TO THE STUDIO I GO

I don't mind bundling up and heading over to the studio because I know what's waiting for me.  The last snowman of the season to be punched, a ruffle added to a silk and alpaca scarf I'm knitting for a friend, a hooped up love ewe, and love you too (two sheep with hearts for valentines day).  Have a Happy New Year. Keep on punchin,
nancee 

BRINGING IN THE GREENS

It was a lovely, if quiet Christmas; just Ken, Todd, me, and of course the dogs who always make out better than the rest of us.  For a center piece this year I went into the backyard clipped some pine and cedar branches.  I added dried penny plants and a three old mercury glass ornaments. Simple but elegant.  Notice the plate of  maimed gingerbread boys by Ken's place.  Does your Hubby always get to eat  the broken cookies?  I think when I'm not looking he snaps off a head or two...just saying.  Happy Boxing Day.  I guess there is always something to celebrate if you know where to look.  Keep on punchin.
nancee 

CHRISTMAS EVE

Gingerbread boys and Christmas carols playing on the radio or now coming through the TV connect me with  memories of celebrations long ago...  Have a blessed holiday.  Keep on punchin.
nancee  

THE PREACHER & THE PREACHER'S WIFE

In progress are the preacher and the preacher's wife adapted from my friend Aina's original art...she is the preacher's wife in real life as well as a very talented artist and sculptress.  I am so blessed to live among these  very talented people.  Have a Merry Merry Christmas to all.  I'm going to my studio until about 4 p.m. today and there chaining myself to the kitchen stove until noon on Tuesday.  Keep on punchin.
nancee

PUNCH & PLAY

There's a time to punch and a time to play.  We had just enough snow for a few spins on the snowmobile.  Hattie went right over to investigate this new addition to the backyard.  Harley decided to keep his distance. Isn't that how it is... a women we are nosy parkers!  Ah yes, well the play is over and now it's time to punch.  Keep on punchin.
nancee

FLEECE NA DE DAH

I love my studio where I go to punch up little sheep, cows, crows, etc.  But it was tough to be joyful yesterday as the more and more details of the horror unfolded.  Christmas will never be the same for that town nor for any of us who have watched this tragedy unfold.  Stitching helps me heal, so with a broken heart, I say... Keep on punchin.
nancee    

ELLIE MAE RESCUED PIT BULL PUPPY

I was feeling so good about humanity yesterday while working on Ellie Mae a young Pit Bull.  One of my book club buddies daughter rescued her from a horrible situation.  Gina asked if  I could do a little punchneedle of Ellie Mae for a surprise Christmas present for her daughter.  I loved the challenge because I was planning on surprising my own son Todd with a punchneedle of Buddy, his rescue pup.  Then I heard of the TRAGEDY in CONNECTICUT.   There are no words, only prayers and the question WHY?
nancee       

SNOWFLAKES FALLING

We had a dusting of yesterday.  Not the beautiful big kind like I punched, but that wet sticky stuff.  However not much stuck.  But it was enough of an inspirational to finish up these snowflake box tops.  They are 3" in diameter and fit on a 3" fiberboard box.  They are punched with Valdani M49 for the flakes and 0534 for the background.  I'm working on the Preacher and the Preacher's Wife.  Then I promise no more Christmas ideas until next year.  Keep on punchin.
nancee 

STOCKINGS (almost) HUNG

I'm readying this little stocking "BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE" to be posted on my etsy store.  I always say I'm going to stop working on Christmas things after the Holiday Art fair which was last weekend, however it never seems to be true.  I can't seem to stop.  I'm working on snowflake boxes and two small punchneedle snow people, The Parson, and The Parson's wife.  Stay tuned.  Keep on punchin.
nancee  

MY STUFF

Dried penny plants, tallow berries, and sweet annie found it's way into my booth this year.  You all have seem most of the pins, boxes, stockings, ditty bags, and framed pieces.  They have appeared in this blog in varies stages of completion.  It's time to turn my studio into a winter wonderland, while I begin to work on hearts for Valentine's day, and bunnies for the Country Folk Art spring show.  Keep on punchin.
nancee     

