MORE FOLSOM TIDBITS

During the show I was hosted by my wonderful friends Marylou and Richard.  One evening, my carelessly leading everyone over a hillside to the lower level of the restaurant's parking lot, ended Marylou up in an unseen ominous hole in the pavement.  Down went my dear friend, high heels and all.  She insisted on continuing on with our dinner plans so we popped a bag of ice on her ankle and ate away.   Oblivion was not permitted the next morning however, and a trip to the doctor reveals a cracked fibula.  Big Groan.  Shame on me and my habitual shortcuts.

Soooo sorry Marylou.   But that's a lovely cane!  Really!  Isn't it lovely folks!
See how it matches her outfit?   It absolutely does!!  

Marylou is an accoomplished artist in the Scaramento area.   Multi medium artist in fact.   Her sculptures are as delightful as her paintings.  You can meet her and view more of her incredible art work here:

Marie Dixon fan page link

Dancing Flowers

View of the American River

And then the gifts from my booth neighbors who are always so enjoyable and generous.

Vintage pincushion from Auntie Em.
Olde Wool and vintage button.

Beaded bookmark
from Barbara

Barbara's bookmarks - hand made
beads from Kenya.  Charms also.

 Barbara used to teach art to young children in Los Angeles through the Getty Art Museum so is well skilled in now creating her own art.   Her works are located on etsy -  cabochon atelier.


I love fences.   They stop me in my tracks.   So on the way home from the Folsom show I snapped these two moss-covered beauties.  The stone fence ran a good ways around the lovely lake. Click on them for better view.

AUNTIE EM'S - BOOTH TO LIVE FOR

The Folsom show, one of my favorites, has come and gone.  But the memories have not.  Can you imagine the challenge trying to set up your booth when right next door Auntie Em is unveiling treasure after treasure and the passers by are exclaiming one after another..."oh MY!"  "Oh I have NEVER seen..."   And once again you have to pop yourself up to the next rung on your ladder, balance with the other foot on the table...for better leverage...and peer over the curtain top.  Quietly.  Gracefully.   Disinterestedly.   Well CAN you imagine?   The vintage buttons the antique quilts the linens. Take a look.

See what i mean....Booth To Live For.

Auntie Em herself.

Even has a rug on the floor...classy vintage.

Auntie Em has a wealth of knowledge to share about all of her quilts.   I have learned a lot seeing as how I not only snoop but eavesdrop as well.   She and Barbara are fun booth neighbors...we have to remind ourselves at times to attend to our customers and tone down the frivolity.   
That's the Folsom report.
Woolbert says hello and wants you to know that soon he will have a free pattern drawing...as the new 12 block little wool quilt done at last.   I'll try to get it up on the website as soon as we return from the airport in a few days....picking up the Pittsburgh son and the granddaughter.  A three and a half year old in the house again...We are so ready for that! 

"Whose woods these are I think I know"

"Whose woods these are I think I know.."

So often lovely dark and deep..

but today,

Lovely and Luminous and bathed in snow.

Viewing the

Redwoods

from the deck.

Oh my oh my.

Who could resist an offer to walk in the snow.  The trip to the top of the hill was nothing short of mesmerizing.  On the way back down we found our tracks to be completely covered.   And the snowflakes....nearly palm size.   Truly.

Our reward...A View From Near The Top.
And I heard them saying so softly... "We are here we are here...beneath this snowy veil.
Come see. Gently, lift a bough.  See the truth of green beneath our ghosty gown. We are here."
 and then..."Leave us now to our silence to our peace.  The spring comes so soon and we need our rest."
"Thank you for coming . . . and thank you for this place on Earth.  We are here." 

And the snow was wet.  Snowballs were thrown.  I was not the better shot.

Nor was I a good loser.

So there will be no pictures of this event.

til next time....stay warm, stay cozy.

And bless all that are trees.

Stitching Guides, Tutorials, Videos

Folsom Show ever so close.  Don't come visit right now...there's nary a path!   I have just a moment though to share a website that is a wonderful source for all of your embroidery stitches.   I used to reference a site in all of my patterns but have learned it is no longer found.   So if you are stitch searching go to Mary Corbett's website and find yourself in stitchery heaven.   She walks and talks you through a zillion different stitches no matter how simple or how complex.   Super site!

NeedlenThread.com

Loved one of her recent posts as she was working with wool threads.  

All for today...back to ripping wool.  See you in Folsom if I'm lucky!

Janet Wins !!

Janet from New Jersey is the winner in our very first pattern give-away. 

CONGRATULATIONS JANET!

I hope that you enjoy stitching up every one of these patterns.

And unfortunately I must add...MY APOLOGIES...

to so many of you that contacted me, and those who did not,  to say that you were unable to post a comment.   Being way too new at all of this, I could not figure out the problem.  Until just now.

