The Little Red Hen

Pink Means Nightie

The birthday girl and graduate got some lovely handmade gifts and cards so I thought I'd share a taste.
P got this adorable little mushroom house from my sister Millie. She used the pattern from The Little House by the Sea.  The house is the perfect neighbor to this house all of the little woodland creatures and fairies will be quite at home!

My other sister sent her the most perfectly pink card! and a little quilt that P has squirreled away in her room somewhere for one of her little friends. And that little beaded bracelet was made by Tracy, B's sister. Pink and perfect!

D got some creative handmade cards for his graduation. My sister, Glenell,  made the card on the left along with some hand stitched thank you notes that he has in his room.  The paper cut card on the right was made by my friend besomom. She also made P this cute bookmark which is currently being used as a blanket for a little princess doll.

We love all the hand made goodies that remind us of their makers.

Ugly Duckling's New Friend

P got some fun mail this weekend - a package from Kim, a woman whose generosity and talent know no bounds.

Kim had given her this Ugly Duckling and book when we visited in February and told her that she would make a book cover with a bed on the front.

While we were there Kim let P choose a vintage embroidered linen for the bedspread. 
The book cover arrived this weekend with two new friends for Ugly Duckling. The cute, pink, little mouse can snuggle in the bed with Ugly Duckling.

I am amazed at the detail Kim put into this project.  There is a little fairy quilt on the bed with the polka dot sheets turned down.

The pillows are made of pink ticking and have pretty pillowcases with rick rack and lace trim.

Needless to say, It was a big hit.  Thanks Kim!

Since the little mouse had not seen the book yet she had to show it to her.  She says she is not good at reading the words but she could show her the pictures.

P rearranged the things she had stored in her nesting suitcases so that the friends could have another place to live. As she says, "They can't stay in bed ALL the time."

I think Ugly Duckling's other new friend was sleeping in P's room during the photo shoot.

Random Act of Kindness

A few of you know that I used to work as an activity therapist in the pediatric hematology clinic and also on the bone marrow transplant floor at the Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. I got to know some of the families there very well. I remember one mother who told me that people often asked her what they could do to help as her four year old daughter went through treatment that included two bone marrow transplants. Her response when people asked what they could do was to tell them to spend time with their own children.   I took her advice to heart when M was born.  That was when I quit working at the hospital. It was a very stressful job for me after I had two children of my own.  Over the last sixteen years the events and people at the hospital have become a distant memory.

Recently, my flickr friend Gina, shared a little about a commissioned project she was working on. I thought about the people involved and I knew she was the right one for this piece of art.  Gina is an artist who pours her heart into her work. I knew she would do it right.  Seeing the finished work brought back a flood of memories and emotions that I had hidden from myself for many years.
Art is healing.
Art is emotional.
Art Saves Lives.
I grew up surrounded by art and artists but never quite recognized how strong art can be until I saw Gina's painting. It was healing. That painting tore down a wall I didn't know was there.  Crying is healing.

It is clear that Gina has a passion for life. She believes that "One Random Act of Kindness can truly change our world!!" I think that she is right.

I got this beautiful painted carving from her in the mail today. I am honored to own one of Gina's carved paintings.

It is such a happy colorful piece of art. And, it suits me, don't you think?

Thank you, Gina.  I am trying to find just the right place for it in my sewing studio.  I feel like that chicken is speaking to me - Encouraging me to do good things - live from my heart, spread happiness, practice my own random acts of kindness. 

I love the textureed feathers on the chicken.

Featured Artist - So Many Ideas

Gina, one of my new "flickr friends," has been taking some great photos of old dolls and has turned them into greeting cards. I just love them. The dolls are so unique, I can't decide if they are beautiful or creepy. I think they have just the right amount of both.

She has them for sale in her shop So Many Ideas. Why do these dolls look like they are under a mattress? Creepy, lovely, vintage...

If you are looking for unique cards, you'll not find anything like this anywhere else. I am sure of that.
Gina is a gal of many talents. She also does woodcarving, painting, jewelry making, and sewing.

