A necklace gift

This a fabulous necklace!! My friends husband asked me to make this for her. It is the letter texture that I love to make that has been oxidized to bring it out. It has a lovely peridot that is the birthstone of their new daughter. It is one inch square. And let me tell you it looked amazing one her. I enjoyed making if for them, it took most of a day, not bad I say. I am so happy that she loved it. 

I hope that you all have had a fabulous Christmas. I know that we did. 

Thank you for reading. 

Liesl

Quinn and his quilt

First Merry Christmas everyone!!! 

 Here is Quinn and I working on his quilt. I was working on it and he asked if he could learn and help. How amazing is that? So he is working on his square and is doing an amazing job. I am so impressed with how quickly he picked it up. 

He is a wonder. 

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope that you all have a joyful and wonder-filled one. 

Thank you all for following and reading. 

Happy holidays

Liesl 

Working away

 Yesterday was a great day to be working away in the studio. It was rainy and raw outside. 

But inside the studio was cozy and warm. The wood stove was working great. The above image is of me working hard on a pattern/texture that will be on a piece. I can feel all of that hammering today! Whoosh, it was a lot. But man it did feel good, I haven't made that in awhile. I will have to make up more to keep some on the ready.  

 Here is Steve chopping wood for the fire. He is the most amazing husband ever. Thank you for keeping me warm. 

Here I am working at my bench. I love my bench, its like home. I have to get the studio the more, hopefully the trend of the warmish winter will keep up. Once it gets too cold I will not be able to get in there as much I was would like. 

Thanks reading. 

Have a joyful and safe holiday season. 

Liesl

Close up Quilt

Here is a fabulous close up of Quinn's quilt. It is looking amazing. Slow going, I just keep plugging away at it. As my friend taught me it is about the process. It looks so cozy. 

Quinn is getting excited as it is half done. 

Thanks for reading.

Liesl

Dishes

For anyone who know, they know my love for vintage kitschy dishes. I have a huge love for all things pyrex. I just wanted to share a couple of my latest finds. They are wonderful and make me smile.  

 The above image is a fabulous vintage Santa spoon rest. Look at it, doesn't it just make you smile. It is on our stove for holiday season. I found it at one of our local Antiques store (Bernat Antiques). I pick it up for only $1!! Can you believe it?

 This is a amazing fridge glass pyrex. It is a fabulous blue color. No chips or marks. The cover is a perfect. 

I am using it a a little sewing "basket". It is the items that I need at hand to be working on Quinn's quilt. It works perfect, it sit on our end table. I have everything that I need at arms length. 

I also picked that great find up at Bernat for only $5!!! 

I love getting a really great deal. 

Thanks for indulging my obsession for dishes. 

Thanks for reading. 

Liesl 

 This is a great sign. My Aunt gave it to me, it belonged to my grandfather. I have the part that hung with name inside the studio. Steve hung a piece of slate from it for me, that way I can write anything I like on it. I rather like the welcome. I think that it is a great addition to studio's exterior, don't you?

 I was working on several projects yesterday. It was so nice to be in the studio this past weekend. Quinn visited and worked with me for a little bit also. I will show what he did latter this week. I worked on a some old projects (still not completed), a couple repairs, and a few new projects. I just can't seem to help myself from starting something new when I get in there. 

My trusty wood stove. It is an old friend at this point. Our friend Dick Sargent made it for me when we lived in New Jersey. We have dragged it everywhere with us. It got a hole in it last year, so sad. But Steve was able to put a patch on it. Thank you so much Steve you are the best. It works great, you would never know that there was a hole. I have an amazing husband. It keeps me nice and warm (well when I remember to add wood) while I am working. 

AS always thank you for reading. 

Liesl 

Being thankful

Happy Thanksgiving. 

I am just sharing a few thoughts on what I am thankful for. 

I am thankful for my family and all of us being happy and healthy. 

I am thankful for having a husband that supports everything that I do and who loves me to ends of the earth. I am thankful having a roof over our heads and foods in our belly. I am thankful our friends. I am thankful for my job and Steve's show. I am thankful for having creativity and a space to make. I am thankful for the most amazing son in the world.

I am thankful for being here. 

There is so much to be thankful for it is impossible to write it all down.

I am wishing everyone safe travels and a very happy thanksgiving today. 

Also I am thankful for all who read this. 

Liesl

Sketches

A lot of us have other jobs that keep busy along with our families. So I find that when inspiration strikes I will sketch it anywhere. I have all of these post-its everywhere, in my purse, my desk, my wallet, on my dresser, it is crazy. I really should just carry a sketch book with me. However like I said when it strikes you grab whatever paper is around and get it down before you loose it.

So with winter fast approaching I thought I would share a few of them with you. Do you have piles of ideas everywhere? 

I hope I get these put into reality soon. Thanks for reading and following. 

Be Creative, Liesl 

Fine Furnishings show

Over the weekend we went to the Fine Furnishings show in Pawtucket RI. It was a great show. It is a small one so it is great to when you have kids or a little bit of time. 

This year they included a quilt show by the The Rhode Island Modern Guild. 

