Waylayed by Pirates!

I was diverted from the heads by the little ship which came to the top when we moved stuff around in the garage.
We lost several portraits in the fire, and several
more were greatly damaged and sent for restoration. After the heartbreaking
results of that effort, I just never could send the little ship painting.
Neither could I throw it away. So last week I painted over the dim outlines
through the darkened painting. It was treated with an ozone machine after the fire, which controled the odor fairly well. It was not only the varnish that had
bubbled and darkened, but the paint film itself. Cooked. So here is my
result, not anything like it was, but I have to think of it as a different
thing and go forward. The frame which Jack has now painted black was gold
leaf of course. Jack's cat Cleo is quite the art critic. Thanks for the links on milliner's heads from several of you, I will post results here by and by. Best, E

Milliner's heads anyone?

I love the early paper mache milliner's heads. I have two like that that are well shaped reproductions, and I want to repaint them in a starker more correct way. Does anyone have a good photo of an old one to share with me? All help appreciated, Best, E

a rug workshop here!

Trish Travis of Country Gatherings, organised a group to come from San Antonio to Fredericksburg for 3 consecutive days and hook all together at my house. We had a rich good time of it, packing as much as possible into our time together and some lovely rugs were well started by the time the 10 of them went home on the final day. Color is a high joy for me! My Daughter Beth made one of her lovely pound cakes and Penny made a memorable Italian Cream cake, so we did not lack for refreshment! Edyth

Eagle rug again

May 8th was the four year aniversary of our house fire, that took our lovely little red cape and ultimately caused us to move from our small farm, goats, antique shop, art studio and all the rest of it. I began this rug over 3 years ago to replace one lost in the house, and have finaly finished hooking it! It seems a symbol to me that we have finaly started looking forward a bit more than backward, a good thing indeed! As some of you know my rug hooking is very limited these days, by hands that are reluctant to do that. I must ration my hooking time like I do a box of chocolates, one precious truffle a day! The new Eagle rug is smaller than the first one, having a simple border instead of the exuberant lamb's tongue border. But the new one has a richer surface with the greater variation I have learned to use now. Can't wait to get it hemmed and on the floor in front of a blue corner cupboard. E