HOLIDAY ART FAIR

Great show put on by a great group of people.  I am proud to be part of this organization.  I will post pictures from my booth later, I wanted you to see some of the other artists work.  Today is like the day after Christmas...I'm pattering around the house in my PJ'S with a dust rag in my hand.  Forgotten furniture is getting a polish, neglected bits of clothing are whirling around in the washer.  Tomorrow,  I'll go to the studio, unpack the boxes, take an inventory, and put up the holiday decorations!  But today a cup of pumpkin spice coffee and a couple of biscotti will do it.  Keep on punchin.
nancee 

READY, SET, PACK...

Two days to go before it's time to set up for the HOLIDAY ART FAIR!  Several items still to be punched and finished.  When will I ever learn that once you finish an item you should NOT add two more to the list?   I guess that's just how us compulsive designs are wired...  So long for now; the next pics will of the show.  Any of you out there in cyberspace, if you have a chance to get to Cedarburg this weekend look for me at the Community Center along with other members of the Artist's Guild.  Don't forget Christmas in the Country  is going on at The Settlement.  Hope to see ya this weekend.  In the meantime...Keep on punchin.
nancee
   

ALL DECKED OUT FOR THANKSGIVING

I wonder if any of you saw the big OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG  being rescued by two national guardsmen during hurricane Sandy??? It was amazing, I've looked for the image on line but have not found it.    I would have been one of those who would not leave her dogs. I am thankful for my two OES every day.  They bring so much joy into my house.   Here's HATTIE is watching my every move as I wrap up a batch of biscotti.!  She and HARLEY love the Rachel Ray's doggie version recipe.  It's very healthy with whole wheat flour and peanut butter.  I must made them some as soon as The Holiday Art Fair is over...  It's next weekend at the Community Center in downtown Cedarburg.  It's bigger and better than ever this year with more artist participating.  Plus Christmas in the Country will be at the Settlement.  So it's an other wild and crazy weekend in Cedarburg. Keep on punchin.
nancee

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

A kind friend gave me a big bunch of dried Penny Plants.  They are so delicate, I'm trying to decide exactly what to do with them...  I have one idea that involves a potato, a sharp knife, a gold stamp pad, and a lunch size paper bag.  Stay tuned and...  Keep on punchin!
nancee 

LET IT SNOW

I say LET IT SNOW only figuratively, because we need to have a roof replaced on the lean to, before the snow flies!  This snowman is mounted on a 4 1/2" round black box and available on etsy.  Between boxes, ditty bags, and pins I'm going a little crazy.  The fun kind of crazy.   It's amazing how much you can do when you have a deadline looming.  Keep punchin.
nancee   

PARSON BROWN

Here are two PARSON BROWN ornaments/pins..  The pressure is on to make as many new Christmas items as I can before the Holiday Art fair November 30th -December 3.  When I look at the calender, all I can say is YIKES!  Keep on punchin.
nancee

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN...

I looked at the calender The Holiday Art Fair is only 25 days away!  Glancing around my studio, I realized I'd better get into the Christmas Spirit (Spirits) and fast...  So here's FROSTY the first new pin in the works.
Keep on Punchin.
nancee      

A QUILT AND BOOK LOVERS LUNCH

Yesterday the Wisconsin Museum of Quilt and Fiber Art hosted a lunch and book signing event.  Jennifer Chiaverini, the author lives in Madison and written 20 Elm Creek Quilt novels.  She read from her newest book and gave a delightful talk about the quilts and fabrics she has designed to go along with the books.  The lunch was yummy with recipes taken a companion Elm Creek quilters cook book.   A new snowman pin is on my drawing board, will post a progress photo soon.  Keep on punchin.
nancee  