It was a great show. Here are some fabulous images of some of the quilts.

 You might remember this one form an earlier post. It was really nice to see it again. 

 I love all of the colors on the soft grey background.

 Look at the details in this one!!! I love all of the textures they created in this one.

 This one I found striking and eye catching.  With all of the fabulous bright colors against the white and the black boarder, fabulous! 

This one is a great color and I love what  I will call pinwheels. 

Ans this is just a tasting of what they had on display. Here is a list of all of the quiltesr who participated.

Denuse Lamb, Jenn Galloway,Jodi Meenan, Karen McCann, Kathy Graves, Leslie Lowenstein, Meredith Skelly, Sisan Smallman, Sue Ahnrud, Suzanne Munroe, Tara Celeste, Tina Graig, Tara Coogan

Thank you all for sharing your beautiful work.

As always thanks for reading. 

Have a creative day, Liesl 

Fall, apples and pumpkins

I love fall, it means it is time for apple picking and well making everything apple. Oh and it is time for pumpkins too! 

It is Columbus day weekend. Which means it is a three day weekend!! I love three day weekends! So we went apple and pumpkin picking. My two guys below having fun looking for the best apples. 

 Don't these apples look fabulous? Oh my gosh they taste fabulous.

 Here they are looking for the perfect pumpkins to carve. I can wait till we carve them, that means pumpkin seeds to roast. Yummy!!

 We went for a walk at a local place here is Quinn taking it all in. It looks amazing. 

Here is the what is taking in. Beautiful. 

I hope that you all are having a fabulous long weekend and fantastic fun filled fall. As always thanks for reading. 

Liesl

October update

Happy October everyone!! This is a great month here is New England. The colors are changing and man are glorious this year. More one that latter.

The below image is of a shipment of metal I just received!! So exciting. Isn't is beautiful? I love getting new metal, I always have a hard time cutting into it for the first time. But work awaits me. I have many project to get done and to finish now that I have what I need. Keep post ot see what comes out of the it.

 Below is me working on Quinns quilt. I still have a long way to go. Maybe by Christmas I will have it all done. It is taking longer then I thought. And we have had several colds and what nots go through the house making it hard to work on it.  I know that I am no good when I am sick. Oh well. It is coming out wonderful though. Quilting take patience. And I love doing it by hand. 

As always thank you for reading my friends,

Happy fall and be creative.

Liesl

Coggeshall Farm Quilt

When we went to Coggeshall Farm there was this amazing quilt in the house. It was beautiful. It is by a lady names Tara Celeste. I love the colors in it!! I also loved how she captured the wonderful place that is Coggeshall Farm.

 I am not sure if you can read all that she wrote about the quilt, but I had to put it. 

 That is my arm point out the stitching that is done like a wave. As the farm in on Narraganset bay, it is only fitting. 

Once again it was a great day with the family and I hope you all are enjoying fall. 

I have been working on nothing but Quinn's quilt in hopes that it will be done before the snow fly's. I have my fingers crossed. I already have my next few quilts planned out. I however refuse to start them till I finish Quinn's. I am hoping to getting in the jewelry studio soon, as I need to get in there for some unfinished projects and repairs need to get done before it gets too cold. Can you believe that we are already thinking of winter? So sad. Oh well it comes every year.  

Thanks for reading. Have a creative day. 

Liesl

Apple Pie Contest

On Saturday we went to the Coggeshall Farm Harvest fair. O my gosh it was great fun! Quinn and I entered the Apple Pie Contest. It was so much fun to make the pie with him. He as so excited. We had a great time there. It was in Bristol RI, so right next to the water and the sunshine it was fabulous. 

 The image above it the filling we made. We used three different kinds of apples. yum!

 Here it is baking!! The house smelling so good. 

 Completed!! Doesn't it look amazing? 

Here they are tasting and judging all of the pies. Quinn was right in there making sure he heard everything. Only good things to say about ours.

Here is what the table looked like after the judging. 

Sadly we did not win, and they only picked a grand prize winner. If you ask Quinn we came in a close second. I'll take it. We won some great maple syrup that was made on the farm. It was a blast. And I will do it again if the opportunity comes up again. 

Spring Chickens

Happy Birthday Grandma!!! 

My grandmother turned 100!! 

She is the one without the hat and the with necklaces on. The other lady is my great Aunt (my grandfathers little sister)

Can you believe that these two are 100 and 92? My grandma, Olga is an amazing women who just had a huge birthday party and boy did she deserve it. 

It was a great party with family coming in from all over. Helen came up from Virginia for the party at 92! Looks like I might have a long life . Well at least I hope so. 

Thanks for having all of us. 

Happy brithday. 

Hard work

 The above image is a stone that Quinn and I working with. We are creating a necklace together. I have put to hard work. I have created this board with masking tape sticky side up to hold the stone still while we wrap the bezel wire around the stone. I use a spring clamp to hold it onto the bench. That way when it is not in use I can hang it up out of the way. I have been using this for years. I love it. It make life in the studio so much easier.

