Know about NY, NY?

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Guess what I got for Christmas? Barry signed my up for a class with Denyse Schmidt through Make studio! I get to go to Connecticut all by myself, rest, relax, and MEET DENYSE SCHMIDT!! Oh–and spend 5 hours in her studio learning from her. AWESOME! (Did I mention that she commented here on this blog? If you don’t believe, take a look.)

So, I’m going to go a day early and go into New York City to look at art. What museum(s) do you guys suggest I go to? I’ve been to the Met, kind of. I think it would take months to really see it all, but I did love the old Greek stuff. Loved it. But, what about the Gugenhiem? Isn’t there a folk art museum too? Oh–please help any one out there with experience visiting New York. What would be the best use of my one day?

Presenting Sybil

the well behaved Chrsitmas Elephant.

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Barry had a work Christmas party and the spouses were supposed to bring ornaments to exchange. I propably should have just bought one, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. So, I broke out my Japanese craft book and made the elephant I’ve been dying to make.

She’s very festive with the snowflake on her dress, her hairbow, and of course her sign to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. She has a red string on the top of her head so she can hang from a tree.

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The recipient wasn’t quite as excited about her as I had hoped. Just another ornament. She will be missed. Brenna really played with her as much as she could before we wrapped her up. There will definitely be more elephant making around here, (but I might not get to fit it in ’til Christmas Eve, yikes).

So, she’s made with gray upholstery velvet, which is really great for tiny toys because it doesn’t fray. Her dress and bow are from a felted wool skirt, with a hand emboidered snowflake. The sign is just muslin, embroidered with iron on interfacing on back to make it a bit sutrdy and sewn to a little twig snapped off the berry garland on top of my amoire. Glass loop back eyes, jointed head, thread jointed limbs. About 3 inches tall when sitting.

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I’m actually working on something! Actually two things.

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Here’s the beginnings of “One Tote Fits All.”

And I decided I needed a bag based on “Big Zig.” I’m very excited about the fabrics. Brown corduroy, pink cotton, and an Amy Butler lining!

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Since I just haven’t been able to fit in a big quilting project, though I really want to, I can do these bags in between hexapi :)