2010 Nettie & Friends Opening Reception

What a wonderful evening with friends.  

Thank you one and all for making this a huge success
for our students at Maxfield Learning Center and Maxfield School.

2010 Nettie & Friends Sale Open for Business!

The fireplace is installed.

The goods have been delivered and

we are open for business at the Egg & I East, Saint Paul.

Stop by for breakfast or lunch and check out the 

beautiful items for sale to benefit the Maxfield Learning Center.  

What you will see is a small sampling of what

awaits you Saturday, December 4th from 4 -8 PM

at the Opening Reception.

Thank you to the 2010 Crew!

Online Sale Closed But How About Getting on the Peace Train?

How about a Peace and Love Pillow (14" x 14") 

Bright and Wonderful...

And a Peace and Love Hotpad....

Or a Peace and Love Knitting Project Bag?

Then, there are the Beauville fabrics project bags...

All items available at the opening reception on 

Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 4 - 8 at the Egg & I!

I've Been Holding Out On You...

Yep, some items have arrived and I've been holding out on you.

Just got them photographed and added to the collection...

Thought maybe I should share them with you now.

 

Marsha's Birthday Boxes

These handbuilt boxes covered with festive papers and spunky ribbons come complete with candles, matches, a birthday poem.  

Everything but the cake.  

Never search those kitchen drawers for the candles again.

Rachel's "Love Remembers" Mosaic Tiles

Rachel's mosaics were such a hit last year that there 

were none left for the reception.... 

So, this year, we will unveil them AT the reception.

Get there early!
http://seriouslywhimsical.com/

Remember you can shop online until Friday.  

Just check the tab above for items that are available.

Nettie & Friends Items Available Online

YOU can purchase items online before the Nettie & Friends Sale opens at the Egg & I!  Just click the tab at the top of this page to view wonderful, one of a kind hand-crafted items. 

See you Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 4 - 8 PM at the Egg & I.

Nettie

Give to the Max Day. Thank YOU!

Thank you to all of the generous donors who logged on to http://www.razoo.com/story/Nettie-And-Friends for Give to the Max Day.   Your donations totaled $760.  Those dollars will make a difference for our students at Maxfield.  Nettie

Give to the Max Day Returns

Nettie & Friends Annual Show and Sale at the Egg & I

Stop by to see us!

 

Getting Things Done

You know those lists that keep growing?

Well, I'm finally getting some things done.

I open some boxes, and surprise!  

Another project waiting for me!

I get distracted easily.

 But I've finished:

 

A lot of snap / game bags.

 A few kitchen towels,

A couple of recycled sweater pillows, just for fun.

There are still surprises waiting for me in other boxes, so stay tuned!

Remember when...

I said I had some things to block for the show?  

Mostly, the ones off of the needles are done!

I really like how this scarf seems so airy and light, 

but will be warm and cozy and bright come winter.

 

Then, there's this bright, happy Clay Coyote scarf

(from a Borealis Yarns knitting clinic.)

http://www.borealisyarn.com/

  I'm' making headway!

I've got a few more (a-hem! - that's my "are you kidding me? A FEW?" voice in my ear)

projects to complete before the Nettie & Friends, Inc. show and sale

in December... I'm getting the sewing machine revved up and am 

burning the midnight oil. (I'm sure have enough 'material possibilities'

stacked on the dining room table for an entire quilting group.)

Thanks to every one of you who are working

on wonderful handmade items for the show and sale.

Nettie & Friends, Inc. Update

It's official!
I received a letter from the IRS that begins 
"We are pleased to inform you..."

Yep.  Nettie & Friends, Inc. is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c)(3)!
We are a tax deductible public charity supporting education!  WooHoo!


I can't tell you how happy that makes me.


Special thanks to Mary Ellen Hennen, consultant extraordinaire!
She did a lot of hand holding, talking me down when I was ready to 
tear my hair out, and encouraging when I said "I need to get this done
before school starts!"    She also celebrated with me when I put all
the various and sundry pieces of paper in a large envelope and mailed
it off to the IRS (and when I called her after I opened the simple envelope
the IRS sent to me!)


It was not an easy process, but I believe a worthwhile one!
Thanks to everyone who listened to me whine about 
"how I'm spending my summer vacation..." 
Thanks to friends who stepped up to be on the "Founding Board of Directors."


