Tree Page from Juliette

Here's the page that Juliette sent me - isn't it lovely? Her stitching is exquisite and I love the simplicity of it.

Here's the back. Thanks so much Juliette! It will make a wonderful addition to my book.

A Door from Germany

My page from Ann arrived today.  Isn't it beautiful?  I love the roses vineing along either side of the door.

But wait until you open that door!

There's a velvet curtain inside.  The color is sooo rich.  Thank you so much, Ann.

Important Swap Information

Hi all,

I've just sent out an e-mail to everyone but I thought I'd put a note on here as well. Chris Evans has dropped out of the swap due to multiple family emergencies. She is very sorry that she can't finish but has too many other obligations to be able to complete any more pages. She said she will try to stop by the blog occasionally to see how we're doing and I've asked her to keep me informed of her situation.

If you haven't made a page for Chris, please do not make one. Some of you will have already made her a page but won't get one in return. Sorry about that but these things happen. I appreciate the effort that most of you are putting into completing your pages on time. Thanks!

Cobi's September Page

Cobi, your page for September is completed and I'll mail it off to you tomorrow. Hope you'll like it.

Page to Debi

Hi Debi,
Your page has just been posted; apologies for the delay, I'm catching up eventually tho!!

Proud as a Peacock

An American expression for a joyful pride is to be "proud as a peacock." I don't know if this phrase is international or not, but I am "proud as a peacock" to be the new owner of this delightful page made by Maya.

She tells me that the peacock is the national bird of India. In Maya's words, " The peacock is all embroidery, sequins and oil pastels. The tree is where I tried out something new to me. I imagine the tree is a flowering tree something like the Flame of the Forest which has large orange blossoms. For the leaves I cut out pieces from a plastic snack packet and for the flowers I used nail polish and some embroidery."

What a wonderful page! Thank you so much Maya. I will treasure it.

Sneak Preview for Juliette

Your September page started its trip across the pond today.   I'm soooo pleased to have finished it before the 15th!  Albeit, barely!

Door from Crete

I received my page from Kath a couple of days ago.  She took a picture of an actual door and then used fabric and embroidery to make the stone work surrounding it.  It's great! 

This page looks really good with the others.  My book is going to look really amazing!

Coastline Page for Chris

Chris let me know that she received my page for August. When I think of coastline, I think of waves crashing on a rocky shore. So that is what I chose to depict. I needle felted wool roving, yarns, wool locks and scrim. I then added hand stitching on the rocks.

Here's the back.

And a close up showing a few french knots and straight stitching. Glad you liked it Chris.

Apologies.

Sorry everyone, I am running rather late with my pages again. Apologies, especially to Liz who should have received her August page before now. I shall let you know, Liz, when this is in the post.

Leaves from Liz

Liz thank you for this page its going to be a wonderful addition to my book. Received it a couple of days back. Love the little glass leaves.

There's a little quote on the back by Tagore -

'let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a Leaf '.

Creature in the mail for Gayle

Here's a little peek of the creature I've created for you Gayle. A little over the deadline but the creature will be posted to you today.

A little note to Debi - Was wondering if you have received the 'Shabby Chic' page I created for you and posted last month? If you have I can post a picture here on the blog for the others to see if you've got your hands full at this time. I know how that can be, August was that way for me. Or else I'll have to begin on a replacement page.

Mandy's Ocean Page

I have just gotten word from Mandy that she has received the Under Sea page that I created for her for the month of July. She is having some computer problems so I am going to post the pictures that I took of the page and give youa few how too's. If anyone has ny questions you can always give me a holler!!

To create the blue sea background, I simply fused scraps of various blue fabrics down onto a piece of muslin and then did some swirling FME in wave shapes all over the piece. FOr the sandy bottom I used a wonderful scrap of some gorgeous textured raw silk and then went to it with ribbons and beads and shells.

