One Photo - One Story #2 : YouTube Video - I'd Forgotten

Years ago, I was featured on Public Television's "The Creators" series.  I'd completely forgotten about it until I was contacted by a docent from an art museum across the country looking for information about some porcelain paintings she acquired. The YouTube video was how she found me.

I thought I'd post it here - you might find it interesting.  Remember, it was produced YEARS ago - I'm much younger and slimmer in the video ;0)….my painting style has matured - both for my sweet Limoges boxes and my portraits.

Tomorrow - another picture, another story.

One Photo, One Story - #1 - "Uh-oh!" and Smalls SAL Check-In

Angela from Pretty Little Things in a Box invited me to take part in "One Photo, One Story". I'll post a photo each day for five days….maybe there's a story attached, maybe not.

"Uh-oh!!"

2.75 inches in diameter

This is a miniature portrait I painted of my daughter on porcelain. 

Here's the story:

My in-laws kept my daughter for a few days one summer. When I picked her up, Grandpa was so excited to show me what she'd learned. He said, "Sarah! Where did the indian shoot you?" (Westerns were very popular TV shows at the time). My sweet little girl pulled up her shirt, looked at her belly button and yelled "Uh-oh!!"

She was so proud of herself - it was one of those precious moments I kept seeing over and over in my mind, so I HAD to paint it. 

Tomorrow, another picture, another story.

Oh! And here's my Smalls SAL project for the month - it will go on a miniature needlepoint stand, once the stand is stained. I purchased the kit from Janet Granger. It's done on 40 Ct silk gauss and measures 1.5 inches square.

Vintage Embroidery Monday and Stitchery Link Party

It's Vintage Embroidery Monday and Stitchery Link Party at Super Mom - No Cape! Blog. Pop on over and see what other stitchers have been up to.

I signed up for the Fine-ally Finished Folio series of projects designed by Jackie du Plessis and hosted by Needle in a Haystack. I just finished Lesson 1 - the storage pouch and pin keep. I'd never done piping before, so this was a real challenge for me. Plus, I messed up the silk ribbon pretty badly…the drawstrings should be the pretty blue color of the string tunnel…..I went to using a black ribbon instead. Yet - TA-DA!  By George, I did it!!

Now, I'm ready for Lesson 2. Stay tuned…..

Tissue Pack Covers - Thank you, Renee!

Renee from Living my Dream posted her latest project - which was a tissue pack cover. The tutorial can be found here.

I purchased a new sewing machine a few weeks ago and have promised myself I'd sew something every day so I can get more comfortable using the machine (which I LOVE!!). The tissue covers sounded like the perfect, quick project for a Sunday.

Renee - you've created a monster - HA! They are so FUN and EASY and so darned CUTE!! (Thank you ever so much for the link to the tutorial).

I found pieces of "Beach Lady" fabric and made one. Then I had to make another. I had some gold metallic material with an Egyptian theme (no, I have no idea why I bought it in the first place) and made another one. Here they are:

Top:

Bottom of Egyptian tissue cover:

Bottom of Beach Ladies tissue cover:

I had to stop myself from making more, I've got other things that need my attention. But, I can assure you, I'm making MORE!  Exchange partners, BEWARE - HA!

One Lovely Blog Award

What a nice surprise from June - she nominated me for the "One Lovely Blog Award". Thank you, June!!

The purpose of this award is for bloggers to nominate fellow, mostly newer, bloggers that they wish to recognise. The goal is to bring attention to blogs that we think are "lovely" and enjoy reading. We hope others will enjoy reading these blogs also.

In order to accept the award, the nominated blogger must follow these rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you & link back to them in your post
• Share seven facts about yourself
• Nominate 10 other bloggers for the award 

Here are my seven facts:

1.  I learned to knit when I was in fourth grade. A dear friend of my mother's picked me up at school and took me to their home. She told me my grandfather had died and I was to stay with her family for a few days. To distract me, she taught me to knit. I think that was the beginning of my passion for creating and doing hand-work.

2. I was an award-winning singer in grade school and high school (soprano). My music teacher encouraged me to study music in college, but I chose business school instead.