Here is Quinn and I working on the setting. we are doing some cleaning up on the piece. Quinn loves to work in the studio and use the tools. He is getting the hang of the flexshaft. He is has been a great help in the studio. When the piece is done I will share it with all of you.
As always thanks for reading.
Liesl

August update

Can you believe that it is already August? I am in shock that summer is almost over. It always seem like the nice warm weather is never here long enough and winter just drags on and on. Oh well, I guess that is New England for you. 

 The above image is of the best assistant ever. Quinn is hard at work on the rolling mill. he love to work out in the studio. And I love having him help out.

Here is an image of my bench with all of the different project on it. I also sent in all of my scrap and will be "shopping" for more metal soon. It is sooo exciting. I love buying supplies with "free" money. Or at least it always feel like it is free, I guess it is more like recycled. Well I am excited about cause it means new work will be coming soon. I'll keep you update.
Thanks for reading and as always be creative today.
Liesl

Hiking locally

 Yesterday morning Quinn and I went for hike. We only had to go about 5-10 minutes down the road. A nice easy trail in the woods with the canal off to one side. It is a great t o spend some time with kids and they talk up a storm when  hiking or at least Quinn does. I love hiking I think it is my favorite way to get in some exercise.

On our hike Quinn and I found some lovely rocks/stones. I think that a few of these will make it into a few new pieces. My wheels are already turning, and so are Quinn's. I love that he keeps an eye out for good stones that you can make something out of it. Keep reading to see if if any of these make into the next piece.
Be creative and joyful.
Liesl

July Quilt update

Hello all, here is the quilt update that I was promising. So I have finally got it on the frame and have started the quilting process. I love it so far. Quinn is making sure that I finish by fall.

 The above image is of me working hard on the quilt. It is nice to be able to work on it and still be involved in what is going in the house.

 This image is of the quilt on the frame in the corner of the living room. That is were it lives when I am not working on it. That way I have to see it all time and I am more apt to work on it then. It just keeps reminding me.

Here is another shot of me working away. I am quilting squares and circles into right now. Keeping it simple, there is already so much going on. I love this project. I have put so many bits of memories and bits of all of us in this quilt for Quinn. I am going to write it all down for him, that way he will always know what went into this quilt.
Thanks for reading.
Be creative today and everyday.
Liesl

Update - projects

Happy July!!!!

Well this has been a nice weekend. Working in the gardens, hanging out with Steve and Quinn, working on the quilt (no photos next post), and I even got in the studio. The weather is finally starting to feel a little bit like summer. Although it still has not gotten really hot here in Massachusetts. Not that I am complaining I like the warm weather just not the humidity. 

The above piece is a single earring that I have made into a pendant. I though that I had lost them forever. But this single one turned up a few days ago. I was so happy. I love these and I am so excited to have a pendant now. I designed this years ago. Steve and I were freshly living together in Hew Jersey, we had these little square lights in the bedroom and this the shape they made on the slanted ceiling. So it had a very special place in my heart and it warmed me to find it again. 

 This piece is one that has been sitting on bench for at least a year maybe longer. I believe the stone is some kind of a opal. I am not sure though, that is what the person told me when they gave it me. I think. Anyways it is a beautiful color of blue green. It is next to a wonderful sterling silver hollow form. I gave everything a high polish. I will be giving it a black rubber word to finish it off. It will be amazing!!!

This one is still in the works but so close to being done. The blue piece is some blue willow dishes from my grandmother, it will be bezel set and look lovely. The hollow form has some wonderful lace ribbon texture on it. And to top it all off there will be a large white fresh water pearl. I will finish this one off with black rubber cord also. I this this will be so lovely.
I mean really who doesn't love a good pearl. I think that more people should wear pearls. They really go with anything.
I can not wait to finish that piece and all the rest that have been waiting on bench. I am getting there, I have some fabulous ideas I want to get to, but fist I need to clear off the bench.
Well as always thanks for reading.
Be creative,
Liesl

Repair for Grandma

A few weeks ago we where visiting Grandma (almost 100), and she had asked me if I could fix her necklace. She seemed very upset that it had broke. All it needed was a new jump ring. Thank goodness. This is a necklace that made years ago. My father bought it from me to give to her. She wears it every time I see her. 

It has a hollow form with a letter texture using vintage stamps. She was a school teacher after all. The middle piece is a piece of blue willow plate that once belonged to her but now to me. And the bottom stone is a black tourmaline. Such a lovely necklace. I have fixed it up for and am just about ready to mail off to her. I am sure that she misses it. 

As always thanks for reading.

Have a very creative day.

Liesl

The Artful Mix

Over the weekend, I brought a collection of work to the The Artful Mix located in Hopedale MA. 

I am very excited to be working Ivy and the Artful Mix. It is a great store that I think will be quite a popular place very soon. They have lots of fabulous and unique pieces. Everything is made in the USA and all are from New England!! How great is that. There is a lot of great talent in the area and it a wonderful that there is a local place to showcase it.

 Check out the inside of the store. It is east to move around and Quinn had a blast in there also. So I count it as kid friendly. But you still need to keep an eye on them. lol

So thank you Ivy for giving me and others a local place to showcase!!
As always thank you for reading.
Have a creative day.
Liesl