As for the shells, I used ones that I have collected form our New England beaches. The purple bits on the far left and again on the right up near the top of the sand are tumbled bits of a clam called a Quahog. I found these bits complete with holes already waiting for me, thanks to sea critters. This shell is very dense and to drill a hole one needs a very specailized diamond drill, so I am always thrilled to find the bits with holes at the ready. Ususally other collectors want the "PERFECT" pieces and discard the holey ones_ Fine with me!!!

For the seaweed I used various embroidery stitches as well as a used drier sheet that I painted with metallic olive green paint. I then fussy cut a branched form out of the sheet and then used a green thread to sitch down the center of each branch.

In this picture you can see a small yellow snail shell that is part of a collection that I gathered from a beach in Maine when I was 4 years old (that was in the early 1960's). There to the right of it is a small white clam and to the left a yellow jingle shell. I was able to drill holes into all of these so I could stitch them down safely.

I always love working on collage pieces such as this and find that my biggest problem is knowing when to stop!!!!

I am so glad that you like the page Mandy!!! Now I am off to work on my Leaves Page !!

Happy Fall to all!! Happy Spring to Johanna!!!

Deer-Juliette

Thnak you dear Juliette for the sweet deer that arrived yesterday. The soft colors are lovely and lend a serene feel to the page. Nicely done! Hope you are recovering and getting back to normal. Thank you so much!

Amazing Page From Kath!!!

Oh KAth you ahve certainly outdone yourself, hurt left arm and all!!! I adore this beautiful depiction of this exquisite window. The detail here is amazing. This is a depiction of a window from teh church of St John Theologia in Kavousi, Rethymno Crete. KAth did all of the stitching and backed the piece on butter soft ultrasuede. Simply stunning!!!!

What a tresure my window collection is becoming ladies! Thank you all so very much for sending me bits of the wolrd that you live in to beautify my corner of the world!!!!

Thank You Ann!!!

I am so sorry to be so tardy with responding to your wonderful page Ann!!! We have just gotten our eldest child off to his first year of college and there has been alot of emotional upheaval and moving of stuff , going on!!! He is trying to find his way ans struggling and my Mommy heart hurts for him but he will come thru it all, I am sure
ANYWAY!!!! Thank you so much for the lovely quilted page. Ann depicted two cats sitting on a window looking out onto a beautifully quilted yard. I do have a very soft spot for a certain cat from my past. This particular Kitty got me thru some very rough teenage years and lived to the very old age of 18! i love the page Ann thank you!!!
I can't seem to find the page in all of the piles around the house so I am wondering if you might be able to post a picture. As I get things sorted I will find it and post a shot of it then!!
Big Hugs and Thanks, Ann!!!

Liz

Hi Liz, with apologies but your page will be in the post this week for sure, hopefully tomorrow!! So sorry for the delay, I hope you enjoy it at last. Here's a pic of some doors around Rethymno, our nearest town but the one I'm doing you is based on a church near our village.

Leaves that Fly

Well, these leaves don't fly under their own power, but I'm guessing they will hitch a ride on an airplane to get to India!  Which is a wordy way to say my page for Maya has been posted.  LOL!

Here is a little teaser while you wait, Maya. 

Gayle

Gayle The page you made me arrived on Wednesday. Thanks so much. Dreaming Quilts : ) Carmen

Scotty's Castle for Carmen

The Post Office tells me that this page has arrived at Carmen's house, so here are the pics. I have particularly enjoyed the pages depicting scenes and life around the world.

There are not many castles in California to inspire me! LOL But...I have always wanted to visit Scotty's Castle in the desert area called Death Valley. The story of the "castle" is that of an unlikely friendship between a reprobate prospector and a wealthy, religious busnessman from back East. This link tells the whole story:

www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-bts-pag11.htm

The rocky sand was made with Texture Magic. Great stuff! The cactus is one variety of prickly pear. I have never eaten the fruit fresh, but have had jelly made from it. The young leaves or paddles can be skinned an eaten as a vegetable or side dish (nopales). Once in a home in Tijuana, I was served a breakfast of scrambled eggs and nopales with still warm tortillas fresh from the neighborhood tortilleria, Mmmmm!