LIVING LIFE FORWARD

As I study some of our pictures, it's now understandable that it wasn't until we were 56 that we learned we were actually identical twins, confirmed by DNA testing.  Most of the time people could tell us apart but sometimes no so much.

Happy Birthday....I miss you........

               Nancy Theobald Willmas       -    Mary Theobald Stori

                   1946 - 2002                              1946 - 

THE STORI FAMILY

This is a fiber blog.......therefore I purposely don't share very many personal details.  Today I'm making an exception.

Our family has been busy ever since learning the before-now, unknown genealogy of the Stori heritage.  Apparently, they were a very important family who had a hand in the formation of Switzerland……with a family crest and all.  It’s been verified by reliable authorities…..who knew!?!?  Details of the origins of the family and the symbolisms of the crest are fascinating.  Among other tidbits, the Stori’s apparently were citizens of Zurich way back to 1265.  

After the recent discovery of our family crest…..little Christmas elves went to work.

'The husband' had a whole bunch of embroidered patches made and mailed to various family members.

I had numerous 9” x 11” weatherproof plaques made for our immediate family.

DIL Kelly was the most creative, she had a wood carver in Russia (artist found on Esty) create a wood carving.  It's larger than it appears in the photo. 

               NO, I am not making a quilt!!

 

TWINS?!?

Did you know I had an identical twin sister?  Funny thing, despite being dressed alike till we were able to select our own clothes.....we always thought we were fraternal twins.  Yet, we did look very much alike.  

According to the birth certificates....we were 'multiple births....baby A & B, but somewhere along the way, the notion that we were identical was lost or never known. (Hard to believe right??)  It wasn't until my sister acquired AML in very late 2001 and almost immediately it was decided a bone marrow transplant would be her only hope that we learned new information.

My two brothers and I were underwent preliminary blood tests for compatibility. My results were so perfect the doctors began to have questions.  So a full DNA test was ordered for me, yup we were actually identical twins!  

Strangly it would have been better for her if we were a match, but not identical since the concern then was that my bone marrow/stem cells would be too close to hers and the cancer could overcome them.  This isn't a clinical explanation...rather one that is more easily understood.

 Mary on left Nancy on right....baby brother Chuck in center....taken about 1952.

My memory growing up was always of a sister by my side.....up until about when we were in high school...but even then we shared a room and did a lot together.

I hope more of you are going through your photos and enjoying good memories!!  

GRANDKIDS STUCK INSIDE TOO!

Lifting the spirits of our San Francisco grandkids......2 very active little boys stuck inside while their parents are struggling to balance keeping them occupied while also working full time from home.

Perhaps these greeting cards (winging their way to SF now) will brighten their days.

Blank card stock, egg shape of card stock layered with felt, yarns, & zig zag trims.

HAPPINESS

Thanksgiving is less than a week away....but I don't need a special day to be thankful for these rambunctious grandkids. Despite the late hour due to airline delays, not to mention traveling across the country, they came running to out of security to embrace us with kisses and hugs.

BLISS

FAMILY TIME

An all too short visit with our son/wife/ & 2 kiddos was unexpectedly extended by a whole day due to the continuing cancellation issues American Airlines is experiencing because of union problems. Though disruptive for all involved, the extra time with the 'kids' was such a treat.

Here's an appropriate present from my 7 year old grandson that he made at school....painted and woven strips of paper....ala patchwork quilt art!

 The visit was jam packed with non-stop activities.  Here's an example of two unique ones.  I haven't been to a movie theater (honestly!!) in over 10 years and before that visit it was at least 10 years prior.  BUT....I could get used to this type of movie going....comfy seats with mini tables, and a waiter who took our lunch order & quickly delivered it.  We gobbled up everything while watching the movie.  I enjoyed THE best movie popcorn I've ever had, served in a huge stainless steel bowl and a yummy mocha coffee milkshake.  Now this is living!

 The kids both got haircuts....what a unique way to get children to sit still during the process.  Clever styling chairs....all with their own personal iPad type monitor to keep them still.

