Lace Making in Venice

I've been busy getting ready for my trip to Italy. I'm going with 3 friends. And the 4 of us are leaving for Venice next Wed. We are going to be taking a Lace making class and we will be there for 3 weeks. Is that Cool or What......I know, it's cold there right now. But then it's cold here also. I think I rather be cold in Venice.....

Happy New Year

Well! here it is, another new year. I must be having fun, because this year really flew by for me. Christmas was hectic but wonderful. Grandchildren. That's the key element to a wonderful Christmas. Got a call on Christmas morning at 7:30a. The boys were up. Matthew 6 and Joseph 2. So Tom and I jump in our clothes. Put the coffee in the thermos and off we went to their house to see what Santa brought. And he brought a lot of goodies....LOL
Now its New Years Eve and I want to wish everyone and Happy and Healthy New Year. And those of you who made a New Year's resolution to lose weight this year. (Like me) May all your pounds come off. ...LOL

Merry Christmas from the Oliver's 2007

I finally did it.

Well I figured out how to add another slide show. I now know what I did wrong. Now, I think I should write it down so I won't forget. It was so simple. Anyways, all I had to do was write in my user name. DAH...... This one is of my jewelry. Most of which I have sold and therefore have to make some new ones.

Learning new things

The last couple of days have been hectic. Holiday parties and seeing old friends. In between this, I have been trying to learn how to post a slide show of some of my work. And just when you think you have a handle on it, poof, you don't. I finally got the quilts on and I was so excited I thought "hey a piece of cake" WRONG . downloaded my jewelry and for some reason it won't load. GRRRRR!!
I guess I will try again tomorrow. I have to keep the little Grey cells happy. Right now I think they want to rest. I also want to share some pictures of a new bracelet I made. I took a class last month at I Dream of Beading in Poughkeepsie.

Well I finally finished it. Had to put it aside to take care of my commission. The teacher was Met Innmon and she is from Colorado Springs. She is a wonderful teacher. Very talented. Very patient..If you get chance to take a class with her, I would recommend you do so.

Here is the new bracelet.

The last 3 bracelets.

Yay!! I finally finished that last 3 bracelets for my client. Wow that sounds pretty cool. My client..... Today I will deliver it. I'm very please with the way they turned out. I worked non stop until they were done and I definitely need a trip to the chiropractor LOL....but in the end I got a bracelet for my self and the start of a free form necklace...while trying to hit my stride.

Yesterday I printed out my own business cards. I've done this before but with little success. Mainly because my old HP printer doesn't like any other paper then regular white printing paper. So it would jam or the ink would smear. But I now have a new printer. Another HP, but a 3-in -one C5180and it's work fine. I also have an American greetings card program . I was able to put a picture of the turquiose necklace on the card. Came out real nice...I'm so very pleased when I don't have to curse at the PC first before I get something done....LOL

jewelry

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone. I hope everyone had a enjoyable one and that you didn't eat to much. LOL..ya sure. Mine was great. Especially since I don't have to cook. This is my husbands favorite holiday. When he gets to cook for his family and anyone else who wants to join us. I did make stuffed artichokes and rice balls. In honer of my Italian Grandma. But I did that the day before.
I've been very busy lately make jewelry . I got a very nice commission from my Dentist. He wants 6 free form bracelets for the girls in his office. I have 3 done for him and one that's for me so far. Here is a photo. I'm very please with the way they turned out. By doing the free form instead of a patterned bracelet. My dentist has made me come out of my comfort zone and stretch. This is what he requested. I'm also going to post some of my other pieces. Hope you like them. This is a necklace that I made to go with a bracelet. I sold the bracelet and then made another. Which sold soon after it was finished. Well that it for now. Have to get back to work . After all I have 3 more bracelets to make...

quilts

I mentioned that I make quilts. So I thought I would post a few photos of some of my work. This quilt is one of my early quilts. It's called "Always" finished in 1998. Center photo transfer is my wedding picture which was supered in posed on to the music sheet of our song. I will now blow my own horn and say it has won a few awards. 1st place at Northern Star quilters show, Best of Show at Duchess Heritage Show. Viewers choice at Village Square guild show. And juried in AQS in Paducah.



Like a lot of quilters I started by wanting to make just one quilt. Ha! Well after I think 12 years I'm still at it. I stated out doing traditional and have slowing started moving into more art quilts.
I especially like landscapes. This one is only 12 x 12 called Lavender fields.




I'm not really into doing abstract style quilts. I admire people who can do that. Often wondering how they think it up. I'm so very literal. A person is a person and a apple is a apple. You all know what I mean.







This one is one of my favorites. Have you ever done something that
when you look at it you can't believe you did that. Well that's how I feel about this one. "Venezia". 16x19....Won Best of Challenge 2006 "Shakespeare in Stitches" from the Merchant of Venice. Juried into Houston International Quilt Festival 2006

Well, that's it for now. There is more, I just don't want to bore you all.

Mexico and The Wedding

I like said last month....Or I should say Sept. my husband and I went to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) for a wedding. This was my first real trip to Mexico. I don't count a day trip to Tijuana in the 80's as a trip to Mexico... We stayed and a beautiful Villa. Casa Carol Ann. The views from our bedroom were spectacular (one of 11 bedrooms) Most of the wedding guests and the Bride and Groom stayed here. If you google Casa Carol Ann you will see what I mean. President Nixon once stayed here in the 70's. The staff couldn't be nicer. (I'm not used to be waited on). The saddest thing is that in 2 years the place will be torn down and replaced with condos. It seems to be the big thing there.





The wedding was in the Cathedral in town.










The Bride and Groom looked so happy. I never cry at weddings but this one was very special.

Coral shell pendant

Last month my husband and I were in Puerto Vallarta for his Nephew's wedding. While there one of the other wedding guests picked up a piece of a shell from the beach. Wonderful coral color. I took it home and designed and made a beaded bezel setting for her. I think it came out pretty good. I had the spiral chain alredy. Thought I'd share it with you all.

Hello!

My friend Elizabeth says I need to have a blog. Actually, she's not the only one who says so. When people see my handmade jewelry or quilts or knitted items, they always ask me where it's available. And, since I don't have a website, I figured this would be a good place to show some photos of my work.

This photo of a little quilt is a sort of a "portrait" of myself -- at least a cartoon portrait of the thin self that I'd LIKE to be!

So, I'll be adding some more photos of my "stuff" . . . and more stories about my travels in the coming days. In the meantime, welcome to my blog, and I can't wait to get to know you!