Happy Mother's Day!

Since my sister Suzanne and I can't be in Austin this year for Mother's Day (I think it's the first time we've ever missed it!), we wanted to give a "shout out" to our Mom, Mattie Teddlie. Not only is she the Best Mom Ever (with apologies to all you other Moms out there), but she takes beautiful pictures, suitable for splashing generously across my blog today.

Here are some of our favorite pics of her ...

(Doesn't she have a beautiful smile?)

Pretty flowers for a pretty lady.

An anniversary celebration - maybe 62nd (?)

Anniversary Waltz, on board a cruise ship. Yes, that's my Dad, gallantly steering Mom around the dance floor, even though he "doesn't dance".

(This one is probably my current favorite pic)

And here is my all-time favorite picture of Mom as a child ... she's about 11 years old here ... you can see why she grew into such a beautiful lady!

I want to put a little remembrance here for our grandmothers, too. This first picture below is of my Dad's mother, Hallie, at about age 18.


And here is my mother's mother, Hattie, at about age 21, when she worked as a telephone operator.


Both of our grandmothers are gone now, but we remember them with lots of love.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, Mom!

from your two favorite daughters,

Linda and Suzanne

Collage Mania Closes with a Bang

In a 3-day extravagaza of bidding, Virginia Spiegel's Collage Mania (a part of Fiberart For A Cause) has raised over $18,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society. With this success, Virginia is taking her very well-earned retirement from the world of fund raising (but I have a feeling that she won't be able to give it up entirely ... I wouldn't be surprised to see a few smaller fundraisers in her future).

I want to say thank you to all who have followed Virginia in this adventure. I know I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment just from my own small part in it. I'm happy to report that my "Nevermore" raven postcard went on the first day, and "Poe Meets Frost" went on the second day of bidding. I wasn't able to bid on anything this year, but I sure enjoyed the vicarious thrill of those who were. The eye-candy alone was well worth the trip!

Congratulations to Virginia and to her faithful friend and sidekick Karen Stiehl Osborne, for their hard work and dedication to this cause. My two pieces will go out to their new owners in a few days, once all the paperwork is done and instructions sent out by Karen. Thank you all for the wild ride!

Shoppin' and Biddin' Time

Collage Mania, the Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, opens today (Tuesday, May 5) at 10 a.m. CDT. There is an official clock on the first page of collages: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html

Choose from 383 fiberart collages (many of them small art quilts) donated by 161 artists from around the world. Each artwork is finished or mounted to 8x10". Today's minimum donation to the American Cancer Society is $80; the minimum donation drops to $40 on May 6 and 7. All the details on how to acquire collages is here: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania09Directions.html

Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 for the ACS in just three days. And now, here are more of my favorites, just as an appetizer ... thank you for your support!

Pear - Judy Alexander

Renewal - Denise Aumick

St. Pete Window 7 - Natalya Aikins

Radiant - Emmie Seaman

Poe House - Linda Thompson

Sunburst - Elizabeth Dawson and Lynne Pfeffer

The Daydream - Terri Stegmiller

The Bone - Susan Sanborn North

One More Day to Collage Mania!

Here's the website again for Collage Mania, starting TOMORROW! http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html

and to quote Virginia Spiegel,

"All donations for collages are made directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. Patrons receive an immediate electronic receipt from the ACS. I hope you are able to join us for this three-day art extravaganza. Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 for the ACS."

And here are more of my favorites, just to whet your appetite.


Journaling Forgiveness 1 - Karen Presser


Madness - Patty VanHuis-Cox


Make Time for Art - Jamie Fingal




Old Pink Rose - Georgianne Kandler

Peace - Lynn Krawczyk

Collage Mania Countdown ...

More of my "favorites" ... although it is so hard to choose among the 383 collages!



Possibilities - Fannie Narte

Fossil - Ann Flaherty

Growth Begins - Laura Ann Beehler

Hands - Jeanette Thompson

In the Woods - Liz Berg

Home Again - Allison Brown-Cestero

You can see ALL the 383 collages here: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html and make up your shoppping list, for when the bidding opens Tuesday, May 5. It runs through Thursday, May 7.