Going to have a play date this morning!!! Whoo hoo!

As you can see by the photo I just snapped out my studio window, it is a cold and snowy world out there, but it is warm in my studio as I ready for a play date with Laney.I have beef stew started in the crock pot, Hawaiian bread is ready to turn on at noon, and I am setting up for some fun.

I gathered some newly purchased pretty ribbons.............
I have my Kumihimo Disk and some beads.........

and work stations set up for *me* & *Laney*.

I will let you know how we do :-)

Giveaway on Diane's blog

Diane is having a sweet giveaway on her blog. As you may know, Diane is quite the artist, and anything from her hands is a treasure to behold! What is it you ask? Well, you must fly over to see!

What a day!

My goodness! What a day it has been! Crazy!!!! This morning I started straightening the house and started laundry as soon as DH left for work which was at 5:00 today. I had high hopes of getting all of my cleaning out of the way before settling in with my laptop for my highly anticipated Photoshop brushes workshop. I purposely didn't turn on my computer until everything was finished because I knew I would be sitting there answering email and just browsing...which is such a bad habit and way too easy to do.

As I was finishing the laundry, enjoying a cup of tea and the yummy vanilla candle scent, I saw the snow begin to fall. There wasn't supposed to be snow today!!!!
I knew I needed some things from the store because I had plans to attend a meeting this evening and wanted to make a nice dinner. I got ready and headed off to town, only 3 miles away. The snow fell harder and the wind picked up. All I could think about was traveling on the toll road at night. My heart sank, I knew the possibility of attending the meeting tonight was lessening. I did my shopping, ran to the post office and bank, then stopped to fill up my car since gas prices are rapidly rising again.
The snow stopped, but the roads are ice, so I know DH is not going to be encouraging about me driving at night to a place I have never been. I cannot see at night because I just don't drive after dark and am not used to it. Also, I'm the only person on earth that doesn't own a cell phone, nor do I want one.
I came home, unloaded the groceries, made a cup of cocoa and turned on the computer for my class.
I was extremely pleased with the first lesson. Gail is an excellent instructor, and doesn't rush through it. I did stop a few times to practice what I learned, and guess what? It worked!!!! I made a brush/stamp and colored it too!

DH called to tell me he would rather I didn't travel tonight. I told him I pretty much knew I wouldn't be. I think I will wait until Spring to attend a meeting. I want to make a day trip to see where I am going, so I guess I will put that on hold for now.

Then Mom called and said Sterling is worse, she may go today, which is another reason I should remain home. I can run over after dinner and have tea which always cheers her up.

I wanted to thank those of you who commented on mom's grief over her cats. I know it is so hard to lose an animal especially when they have been in your life for so long. Sterling was dad's favorite too, and dad wasn't a cat lover. I think this makes losing her even more emotional for mom.
Anyway, things will work out as they should and I will feel my way through the evening and go where I am needed.

Thank you for the very nice compliments on the night light dedicated to Nora. I don't care for most of my owrk, but I do love this. It is romantic, and makes me smile for many reasons.
I took a few more photos of the finished nightlight this morning. I added two beaded fringes. It is the perfect little accessory for my bathroom. I don't have much of my own work except the CQ wall hanging and some purses, so this year I will be creating a lot of things for my home, the nightlight is the first!

I am off to start dinner prep. I hope you are having a great day.

JOY is having one huge COZY giveaway

JOY is in the giveaway spirit...go check out her blog. After to join in the fun, browse around to see her wonderful creations.

Project dedicated to a mentor and friend......Nora Creeach

I didn't realize it has been so long since my last post.
I did get the tree down and decorations all wrapped and stored, but I have the stairway and front porch left to tackle. DH returned to work last Monday......for three days.....then had a 4 day weekend! I wish I had a 4 day weekend off! I have been so busy but didn't seem to accomplish anything. Yesterday I spent most of the day at mom's changing around furniture and freshening things up. It always lifts her spirits when she has a new environment to enjoy. She needed a boost because after losing an elderly cat last month, her favorite one, "Sterling", is about to go as well. It's sad when there is nothing you can do to help.

On a happier note, I did start on Gail's challenge for Jan yesterday afternoon. I worked on it late into the evening and picked it up again this morning. 14 hours later, and I am finished embellishing and it is ready to be assembled into a night light to go in my bathroom. I clamped the raw edges under to photograph,so please excuse the ugly black clips in the following photos.

There is a story behind this project, as with most of my creations. Rissa recently shared a story about Nora with CQMag staff. As you may know, Nora passed away in November. She was editor of CQMag and a very respected and wise woman and friend. From the story ,I learned Nora was a dancer. I then saw this beautiful image that Gail has offered for the January challenge, of a dancer lacing her ballet shoes. With the prompt word being,"Forever", and the photograph color on my laptop looking blue, like twilight, I immediately thought of Nora, and the many hours of pleasure she found in dancing, so.....this project is dedicated to Nora......In the soft twilight and in all our hearts, she will dance forever.....

I added the word, "forever" to the corner of the photo in PhotoShop and happily when I printed it out, it was more of a blue/purple. Dark periwinkle I would say. (I did not alter the original photo, I don't know how,LOL.)

Well, gathering fabric was no problem. I used a deep blue swarovski crystal heart to represent Nora...she loved the color blue. I also added a tatted heart from my friend Wendy Shu which was a perfect color match. (meant to be) I also happened to have one of those nightlights that has a sticky shade for you to cover...perfect! Now all I have to do is trim it out with a beaded fringe! This is the light turned on in a lit room....

...and in a dark room. The image shows through and so does the dragonfly which I was hoping it would. When I am finished completely I will get better photos to share.
Seeing this nightlight each morning will bring fond memories of my time writing for CQMag, and of my pleasure of meeting Nora, as well as a new found friend and blogger,the very talented, Gail. Guaranteed smiles!
Speaking of Gail, I am excited about my first online class on brushes 101 which starts tomorrow :-) I was speaking to Ellen today and she is joining us :-). It will be great to compare notes and bounce ideas off one another after we learn fun things.

In other news, I was invited to the String Along Quilt Guild meeting on the 14th. The guest speaker will be a woman who frames her paintings with crazy quilting. I have heard of her, but never had the chance to view her work and am anxious to meet her. I will take the Mermaid's Tale fiber book for show and tell. I was going to take the CQ wall hanging but the Art Center needs it to display for the mentor exhibit which starts on the same day and runs for a month.

Also, tomorrow evening I am attending a NANI meeting which is the Northwest chapter of EGA, as guest of my friend Marjorie. It should be interesting and very enjoyable to be around women of the needlearts.

Well I guess the saying, "Out with the old and in with the new" really applies to me this year! I'm looking forward to every new venture, each new friendship, and many new projects!

I hope you all are having a great start to your new year too. Keep Dancing Nora.....................

Falling snow

Do you see snow falling on my blog? With "Winter" as my last name, I just had to add it. If you want it also, go here.

Mini bird pins

These tiny bird pins were fun. I love those little wings!

Sharing a sweet story from a blogger

I would like to share this with you. It is lovely. Sharon House wrote it.