Lemon Tree Tales

Happy Blogiversary!

Today, or what is left of today, is my blog's anniversary. Unfortunately I had a bit of computer problem so I couldn't get my new design done earlier in the day. (Refresh your browser to see the new look.)

Here's the old look:

And here's the new banner design:

Let me know what you think. And of course, as is traditional, I'll enter all who comment to a little prize raffle. The drawing will be next Monday.

I'm loving this blog thing. I've met such nice people and have participated in great swaps since I started this a year ago. Here's to more projects in the future.

Redwork WIP

In January I signed up for the Redwork Swap that Dorie at Tumbling Blocks was hosting. The rules were simple, make something, anything, featuring redwork embroidery. I'm just now putting the finishing touches on my project and will send it out to Dorie on Monday. This is just a closeup. Can you see the faint pencil lines? It's almost finished but I really wanted to get a pic before it's all done.

I'm finding this type of work soothing. There's nothing to really think about because once the design's transfered you just ... go. No color changes. Just stitch after stitch.

[EDIT: I finished everything and mailed it out this afternoon. Here's the gifts all wrapped up. And the quilt that they're resting on was made for me by my grandma many moons ago. It's very well loved. (So much so that I really need to go and buy some type of matching fabric to re-bind it, and soon!)]

Sew & Quilt Expo Review

Okay, now that I'm finally feeling a little better I thought that I'd show you a sampling of what last weekend's Sew & Quilt Expo was all about. Let's start with these fabulous buttons that I found at Betts Vidal's booth. Don't you just love the way that she packages them? Just one of the many ways where presentation adds to the beauty of the actual product.

Here's Betts and some of her dolls (she sells the patterns and teaches classes) at the booth that she shared with Sally Lampi ...

See that little fairy to the left? She taught that to our doll club but I was otherwise busy and didn't sign up ... oh the missed opportunities.

Here's the fabulous Barbara Willis at her booth ...

And earlier on Saturday morning I took her class on making molded faces for cloth dolls where I learned how to make this little sculpted head and this mold. I also took a class Friday morning with the doll ladies (Barbara, Patti, Betts & Sally) called the Silly Side of the Sea. It was a presentation of their flat mermaid dolls and they handed out patterns too.

Here's the lovely Patti Culea. Isn't her fuschia/purple hair great! I love it. (Remind me one day to show you pics of when I sported hot pink striped hair.) Patti's working on an applique quilt of her favorite doll designs. You can see part of the top in the back. And behind Patti are lots of her dolls featured in her series of doll-making books. They're wonderful works of art and great to see in person. Unfortunately the advance copy of her fourth book (Creative Cloth Doll Beading) didn't get to her house in time for her to bring it to the expo. But I'm told that it'll be available sometime within the next month.

I didn't get a picture of Sally Lampi or Arley Berryhill but I did get to speak with them for a bit during the busy weekend. Arley told me about Project Dollway ... a spin off of Project Runway but for fashion dolls. The winner gets to have their designs made into actual creations for sale. Too bad the deadline for submission is only a few days away. But this should be fun to check it out.

And even though elinor peace bailey couldn't be at the show, her booth was ... filled with lots of love and color.

Remember the ATCs? Well I had some of the extras with me where they came in handy. I used one to send to elinor to wish her well with the recovery of her broken foot. And this one made one of the Phoebe's club members very happy. So happy that she traded me this vintage fabric for it. I'd say that was a successful trade. So there you go, another reason why you should make ATCs representing the type of art you're into.

I mustn't forget to thank Heera for her hospitality on Friday. I enjoyed a lovely traditional Indian meal with her and her daughter, Miss N, at her home for lunch. Oh, and all the beautiful dolls that she has on display are simply stunning. Thanks again Heera!

And finally how could I not show you the goodies that I was able to get primarily from The Treasures of the Gypsy? The fabric is from her supplemented by some trims, beads and yarn from a few other booths. Oh, and see that great ribbon on the top? Dee, our newest member to Gals & Dolls, bought it and thought that it matched my fabrics perfectly. It does! So she gave it to me to use. Isn't that sweet! I'll probably only need half a yard and will return the rest, but I'll still have to think of a nice treat for her as a thank you.

