Patter from Patti

Newest look to my studio

With Galli Studio's arriving last week to tape a DVD series I had to shape up my studio.  Many pieces had to be removed to allow space for lights and camera's.  I liked the open feeling so much I've kept it pretty much as it was last week.   But, before showing you what it now looks like I want to show you a box I decorated to hold various projects for the DVD.

A local craft shop had a 40% sale on boxes.  I picked two of the not so pretty ones and came home and started decorating them.  With fabric, of course.

The woman on the right was colored with Tsukineko's All Purpose Inks.  The woman on the left was done with Copic markers.  The fabric was glued on, then covered with Mod Podge to hold it all in place.  Took just a few hours and now I have a lovely box to hold projects.

Now, to the new look of my "studio".  Last year I moved from a large bedroom into the smallest bedroom.  It is 10-feet by 9-feet.  Small, but workable. 

This photo is of the closet, with the doors removed, that houses my fabrics and beads.  The cubby holds yarn and the rest holds books and CD's.  Other supplies, too.

We had purchased the table you see as the producer wanted me to have a table that would be relatively clear so I could show how to do various techniques.  I liked having the table so much it is now a permanent part, as you can see.  Rather cluttered at the moment as I'm working on several projects.

The photo on the right is another view, facing the window.  More fabrics - my silks, organza's and velvets.  Yes, there's two machines, but one is my Babylock Embellisher.  The other is my favorite sewing machine - a Bernina 440 QE. 

I have 6 Bernina machines and one Singer Featherweight.  Once a year I host a master class and with so many flying in from other states and countries it is nice having machines for them to use.  Thus the reason I have so many.  I generally have two sewing machines and the embellisher operating almost daily when I'm home.

Finally a view of the other side of the room with my wonderful "wall of threads".  I do love threads.  Superior Threads are my favorites for embellishing.  Superior's Rainbows are my passion, along with their varigated metallics.

Hope you had fun looking into my studio.  Now, I need to head back upstairs and get to work!

                                                                           

The grandchildren

John and I spent 6 days in Orlando, Florida visiting our grandchildren this past week. 

John doesn't get to go as often as I do.  It had been almost a year since he had seen our Florida family.

It was Kayleigh's 5th birthday week.  Her birthday was Aug. 1 and we arrived Aug. 10.  She's the one in pink making one of her typical faces for the camera. 

Kieran is now 7 and will be 8 in December.  She is growing up fast.  Kayman, sitting on my lap, is 3 and loves Gumby, Ironman and Batman. 

 

The girls are modeling outfits I got them in Monticello, Illinois when I was there in June.  There is a darling childrens shop on the square.  The owner has fabulous taste in clothing.  It is hard choosing things there.  Prices are extremely good, too. 

At least in this photo Kayleigh is being somewhat normal.

Kieran is at that age where her teeth are starting to grow in after losing them.  Even with teeth missing she's a beautiful little girl.

Friday, the girls and I went to see the Smurf movie.  Cute movie. 

John and I stayed in a condo owned by a friend of JB's.  We had the girls spend two nights with us to give JB a break.  Kayman stayed home with his mommy, but the girls, John and I had a great time.

As you can see by the photo of JB and Kayman, we will soon have another grandchild.  The baby is due the middle of September.  And, Heidi, our daughter in Belgium, is also due in September.  We'll be visiting her next.

There is nothing better than being with family.  Just wish ours wasn't scattered all over the world.  But, gives me an excuse to travel, which I dearly love.

Kick-off to our Florida trip

The day before John and I left for Florida a beautiful dragonfly arrived in our garden.  He wouldn't turn around so I could take a photo of his back, but he hung around long enough for me to grab my camera.

We mostly have the blue/green dragonflies in our garden, but I haven't seen one of these guys.  He is spectacular and I certainly hope he liked our garden enough to come back.

I need to study more about dragonflies so I can learn how to attract them.  I know they like water and we are planning on putting in a waterfall and small pond. 

We've been trying to attract bats, too.  But, so far our bat house is empty. 

Like a dummy I left my camera at the condo we are staying at in Orlando so don't have photo's of the grandchildren.  Yet.  Both Kieran and Kayleigh are spending two nights with us so I'll have plenty of opportunities to take photos.

