RedBarn Studios

I got an email from a friend today , actually my best friend, Lori, from high school (who I found on facebook recently…gotta like that!) She likes the fact that I enjoy life. I started thinking bout that and it reminded me of a scenario that occurred today…..

When I picked up Connor, my youngest, from the bus stop today, he started in on all the yucky stuff that happened in his day. I really make an effort to get my kids to see the good things in life and not dwell too, too much on the bad. So rather than letting him continue to bemoan his day, I immediately turned it around and asked him 3 questions:

…what happened today that made you smile,

…what happened today that made you laugh.

…what was the best part about your day (you know the answer to this one was recess..right?)

The good thing about this is that I found that by the time he got to the last question we were walking and talking and he was smiling instead of whining when we finally walked in the house. Think I might do that every day from now on.

Anyway, in keeping with enjoying life I have another video for you. This one is even better than the last and will make you laugh this time instead of just smiling.

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0]

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See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: community, family, life etc. by k grace howes
3 Comments »

I just finished viewing a video of Rachel, an 88 yr old women still in love, and I”ve still got that silly smile on my face.  It is inspiring, funny and amazing all at the same time. I won’t tell you anything more other than this a compelling story of love. You gotta check it out!

I tried to embed the video in my post but for some reason no go. So click on the link below.

Romancing the Road

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See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: life etc., pic of day by k grace howes
1 Comment »

Nancy Cook, a member of Fiber Art Options, is the featured artist in Wooden Stone Gallery here in Davidson.  Please join her for a wine and cheese reception tonight from 6-9pm. Nancy’s recent work uses “layers of textiles to convey impressions of nature”.

Here is an excerpt from the exhibition write-up:

Her current series, Seed Play, focuses on tree seeds and fruits, as metaphors for life’s riches. Using tree seeds as metaphor for life, her work focuses with admiration and care on a part of the tree that is often overlooked.

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See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art by k grace howes
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Last evening I’m tootling thru the blogs that I read and one pic on someone’s blog looks familiar. Can’t be tho because Rayna Gilman and I have never met in person (tried to get her for NC Quilt Symposium but schedules didn’t mesh).

I stop and study the picture for a few secs and there…in the background….is the bottom half of MY quilt.

Some Background

Two years ago I attended Quilting By the Lake (QBL) and knew, by the time I left, that I would be a returning student, again and again. I didn’t get to go this year but past attendees are asked to put quilts in their annual show. I chose to send “At Odds”, my quilt about working together even though differences abound.

Held in upper New York state for 2 weeks in July,  QBL recently moved to a new location, Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY. I traveled with a friend, Delane, two years ago and we had a blast, with teachers who are so giving and the participants who are all so very nice.

Back to the Story

So I have to catch up on Rayna’s posts and keep reading till I get to this one with a great teacher, Rosalie Dace (according to Rayna she is listening to someone talking  to her).

Why the heck does this pic look so darned familiar???? How could that be? One of those deja vue moments for sure. Then it dawns on me that the thing that is so familiar is MY quilt staring back at me. That’s it there in the upper right.

One Coincidence is Enough You Say?

ahhh…NO! It is now 4 am…I just finished writing a different post but can’t post it yet (needed to get permission to use a video in previous post) so instead I go check out the classes on QBL….which one does if you can’t post and you are tired and it’s 4 am….right?

I click on QBL Registration and there is that same feeling of familiarity…AGAIN! What the hay????? Yes, you guessed it, my quilt is again a part of a photo they used to show the hanging of the Quilt Show. OH MY GOSH! Who the heck would have thunk that? And how way cool!

If you have never been to QBL…let me tell you! What a fantastic retreat….a gift you should really consider giving yourself.

~

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, community, pic of day by k grace howes
4 Comments »

An online friend of mine, Mystele,  recently created a video  of herself working. Actually she does many video logs of her work and loads them on her blog, but I found this one very intriguing cause it is a fast frame with, no sound but the music she chose, playing in the background.

Have you ever wanted to be in someone’s studio as they worked, without them be conscious that you were there observing them? This is exactly what pulled me into this video. It was like taking a peak into her mind and see the art pour forth.

I found Mystele on You Tube in one of my late night forays looking at art for pleasure and inspiration and we started emailing…..I’ve been following her blog ever since.

She does great mixed media work and has recently completed a new “book” that she is publishing. I enjoy her work so much that I thought I’d share this with you. Here is part one (her posting apologizes for her hand being in the way in the beginning). If you’d like to see part 2 check out her blog.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OkwVAiil-I&hl=en&fs=1&]

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See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, community, mixed media by k grace howes
2 Comments »

Back in May I was privileged to be asked to join a new art group, Fiber Art Options.

We are 7 fiber artists working together to promote and support each other. I had not had a chance to post and entry on our blog but now you can visit and read my first post.

I had a chance to play with soy wax again and created a few new fabrics for my stash. Like….big time!!

Remember in a previous  post about attending AQS in Knoxville a few weeks back…..well guess what….I bought not a stitch of fabric!

Yes, you heard me right. There was nothing out there I desparately needed because I am soooo much into creating my own pieces to use in my artwork. How cool is that piece above!!!!

In the post over at FAO I described the soy wax process I used to create the 3 pieces of fabric. Nice….even if I say so myself!

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See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: FAO, artful creations, surface design by k grace howes
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One of the highlights of our family vacation to Nassau was the fishing trip my brother, Andy,  took the boys on this past Friday. He’s been fishing for eons but for my little man…he had never ever set eyes on a live fish (not counting the ones in our fish tank of course).

Here they are fooling around while waiting for the boat to be taken out of storage. That’s my 3 nephews on the left and in middle and hubby and little man on the right.

Okay so the “He Men” go off on the boat, 10 miles off the Bahamian shore,  to prove that they indeed can provide for their lady folk at home (get real…..we were off somewhere shopping!)

Anyway they come back home full of stories of all the fish caught and the absolute fun they had. I think the best part of the after trip was watching the swelled chests of the men looking lovelingly at their excited kids talk about the all fantastic fishing trip.

I was told that little man had caught fish but because we had to freeze them for the plane ride back home the next day I didn’t get to see what he caught. Well I have the unveiling right here….ta da!

His First Fish! Yippee!

He caught 5 of these little beauties (called porgies)! The absolute best thing of all though was sitting down to dinner last night, after emptying cases and getting house back in order, to eat the fish. Little man was just beamimg ear to ear.

Don’t you just love the little pleasures in life?

~

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, down time, family trip, pic of day by k grace howes
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I know, I know…long time no hear. I’ve been going, going, going and have now a chance to post.

Just got back from the AQS Expo in Knoxville, tired but enjoyed spending time with two good friends, DeLane and Susan. We walked the show and shopped but found out later that none of us bought much fabric. They did go halves on a needle felting machine tho and can’t wait to experiment with it.

Spent 3 days at home and now on our annual family vacation in the Bahamas, my home country, Toodles everyone. Will post pics of our trip and get back to art soon.

~

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: down time, family trip, life etc., pic of day, road trip by k grace howes
2 Comments »