Serrv products for spring!

These are cool products from SERRVE.  SERRVE is a non profit organization that helps artisans in 3rd world countries to sell their artwork.  The items are beautiful-the scarves are like 25.00 and look at this handwoven bike basket!  I feel good when I shop here...take a look at their website. Arent the scarves nice for a new spring look?!  I love wearing scarves for a pop of color.  I am going to get this bike basket....I am always trying to wear a huge back pack with me with library books etc...this basket is perfect and looks cool I think.  And arent these handbags nice for us who love fiber art???  They are unique and very lovely I think.

Last pictures of Koi Pond...in its home at last!

 My daughter, Hannah, in her home with the new quilt!  I couldn't get the flash to work properly.  I think she likes it very much.  She was a bit worried about all the color...later, after I started it, she said she was thinking she should have asked for a more neutral colored quilt.  She was worried her fiance doesn't like too much color.  But he is ok with it...and I have been trying to tell Hannah to get some pillows and a throw  to tie it all in. (I watch too much HGTV...I was saying we need a "pop" of color to tie it in.) :) I said I would buy her some pillows and etc...but she said NO....I will buy it IF I want  to...she definitely does not want me decorating her home for her!...Its too bad...just because I love doing it...and it would be fun for me...but I cant over step my boundaries.  AHHH...motherhood. I think about my own mother and how she lived to decorate her home...and thinking back-she never over stepped her boundaries with my home even when I was really young.  I never even remember her making suggestions which is kind of odd...but I , too, always had very specific ideas and loved to decorate.  I never had any money...so I have always did what I could with thrift store, garage sale and estate sale finds as well as hand me downs.  To this day, I enjoy decorating this way...it gives it an eclectic and interesting look besides the fact that it keeps it affordable!

  

My engaged daughter.....life moves way too fast sometimes!  We had fun when I was there looking at the computer at places to have her wedding and looking at a Bride's Dress magazine.  She is thinking about going to Jamaica for her wedding so I really have something to try to lose weight for so I can get in my suit without crying!  I have been working out for a couple months now pretty intensely.  I have been frustrated with the lack of weight loss... although my pants have fit a bit better I certainly dont need to buy all new clothes by any means!  Finally after a little over 2 months I finally lost 5 lbs.  I am hoping that because I worked so hard to get that off...it will be likely to remain off instead of a daily roller coaster.  I figure I had like 44 lbs to lose!  So now I have 39...it seems insurmountable!  At 45...it just seems to be so hard.  Ahh...well, I know I am not alone...seems just about every woman I know is trying to lose weight all the time.  I really try not too talk about it all the time.  But actually I am so proud that I have been working out.  I feel so much better..energy wise and I do think I notice that my body looks better...I love Anytime Fitness Gym and I go there for 1.5 hours about 3-5 days a week and then on Sundays my husband and I swim laps at the local high school for 45 min to an hour.  It feels good.  I have been bad for the last 3 years when I started my art gallery.  Starting a business does not allow one much time to do anything but the business while it is so young.  Well, enough about weight.  But I am proud of myself for trying so hard.  I feel good about moving and exercising again.  

Winter Party 2011

 Making ice cream at our Winter Party

 Cooking fried eggplant --a tradition!  It melts in your mouth-YUMMM

 Tim, my husband, and I

 Still working on that ice cream!

 Tim donned a "dreadlocks" wig that was floating around all day...I had it on later in the day!  Goofy I know!

Me, on the right, and my oldest friend in the world Debbie.  We have been friends since Kindergarten- 5 years old!  I am not going to say how long that makes our friendship as I would be giving away our age!!!

New book I am reading...

I would love to hear how others of you like or dislike this book.  I am thinking it would be a good book club choice for our book club.  She kind of drops out of corporate life...and goes much simpler and quieter basically  in the same vane as Eat Love Pray....quite drastic but she doesn't travel the world to find herself so I am thinking that some of the thoughts here are more "usable" for the average Joe to incorporate into our lives.  Like I said, I would love to hear what you think.  (Sorry you cant click to Look inside!__You can go to Amazon books to do that>)

Dr Seuss knew what he was taking about!

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss

I just ordered this fabric.  My sister want me to make her a quilt and so far all she said was she thought she wanted fall colors...I fell in love with this so I had have it.  I cant wait to start...but it will have to wait.  I have 2 quilts in the makings all ready.  It will be for her birthday in August anyway so I have some time..Isnt it a glorious batik?!!!!

Listen to this broadcast

Listen to cbcradio-Tapestry radio show....To Err is human-Jan 16th broadcast.  It is wonderful .

I plan on getting the book so I can underline and highlight and write all over it!  Such an important message for us all.  This is one of the challenges that I face daily and as an artist ....with every piece I create!  Enjoy the radio show...Tapestry is a wonderful site to listen to all kinds of positive messages...

Done with Koi Pond Quilt!

 I have finished my Koi Pond Quilt!  I think I have worked harder on this quilt than anything than any artwork I have ever made!  There are probably 200 hours or so of work--literally blood (poking myself from pins) sweat and tears in this quilt!  It is for my daughter Hannah.  I am proud of how it turned out...its not perfect but its mine.. I made it ...and I love it!  There are thousands and thousands of stitches in this piece.  I told Hannah if /when I die...all you have to do is rub your hands across the quilt and she should feel my love come through in the stitches.  I said a prayer of this quilt so she would always feel my presence and love through this quilt.  Its color and movement and energy reflects how I feel about life.
I have not clipped the loose end threads yet....my last thing to do...take care of loose ends---HOW FITTING! 

"Koi Pond Joy"  Laura Bradley 2011