Images of Virginia Beach 2016

It's just over a week since I returned from my annual visit to see my friend, Laura, who lives in Virginia Beach.

It's always a special time for me...to visit with my friend. We first met at the local pool club when my son, Aaron and her son Nathan were babies. The two of us became close friends. I recently found photos from when Aaron and Nate were just under a year old. I also found some of the poetry that I wrote when Laura and I had regular writing get-togethers. Guess what I'm trying to say...is that my friendship with Laura runs deep.

During my visit, we spent lots of time outdoors on nature walks and cooling off in the ocean and the bay.

I got to admire Laura's flower garden...

And, of course, had the annual tour of Brian's vegetable garden.

These yellow tomatoes were SO sweet!

I enjoyed lots of yummy vegetable meals (and also some delicious meals out).

Sign on wall at the restaurant.

On the last full day of my visit, Laura and I spent some time printing fabrics. I can't believe that I didn't take any photos! She worked on a piece with printed trees that looked like hands that were lifting up a creature that was fish-like (again...how did I NOT take a photo of this!). She also started on a piece about her grandmother using lots of green (her grandmother's favorite color) and printing with Hibiscus...a favorite flower. I got involved in making another cloth book. I spent time printing the "edges" of things.

Laura and Lucy

On the last evening (at sunset), we went down to the ocean beach for a swim and a last walk...though Lucy, the dog had other plans...running off and greeting everyone on the beach!

Here are a few other things I want to remember...
--Cracking and eating my first crabs (I'm a lobster girl remember) at a surprise birthday party (for one of Laura's friends)
--Gorging on the most amazing home-made ice cream cake (I need that recipe).
--Riding bicycles with Laura and Brian at dusk.
--Watching a watermelon deflate (yes...that was an experience! It was rotting from the inside (unknown to us) and had a very slow leak. Laura inspected it...put it back down on the counter and then I watched it quickly deflate, leaking all over the place!)

Thank you my dearest friend!

Stitch-In July 2016

Ann Z: From her travels out west.

Just a quick post before I head off to Virginia Beach to spend time with my dear friend Laura.

We had a great Stitch-In this month. Lots of helpful (to me) discussion about upcoming classes. I was able to bounce some ideas off of Ann Z., Susan P., Barbara M-C., and Jodie F. ...especially about my new version of Story Cloth that focuses on memory. Thanks ladies!

Here are the pieces that were being stitched and shared at the Stitch-In:

Ann Z.: Detail. 

Ann Z. was working on a landscape. She fell in love with the red earth in Oklahoma from her most recent visit to see family.

Barbara M-C.: Bookmarks

Barbara brought along some stitched bookmarks using satin stitch...a stitch she learned while growing up in Hungary.

She also is continue to work on a "word-a-day" piece using some of her indigo dyed fabric.

Barbara M-C.: Word a Day

Barbara M-C.: Detail

Jodie brought along this piece...part of a series she is working on. BTW...Jodie is being featured in my upcoming issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News in a new section I'm calling, The Stitching Zone. The issue comes out on Sunday.

Jodie F.

Susan P. is continuing to work on her pieces from my spring Hand Stitching class. Aren't they fabulous! If you're interested in the taking the class this fall...click on the highlighted words above.

Susan P.: Using an unusual ribbon as inspiration.

Susan P.: Couching

Susan P.

Susan P.: Stitching over sheers.

I brought the book that I created at Cape Cod and some other stitched samples I'm working on for my Boro and Beyond workshop that I'll be teaching in October. I'll be showing you how to make the book in my upcoming newsletter (be sure to subscribe in right-hand column...if you haven't already!)

Julie: Summer Memories Book

Julie : Soap resist.

Julie: Printing with shells

Julie: Sample for Boro and Beyond.

Off for some fun in the sun!

Cape Cod Memories 2016

A rock from the Kindness Rock Project on the hike to Great Island.

Just back from two weeks at Cape Cod which I spent with my Mom and brothers and significant others, family and friends. Great times and even some art!

My Mom and I were greeted the first night by a gorgeous sunset.

We walked beaches...

Picked up stones (I have some plans swirling in my head about those!)...

Judy, Ivy and Kai made stone cairns.

Went on nature walks...

Walk to Great Island.

Walk to Great Island.

Rode boogie boards (even my 84-year-old Mom!), ate great food...

Played games (Bananagrams was a favorite!) and worked on the annual art project...

Poppy painting over resist.

Some painted backgrounds.

Kai and Poppy working on their book pages.

Printing with blocks.

Printed "pages".

 Here are a couple of photos from one of the books that my Mom finished...

I'll post some additional photos of finished books in another post.

We had a great time...I felt so close to nature...especially when the local coyotes were howling!

June 2016 Stitch-In

Ann Z.

Stitchers have been busy! It was so great to see all the creative stitched work.

Ann Z. is putting the finishing touches on her sampler book started in my Hand Stitching class. Here is a sampling of pages...

Ann Z.: Front cover

Ann Z.: Title page

Ann Z.

Ann Z.

Ann Z.

Ann Z.: Front side

Ann Z.: Back side

Jodie F. continues to be inspired by her trip to the beach..

Jodie F.: Adding more details.

Jodie F.

Jodie F.

This was Maria S's first time to the Stitch-in. She brought in some of her rusted fabrics and a number of great books by Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn.

Maria S.: Sampler from PM Fiberarts Guild workshop.

Maria S.

Maria S.: Stitching on a new piece.

Peggy G.'s been having fun jumping off from commercial fabrics. I love the spider made from the Spider Web stitch and the flies (Fly stitches) caught in the web. Look closely and you will see the word, YUM in the corner.

Peggy G.

Peggy G.

I finally finished my Hand Stitching sampler book. I had fun working both sides of the title page and then deciding which I wanted to stitch the title to.

Julie B.: Title page

Julie B.: Back side of title page.

I tried spreading it out on the floor (rather than accordion-folding it)...too long for me to get a shot of the whole piece...around 10 feet long!

Julie B.: This is only about a third of the book.

Sarah H. and Lisa B. were also at the bee. And Barbara M-C. popped in for a quick "hi".

I'm really so excited to see all the different stitching directions...such a variety of artistic voices!