PETEE & THE PEARS

Here's PETEE & THE PEARS.  I love the name, it sounds like a boy band.  This Petee is about 4 1/2" X 4 1/2" and is going to be mounted on painted fiberboard box.  I'm going to punch up one to be framed, and one for a pillow...  Tis almost the season.  Keep on punchin.
nancee  

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Here is a visual tour of my studio in the Farm House at the Museum.  You will have to scroll from the bottom   up to get the idea.  I can not tell you  how happy I was to have it ready for the Covered Bridge Studio Tour over the weekend.  Despite the rainy weather, we had a great crowd, with many folks coming from out of state.  I want to thank all of you for your kind words about my work and of course your purchases!  I can now turn my design thoughts to Holiday designs.  Look for "Pete & the Pears"  progress report this week. Keep on punchin.
nancee  

COVERED BRIDGE STUDIO TOUR

I've been unpacking, shoving furniture, hanging framed pieces, propping pillows, filling cupboards, etc,etc, to get ready for the COVERED BRIDGE STUDIO TOUR this weekend.  This Friday (6-9) , Saturday 10-5), and Sunday (11-4) event is sponsored by the Cedarburg Artists Guild.  It is so much fun to see where and how each artist works, some in barns, some in chicken coops, others in spaces above retail stores downtown.  It's a blast and the only drawback of being in the show is that you can't attend!!!  The fun begins at the Cultural Center where you pick up your map and passport.  Saturday night there's a shindig at the Cultural Center with food, drinks, give aways, and a silent auction.  I'll be posting pictures of the inside of my studio as soon as I can.  There's a partridge & a pear tree on my drawing board.  Stay tuned.  Keep on punchin.
nancee     

HAZEL 1 YEAR OLD

One more window almost done... Hazel is sitting among a few of my sheep.  The center Sheep was a new find at Hawthorn Hill Farm Harvest Market.  It's Hazel I'd like to talk about... I bought her a couple of years ago at a country shop.  Her tag said Poor Folk and Hazel I year old was written on the bottom of her shoe.  So I guess she would be 3 now!  I'd love to know more about the artist, so if anyone has any info please let me know.  Keep on punchin.
nancee

...AND THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG

Slowly but surely I'm making progress on my new studio, it's still somewhat overwhelming.  I'll hope to have at least one room ready for the COVERED BRIDGE STUDIO TOUR October 12-14.  Yikes that's only nine days and counting.  In the mean time at night, I'm working on a series of little Christmas stockings using three color of Valdani  Dried Leaves, Subtle Elegance, and Quiet Fall.  Keep on punchin.
nancee   

MOVING IN DAY

OMG...where did all this stuff come from?  Moved into my studio today.  I've rented space in the little farm house on the grounds of  the Wisconsin Quilt and Fiber Art Museum.  It was a beautiful  fall day.  I've got my work cut out for me as you can see.  Hope to have everything ship shape by Friday October 12th.  It's the first night of the covered bridge studio tour.  If not, I may ask everyone who comes calling to help unload a box or two...  I had to put one window together today before I came home.  Keep on punchin.
nancee

FROM THE SHOW

This was a GREAT SHOW for me.  My BFF Bonnie Seron added her creations, antiques, and touches to the booth.  We were weary after setting up, but it was all worth it.  Especially after all the compliments we received.  It is so rewarding when people like your work and actually purchase it!!!  There will be a spring show this year in March and I plan to be there.  Keep on punchin.
nancee

COUNTRY FOLK ART FESTIVAL

Everything is packed away for the show this weekend, but here are some of the items I'll have with me.  My friend Bonnie will be bringing a few of antiques and creations for our booth. ( It's the 30th annual) COUNTRY FOLK ART FESTIVAL  Robinson Hall, 525 S. Randall Rd, Kane County Fairgrounds, St Charles, Il.  Friday September 21, 6:00p.m.-10:00p.m., Saturday  September 22, 10:00 a.m.-5:00p.m., Sunday September 23, 11:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.  Hope to see you there, it's a happening with Artist from all over the country.  Keep on punchin.
nancee