Awhile back the highly talented fiber artist Julia and I agreed to do a swap. I was all excited when I got her package in the mail! And then when I started to photograph her incredible piece I could barely stop...and will use the photos throughout this post.
Notice the soft, velvety backing she has selected. These details I find so enchanting. Every piece she makes shows such a love and celebration of color. She has used countless types of fabrics, giving it a richness and uncommonly delightful texture. When my children have clean hands I allow them to touch it carefully... Lilly has done so frequently as I have it perched on our antique desk in the living room.
While you continue to enjoy the photo, I have to something to admit: I have been lousy, miserable about mentioning the awards I have received these last months. I intend to mend my ways... So I will start today.
A huge thank you to the incredibly kind Michele for the Lemonade Award! What a nice surprise to receive this sweet award. This is an easier award because I don't have to reveal any private or embarassing things about myself. The hard part was deciding which blogs to select from my super long list of favorites!
I have been updating my list of fabulous blogs that I like to visit. So I would like to pass the award along to some of the new and bright stars on the list! I am so excited to share them with you if you haven't already been fortunate enough to stumble upon them yourself.
UK: Lobster and Swan - she has such an eye for the beautiful
Norway: Fryd og Design - so much sweetness, including a darling baby girl
France: Rose Tea Room - an enchanting design blog
Germany: RoSa P. - the epitome of simplicity and lovely handmade
Maine, USA: Philigry - hailing from my own home state, this is a lovely place to visit...
Australia: Hop Skip and Jump - Domestic bliss, quilting, toys, etc... Ah, love it...
The Netherlands: Dutch Colors - All things bright and beautiful, especially nice to drop by when I need a bit of cheerful color on a grey winter day
USA: Orange Flower Sketchbook - perfectly wholesome handmade
Norway: Sjarmerende gjenbruk - Full of ideas on how to charmingly recycle
USA: Tallgrass Prarie Studio - an expert and inspirational quilter and host of Project Improv
What to Do Now
I want to
say congratulations to all 10 of those awarded above. Please share this opportunity
with your favorite bloggers by doing the following:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs, which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
3. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
4. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.
Finally, I want to thank Julia for swapping with me. I will treasure it.
That is absolutely gorgeous. Luck you!!!!
Posted by: Emily Anne (Art-n-Sewl) | January 25, 2009 at 09:10 PM
Beautiful! Julia is so amazingly talented!
Posted by: Carina | January 25, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Thats a lovely treasure. Lucky you. The nicest sort of post.
Posted by: joanna | January 25, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Thanks for passing the award on to me!
Love the treasure you show us!
Posted by: heleen | January 25, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Congratulations on your award! What a beautiful piece you have received :-)
Posted by: HildeC | January 25, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Lovely handwork. I would be happy just to sit and look at it.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 25, 2009 at 11:38 PM
So lucky you are !!! Julia is so very talented !!!
Posted by: Gunnel Svensson | January 26, 2009 at 12:08 AM
such a sweet swap! thanks so much for the award. And, you are from Maine? Wow~ we live in bowdoinham and love it here. this is where i grew up. it is a great place. so nice to meet another native!
Posted by: katie | January 26, 2009 at 12:24 AM
Emily, so nice of Julia to swap with you. I tried to go to the link you put for her but for some reason it doesn't want to connect. Either it's the link... or my computer.
The piece that Julia sent has so many things to it that touch the senses hmmm? Very bright and fun. I can imagine that the kids are very keenly aware of it too!
Posted by: Jean C. | January 26, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Love the colours and textures in Julia's work - just lovely!
Posted by: Lisa | January 26, 2009 at 12:47 AM
What a beautiful list of blogs. I love each and everyone. Thank you so much for sharing.
Shannon
Posted by: lilyhaven | January 26, 2009 at 05:33 AM
What a beautiful piece you received.
Lucky!!!
Andi :-)
Posted by: andi | January 26, 2009 at 06:00 AM
Such a beautiful textile piece!
I'm now going to go and have fun checking out all your award winners! Congratulations on yours - well and truly deserved!
Posted by: Melanie | January 26, 2009 at 07:49 AM
The textile is wonderful - the colours and the textures! I am about to go and check out all the blogs you listed, some known and some new to me!
Posted by: Di | January 26, 2009 at 08:47 AM
What a wonderful textile piece! It is so beautifully made, she is very talented! And you are the lucky one to have it! Congratulations on the award! Thanks for your visit!
Posted by: Suzie | January 26, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Dear Emily...I'm blushing now.
I'm thrilled that you and your children like the textures, I enjoyed sewing them so much!
It's lovely to see your pictures,which are very flattering to the piece...(and I forgot to take any).
I'm so happy we swapped - the beautiful doll you made me sleeps serenely on my bedside cabinet.I love her restful expression.
Congratulations on your award and being featured in the magazine! I'm going to spend some time now visiting the blogs you've named which are all new to me.
Juliax
Posted by: Julia | January 26, 2009 at 12:44 PM
You have recieved some beautiful pieces,lucky you.Also congrats on your award.I'll look into these other blogs.Hugs Marie Antionette
Posted by: Marie Antionette | January 26, 2009 at 01:12 PM
What a wonderful piece you´ve got, thanks for sharing the photos, so much inspiration!/ Petra
Posted by: Petra | January 26, 2009 at 02:28 PM
That is lovely, you can see that alot of work went into it!
Posted by: Jewel | January 26, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Oh, Emily, that is so very beautiful. You did a great job photographing it, too.
Posted by: cathleen | January 26, 2009 at 04:57 PM
Oh my goodness, that is just beautiful....so much work and love has gone into it! xx
Posted by: Jannelle | January 26, 2009 at 07:20 PM
Lovely embroidery.x
Posted by: Michala (kayla coo) | January 26, 2009 at 09:15 PM
I didn't realise you meant that julia till I saw her distinctive leaves. Lucky you. You took lovely pictures too.
Posted by: Jackie | January 26, 2009 at 10:00 PM
What a wonderful gift (both of them) to receive. Love the detail work.
Posted by: Gina | January 27, 2009 at 03:47 AM
that is such a lovely piece you received!! love the velvety trim and the colors are so bright and cheery!
congrats on your award!! you really do amazing work!!
Posted by: kerri | January 27, 2009 at 08:05 AM
wow - beautiful stitched piece - amazing!
thanks for sharing the new blogs too - off to check them out, once I do a bit of work first...
hope you are all well
X
Posted by: annieb | January 27, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Congratulations on your award. What a lovely gift. The colours are so beautiful, and so much hard work went in to it.
Posted by: Melanie | January 27, 2009 at 02:41 PM
That is an amazing piece...is it a pillow or scarf or? Can't make out what it is...
Posted by: Malene | January 27, 2009 at 09:48 PM
gorgeous textile art!
i can't wait to peep the blogs you mentioned.
i have been so bad about keeping up lately:)
smiles
lori
Posted by: lori marie | January 28, 2009 at 05:22 PM
amazing work! thank you so much for the award. i'm blushing at your kind words. i will surely pass it on.
Posted by: jacquie | January 28, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Congrats on the award. You truly deserve it!
What a beautiful stitched piece you got from Julia. Lucky you!
Posted by: Tonje | January 28, 2009 at 10:58 PM
julia's work is always so lovely to see up close. great shots....thanks.....
and thanks for all your comments on my blog lately! xx
Posted by: jude | February 01, 2009 at 01:54 PM