Sea theme baby blanket example of zig-zag
Another Example
Our next crochet class at The Studio will feature three patterns that are great for afghans and baby blankets. We will learn how to do the zig-zag stitch, ripple and chevron stitches. They are easy to do, work up fast, and look fabulous.
Come learn with us! Click here for more info.
Posted in Crochet | Tagged Crochet | Leave a Comment »
May Paint Party
We had two great Paint Parties this weekend. The First Saturday Paint Party produced beautiful paintings of a country road with wildflowers.
Paint Party at Ruff Ranch
And Sunday I got to teach a private Paint Party at a lovely home on the Shenandoah River where the hosts treated their friends to a painting with happy poppies!
Both groups were just delightful. Paint Parties are a relaxing get away for the participants and great fun! Learn more about Paint Parties here.
Posted in Paint Party | Tagged Paint Party | Leave a Comment »
Fragonard Fake – photo from Carol Court of Getty images
A friend sent me the link to this interesting story yesterday about the Dulwich Picture Gallery in South London that has been hanging a fake painting among their masterpieces and asking the visitors to try to pick it out. About 10% could. Take a look by clicking this link. Fascinating!
Posted in Little Known Facts | Tagged Dulwich Picture Gallery, Fragonard Fake | Leave a Comment »
Logan with “Converse & Camera”
I have posted Logan’s work before. She is a really good painter! Here is her latest work – “Converse & Camera”. I love it! Great job Logan! And be sure to click here to see one of the early classes that Logan attended. I think this is around the time that she first started painting with me. She’s so cute here. 🙂
Posted in Art Class | Tagged Art Class | Leave a Comment »
Crewel Found Treasure
Treasures on wall
Earlier this week I wrote about the wonderful found treasure I got at a thrift shop – 50 states embroidered squares ready for quilting. (See that here.)
Today I want to share the recent find I got at a Yard Sale just a couple of blocks from where I live. This beautiful piece of crewel is framed and just delightful. I brought it home cleaned the glass and hung it right by the needlepoint treasure I found a couple of years ago.
Crewel Detail
I love these handmade works of art.
Needlepoint Found Treasure – Detail
Maybe it’s because I understand the time and effort it takes to create such lovely things. But I really feel sad for the families that are not keeping these treasures made by their loved ones. Sad. I keep saying I am not adding anything else to my collection but when I see these extraordinary treasures I just have to save them.
Posted in Serendipity | Tagged Crewel, Found Treasures, Needlepoint | Leave a Comment »
The Kid’s Painting Class painted a wonderful still life yesterday of pears. Great job everyone!!!
Posted in Art Class | Tagged kids class, pear, still life | Leave a Comment »
50 State Embroidery squares
While making my quick monthly stop at a local thrift shop I ran across quite a treasure. A large plastic zip lock bag was on a shelf where they display their sewing and crafting supplies. The label said 50 states + state map…$15 and I could tell it was filled with fabric that was cut into squares. I was in a rush and didn’t open it but curiosity got the best of me and I went back the next day and when I opened the bag I found these wonderful embroidered squares of each state. And they are all completed! The instruction sheet was even in the package where whoever did this wonderful work checked off each state as they completed it. It is going to make a handsome quilt.
It got me to thinking about who may have done this. Wonder what happened to them? I made up a little story in my mind that it was some little old lady who passed away and her relatives cleaned out her house and sold all her crafts. It makes me sad to think that all this hard work was discarded and not appreciated by her people. There is easily several hundred hours in this project.
I have found other treasures like this over the last year or two – in particular a wonderful needlepoint framed piece of art and a Crewel framed piece. (I will try to photography them for tomorrow’s post.) They are hanging on the wall of my bedroom and I will treasure them….and appreciate the creative people who made them. And I plan to complete the “50 States” quilt to honor that someone who got such a great start on it.
Posted in Embroidery | Tagged 50 States Embroidery, embroidery | Leave a Comment »
Over the past week there have been some beautiful flowers blooming. This is the perfect time to take photos of different arrangements on different backgrounds and at different angles to build your reference library. There may not be time to paint them all right now but you can have the photos for later when there is time to paint. Take lots of photos during this time of the year to increase your selection of subject matter. It’s the perfect time.
Posted in Flowers | Tagged dogwoods, flowers, reference photos | 1 Comment »
I spent most of this weekend sewing Rag Quilts. Lots of fabric in my stash and a free day on Saturday got me busy making them.
Since the class last month I have had several requests so here are a few that available in my online store. Just click on the photo and that will take you to the store for more information and photos of each lap quilt. Thanks!
Posted in Sewing | Tagged lapquilt, quilt, Rag Quilt, sewing | Leave a Comment »
American Flamingo, John J Audubon
Wild Turkey, John J Audubon
Born on this day in 1785, John James Audubon is recognized for his detailed study of American Birds and his watercolors and drawings of them. Read more about his fascinating life here.
His book, Birds of America (1827-1839) is considered the finest ornithological work ever written. He identified 25 new species. Take a minute to click the link to Birds of America or his life above and enjoy his wonderful work. Happy Birthday JJA!
Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia | Tagged Birds of America, flamingo, John J Audubon, Wild Turkey | Leave a Comment »
The Studio 