A Charmed Life

Here's my book!

This is the description:

Featuring artwork from a wide range of contributors, this resource explores creative self-portraits through fun and easy exercises and essays that instruct and inspire artists working in all media. Examples of collage, fiber arts, and mixed media artwork offer visual inspiration while essays throughout the book act as a guide to personal and artistic self-discovery. Step-by-step techniques and creative prompts are used to direct artists through different approaches to creating self-portraits while exercises utilizing collage, drawing, photography, and stitching will jumpstart the creative process and get ideas flowing on paper and fabric, encouraging artists to express themselves in new ways.

It will be available Sept. 1 in stores and is available for pre-order now on Amazon and soon at quiltingarts.com at a special discount.

Who are you?

I don't normally do these things, but I couldn't resist this quiz. And, I am not at all surprised at the result. I am much more sensibility than sense. Plus, I would love to think of myself as looking like Kate Winslet. Hey, the name's the same and I have curly hair about that color. Take the quiz yourself here.

Tonight I taught my Big Fat Greek Cooking class. This is my second time teaching it, and again, everyone was enthusiastic and a lot of fun, and again, there was someone who showed up and said, "Oh, you use dairy? And meat? I don't eat those things." Which is fine. Some of my best friends are vegetarians. Some of my favorite in-laws are vegetarians. But, at least I know in advance when they come to my house for dinner, so I can prepare. And I'm sure none of them would sign up for a cooking class without investigating what goes into the food. Sheesh. I feel bad, but cooking the classic Greek dishes--moussaka, spinach pie, and tiroptes (cheese triangles) without meat, eggs, or cheese is a little tough, folks. It can be done, sure. But that's another class, OK? And, being Greek, I feel bad when people don't eat my food, or don't eat, period. It's like in My Big Fat Greek Wedding when the groom says he's a vegetarian and the Thea (Aunt) says, "That's OK, I make lamb." It just doesn't compute. Anyway, here's a sample of my tiropites, with cheese, eggs, butter and phyllo.

Wishing for Spring

This charming book is based on a fairytale by Sibylle von Olfers and a modern quilt by Sieglinde Schoen Smith. The story talks of how below the winter snow, Mother Earth and her children prepare for spring, dusting off bumblebees and painting fresh, colorful coats on the ladybugs before emerging through the earth as the first flowers of spring. The story and illustrations are absolutely enchanting.

And now, a word from our sponsor

I collect so many things, and craft books are one of the genres. It's part occupational hazard, part eternal optimism: I always think I'm going to get around to making and doing so much more than I ultimately have the time and money for.

So, I've put up a few books for auction on eBay. Some are very gently used, some not used at all. They are in two lots, going cheap.

I plan to list a few other things, including some vintage fabrics, over the next week or so, so keep checking back!