Wow, summertime gives me the "grins"-that sunshine does something wonderful

OK, so I got up early today and watered the yard. We still have hoses and like to water. Maybe we are old fashioned or just weird. But we do love our yard and the privacy and feel of the whole thing. This sign hangs by my door and I love it. I love anything French. By the way I have good friends who are in Europe right now and loving it. My friend Mel is on her way to Wimbleton with her family , Molly is on her way to England to buy a new hat for a wedding, Marie is in Munich which really delights me because she loves it as much as I did -and my friend Nancy is in Spain visiting all of the Museums I long to see one of these days. All of these places have such a rich history of art to offer to the world. And I would like to add that I have always found Europe a friendly place. Spain, Italy and Scandenavia are on my list to visit before I die. I hope I make it. :0)
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SO, my friend Pam Hansen and I attended the Idaho quilt show in Coeur d'Alene yesterday. Pam checked out the quilting up close and I checked out the color and the stories. Such Fun!

I loved this quilt because I used to play marbles when we went to visit my Grandparents in British Columbia often. The maker of this quilt said her Mother modeled for this picture when Norman Rockwell painted it and he took her out for a soda afterwards. Isn't it wonderful? Such a great story!

I believe that this quilt was from "Piece o'cake" book. The one thing I noticed at the quilt show was there was alot of quilts that did not give credit to the designer. There was an expecially glaring one that was from a Barbara LaValley painting and it was a cute quilt but a total knock off and NO credit given to the artist who originated the design. This is so wrong. Maybe she didn't know.

I loved this block.....I love red anyway and thought this was wonderful....great quilting too.

Talk about using great color! Wow. I loved each block. Thought you might enjoy being inspired here too! Below is another block from the quilt....so pretty.

The quilt below is from a pattern and I think it is wonderful. I love Asian influences in quilts.

I have had the quilt below on my blog before but since it is so good, I am showing it again. It is done by Jean Van Bochel and she is a real artist. This is a house she used to live in.

The boat below is also Jean's. It looks just like a photo.

I think the crazy quilt below is wonderful. It was done by the featured artist who I did not know.

WOW the quilt below was amazing.

I love anything (mostly) Americana. Isn't the quilt below pretty?

I thought the quilt below was clever and knew you might enjoy it too.

The quilt below has great quilting and piecing and applique. Those Idaho girls know how to quilt!

So, I painted my entryhall a bright green that I love. This little vase sits on the way out my door.
As a gift, my friend Cherise gave me a large bunch of awesome (fake) cherries. I put them in my angels arms in my entry hall. The thing on the right is the rudder from an old whirleygig.

So, when I was in Tahoe, I started painting a little thing called "I miss the 60's." You can see below how it is progressing and now all of the words are complete so it will be quilted and then beaded. What fun!

Above is the beginning.....and.....

below is how it progressed....stay tuned for the finished product. Hope your summer is great!

IS THERE ANYTHING AS PRETTY AS A BOTTLE TREE? I DON'T THINK SO.....

So many of you know I have two wonderful bottle trees in my backyard. I have changed them out so that now they have only blue bottles on them. I have discovered that gin and vodka come in blue bottles. I don't know anyone who drinks gin so there I am out of luck but once in awhile one of my good friends gives me a vodka or blue wine bottle they saved. It is always a great gift for me.

Some of you wrote and said "what is the deal with the bottle trees? The deal is that during slave times people got bottles and put them on the trees because they believed that evil spirits were caught in the bottles. I just believe that they are lovely casting blue light in my garden. I used to have a collection of purple old bottles that I got rid of. Oh if only we could hang onto everything we ever had. :0) Does that sound like a hoarder? Good thing I have a small house.

Last year I went into a liquor store looking for blue bottles. I went from shelf to shelf and the guy there said " are you looking for something I can help you with?" And I said "yes I am looking for pretty blue bottles for the bottle tree in my backyard." He said "wow, that is a new one.

My friend Robyn gave me a triangle tequila bottle once and it is cool and I got a cool bottle from Ann in South Carolina that was special. Actually any bottle I get is special and Kathy, Marilyn, Brenda and Molly have both helped me with my collection too. Such fun! I recommend a bottle tree for your yard. :0)

I bought those red water bottles one year and after the winter the paint on the inside was all flakey and a mess. Darn it-they were really quite pretty. I think I have become a bottle snob. :0)

Tahoe, Friendship, A Hostess with the Mostest, PAINT, good food at the RED HUT, laughter and summer is here! I am happy.