3. I paint on china (porcelain) and love, LOVE portraits and painting Limoges boxes. I was juried in to the largest miniature art show in the world, The Miniature Art Society of Florida two years in a row (2008 and 2009).  Here is a miniature portrait of my husband and me:

4.  I've loved horses since I was a little girl. My first pony was a dark bay called "Fuzzy". He was FAST - a barrel racing pony. I loved watching Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans, Bonanza, Fury, My Friend Flicka….and reading any horsey book I could get my hands on - The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, A Horse Called Frog, All Horses go to Heaven…the list goes on. My mother couldn't quite reconcile she had a cowgirl on her hands, so she took me to a hunt seat lesson barn. Well, what can I say? She lost her Cowgirl that day - I rode hunters and jumpers for years. Then switched to dressage and acquired the horse of my dreams while in my late 30's - Toby. He's gone now and I've stopped riding, but my love for those creatures remain.

5. I was on the "Martha Stewart Show". A group of us from around the USA shared our talents to benefit "Safe Horizons", a domestic violence shelter for women in NYC. I painted an abstract painting that now hangs in SH's entryway. I had it framed but can't find the photo of the framed piece.

6. I've been married to my Knight in Shining Armor for over 25 years. I feel like we just got started. I'm so very blessed to have such a sweet, understanding husband. He keeps me grounded.

7. I have a beautiful daughter, Sarah, and two step-children. Ben and his lovely wife and two children live in Michigan and my step-daughter, Carolyn, lives in our area.

Sarah, her DH and my little grandson just moved to Singapore (SOB!).

I've met so many lovely people in this blogging world! I follow many, many blogs, here are the ones that popped up at random. Have fun visiting and learning about these ladies!

Heather  - Stitching Lotus

Pilar - Flower Borders

Renee - Living my Dream

Sue - Super Mom - No Cape!

Shez - Enjoying Life

Sarah - Sarah in Stitches

Jamie - Cricket-bug Corner

Lynda-Ruth - Purple Pixie Dust

Stacey - Bakercourt

Annette - California Stitcher

Thank you for visiting!!

LK Traveling Pattern Winner and Kokopelli Box

The winner of the LK traveling pattern is

Debbie from Debbie's Corner

I've emailed Debbie - the pattern will be off in the post tomorrow! CONGRATS, Debbie!!

My wonderful woodsmith (aka, DH), made this box featuring a Kokopelli design on the top for my dear cousin. She lives in Arizona and loves the southwestern area and its culture. The body of the box is made out of maple and the design is oak. It's roughly 4 inches in diameter and 3 inches tall.

If you're note familiar with the legend of Kokopelli, there's a good write up about him here. 

Traveling Pattern Winner, Decorative Thimble Exchange CLOSED, Lady and the Unicorn "Smell"

The winner of the Shakespeare's Peddler pattern is

Jamie from Cricket-bug Corner

I've e-mailed Jamie for her address, the pattern will go out as soon as I hear from her. - CONGRATS, JAMIE!!

The Decorative Thimble Exchange is now closed. We have 18 participants from all over the world! I'll be sending out emails today to everyone so they can get their thimbles packed up and shipped off to their partners.

** PLEASE NOTE**  I had several responses from 'no-reply bloggers'. I tried to reach out to them, but was unsuccessful. If you responded you wanted to participate, and didn't receive an email today from me with your partner's name, I'm so very sorry I wasn't able to accommodate. 

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Have you heard of the Cluny Tapestries? The Lady and the Unicorn? They are gorgeous - and I've always been drawn to them. Of course, I find the history or story behind why they were created intriguing, which make them even more attractive to me. Unfortunately, it remains a mystery, but there's a great write up about each tapestry here.

In short, there are six tapestries that tell the story of the Lady and the Unicorn and they now hang in the Cluny Museum in Paris. Each tapestry represents each of the 5 senses - Taste, Touch, Smell, Sound and Sight. The sixth tapestry is known as "To My One Desire" because of the words woven into it.

This one is known as "Smell".  It's from a Dimensions kit. Measuring 16 x 20 inches, it's now been blocked and in my hands to finish off.  I have two complimentary pieces, "Sound" and  "To My One Desire" that need to be blocked - I'll post when they're off the blocking board.

"The lady is making a bridal crown of carnations, the flower of betrothals. This lady must think she is sure to catch her unicorn if she was already making her crown." (From Tracy Chevalier's website here).

Please pop over to Super Mom - No Cape blog to take a peek at her Vintage Embroidery Monday and Stitchery Link Party. LOTS of creative ideas.