It's All About The Boots

I've probably brought this up in these blog posts a time or two:  among my earliest memories is that of my sister and me getting a fancy pair of short, white, go-go boots.  Somewhere, someone in my family has an old black and white photo of the two of us standing on my parents' black sofa (remember it was the 60's) wearing nothing but our go-go boots and dancing to Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made For Walking.  Years later I would come to know the son of the trumpet player on this tune: Roy Caton. Roy has played with greats like The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Harry Nilsson, and more.   Roy's son Bruce is a private pilot and personal friend.  Even as I type this I'm hummin' away:  bum--bum-bum-bum-bum to the tempo of the Roy Caton horn solo.  Six degrees of separation right?  Sometimes I marvel at all the fun stuff God does to entertain me.

A number of years ago I began connecting with many ol' friends with whom I went to school.  I guess our kids have grown up enough that all our time is not parsed out among running errands; driving carpool; cheering at games; fittingly clapping at recitals; making breakfast, lunch and dinner; and walking the line between being a domestic goddess and being a hot momma!  Can you believe most of my lady friends are grandmothers!

Reconnecting with friends we are doing some traveling; enjoying ladies' nights out; giving a hand up at charitable functions and comparing notes on such things as home improvement projects, grandbaby stories, and daily beauty routines.

One of my friends whose father was a beloved and  favorite teacher in high school and who was my homeroom teacher for four years, happens to share my interest in embroidery.  About 2 weeks ago she sent me a pattern and had even transferred it to a tea-stained square.  A surprise!  I got busy stitching immediately.

I got to thinking that I might not finish this by the end of the month but wouldn't it make a great Christmas piece if I tweaked it a bit?


Don't they look like three little elf'n ladies which might be busy in Mrs. Santa Clause's kitchen baking all sorts of goodies?  C'mon...you can just imagine!

And here it is fashioned into a pillow.  Don't tell her, yet, but I'm going to ship it back to her and surprise her with my jolly interpretation.

I don't have to speculate, if I know her she'll be kickin' up her boot heels once she opens her box and sees her present.

Skirt the Subject

Does anyone other than me think the holiday calendar revolves more around selling candy and chocolates than the meaning of the day?

When my kids were younger I celebrated these special days with items other than candy and sweets.  Valentine's day came with books and stationery and pens and paints.  At Easter they were gifted with sweaters and shirts and skirts and headbands and books.  I might slip in a Ghirardelli's chocolate bar or a Godiva morsel but the bulk of the booty was non-edible.

This Easter the gifts were more like a colorful explosion of textiles. Among other things a patterned, orange, spring-like skirt and a couple throw pillows were gifted.

I'm only speculating but I think these delicacies will last much longer than a delectable, melt-away, piece of chocolate.  Mmm-mmm good!

If Picasso Stitched A Pillow

During the cold and rainy winter I had to keep busy when it seemed too cold to do the gardening.  Where I live a dip below 60 degrees is cause for bringing out the winter parka!
I purchased some linen; located Picasso's Flowers of Peace and traced it onto the fabric.
 I got busy embroidering.  Backed the pillows with a blue on blue ikat fabric; stuffed them and ooooo-la-la:  see how they perk up the place.

 She'll be moving into her own place soon and I think these will make a colorful, cozy addition.

If I had to speculate I'd guess these will be used in our first pillow fight! I think I'll win.

Pillow Talk

Not long ago a very nice cashmere sweater dress made it into the washer and then into the dryer.  You all know what happened.  No need to get into those details.  Right?

Not one to pass up a new project I figured this was the perfect chance to make a pillow.  Half way through it my daughter says:  "Ohhh Mom, I want that one.  Can I have it?"  I knew then this pillow had potential for coolness.

After cutting out the basic rectangular shape I filled it with fiberfill.  Turns out the fiberfill is too bulky so I pulled it out and opted for a silk fill.

You can see the basic gray rectangle needed pizazz.  I have seen primitive wool art pillows in high end stores all over the place.  While on a recent trip to Santa Barbara, I saw felt and wool pillows fashioned by local crafts people selling for $300. a pop!  And the store owners cannot keep them on hand.  As fast as they come in tourist folks nab them right up.  "Hey!" (I think to myself);  "I could do that, too."  So I pulled out some wool felt and cut a few shapes and ended up with this pizazziness: 

I'm only speculating but I think this pillow talks to me and I'll be using more cashmere in the near future.