In Memorium

I posted this earlier today and then had second thoughts about it and deleted the post. But so many of you on Facebook saw it before I removed it and were so kind with your comments that I decided to re-post it. Those of you who knew of my Dad's illness know that it's been a tough time especially the last couple of years. It's been good to talk to family and remember happier times when Dad was telling a dirty joke, enjoying a scotch, or rooting for his beloved New York Giants....

My Dad passed away this afternoon. I miss him already.

He'd been taken away from us little by little. It was good to look at some photos of him with his beaming smile...something I truly missed over these past years of his battle with Parkinson's.

I remember my wedding, thirty years ago...I couldn't tell who was more nervous walking down the aisle that day...the young woman taking the next step in her life, or the grown man letting go ...

Now, I know what it's like to let go...

The Search Begins Anew! Roy G Biv Challenge: Red Update #3

 Time for some Red...The "R" in Roy.
I have to admit that it's been a crazy couple of weeks both personally and professionally. I didn't have much time to search. I have some Savannah Red and a Red from last summer...beautiful currants...which I'd never seen before. They are like jewels!

Looking forward to seeing your Red today!
If you're wondering what this is all about, see this post for more info. Hope you'll join in the fun. Feel free to post up to midnight on Saturday, January 18th. Leave a comment here or on Jennifer's blog and we'll link to your post.

Hop on over to Jennifer's blog for more Red. Love those huge Red snails!
Bridgette at Contemplating the Moon made a game of Red with her children this week...what fun!
Maya at Million Little Stitches has lots of urban Red.
Margaret at Charlton Stitcher had fun looking around her immediate surroundings...some cheery Red on a gray January day. 
Cindi at The Organic Manic posted some Red printing experiments, wonderful Japanese gift wrap,  a bit of a surprise (for me!) and even dressed for the occasion! 
Blue Sky Dreaming has some mysterious Red. 
Fiona at Paper Ponderings is thinking about Kurt Vonnegut and Red. 
Susan at Flying Dog Studio shares her favorite color, Red! 
Jill at Recycled Daze shows us some neon Red. 
Yarn Goddess at Sooner or Later has lots of fiber Reds. 
 Franciose at Creatilfun has some fresh Reds...love that mushroom! 
Sharmon Davidson has some up close Reds. 
Lisa at Arzigogolare has some wonderful and creative glimpses of Red
A late entry from Joan...Red from the National Sculpture Garden...

 
 

Savannah Textures and the Return of Roy (G. Biv)

It's been six months since I was last in Savannah. It's also been four months since I was able to take a nature walk. I've been battling Plantar Faciitis since the beginning of the summer. It finally got so bad I had to do something about it. So...I now have custom inserts. After gradually building up my ability to wear them, I decided to re-initiate my walks while visiting my folks. Anyone who's battled this condition knows that it can be pretty frustrating. I was heart broken having to stop my daily routine of hourly walks. Walking is a great meditation and I often work out artistic challenges during that time. But sometimes having a physical challenge can push you in a new direction. I now have a daily stretching and yoga routine. I'm up early and on the mat every day!

It was good to get out in the fresh air, even for a short walk (testing my feet!). Of course, I took my camera along to see what caught my attention.

Today it was one of my favorites...textures! In particular, tree textures. So enjoy!

Now for Mr. Roy! Yes...he has returned. Jennifer and I are starting Round 3 of the Searching for Roy G Biv (RedOrangeYellow Green BlueIndigoViolet)Challenge. Jennifer has a wonderful post today about the history of Roy. It all started with this post:
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Searching for Roy G Biv

Yellow.... nuf said
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This time we've decided to plan out the whole year with colors and dates. For a quick synopsis...each month participants search for the color of the month. Take photos and post them (up to 5 is suggested but we aren't sticklers!) on your blog on the designated day (3rd Thursday of the month). Make a comment on this blog or on Jennifer's blog. We will link to your blog. It's a colorful blog hop and lots of fun! Feel free to join in at any point during the year...the more the merrier! Hope to see lots of red posts on January 16th

Here are the dates and colors for 2014:

January 16 - red

February 20 - orange

March 20 - yellow

April 17 - green

May 15 - blue

June 19 - indigo

July 17 - violet

August 21 - pink

September 18 - black

October 16 - white

November 20 - brown

December 18 - blogger's choice

 

P.S.: We will send out a reminder about a week before. 