The Little Red Hen

It is funny how collections just sort of happen. In the last year, since I started this blog, I have collected a few versions of the story The Little Red Hen. I didn't really plan to; they just jump up at me out of garage sale boxes and bins.
For my birthday this year my sister sent me a collection of cards that she had made from an old red hen book. I just love them. She insists that the book was in very bad condition.  I don't think I'll use these cards.

I especially like the hen in her apron with her scissors showing in the pocket.

My Christmas stocking had a copy of the same book in it!! Lucky me!

AND
Look what my sister made for me for Christmas!!!!

She used this image from the book for her redwork design.

 

I like that this red hen is planting corn, Indian corn, which was also included in the quilt. 

I am also reminded that it is time to start thinking about what we will be planting in our garden this spring.

Holiday Greetings

One of the things I look forward to each year is a handmade holiday card from my sister.  This came yesterday. I love the rick rack pine cone. She even put "snow" on the branch.  She says she was inspired by this photo.  You can see more of her cards from previous years here.

Featured Artist - Jude Hill

A little while ago I stumbled across Jude Hill's beautiful needlework work on flickr.

I have been enjoying her blogs too. Her main blog, Spirit Cloth, showcases lots of her lovely needlework.  I love the stories she shares that inspire her work.  I like that she shares so much of the works in progress and how her designs evolve as she progresses.  She is prolific in many styles of needlework and drawing. 

On Jude's other blog, What If, she shares creative experiments with different techniques that stem from the question "What if..."

After reading her blogs I am energized to try new things; to ask myself "what if" and perhaps take a different path. I just want to lock myself in my sewing room and create.

Go have a look and be inspired to take your own creative projects on a new journey.

What if...

The Year of the Robot

Last fall M. declared 2008 to be the "Year of the Robot."  I have found some great robot items for him on Etsy.

Robot 424 from Something Whimsical.

Nuts and Bolts Hoodie from Dogbone Art.

and these from Obvious Front.

Go to Etsy and search for robots or your favorite item and see what comes up!

Petunia Goes to Town

Yesterday, we were all outside working when M stopped mowing and brought the mail (including a package) to me.  He was smiling as he knew who the package was from.  We had all been eagerly awaiting this package from Calamity Kim!  I quickly tore into it and opened the pretty rose tissue paper to find this great little quilt!
"Petunia Goes to Town"

We love it! Kim used a picture of P that I had on flickr to make her pattern for embroidery and appliqué.  Kim named her Petunia. P likes that there is an image of herself on the quilt.

That little gnome is  peeking through a hole.

P has claimed this quilt for herself, well it has HER on it you know.  We will hang it on the door to her room.  She really likes the ice cream fabric on the back.

Kim also included one of her paper dolls!  I love that fine glitter- in different colors even!

There were lots of other extras. They are not all in the photo as P whisked the fortune teller fish away.

The little chick is one of my photos of our new chicks that has been printed on fabric. All of this was in that handmade envelope on the lower right.  I just love those two little girls in the upper right.
I feel very lucky to have had Kim as a swap partner!  She is a very generous and gifted artist.  She even says she has another quilt to send me that was too big for the 6-12 inch quilt swap guidelines!
Kim is little fairy spreading good cheer, well wishes, and sweet treasures across the globe!

Featured Artist - Meringue shop

I had my eye on these little wristlets for a while before I bought one. I love the fabulous fabrics Jodie Nicholson uses in her bags.

When P was potty trained last summer I treated myself to a smaller purse. I like that these bags hold everything you need and slip over your wrist. I have also discovered that it is great for holding a sock knitting project.  You can put the ball of yarn in the bag and  have it hanging off your wrist while you work.  If you can walk and knit at the same time you are all set with one of these!

Look at Meringue shop, Jodie's etsy shop, for some more great bags.  I get a little thrill knowing that my bag came all the way from Australia, from Jodie's hands to mine.