Happy Thanksgiving

Dave Huddleston sketch, a photo by SabiiWabii on Flickr.

Right message, wrong date....

Sketch by hubbie, Dave the Famous Artist, a few years back.

Painting Giveaway

Dave...the famous artist is having a painting giveaway. 

"Every Chipmunks Dream"

All you have to do is go to Facebook and "LIKE" his page. 

Then post the title of your favorite painting of his.

If you're not on facebook comment on his blog, 

I have connections. I can make it so that you can be included.

Give away

We are giving away a "Greta" scarf.

The width is so nice and full that it also works well as a beautiful summer wrap. 

It is hand knit by the women in Peru with a technique known as Orquilla. 

All you have to do is "Like" our facebook page at  Our Hands For Hope 

 or our shop page to be entered.

As soon as we reach 100 "Likes" we will have a random generated drawing. 

Now GO and tell your friends.

Artist: Dave Huddleston

 Island collection by my hubbie, Dave the famous artist.

"Crouching Parrot Hidden Gecko"

 6" x 6" collage on watercolor paper. 

See more details HERE

Artist: Dave Huddleston

The Diary of a Tourist: Lady Luck 

by Dave Huddleston.....my hubbie.

 One of fifteen in the series.

6" x 6" collage on watercolor paper

See the entire series here.

Duke

Don't let the regal posture fool you. 

He's a monster I tell you, a monster!

Yippee!

This is what I look like jumping for joy when a large wholesale order comes in to 

Our Hand For Hope

Artist: Dave Huddleston

This is one of Dave's latest paintings for his upcoming show in October. 

The theme is "Backroads of the Napa Valley".

 I LOVE this painting!

Acrylic on canvas 12" x 24"

Dave's Daily Doodles

More silly nonsense my hubbie, Dave, the famous artist has created.

If you go over to his website, leave him a comment and tell him there is no excuse 

for not blogging more often!

Cuddle Gram Logo

The new and improved logo.

I am loving it. 

My favorite part is where PERU is written, knowing we can interchange country names as we move into other areas to assist and collaborate with other women.The blog is up and running as well as the website.

Details on my Dress Form

"Tablescapes"

 My absolute favorite piece of art. 

Created by

 Dave, the famous artist 

All the figures in this painting were actual sculptures that we had created over the years. 

The close up is of "Ethel and her kids".

The matradee actually held a long feather and was named, "The tickle monster".

About 15 years ago, I was invited to participate in an design instillation titled,  "Tablescapes" for the Downtown Roseville Merchants Association in Sacramento, California. Each artist was given a room, area or empty window throughout a shopping mall and were asked to create a fantasy environment for a table setting. It was an exciting show for me to participate in because I was in the company of two of my favorite UC Davis design instructors, Dolph Gotelli and Jo Ann Stabb.

This painting reflects what I had set up for that show.

Our Hands For Hope, LLC.

 It's official.

We've launched.

One year ago I was in the barrios of Peru and here we are today

launching the opening of our on-line store.

Our Hands For Hope, LLC

We are facilitating economic opportunities to better the lives of the women in other cultures, beginning with the barrios of Peru.

 We are working with women artisans living in the barrios to create luxurious hand knits out of alpaca and Peruvian pima cotton. 

Please go check out the store but come back and tell me what you think.

These photos were done by two great friends and photographers. 

Sarah Lane and Damion Hamilton

Client: Our Hands For Hope – www.OurHandsForHope.com

Lead Photographer and Creative Director – Sarah Lane (Sarah Lane Studios & Studio Twelve)  -  www.SarahLaneStudios.com

Details Photographer – Damion Hamilton -  www.DamionHamilton.com

Makeup Arists – Keli Campbell & Kim Alexandra

Hair Stylists – Margaret LaPorte & Brandyn Connor

Hip Hero's

 Hubbie and I were "Cool"...at least in my mind we were.

