November 2019 Phoebe Meeting at Marcela's

The highlight of the meeting was the enrichment session conducted by Harlene. We have been admiring the many beautiful vests she has constructed over the years and commented on how much we would like to know her techniques. She gave us that opportunity this month by agreeing to show us the step-by-step secrets to her success. Thank you so much Harlene. We are looking forward to our own attempts at creating beautiful one-of-kind vests like yours. 

Calendar of Events 

December—No meeting. Merry Christmas to all!

January 18, 2020 Meeting will be an All-Day Play Day at Christ Episcopal Church, 1700 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda. Come and participate in learning more about Gelli printing and die-cutting.

January 26, 2:30 to 4:30 P.M., Celebration of Life for Pamela Zanaib Nia Green will take place at the Deaf Community Center, 1550 San Leandro Blvd., San Leanadro. Come festive and ready for storytelling as we remember our dear sweet friend.

February 22, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Marcella's.

March 21, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Sally's.

Show and Tell

Next year we will once again return to the Castro Valley Library (by request) and conduct our doll make-it-and-take it free outreach project for library patrons. Phoebe members are asked to make a few more stump doll bodies like the one above (or similar shapes and sizes) out of any type of fabric you might have on hand. This completed doll was made by Harlene and features her always wonderful butterfly embellishments.

Sue has been getting ever more inspiration and ideas from the Curious Mondo web site. She decided to try the needle sculpting tutorial and created this wonderful leopard using Merino lamb's wool. What a great success he turned out to be. Can't wait to see more!

Geri signed up for a workshop that involved making collaged fabric squares. This beautiful example of her work features everything from fabric scraps and yoyos, trims, a tiny doll dress, crocheted flowers and more. A lovely idea.

And, Geri greatly impressed us with samples of painstakingly carved wooden dolls she has made in past years. A tremendous amount of patience and skill is obviously needed to end up with dolls like these!

Bonnie displayed some of the tiny dolls from her doll collection. The creator is unknown, but they are a great idea for a future doll challenge... maybe made from clothes pins?

Marcella shared with us some of the many pot holders she has been quilting featuring fantasy faces. Great work, Marcella!

Sue completed her doll/shoe challenge and what a lot of work she put into it! So many polymer figures beautifully sculpted represent the old lady who lived in a shoe and her many children. The shoe alone is an amazing assemblage and the little clothesline and tiny pantaloons a cute touch.

Jennifer is still going wild making the most amazing zippered pouches, purses and tote bags using all types of candy and food wrappers. She laminates the wrappers and sews zippers into many of them. Endless possibilities!

Marcella also brought a turkey doll she recently received as a gift from Christie Silacci. Very cute—lucky Marcella!

We were thinking of having a skeleton doll challenge next year, and Shawn just happened to bring this wonderful dressed skeleton doll to the meeting. A great inspiration for for the challenge.

Zanaib has been so busy both crocheting and knitting lap blankets using an assortment of donated yarn. She will send the blankets to her friend and Phoebe member Sherrye for donation to a Senior Center in Tennessee. 

A large work-in-progress quilt top brought by Kathy amused us with an accompanying story. She started it for her grandson back when he thought he would love to go camping. Then, after she started assembling suitable pieces, he did go camping and decided he did not want to do so again. So, Kathy has modified the theme to be travel destinations he might like to visit some day. It will definitely be an inspiration we hope he will follow.