Tammy Gilley Studios

Yay Summer!

 

Summer has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest!  I have been doing a happy dance all day long, and I've been outside every possible minute. 

 

This morning I spent some time painting fabric for a project I'm working on.  I love painting outside.  Kip-the-Wonderdog loves me painting outside.  Everyone is happy, happy, happy when the sunny-sunshine is out!  My garden has come in beautifully this year.  More happy-ness.  Soon we'll venture to the farmer's markets for pretty flowers to add here and there among the perennials, hostas, and herbs.  Oh joy!

 

My 14-year-old nephew is spending the night with us tomorrow night.  He's the first grandchild for both my family and my sister's husband's family.  I can't believe how fast he's growing up.  (The Birthday Sleepover is an annual tradition for all four nephews and my niece.  There's lots of nonsense, we stay up late chattering and watching crazy movies and eating buckets of popcorn with Whoppers mixed in.) 

 

I always look so, so forward to the sleepovers.  It's a rare occasion for me to get one-on-one time with each kid, which I love.  I love hearing about their lives, and their ideas, and their friends, and what their thoughts are, and what they wish for.  And we laugh.  A lot.  And eat a lot of junk food. 

 

It's great!

 

I hope the 14-year-old isn't going to get too old for the Birthday Sleepover.  I didn't have an auntie close by when I was growing up, but I always wanted one.  A cool one who I liked hanging out with.  I hope I'm that kind of auntie.  And if I am, I hope he and all the others always like hanging out and coming over for the Birthday Sleepover.  I'll be so sad when they're too grown up for it.  But, there will be other wonderful traditions and memories to be made.

 

The photos are of a little stitchery sampler that I'm doing for myself.  I was inspired by this one, and this one, and this one.  So.  Much.  Fun.  To.  Do!  I want to stitch a gazillion of them. 

 

I love that I'll have something now to reference for fun little doo-dads to add to fabric journal covers, small quilted bits, and all sorts of fun quilty, fabric things.

Treasure Nests

 

I realized the other day that Artfiberfest will be here before I know it!  It's less than two months away!  Oh glee!!  It's just my favorite event of the whole year, truly.  If you haven't signed up yet, skeedaddle on over there and do it!

 

I've been working on Treasure Nest class samples.  These are so, so fun to do!  I wanted to do a vintage-y looking one.  So I cut some of my bark cloths, a few toiles, and a scroll-y home dec fabric into strips.  I love the sort of rag-rug-feel it gives to the nest.  With lots of frayed edges and threads coming out.  I decided to embellish this one simply with vintage mother of pearl buttons. 

 

I'm excited about teaching my first class at Artfiberfest!  I've been attending the event since it started five years ago, and am really quite thrilled to be among the "faculty" this year.  I am teaching one day, which gave me two days to take classes.  The best of both world, really.  I love teaching, but I love learning, too. 

 

I'm taking Mary Stanley's "Birds with Hats" class.  This will be the THIRD time I've taken Mary's rug-hooking class, and I'm so excited about it!  The first year, we hooked little houses.  Last year, you may remember that I hooked Jerome the Gnome.  This year, we're hooking darling little birds, and making them little party hats.  How damn cute are they?!  I really love rug hooking, but it seems that Artfiberfest is the only time I have to do it.  So, I just keep signing up for Mary's class.

 

I'm also taking "Enchanted Felt Cottage" with Charlotte Lyons.  I met Charlotte at Silver Bella a couple of years ago.  I love her style, and she's just wonderful to be around.  So, when I saw her on the workshop schedule, I didn't care what she was teaching, I knew I was signing up! 

     

My sweet friend Pam Garrison will be there, too, which I'm really excited about.  She wasn't able to make Artfiberfest last year, and I missed her terribly.  She's coming back in June, and is doing a special evening workshop, which I can hardly wait to attend!

     

I can hardly wait to see Ruth, Alma, Tracie, Syd, Tiphoni, and of course Tracy and Teesha.  And my pals, Cindy and Juanita.  And Cerri and I are finally going to meet in person, after years of email exchanges.  And this, really, is what Artfiberfest is all about.  Meeting people, making friends, and creating art. 

 

Top 10 reasons why you should come to our Artfiberfest retreat this summer:

 

1.  The price is inclusive (all meals and lodging for 4 nights)...there will be no hidden expenses at the retreat.

2.  Everyone will get an added bonus of 3 mini workshops on thursday night in addition to their 3 BIG workshops.

3.  The dorms are amazing at Reed college.  They were just built a year ago and represent superb architecture and layout.

4.  Portland is a destination in itself, FULL of funky inspiration.  You'll get a double whammy!

5.  The food is superb at Reed.  Tons of choices!

6.  This will be a nice start to a creative and productive summer...Our teachers will kick start you on some project ideas.

7.  I will give a mini lesson on how to make my quilted fabric journals for anyone who wants to learn.

8.  The women who come to this are absolutely the best.  Always happy and content....we think it has something to do with working with fabric. 

9.  You deserve this!  You've worked hard!

10.  Being creative is one of the best things you can do for yourself and the world around you.  And there isn't any place better to get energized with the creative bug than Artfiberfest.

 

All workshops still have space at this point....but won't for long.  we will update our website every few days as workshops fill.  Find out all the information at www.teeshamoore.com

 

Artfiberfest is happening on June 24-28 at Reed College in Downtown Portland, Oregon.

What are you waiting for?  Come join in the fun!!