Another family event is right around the corner so I'll barely have time to unpack and repack before making more memories.  My latest art quilt will be on hold till I return.  Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

PUZZLE FUN

I normally stick to fiber related posts but thought this might interest some of you that have grand kids.  We just returned from meeting our CA son/family at a resort in Hilton Head.  Fortunately the weather cooperated except for a couple of hours one morning.......

.....which was the perfect time to assemble a puzzle I had custom made to use as an activity in case of poor weather! The colorful areas were the most fun for the kiddos who had a little help. But everyone stuck with it and in about an hour+ it was assembled.

 'The husband'...who doesn't like to be featured in my blog is on the right.  From time to time some of you ask how he's doing after his two very difficult spinal surgeries...so here's an update.  He's wearing what looks like a 'horse collar' with a mini iPad like computer on the lower front.  It's a bone stimulator which is worn 4 hours each day.  That doesn't seem like it should be a hassle but oh my it is.  One certainly wouldn't want to go out in public with it.....I'm sure it would frighten folks.  I call it voo-doo medicine.....it's supposed to help stimulate bone growth in the areas of his 6 cervical disc fusion failure.  It's been a couple of months with 1 1/2 more to go.  Scans will be taken at the end of May to see if there are any positive results.  If so, that might lessen the chance of more spinal damage by strengthening this area, unfortunately he'll still be in pain 24-7 forever.

The puzzle was made by Shutterfly....ordered online with a photo I had of the boys being boys.  Highly recommended.....fast service at what I thought was a reasonable price.

HELLO STRANGERS

Since there is literally no sewing still going on in my life at the moment....I decided to share another event that has made me smile!

 We met our son/DIL and the two grand kids at Disney World near Orlando, FL.  It's been over 50 years since I attended Disneyland in CA....oh my what a change.  Our very competent and generous son arranged everything......including our corner hotel room with these two views.  Awesome...I felt very pampered.

 It was just as beautiful at night.....though my camera didn't capture it.....we could enjoy fireworks just above this lighted building from our balcony.

It felt like we were being personally welcomed as we entered the Magic Kingdom with all the dressed characters on stage singing and dancing.

 The youngest grandchild, only 2 1/2 is an escape artist.....though I'll only share these 3 examples....you can see we were all kept very busy monitoring him!

 Oh to own a stroller company.......everywhere your eye could see there were strollers and conveniently, stroller parking!

The Disney characters sure provide such delight to the little ones...heck, us big ones too.

We came home pooped but with so many wonderful memories......

A DAY FOR MEMORIES

                   Remembering.........

Nancy Theobald Willmas  1946 - 2002

Mary Theobald Stori 1946 - 

I KNEW THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT

I had this crazy idea that I could create a fabric portrait of our now nearly 11 month old grandson.  Okay, I also KNEW it would be difficult....yet the challenge was intriguing.

I spent hours and hours and hours online researching various techniques.  Lea McComas lessons were quite helpful. By combining several approaches....here's what I did.

 It began by selecting a photo

Cropping it

 Posterizing in Photoshop - I'm not Photoshop savvy so this took some doing, of course now I see how really simple that task was! 

The photo was printed and with the aid of a light box and freezer paper, the face was traced, divided into sections.  Each was assigned a number for its value, with a total of 5 to correspond with 5 solid fabrics. 

Next, each of the marked sections of the freezer paper were cut out and pressed to pieces of Wonder-Under prepared fabric.  One needs to keep careful track because once the piece is cut it's hard to know whether it is the outline of an eye or the mouth!  As is typical in appliqué, you start from the back and work forward, adding each piece to complete what feels like working on a jigsaw puzzle. And like a jigsaw, where one often begins with the corners, I found it worked best to get the outline of the face fused first.

So....finally all the fusing was completed.  AND DRAT......regular blog readers are aware of the trouble I've had with my cataract surgery. My vision is much, much worse than pre-surgery.  AND the promise of seeing color so much better.....NOT!!  So, that's my excuse for not realizing just how dark the #3 color was.....way too dark...which contributed to making this darling little boy look like he's 5!

I kept thinking that quilting with lighter thread would lighten it up....but it didn't.

 After countless days, much hand wringing, and with the help of my fiber buddies......all possible options to rescue this piece were examined.  Finally, it became clear that I'd have to paint it.  GULP!  Thanks to my pal Kate who introduced me to Golden's Paint Medium....which helped the paint flow and blend better. 