Today, I met with Judy Hansen, quilt & fabric designer and owner of the Quilt Shop of Deland.  She's asked me to be a teacher on a cruise next October 2012.

Neither of us had our camera's so we pulled out our iPhone's and Fran took the photo, which we'll use to help promote the cruise.

I bought the full line of Judy's new fabrics and can't wait to get home and start making a doll with them.  I'll also make a complimentary item to go along with the doll.  Not sure what it will be yet, but needle books and sewing kits have been a passion of mine lately.

We next headed to a golf clubhouse where the DeLand of Dolls were meeting.  Annie Hesse was teaching her fabulous beaded face doll.

I had emailed Cathy and Linda about the group letting me borrow some of the dolls they've made from my patterns and books for the DVD series I'll be doing later this month.  They told me Annie was teaching, so we had to stop by.  Both to pick up the dolls and see the members, and to see Annie.

This doll group is loaded with talent.  That is one of the reasons I wanted to collect dolls.  Plus, it was an added bonus that they were having a workshop and I could see nearly everyone.  I'm afraid it was a quick visit as I didn't want to disrupt the class with Annie.

The following photo's are of the group busily beading their dolls heads.  Those of you who take classes and haven't had this one with Annie, you need to get in touch with her.  She's fun and the beading technique is not hard at all.  In fact, it is really quite relaxing and so rewarding.

 

Next post I will have photo's of the grandchildren.  They are all growing up way too fast. 

In the meantime, enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

A day in Los Angeles' fabric district

Today was truly wonderful.  I picked up my sister and niece and took them to the fabric district in Los Angeles.  They had never been. 

We started at Michael Levine's on Maple and walked up and down several streets.  Found fabulous bargains.  And, my favorite lace shop is closing so loaded up with hundreds of yards of lace for kits.

We then went to FIDM.  At their museum they have an exhibit called "The Little Black Dress".  Dresses from Breakfast at Tiffany's, and other dresses from the 1940's to present day.  Their museum is free and definitely a must see when you are in the area.

We shopped at FIDM's scholarship store and I got two large bags of buttons at $2.50 each.  The fabrics this time were more winter, but at $1.00 a yard you can always find something you can use.

This photo is my niece and I across the street from FIDM with the Project Runway billboard behind us.  Love that show!

After the downtown area we drove to the American Doll store to get some birthday and Christmas presents for granddaughters.  They now have 11 stores in the U.S.

Then we drove to Mood Designer Fabrics.  I had never been here.  Oh, my goodness!  What a treasure trove of fabrics, trims, lace, buttons.  Not discounted like downtown L.A., but this place carries high fashion fabrics.  And, I've found a source for the silks I like.

The photo is my sister and niece.  My niece is holding my bag of amazing trims from Mood.  I was trying to keep within my budget so didn't buy fabrics this trip.  But, I certainly will go back.  How the designers on Project Runway can spend only 30 minutes running through Mood to buy their challenge fabrics is beyond me. 

One thing that would make it easy is Mood has excellent signage for the various types of fabrics, laces, trims, etc.  You can go directly to the section you need, but once you get there watch out!  You could spend an hour just fondling the fabrics.

The staff at Mood are extremely helpful and friendly.  Oscar, the mascot Chihuahua also loves to greet you.  From what I read on the internet in NYC they have a bulldog in their store. 

 

We came home tired, happy and eagerly awaiting our sewing day.

Ms. Maddie Hatter goes Steam Punk

She's finished!  I'll be teaching her at Fobbles in Cumbria, UK and at Sylvia's in Torquay, also in England.  I'll be bringing all the lock washers, watch parts and other steam punk stuff as part of the kit.

Just realized I didn't get a good shot of the watch face on her hat.  It is from one of my grandmother's watches.  Very exquisite and quite old.

 

To see a larger image, click on the photo's.  I'll be retaking the photo to the right as it is out of focus.  Forgot I had the camera set for Close-up.  Got too excited to share.

You can see the lock washers from Home Depot on the back of her jacket.  They are also on the front of her corset, but hard to see.  And, the large piece on her back is the inside of a watch. 

