Elves at work on Seneca Lake

Gail and I and the elves have been busy at work at the art studio in the last few months. Unable to post most of what we made as they are gifts for the holiday season. I promise fun was had by all. I will show off some of the pieces that I made and kept for myself.

Upcycled book bag from Becca's room with dirt spots artfully covered with dreidel patches. The kitten is a drawing modeled after Kit Kat Sarah's rescue cat.

This is one of the beaded pieces I worked with Karen on while Steve was in surgery. The ceramic piece had a broken pin back so I got it for 25cents at a flea market in Gaithersburg, Maryland a year ago.

Gail had seen a very cute burlap tote in a fancy gift shop we made our own in different sizes this is one of three at my house. They are lined with linen and have embroidery hoops sewn inside at the top to keep them open. I supplied the burlap, hoops and an antique crocheted pieces and Gail did the labor

 This was my crow bag for the fall festivals. Hand drawn crow with freestyle machine embroidery. The bag is upcycled from Salvation Army.

Lastly is a bird print that is multidimensional printing the artist used natural components to make up the bird, the tree is a piece of toile cotton that was cut and layered and sewn freestyle machine embroidery onto the paper. The one on the right is Gail's print and she thinks she will write a Robert Frost poem onto the piece in the blank are between moon and bird. 

Latest beading fun

Got together with the beading crew again yesterday.

Did wire wrapping to make a pendant for hanukkah. Was working with two soft of wire initially and it could not take the tension of the wrapping wires. As I was bending it up to throw away I realized I liked how it had bent and ended up wiring it in to the stronger frame and used it as the base for the candles.

Then I wire wrapped a new tree of life as that was what I was teaching the others. Love the pink and green in with the browns, looks like the trees on the way to Ithaca a few weeks ago.

Lastly I have includes some shots of the polymer clay beads made with Karen at "Mommy Anxiety Play"

the copper ones are a green, orange and cream clay base. The mermaid beads are brown, blue base with an irridescent blue pearl--I just love this look!

We are already planning the next beading party. We decided we didn't want a cookie exchange so we decided are going to have a crock party-everyone make soup in a crock, bread to match and we will exchange quart sizes. While there we are going to have an earring party. Bring beads to share and make and take earrings. This is set for right before Hanukkah and I have some peruvian menorah and dreidel beads on the way to me from Etsy. Will bring a few sets of those and some orphan pearls as well.

David is in Afghanistan and truly out in harm's way. No matter that I know he is well trained, that he volunteered and is excited for this new stage in his career as a mom I am finding this to be a time of anxiousness. So I am using this time to work on destressing-exercising harder and eating better. Spending more time on the things I love.