Recent Snow Storm

Hello again!

So glad we finally got a snowblower!!!

Judging by the snow on the backyard trashcans, I'd say we definitely got more than the estimated 4-7 inches of snow they are saying we got!

White Christmas

It'll be a last minute accumulation, but white is white and it's Christmas!!!

Happy holidays and new year to everyone!

Christmas Break!

Hello again!

Well, the most difficult class is over and I managed to get an A-. Not bad... Going to take another math class next semester. Aaarg! What am I thinking?!!?

Now it's the Christmas break so I am dabbling in some creative stuff. Nothing to really photograph and share, but I will if things go well.

Daughters are done with their school for 2012! Seems they are ready for a little break and I don't blame them. Been busy the past few weeks.

Until then, happy holidays!

Hello again!

Eyes are melting out of my head from studying... Monday is the last day of finals. Ahhhh, I am ready for a break. (Ha! Still busy volunteering with the middle school, but at least there are no exam-threats looming over head.)

Soon I have to decide what I want to do next. Running out of the classes I needed to enhance my degree but still want to keep going to school. Especially Manchester Community. The tuition is so good!!!!!

Wish me luck for next week.
-Les

Cool Pictures of The Early Morning Fog

Hello again!

We have had quite the foggy days, the past two days. I took these pictures this morning; one of the swamp in the way backyard and the other I took as I drove to school, (at a red light).

Huge test on Wednesday. It's our last test and is basically like a pre-final. So far I have a solid A in this class. I'd hate to kill it now!

Wish me luck!

The Governor

"There seems to be a law that governs all our actions so I never make plans. "

Greta Garbo

As far as I am concerned, that governor and I have different ideas.

A Little More Needle Thread Painting on the Portrait!

Hello again!

Have had a little free time in the past couple days, so I thought I'd pull some thread through this portrait! Still need to finish the bib and work on some touches on the baby.

Hope to have this finished before the end of December and I am starting to feel the pressure. It's hopefully going to be seen in my month-long show in the Amherst library, in January.

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Been An Interesting Week!

Hello again!

Last week was a great week. Got the Algebra tests back on Monday and I still have an A average!!!! And I am really enjoying the class.

The hurricane was eventful. Some downed trees and loss of power. It was an exciting storm. Sorry about all the damage which occurred in NJ. I grew up in NJ and am very familiar with the damaged areas of the shore. Also went into NYC quite a bit and had family living there for many decades. Shocked to see what happened to them. Heartbreaking. Quite a few of my old classmates had some loss and damage and our thoughts are with them all.

As big as last week was, this week is shaping up to be just as interesting. Wednesday there will be another math test and another Nor'eastah! The coming storm will not be as bad as Sandy but still a storm to watch.

Got another doll commission, yesterday! Was recently approached by two different people and one of them has already come back to me with the "go-ahead"! Wish me luck, Things are very busy these days and my time is so tight. I am shooting for completion by the beginning of December, for the doll will be a Christmas gift from a daughter to her aging mother with "contact" issues. The mother dolls and seems to brighten when she holds someone else's (non-reborn) doll. Daughter thinks the reborn version will do wonders!

But the most interesting part about this week is the VOTING! I am so excited to see how this election turns out. It seems that each election is more important than the last and this one is no different.

Haven't been working on too many creative things. Still pluggin' away on several unfinished pieces, trying to lighten the WIPs that have been piling up since school's started. Wish me luck, there are a lot. :/

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what I've been up to lately!

Pheeeu!

Algebra's still going well. Took another test and did well. Funny how math was always so difficult when I was younger. Now I LOVE doing the equations.

Another Earthquake!

4.0 at 7:14 in Maine. Felt it in Amherst, NH. What a surprise!!!!!!!

Got the Results of the Math Test

My first "A" in math, ever! I couldn't believe it. 8am and my eyes are not all that clear.... reading that score was much more than just a shocker, needless to say.

Studying for a Test

Hi!

It's time for my first test... went way "out of the box" this semester and am taking algebra. Really whipping my little fanny, too. Been studying and reviewing quizzes for the last two days, preparing for tomorrow.

Math and I are not kindred spirits, that's for sure. However, the teacher's great and he really cares about the class and having this stuff sink into our heads.

