The sweetest two year old around got a guitar for Christmas from her step-daddy. She used to watch him play and would try to help him pick the strings. When she opened her present and saw she had her very own guitar, the look on her face was priceless. She patiently waited for him to try to tune the little guitar and then sat right down and held it properly and tried to play a tune. She sang, "Down on it" and the faces she made were perfect. Do we have a future SuperStar in our midst?
Leading up to Christmas was chaotic. So much to do and never allowing myself enough time to finish in time. I vow to start gifts at least in October this year instead of waiting till two weeks before Christmas.
Of course, I was in charge of the HOMDA Christmas Party again this year. It was wonderful as always. Our centerpieces this year were votive globes painted with a blue snow scene. The gifts for all attendees were large clothespins that are used as Memo Holders. We had 24 attendees.
Once that was over I felt I could actually concentrate on my own Christmas needs.
Earlier this year I joined a new (to me) on line group called Art4Mail--Ladies who Share Common Threads. This group is for anyone from beginners to the more advanced who are interested in making fabric postcards, ATC's, Inchies, Quilties, Art Dolls, Dotee's, Button Fairies, and other fiber art to be exchanged through the mail. Swapping is with people from all over the world. I joined this group because they have a pincushion swap also, and I'm addicted to pincushions. Plus I had heard about Dotee's and they have Dotee Swaps.
So far I've been involved in two pincushion swaps, one Dotee Doll swap, one crazy quilt block swap, and two Circle Art swaps. That's in a little over two months. Those swaps have certainly kept me busy! I've loved the pincushion swaps. The dotee was a new experience and taught me a bit about painting faces on fabric. The circle Art swap was also a learning experience but gave me a chance to try new media I've heard about but never tried.
The top block is the one I made to swap and the one below it is the one I received.
This orange pincushion is the one I made for the October swap. It's supposed to be a chrysanthemum on the top and pumpkins and oak leaves on the side.
Here is the one I made for the November swap. A pointsettia adorns the top and snowflakes and beading on the sides. The veining on the pointsettia leaves were added with color pencils. The center of the pointsettia was beaded. I really liked this and should have made a second one for me to keep. Both of them were made from wool felt
This pincushion is one I received from my swap partner for the November swap from Art4Mail. The silk ribbon embroidery along with the beading is awesome! The Snowqueen Dotee Doll below is what I made to send to 3 different swap partners in December.
It was lots of fun to design and make this doll and I learned a lot from this experience.
For 2010, no one jumped right in to take on the task of being Pincushion Swap Hostess for Art4Mail. Since I wanted continue the Pincushion Swap, I jumped right in and decided to be Hostess. I can't imagine it will be any problem at all. Yeah! Two pincushions a month. One at Art4Mail and one at Crazy About Pincushions.
I also belong to another list, Crazy About Pincushions, which is primarily a list devoted to making and swapping, what else, but pincushions! I joined this list about two years ago and have made friends from all over the world. They have a pincushion swap about once every month and a half or so. Usually there is a theme to their swap.
Another pincushion related item...the local Sewing Guild has asked me to put on a demo/lecture about pincushions and their history next week. I've known about this for the last month. I plan on having everyone make a pincushion at the meeting. It's one that I wrote the directions to and have shared with the members of Crazy About Pincushions, a flower pincushion. Plus I'll share my pincushion collection and show them how they can re-use some of their everyday stuff, such as cans, lids, leftover linens, embroideries, tatting, etc, and make them into pincushions. I'll definitely let you all in on how it turns out after next week.