Keep forgetting, I'll be teaching her at a doll conference in Moscow, Russian at the end of October.  Should be great fun.

 

New steampunk style doll

My new steampunk type doll is about finished.  She needs one more shoe, a jacket and a hat. 

I had a lot of fun at Home Depot Friday looking at all the washers.  I chose 3 sizes of the Lock Washer.  They only came in silver, so I painted them with Liquid Leaf Brass.

The washers were used on the corset and shoes.  I'll use them on the hat, too.

Tomorrow I'll tackle the jacket.  I have several ideas and will probably combine them.

More updates soon.

A week with Gloria McKinnon

This past week was magical.  Gloria McKinnon was here from Australia and I was able to spend several days with her.  Yes.  I was at her shop in May, and spent over a week with first she and Don, then at her shop.  But, this pat week I was taking classes, not teaching.

This is Gloria's Asian Riches crazy patch quilt.  I've taken two of the classes.  We work on a block during each class.  I've worked on block #1 on the far left, and last Wednesday we worked on block #9, which is the lower right.  She'll be back in January and we'll work on another block. 

Yes.  I do plan on finishing the quilt.  The silk images we get in our kits are beautiful.  Each one is a joy to work on.

Thursday Gloria's friend, Evelyn Penfield, hosted a tea for her at Bits & Pieces in Escondido.  Over 50 people came to see Gloria's work.  She ended up doing a trunk show and sharing from her book.

Gloria has a new book, which she is showing one of the projects from the book in this photo.

The book is titled "Glorious Embellishing with Gloria McKinnon".  There are 7 projects in the book, along with a pull-out section with full sized patterns.  It has numerous  photo's of the projects, along with detailed instructions for all the projects.

There are also images to photocopy onto fabric of beautiful female figures all in clothing from the early 20th Century.  I would have loved to have lived during that time as I love the clothes, hats, gloves, shoes.  That and the 30's and 40's. 

 

Saturday I was back at Piecemaker's taking a workshop from Gloria's new book with Gloria.  This is her needle book.  We got the pre-sewn cover and spent two days embellishing.  This is one project I will finish quickly.  I'm going to make a scissor holder, also.  All from her new book.

I am now back to working on my steampunk doll.  I should have a photo of her by early next week.

Stay tuned.  In the meantime, happy stitching.

Old photos

John has been working on his dad's story.  We all should do that.  My mom's family did that and I love going back and reading about my ancestors. 

Anyway, he found some amazing photos of our early years as a young couple.  Not sure how old Janet Beth was in this photo, but young.  She was born early and was in hospital for 2 weeks.  John and I were both 32 years old in this picture.  We got married when we were 30.

We spent our first couple years in Phoenix.  Janet was born there.  John was in television news and we moved to San Diego where Heidi was born.  Shortly after we moved to Chicago.

John was with WLS in Chicago and they had a policy of having their on-air people give a Christmas greeting with their families.  The photo below is us on the tv set.  That photo was taken in 1977.  The one with JB as a baby was taken in 1974.

Now, I just need to find our wedding photo's.  Those are reallly fun. 

The photo below is Heidi and Janet in Colorado.  John's parents had a condo in Pagosa Springs and we loved going there and relaxing.

Heidi was 3 years old, and JB almost 5.  Aren't they the cutest little girls?  Still are and giving John and I adorable grandchildren.

 

 

And, here's my handsome husband before we were married onboard the USS Conflict, a mine sweeper.  He was on his way to Vietnam.  He's the tall one on the right.

John and I went to high school together.  Neither of us were interested in each other, other than friends.  We went to the same church. While we were in college and after we would see each other occassionally.  But, we really didn't click until 1972 when I came home from living in Japan and saw him on tv.  I called him, we had a couple dates and he proposed on our 3rd date.  That was in December 1972 and we were married         March 31, 1973.  We've had a wonderful marriage.  Some rocky places along the way, but those have helped us grow as a couple.

So, now you know some of the story.

 

Australia

Presently I'm at a hotel near the Melbourne International Airport preparing for my flight back to the U.S. tomorrow.  I've had another wonderful trip to this fabulous country. This beautiful kangaroo was munching on grass at my friend's, Jenny Campbell, home this morning.  It was a nice farewell photo.  She's a bit wet as it has been raining off and on since Sunday morning. 