Ah, and you may be wondering what I intend to do with all of this? Well it's slated for a doll to enter into the Gypsy's contest. This year's theme is Gypsy of the Sea. I'm thinking that there's only one logical doll to make ... a mermaid. Now it's a matter of which one that I'd like to go with. I'm leaning towards modifying one from Arley Berryhill's pattern. I love her basic look, but I'd rather do less of a Rita Hayworth type costume. Take a look at some of the past entries of the contest here, here, here, here and here. There's plenty of time to make a doll. Read the info found here at the January issue of Blueprints (the newsletter for the Imitation of Life Construction Company doll club in San Diego, CA). Or email the head gypsy, Pamela Armas, for more info.

London Booty

Okay it's time to show the goodies that we managed to get in our quickie trip to London two weekends ago. First, the gorgeous cotton lawn fabric from Liberty of London. There's the traditional paisley, a somewhat Egyptian inspired horse print, and the most darling silhouette print.

Next are the trims found at Cloth House and VV Rouleaux ...

And the greatest find of all, vintage buttons from The Button Queen ...

(The two large ones are made of perspex from the Art Deco period. The milky green ones are from the 30s and the little green striped ones are from the 50s.)

After the button shop on Marylebone Lane we decided to walk around a bit. I'm so glad we did because we happened upon Cath Kidston's shop where we found this sweet dress for one of our little friends. I can't take credit for spotting this either. Steve was the one who thought that it'd be perfect for young Miss J.

After those little goodies, we managed to hail a black cab to take us to Vinopolis where there's the Whiskey Exchange. And that was where my husband found all of his goodies to bring back home. Great stuff. I'm looking forward to sampling one of the bottles in the near future. We also visited Harrod's for a quick lunch at their deli counter. Great atmosphere with all the murals and peacock tiled walls. But I honestly have to say that I didn't realize that Harrod's was that pricey. It was more of a Beverly Hills department store. Needless to say we mostly perused their wares.

It was great driving past some of the sites that we've known from previous trips, the London Eye, St. Paul's Cathedral, etc. I'm also very glad that I brought my heavy wool coat that lives most of the time in the back of the closet. (See here I am all prepared for the cold damp weather.)

And here's Steve in front of the Thames, near the Golden Hinde ...

Unfortunately when we got back home Steve suffered a nasty round of flu. And just as he was getting better I started to have a sore throat. Luckily I don't think that I got a really bad case of it, just some overall aches and fatigue. We're pretty much better now and are always planning our next travel adventures. (Stay tuned for details from last weekend's Sew & Quilt Expo.)

2007 Sew & Quilt Expo is here!

The 2007 Sew & Quilt Expo is here this weekend at the San Mateo Event Center! If you're in the Bay Area don't miss this. Our doll club, Gals & Dolls of San Jose, and the Phoebes of Hayward doll club have a booth this year. We're displaying some of our finest dolls to entice more to come and join our clubs. We're also selling supplies and a few other dolls.

Barbara Willis, Betts Vidal, Sally Lampi, and Patti Culea will also be there. elinor peace bailey will have a booth as well, but unfortunately she broke her foot last week and will not be able to attend. I also found out that Arley Berryhill will have a booth as well. Lots of fabrics, trims and supplies will be on sale. Pam of Treasures of the Gypsy will also be there. I saw her booth today as she was setting up -- she has more beautiful fabrics than ever before.

More of the doll club display:

(Two of them are mine! The black doll dressed in turquoise on the middle row, and the pink/brown corset doll two over to the right.)

And just look at one of the dolls for sale. Isn't she a hoot?!

Doll Club ATCs in progress

I've been trying my hand at ATCs again. This time it's for a swap for the Gals & Dolls doll club of San Jose. We've agreed to trade ATCs for our February meeting next Tuesday. The last time that I did some (a whopping total of five) I drew faces and appliqued fabric and silk flowers. Since it's for doll club I still wanted to start out with faces and the fabric. But I wanted to approach it in more of a structured way.

First I was inspired by Angela Jarecki's Windows -- an old class taught by Class Heaven a few years back. I never signed up for the class and have regretted it ever since. (Oooh, I see that she's teaching a doll class starting in April.)

I also liked Mimi Kirchner's beautiful fabric postcards. Finally, a new-to-me blog Fibermania by Melody Johnson has some gorgeous quilted color studies. All of those intrigued me and demanded that I do something with them. I still have to quilt these and add a few embellishments. But so far I'm glad to have tried it this way. Nineteen people signed up for the swap so I made twenty-five so that there would be a few extra to trade. (I may have to keep one for myself.)

Here's all of them on the ironing board: