Cyber Fyber Postcard Exhibit and Exchange

Here's a cool idea: exchange fiber postcards with others around the world, then create an online exhibit AND a gallery exhibit from all the postcards received. This idea was hatched by Susan Lenz, who has created 163 postcards she is offering for exchange. Busy gal! You can arrange a trade with her through her web site here.

I just received this sumptuous card from Susan in the mail. It is encrusted with metallic paint, sewn in embroidery patterns with metallic threads, and features some handmade felt and a gorgeous button.



Be sure to click on the photo so you can see the fantastic detail.

Now I've got this incredibly high standard to meet. Off to the studio to start creating!

Carol Parks' Valentine Tea

I had the good fortune (thanks, Melissa!) to be invited to Carol Parks' Valentine tea last Saturday. It was a grand time, with amazing and beautiful food and company, not to mention loads of raffle prizes! The valentine exchange was the highlight of the afternoon. I've scanned some of the fun goodies I received. I haven't received this many Valentines since about 6th grade! And I've NEVER received Valentines like these.







Carol has started a non-profit organization to provide day care for the elderly and kids together, so all raffle proceeds went to that cause. For $5 she also composed poems for us based on a single word we chose. My word was "fantastic."





Carol hosts art workshops at her home and studio, and sells some fun art and kits on her web site. Be sure to visit her here.

Zig Zag Scarf

Just finished this scarf that I started in Denver. The lacy pattern required a bit more focus than I was able to give, so it's chock full of mistakes, but it's okay as long as you don't look to closely!

January Pink & Black Postcard

I am continuing with the colors postcard group this year, but we're only exchanging cards with one person each month. MUCH easier than making 10 cards a month, that's for sure. I loved this month's colors:

Lianne's Locks of Love

Wow, talk about a change! Lianne got her hair cut off and will donate the more than 10-inch ponytail to Locks of Love. Her new do is great, a real change for her!







I also have to share a couple of shots i took this weekend of Tinkerbell cuddling with the kids:





And of course Tiger Lily had to get in on the cuddling action:

Family and Pets in Denver

I've just returned from 10 days in Denver with family. Within the past year, my son moved there and so did my sister and her family, so now it's a place I visit, whereas I'd never been there before a year ago!

I'm just going to dump in a bunch of photos with a little commentary here.

First of all, my son Kyle is very camera shy, so I only got two good shots of him. In one of them he's squinting from the bright sun on the snow, and in the other, well, you see how he loves having his photo taken. We had a really good visit, and it was fantastic to see him after 14 months!





My sister's kids, on the other hand, are little hams when the camera is pointed at them. And their dogs and cat are pretty photogenic too!











We had one good snowfall while I was there, and this Cali girl had to get a few shots:







The day after the snowfall, we went out to the ranch where my sister keeps her horse. It was just gorgeous out there, but sunglasses were a must:











Jen's horse, Flint, is a bit of a ham for the camera as well.







Nephew Ryan has joined scouts, and I got a good shot of him before a meeting. I also made it to his first-ever basketball game, but I forgot my camera!



I had grand plans for all the knitting I was going to do while I was there, but this hat for my sister is the only item I finished (doesn't it look great with here eyes?). I started a glove but ripped it out because it was such a mess, and am halfway through a lacy scarf too.



That's it for my vacation photos. Enjoy!

My First Assemblage

At the request of my former collage teacher, I agreed to make an assemblage incorporating a paper maché heart for a charity auction. After a few fits and starts, I decided to base the piece on a metal sign from an aircraft carrier that says "Ice Cream Room." Thus the ice cream colors and the attempts at coating the elements with "ice."






















The ice is made from a product called "Frozen Opals" plus layers of "Glossy Accents." I found that if I squeezed on the Glossy Accents, let it drip just a bit, then hit the drips with a heat gun, I could capture the drips.

Once again, I've run up against my limited photography skills, but you get the idea!

Last Postcard of 2007: Gossamer Curtain

December's postcard exchange colors were "on gossamer wings." I decided to do a gossamer curtain instead. I made the curtain fabric using water-soluble fabric and lots of different fibers all sewn with metallic thread. Here's the whole piece of fabric when it was done. You can see the fibers more on one side than the other.





Here are a couple of close-ups. This stuff does NOT photograph well!







I'm not sure how well I captured the theme, but I'm kinda partial to these cards, which look waaay better in person, as you can see through the fabric.