Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home!

Your house is on fire and your treasures will burn!

(A bit of poetic license)

Back dating to February 27, 2016

A peaceful Saturday.  Expecting guests for dinner.  The house was clean, the table set, and the guests were bringing the main course. Best kind of guests to have!

I had prepared the bread, salad and dessert. Everything was ready, so I decided to take a wee nap.  George was in the den watching golf.

I was awakened from the nap hearing George yell, "come and help me put out this fire"

What?

I ran down the stairs, barefoot and without my glasses, to see him heading toward the door to the garage with a big of water.  

What fire say I.  Then I turned the corner!  Oh, that fire!  There was a blaze at the front of the garage about two feet tall.  My reaction was Get out of the house, NOW!  I grabbed the phone on the way out, calling 911!

This is Georges story.  

He was watching tv and heard a small explosion.  First thought was that a tree limb had fallen on the house so he went outside to look.  Didn't see anything on

the roof, but did see smoke coming from the garage so went back inside and opened the door and saw a small fire. 

That is when he yelled for my help and ran for water.  

By the time we exited the house there were people in the street, cell phones in action, calling for help.

George quickly moved our cars and had barely moved them before we were surrounded by fire engines, an ambulance, a police car, Fox News and several "ambulance chaser " builder representatives.

We were later told by the fire chief that a fire doubles in size every 7 seconds!  And indeed it did!

(And now I want to add photos.  But my computer is gone and my iPad won't cooperate and although this blogspot says "add pictures from phone" the pictures on the phone are not showing up.  Now what!

I'll get back to you!

I am sure that I have mentioned how many classes I have taken on how to deal with a computer.  I learned how to turn it on, navigate the many URLs, send and receive emails, Google, Pinterest, Face Book - the computer is a most wondrous invention.  I learned about "social media".  The best and perhaps only way to get whatever news you wish to share to the world at large - immediately!

OK - I got it.  I am a bona fide member of the Digerati - I can handle this thing!!

NOT!

All I wanted to do was open a face book page for Savor the Arts.  Share the date - talk about the wonderful artists, the reason behind the show - 

 The pictures I want to share never show up - the ones I don't want to share are posted hourly - 

What is this "like" thing.  If someone likes you or a picture - what happens?  Does anyone really see all the posting that seems to go on continually?

My last blog was posted under George Brown's name and when Savor the Arts was googled there he was - piloting a whaler over the seas!

Remember when we used to put ads in the newspaper?  Does anyone do that anymore?  Does anyone read the newspaper?  Can anyone afford to put ads in the newspaper?

I refuse to give up. .  I am going back to my teacher for a complete and thorough understanding of face book.

Just in case something goes wrong, remember - it is 

September 6, 2014 from 10am until 5 pm

Woman's Club of Newport News

461 J Clyde Morris Blvd. (directly across from Riverside Hospital)

Newport News, VA 

Don't forget to bring canned goods so that you may

Help Feed the Hungry as you Feed Your Soul!!

See you there!!

P.S.  A "Like" would no doubt help my shattered nerves!!!

Save the Date - part two

Continued - or - be careful which button you click when you say

In the meantime - - - - 

This is a new piece you can expect to see from one of our potters

And Terry will be back with her amazing hand painted tiles

Stained glass?  Now this is stained glass

Woodworking like I have never seen in a show - a new piece from Martha and Ray Rountree

Karen Pauley is returning with her fabulous jewelry

New to our group - Holly Etheridge

From our most astonishing sculptress, Marcie Evans

Stunning new tote bag from Goldie Smith's new collection

And just take a look at the new piece I a working on!!!   WOW


Until next time - go to sleep, your dreams are waiting!

Save The Date

Can this really be our third year?  What started out as a select few artists showing and sharing has
                                                         doubled and tripled.

We are so pleased to invite you to attend

Savor the Arts- 2013

Save the date - September 28, 2013

Help us to feed the hungry as you view the works of a hand selected group of local artists.

Once again we are asking you to share your bounty with those in need by bringing canned goods  rather than charging an admission fee.

Last year the  donations for local food banks provided over 600 meals to the hungry.  As our show has grown, we are hoping this year our donations will also grow.  Our goal is 1000 meals!

In the meantime ----_

 OFF ON THE ROAD TO MOROCCO

All about a picture being worth 1000 words

We left NYC with great anticipation, knowing there would be a layover in PARIS

How fast can I get to the Capucchino and petit  pain avec chocolat!!!!!

If you must have a layover - this is definitely the place.  Way beyond good - in fact -

Magnifique!

We were greeted in Morocco with bells, drums and, of course

camels!

The perfect place for George to take a walk - while I shop

        and shop

and shop

And even in the Sahara

I shop

(OK - so that really wasn't George walking - but didn't the gentleman look like him?)

After shopping came the storks for pure amazement.    Thank goodness for zoom lens as they were high up on the roof tops.

As we approached the buildings where they had made their nests you would hear the most incredible  noise - clack, clack, clack.  

It was their warning to stay away from their nests and their young.  I was told that the clack, clack  noise is where the Arabians learned their warning call.

And the famous goats in trees - never  to be forgotten!!  The trees are the Argon trees and the goats love to eat the fruit - or nuts actually - of the trees.  This picture was snapped from the bus and unfortunately you cannot see that they are about six feet up in the air.  

Not so fond of this example of local pets - but you know you had to see it  just once!