Please wish me luck!!!

Baby Portrait Thread Painting

Hello again!

Well, I've been working on the embroidery but unfortunately my free time has been limited. This piece of my youngest, based on a photograph taken years ago was started about a month ago and recently the embroidery is actually looking pretty much like my daughter. Still not sure how successfully it will turn out, in the end but I am having fun plugging away at it.

Thanks for looking! Stay posted for more pics, soon.

First Day Of The New Semester

Well... I made it to the school ok, but my poor van hobbled home. Started acting up a few days a go, but really had bad trouble just over our town line. Pheeeu, because it wasn't too far from home. Next time, I'll listen to the van when it starts complaining, otherwise, what a temper tantrum it throws! At least it was reasonable with the timing.

So glad there are no classes on Friday.

The Latest Around Here....

Hello again!

Well, I decided to put the grape thread painting aside for a little while. The actual grapes were turning out well but things started to go bad in the shadow area. Not to the point of disaster... I put it aside before that point arrived.

Am starting another thread painting but not sure how this one will turn out, either But that's fine. For me, it's the journey and not necessarily the end product. My goal is to keep busy, because it's the best way to keep out of TroUbLe!

Signed up for more classes at the local community college. Some more core classes. Thought about going to another school but when I was about to sign the tuition check I decided it would be smarter to pay for the core classes at MCCNH and once they were out of the way, I'd take the degree specific classes in a college that actually has a Master's degree program. The university I was almost attending wanted about $2,000 more for the SAME CLASS!!!! Yikes!

I am also glad to be going back to MCC. It's a nice school with professors whom really care and want you to pass instead of those professors that ride you and search for weaknesses, like other reviews I've read about colleges (and also the reason why I didn't end up going to the new school). And MCC is making some HUGE changes to the campus. I'd be disappointed to miss all that!!! New gym, cafe and who knows what else!!!!

Have done a ton of gardening over the past couple days. Good break from the needlework and also an excellent dose of vitamin D. Ripped a lot of plants I put in, years ago. Too mature, lanky and consuming most of the gardens. Even though the compliments were still rolling in this summer, the garden really pops so much better and the plants all can be appreciated more.

Rooting some hibiscus. Grew a few from seeds and really love the way they looked this year. Since the hydrangea plants were the last garden bloomers (besides the mums I replanted and have come back) I needed some more fall color. These babies bloom straight thru into the fall upto a good hard frost. Most importantly, they don't seem to mind the July sun and heat like a lot of other plants in the gardens.

Thanks for dropping by and reading the latest that is going on around here!

Thread Painting Sneak Peak ~ Still Life

Hello again!

I know... it's been a while since I've posted!!! But, I can honestly say that I have been working hard. August is the second most busy month for me, next to December! Between camps, birthdays, back to school, the month is harsh from the beginning to the end!

In between all the stuff, I have managed to keep picking away at the still life thread painting! Not sure if it's going to fall apart with the shadows, in the end. In the meantime, here's a teaser picture of what is almost done.

Here's my grapes in a crystal bowl; based on a painting I did almost a decade ago...

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

I am so proud of my town; we all helped out in a time of need. This is the Facebook posting.... Photos

This is the whole story....

Article This isn't the general store; Moulton's, which is located around the corner, but another wonderful general store that is near the middle and high school, and is a proprietor whom is so generous to the kids.

Hello again!

Such a gorgeous night. About 64 degrees, Olympics on TV and a cozy fire in the fireplace outside... This is New England living!!!!

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Daughters Away At Camp

Hello again!

It's so quiet and lonely without my girls home. I am glad I have the current (and second attempt) thread painting to challenge me and keep me busy. If I didn't, I think I'd be at their camp, in the cabin next door. I love watching them learn new things. They are having a great time and I am so glad.

Don't know why this year it feels like a "practice run" for when it's time to take them to college. It's still a few years away, but seems so close (and time WILL fly by....). It was particularly difficult, this year.

The latest thread painting isn't going easily. I made bad thread color choice and by the time I tried somewhat correcting, that area was so thick with layers of thread it looked terrible. But that's ok, the COOPER pet portrait took two tries, also and I think it was worth it.

The needle does take it's toll on the tips of my fingers, however! I have tried everything when I was quilting and learned that a good, hard fingertip takes time and will eventually happen.