That was until we had kids reminding us everyday we seemed to lack in the "Hip" department 

(my word not theirs). 

I think theirs might be "Rad" or "Phatt". 

Since I am at an age where weight and awareness go hand in hand,

being called "Phatt" is not my idea of "Cool".

Officially this week, I believe I am an "empty nester". 

Not too sure since I still can not see the floor in her room. 

 So with an empty house, we now can get back to the foundation of who we really are. 

It seemed appropriate to recreate our true identities....

We decided to paint life size figures first.

As our "Phattness" might get in the way of our "Hipness" inside spandex, at this time.

Artist: Stefania Morgante

 I am totally in love with the art of  Stefania Morgante.

 I first became aware of her when she donated an amazing piece of jewelry (actually art) for the 

RED Party a few years back. 

Soon thereafter became aware of her aiblity to capture pure character humor in her sketch work.

She seems to be able to interject a liveliness into her figures in a way that you don't see often.

 Her latest venture is about to launch and you can get a sneak peek if you go here.

Add your name and you will receive a free download of the cutest paper doll and accessories. 

 I framed mine!

Spirals

                               
                                      Flickr photos by:

1. on their way, 2. stone spiral, 3. on their way, 4. KEN026, 5. mandala constellation

DIY: Fabric Flower Wedding Bouquet

 

 The complete fabric flower bouquet from beginning to vows.

Part 1

Start with circles cut in 2", 3" and 4" diameters from a variety of fabric scrap fabrics. 

Preferably synthetics because they will melt and not burn.

Carefully burn the edges by waving close to a candle flame. 

See more here.

  

Begin by layering petal after petal and stitching together.

Here's the secret:  

Off set and use your burned circles as petals. Do not just center them one on top of the other.

Continue added petals and increasing them in size. 

Petal after petal, stitch after stitch.

 

 Don't worry about "messy stitches...they will all be covered up. 

The goal is to get everything to hold together.

 Now is the time to pull out all the fun brooches, buttons and broken earrings 

to add to the centers of your flowers.

 Part 2

After the petals are all stitched together and centers added, you're ready to attach a backing. 

You can create them into corsages at this point by attaching brooch pins. Or add loops to attach bobby pins to wear in your hair.

In order to add stems for a bouquet, this is the easiest way I could come up with.

Supplies needed:

Wire 20 gauge

Florest tape

Needle and thread

Long nose pliers

And always a good pair of scissors

 Bend wire in half and twist the entire length down,

leaving a loop at the top about the size of a quarter.

 On the back side of your flower, behind one of the petals, insert the wire.

 Hand stitch around the wire through the back petal and into the petals on the other side of the loop. 

There are so many layers of petals that you won't see the stitches on the front. 

This will hold the wire and flower in place.

 Now bend the wire stem and loop 90 degrees.

 Beginning about 2" down from the flower begin wrapping the floral tape up to the flower then back down. Pulling tight and twisting until you come to the end.

 Cover the entire stem.

 I did all my stems this way. When I decided how to arrange them, I added a thicker fake flower stem to some of the flowers beginning about 3 1/2' down from the flower base. 

I only added this stem to a select few. 

This gave some girth to my stems for the bouquet to be held but not too thick.

 On the backs to cover up the stitching add a silk leaf or two with the glue gun.

 You really can't see the backs when there done but,

you'll know that it would hold up in a 4-H fair judges critique!

 Now you're ready to assemble them together.

I added a few silks in with my fabric flowers and brooches. I felt like it needed that third element to give it textural interest. 

 Wrap all the stems together with florist tape.

 I covered my stems completely by wrapping with lime green cotton ribbon and added the pearls to the ends of the loops.

Now for a bit of shamless advertising. Looking for the perfect gift for the wedding party?
Check out the buttery soft alpaca throws ready to ship to you from
Our Hands For Hope

You can help change the lives of the women and children living in the barrios of Peru by sending a
Cuddle Gram