A good day

Did you remember to change your clocks? We do not here in Arizona....but now it means that family and friends on the East Coast are 2 hours ahead of me. Not that that is settled....
Yesterday I finally decided to go to the Litchfield Faire. The weather was perfect. I knew that if I did not go this year, the likelihood of going anytime in the future would be out. I have to do these first time alone things or I will be doomed. I must say that I was disappointed that some of the usual artists were absent. I did make my purchases from a few favorites.
From Curliosity Metalworks I bought Spinning Wind Sculptures....

This spinner hangs in the archway to the living room along with another from last year. Pounded copper and verdigris metal along with lovely semi-precious stones, these are favorites of mine.
Walking around I looked for Greg Kyle, an artist from Tucson who we have been visiting these last few years. He remembered me and looked around for Dennis.

I chose this of the Pueblo with lovely bright colors.
As we talked and I explained why I was alone this year he hugged me and told me to pick a print in memory of Dennis. He even remembered which I bought last year....Hopi Roots....so this is what I chose

Starry Night. It is a 9x12 print that I will frame this week. How thoughtful this artist was and caring.
Of course I had to buy a bag of kettle corn and then as I continued to walk....I stopped to chat with James Bell of Knotworks. He carves wonderful walking sticks and Forest Spirits. This particular one wanted to come home with me...

These are carved from the knot of a tree limb of Ponderosa Pine  and will "brings the spirit of the forest into your home...to ward off evil and reward good deeds with luck"...I love him! I am glad that I did go and have another first completed.


Did I mention that I am trying a new hummingbird feeder?

Well, here It is and the hummers are not too happy. It is suppose to be bee proof and ant proof. They are so fussy! I will see how long it takes them to drink form it.
I have a few petunias to plant today and then it will be to tat for awhile as I sit outside and enjoy this beautiful weather. I hope to try a new bread recipe later today from the new cookbook.  So many to choose from! It was nice to have you visit with me. Thank you for the kind words and your friendship. Have a great day.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today I am participating in Jo's Secret Valentine Blog Hop.Thank you Jo for once again giving us a fun opportunity to visit some new blogs and make new friends.

this is my Valentine from??????? A lovely design...Please tell me who you are! Recently while shopping Downtown Old Scottsdale, I found...

It was just placed on a bush,,,the tag reads "I Need a Home...you are loved" and the address on the reverse side is ifoundaheart.com... How cute is this. I saved it just to show you for today.  I bet you are wondering if I did any sewing on the pretty fabric or the SAL from SnowFlower Diaries....well, the answer is no. The weather has been so lovely that Mr H and I have been sitting outside reading and listening to music. And on Friday we went to the Art Show at The Wigwam Resort.

First this beautiful clay dragonfly just had to come home with me....and then Mr H who loves anything buffalo needed to have.....

wonderful mounting and detail. Be sure to click on the pictures to see the detail. All in all it was a very nice day. Everything is at the ready to sew or to cross stitch, but feeling lazy has taken over.
I probably will stitch on March SAL today, outside of course. Just to nice to sit inside with the sewing machine. It is always so nice to have you visit with me. Be sure to stop by Jo's place to see all the other Valentine posts. I must see if mine is there yet.....thank you for the kind words and for your friendship. Have a lovely day.

So lovely is she

Continuing with my festival report-----Tony Duncan's beautiful wife Violet, a former Miss Indian World title holder....isn't she pretty... a soft spoken lady, her smile feels so genuine. Her music is lovely. She is of the Cree and Taino Nations. Eyes are always drawn to her at these events. I had the pleasure to speak with her this past Sunday when I purchased her book...When We Dance which she inscribed to me -----"Follow your dreams"

The book is a beautifully illustrated sweet (short) story of a mother teaching her daughter the tribal traditions of dance. I have read it several time already! Each time I see her and watch her perform is like the first time. Special. There will be a festival in March at Litchfield Park and I hope the Yellow Bird Dancers will be there. At this time the entertainment has not been announced. Well, hope I have not bored you with this several posts on the festival....on the stitching front.... Mr H and I sat outside for a time yesterday and I finished the first page for Red Riding Hood....I will take an updated picture for my next post. I asked if anyone was interested in the directions for the Pin Ball, and will put something together to share soon. Work today so no sitting outside and no stitching. Whatever your plans are, I do hope you have a wonderful day.