I hope I make better progress on the latest piece because when the girls come home, we are in full tilt for Back-to-School and not long after all the activities start. Good thing this latest craft travels well and can be done in any "Parent sitting/viewing area" or in the car-waiting.

Wish me luck on my latest piece. If it works, I have another still life I'd like to try. If not, it's back to the pets, again! That's ok... I LOVE the precious faces of the animals and have fun finding great photos.

COOPER Pet Portrait in Thread FINISHED!

Hello again!

Had some time to finish this piece. Took approximately 9 days to complete. Final size will be stretched on a 10x12 canvas frame.

I've included a picture of how interesting the backside looks!

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Hey there.

I have started another pet portrait in thread. It's a sheltie. I had a sheltie when I was a little girl and have always loved the breed. This dog doesn't look exactly like my Lucy but I liked the idea of the long fur and wanted to try. I also liked the white on white pattern of this white cotton, only I used the backside so the off white print wasn't so evident.

There's still A LOT to do on this piece. So far, it's taken over a week to get to this point; again, strand of thread by strand of thread (floss...).

?Thanks for looking!

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Hello again!

Found a book on Needle Painting Embroidery and ordered it. From what I can tell, the author and I have VERY different ways of handling our needles! Seems Trish Burr maps her image out much like a paint-by-number, where I worked my beagle portrait in layers, like the way I paint... working each color up with the details.

Glad I ordered the book. It will be fun seeing how different our technique is from each other.

Thread (Or Needle) Painting

Hello again!

Well, in this hot weather, it's been difficult to do things with the oven or iron. So after spending a lot of time in the coolness of the basement and my stash of art supplies, I rediscovered a craft I have been doing since I was a little girl; embroidery (as you have seen in a previous post).

This embroidery is my first time ever, trying to actually paint with the thread. It was fun doing. The hard part was drawing the sketch onto the fabric, accurately. The rest was just trial and error.

Matching the beagle's colors in DMC Floss's color range was not easy, but they have just about any color you can imagine.

It's hard to see but the black areas are really a blend of 3 colors. In total I used 13 or 14 colors and stitched with a single strand of thread (the width of regular thread) throughout the entire piece. This piece took a tick over a week and approximately 30+ hours.

Measures 7x5"

Here's the reference photo... found the picture doing a google search. Kudus to the photographer and thank you for such an adorable image.

FOR ANOTHER DMC THREAD PAINTING, please visit this LINK!!!!

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Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

More Dresses

Hello again! Made a few more dresses for babies or the reborn dolls!

This is a handmade dress with hand embroidery (freehand... no pre-drawing and preplanning. TOO HOT for that! LOL!)
This is an adorable Peasant Dress in a cranberry color, with a matching sunhat.

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

I've Been Invited

Hello again!

I wanted to share the exciting news! I am going to be showing my dolls in a glass case, in our local library! The last time I showed my work there, I had lots of commissions. Maybe this will help spread the reborn interest, in this area.

11016 Blog Hits

Hello again! Thank you for all your interest! I can't believe how quickly I made it to 11016 hits! I appreciate all your interest and hope to continue to hold it with more creative things.

She's HOME!

3:30 am, Hazel come home. Poor thing was already so afraid of the dark. When she came home in the wee hours, she was so scared!

I am so grateful to Facebook and the ability to post our situation so that our local friends could read.

Missing and Missed

Our beautiful Hazel is missing. She's been gone most of the evening. Please wish her a safe return. She's so smart and beautiful. Please pray that no one steals her. Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Here Are More Pictures Of Molly

Hello again!

Here are some more pictures of Molly. I haven't finished making her wardrobe (been way too hot to even think), but did manage to whip this up and take some pictures.

The blue rose fabric is one of my favorites. The pink sleeves, collar and bib are made from my own hand-dyed cotton fabric.

Here's a link to Molly's gallery. Click on the images to see them up close or scroll down and click "Next Page" to see more gallery photos. As I finish up her wardrobe, more photos will be added. Best ones go one her Ebay listing.

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Hello again!

Well, Penny did not sell the first time around, so I'm trying it again!

Ebay Listing
Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Wow! Over 10900 Hits!