Starting the New Year with a Fabric Giveaway!

Happy New Year!!

Thanks to the ladies of the Hive (The Printed Fabric Bee) we are offering a wonderful fabric giveaway!
If you've been reading some of my past posts then you know that The Printed Fabric Bee is a group of 10 surface design enthusiasts! We all just love getting into the studio and painting, dyeing and printing fabric. Each month, one member of the Hive becomes the Queen. As Queen she requests fabrics in her choice of color and motif. The rest of the Hive gets to work and produces some pretty awesome fabric!

The best part is that we want all of you to join in the fun. So, the members of the Bee make 6" squares of the fabric of the month. Each month we'll be offering a fabric giveaway...how cool is that!?

This month I was the Queen, requesting blue spirals. Above is a photo of this month's giveaway fabrics.

Here's what you have to do to win...

Post a comment here (this blog post) or visit The Printed Fabric Bee and post a comment under the same photo of this month's giveaway fabrics. I'll be drawing names from a hat on Sunday, January 12. Then, before you know it, this packet of inspiring fabrics will be on its way to the lucky winner!

So comment away.....

New Blues and Other News

The final blue spirals have arrived! Such a visual treat!
Thanks to Lisa Chin, Lesley Riley, Susan Purney Mark and Jackie Lams of The Printed Fabric Bee for this beautiful selection of blue spirals.

Look for an announcement after Christmas about how you can win 6" x 6" versions of all the blue spiral fabrics. To see some of the other photos click here and here.

On the book front, I'm chugging along. Today is the official deadline for the rough draft. Needless to say I'm still writing and trying to finish up the very last of the fabric samples. Fortunately, there's still a bit of time before the manuscript moves onto the next phase...not too much time though. I'll be bringing my laptop along with me on my holiday travels.

I hope to do a bit of posting here as well, if time allows. It's been so strange to be out of the loop with my blogging friends. I miss stopping by all your blogs to see what you're up to...I have A LOT of catching up to do!!! Hope that you are all enjoying (or have enjoyed) your holidays for this time of the year. Hope too that you're taking good care of yourself...maybe a little bit of pampering and are not too stressed out by the holiday madness.

January will mean the reboot of Searching for Roy G Biv (the colors of the rainbow). Jennifer and I will announce a date soon. January also means I'll be back to writing Julie B Booth Surface Design News. I must admit that writing my book, Fabric Printing at Home, seems a lot like writing numerous newsletters! If you haven't signed up for it, the sign up is in the top right-hand column. It's free, comes to your mailbox monthly and has a fabric printing project inspired by kitchen materials. You can view past newsletters as well. I've been pleasantly surprised that in my writing absence I've had over 30 new subscribers! So somehow the word is getting out there...which makes me happy and grateful!

So...look for lots of announcements in the coming weeks...now back to book writing!

Metallic Blues

Gerrie C.'s fabric is on the left, Lynn K.'s is on the right.

Two more blue spiral fabrics from The Printed Fabric Bee have arrived.

Gerrie Congdon and Lynn Krawczyk were certainly on the same wave length with these fabrics that feature blue metallics!

They are a perfect complement and seem as if they belong together in a future project.

You will have an opportunity to win 6" versions of these and the other Bee fabrics later this month.

Stay tuned!

Blue Spirals Making an Appearance!

Carol's blue spirals

It's my month as Queen of The Printed Fabric Bee. I requested the theme of blue spirals for my fabrics. Fabrics from Hive members, Carol Eaton and Lynda Heines arrived the other day and they are just gorgeous! Here is a sneak peak...

Carol's blue spirals

Lynda's blue spirals

For those of you who are curious about The Printed Fabric Bee, here is a post about it.

If you'd like to know more about how Carol created her fabric, she has a wonderful post about it here.

I mentioned to the Hive that I love fabrics from all over the world so Lynda designed one based on Kente cloth. Isn't it lovely?

Lynda's blue spirals inspired by Kente cloth

Guess what? You will have a chance to win 6" squares of all the fabrics I receive this month! Look for info about the drawing here and at The Printed Fabric Bee in the next week or so.

I can't wait to see what arrives in the mail today!