fragments...oddments...enchantments...including art, musings and things that make me smile!... photos by Yvonne
Before noon a front started moving in and rain came down. This is the beach before the rain.
The photo below is the Port Isabel Lighthouse that I climbed. I was at the top! WooHoo!!! It is over 60 feet tall and was built in about 1858 I think. It is one of the oldest in the state.
We had a great time that day. I was proud I climbed the lighthouse and went outside to see the view!
This is a close up of Persia's face. Isn't it wonderful! I love it! This, and the hair, is Jeanne's work and Robyn added the sequins in her eyes to give them sparkle. Robyn also added paper beads to her hair. Persia has one earring now too. Jeanne and Robyn have done wonderful work to Persia. 
This is how Persia looks now, after I opened up the package. Now I have to figure out what Persia wants next. 
I will have to tell you more of the story later mates!!!!
Take the book and tear the covers off. Discard them. Take out any paper cardboard pages. Tear the book into several sections making it easier to handle. With the brush start covering each page of the book with turpentine.
I covered all the pages in the whole book and let them sit stacked up on each other in the container for 3 hours or so. Then after I knew the process had taken place, I separated the pages one by one. Do not let them dry out during that 3 hours before the turpentine has time to "melt"the ink on the pages, as this will stop the process. As the process is taking place you can smush the pages around to intermingle the colors. 
When you separate the pages lay them on freezer paper to dry, which should not take long. The smell will last for awhile I have read. Then when you use them for your journals and cover the pages with sealer or paints or gesso or whatever then the smell will not be there anymore. I have read that you can also buy a product called Cytrasolv or an odorless turpentine, which I have not found either one. 
I love the way the pages came out and I will be using them in journals. The paper is strong and does not get weak and tear when it is wet with the turpentine so be sure and soak it well when you are doing this. I hope you try this as it is very unique and you never know how your pages will turn out. When you peel the pages apart it makes unique marks on them. Depending on what is on the page originally will determine the outcome, so colorful pages make the best turp pages I think.
This is my new Angels Trumpet or Datura. It's still in the pot and it bloomed. I just bought it Saturday at the local Trade Days here. This one is a bit larger than my yellow one I posted before. It grows into a tree so I have to figure out where I will put it in my yard. Isn't it lovely!
This photo was taken by my DH when he went fishing with my brother this beautiful Sunday morning. He took it with his phone camera and sent it to my email. It's not real clear because of the fog, but it is still beautiful. What is neat is that he knew I would love it and he thought to take the photo for me to see it.
They didn't catch any fish, but they both enjoyed it anyway, and with views like that, you can understand why. Also, he says, when he doesn't catch fish, "That's why they call it fishing and not catching!" :)
Have a good day!
This photo is another block that has a basket full of flowers. The flowers are embroidered on a white on white block.
Here you can see my 3 sash design and the corner detail with the embroidery added in the 3rd border. 
Here is the whole quilt. I added borders to make it large enough to fit a queen bed. The back is unbleached muslin and now it is quilted in an all over stippling design, done by my friend Mary Kout. I like my sashing design on this quilt and the flower embroidery in the borders. This is my own design.
This photo is the quilt top before it was quilted.
This block is a close up of the Indian chief with the flying geese. I put the flying geese beside each embroidered block and also outlined each block with a little bit of black.
The picture below shows the corner detail. I included the flying geese in the second border.
You can get the Civil War fabrics as Joni did to make it look original or you can use fabrics that you choose. You can also make it smaller of course and only make a few of the blocks making yourself a wall hanging. It's up to you. It took Joni one year to make this quilt.
Joni had it quilted by a lady in Austin. It is an all over quilt design that does not take away from the block designs. The back it just plain muslin. The edges are scalloped and that took some time to bind. This is SOME quilt! The pics do not do it justice!
This piece below is one that I gave Joan. It was paper fabric that I made and I weaved it together and then I added paper fabric flowers. She decided to add the center of the flowers to add some sparkle. I think that's all it needed.
This one below is a close up of the flower that Joan beaded. She added this flower to some paper fabric as you will see next.
Here it is. She made this piece of paper fabric and I told her to use her imagination and do something with it. So this is what she came up with. I love it!
This last one is also one of Joan's. I made the little piece and told her to think about embellishments. She added the seeds and banana yarn that I gave her and it's perfect. Joan has never done art quilts before so all of this got her to think outside the box. She did a great job! She loves art quilting now BTW!
This is my doll in the beginning of the project.
This is my little casa, with the snow covered mountains in the background, in Umbria. It was beautiful.
I was there during the olive harvest, in November.
The Rose Windows were beautiful, especially from the interior. There was so much beauty there and I felt like I stepped back in time.
Maybe one day I'll get to return! One of my favorite places!
Photo taken in Glochester, Massachusetts.
First thing I do is cut the long triangle strips. Depending on how long you cut them will determine how large and fat the final bead will be. Also the width of the paper will determine how long the bead will be, so you may want to think about those things when cutting your strips.
I use a wooden skewer to roll my paper on. Don't roll the paper too tight or you won't be able to get it off the skewer. Put glue dots as you go to hold the paper in place and one glue dot at the end to hold the bead together.
Take your bead off the skewer and embellish, if you wish. You can paint it, add yarn, add beads, whatever you want. You can leave it plain and seal it with a spray sealer to protect it.
Here are some beads I made. Some I painted, others I wrapped with wire, added small seed beads, small pieces of cloth or yarn or used markers to add color. Use your imagination to create some unique and beautiful paper beads! But most of all have some fun! If you make some paper beads I'd love to hear from you, to see them and know how you are using them.
Next step is to cut away the excess stabilizer after taking it out of the hoop.
Take it to the sink and wash away the stabilizer until it is all gone, which doesn't take long.
Put the piece between layers of paper towels and press excess water out.
Shape the piece and let it dry. Attach it to your art quilt or whatever you will use it on by using just a little bit of stitching here and there, tacking it in place.
You're done! Try different designs!