My trip started in Coffs Harbour visiting with our friends Don and Gloria McKinnon.  They live near Diggers Beach, and even though it was chilly we had to take a quick trip down to the beach on a gloriously sunny day.

Click on any of the photos and it will take you to a larger image.  On this day we drove down to New Lambton to Gloria's new shop where I was to teach a two day workshop.  I always love catching up with the Hello Dollies.  I've known so many of them for years.  Gloria brought me over for the first time in 1996!  Hard to believe I've been coming to Australia that many years.

It was Sunday evening that Gloria took 3 of us to the Andre Rieu concert.  You can read about that in my previous blog post.

After the workshop I spent a couple days visiting the Hunter Valley with Gloria.  We had a delightful lunch with Ann Maullin.  She and Greg live out in a beautiful valley not too far from the Hunter Valley.

We got to wander through Ann's wonderful studio.  Here she's showing us what she's done with some of the techniques in silk ribbon embroidery she's learned from Gloria.

Gloria has workshops in her shop on her style of embroidery.  I've been taking classes from her when she comes to America.  She has a new quilt called Asian Riches that I fell in love with and bought all the blocks.  It is a crazy patch quilt with the most beautiful images of Oriental women that we then embellish.  I'll post a photo of the quilt once I have permission from Gloria.

The photo to the left is Gloria in front of her new shop in New Lambton, NSW.  It is perfect for Gloria and reflects her beautiful Victorian style.  A must see whenever you are in New South Wales.

 

After my time in NSW I was off to Victoria to catch up with Alan and Jenny Campbell and the Bendigo Textile Artists.  Again, many of the people in this group I've known for years.  It was fabulous seeing so many people I've known for a long time, plus meeting some new doll makers.  One gal, Amy, drove up from Melbourne and shared with us some of her first attempts at doll making, plus her cover for the Tome I designed.

As you can see from the photo, she needs to stay in doll making.  She and I have joined the Bendigo group and will stay as active as we can.  They are going to have a recipe card challenge, which I've joined and can't wait until December when I'll get a box of recipe's.

Saturday evening, after class, Jenny and her mum, Gwen, took me to the embroiderer's guild retreat to meet several of the ladies and to share some of my dolls.  I was excited to meet Dorothy who makes the most exquisite knitted and embroidered animals.  Jenny had given me several when she came to visit us in February.  There was so much talent in that room.  I should have taken heaps more photos, but was so smitten with the work I forgot.  Glad I got one of Dorothy.

On Sunday we were back in class and worked on my doll LiMei.  I taught her in New Lambton and Bendigo.  She's a bit much for a two-day workshop, but I was pleased with what everyone did get made.  We got to all the important bits and everyone can put her together as time allows.

This is my last teaching trip to Australia.  Next time I come it will be as a tourist. 

Where else can you see kangaroos in your friends yards; cockatoos, lorikeets flying in the wild; and people who are genuinely real and friendly.

God Bless!

Newest work in progress

It has been awhile since I've been able to work on a new doll.  Actually, not really new, but a new version of Ms Maddie Hatter.  She's the doll I created for the Cruise to Wonderland in February this year.

This Ms. Maddie will be more along the Steampunk line.  She's in her undies right now.  Soon she will have a skirt, a corset, boots, hair and hat. 

Many of you know the arms won't be attached until her clothing is finished.  They simply get in the way.  In the photo they are pinned on. And, her hair goes on last. 

While at the CHA show in January I ordered all kinds of brass clock gears, watch movements, and watch bodies with springloaded covers.  These are all small and have been arriving on a daily basis.  Almost like Christmas!  Great fun.  Some of these parts will be used on this Ms. Maddie.

Many of this version will use some of the pattern pieces from the original doll.  Especially her top hat.  As much as I loved the original dolls shoes, this Ms. Maddie's will be completely different.  In looking at Steampunk costumes, boots were definitely the "in" thing.

As I work on various parts I'll post photos and keep you up to date.  Check back often.

For those of you who don't know what the original Maddie looked like, here's her photo.  Click on the photo and a larger image will pop up.