My workshop is buzzing

I feel like I've been as busy in my sewing workroom as a Santa's elf in December. I've been churning out masks for my Etsy shop (sherrielovescolor) ...

... and today I'm tackling a set of six placemats in these warm Grunge fabrics. A friend commissioned them to give to her son, who likes Sante Fe colors. I'm going to have enough fabric left over to make another set for the shop.

I'm extra excited about wrapping gifts this year ...

... because I found this great Christmas cactus wrapping paper on Amazon! My cutting table has been transformed into gift wrap central. I have to get this done early because my family and friends are scattered all over the country, so I have to mail ALL of my gifts. 

I even wrapped a present for myself (but not in the good paper) to put under the tree. It's a box of Trader Joe's chocolate covered cherries, which I love. I'm hoping that since they're wrapped I won't get into them right away. I also bought two of TJ's Danish Kringles, filled with almond paste that's to die for, and put one in the freezer and I'm trying not to eat the other one too quickly.

With all that eating I need exercise, and I'm excited to announce that I finally found two hiking buddies! They're both single women (like me) who moved to Tucson within the past year and are eager to explore the area.

I met them on the full moon Meetup hike and we decided that we need to do our own hikes at a slower pace. These pictures are from this week's hike at Honeybee Canyon Park in Oro Valley (Valley of Gold). Believe it or not, there are petroglyphs right beside the trail that have not been vandalized.

I'm also starting to collect unusual saguaro photos. This one seems to be saying, "The trail is that way!"

In my neighborhood, I found this little agave trimmed in silver balls. Even more delightful is that the car in the driveway has a Seattle Seahawks sticker! (That's my team.)

Lastly, here is one of my painted silk organza and beaded collages that I hope to sell on Etsy (without the frame, which would complicate packing and make shipping more expensive). I called it "Beauty."

I'm linking to Nina-Marie's Off-the-Wall blog post at back-to-work-on-off-wall-friday.html. Check it out to see what other fabric artists have been up to this week.

Have a colorful day

Christmas decorating in the new home

The decorations are up in the desert! 

The little white lights that I love are draped across the back of the house inside, a skinny tree is in the corner (no room for a full tree), and a bevy of candles (battery operated for safety) casts a soft glow.

I'm almost done writing my cactus Christmas card messages with Christmas music playing in the background. California Guitar Trio's A Christmas Album free with Amazon Prime is my new favorite.

Only one stocking hangs by the fireplace for the first time in my life. I had hoped to spend Christmas with my daughter, but Covid canceled that plan. Next year my stocking will have some companions.

The fire isn't on because I'm waiting to have it repaired. It worked during the home inspection, but now it doesn't. There's nothing quite like reading in front of a crackling fire on a chilly night.

I received my first Christmas card, from my sister in law. I love the picture and Peace On Earth message.

Nature and animals are always a big part of winter decorating for me. The yoga bunnies are practicing in a snowy forest!

And my wooly reindeer has a little bird on its back as the snow falls.

Our family loves squirrels. We used to have flying squirrels as pets.

We also love birds. Since second grade I've almost always had parakeets as pets. This year I was afraid my two little guys would be too stressed by the long move, so I gave them to someone who was thrilled to have them for her grandchildren. Maybe next year I'll get some more. In the meantime, I have these cardinals.

Here are some other winter quilts.

This next one is a collaboration of my Sew Day group. Each of us did a row for everyone in the group, and I requested a Christmas theme for mine. I love it! It's hanging in my workroom.

I even added swag to the bathroom!

Here is some of my holiday sewing for this year. I'm using the big cactus print for a pillowcase (with the red for the cuff), and the other two will be masks to put in my Etsy shop.

And speaking of cactuses, this towel that I've had for ages finally has a home in the desert! In case you didn't know, Arizona is the only state in the country where saguaro cactuses are native, except for a small bordering part of California that's in the Sonoran Desert.

And here is what Christmas in the desert also looks like -- oranges growing next to ornaments. I'm so excited to be living where citrus grows and the skies are almost always blue!

Hope you're having fun making a cozy nest this year. Might as well, since we'll all be spending our days at home this season.

Have a colorful day

Sewing, sunset, moonrise

I made some more bookmarks yesterday to include as thank you gifts with my Etsy orders. I think opening the package should be half the fun, so I wrap every order with colorful tissue and yarn and include a hand painted bookmark with my shop name on the back.

Here's how I did yesterday's batch. I started by painting white cotton with Setacolor transparent fabric paint to which I added a touch of pearlescent paint for shimmer. It dried outside in our desert air in minutes.

Then I sponged different colors onto some stamps ...

... and added more colors directly with a sponge.

Here it is before I fused it onto an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of Peltex, with a sheet of my shop labels  printed on fabric fused to the back.

Then I cut it up, punched holes with my wool hole punch, and added hand-dyed yarn tails.

I also added a little mandala quilt to my Etsy shop, which is www.sherrielovescolor.etsy.com.

I made the painted, embroidered, beaded and quilted piece when I was vacationing in Sedona, AZ, a few years ago. It was inspired by the desert sun and blue skies.

Speaking of desert sun, we had a spectacular sunset a few nights ago. Here it is reflected in my sewing room window.

And here is how it looked from inside my sewing room.

The next two photos are from my front courtyard. I'll never tire of this! I go out every evening right before sunset and wait for the show.

Last night I had a special treat. I watched the full moon rise above the mountains while on a desert hike with a Meetup group. We hiked a few miles out into the mountains and then stood -- socially distanced -- in awe as the giant glowing orb floated up from behind the mountains. 

Giant saguaros surrounded us in the perfect silence.

After awhile, we turned on our flashlights and trekked back to our cars in the dark night.

Have a colorful day

Holiday sales with friends

My reversible winter into spring quilted table runner.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my Etsy shop, and everything is 15 percent off through Dec. 2: 

www.sherrielovescolor.etsy.com

Since the Saturday after Thanksgiving is when we traditionally support small businesses, I thought I'd introduce you to three fabulous friends who sell their homemade and vintage items online.

Another of my winter reversible table runners.

Gift bags/tarot bags/treasure bags in my shop.

A little table topper I made years ago.

My daughter, Julia

www.desertspringvintage.etsy.com

This is my daughter Julia's vintage shop. She scoops up vintage finds, including brass, glass, wicker, textiles, Mexican pottery and more. She started her shop three years ago and it has really taken off. I'm so proud of all the hard work she has put into it! It's basically a full-time second job for her.

Lynda Heines

www.lyndaheinesdesigns.etsy.com

I met Lynda, from Indiana, through her blog years ago and it feels like we're good friends even though we've only met through Zoom. She and I started our Etsy shops this month and hers is definitely worth taking a look if you love hand-dyed items. Above is a beautiful set of snowflake napkins that she dyed in green. Below is one of her luscious hand-dyed silk scarves.

Judy Sall

JudySallOriginals

Judy, from Flagstaff, AZ,  and I met through our blogs, but when I started going to Sedona every March to hike we got to meet in person. Every year we meet up for a quilt shop hop, lunch, and a lot of conversation. She is one of the main people who encouraged me to start an on-line shop. She does beautiful dyed scarves and clothing, fabric bowls, and wall hangings. If you're ever in Flagstaff, you can also find her work at the Arts Connection gallery in the Flagstaff Mall: www.artsconnectionaz.com

Have a colorful day