See that new logo?  It's part of our 'getting things organized' move.  
Many thanks to graphic designer, Christine Meade!

Happy fall everyone.
More later,  Nettie

We're Ready For School!

Thank you for helping us get ready for school!

This is just one of four closets that have uniform pieces

for students at Maxfield who may need them!

Thanks to all of the Nettie & Friends for making 

this happen for our students.

Hats off to Mary Ellen B for her willingness to

organize these closets, shop for bargains, do laundry,

AND create a spreadsheet to help us with our inventory!

WooHoo!  

The 'Clothes Closet" at Maxfield has never looked so good!

Your support has also help provide basic school supplies

for our students, a nutrition fund for the cafeteria and 

classroom supplies for teachers to begin the year

(and so much more - Thank you!)

We are excited for the new school year to begin!

Bring on the students!

Some "Nearly" Completed Projects for the Sale This Year...

Here's a beautiful, diaphanous seafoam stitch scarf that is in the works.  

It's not blocked, it's just off the needles and so yummy!  

Feels good to get something closer to completion!

(Remember the Mini-Moochi from Susan Saari's Sisu Yarns 

I purchased in July?  This is it!  I couldn't help myself!)

And... these two pair of clogs waiting to be felted... 

made from the softest wool from the Stonehedge Fiber Mill 

in Michigan (purchased at Shepherd's Harvest a few years ago 

with the best of intentions...Finally some action!!)

Here's that colorful wallpaper strip quilt that needed a home.

It was gifted to a friend who was visiting.  

She currently lives in Hahnheim Germany.

She really liked the roosters, especially since

she lives in 'rooster town'!  Go figure!

Sorry, you won't see this one at the sale!

Some completed projects

Well, I finally finished some projects!

I finished this lovely Highland Triangle Shawl and am waiting for some cooler weather to wrap it around my shoulders for real!  I spent many hours working in private, as the pattern required concentrating and counting to four repeatedly!  Sheesh!

 

Then, there's a colorful sofa sized quilt made from my Kaffe Fassett stash... the pattern is 'wallpaper strips' and it went together so easily.  Quilted by Randi Helling of jubileequilting.com   The quilting is fabulous, wish I could get it to show up a little better when I photograph it... Visit Randi's site and take a look at her incredible work in her gallery!

I also finished another 'wallpaper strips' quilt.  I was on a tear to get some of my stash sewn up.  This quilt is from the Eyes Wise collection by Luella Doss.  See that little pile of scraps?  That's how close I came to using everything.  WooHoo Me!!   Machine quilted by Randi Helling, and fun, fun fun!  I just don't know what I'm going to do with it!!  Hmmmm.

I am continuing to work on a variety of projects, some of which might actually get completed this summer!   I did try last year's strategy of taking only UFO's with me while traveling, but again this summer, I was thwarted by a visit to Susan Saari's Sisu Yarn Shop in Ely... I picked up some sweet yarn, needles and have been enjoying knitting a diaphanous Seafoam scarf for this year's Nettie and Friends sale.  Hopefully you'll get to see it soon!

And WHOOSH there goes July!!!

Hotpads on a Hot and Humid Day

Whew!  Have I shown you these?



Hotpads... almost ready for the Show and Sale!!
Some of them still need a big old brass grommet in the corner.
The pounding will begin soon!
I've been a busy girl!

Summer time!

Wow!  This last school year was full of challenges, opportunities for growth and reflection.

Now, it is summer break.  

Today, I'm painting my bathroom.

I hate painting. Ask anyone who knows me.

Well, except for spray painting with Marsha.  

We'll spray paint almost anything. 

Furniture.  Big pieces of foam core for Nettie & Friends.  

I like that kind of painting.  I'm not fond of painting my bathroom.

So thank goodness I had a chance to get out of town last week

to attend the MN Quilt Show in St. Cloud...

Marsha had a beautiful quilt in the judged area.

It is constructed using those wonderful Dargate reproduction fabrics we adore.

It was quilted by Randi Helling of http://www.jubileequilting.com/index.html.

