debbie. 🙂

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Loving Vincent a Winner

Posted in Serendipity, Travel, tagged Loving Vincent awards on December 12, 2017| Leave a Comment »

a3d15988-eabd-4a11-b101-c65343fbc713 Loving Vincent is winning awards. On Saturday, The European Film Academy awarded the 2017 European Animated Feature Film Award to Loving Vincent. Check it out here.