Creativity Lesson #1 for the NEW Year- COLOR everywhere

Fabulous fabrics that are spendy, colorful and fabulous! I'll take a yard or meter of each!...when that lotto comes through, that is.

OK, here is your chance to think the last time you were in a store, a super Market, or a shop that you were mesmerized by color and hues all around you.
What??? You can't remember seeing fabulous color? Red and green from Christmas do not count and the same goes with blues and golds for Hannkah. I am talking real color, real visual exciting, stimulating, bold color. You don't use real color? What? You are missing nature's best drug for euphoria and feeling great! Nothing can make you feel quite as wonderful as a big bag full of beads, fabrics, threads, wools, yarn or papers all in glorious colors. Want a life in 2008? BUY color and use it!

Ever notice grass and the amazing colors it has in it. Most kids would paint green grass one color of green. Grass has hundreds of colors, and not just green. Greens are exciting and so versatile and so varied! You can never go wrong with green-to wear, sew with or bead or glue.

Hey isn't it fun how something you can put in your stomach can be so amazing to look at?

And glass which is everywhere changes it hues simply by light. NOTE- this is one of the first things painting teachers try to instill in their students. Now why, wouldn't quilting teachers or other art teachers teach about the fabulous potential light plays on our work? It is everything!

Hey, who knew candles could not only smell good but be so beautiful visually! Colors and shapes.
Simple sqauares in a duvet cover become real art and give a restful feel since these colors are cool and remind us to "relax." That's why most sheets are bright red and orange. Though I have owned those...in the 60's. I am not kidding.

How many times do you shop for ribbon for a package and not look at the spools together as one instead of just one at a time. Colors play on each other and this is what we need to know to do a better job in our art!

One can never own enough beads, have enough colors and enjoy the light that plays off of them enough. Anyone can have something in cotton or wool but add some beads and "joila!"

PURE Magic!

I know many of you knit. Has there ever been more exciting color than in a knit shop? Just buying one varied yard could be the creative spark you need for some exciting color combinations elsewhere! Think about it.

Warm (or hot) colored beads, can explode on a surface and it can create heat, sparks, and fire on something quite plain.

Who ever guessed that feathers could be so exciting and so inspiring? Well OK, Dame Edna but not alot of other people....

The beauty of flower is that their petals always vary in color and many times the greens play complementary color games in the flower garden. God truly is the Master of color and design.

Compare the photo above and the photo below....different subjects but both quite exciting and pretty in the same hues.

When paper has holes punched here and there, it lets light play on the surfaces and it makes the colors vary and dance. Here it does just that and layered as this is really is quite pretty.

Purple and yellow are complementary colors. The green below has enough "yellow" in it that these are great complements and would make a pretty quilt or other art given the same color play.

As you can see I am always taking photos of color any chance I get. I have many files of beautiful examples of color combinations and fun things to mix to get great results. All you need to do is play and have fun experimenting and have fun with what is right in front of you.

Create in 08 and things to think about....

Stasi Wilson my friend always has the right idea when it comes to life and Story quilts. We have shared time sewing each year at Asilomar for at least 9 or ten years. It is lovely sewing with someone who has a good phylosophy on life. Hang out with happy people if you want to be happy too! And YOU can be a happy, positive friend to pass it along to your friends as well.

Reaching for creativity....open your eyes first of all and don't say "NO" to color, shapes and FUN.

Hey, remember watching the test patterns as kid? Now that I look at this image it is pretty cool. I guess you could call it "iconic"...who ever heard that word ten years back? You may have heard it but I bet you didn't use that word. :0)

This is a pig teapot I gave my daughter when she got engaged. The look on these dancing pigs is priceless. Anyone can drink tea out of an expensive teapot but how many make you smile?

Diana from Spokane made this cake as an order for her shop "Happy Cakes" (is this a great name of what?). It is made of fondant, & I thought it was great.