Music and shopping

I fell asleep early last night after being awake from 1:30 AM.... only to wake early again today. This time I decided not to get up and stitch. Instead I had a hot cup of tea and curled up on the day bed in the sewing room and with some very boring TV program fell back to sleep. When I next opened my eyes, it was 6 AM. Need to be rested today so the the therapist can pull at my leg and bend it this way and that and I will be awake enough to yell. Mr H and I went to The Litchfield Artfest yesterday...the sun was hot  but the temps only around mid 80's. When we arrived Estaban was just getting ready to perform.....

love his music! He played a few tunes and one that I love, La Paloma. With him performing was Teresa Joy on violin.  Next to perform was Tony Duncan from Yellow Bird Productions. Amazing Native American music and dancing

the flute sounds were beautiful. His hoop dancing is wonderful, for which he has been world champion many times....His son and daughter performed also...

look at the beautiful children and the vibrant colors....







I did manage to shop also...Mr H picked this to hang in the sewing room

the artist is local and her metal works are lovely.... all brass and copper with different stones. This is Green Agate. Then the same artist, another local, who makes the Prayer Feathers (bought one last year) had these ornaments....

so I bought one for me and one for a gift. She uses real feathers and usually wolf or coyote fur. All in all we had a nice time and then home for football and rested my knee. Hope your Sunday was as pleasant.... and I do hope you have a great day today. Thank you for the visit and kind words.....

A bit of rain

There was thunder and lightening and just a bit of rain last night. This morning is cool and sunny bright. Hopefully we will remain in the comfortable temps from now on. No stitching yesterday...of any kind but I did get a book in the mail. More about that tomorrow. Back to Sunday and the Festival of Arts ...today let me tell you about The Yellow Bird Dancers... there clothing was so colorful and the beading magnificent. How they managed to dance and smile while the temps were around 80 dressed as they were is beyond me. The lovely smiling lady in red is Violet Duncan who was Miss Indian World 2012. She represented all Indigenous people of North America. She is married to Tony Duncan who performed the hoop dancing..

Tony Duncan is a 5 time world champion from the Apache and Arikara Nations. He also is leader of Estun-Bah, who perform beautiful music with Tony playing the flute. His dancing in and out of the hoops is amazing. Tony and his group are based here in Arizona. Then there was a man who sat quietly on the sideline. I asked if I could take his picture and with a big smile he said yes and stood for me. His clothing was beautiful and then he danced...His name ( I think) is David...He has done all the beading on his clothing and even his moccasins. Such a nice man. It was a wonderful part of my Sunday afternoon. My regret is that I did not get back to their area to purchase a CD of the beautiful music....but, since they are based/live here in Arizona, I will be sure to find them.
That is about it for today my friends, glad you stopped by to chat with me. Thank you for the kind words and emails.... have a great day.

Out for the day and was Sunday!

Generally Sunday is a stay at home football day. This week, however, Mr H decided we should venture out to attend the festival held at Litchfield Park....Native American festival. It was wonderful weather only in the 70/80's. A wonderful day. I enjoyed meeting and chatting with some very wonderful artists....this Prayer feather caught my eye and it looks nice with my healing feather.
The artist, Anita explained how to use it and pointed out that it has a tuft of coyote in it. She lives here in Arizona when not traveling to fairs. Mr H and I enjoyed lunch at one of the cafes and sat out on the patio...too beautiful a day to sit indoors.

Then it was off to get some caramel popcorn and and these cuties
Not Native American made, but cute nevertheless. The one in the middle and star on the backside is on a bell... the other two are wood based. I think I will keep them all...I had thought of a few gifts, but I love them and can not part with any of them! Tomorrow I will share  the dancers that performed. I finished another tatted ornament, well actually 2 and those I will share tomorrow also.
Once we returned home it was football afternoon....We had a great day all in all. Today is market day for food and maybe the furniture store for a new sofa. For a few months we have been trying to decide and I think...key word is think, we have a decision. I knew 2 months ago, just Mr H making up his mind. I think I have it swung my way. I must remember to welcome some new followers. Glad to meet you ..... and to say how happy I am to have shared some time with all of you. I do hope you have a wonderful day.