Buttons, Quilts and Fort Whyte Alive

Whew! The first of the two weekend events is today! Somehow, between television interviews (not mine but hubby's), teaching and running around like the proverbial headless chicken, we got everything organized. Oh yah, and did I mention two of our access road entry ways to our home are closed due to flooding?

Well, it takes more than a flood to stop some people, but I hope it doesn't stop the folks out there from coming to either of the shows. The buttons pictured here are part of some of the ones I made for Noreen, a member of the Manitoba Prairie Quilters. She's a member of the group that's organizing their International Quilting Event today. Unfortunately, the folks from North Dakota are still experiencing flooding, and their drive here will have to be a circuitous route, but hopefully it won't prevent them from attending the gathering.

Later on today and all day tomorrow, I'll be at the Fort Whyte Alive Centre, amongst the exhibitors at the Artisan's Market. There,I'll have a wider selection of my art work. It's a varied collection, with books, jewelry, home accent pieces and wall art. It is a little cool outside, but then again, cool is good for the flood conditions.

Now, to get dressed and then off to somewhere...

Getting it all done by Friday.

Yes, it's almost Friday and that's the day for setting up for this show. Will I be ready?

I have been trying to juggle preparations for this show and also making a ton of buttons for the International Quilt Event that Manitoba Prairie Quilters are hosting which, coincidentally also happens to be taking place this weekend.

And just where is that guy Friday when ya need him? Off in or at some hockey pool or somethin' like that.

No point in belabouring the issue...there's work to be done! Ciao!

ZenDoodles and Last Minuteness

I don't usually do a lot of sketching and drawing, but I had a few days with time on my hands as we were driving home. Aside from looking at a few nice mountain scenes and some interesting Pueblo villages, I found that doing these Zen Doodles was a good way to pass the time as a passenger. I haven't yet decided what I'll do with them...I did only four, but they are on good quality watercolor paper, so just maybe I'll get them matted and framed. The walls in some of our rooms are just crying for some different stuff, so this might be the ticket.

Or perhaps I'll shrink some photocopies and make them into some transfers for little polymer clay shards.

This past week has been very hectic. I have a big show and a little show and a class to prepare for, and of course not everything is ready. I read in one of my favorite publications about someone who called herself the Goddess of the Last Minute, but I am willing to compete for that title as I have always been a last minute person too. Goddess, no, but Last Minute, definitely. I come by this trait honestly, honestly I do. So what am I doing sitting at the computer?

One less fish to fry

I haven't made many fish for a while, so I thought I'd better remind myself how they were made. This one has been finished on both sides, and she hangs beautifully. As you can tell from the pan, she's about 8 inches in length, so no need to worry about it being a "keeper".

I have also finished a couple of books lately...I am really starting to enjoy making them. They are all of the journal type with parchment inside and Coptic bound. Sometimes I put watercolor paper inside, but that is so thick to bind that the books can't contain too many pages.

The book I am showing here is fairly large compared to the ones I normally make. I like to keep them on the small side, but there was a special request for one that could hold pictures. It is for special memories of a loved one, so I went with the directives given.

I didn't go overboard with the beads and 'frills'. Sometimes, less is more.

New books and old friends

It has been a very busy week here and the wheels just keep on turning! On Thursday we had a Mamma Mia Party. It was with some high school (and other) friends and was a blast. We even played charades afterwards and I laughed until my stomach and sides were aching. That felt sooooo good!

Also this week, I managed to make a few more books and other items in polymer clay. For the regional guild meeting yesterday, I looked after organizing a charm swap. I now have enough cool charms to fill a bracelet. Such fun! The meeting was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday, with lots of interesting techniques that were shared. After lunch, we clayed and exchanged more clay ideas.

Today it's golfing and tomorrow we are going to a barbeque with some cousins for our annual family get together. It's the CA-AZ-CA thing. (California, Arizona, Canada). No rest for the wicked. The only problem with all these fun events is the food....too much and too good. I think I'll walk the golf course today rather than ride in a cart to burn off a few of those bites. And since I haven't golfed in quite some time, I'll go ape... swinging a little more than usual, lol.

The picture is one of my latest books that's a bit on the smaller side, about 3.5 inches square. I call it "The Last of the Dinosaurs" because the cover inserts remind me a bit of dinosaur tails making their way out of the picture. The triangles on the "tails" are actual cane slices that are also incorporated into the beads on the spines. The creation was a lot of fun to make.

The leaf on the left isn't actually attached to the book; it's part of an experiment I am working on. In our "yard" there are three fruit trees: a navel orange, a grapefruit/orange tree and a lemon/lime tree. This leaf is a copy of one of the lemon-lime leaves. I mixed up a Skinner blend in the colors of the leaves, and then passed a real leaf and the sheet of clay right through the pasta machine. The imprint of the veins was delicious. I am going to include this into some other work in the future; but I don't know quite how just yet. I'm sure an idea will pop up at 3 a.m. one morning.

The laptop now has a companion--a much-needed printer -- thanks to one of the gals in the AZPCGuild. Networking is a thing great isn't it?

Molly on Friday the 13th

HI! My Mom (Pat) said I looked so cute that she wanted to put me up on her blog. She is so happy that she got the camera connected, now she only needs to figure out how to use yet another photography program.

Here I am sitting in my favorite rocker...I am a "Rocker" of sorts but my favorite place to sit is in front of the window on my special pillow and watch all the people (and their pets) going by.

I am a little exhausted today because Mommy and Daddy had lots of friends over last evening. It was like a back home reunion.

Now, it's time to go and get some sun and sit on the chaise lounge on the front patio. I have a great vantage point for the parade of people that are going by on their bikes or just walking. It's a great day. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Big Hugs, Molly

Far and Away

Well, Finally!
It's about time for a post, as it has been a reeeeeeel long time since I last did so. Being without daily access to a computer has been trying, but now things are changed.
Still haven't got the photo gizzmos attached, but hopefully that will happen in the next few days, so watch for some posts and photos.
Glad to be BAAACK!