CANDY MEMORIES ARE FLOODING IN-PLEASE POST HERE ON MY BLOG WITH THEM

Yum, look at these-cherries in candy to eat? -how awesome!

Remember practicing smoking with these? I loved the taste.... amd they were better for you than the real thing...I wonder how many kids started smoking because of these? I never did like the taste of the real thing, they weren't sweet

This would be a kids dream come true-ot the people on Project Runway where they were invite to make clothes out of candy and candy packaging!

I have been wondering whether I should share this because it involves my cousin"Honey- (her real first name). Honey was older than I was and one day we went to the store and she had a dime and it was enough (around Halloween_ to buy a large pair of wax lips filled with something like juice. So, she said since she was oldest she got to chew it first. I was little and I didn't know you could do this. So after she chewed it awhile, I got it. Then she told me not to tell because I would get in trouble for eating before dinner. Duh, just call me Pollyanna,I believed her. I bet she doesn't remember this but I do. :0)

Hey remember Ester candy? Was any of that really good when you think about it?
I know there are loads of these types of stories out there,
Mary Lou
How about YOU? KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR MORE FUN CANDY THINGS

PS- My friend Susan in North Carolina shared this-it is so much fun!You will love it. Smile Big!

http://cruzintheavenue.com/DYRT.htm

Please share below and start the year by giving

Please share your CANDY (penny or otherwise) memories as a kid in the comment section below. I have heard from many of you via email and my website. I would love some of these to be shared in the comment section. Thanks so much for giving and letting others smile because of it.
HAPPY New Year,
Mary Lou

How Many of You Remember Walking to the Store for Penny Candy?

Just out of curiosity, what were your favorite penny candies? Doe anyone else remember banana "Now and Laters"? I know there are alog og things not pictured....red licorace is another one -remember Beemans licorace gum and the blug wrappers? My brother and I would get a dime to go to "Fletcher's drug store. What a treat that was.

1950’s – Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles, Bubble Gum Cigarettes, Sugar Lips Wax Chewing Gum, Sen-Sen Breath Refreshments, Charms Assorted Squares, Clark Bar, Nestle’s Oh Henry Candy Bar, Teaberry Gum, Slo-Poke Jr. Suckers, Candy Buttons, Gold Rocks Nugget Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum Cigars, Necco Chocolate Wafers, Skybar, Cup-O-Gold, Black Licorice Pipes, Necco Assorted Wafers, Abba-Zaba, Mary Janes, Chuckles Jelly Candy, Zagnut Bar, C. Howard Scented Gum, Walnettos, Charms Sweet Pops, and Reeds Root Beer & Butterscotch Candies.

1960’s – Charms Sour Pops, Cup-O-Gold, Bubble Gum Cigar, Necco Chocolate Wafers, Clark Bar, Sen-Sen Breath Refreshments, Slo-Poke Jr. Suckers, Marshmallow Cones (Assorted Flavors), Big Hunk, Reese’s Smoothie Peanut Butter Cups, Sugar Lips Wax Chewing Gum, C. Howard Violet Mints, Nestle’s Oh Henry Candy Bar, Skybar , Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles, Boston Beans, Bottlecaps, Goobers, Pixy Stix, Razzles Candy/Gum, Zotz, Necco Assorted Waffers, Candy Buttons, Bubble Gum Cigarettes, Reeds Cinnamon Candies, Black Licorice Pipe, Chocolate Cigarettes, Gold Rocks Nugget Bubble Gum, Bun Bar, Charms Assorted Squares, Cheryheads, and Teaberry Gum.