YAY - I found the full length shot!

 Lots of entertainment - wherever you went  - 

The water sellers - always willing to pose  (for a wee tip of course)

The Souk

The carpets

The pay telephone and mail box

And we finally made it to our hotel  in Rabat - and this is the elevator door!!!

Where to tomorrow - Perhaps we will find a Kasbah!!

Asleep at the Wheel

Oh dear – was it in October that I last posted?

I feel a bit like Rip Van Winkle – looking around to see what happened during my wee nap. Decided to check out my iPhoto for clues – and this is what I found:

My best friend Patty and I opened a shop in Plantiques in Hilton Village (for those uninformed among us – a small, historic and quaint section – in the City of Newport News, Virginia)

Several weeks were spent painting, stocking – arranging and then rearranging.

All accomplished with one hand on the cell phone as I anxiously awaited the birth of a brand new great granddaughter.

Of course the call came right in the middle of the second coat of paint and I dashed off to

Welcome Miss Abigail Lindsey Edwards into the tribe.

All together now – AHH – how sweet!

And three days later it was Thanksgiving – with a little extra to be thankful for.

Never ones to sit around and be bored, we cleaned up the dishes,(with help from granddaughter Amie) disposed of the leftovers, jumped in the car and drove to NJ.  (Much less expensive than airport parking lots to leave your car in the care of relatives, take a limo to JFK and board Air France for the first leg of our flight to Morocco)

That said, it is now rather late at night and I trust you will stop back tomorrow to see which direction we took!!

And now - go to sleep - your dreams are waiting.

Here I Go Again

Somewhere along the way I seemed to have missed summer and the start of fall.   So busy with co-promoting and exhibiting in Savor The Arts that time just flew by - and most of my energy must have accompanied it.

After spending so many hours on the computer,  I felt the need to get away from it all - and get away I did.  Only when I heard faint cries and whines coming from the computer did I realize how shamefully I had neglected my Blog.   And then my fingers started twitching.  No chains to make - no pendants to attach - and what about the earrings?   And the paint brushes - how sad they look, tucked away into their little jars far away from all the luscious paints.  Artists just cannot retire.  It is in your blood and there is no walking away from creating.

My best friend Patty also retired.  I first met Patty when I wandered into her bead shop and found the most  artful selection of beads that I had ever seen.  After about 15 minutes of talking our auras became completely enmeshed and  we knew we were destined to become fast friends.  I ended up teaching classes in her shop and we often spoke of having "play dates" when we had the time.   Now, after 20 years spent owning her own bead shop she has handed over the key to a new owner.  I gave up exhibiting at art shows several years ago and we are both free at last and able to just sit back and take it easy.  Or Not.

Because life without art is just plain boring.  We are destined to create - ideas are spinning in our heads - techniques we have learned along the way- supplies ready to be used.  And the "stuff" we have accumulated over the year -  stacks and stacks of stuff.  Because we knew we would need it someday.

After much brain storming we decided that "someday" is actually "now".  Patty has been associated with Plantiques for several years.  And I have shopped there for many years.  Seems only natural that we pool our talents - and our stuff - and take off on another artful adventure.

For those of you in Tidewater Virginia - Plantiques is located in the historic Hilton Village area.  An elderly but  charming (much like myself?) house owned by my new best friend Pam Phillips (not to be confused with my best friend Pam White).

Located in Newport News, VA at 10377 Warwick Blvd. it is a dream come true for a day of antiquing - lunching - and strolling down the boulevard to visit the other shops along the way.  As you walk up to the door, along a brick path surrounded by flowers and herbs, you feel you are in an English garden.

Once inside you will find two stories of rooms - each individually furnished by by those of us drawn to the fields of antiquing and art.

My best friend Nora's space bears the name "The British Connection" - and British she is.  Nora travels back to England quite often and oh - the finds she brings back!!!

I just might mention that Nora also makes scones the way they should be made and If you are lucky enough to secure a reservation for one of the Plantiques teas you can taste for yourself.

More about the teas in my next Blog - but save the date November 10!!!!!

Another favorite space is the reading room.

And a lady I have yet to meet, but in my mind she is The Princess of Paper!

A small sample of the lovely things she creates from paper!!  Come see for yourself the wonders she has made!!

And just to tempt you a bit more - - 

One last thing - The space called Loverly.  I have not met the talented ladies who have this room - but oh - those lamp work beads - and the jewelry they make!

Okay - I'll get to the point!!!  Patty and I have decided to join in and are very busy preparing our room for a grand opening in November.  Patty's husband Bob is our valuable aide in getting the room together

The green - which doesn't look too bad in the pictures - but in person - bilious - had to go.  Bob has installed pegboards for us and we are busily covering the walls in - what else - patterns and a few other things.

 Bob and Patty discuss things to come - do you think Bob is dubious???  Or is he saying - "Where did you meet her?"    Patty looks a bit concerned also - don't you think?

We  really will have it all together by November 1.  And to tempt you to pay us a visit - On November 10 we will be hosting a trunk show - the date coincides with Pam's high tea - would suggest you make your reservations quickly for that - and we would surely love it if our friends would pay us a visit.  In addition to showing our wares we are planning on teaching days - make it and take it days - and days for just plain fun.

If you would like to join in the fun please leave us your email and you will be notified of all events.

Retirement?  Hey - if you rest - you rust!!!