Christmas in their hearts

I am a needlework fan. This is the wall next to my bed, where I put my book at night, and my glasses too, before I put out the light.

Some of these craftswomen have sent me the most wonderful things, like this embroidered bird, from Jone at Pantry Violets. I keep it with my spice jars, right in my kitchen.

http://www.pantryviolets.blogspot.com/

This beautiful bunting was knit by Lori. I had a big blank space over my bed, and then Lori sent me this package and I nearly tripped running down the hall to hang it here! Isnt' it amazing how the colors match the quilt?

http://www.loritimesfive.blogspot.com/

Mary Stanley sent me this little house which was just what the neighborhood on my wall needed. Mary hooks rugs too, and is a wonderful needlewoman.

http://www.marystanley.blogspot.com/

this isn't exactly needlework, but its a gift from my talented friend Delila in Finland.

http://www.robinandthesage.blogspot.com/

Its resting against a sketchbook, with a needlework cover, by Viv at Hens Teeth.

Viv is a rock star in the stitching world~

http://www.hensteethart.blogspot.com/

A close up of my quilt, the lady who made this cut out and appliqued these flowers all over the top of this, its so lovely. Got it at a garage sale in Santa Barbara. yup.

close up of Lori's work

These ladies are all the best, and feel like 'old friends'.

Little needlecase from New Hampshire, a gift from my mom.

Thanks for stopping by, always such a pleasure to have you visit

xxx

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

snow flurries

Its snowing in there.
When I saw an article on Martha Stewart.com explaining how to make snow globes, I made a few figures .
After all I grew up on snow globes like these above, all from California. (From an antique website)
So I went out and found supplies, distilled water and isopropyl alchohol too;
I rushed back home
washed a jar
When the figures were glued on lid (roughened up with sandpaper to make glue stick) I waited 24 hours and added the ingredients to the jar; Filled nearly full with the distilled water, a dollop of glycerine and another of the alchohol and a tablespoon of glitter. I shook it, definately the best part.
Here's another one drying. Now when I go to the grocery store, I can't keep away from the bottled goods section. I'm looking for a more globe type shape. I think I'll have good luck in the orange marmalade section.
Hope you all have a thrilling Thanksgiving!
xxx
juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

remember me

Autograph books are small time capsules. You can almost hear the pen scratching across the page as you look at them. Beautiful sentiments to a friend, like the one above.
"Life is short, Oh may it be
full of happiness for thee."

Some of my Etsy customers might recognize these as they are thank you's to put in with pottery. I've just added some watercolor images, and color copy them on cardstock and there is my notecard.
Since Carrie put a butterfly die cut next to her name,
I put wings on her

And some dancing animals for Dwight

Here's a painting of the era by Felix Vallotton. I'm sure many of these people signed thier names in autograph books, besides I wanted to show it to you because its so wonderful.

As shure as comes your wedding day,

A broom to you I'll give,

In sunshine use the brushy part,

In storm the other end....

Victorian ink bottles, what the signers would dip thier pens into before writing

Lydia, Way back here where nobody will look

I'll sign my name in your book~

I even used an old water color palatte to paint on the paper.

Another watercolor box of the era.

This is just as found , all hand done in one of the old autograph books.

Remember me!

(I'll remember you)

xxx

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

from the heart

This is Lori. Stellar photographer, wonderful knitter, and all around the kind of person who its good to know is walking the earth. Lori has a great blog.
http://www.loritimesfive.blogspot.com/
This is acrylic and a little bit of oil pastel on canvas, 8x10. I primed the canvas with burnt sienna, then drew in the face with charcol and began to add the layers of paint.
The bird is a roller, from Africa. Lori's favorite bird.





One of Lori's beautiful portraits.



I learned that if you paint things that mean something to you it adds to the still life.

So here is my favorite glass, one of my cafe au lait bowls and the last of the summer peaches.

The geranium blossom is from my mother's garden, and now is rooting in a flower pot!



Lots more cafe bowls to paint...

We went to Santa Barbara for my birthday. Yes, its really this gorgeous

After the museum we stopped in at the ultimate grocery store, Lazy Acres. Can you even believe this produce section?

More ornaments to list today........

Thanks so much for visiting

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

back to the woods

Everyone knew the time arrived to get back to the woods.

Except for Red Riding Rabbit, who'd decided to take a detour.

Let's go Red! all her friends called........

The nights were coming on sooner

Fox was very savvy and carried two lanterns.

Red dropped off the cake to Grandma and hurried on.

This gingerbread deliciousness was made by Kary.

www.myfarmhousekitchen.blogspot.com

They would come back and see the farmlady at halloween though;

Everyone would think they were in costumes!

Only you and I know their secret.

Have fun in the woods, but be careful of the wolf.

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

sleeping flowers

The last week its been a challenge to cut a boquet because all the flowers are going to sleep.

I've collected my sweet pea seeds, the plants themselves dug back into the earth.

And I hope you'll pardon the paint on my hand. I really do wash up before I cook dinner!

I did manage a late summer boquet, but most of the blooms come from my mother's beautiful garden. There's even a rogue grapefruit blossom there. The fragrance is heady and intoxicating.

I started out with a spoon for the sleeping flowers, but have been wanting to paint some canvases.

These are 'warm ups' five by seven inches. Acrylic and oil pastel on masonite board.

Thats butterflies flying around the still unfinished braided girl on the left.

Since I especially like to paint people I know, here's Nina wishing a hummingbird safe journey til next year. But you will be seeing me alot sooner, I promise!

xxx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com