Xmas flowers

We received this beautiful cyclamen plant with lots of lovely white blossoms.

Priscilla is finishing up a new vest made with the "butterfly" pattern.

This is the back.











This is front of the vest. The kitty appliques are from Panama.










Priscilla and I made bog coats from some wonderful material that she found. I finished mine with a band of black sateen.

A holiday lunch

We had a lovely lunch with Jim and Doreen.


(My apologies for the bad photography.)












The Steamboat Landing in Canandaigua was decorated for the holidays, and we always enjoy seeing its timberframe construction.












This is the view of Canandaigua Lake from the window, with just a slight dusting of snow starting to settle on the ground.

Goodies for my stash

I couldn't help myself! 

Several wonderful goodies that Priscilla brought back from Guatemala now reside in my stash....  :-)

Woven piece and belts that could be part of a jacket.















Scarves that match the belts that could be used as fabric in jackets.
















A couple of yards of Guatemalan fabric.


















More belts with wonderful woven designs












A woven piece that could be used as a table/dresser scarf or used as fabric.

Pat's pumpkins

This is the current state of Pat's Halloween pumpkins.
















The resident squirrels think they're mighty tasty!













Pat's cat "Attie" looks comfy on her color-coordinated pillow.

Goodies from Guatemala

Priscilla recently returned from a week in Guatemala, and we had a chance to go through some of the goodies that she brought back.















Purses, belts, scarves, beaded necklaces and earrings, and lots more.













Pat likes the beaded ornaments.














Trying out some scarves....

Priscilla added this beautiful embroidered piece to her collection.  It was probably used as a baby carrier.

Holiday Gathering

Instead of a sewing day, we decided to celebrate the holiday season at Pat's.

Pat's living room is ready for Santa.

There was LOTS of great food.

And the Xmas cookies wished Priscilla a Happy Birthday!

Kitchen duty included keeping a lookout for those pesky deer.

December ?

The ground is frozen, and we are cutting back the tarragon and rosemary so we can cover the plants with several inches of bark mulch.

Hopefully, this procedure keeps the cycle of freezing and thawing to a minimum and enhances the chance of the plants' winter survival.

Our  mild weather allows some spring clean-up chores to be completed several months early. 

We like the late start to winter.  In fact, we wouldn't mind if it never came this year!

Some berries appear on the perennial garden shruberry.  It makes good feed for winter birds, although no need for such as yet.

Wonderful clear, mild days follow one upon another.  Our western sky presents a series of colorful sunsets even if it is before 5 pm!!

SAQA at Schweinfurth

SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) was on the program today for Schweinfurth Art Center's Sunday series of trunk shows.



Before the program, several SAQA members from New York state and one international member from Toronto met for lunch and discussions about being fiber artists.




Thanks to our SAQA reps, Jeanne Simpson and Pat Pauly, for organizing the day's events.

A large audience gathered for the trunk show.















Pat Pauly introduced the SAQA group, and then more than 20 of the SAQA members each introduced themselves and showed their work.

This is Mary Diamond at the microphone, talking about three of her pieces that are being shown.

 

Sewing with Suki

Even though it was a lovely sunny day (especially for early December), Suki chose to spend her time in the studio so she could participate in the sewing activities.

She likes to help, particularly when she can be right in the middle of things.

And, as you can see, Suki found a perfect spot to hold down Nancy's quilt while she basted it.

Later, she selected a spot next to her scratching post to stand guard in case any invading little critters showed themselves.

Art Quilts at the Chandler

The "Art Quilts XVI: Something to Say" exhibit is on now at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Chandler, AZ.

The exhibit opened November 28, 2011, and runs through January 28, 2012.

Thanks to Sherry Kleinman, shown here with her "Bedtime Stories" quilt, for sharing some pictures from the venue.

The artists included in the exhibit are

Pamela Allen, Sandra Branjord, Sarah Bowker, Sherryl Buchler,

Betty Busby, Benedicte Caneill, Erika Carter, Lisa Chipetine, Gerrie Congden, Denise Currier, Marcia De Camp, Linda Engstrom, Deborah Fell, Linae Frei, Susan Garrity, Claire Gimber, Terry Grant, Nancy Graves-Green, Virginia Greaves, Betty Hahn, Marla Hattabaugh, Georgia Heller, Gwen Jones, Margit Kagerer, Kathleen Kastles, Margaret Keeney, Pamela Price Klebaum, Sherry Kleinman, Sandra Lauterbach, Anita Mabante Leach, Jill Le Croissette, Denise Linet, Linda McCurry, Frances Murphy, Nancy Nakamoto, Kathy Nida, Marti Plager, Nancy Proctor, Wen Redmond, Sue Reno, Maria Shell, Brenda Smith, Mariana Smith, Hazel Stone, Mary Vaneecke, Marilyn Wall, Kathryn Wild, Heidi Zielinski

My "Jet Trails #9" quilt is on the center column in both views below.