1970’s – Rocky Road Milk Chocolate Bar, Clark Bar, Pixy Stix, Tart’N Tiny, Gold Rock Nugget Bubble Gum, Goobers, Bubble Gum Cigar, Charms Assorted Squares, Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip, Bubble Gum Cigarettes, Wonka Strawberry/Banana Laffy Taffy, Slo-Poke Jr. Suckers, C. Howard Lemon Mints, Boston Beans, Cherryheads, Red Licorice Pipes, Willy Wonka Chocolate Bar, Necco Chocolate Wafers, Sugar Lips Wax Chewing Gum, Double Bubble Bubble Gum, Candy Buttons, Caramel Bun Bar, Charms Sweet & Sour Pops, Razzles Candy/Gum, Nestle’s Oh Henry Candy Bar, Wonka Bottlecaps, Teaberry Gum, Strawberry Pop Rocks, Sen-Sen Breath Refreshments, Zotz Candy, Reeds Rootbeer Candies, and Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles.
1980’s – Atomic Fire Balls, Bit-o-Honey, Bubblicious Radical Red, Candy Necklace, Candy Cigarettes, Charleston Chew Chocolate, Lemonheads, Wonka Tart ‘n Tiny, Bubble Gum Cigarettes, Pixy Stix, Ass’t Saf’T’Pops, Jawbusters, Now & Later –Grape, Now & Later, Wax Fangs, Wax Bottles, Clark Bar, Laffy Taffy Watermelon, Bottlecaps, Zours, Astro Pops & Cinnamon Toothpicks.

Remember the dentist as a kid? I do and I was scared to death and when I lost a tooth, I kept it in my mouth for two weeks after so my parents didn't take me to see him. I remember him as a guy who hated kids that cried....which made me cry. :0) Oh, the good old days. Haha.

"OH LALA!",OR WHATEVER THEY SAY IN ZURICH

The beautiful tree above as in a store in Zurich when I was there. They know how to doll up everything including the beautiful women and men there. They are equally as beautiful and I cannot say that about France. I thought the women were fabulous and beautiful and not that many men to equal the women. Maybe I was in the wrong cities. The men in Germany were the most polite, helpful and pleasant! The women were very nice there too and laughed and smiled which I loved.

The cake below was in Switzerland in a window. I have never ever seen such a magnificent cake before! The detail and whimsy were wonderful and I stood and watched the little children come up with their Mothers and talk German (Swiss style which I am lost at) but I could tell what they were saying because the excitment and the wonder was there...just like with me.
This window was really quite something!
My poor kitchen remains sad....and today the water from my sink that was removed dripped constantly and I had to keep emptying the biggest bucket you have ever seen.
I am finding bits of insulation everywhere.
I want to show you how bad the whole thing looks but it is so bad I don't know if you'd want to see it this time of year. :-)
I braved Costco today and it was packed though people seemed quite nice. I bought alot of frozen food so that Mark and I can eat in the TV room where our microwave is.
Hey! That is a funny story. My husband is NO Mr. Fix it and he hates working on things.
Our microwave went out the other day and he said "that figures." Yesterday he was taking the holder out of the wall that holds is and I said "be careful" and he gave me the look so I went down stairs to work and then I heard a crash! That is how he does things so I didn't say anything. This morning, he said brightly "good news, I dropped the microwave yesterday and it works like a charm. " Haha, yep, that's how we do it around here.
Happy Day everyone. Don't get caught up in the crabiness of the Season and if you are a Christian remember that this is all about the birth of Christ. It should be a happy time when we value our blessings and our friends and family. If you aren't in the hospital today or alone in a nursing home with no one to visit and there are lots of people who are, you are blessed!
Please comment on my blog, I love it when you do.
As my dear old Dad always said "Enjoy the Day"

By the way, we will be doing a swap after the first of the year in my chatroom with pot holders and mugs. Who doesn't need new clean fresh potholders? If you join my newsletter through this blog, you can learn more about this.

Take this Christmas song test and see how you do.

http://tinyurl.com/yxrp87

MY HAPPY CHRISTMAS QUILT

Thought I would post this quilt photo. This will be featured in my new book that covers story quilts and "creativity". If you are feeling like you are "in the box" just wait and my new book will tell you how to "get out of the box and create a story quilt about YOU and who you love."

note- the Hoochy Mama borders give this color and personality. I love borders with these.

The entire background is beaded by hand...it took me months and many many hours to get each bead sewn on and knotted in the middle layer. But it is a colorful and happy quilt about the joy of Christmas day.

HAVE A PIECE OF SWISS CANDY AND ENJOY THE PHOTOS BELOW PLEASE

Below is the best chocolate in the WORLD and I am not kidding

Today I wanted to share some more photos of my Bernina trip and show some of the teachers you might know and also some of the fun we were treated to. My goodness they know how to celebrate Christmas in a wonderful way in Europe!

A Nativity scene I wanted but couldn't afford. Good grief, what is that in the background (?) and where was this photo taken? I do not remember seeing a donkey other than with Schmootley...perhaps he was there and I did not remember. If you don't know who Schmootly is, read on please.

The above is "Swiss Santa" Samichlaus and he is a happy fellow- he is delivering Berninas to good girls.

Below is Schmootly (spelled wrong but you can pronounce it from how I spelled it)

He is the Dec. 6th guy who takes naughty children back into the woods with him. He asks children if they have been good or naughty. What would you say? A nice Swiss man there told me when he was a little boy that Schmootly took one arm and his Grandmother took the other and they played like they were fighting over him. He said it scared him to death. Then he said Schmootly is really a nice icon of Christmas too. Hmmmm, I guess I like just having Santa and of coarse the real Christmas story. The neat thing is that you see Schmootly's walking with donkies all over Switzerland before and around Dec. 6th. What fun! For good children who leave their shoes out side their door that night they find candy and a little prize of some kind.

When I was at Brenda's in San Antonio, her daughter (age16) left her shoe out and found a beautiful necklace sent to her by her Father who is in Islamabad serving for the military. His family is German so they celebrate this fun little date every year.

Pretty fun to see.
Below is Schmootly without his donkey and switch that he carries-he looks like he is having trouble seeing........haha

Suzanne Staud is one of my favorite designers and here is hee Christmas card this year.

Below are the Grand Poobahs of quilting who were in Europe together a year ago this time. I had a thing about taking colorful photos so I asked them to stand here for a photo....kind of like "the little people ME (not size), with the Important people. So here is the green group-who do you recognize? Please comment.

Above is the red group. The thing we have in common is we all love and us Bernina sewing machines.

And Eleanor Peace Bailey posing for a nice photo with Bobbie Aug. Eleanor had just lost her husband and at dinner she got up and recited the most beautiful poem I have ever heard about growing her own garden of color and people not understanding but God gave her the gift....I am probably ruining it here. I needed kleenex by the time she was done.

It was fun walking behind her in Europe and watching people look at her. :-)

If you do now know Eleanor, she is a doll maker who is a lifesize doll herself (I am not kidding)

Are you creating and not listening to other people's critisisms ?- I wouldn't be doing what I am doing if I had listened. I hang out with positive, fun people now and we all see the world as a happy place filled with other nice people. We just wanna be happy.

WONDERFUL JANE below.

Speaking of happy people, this is colorful Jane Sassaman who is wonderful inside and out. She is always inspiring, kind and fun.
Laura Jenkins-Thompson holding a great dessert menu-she is a teacher from South Carolina-isn't she beautiful? And she smells wonderful too!

!
This is my cohorts for most of the trip. Carolyn Lowe my roomate who works for Debbie Mumm took this photo of breakfast. Sheila Reuen from TN is in front and next to Jane Sassaman, and then me in the corner and Laura Jenkins-Thompson on the right. What fun to share Europe with wonderful people and all because we love Bernina!

The beauty of European decorations- I wanted to bring them all home.........Scroll way down for more

Hope you are happy this time of year and baking, imagining, sewing, smiling or calling a friend who would love to hear from you.

Happy Day.