Thank you everyone!!! I am honored by your continued interest!

Molly's Done!

Hello again!

Here's the latest doll. She's not on Ebay, yet. I'll be posting her when she has more clothes made.

Molly's Gallery Page on Lil' Lambs Nursery's Website

And please don't forget about Penny's auction!!!

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Weird Blooming Season!

It's very strange. I was watering today and noticed I have peony that are still blooming, hydrangea that's starting to show their blue and mums putting out their buds; all during the same season!!!

Hello again!

Just created a website for my reborn dolls! Please come and check it out.

My Reborn Website Please visit my Facebook page link on the left, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Another Great Day!

Another beautiful day. Not too hot or cold. Spend the late morning and early afternoon busily running errands. Been so long since I've had such free time!!!

Hope to finish the latest kit and have it listed. Seems after this currently listing is over, I'll have two dolls to list or relist. Oh well. Patience... Not all can sell immediately.

Please Wish Me Luck!

Hello again!

I have listed Penny on ebay. She's had some lookers and watchers... let's just hope she gets a bidder.

Ebay Listing of Penny

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

More of Molly

Hi there.

Been working on the new kit, Molly. I love the name and keeping it; she certainly looks like a Molly.

Here are some pictures of her finished hair and a close up of her leg. Really turned out so realistically!

I really am hooked on these dolls. I know it's not for everyone, but staring into the little faces and watching them evolve is such a thrill for me.

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

New Kit ~ MOLLY

Hello again!

Started a new kit. The kit's name is Molly and for now, I am sticking to the name because I am partial to it.

She's really cute and so petite at 19"!

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

More Pics of PENNY

Hello again! Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Well, The Doll's Finished!

Hello everyone! The kit's body finally came today and I was thrilled to put her together. (Usually means I am clipping the ties and doing touch-ups for days because all sorts of problems areas will be so evident to me!)

The sculptor for this kit named the doll Sugar. I thought Penny was a cute name.

I really love the kit. She's so cute and looks like such a heavy sleeper!

The bunny and all the outfits are handmade; the pink was hand-dyed first - another fun project.

And Penny's outfits, laid out.

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

I Really Love It Here

Hi Everyone.

I just took a quick drive to the ATM around the corner and was reminded by the beauty of this town, how much I love it here. I can't believe how lucky we were to have found Amherst.

Waiting For The New Body

Hello again!

Had to use the body for my latest kit for the recent commission and had to order a new one for me. It should be here tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been busy sewing clothes for the doll and that proved to be a challenging day.

I will post pictures of the finished doll, soon!

Thank you for stopping by!

This Is Our First Time Photographing Orbs!

Hello again!

My daughter and I spent the night in the Boston's Museum of Science with her troop and other troops from the New England area. Great place and lots to do. Didn't go to bed until after 12am lights out, with every minute filled.

One of the events was the opening presentation. It was a fun welcoming show with a little science added at the end. My daughter was one of the volunteers whom was asked to go up on stage. As I was taking pics of her and other girls doing their stage thing and captured a bunch of orbs!!! I have never photographed an orb...

Now, some people are believers and some are not. I happen to be a believer, so I am sure that is part of why I see orbs in these pics. BUT I'll bet you most people would agree. Do a google search yourself and see what you think.

This is a close-up my daughter took of one orb, in front of one of our scouts... that's when we started noticing them.

This an actual orb I took from theparanormalguide.com/ website. Look at the flares around the outside. Same as our picture. The blank ring and then the ring of cloudiness again is also so similar. The only difference I see is the lack of color in our low-grade camera version of ours. Hey! It did the trick!!!!

Here are some more pics from our camera.

You have to admit, it is VERY interesting....

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.

Aaah! Long Day. TGIF!!!!!

Hello again!

Well, it's been a day of running around becoming registered again, with the Girls Scouts. Worth it, though. We are going on a sleepover in the Museum of Science! Think we'll be shacking out in the planetarium. What fun.

Small troop so things should stay nice and in somewhat control.

"Oh NO! Not the oven, again!"

Hello again!

Here's Sugar, so far. Still thinking she'll be a regular baby, but as the days pass I keep seeing the fangs!!!

Please visit my Facebook page, Leslie Pease Studios to see my latest work and thank you for stopping by.