You just never know when you will be visited by your past....Today I received a email from someone who would like information on one of the dolls I made in 1985. Wow, that was a long time ago. A baby born that year is now 25 years old. Kind of freaks me out. Well I told her that the doll was made for a Luncheon. It was a souvenir gift. Can't remember how many I made or how much I was paid. Don't even remember the name of the Doll Club that commissioned me. It's an original sculptured half doll.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarves

I have a group of online girlfriends. They're from all over the world. We all met in the Italian Forum on TripAdvisor and have been hanging out online for the past 2yrs. Last February a group of Ladies got together in Rome for the first time. There is a webcam on top the hotel next to the Pantheon, so they would tell us what time they would be there, and we would all get online to watch as they waved to us. It was such a hoot. People passing must have thought they were nuts waving their scarves at the webcam. If they even knew there was a webcam there. Anyway this March there is going to be another meet up. I was not able to go last year, but I plan on going this year. We will meet up in two places this time. Rome and Venice. Did I mention we nicknamed ourselves the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarves? Hence the title at the top. In our conversations someone mentioned t-shirts, and I thought what a great idea. Then Michelle sent me a web page of an illustrator from Australia. Her name is Shell Sherree . I just fell in Love with her work and so commissioned her to do an illustration for our group. So that's three of us standing in a gondola in front of the Pantheon.

2 necklaces using Murano glass beads

Three Black and gold handmade Murano glass beads from Italy accented with black and gold seed beads. $110.00
Matching earrings $25.00
Bronze delica beads worked in a peyote stitch to create the chain and bail. The Focal bead is another one of my Murano glass beads bought on my last rip to Venice. $110.00

Today's necklace is made with seed beads in various sizes, shapes and colors using a spiral stitch. The focal point is a Murano (Venice,Italy) glass bead. Don't know if bead is the right wrong. But I thought tongue sounded pretty gross....LOL The Price of this piece is $80.00

I've decided to post some of my jewelry that I have for sale. If you are interested please feel free to email me at maxinetom@optonline.net for a price. No obligation.

Today it is 2 Pendants made with Swarovski Crystals and gold vermeil seed beads. Special orders are welcomed.

My birds' nest has an occupant

I just came back from the $ Store where I found the perfect little bird to take up residence in my nest. I know, you think I have too much time on my hands. That or I'm really losing it....LOL.

Tree top Angel

I made this Angel in the 1980's. This was when I was very much into doll collecting and doll making. I did my own sculpting and mold making. Then the molds were pored in porcelain, fired to a bisque then china painted. With many firings in between.


I don't make dolls anymore. I felt I went as far as my limited talent would go. And with all the so called collectible dolls coming out of the orient it was just not profitable anymore. Even so, I still have my collection. Many of the dolls I own are made by other Doll Artists.

Bird Nest

today I bought some Jordan Almonds and put them into the tiny bird nest.....Looks real doesn't it.....

This Years Christmas Tree

It's that time of the year again for our annual Xmas tree hunt. Like last year we travel about an hour and half North of were we live to a tree farm to look for the PERFECT tree. I'm a big fan of the frasier tree. Tight needles, strong branches. Of course it snow the day before. Our first snow of the season. It was a beautiful ride up. But a real challenge to fine that perfect tree. We schook the snow off a lot of trees...LOL...I was sure glad I wore my silk long johns and wool socks.

Today while I was putting the lights on I found this really cute bird nest. I'm going to save it. Maybe get some fake eggs to put in it. I think my grandsons are going to love it.

Macro Quilt

I belong to a SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Assoc.) group that meets once a month. Our latest challenge was to take a Macro Photo of anything that inspires you and make a quilt using the image in any form that you would like. I chose a photo that I took in Florida of a hibiscus. I then sent it into my Adobe Photoshop and posterized it. Which brings out all the subtle shades and printed it on fabric. Next I fused it onto Timtex after which I machine stitched in the different colors with DMC cotton thread. After the stitching, I added beads to the stamen After which I added it to the top of a quilted background.

Disney World part 2

We also loved the firework displays. Especially at Epcot. Illuminations. We saw it twice. Awesome. That all I can say. If you're going to Disney World , it's a must see. We also saw the parade and fireworks at Fantasy Land. After dinner at the Italian Restaurant in Epcot we came out on to the Piazza (It's made to look like San Marco in Venice) There was an acting troupe just beginning their show. Which was called Romeo & Edna. Scene 1 Verona.....And guess who they pull out of the audience to play Romeo. My man Tom. And did he ham it up.



You can hear me laughing myself silly as I was recording this. He really got into it...Who knows maybe he has a new career...here are a couple of more pictures. It's really cute but of course can't compare to the real thing.




Here are some more pictures of our Disney Adventure. Notice how big Joseph's gets. This was the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

Disney World

A couple of weeks after our Arizona trip we went to Disney World. It was a treat for my daughter and her family. It was so much fun watching my 2 grandsons enjoy it. Especially the Country Bear Jamboree. Which, by the way, is my very favorite.

This fall has been a very busy one for me and my husband. First we went to Arizona for his nephew wedding..We haven't been to that area of the country in 22 yrs and it was really nice to revisit the Phoenix area. The wedding was a lot of fun with a Halloween theme. Of course the Bride was beautiful. And if you look closely you will see the necklace I made for her.

Now for some beautiful landscapes. So very different from the East Coast.....

Here are 3 necklaces that I thought might interests some of my clients without being over the top.
Single pendants made with Swarovski crystals and Miyuki (Japanese) beads strung on a antique bronze chain

New Jewelry

It's that time of the year again. Time to make some new pieces for the Holiday Boutique.
Northern Star Quilters Guild and the Desmond Fish Library are the 2 that I will have my work in. This necklace to my right is made with Venetian Murano glass beads that I bought when I was in Venice taking a lace making class. Also included in this necklace are Swarovski crystals and gold vermeil beads and spacers.




























This necklace also has Murano glass. The chain is a spiral
design done in 2 shades of blue and bronze color Janpanese beads

Look at this little guy. Is that the cutest...He was very contented to sit on my railing eating his nuts.
Now I know who is making a mess on my front porch.

My new Ipod and a day apple picking

The last time I posted I mentioned that I won an ipod. Well I took it with me apple picking. This little puppy does a whole bunch of things. One of them is taking videos. And what better then to video tape Grandson #1 Matthew picking apples. It would be an understatement to say I'm having a lot of fun with my new toy. It took me a while to figure out how to load it to the PC but my getting to be a very tenacious person. I refuse to give up.

Apple picking is something the whole family likes to do every year at this time. Then when get home and we all help my daughter peel and cut the apples for the pies. As in 2 very delicious pies. Here's a little sample of what my ipod does.

Yorktown Street fair

Today the town that I live in had their 1st Street Fair. Many local businesses where their advertising their services. Lots of games for the children and food to eat. Many free goodies. So my husband and I decided to go and see what it was all about. While I was there I signed up for all the free raffles. Walk around, talked to a whole lot of people. Generally enjoying the day. So when we came home; there was a message on our answering machine. I WON AN IPOD. The newest one. Can you believe it takes videos? How cool is that....Am I excited...You bet your bitty.....here is a photo of my new toy.

4" Squares finished

Today I finished my 4" squares. I've decided to call them "Ode to DaVinci". I satin stitched the edges. Instead of batting I used timtex. The 2 top pictures were transferred using the water method. The bottom one I used TAP (transfer artist paper) by Lesley Riley. I added beads and pearls and some gold netting....

4" squares

I belong to a SAQA group that meets once a month. This summer the group had a challenge to make 4" square mini quilts to swap. I didn't participate because I really haven't felt inspired. I also didn't want to make 30 four inch squares....LOL....However, I will be swapping with 3 of my friends. I have finally gotten inspired and started my project. I chose to do some foto transfer methods that I learned in a Lesley Riley class. So the first thing I did was to go online and gathered four pictures of DaVinci's paintings and sketches. These were printed on inexpensive photo paper. Then cut apart.
I then transferred them on to white muslin. First I sprayed the fabric with water. Just to dampen it. Not soaked. Then I sprayed the picture, flipped it over on the the fabric and burnished it. First on the back and the on the front. Then very gently lifted the photo to see if the transfer was made. They came out pretty good. I'm pleased. I will post again tomorrow with the next steps.

New Necklace

My latest necklace.

Joseph

I couldn't resist. I had to show off my handsome Grandson......

Grandsons

They are Gods reward for Motherhood. I have 2 of the sweetest grandsons. Well most of the time they are the sweetest....lol. But then I can just give them back to their Mother....My youngest grandson, Joseph will be 4 tomorrow. Can't believe how fast time has gone by. He asked me to make him a Dinosaur quilt. So of course Grandma will make one... I have the quilt top done and layered for the dreaded quilting part. I also did a couple of applique dinosaur wall hangings. One of the wall hangings is finished. The other one is ready for machine quilting. So of course my tension is off on the machine and I'm having a really lousy time trying to quilt this.Today is his birthday party and I only have one
walling hanging done. Well I guess it will have to do.

Here we are in Mykonos OMG this place is so beautiful






I couldn't resist taking this shot. Read the name of the store.....But I have the real Prince.....LOL




These are just few of the pictures of Mykonos