Christmas Wishes

 Oh my gosh, where has the time gone. Christmas is almost here.With holiday decorations up before Halloween in all the stores, it seems to take forever to get here. And then, all of a sudden it's in 2 days. Well, at least I got all my shopping done. Just have to do some wrapping. My baking is also done. I don't do as much as I used too.  Just my Strufoli aka Honey Balls a  Neopoltan treat.  These days my daughter does  most of the baking. Although tomorrow, I will be making Rice Balls/Arancini.  A Sicilian dish that my Grandmother used to make. I only make them once or twice a year for Thanksgiving and or Christmas.This year I'm doing it twice.

So I will like to take this time to wish all my family, friends and followers of my blog a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year/Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo. . 
These are my wishes for you all:
For The Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarves: I wish you all safe travels and low airfares. 
For my Quilting Friends May your quilts get into all the shows you entered and win you many awards.
For all Health and Prosperity for the New Year.

For the World out there.  How about a Little Peace and a year without Terrorism. A Slogan from the 60's 
"Make Love not War"...that's it. No more preaching......

My latest jewelry designs

Just a couple of my new pieces. All are handmade by me. All are for sale. For more information and prices please email me privately.

Today I'm rearranging and cleaning out my studio and my son's room. Which has become a dumping ground for excess crafting supplies.
These are 3 master molds of my dolls. Dolls that I had sculpted during the early 90's. Now I haven't made a dolls in almost 20 years and I don't have any of my molds left. So I can't make any even if I wanted to. And yet it is so hard for me to put these 3 pieces in the trash. I feel like I'm throwing away my babies...Silly, isn't it. I haven't even looked at them in years. Well, I will bite the bullet and toss it...

check out my QR code...Cool. now I have to figure out how to post on the side bar so that its permanent.

The Mahopac Public Library gallery show 2011

The Lover's

I started this quilt sometime ago. I'm really, really happy that it's finally finished. There was a lot of aggravation and a lot of lessons learned. I took it apart so many times I lost count. And my poor friends who had to listen to me kvetch through the whole process. That is a true sign of friendship...LOL...Thanks guys.....     

FIBERART NORTHEAST ANNUAL SHOW

SAQA's Benefit Auction 2011

It's coming soon! This exciting reverse auction of over 300 12"x12" artworks, all donated by members, is the major fundraiser for Studio Art Quilt Associates' exhibitions, education, and outreach programs. I have donated "Best Friends Forever" and am in group 2, but there are many wonderful choices. The auction takes place in 3 groups, beginning September 12, 19, and 26. This is a great chance to add a little gem from a wide and diverse group of textile artists. See details here.

I thought it would be nice to show you all where I got the inspiration for my mosaic quilt. I've decided icon a name.  Vanilla Fudge Swirl Mosaic

TaDa part 2 - suggested names for my mosaic quilt

OK, I'm going to list some of the suggestions that I have received from some  my friends. I'm not going to list all because some are just on going to make the cut.

 From Joyce Vanilla Tile, Very Vanilla, Beautiful in Beige,Beige Beauty, Venetian Tile Vanilla

Me: Fudge Swirl, Chocolate Chip,   and then a combo of me and Jeannette Caramel Swirl

 Linda  Chocolatte

I had a longer list but I was reminded that the color of the quilt has to be incorporated in to the quilt. So a lot of suggestions had to be cut. I had completely forgotten  that rule...

Ta Da.....

What am I working on

Fiberart North East is a group I belong to. Every year we have a gallery show at the Mahopac Library. Mahopac NY. Anyway this year it will be in September from the 1st to the 28th. Reception on the 17th from 2-4. Well, back to what I'm working on . It's a Monochromatic Mosaic. I just finish fusing all the tiny pieces of fabric to a white background. And I wanted to share it with you. The design I used is from a photo that I took a few years ago while in a church in Lucca, Italy. I could have just done an applique technique but after seeing a mosaic quilt by a fellow quilt artist from Italy Laura DiCera I just had to try my hand at it. Since the theme of this show is Monochromatic I choose beige and brown family. Now I have to quilt this and so I'm praying that the tiny little tiles of fabric don't pop off....My piece will measure 9" x 20" and it will be mounted on a white canvas measuring 12" x 24" . All the quilts in the show will be the same size either hanging horizontally or vertically...  So here is a photo of before I quilt it.

Selling Doll Collection part 2

Well, I finally got a few dolls posted for sale. The next step is figuring out how to embed paypal so if someone is interested in purchasing any, they have a easy method to do so.....All this takes so much time. I'm off to take some more pictures...I will really try to post new pictures regularly....I know famous last words....

Selling Doll Collection

In 1970's I started collecting dolls. I started first with International Dolls and then when I started making porcelain dolls. I soon began collecting Original Artist Dolls. Now it is 40 years later and I'm ready to let them go. I haven't made any dolls since 1990. And no longer belong to any doll clubs. I've moved on to other things. Like jewelry and quilting. Now I want to sell the entire collection. I really need the space. So I've decided to set up a little shop here on my blog.