 I did several light layers to achieve the right color.

An email from talented blog buddy Gwyned Trefethen, (written after my posting of my last project which also needed rescuing), helped to steady my hand as I painted.  She said: If anyone has courage as an artist, it is you, Mary. Lopping off the bottom of your quilt, then finding a way to make the pieces work together. Courageous and brilliant!  I'm sharing this because it meant so much to me......and it's a reminder how much we share, inspire, and encourage each other via our blogs!  

It took over two weeks to decide how to finish it.  Cropping the face, eliminating the too skinny neck seemed to make him look more his age...though still too old.  I must have pulled every piece of fabric from my stash auditioning ideas for borders.  I cut who knows how many different colors and sizes of mats and tried who knows how many frame options.  In the end, instead of lopping off the bottom of the tree as in my last project.....I lopped off his neck.  

This isn't a masterpiece and I'm not sure I'll attempt another one......yet there is a certain sense of satisfaction that comes from creating such complex piece.

Elan Stori 2016

11" x 13"

Please take the time to visit other artists to help encourage them on their journey....it does make a difference!!    Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday.
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NEW GROWTH CHART DESIGN

While growth charts were on my mind......I added the finishing touches on this one designed for our great niece Olivia, who is 8 months old and loves giraffes.

GROWTH CHARTS

 After many years of wondering if we'd ever have grandchildren....we are now blessed with two darling boys.  Being a long distance grandma keeps me creative.

Raiden just turned 4 and as fast as he's growing, I wonder if his growth chart should have been taller!?!

Last fall we welcomed grandson #2 and I made this quilt for him.

Now it was time to create Elan's growth chart. I continued with the airplane theme.

Our two cuties....taken several months ago......

Visit these sites to see what other fiber artists have been up to this week:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday,  Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday, Crazy Mom Sews.

REMEMBERING

My twin sister and I learned we were identical twins, not fraternal as we were always led to believe, based on the DNA testing done prior to her bone marrow transplant, of which I was the donor.  Really, we simply couldn't believe it!!  We looked quite similar but not identical.

As I take a closer look at old photos, it's such a surprise to see just how often we were dressed alike! And what a goof I was.....my sister quietly on the right as I clowned on the left.

Birthdays aren't the same without you Nancy.......

Mary Theobald Stori           Nancy Theobald Willmas  

Mary Theobald Stori       Nancy Theobald Willmas  

Chuck Theobald (center)          

SO DARN CUTE

Okay....I'm being a proud grandma here......

Our oldest grandson....3 months shy of his 4th birthday....getting outfitted for his first black tie event!

THANKSGIVING OVERLOAD

Like most of the country, our household is still working through the overabundance of Thanksgiving treats.  Even Sooty, our rescue black lab had to take a rest!!

But of course, as I headed to the kitchen to get another view of her....she perked up.....like all labs.....she becomes alert anytime anyone is near the kitchen.

THE NEWEST PACKER FAN

It's never too early to become a Packer fan......he's 2 days old!!

And here to celebrate the Packer's 4 - 0 record is his 3 year "older" brother....who can say "GO PACK GO" like a Cheesehead!!

OREGON THEME WALL QUILT

Recently I've made mention of an Oregon theme wall quilt I've been working on.....a wedding gift for my nephew and his lovely bride.  Though this type of quilt is definitely not a style I feel confident about designing, it turned out to be a fun challenge.

It started out simple enough......a foreground, distant mountain, and blue sky.

Next came a river, some trees, rocks, etc.

Eventually, it all came together.  My plan had been to finish the edges with a facing, but given all the layers and stiffness of the dense quilting, a binding became a better choice. To retain the cleanest look possible, I used a single fold binding, pieced to match the adjoining fabric. Careful measuring was required to assure the curved sections matched perfectly....even though this photo doesn't seem as if they will.   

Detail - binding

Detail

"Build A Mountain of Memories Together"

25" x 31"

Cotton fabrics, hand and machine appliqued, hand embroidered, machine quilted.

Follow these links to see what other creative folks have been up to:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday,  Whoop, Whoop Friday, Crazy Mom Sews.