Lemon Tree Tales

Summer Cold

We just got back from Kansas where we celebrated our nephew's bar mitzvah. I can't tell you how great he did. We were extremely proud. The weather cooperated and didn't rain once. They're having a very wet summer which made everything green and gorgeous. I'm not sure if that triggered it or not but I started sniffling in the sanctuary and began to feel ill. Fortunately we came home last night where it quickly became apparent that I had caught a summer cold. So far it feels like a doozy of one. This is what my head feels like:

did you notice anything wrong with the truck? What you don't see in the picture is a metal railroad bridge and a very much crumpled truck roof. This is the only picture that I managed to snap in our days in Kansas. The rest of the time was spent with family and friends.

Now I'm just glad to be back home ... hoping that the medicine will kick in soon so that I can rest.

Glazed Egg Head

Remember back in March when I showed you this flower egg head when it was bisque fired and just waiting for a glaze firing? Well I finally got it back a couple weeks ago. Rachel was recovering from an ankle injury and didn't want to fire up the kiln until she had enough pieces to fill it. I had almost forgotten what she looked like. For some reason I thought that I had chosen a white glaze but obviously I must have used a chocolate brown glaze. I'm undecided about whether I want to add rhinestones to the flower centers or not. What do you think? Also I was planning on adding little tiny ones to those holes in the base. It all depends. I guess that I could tape one or two on and then have a think on it. Not sure. At any rate I think it's an odd little piece, but I'm happy with it.

How to clean, oil & thread a Bernina Nova 900 sewing machine

Meet my first Bernina - a Bernina Nova 900! I bought her on layaway while I was attending college in Santa Barbara. She's a great little machine ... complete with a carrying case! I made some stuffed bunnies in dresses. My mom still has two of them and I sold three of them to a store on State Street. Of course I highly doubt that I made a profit, but I did manage to walk in and sell them to the manager. My roommate and I were all set to start our own business, In Cahoots. Alas, it didn't take off farther than that initial order.

At any rate, I've had an email request for help on cleaning, oiling and threading the Bernina Nova 900. So I've made my first ever video demonstration. Please forgive the quality ... I don't think that I set up my lighting very well, nor do I have that lovely voice-over skill.

Blogging for Bliss

Early in 2005 I discovered craft blogs. What an amazing community of like minded folk. I didn't know too many people in real life who loved to sew, quilt, make dolls or draw as I do. After a while you really need to get that cheering section from fellow artists. Blogging sounded like an excellent addition to my artwork. So in February 2006, just a year after discovering blogs, I started Lemon Tree Tales. Since then I've met some great people online, a few in real life and have expanded my circle of local artist friends. Yes, my posts ebb and flow depending on how busy I become. But it's still there to welcome me back as if I had never been away. No pressures, just open arms. That's my definition of blogging for bliss.

I made this little flat paperdoll (with papers, ribbons, rhinestones, and vintage millinery trim) in a doll workshop with a few of my local doll artist friends. What fun!

ArtsyMama's Blogging for Bliss ... visit to read more about why people are blogging for bliss. And check out Tara Frey's new book, Blogging for Bliss, available on amazon.