Merry Christmas and Many Good Wishes

Fergus the Good Wish Elf

Fergus is here to bring good wishes to all this Holiday Season!

Spring Sparkle and A Soft Farewell

Here it is March the blustery farewell to winter and the dawning of the gentle warmth and fragrances of spring ... a time for new beginnings and for saying good-bye and finding closure.

My mother suddenly passed away in early February this year.  She was nearly 89 years old and in vibrantly good health.  I spoke with her almost daily and truly enjoyed hearing her voice, slipping away with her to her past when she recounted stories of her childhood, young adulthood waiting for my Dad to return from the War and the joyful reuniting of these two in the middle of the night at the railroad station after over 2 years of anxious separation.  As she would relay the colorful memories of both her life and my young childhood, in the back of my mind I warned myself that one day I would no longer hear her voice.  That day is here and I miss her terribly.

Needless to say, my creative energies have also been silenced during this time to my frustration.  I have found that, to my surprise, English paper pieced quilting has helped to soften the heartbreak and quiet the ache.  Mom was always so encouraging and seemed to delight in my sewing ideas  that I loved to run by her for her input.  It was just recently that I realized that I had picked up and assembled my first miniature Grandmother's flower garden hexagon blossom on the day that Mom died.  Here is a picture of what I have accomplished so far in that project, working in my free time on a daily basis since her death.  The quilt top is almost finished (the piecing part).

1/2" hexagon English Paper-Pieced Mini Quilt wip
(8" x 11.5" at this point)

It has gotten me this far and, I am happy to say, has helped me to remember her and the times we spent together on the phone laughing and remembering and in our own way celebrating her life.  This little quilt has helped me to get through those times when I found myself turning to pick up the phone to call Mom to talk about a favorite movie of ours or when I came to the sudden realization that I would no longer hear her voice or receive answers to questions about old relatives or old cars or just old times.

I also found that last night I awoke and was able to sketch some designs for a project I had been struggling with since Mom's death.  The images seemed to flow out of my pen, one after the other as if I was merely holding the pen and someone else was drawing the art.

So it seems that the fog is beginning to lift and it's time to get back to my creative ventures ... but, of course, I will never forget Mom and feel she is nearby ... 

Until next time ...

You Little Dickens "Tiny Tim"

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very happy and special holiday season.

Here is my latest especially for this holiday season ... in my new You Little Dickens series  "Tiny Tim".

Special Wishes for Peace, Love and Happiness 

in this Holiday Season

Carlin

From Sock to Santa ... Merry Christmas to Project Horizon

Remember when my latest large project was just a single sock? ...

Then from sock to sculpture ...

and sculpture to a face with details ...

then not just a pretty face but the whole Santa ...

with an added surprise (even to Santa) a little mouse stowaway in the stocking ...

I truly enjoyed creating Santa and all his accessories and little friend.  Hope this pair of giftgivers find a wonderful home for Christmas and bring a large bid for the Project Horizon (dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence) of Lexington, VA at the Deck the Halls benefit auction this year!

Merry Christmas and Good Luck, Santa and little friend!

Huggity~Hugs,

Carlin

The Sock is Now Not a Sock ... Step 2

As you can see, my WIP has evolved into a bit of a personality ...  I have detailed this face with paints and here he is so far ...

from this ...

to this ...

Starting to come alive, eh?

I'll check back a little later with an update.

Back to work ....

Huggity Hugs

Carlin

When is a Sock Not a Sock ....?

Just a Plain Sock You Say ...???

Here we start with a plain new clean sock ... now the magic begins .....

Ta-Dah!!!!  Sock turns into a Work in Progress ...

Now we see the beginnings of my WIP ... a treasure for the Deck the Halls auction to benefit victims of domestic violence at Project Horizon in Lexington, VA.

He is on his way to begin to come alive with facial details and a cute little body ...

I'll keep you updated .... be sure to check back!!

Now back to work !!  ......

Huggity-Hugs!

Carlin

Trick or Treat ... Definitely Treat!!

Our new neighbors moved in with their darling family of two children (2/5 years old).  For their trick or treat bags, I made them each a little doll and included some fun things like special stickers and Halloween tins and crayons.  There was candy, too, of course.

We have lived here for 7 years and this is the first time we have had trick/treaters so we thought we would celebrate with some special treat bags to make them feel more welcome.

    

Hope your Halloween was very special and full of fun!

Happy Haunting!!!