Long story short...I have changed some settings so it should not be a problem in the future.

I will leave settings as such unless it creates some unforeseen problem.

SO very sorry!

I will make it up to you by having another drawing soon.

Woolbert was very upset with me but that little warm and wooly heart has already forgiven.

Hope you will too.

Thanks to all!

WOOLBERT'S PATTERN GIVE-AWAY

Hi it's me again...Woolbert.  I told you I would be back.  It's about time we started some give-aways.  See the three patterns below?  You can win them just by leaving a comment to this post...has to be this post. We will put all of the names of those that comment into my little wool gathering bag, and draw a name to determine the winner of the three patterns.  You have until 

11:59 p.m Wednesday night, January 26

to comment.  Please be sure to leave an email address so that Reets can contact you.  I make her do all of the work.  She will need to get your mailing address to send your patterns.

Good Luck To All...your true friend, Woolbert

Bunny Hop  ~  Little Pockets  ~  On The Road Again Part 2

DID BARBARA REALLY MAKE 14 APRONS?

Seriously??...she made 14 aprons??!!!  And they were each and every one reversible??  She told me this at a show where she had previously purchased our No-Hem Reversible Apron pattern.  And then...she sent me the pictures.  Made them all for her friends and here are some of them at her Pie Social.   I didn't dare to ask how many PIES she baked.  Accomplishments like this leave me standing in awe...and dashing for my sewing machine.  Love these pictures.  Remember now, the aprons are ALL reversible.

Here friend Barbara H. sports her
apple apron.  Snazzy!

Ok have you looked at the aprons yet or are you still googling at those luscious pies??!!!
Our prolific SEWer gal Barbara Clark is in the back, wearing the pies apron.   Pure delight in each and every face.  Who wouldn't be delighted with friends like that.   And ohhh... those PIES!
All of them familiar faces to me as I'm sure they have popped into our booth more than once.
See you next year Ladies....wear your aprons!

After this she hosted a spaghetti dinner and made everyone half aprons.
And, there's more..With our On The Road Again pattern, which makes a very large bag, she went overboard with creativity.   She made six different bags.  On three of them she personalized each one to match the recipient.  (She wore me out telling me all of this.)  Look at these bags.

Can't go wrong with ME images.
Beautifully done...and so cheerful.
Don't you just want one?!!

Here is her friend Donna's daughter.  She appliqued her
likeness onto this bag.   This one is particularly amazing isn't it?

Barbara thank you so much for taking the time to take and send these pictures.  You have a lot of very lucky friends.
Ok...I have to go sew something now.  bye bye.     Oh.  One more thing. Within the next few days Woolbert will be popping in to begin our first pattern give away.   Stay tuned.

Little Woolbert Gives A Peek

Have you met Woolbert?

Choice is not a factor.  He insisted on being introduced.

He's one of our little hang-arounds...frequently sauntering into the stitching room and snooping to see what's new...made from his coat.  Considers himself to be a pivotal figure about the place.  Approving new hand dyed colors...seeing that they are mixed congenially

...things like that.

All of the little squares are finished now (oh...and approved).  They must be joined together and the pattern written and our little wool sampler quilt will be ready to share.

When I get the pattern give-aways going, this pattern will likely be one of them!

Woolbert was quite anxious and insistent that he give you a sneak peek. 

Though a meddler..he really is a very sharing and caring little fellow.  And he simply loves you to come walk on the wool side here with us.

For now though, we bid you adieu, with two of Woolbert's favorite blocks.

New Year New Light...and a poem

Even after all this time

the sun never says...to the earth

you owe me.

Look

what happens

with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky.

                                        Hafiz

This was sent to us by a dear friend with wishes that we may have a love filled new year.  And so I pass this same wish on to all of you.    Yes...

Have A Very Joyful and Happy New Year!

On The Road Again Creations

Love it when you send me pictures of items you have created from our patterns.

And love it even more when I actually get them posted.

Below are some of the pouches created by Beth and her mother from our pattern

On The Road Again 2.

Thank you Beth.  Love your fabric choices.

She was nice enough to add a note...see below.

"I wanted to show you the 9” zippered stand up pouches mom and I made from the pattern you sent me.  I’m going to visit my friend in FL, so I made her and her mother one for letting me stay with them.  I cut everything, sewed the buttons and did the finishing hand stitching.  Mom sewed it together for me on her machine.  I didn’t do the quilting stitch, but I am very happy how they came out.  We went to our craft store yesterday and I picked out the buttons and fabrics.  It was a fun day."

Love the nifty little buttons she added in the corner!

Here is a picture of the actual pattern
cover for On The Road Again 2
Wanted to show you the little
wool version of the same pouch.

