i

it's been all about handmade gifts the past few weeks and random acts of kindness

this doll was made especially for my friend mary stanley who lives in nearby santa barbara

and this one will go to a little girl named Ida who i met through a friend on instagram

and this lass is on her way to holland also to an instagram friend

i have truly enjoyed the art of doll making, something new for me.

i even made a house on wheels.  i just love this "let's play" phase i'm going through.

and christmas approaches faster than i would like

this year we decided on a small vignette in the living room as we await our move.

the new house is getting spiffed up with hardwood floors, new windows and new ceilings so it remains empty a little longer. 

i also signed up for gritty jane's 40 portraits challenge and, although far behind, have managed to contribute with a few of my portraits on brown shipping tags at least. it always surprises me how each face wants to come alive in it's own special way.  all are so so different from each other.

i titled this one "thoroughly british"

my favorite, ofcourse, is my portrait of nina bagley's dog 

the incomparable "walter"

i have matted and framed him and he will be on his way to nina as a gift to be hung at heartrock hill,

her cabin in north carolina. sweet thing, it will be hard to part with you but we know where you truly belong.

may this season find you all focused on the things that matter

Alma, Corazon & Vida

a pesar que muchas cosas estan aun en el aire, digamos inconclusas e inciertas, un constante me mantiene dentro de un equilibrio y tranquila, mi entrega total a seguir creando. Y dentro de esa creatividad, mi amor incondicional hacia las telas, sobretodo organicas, naturales como el algodon y el lino. la paciencia y perseverancia con la que debo ejecutar mis bordados, muchos de los cuales demoran varios dias, es una manera de estar completamente presente en el momento, evitando ideas preocupantes. producer algo bello es, en si, un logro, por muy pequeno que sea dentro del gran esquema de las cosas.
cada puntada es un paso adelante
cada obra completada es un acontecimiento
y definitivamente crear es mi leit motif
para mas inspiracion con telas no dejan de visitar el blog de jude hill www.spiritcloth.typepad.com

pajarito

neo modern crazy quilt

solo una notita corta para compartir mis ultimas costuras mientras me apronto a una mudanza en grande.

si, mudanza a una casa mas grande, en la playa. me dan tres tiritones pensar en que tenemos que empaquetar y mover muebles de impresionantes tamanos y pesos. la fecha es noviembre 15.

de a poquito les ire mostrando fotos de la casa vacia, el jardin y pidiendole a todas ideas para ciertos espacios que aun no tengo claro como decorar.

yo se que esto les va a parecer supersticioso pero sigo los pasos de mi madre que creia mucho en la numerologia.  la casa donde nos mudaremos tendra una numerologia 6 y esto es lo que dicen acerca de eso
House Number 6



Most people are attracted to a number six house. It creates a peaceful and loving vibration. The tranquility of this house assists to bring out the creative, romantic and considerate natures of its tenants. Set healthy boundaries so that those around you do not interfere in your home or lifestyle.
Positive Colour Suggestions: Rose, Pink and Green.

quiero copiar esto que produjo ozma of odds

guirnaldas y mas guirnaldas

mi ultima guirnalda

night and day, bright and cheery garland

hemos tenido una de las semanas mas hermosas que yo recuerde en california.  pleno octubre y aun soleado y con temperaturas veraniegas. por lo que yo, amante de los colores y lo alegre, sigo arriba, volada, volando.

 casi siempre creo en las tardes e incluso de noche, casi siempre en mi pieza viendo alguna pelicula antigua. anoche me dio por sacar misaltos de telas y coser una guirnalda para celebrar este milagro de otono. unas cuantas horas y presto, estaba lista. 

y ahi, al despertar, estaba para darme los buenos dias.

abro las cortinas y el milagro continua,

otro dia de sol

me da por irme a la marina a comer mariscos con mi gordin a cuestas

pero a la tarde ya encontre mi proximo proyecto en la ultima revista de somerset life

estoy particpando en
artistsinblogland 

gees bend revisited

 back to english for an a explanation

of my latest embroidery in progress.

i have long been and admirer of the gees bend

quilts and have several books about them.

since i can't own one, i decided i would make my own (sort of) but embroidered.

and here are the results of the work in progress.  i have stitched for almost a month now, at intervals, since i always have several projects going simultaneously.

 i added this square in the centre after submitting some feathers to jude hill's magic feather project.

isn't this a contrast with my home decor?

although my living room and dining room are a little whimsier and funky than the kitchen and bedrooms which always draw from my growing up in england.

hope you enjoy

 one of my favorite gees bend quilts

gees bend, alabama back in 1937
while i'm at it, why not share my favorites from this week's flickr

and a bird inspiration piece

as well as another brilliant quilter
harriet powers