While on vacation in the Outer Banks of N.C. I worked on the latest Quilting Arts Challenge. The theme is "Passages" and you know me, I have a thing for doors. This 10"x10"art quilt is titled "Night Flight". Allow me to share with you the story behind it. My mom passed away on 4-29-10 and I hadn't been able to bring myself to quilt anything to signify her passing until I heard of this challenge. Immediately I envisioned the quilt that I would create to honor her. My mom passed on a star filled, bright and clear night. On the drive home from the hospice center I looked into the sky and said, "what a great night for flying Mom", and my heart was at peace knowing that she was winging her way to Heaven. This quilt represents my mom as she departed this world and made her "Passage" to join all those who went before her. My mom was my best friend and until we are joined again there will always be a hole in my heart that no one else can fill. I feel that I have finally honored her coming and going with this piece. Rest in peace mom.

 

 

Tim Holtz class

This weekend I attended a book signing and a class with Tim Holtz, it was amazing!!! Nothing like being around creative people to jump start your imagination. :-) Pic of Tim, Me and Mario!

Happy Birthday Pika

 

Today is Pika's 14th birthday. Happy birthday sweet baby girl. However, it's a sad day from me knowing that it will be her last birthday here on earth. Yesterday we got the news that any dog parent would dread, "your dog has a tumor" and it's in her brain. If you met Pika you know what a sweet girl she is and how close I am to her. She mirrors my every move, I've never had a dog like her before, she's a very special gal. My daughter Eden was 7 years old when we got Pika, they grew up together. Eden left for college 4 years ago and Pika and I grew even closer. Saturday she went into seizures that wouldn't stop and we rushed her to the emergency vet where they stabilized her and kept her until Monday morning. We picked her up and took her to main veterinarian facility in Middletown where they kept her to do and ultrasound and MRI. Yesterday we went for the consult with Dr. Hammond and he delivered the news. (Sigh) Such a shock and so sad. We were given several options for treatment, each one risky and with not good results. She's on anti seizure meds and steroids to ease brain swelling. For now she is comfortable. We need to think about this more. I'm devastated by this news but feel a need to blog. Sometime you just need to share your grief, I know that many of you have been through this yourself and can feel my pain.
Hugz, Normajean

Happy Happy Joy Joy I'm published again!

This week I received my advance copy of the new Craft Tree book that I've been published in, "Evening Bags"! I'm tickled pink to be in this new book.

Favorite Videos of Designer Ann: Welcome to my video blog. These are videos that I...

Favorite Videos of Designer Ann: Welcome to my video blog.  These are videos that I...: Welcome to my video blog.  These are videos that I want to watch 'one more time'.  Somehow I get a better picture on my blog that on the or...

More Magic Wallets

My Magic Card Case Wallets invention was published years ago in Quilting Arts and I still sell them by the dozen to galleries but on occasion I made them for individuals. Cecille has become a great customer recently placed another order for more for gift giving. I hope that she likes these.

Our grandson Liam is about to start loosing teeth so last night I made him a tooth fairy pillow to hang on his door. His sisters each got one but I had to make his a little more for a boy and without the frills. It has a pocket on the back for tooth and for the fairy to leave some cash. :-)

Fiber art postcard for FAT

In my Fiber Art Traders group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FiberArtTraders my friend Diana Welte asked us to create a fiber art postcard that depicts something that we are grateful for. I am grateful for my home in the Seaside town of East Lyme, CT and my card depicts the seashore map along with a bathing beauty with the home and seagulls. I used both fabric and paper to make the card pictured here.

Another Breast Pocket

Another breast pocket for Melanie. Join me in helping Mel reach her goal: http://melanietesta.com/blog/

Mel's cause

A cause worth stitching for. Melanie Testa has put out the call for Breast Pockets, see her blog http://melanietesta.com/2012/10/breast-pockets-with-deadline-1000-pockets-in-3-weeks/ to find out the details. Here's my breast pocket for Mel, it's ready to mail and awaiting addressing!

Kumihimo Krazy

I've been bitten by the beading bug!!! It's small, it's portable and I love having little take along projects. Here are a few that I'll be putting up on Etsy (once I figure out just how to do that). These are all Kumihimo beaded bracelets.

Made a kumihimo bracelet for sweet Izzy to match the outfit that she made in fashion camp. Hope that she likes it. :-)

I've had another special order come in for a magic wallet. Here's what I made...

My sweet BFF Dee Dee and I went to a beading class today. We learned a stich called Kumihimo and both made a bracelett. Wish that I had gotten a pic of hers too it was awesome. I love how mine sparkles with gold crystal beads woven in with black matt beads. I can't wait to start on another one! Oh I feel a new addiction coming on. :-) It's difficult to get a photo but here's mine.

Had a wonderful time in my studio this week making things to send to the Pea Island Gallery in the Outer Banks (Salvo) NC. I love being a part of the culture down there, if not in person, than in my art endeavors. Here's some of the things that I created.

Magic wallets purse style.

More magic wallets with a "leash".

Small vacation journals.

Larger vacation journals that I call "Jump Start Journals".

If you happen to be in the OBX this summer stop by and say hi to Kimmie the gallery owner and tell her that I sent you. :-)

I got a phone call out of the blue the other day for an order of my magic wallets. Evidently the lady had been given one as a gift and found the business card that I leave inside. She decided to by four more for her friends and gave me her color choices. Normally I do gallery bulk orders but it was a thrill to talk to a recipient of one of my pieces. Here's what I came up with, hope that she likes them. :-)

Well my little girl is officially an adult. She turned 21 yesterday. We ran out

of candles so we put two 5's (=10) plus 11 candles. Pretty clever huh?

Funny where inspiration comes from... I was painting a few flower buds from the garden in my journal after dinner the other night. I went to throw away the paper towel that I use to wipe my water brush on a low and behold there was an entire garden painted on it! I liked it so much I decided to try and duplicate the "garden" on a second page in my journal! Here's the proof.

Mom was right... I really do see the beauty in the garbage...

A few new watercolors. Close-ups of the flowers in the bouquet that hubby got me. :-)

I made these for my sister-in-law to sew to the shirts for her and her business partners for their upcoming trade show.