Studio Sunday #7–A Painting Class

One of the previous Studio Sunday’s was a visit with painter Susan Rios. Today I went back to the studio with my friend Peggy to take a Cre8art Workshop.

I have never thought of myself as an artist so it was to be an adventure. The snowman was my second ornament. 



There were six students. Some of the other women had been to previous classes and others were first timers like us. 

The table was covered in two different pink & white laminated fabrics – a check and a pink dot.

 

Each setting had a clipboard with paper to paint, a sleeve with a variety of brushes, a water container for wetting the brushes (not on the table as yet and an inspirational quote on a small card to take  home.



Susan talked about our choices for the day and shared some inspirational ideas. She collects vintage Christmas postcards. They are stacked at the front of the table holding extra ornaments and watercolor postcards.



She made the wreath after seeing one similar to it on Pinterest (sorry, the sun was bright through the window)



and then interpreted it on an ornament.



A couple of other ornaments Susan has painted.
Some snowmen.



A cupcake. Wouldn’t a bunch of these be cute on a kitchen counter tree?



Like this cute pink one Susan has! I think I need to find one of these. I think she got hers at a yard sale. The lights and even the wires are pink.



So we started to cre8art. The table didn’t stay neat for long. We used acrylic paint, you can see my box on the right hand side.
















Susan demonstrated technique on an ornament.




I practiced poinsettias and wreath arrangement on the paper and decided the wreath might be the way to go.



Mine wasn’t too bad for a first try. The glitter helps to hide things.



Peggy who is an incredible artist painted the snow scene from one of the postcards. Look at all that detail. The gold ornament has Winnie the Pooh with ribbon scrolls. It is for her granddaughter.



A couple of other artworks:



Debbie was another artist. This was from another vintage postcard.



It was a lot of fun and I will definitely try to go for another class. Peggy and I lined our ornaments up to dry befroe the trip home.



As we left Susan's’ studio it was still a ridiculous 70 degrees. I know winter must be out there somewhere. Just not in Southern California.



Thanks for the visit.

Stitch at you Soon,Dawna

Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for much today – I am blessed with a wonderful husband, a loving family & fabulous friends. I count among my friends all visitors that visit my blog. Your visits and comments add much joy to my days.

The weather is gorgeous here today. The sky is blue with a perfect breeze to rustle the drying leaves on the tree in our front yard. I used a few of them again this week on the tablescape. For a tablecloth I used a log cabin style quilt I made 20 years ago.



It was the second quilt I ever made and I am still in love with it. It was actually made first as a tablecloth to go with our wedding china. After a few years I took off the white backing added borders and had my friend Paula quilt it.



Paula is an amazing heirloom machine quilter and uses a domestic machine not a longarm. Visit her blog Batts in the Attic to see some of her incredible work. 

She had to constantly re-stencil the acorn and oak leaves I chose for the border. It kept disappearing.



The napkins are made out of one of the fabrics in the quilt. My Limoge Pots de Crème are the perfect size for a tiny serving of pumpkin mousse. 



Our wedding china is  Tirschenreuth Baronesse, the crystal Lenox Monroe  and even the chargers were part of our wedding gifts.



The cornucopia is Longaberger filled with with pumpkins and dried leaves from out front.



Thanks for visiting and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Stitch at you Soon,
Dawna
Being Thankful with:
Cuisine Kathleen - Let's Dish
Between Naps On The Porch - Tablescape Thursday
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

Studio Sunday #6–Topstitch Quilters

First off I apologize for missing the last two Sundays. I unfortunately had an awful case of the stomach flu the first week and was still not up to par last weekend.

Today I have a lovely treat for you. A visit with Susan and Lisa, the mother/daughter team who own Top Stitch Quilters. It is always great to see a family business that  works and they are a wonderful example.



Just inside the front door is a sign that many of us understand and emulate.



Right below is the check in counter for your quilt. The wall between holds a shelf made from an old sewing cabinet drawer. In it are flyers about fabrics for backings, a quilt show opportunity flyer and other assorted quilt information.

Framed to the right and down is the company’s pricing information. They accept credit cards, Pay Pal and of course the green stuff.



The computer has quilting designs to choose from. They also have books with patterns printed out. The basket holds some wide batik backings.

As you look across the counter you can see their Gammill equipped with a Statler Stitcher. To the far left is their personal sewing areas. We will visit that another day. They both complete a lot of projects.

On the wall behind the Gammill are some of their personal quilts



and hanging below on the right are quilts in the queue to be quilted for customers.



A lot of light comes in the front window which makes it easy to choose threads for quilting while at the counter.



Dixie and Annie are very interested in everything that is going on and oversee from the landing.



They are sure they are in charge of quality control. And want to help choose your quilt design.



Threads and other staples for prepping a quilt. Rulers are easily accessible and many large refill bottles of Best Press are lined up on the floor.







An ironing board is stationed at the end of the Gammill. 



Is it wrong that a tray of pins looks so yummy?  A quilter’s eye candy.



Some antique spools and a painted hatbox decorated the top of a cabinet.



As we head towards the front door there are a couple of pin cushions made by Susan that sit on a trunk by the front door.



She made this one at Bolts in October in a class with Nancy Bednar.



Thanks for visiting Susan and Lisa’s studio with me. And thank you to the two of them for letting me share their space. If you are interested in seeing more of their work visit their website  at www.topstitchquilters.com.

Stitch at you Soon,
Dawna

Prelude to Thanksgiving

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is a week from today. By the end of the day we will wonder once again how we were able to eat so much dinner and somehow have room left to squeeze in a piece of pie.
 
As happens often in my tablescapes, it started with a piece of fabric. Fall leaves and berries tossed on a soft white background. Perfect to go with pink transfer ware.



Then when I was wandering through the local antique shop I found this in a back room hanging on the wall a foot above my head. A pink Thanksgiving plate.



Bliss.



A Close up of the lower right corner.



So I stacked my plates, crawled up on the counter to retrieve the British Castle Soup tureen from the top of the cabinets, and started to play at the table.



Natural elements of fall were added with some small white pumpkins, gourds in yellows and greens,

and maple leaves off the tree in the front yard.


Some of which matched the color of the glass leaf bowls.



The salad plates are Hutschenreuther Maple Leaf (Scalloped). I found them a few years ago on eBay and fell in love. They could not be more perfect - maple leaves in pink (and green). Plus being from Canada they spoke to me.



Next are some antique plates I have had for ages that I have no information on. They are edged in gold. Does anyone recognize the pattern?




My Longaberger Vintage Vine plates are  stacked on two chargers - white Ceriart from Home Goods were used last weeks tablescape Acorns & Lilacs and wooden chargers from Pier 1 that were last used on my Breast Cancer awareness Table of Hope.
















Two brass pheasants from the ALAV Designers Showcase silent auction strut across the table. White mini chrysanthemums from the yard fill two transfer ware creamers. One is Spode the other Meakin.





This is a happy bird as he is not on the menu.



Stemware is Princess House Bordeaux and an antique with a red base.



May the harvest at your table be bountiful.



 Stitch at you Soon,
Dawna

Partying with :
Cuisine Kathleen - Let's Dish
Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday
Savvy Southern Style – Wow Us Wednesday
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday
My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday
Common Ground - Vintage Inspiration
Faith, Grace & Crafts - Pearls and Lace Thursday
The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday