Wintry day in Littleton!

This is our second snowy day so far this month! The first time was a week ago Saturday (Oct. 10), and we opted out of a marching competition because of it. Over the weekend (Oct. 17) we went to a competition up in Longmont, wearing t-shirts and all of us got sunburns! Crazy weather in this state, that is for sure!

Marching season is almost finished; this Friday is State Quarter-Finals and those that move on will compete Saturday. Then it is done. Seems like we have been going non-stop on it. Of course, this year I am working in more official capacities than last year...

Chloe's band has their first concert tonight and I have heard great things about this band, so I can't wait to hear them for myself.

I am busy in my studio dyeing silk scarves, quilting my Pumpkin Pie quilt, and starting work on a self-portrait series. I am so inspired by the local shop I haunt, Wild Heather in Englewood, (http://www.wildheatherdesigns.com/) and our quilt guild, the Front Range Contemporary Quilters. (http://www.artquilters.org/). This month the featured artist was Denise Labadie, and she does incredible, realistic quilts based on photos she has taken in Ireland. You can check out what we saw here: http://labadiefiberart.com/

I just don't have enough hours in a day to accomplish all of the things I want to! I have been keeping a quilt journal though; it contains not only information and photos of what I have done, but ideas for things I want to do too. I have WAY more ideas than time or talent at this point! lol But it is fun to dream of what I want to work on next or in the future.

Here are a couple of photos I took this morning. Now I am off to bake cookies for lunches and work in my studio. It's the perfect day to stay inside and create!

Columbine Homecoming 2009!

Short post- here are some photos of Heidi and her date, Brandon, and Heidi's friend Kim and her date, Matthew.
The girls got ready here at the house and then all of the parents showed up to take photos.
The parents left and the kids stayed here to play Beatles Rock Band since it was still early. Next on the agenda was dinner out, then onto the Homecoming dance!
By the way, the Columbine Rebels football team trounced the Arvada West Wildcats in the homecoming football game last night, 34-10. Woo hoo!

Oh. I nearly forgot. Or should I say, I TRIED to forget... lol Did you check out Heidi's shoes????

Fall and all that!

I have to second my friend Christine's sentiments of last week- where did September go??? Today is October. Which means in just four days, my son will celebrate his 19th birthday. I9! Seems like only yesterday he was such a little boy, playing contently with his Thomas the Tank engines and friends...

September was a whirlwind, that is for sure. Of course, I have a couple of new volunteer positions that are keeping me on my toes. I am the uniform chair for the marching band at Columbine as well as the new VP of the Booster board. As we are just now in the competitive season, it has been a busy job getting everyone properly outfitted and looking spiffy!

Heidi had an exhibition up at CU in Boulder on the weekend and then the first competition this past Tuesday night. Ken Caryl middle school attended the competition to cheer Columbine on, which is a tradition. Chloe is in 7th grade, but is in the 8th grade band and so she was invited to attend as well- only she was already on the list to help, so she got to show off a bit to her friends. And anyone who knows Chloe knows how she loves that! lol

The leaves are starting to turn around here and it is lovely. We don't have the variety of colours like I am used to from Ontario, but it is nice nonetheless. I will have to remember my camera the next time I am out. We haven't had frost yet thankfully, so the garden is still growing. But the cool air is more prevalent than the warm now and fall has definitely arrived.

Silk Scarf Party!

Yesterday I went to my first class at Wild Heather, the Silk Scarf Party. What a blast!

We started our first project with a slightly damp white (blank) silk scarf. Using Dye-Na-Flow paints with water and silk salt, we were encouraged to create on the spot, using colours that blend nicely. That one is my yellow-orange-red one.

The next technique was Shibori; we wrapped our pre-dyed scarves on a pole, tying and scrunching in increments, and then over-dying them. That one is my blue-green one.

The last technique was also Shibori, but this time our resists were tied and stitched. That is my pink-purple one.

I haven't had so much fun creating something in a long time! I think the girls and I will do a bunch as Christmas gifts- they are so fun to make and we can personalize them to the receiver.

Another one done!

Heidi and I just got back from the orthodontist. She has had braces since July 2007 and today they came off!

I will have to search my photo archives for an OLD braces photo- but for now, here is the before and after from this morning.