3 Sister's

 Last but not least is the Three Sister's necklace. The 3rd project in the Nancy Cain class. I love this necklace and really enjoyed making it. I think is has a real Renaissance look to it. It is made using Swarovski Crystals, 24k plated seed beads, and ruby colored delica beads. Which gives the chain the look of precious rubies.

Crystal Tile Bracelet

 I finally finished the 2nd project of a 3 day bead class. Well, at least it's my rendition of the 2nd project. In the pattern there were 3 shadow boxes on the bracelet. I felt that 1 was more then enough for me. I have a small wrist and it would have been over the top for me. The center piece is a shadow box that is filled with Swarovski Bicone Crystals.

Solar Star

Wow, how time flies...I know it's been almost a whole month since my last post.  But I really didn't have anything of interest to say. Do you really want to know what I ate for breakfast?  I don't think so. This month my Guild had it's annual Quilt show. My Via Appia got an Honorable Mention. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to the show this year. I had signed up for a 3 day bead class that wound up being the same weekend.  And since it was with a renowned bead artist, Nancy Cain, I really didn't want to miss it.  It was wonderful and if you get a chance to take a class with her do it...We did 3 projects. The first one was called Solar Star. When I first saw this project I thought, mmm that looks easy. HA! Of the 3 projects this was the hardest. It took me 3 tries before I got the inside points sharp. So that it wrapped around the star neatly. The Swarovski crystal I choose had a larger hold than the other colors and  was pretty noticeable. So I decided to add the tiny stars hanging from it.  The next project is called Crystal Tile. It is not done yet. I will show that later, in the meantime I guess I will show the 3rd project which is called 3 Sisters...But you have to wait until I photograph it.

new work

I just finished this a few minutes ago. I used TAP (transfer artist paper) transferred photo to Lutrador. Which is made of spun polyester fiber. Anyway it can give the photo transfer an old look. The photo I used is of a Michelangelo painting of a Sibyl call Delphica. It is in the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

So, What do you think, PC or MAC?

Now this was an interesting photo of a door in a church taken without flash.  I thought it looked like glass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 This is the same door taken with flash.  I had no idea. What a surprise.

A gift for Yvonne

Last month I asked people to give there opinion on which design, that I had done in Photoshop, was their favorite. Now I would like to thank everyone for their input.  Even the person who said that they were awful....LOL...   But that's OK....Anyway the reason I asked that question was because I wanted to know which one my friend Yvonne like best.  Like, which photos she preferred.   I was being sneaky....hehehe....I made this quilt for her, to thank her for changing her flight to Venice just so she could see my quilt in the Verona show...The 3 coins on the quilt are Australian, USA quarter and Italian Lire. One for each country. Australian for her, US for me and the Lire for Italy. The place that brought us together....On thinking back on it, I really should have found something that represents the Internet and  Trip Adviser. Well to late now...

Observations

 We are home now from a wonderful trip to Italy. I can't express how wonderful it felt to have my quilt excepted in this Italian venue. I think my Nonna would be so very happy for me. I didn't win any awards but it really doesn't matter. My quilt hung in a gallery in Verona. And I got to see it, and meet people and make new friends. I'm a winner already.


The other day I was thinking how very polite and civil the Italians are. For example: While being seated in a restaurant the couple next to us (the tables are sometimes very close) acknowledged us. And when they were leaving wish us Buona Sera (Good evening) This happen most of the time. Even on the train going from one city to another. If we were sitting next to someone and they got off before us, they said goodbye. You walk into a store and its Buon Giorno and when you leave its Arrivederci...Please and thank you is always used.  I wish I could say the same for us New Yorkers. I'm going to try and keep this in mind when out. I think sometimes we are in such a hurry that we forget to be polite. Arrivederci everyone,

Milan and My last day

Well my trip to Bella Italia is almost over. Tomorrow we leave for home. Today was such a beautiful day here in Milan. And we were able to go to the Duomo and climb to the top.  Yes, that's what I said, climb to the top. We did not take the lift. Come on, next to the bell tower in Florence this was a breeze. Only 250 steps as apposed to 414..... Duomo is truly amazing piece of architecture. I took a lot of photos of the stain glass windows inside. But really, it doesn't do it justice. The photos outside and on the roof were much better. Here are just a few 















 


                 

It was beautiful sitting up on the top. Sun shining and warm. So very relaxing. Lots of young people up there just laying on the roof soaking up the sum....After we left the Duomo we walked over to the Sforza Castle. We just walked around the grounds. We had no desire to check out the inside and walk up more steps...There is a limit...LOL..

 We walked through the court yards of the castle. All the way to the back. And found a beautiful park. Spring has started so some of the trees were blooming...I think they maybe cherry trees, but I'm not sure..I did see some magnolia's in bloom though...