Thursday, March 28, 2013

EXCITING STUFF

Ahhhhh...a bit of spring fighting with winter...my sunny bunch of daffodils laughing at snow swirling outside my dining room window...
Just wanted to share a couple of exciting things with you! My friend Patti (of the PATCHWORK PINE workshop fame) somehow convinced her husband Dave that I might be interesting podcast-fodder. Dave and Patti visited me at home a few weeks ago...we enjoyed conversation and cookies at this very table...the ensuing interview can be found by visiting this website:

 
And, it's once again time for AN ARTFUL AFFAIR!!! This will be our first spring show...hope you all can come...here are the details:
 
 
 
    AN ARTFUL AFFAIR
Spring 2013
 Saturday, April 27
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1104 Middletown Road
Greensburg, PA  15601
 
And little Star cares not a whit about ANY of this...she's content enjoying her newest cozy place to roost (-:
Have a cozy day!
Thanks for "listening"...
 
 
 
 


Sunday, March 10, 2013

PATCHWORK PINE WORKSHOP


Recently, I had the pleasure of teaching PATCHWORK PINE to a lovely group of ladies who also happen to be dear friends. Patti, Esther, Pat, Linda, and I gathered on three separate days: first at Patti's home; then at Linda's hotel suite (that's a story for another day); and lastly at Pat's home. We shared fine food, fellowship, and of course, punching! It warmed my heart to see the trees "growing"...to see my humble design coming to life in their skilled hands. Take a peek...
 


 Awesome!
Gluing proved particularly creative...
...and fun...
...and just a wee bit messy (right, Linda?)
 
And I'm so proud to say all the ladies not only finished their PATCHWORK PINES, but also did a beautiful job!!!
 
AWESOME! 
Oh, and I had to bake special cookies...
 Thank you, with love and hugs to Patti, Esther, Pat, and Linda! And to everyone out there, thanks for "listening"!

Monday, February 4, 2013

Sent and Received

This posting is twofold: I needed to test my blog-site to make sure the "glitch" disappeared (it HAS!!!); and to show at least some of the recipients of my recent "sweet treats". Say hello to my brother's oldest son, Harold (I affectionately call my nephew "Jujee"), and his lovely wife Trish. Jujee reported that the spiced heart cookies do indeed taste like his Omi's (his grandmother, my Mutti). Awesome. Especially since today would have been her 89th birthday...have a Heavenly Birthday, Mutti!!!
More later...for today, thanks for "listening"...  

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Art Follows Life Follows Art

 My day began very early (uncharacteristically early for me), since I promised to bake and send cookies to family down south by a certain date, and that date was fast approaching. I wanted to try a cookie that my Mutti (Mom) used to bake around the holidays for kids, grand-kids, friends, Vati (Dad)...an iced, spiced sugar cookie topped with an almond slice. Sound familiar? Yup, it's one of my "Sweet Treats" trio I've written about before...and here's the inspiration. I lamented that I had neither my Mutti's recipe nor the crinkle-edged heart cookie-cutter she always used...but I managed. As I rolled the dough, cut the hearts, laid them on the cookie sheets, etc., etc., etc., I thought back on all the times I watched Mutti do this very same thing. I thought back and regretted not having asked enough questions. What was it like doing this with YOUR Mutti? How was the kitchen different? The stove? The baking utensils and tools? How about, "May I have this recipe, please?" Better yet, why in blazes didn't you write it down yourself, Helen? Mutti left me over eleven years ago and took all those answers with her. And the other person whose brain I should have picked more, my brother Harald, has joined Mutti and left me alone with even MORE unanswered questions.
My point? Please, ask away. Ask your Moms and Dads, your Grams and Grandpas, your aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., etc., etc. ASK them! Ask them whatever! Life is really too short...ask them NOW.
I have more thoughts bouncing in my brain and photos to share, but my blog site is not cooperating. Hopefully my "glitches" will pass and tomorrow will be another day for me (to write?). The cookies are traveling as I pen this...may they arrive safely and bring great joy (-:
Art (loosely speaking, my edible interpretation of Mutti's cookies) follows life (my Mutti's wonderful iced, spiced ones) follows art (loosely speaking, my punch needle "cookies"...which actually, originally, followed life). Enjoy! And, thanks for "listening"...  
 
 
 

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

HARALD'S ENTE



.
In honor and in memory of a very great and wonderful man, my beloved brother Harald, I'm posting "Harald's Ente", Harald's Duck, a keyholder I designed especially for him for his birthday a few years ago...you are in a better place today, Bro...pain-free, worry-free, soaring somewhere above the clouds. My heart is breaking as I type this. I love you. I will miss you. I will always be your littlest sis, Helen.
Godspeed, Bro.



Thursday, May 3, 2012

TREES AND STARS

While the trees outside began to pop with CRAYOLA "Spring Green", I began creating trees of a different sort. Faced with having to design a project for the Fall workshop sponsored by KATE AND BECCA'S QUILT PATCH, ETC., I came up with what I call "Patchwork Pine".
My students will get to play with a variety of fibers, two punch needle sizes, some embroidery stitches, and a few other fun things.
Smaller versions of the "Patchwork Pine" (cleverly named "Trees") will be available at our Creative Collective's AN ARTFUL AFFAIR this September.


   In honor of my new kitty "Star" (she's been pictured in earlier blogs), I've become obsessed with...you got it...stars. At first, I simply needle-punched a bunch of stars in different shades of gold, intending them to become wool-felt-backed ornaments (I still plan to do this). But then my friend and colleague Nan of FANCY WOOL FLOWERS (check out her blog and brand-new website!) sent me off on a tangent. She asked if I could experiment with her beautiful hand-dyed wool strips, to see if I could incorporate them into my punch needle creations. Voila, my "Starry Night" banner was born! 



Here's a close-up of one "Folk Star". When friend, colleague, and beach-enthusiast Merriann saw the little banner, she commented that the wee stars looked like starfish...cool! So now I have ordered aqua-dyed wool from Nan (-:

If my friend Susie is reading this, don't worry, I'm still working on your commission as well, and am enjoying every moment of creativity!
Well, time to take the "Pecan Diamonds" out of the oven...


...oh, and Star says HI...
...and Helen says, "Thanks for listening!"
  

Monday, December 12, 2011

I'M BACK!

Sorry I've been away from the blog for so long! Between commissions and traveling and coming up with new ideas, I've been mighty busy.
Before I get too crazy, I'd like to extend heartfelt and gracious thanks to all my buddies who came to visit us at AN ARTFUL AFFAIR!!! You know who you are...

Unfortunately, I was unable to photograph all of you; but here are some of you... 
Thanks so much for coming...hope you had as much fun as I did!

With the holiday season fast approaching, I find myself steeped in baking, Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping, shipping, freaking (a little)...you, too? Somewhere in there, I created a few "treasures". Let me know what you think...
Holiday Swirls Ornament


Peppermint Swirls Candle Lids

Holiday Wreaths Candle Lids

Mug-Rug  

Mug Rug

Mug Rugs
Oops! Dinner's about to burn...promise to return soon!
Thanks for "listening"...