Frenz Gallery - Gary's Sock

I'm always delighted when you send me pictures of your creations made from one of our patterns.  Hoping the new blog enables me to share them with everyone in a more timely fashion.  Below is a stocking made from our pattern Better Not Pout.   I thought this was a very clever idea.  Read what Donna had to say about her adaptation of the pattern below. We have also added it to our Frenz Gallery on our website.

Thank you Donna!

Better Not Pout Stocking

"This is a picture of the sock that I made

with the kit that I bought last year at the

NW Quilt show.  I thought you might

enjoy seeing how I changed it to fit my

fisherman friend."

 Donna Strom

Little Wool Santa

I gave my little wool santa a new forrest this year on the buffet.  

I don't know...will he deliver the goods?  He looks like he wants to stay right there among those glistening boughs forever.

Deary me, I hope that I have not caused a problem with any expected deliveries.

He is from our pattern

Little Santa Things.

He is only about 12 inches tall. Don't you love his basket of glittery bells?

I want his leather bag.  Really though...it is only painted and antiqued muslin.

He is so very proud of that bag so let's just keep that information between you and me.

Here is another of my favorite decorations..new this year.

Look at that urn.  I found it on my way home from a show...one of those favorite little shops that you just simply must pop into.  No matter how badly you want to be chugging up that last little hill, rounding that one last bend, and seeing that warmy wonderful front door.  With the cats waiting presumptuously on the front porch.  And someone inside is perhaps making hot chocolate..with whipped cream.  No none of that matters.  That anticipation leaves you like a bat with frenetic wings... when you see that exit sign for that little shop that absolutely cannot be omitted from your travel.

That is what happened on that day.  That day I was a winner.

Oh Christmas Tree Napkins - Be Green Be Clothy

I guess I could have left that preachy little "Be Green" out huh?

I bought some very clever Christmas tree napkins at a recent craft fair.  I wished I had bought more of them for gifts so decided to try and stitch some up.  They are basically just a half circle using two contrasting fabrics...stitch them right sides together, turn, press, fold accordion style.   Just do a Search for Christmas Tree Napkin and you will find free patterns for them in both video and pdf formats.  The napkins online did a nice job adding rick rack but I omitted that, as you can see below.

I could not scan the entire half circle...
I had to fold it in half.  What you are seeing
is a quarter circle.

Cheery little thing isn't it?

I made some in the reverse direction also.

You know, looking at them now, I believe my folding is a bit askew.  The napkins I purchased and the free online patterns have a preferred folding...pretty sure.

I will have to go refold  and repress mine.

Anyway, I cannot wait to make a stack, tie them together with some favorite ribbon and wrap them up.   So I'm off now..my fabrics are calling.

Go Tell It On The Hillside, A Childrens' Faire Is Born.

This past weekend, on a crisp sprinkly morning,

I drove deeper into the countryside.

And In these hills..

Beneath this rolling fog..

I entered an enchanted little village.  Really it was a school.

One known in our area for hosting events that freshen you with their creativity.

And these..are the things..that i saw.

You know that something good is beyond these doors.

I told you so.

A bag of dirt.  A branch.  A few gloriously simple ornaments.
Is there a better way to say Happy Holidays?

Chiidrens Art.   Brilliant Tiles.   A Quilted Wall Does Make.

This charming holiday craft faire had plenty of talented crafters.
Children and adults as well.

Below are they, and some of their wares.
Let me first apologize though.. for some of my pictures did not come true.
I am not yet well acquainted with the digital camera.

Young fimo artist with cleverly displayed ornaments.

Be still my heart...WOOL and so wonderfully felted by this little fella.

All could join the beading table.  Look
at the Star of Zephyr. 

I will never know...was it her sweetness or just the sheer beauty of these hand-crafted

hollow egg ornaments.  But here is the artist and the ornament I chose.   It hangs prominently beneath my vehicles rear view mirror.

One should always festify ones wheels.

A young knitter wastes no time while selling her knitty goods.  I was so taken with the knitted dress she wore, which I assume she knit herself, that I forgot to snap a picture of all her lovely items.

 Oh well..the dress speaks a thousand pictures.

Oh you don't say...I recognize those cards..

That is my friend Sue.  No not up there...Down there.

She is a photographer.

Through My Lens

That is the name of her business.   She takes incredilbe pictures and creates cards with many of them.   Her husband Don pens the quotes on the back...each and every one so very apropos.  We hope to have some available on our website soon.

And they are also both knitters, crafters and stitchers and do all of these things

 in the most original ways.

And this is the famous spoon man..George.

Occasionally he takes a break from selling and does a little 

salsa dancing with a customer or two.

There were singers and dancers and musicians of all young ages.

Oh...and an ACCORDIANIST.  A REALLY YOUNG ACCORDIANIST!

Capitol letters mean that I LOVE the ACCORDIAN.

Thank you little accordian player.

It is the kind of gathering that you know sends everyone home in a happy way.

Come to think of it..I was still feeling pretty happy the next day.

I hope that next year you can come.