After enjoying the quilt show and a lovely dinner with friends, we made a plan

to go to the Munsinger and Clemons Gardens (http://www.munsingerclemens.com)
in the cool of the morning the next day.  

More beauty.

And since we had a chance to get out of town, Marsha and I kept going.

We had sweet little 'suite' in Itasca State Park.  Can you believe neither of 

us had ever stepped across the Headwaters of the Mississippi?  We did it!

We also saw the Minnesota State Flower in full bloom. 
They were blooming all over the park!!!

Ahhh, what a lovely beginning to summer break. 

Now, back to painting my bathroom...  

When that's done, more adventures!

Maxfield Learning Center Welcomes Mosaic Artist Rachel Rodenborg

Rachel Rodenborg, from

http://www.seriouslywhimsical.com/www.seriouslywhimsical.com/home.html

visited the Maxfield Learning Center on Thursday, April 15th as a guest artist.  She brought tiles, and beads, and blocks, and baubles and patience.  The students created beautiful tiles that Rachel will grout and seal for us.  Everyone was engaged in the activity and each tile is individual and wonderful.  

Here are just a few...  

Thank You "Nettie and Friends" for making this artist visit possible!!!  

What, you may ask, was I working on while on vacation???

Not much.

Perfecting my soldering craft...

(it has a long way to go, but I'm making progress!!)

"Perfecting" also required two trips

to Home Depot various 'support' tools.

 

No jump rings yet, and they are in the very rough state.

I need to file and polish... decided that it might be best to 

use that trusty ol' Dremel to help with that!!

 

A sweet little pink heart.

 

A custom pincushion for a friend.

Many knitting projects in various states of completion.

Many embroidery projects in various states of completion.

Acquistion of more raw materials for more projects...

Yikes!!

Nettie and Marsha's Big Adventure

First, finding the right train to Chicago from Lake Geneva, WI.

Well, actually, from Fox Lake, IL.

This was a great, no fuss trip into downtown Chicago.

We took a quick walk to the Chicago Cultural Center

to see what history has wrought...

These photos cannot do justice to this beautiful building.

 

Incredible mosaic quotes abound.

 

Tiffany lights.

 

A Tiffany dome.

I'm a sucker for old buildings, glass and mosaics.

This building is a true treasure.

Marsha and I also took in a lovely solo piano concert over the lunch hour.

What a wonderful respite in a bustling city.

Many people walk through cities and take cityscape photos.

I take photos of light fixtures, sidewalk art, building details.

They give me great pleasure.

We walked the lakeshore through Millineum park to the Shedd Aquarium.

Have you ever looked up when you enter through the main doors?

 

Okay, so Marsha and I didn't stay too long-

BUT we learned a huge lesson:

this is the busiest week of the year for the

Chicago Museums.  The place was PACKED

with eager children and adults looking mostly bewildered.

We decided to cut out and walk a little more

on an incredible spring day in Chicago.

We went over to the Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower)

to see about going to the top for a view of the city.

Keep in mind that I am afraid of heights 

and kinda freak out when up on a ladder.  

Decision time: to the top of the Willis or perhaps sitting out 

rush hour over a beer would be a good idea!

We opted for the beer. Over a couple of Blue Moons 

and appetizers we discussed going to the "Sky Deck floor 103"

of the Willis Tower.  In the spirit of living

without regret, we made our way over to

Willis Tower, and bought our tickets.

 

Then, into the elevator to the top!

 

Stanley was showing no fear.

Here's a view you don't see everyday unless 

you are employed at the top of the Willis Tower!

 

You know, it is  beautiful up here.

"On a clear day" and all of that!

Well, then, there's "The Sky Ledge."

You step out into space on a glass ledge.  

Some of us backed out and never looked down.

Some of us wouldn't step out in any fashion!

Oh, yeah, I was saying (ordering, whining, pleading) repeatedly

"Take the picture!!"

Then, a very nice woman suggested that Marsha

take the picture from a window just around the corner...

that would mean I would have actually let go of 

the building wall and step onto the platform

AND turn and look out of the side of the ledge.

Deep breath.  Go fast Marsha!!

 

Whew.

I did it!  

Can you see those little blips

at the top of the next photo?

Those are the 'sky ledges.'

YIKES.

No regrets. 

Lots of laughter.  

A very good day indeed.