So, I packed my bags with clothes and some painting supplies for a week of fun and art in Tahoe.

Molly brought us all flowers from Hawaii for our hair.
Six Friends have a fabulous time painting, eating at the Red Hut, laughing, shopping, talking, planning and designing in beautiful Tahoe at Cherise's Mother's mansion on the lake. How lucky were we? VERY lucky.

This is a photo of the front yard where we stayed. It was lovely getting up in the morning, having coffee and enjoying the beauty that God created and Lynn (Cherise's Mom) works hard to maintain in between her tennis and golf-she is 68 and she puts us all to shame. The little boy in the background is Cherise's 2 year old Grandson. He was fun, darling and entertaining.




The flowers in Tahoe are wonderful right now and I thought this photo of the flower and Cherise were equally as beautiful.

We actually started out with four friends earlier in the week until the others could join us and this was out outing to buy Red Hut jackets from Cherise's friends who own the Red Hut. I am sold on their darling t-shirts-everyone in my family got at least one. :0)

Here are Linzee, Cherise and Mel after a lovely walk on the beach one morning.

Cherise and I having breakfast at the Red Hut the first morning. I am still half asleep.

Here are the girls in a photo while we are shopping in Truckee (which is close to Squaw Valley)-great shopping, restaurants and beauty.

So, this week we painted on canvas and cotton and other stuff and we learned how to mix a small amount of paint in each little well so we don't waste paint....well, I guess Mel LOVED green so she didn't follow the rules as closely. :0)



I am busy painting my background while Lynn Cherise's Mom cleans up, this was the perfect place to paint and be inspired.

Robyn painted this cat with the goldfish-these are just the beginning photos of our work....

This is the beginning of a painting that Molly did. I was working on ideas for the bags for my retreats here in Idaho next year- they will be cool!

NOTE- the design above as with all of my designs is copyrighted (may do bags and other fun stuff) Marylouweidman.C09
I am doing a series of these and have a huge full size quilt appliqued that is underway for showing. I was a hippie in the 60's and want to show why I miss those years-this turned out darling when it was completed. Stay tuned.............

Cherise has two darling and well mannered girls. I did the drawing and she did the painting and it turned out wonderful! This was the beginning

Mel as usual was the most prolific. She did two wallhangings, a bag, and an apron. Plus she took my angel home to make a pillow into for a gift for a friend of mine who is sad.

This was Linzee's piece and it is her backyard. It turned out really cool. AND she loves applique and she did all kinds of little yoyo's. Very fun week for her and us!

I loved this photo-the shop isn't going any longer but I loved the sign anyhow.....

The bathroom wall at the Red Hut- I loved how things are falling out of one of the purses-clever!

Jack came to the airport with his Dad to pick me up, he spent the night and today his sister came over to spend the day-I was tired but elated at spending time with my 2 little Grandkids.....

Mary Lou Hosts Her First retreats in 2010! Get OUT of THE BOX!

So, I put my cash where my mouth is and have dates for my retreats next year in sunny Post Falls Idaho. The location is between Spokane Washington (airport destination) and Coeur d'Alene Idaho.

May 1,2 and 3rd we will be creating an awesome (original) quilt with ALL THINGS HOOCHY. We will be working on blocks, flower power flowers, dogs and cats, and many other surprises that are brand new to this fun and creative technique. We will have all kinds of prizes and homemade desserts everyday along with other fun things you won't find other places.

August 20,21,22,23,24 we will have a story quilt class! This will be after my new book called "Out of the Box" is released and we will be using alot of the creativity excercizes in the workshop. If you want to stretch as an artist and quilter this class is for you. I will have further information in two weeks. Stay tuned and keep checking back. I expect these to fill fairly fast.

Above are the buildings we will be using for the workshop. This is a wonderful art center. I took Susan Shei's class here and was so impressed with the light, the kitchen and the grounds I had to plan my own retreats!
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My flower garden and yard is growing by leaps and bounds. What joy it brings to me to come back and enjoy nature and the work we have put in.

This bike was given to me by my daughter for Mother's Day several years ago. It was for a wine display. I love it. I haven't planted flowers in the pots yet but I will be soon.

Just one of my bottle trees before the vines grow up and around it. I love blue bottles!