What isn't up !?

 The end of May pretty much slid into June. 

By mid June I felt like it should be July!

Crazy life full of wonder. 

Trip to see my grandchildren, trip to 

Houston to teach my piece,

Father and Son.

The following weekend I had an art 

opening one night and Zoom classes

starting the next morning for my 

Transformation piece.

Whoosh!

Since I seem to thrive on this behavior, 

I'm not complaining.

I made a big step about a month ago 

to retire from working outside

of my home. No more part time job, 

I'm now full time ART!

My new 'boss' is very demanding!

Guide writing in the morning,

studio time in the afternoon...

both run into the evening hours!

Loving it all!

My next in person class is in November in 

Chicago with the guild there.

It’s already full! 

So exciting as I get to see my long time 

friend Libby Sturdy 

and reconnect with another friend 

from my needlepoint beginnings 

back in New England, 

Jennifer Shekaran! 

She happens to be living in 

Chicago and is great friends 

with Libby, this world just 

keeps getting smaller. 

The project is 

'Tree of Life' 

from my original 

five by five series.  

NEXT live is in Sugarland, Texas!

Blue Bonnet Studio 

is back and raring to go!

[click on the link and scroll down]

I have two pieces for you to choose from...

'Santa Up Close'

He's 8" square with lots of fun stitching, of course!

'Movement'

from my five by five series.

This one features appliqued kid leather, 

couched gimp and silk wrapped purl.

I can't say enough great things about this 

stitching retreat put on by 

MaryAlice Sinton and husband John.

They are the best and most organized.

And... they treat us like gold!

So let us get back out there

stitching together again!

a day in the life....

Last Sunday found me roaming around 

Florida Botanical Garden

in Largo, Florida.

I was shutter happy with many pops of 

color but the below had my full attention.

I'm drawn to plants that are, of course,

a little weird but also architectural in nature.

As I was capturing angles of this particular plant....

my brain is itchy with recognition but WHY?

Then POP, we have history.  This is the plant

my 'Little Dancer' is balanced on.

'Orange Pops'

'Little Dancer'
original canvas by a Kimberly design
available through 
Ruth Schmuff Designs
shops order through
tistheseason.org

I'm listening...

What do you want to see more of in 2016?

More painterly canvases, more beads,

more geometric,

more flowers, birds, whimsical, 

more architectural, more fantasy???

I'm not wanting to change my style,
just wondering what makes you 
buy that next canvas.

Plan to keep on doing more of 
what makes me happy.

Happy New Year!!

Fierce Bird©

Babies© 

Rug©

My Castle, My Dragon©

Firenze©

Little Dancer©

Fish Under Glass©

Marbles©

Happy Beast©

Lets Meet at the Lake©

Ornaments©

Baby Elephant©

Passion©

Springs & Leaves©

Percy's Bowl & Box design©

Sugar©

Three Florals©

Under the Sea©

Organza©

Happy Little Bug©

Elegance©

Ask Him©

Cone Flower Residence©

Paisley©

Full Movement©

Primroses©

Mandala One©

Peace On Earth©

Orchids©

Elf©

Primrose©

Cherry Blossom©

Pop Flower©

Silly Reindeer©

Avery's Dragon©

Camels and flowers ...

Recently my stitchy friend Sara Leigh posted the beginnings 

of her work on my Camel Flowers painted canvas design.  

I'd told her the story of how they came to be 

and she suggested I share the story with 'more' of you.

So, once upon a time my sweet friend Kim Hollifield 

had two camels from Petei Designs that she 

wanted dressed up a little bit more with 'saddles'.  

She asked if I'd paint them and of course, I did! 

I enjoyed doing something different and helping her out. 

Kim is an awesome finisher of stand up needlepoint designs 

as well as ornaments and stockings. 

Over the years she's finished many pieces for me. 

Some were rather odd requests, I remember a small crazy purse 

but we won't visit that today.

Above are the two painted saddles. 

Now, as I painted these, I saw flower possibilities. 

Yes, my mind works in mysterious ways.

Look how awesome they are as saddles 

for these two nativity pieces.

Kim stitched and finished beautifully. 

Love the added bullion cord and tassels too!

Click here to visit her Facebook business page to learn more!

Kim Hollifield

'Camel Flowers'©
My version! or warped vision :)

ChaCha...

 ...two steps back ... one step forward ... cha cha cha!

Decided earlier today that this weeks post should be a bit of a look back. 

Not that far back actually but none the less, previous.

I've been painting like mad on new designs to release 'soon' and found myself reminiscing.

Below are several pieces that are available through my distributor  Ruth Schmuff Designs

Like old family pictures, they bring back a host of memories for me. 

'Camel Flowers'© 
close up detail ... when I see this I think ... wow, I was focused !

Different angle of top detail.
I'm working on another design right now
that's a larger version of this burst of color.
Never a dull moment.

Camel Flowers©
This piece started with the 'flowers' that were actually saddles
 I had painted on a friends stand up camels
for a nativity she felt needed some blinging.
As I painted I kept seeing the saddles as flowers,
hence the name.
This piece may be on the small side
but it's packed with different techniques and threads choices.

From major technique to meditative basketweave.
This is my Provence Purse© design.
I even made the strap basic Kumihimo
with a strong nylon craft cord.

'Austintatious Peacock'©
This piece was actually designed for a friend
to stitch for her secret Santa gift.
Funny part is the giftee was also the owner of the camels!
Dear friend of mine as well, Kim Hollifield.

So much in the detail,
loved finding crystals for his wreathed neck.

By this time...
you know how much I love designing borders.

Mondays Belt Design
the canvas this is laid across is the beginning of the painted Provence Purse.

Mondays©
original piece designed to fit the
Weekender bag from Lee Designs
This bag has seen some miles!

I'm not sure what I'll call this yet...Sunburst, Happiness....
I see a lot when I look at the different elements in this piece. Below is the beginning of it's new life on the painted canvas.

Happy Sunburst....maybe....the beginnings.
Only the pinks & red are in so far.
I see feathers too....

Sir Chancelot's thought bubble...
'just name it already'.