Happy New Year on Skates

Our Canadian friend embraces joy on skates -- and makes it a fun New Year's eve. Glad to share the ice with her as well as my family. And nary a fall amongst us! Happy New Year to all.

Stop at Java Joe's

A "shot in the dark" -- espresso added to hot chocolate -- waited after a visit to High Falls downtown Rochester. Perfect.

A(n Elevated) Walk in the Woods

Built by a trick cyclist to practice his stunts, this elevated board and stump walkway is set in the Bristol hills. And perfect with sticky boots in place of rubber tires.

Throwing the Bouquet

Today Brooks and Sid were married, and a little reception was here at the house. This is the fourth try at throwing the bouquet. At least we managed to avoid the crystal. Congrats!

Making and Baking

Getting ready for a celebration tomorrow, and these trees may be the only thing that looks like it has snowed. This house will be decorated with or without the seasonal white. Stay tuned.

Fireworks for Christmas

I was a guest at Christmas dinner where a very talented guest made us chapati over a conventional gas stove. Fun to see her roll them out, heat them in the pan, then watch as they puff up like little bladders. Can't ask for more fun.

Christmas Presents

My hibiscus tree was decimated by my deer friends, and so I pruned it severely, repotted it and hoped for the best. Today it thanked me with two gorgeous blossoms. Merry Christmas!

Finishing Touches

We are adding one more, Chester the Brown Bear, and then all is calm. Thanks to our friends for the Yankee trading game, the desserts beyond capacity, and the great chicken. But mostly for honoring our tradition on Christmas eve.

Toronto on the Run

Remind me next year that this is one way to use all those white lights. Passing quickly through Toronto to pick up daughter #2 at the Greyhound terminal, I saw these near Eaton Center. Que Frivolity!

Plant Something Different

Perhaps if these were planted in my garden, then I would not have the deer eat them out of existence. A good thought. These are at the Cleveland's Botanical Garden. And BIG.

Getting Dressed for the Holidays

Waiting for all the little elves to return home! One last trip to pick up a large package in Toronto tomorrow, then home to "wrap" it all up. Here is the mansion waiting for guests.

Tree is Spruced Up

A new ornament for the tree compliments of Charlie. What a creative use of the square, one of my favorite shapes to tip on point. He is just perfect. Thanks, Charlie and Kerrin.

Color of the Season

Winterberry Holly stands just outside the entrance to the Cleveland Botanical Garden across from the Museum of Art. Brilliant show and the perfect color for the subdued palette. If it were in my garden the deer would take it down.

Decked for the Season

Gibbs street, along the entrance to the Eastman Theater, is lit up and glowing. And Java Joe's the perfect place to grab a coffee and molassas cookie.

A Caroler's Treat

...would be a fig filled Italian Christmas cookie. Delighted to have the chorus on a clear, calm night.

Tonight's Tuba Concert

Rose (the baby here) seems to float above the countless tuba players assembled in Hochstein stage. Lots of brass, I loved it. Thank you, City of Rochester.

Goo Gahs from Guatemala

Priscilla brought beautiful things from her recent trip to tempt us, and this bag was my favorite. The beading was superb, and the scarves were also brilliant. Her eye is very sharp and she knows just what is best. Happy Birthday, Priscilla.

Cookie Day

Since forever I have made cucciddati for Christmas. For the past handful of years I have made them with friends Nancy and Varsi. My job is to man the ovens and do the frosting. Here they are loaded and ready to go home. Lucky if you get one, for sure.

Gentle Hand

I love this sweet young hand gently restraining this dog. Is is a roman statue from the Cleveland Museum, and perfectly lit and beautiful.

Fort Myers Revisited

Oh, hooray! I found the photos from the class this October. Now I can show how great that workshop "Cutting Up the Pretties" really was with all the BIGNESS in the composition, the great precious fabric, the sweat coming off the brow! It was amazing to see how these intrepid Art Quilters Unlimited themselves.

Roman Hairdo Options

My last week's visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art led me to these portraits of Roman women. Want a do for the holidays? Try the cheerio lady here. Or for a safer bet, the loose bun of the gal on the left.

SAQA Meeting at the Schweinfurth

Donna Lamb, director at the Schweinfurth, is here with Marilyn Belford. Studio Art Quilt Associates met at the art center today for a lunch and meeting and open-to-the-public show and tell. Total fun for sure. If you could have seen all the talent in the room, it would have blown you away. Thank you Schweinfurth.

Seeing Clearly

This totally out-of-focus shot of Shelley Brenner Baird does not show fairly  her fascinating work now on view at the Focus: Fiber 2011-2012 show. But it was great to meet up with her and chat. Santa, upgrade my camera!

Canton, Ohio and Focus: Fiber

"Mummy Bags Influenced" is on the left at the opening last night of the Focus: Fiber 2011-12 show. Very fun, great to see other participating artists, and lovely gallery. If you go, you will not be disappointed with this world of fiber art.

On View in Canton "Focus Fiber"

I am off to see "Mummy Bags / Influenced" now on view in Canton, Ohio in the Focus: Fiber 2011 exhibition. It is on until March 4, 2012. So, there is lots of time for you to see it as well.

Sense of Scale

The University Gallery is so vast, the light so even, that people swear they are looking at paintings. You have to put your nose to the fiber to see reality.

Reception at Rochester Institute of Technology

Wonderful to visit with my great supporters and friends, especially the peeps. I would be nowhere if I did not have them. This is the reception for my show "Design in Fiber / Pat Pauly" currently up at the University Gallery at RIT until January 13.

Adding Velcro

Such a mudane topic, but I am here adding velcro as a hanging device on a two-part piece that will replace "Pink Leaf 4 (Yellow)" in the RIT show. Proper Met version technique is to put velcro to twill tape, and sew tape to work. Never put velcro staight to work.

Aging Gracefully

If you put me in a lovely oak barrel I might just age gracefully and take on that "medium plus toast" quality like this wine that is waiting at Casa Larga. We took a wine tour this evening. I love the high tech way to label  the contents. I only hope that some saboteur does not remove that label, as all would be lost.

Next in the Queue

Working on this, hoping to have it done for Schweinfurth's trunk show for SAQA in December 11. Yes, you can see a little "bling" with the gold foil. And yes, I will bury those dangling threads. Geesh.

Parallel Lives

This lovely book is now mine. Written and designed by Paula Kavorik and Jean Holmgren it is the story of the collaboration between the two on work and an exhibition. I got it from Blurb. You can get one for yourself, I would think, on PaulaKovarik.com.

Pickin' and a Grinnin'

I spent some of my "sewing" time removing a bad group of quilt stitches. Like the tool? It is kind of a scalpel my friend gave me. Good for digging out.