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Archive for the ‘Art in our home’ Category

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Getting That Holiday Spirit

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Some of my readers have wondered if I was OK. I have just been very busy. Last night we had a party for one of our priests from Trinity who is retiring. She has been with the cathedral for 18 years. Mr C was on the commission that worked with her. We had a sit down dinner for 20 people. Here are the plates!

Mr C and I worked very hard for a few days getting the house spiffy and decorated. I made chicken breasts stuffed with spinach and goat cheese, salad and brown rice. The rest of the food was pot luck.

Today, I had back to back meetings  — Columbia Fiberarts Guild in the morning and SAQA in the afternoon. I am just about done in tonight.

I got my Christmas present to myself yesterday — a 50 mm lens for my new Nikon camera. I am loving playing with it. It is the lens that Steph uses in her work, and I now see why she uses it so much.

Here are some photos that I have taken so far.

The pretty morning sky:

The Scooter Man:

And some of our Christmas decor.

The tree lights detail:

The tree without lights turned on.

This last photo was not taken with the new lens. It is Scooter impersonating one of Santa’s reindeer. He had a good time at the party last night and got lots of loving from every one.

Tomorrow, I am going to do a profile of one of our guild members who does felting. She has had a manifesto of no waste since the late 1990’s. I think you will enjoy hearing about her work and seeing what she produces.

Posted in Art in our home, Columbia FiberArts Guild, Holidays, House and home stuff, photography, Scooter | 5 Comments »

Art Collection Acquisition

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

I am so happy that I was able to purchase this lovely piece, String Poetry, by Wen Redmond from the SAQA auction. I have admired her work for a long time.

I was at guild this morning and then realised that I needed to ship a quilt to LaConner Quilt and Textile Museum by Saturday — oops. I had lost the e-mail with instructions, but Kathleen, the curator, sent me every thing I needed, and I dropped it off at Fedex and went to the Farmer’s market. When I got home, I checked in on the auction and saw Wen’s quilt sitting there without a buyer. I was thrilled to have a chance to purchase it. I hope to pick up one more this year.

I have put my text quilt on hold for a bit and am rehabilitating another piece. I will share what I am doing tomorrow.

Posted in Art in our home, Quilting Friends, Stuff I Buy | Comments Off on Art Collection Acquisition

This and That and Then Some

Friday, May 6th, 2011

It has been one of those weeks — coming and going and regrouping after the latest violation. I am on the schedule for cataract surgery in 2 -3 months. I had a good visit with my Dr. My blood  pressure was 128/68. We all did a happy dance. My hair is red again. I have done a lot, but still feel so far behind in things I need to get done.

Above, is my display at Artists Among Us at Trinity. I love the folk art that is sharing space with my kimonos. Here are some photos taken last night at the artist/volunteer reception. Tonight was the gala where people start buying There were lots of red dots going on to the art work. Nice to see.

This is a painting by  a new Latino artist who is showing with us for the first time this year.

Some of my fiberart friends are participating this year. These are quilts by Diane English.

And, these are by Linda Christianson.

Maarja Paris has quite a bit of her felted work in the show. I love the bowls that she makes.

We bought this water color, Last Leaves, by Rosemary Carr, a member of the parish. I love it.

This art is composed of several smaller pieces that make a cohesive whole. He had each one priced individually, but I think someone bought them as a group because there were red stickers on all of them.

This is a beautiful black and white photo of aspens in the fall in Colorado taken by my friend, Danny.

These four water colors are really beautiful. This photo does not do them justice. They are quite large.

We are really proud of the quality of work this year. Here is an over view of the hall. We have several large metal sculptures by the artist who did the one in the center of the photo.

I used my new/used Canon Rebel to take the photos. I don’t think it is as good as the Nikon that was stolen, but the Canon’s get good reviews and I was able to get a good deal on a used one. It will do for now. I took these photos outside Trinity last night.

Back here in the neighborhood, it is the end of the school year for Reed College. This week-end is Ren Fair. The campus is closed and all sorts of shenanigans ensue. And structures like this one popped up all over the spacious lawn.

Posted in Art in our home, Stuff I Buy, Trinity Arts, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Happy Christmas!

Saturday, December 25th, 2010

We have had a scaled down celebration this year. Steph, Jack and Mia are still recovering from the crappy virus. They came last night for a couple of hours. I made a delicious cabbage, leek and chicken sausage soup which we ate with mini sandwiches followed by some Christmas goodies. We opened Christmas gifts to each other, and they had left for home to go back to bed by 7 pm.

Mr C and I went to midnight mass at Trinity and got there early enough to sit in the front row which was very pleasant especially during the pre-service music program. I actually wore a dress, something I have not done for a long time. It is an Eileen Fisher wool knit which I wore with tights.  Here is the dress – a bit longer on me. It may sound silly, but it made me happy to find a dress that I could wear with my weird body.

Today the family came over for a short time for lasagna, salad and pumpkin cheesecake. I could tell that Steph felt a lot better because she had seconds of the lasagna. They only stayed a short time. Both Miles and Mia were engrossed in their personal obsessions.

Miles and his latest Lego Star Wars set.

Mia is reading a new book by Richard Riordin about Greek gods.

The little nativity figures up at the top are a gift from Lisa. They were made in Tibet, I think. Very sweet. My favorite nativity set has to be the one the Kristin La Flamme made for me. Well, actually, we did a trade. I love all the details she has put into each figure.

Mr C gave me this beautiful necklace made by a Portland artist, Elaine Tan. I picked it out at our November Artisans sale at Trinity. It has lava beads, green jade and silver.

Steph gave me this book by Maira Kalman, And The Pursuit of Happiness. I just love her illustrations. With it is a new apron from Lisa.

Lisa’s partner, Clay, took a wood block printing class a couple of months ago and she made prints of Lisa’s dog, Wilfredo. I think she did such a great job and hinted that I would like one. She got it nicely framed for me.

I really enjoyed our simpler holiday. I am feeling tired, but very happy. I had lots of phone time with both Mark and Lisa. I was so tired from the late night and the cooking that I fell asleep this afternoon. I am heading to the studio tomorrow. First thing is to clean up from the coaster making frenzy. Then, I must get my next Twelve X Twelve done. We are delaying the reveal because of the holiday. So look for what we all do on January 12.

I hope your holiday was merry, too.

Posted in Art in our home, Holidays, This and that | 6 Comments »

Handmade Ornaments

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Mia and Miles spent the afternoon and helped me get the tree decorated and the manger scenes set up. There is Miles hard at work.  Mia is much better, but has lost a lot of weight.

Mia asked if we got a smaller tree or was she getting bigger! I told her it was a bit of both.

The tree is looking good. I love hanging the ornaments and remembering where each one came from. Many of my ornaments were gifts from friends and family. I thought I would share some of my favorite homemade ornaments.

These two were both made by my sister-in-law, Kristin  — a crocheted snowflake and a patchwork.

This crewel piece was made by my best friend and neighbor when we lived in San Jose. It is a beautiful crewel piece.

This is an origami ornament that Miles made for me last year.

The next 3 ornaments were made by my mother-in-law, Ruth; she almost always had some hand work going.

My other sister-in-law made these two clothespin ornaments for us, years ago.

And this clothespin Mexican donkey is a favorite, too.

I am repeating my affirmations that I can get every thing done to create a lovely Christmas for the Portland contingent of the family. Steph is still not well and isn’t sleeping because she is coughing so much.

If you don’t hear from me for a few days, know that I am busy wrapping and baking and last minute shopping.

Posted in Art in our home, Family, Holidays | 9 Comments »

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