Handmade From the Heart

Photos of the event held at The Guild in Minneapolis.  It was a cold, sunny day outside but lots of warmth inside.  My spot was close to the sunny south side windows.

The sun glinting off the baskets of the animals.  You can tell they were having a good time.

Prairie Grass Weavings 

The Valentine-y table of treats was a work of art itself, delicious in reds, pinks, white and chocolates

Guilty pleasures all, tasty too!

Besides me, guest artists invited featured nuno felted scarves by sisters Nancy Beth Stevenson, Nancy Stevens Randall, their business is called Scarving Artists.  You can tell they have a good time putting their work together. Katherine Seger, an painter in oils, painted a still life she gave away at the end of the day. Interesting to see her process beginning with an empty canvas transformed into a fine piece of art by the end of the day.  Go to www.KatherineSeger.com to see her work.  Hostess aprons by Robin Klitze were there too, light-hearted whimsical art wear.

My cats and dogs are invited to come back and hold a place at The Guild.   See them around-about March.   Go to The Guild Minneapolis if you want to see more.

It was a privilege to be invited, I enjoyed the day.

Happy Valentines Day

See Me Here!

I am going to be a part of The Guild Collective Trunk Show in Minneapolis on Saturday, February 11, from 10 - 6 pm.

Go here The Guild Collective, Minneapolis to see my work, other artists in the Trunk Show and members of the Guild Collective.  If you're in Minneapolis hope I see you there.

The Guild Collective features fine work of stylists, artists, retailers, photographers and designers around the Twin Cities.

Style Any Age -- Yes!

This is a long trailer for our upcoming documentary about stylish New York older ladies. The documentary is planned to come out in the summer of 2012.
For more stylish ladies check out http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com
For more about director go to linaplioplyte.com


A friend posted this on Facebook -- had to share it.

Check out the blog too -- this is fun.  I love this - the ladies, the clothes, the comments.  Enjoy!

Local, Handmade

While doing a little house cleanse over the past week, it was today that I looked and saw that in this house we have some great art, art made by me, by kids, by husband, grandkids and friends.  This post reminds me to notice and not take for granted what I see everyday and what makes this house a home.

This one makes me smile, my two youngest daughters sewed this up and gave it as a gift for Mother's Day.  It's a little faded but still perfect.  They're all grown up now but this work of art is just who they were and who they are today.

A mosaic of a raven made by an artist in Baraboo, WI and an oil pastel of a Flicker (I think) woodpecker drawn by my grandson.  I love both, so much soul.

                    

The stained glass piece was made by my husband a long time ago, he doesn't do that kind of work anymore - too busy fixing motorcycles.  

The rug with the beautiful red cardinals was made by my dad.  My artistic dad who loved to work with his hands.  He was a plumber by trade but in the winter when he couldn't be in the garden he could be found painting by number or in his workshop making a wind chime or a lamp or....  I was gone from home when he found the rug projects to do -- I think it's so cool that this man who loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, gardening would do this work and love it.  I have two of his rugs, such a good way to remember him.

Deb Conlon, Amy Arnold

Ken DeWaard

Three of the many works of art that aren't made by me or family members, nonetheless they hold important places on the walls of this house and are done by local artists.  The painting of the little yellow building is of a garden shed turned into a present day sauna.  This painting is by a neighbor who thought it worth painting - I think so too and in the wintertime this painting warms me up.

Here's to a New Year filled with art - where ever you find it and take time to notice how much it adds to your life.
Cheers!

You Dog

Going to the dogs lately.  Here is a look at how my little dogs come alive.  The top photo shows a  'litter' (?) of pups, arms, legs, bodies unstitched.  Next photo shows legs and arms pulled through to sew up the sides and bottom (ouch), then (next photo) they are pulled right side out (ahhh)!   At last a DOG -- a nose, a pair of eyes, a mouth and a bow-tie -- perfect!   These little dogs are made with recycled wool scraps and some of my hand woven pieces.  They are all special, all one of a kind.  You will be seeing them in my ETSY shop.  I am making kats as well - find them in the shop as they are 'born'.

If I'm not back here before Christmas -- have a wonderful holiday season.

Boise Curbside, Idaho Natural Beauty and Chicago Cityscapes

Boise's Linen Building

I tried to find out the history of the Linen District in Boise but all I've come up with so far is that this area of Boise is a recent success story in the city.  Storefronts, restaurants and hotel businesses have gotten a facelift and a renewed life.  We stayed across from the Linen Building in an updated travel lodge called the Modern.  Very cool newly refurbished rooms, restaurant/bar and office.  I highly recommend it if you find yourself in Boise, Idaho.

One of the mosaics attached to the Linen Building under windows facing the street.  Beautiful in the east facing light.

Local artists work hangs on the fence walking from the Linen Building to the

Big City Coffee Shop.  Boise, in my humble opinion, has the best coffee shops and this one is tops in my book.  Besides coffee they serve the yummiest, buttery-est muffins.

Boise Botanical Gardens, love the colors - especially the lavender posts!

Snake River Canyon

An Idaho mountain stream, we sat a spell in the hot springs found along this river.

From the canyons of Idaho to the canyons of downtown Chicago.  We took an architectural tour on the Chicago River.  There is beauty and wonderment in both the natural and man-made - 

how can buildings be this tall?  The natural grandeur of the Idaho mountains is breathtakingly beautiful and you want it to stay that way.  The Chicago skyline has a splendor that is stunning and awesome, a tribute to what humans can do.  Both have value, serve humanity and we need both - in their places.

Touring in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Concrete Park, created by Fred Smith in the years between 1950 and 1964 is located just off Hwy 13 near Phillips, WI.  Fred's occupations were listed as a lumberjack, barkeep, and self-taught artist.  He must have been a character and one with a vision.  I had heard about this place from friends and finally got to take it in. The individuals in this rustic garden have lots of charm and personality - Fred's??  They are rough, whimsical creations, unpretentious and way out of the ordinary.

The next day we made it to the Porcupine Mountains in the Michigan Upper Peninsula, the destination of our trip.  The trees were in full autumn glory.   The sunny warm days made our motorcycle trip easy and fun.  We camped in a yurt at the Union Bay campground, it sat just above Lake Superior.  We had stunning Lake Superior on one side and flaming color scattered all over the 'mountains' on the other.

Looking out over Lake of the Clouds

                                                               
                                      A fallen giant in the old growth forests near Mirror Lake.

                 We had just spent a night camping in a tent, so this yurt camping was pure luxury!
From the outside a yurt is not much to look at - inside it was cozy and homey -- except for the flies, which -- I'm not going to talk about, except to say there were a few, quite a bothersome few ...