Making Beautiful Music...

Sunday afternoon was like a fairytale romance. Every time I hear Handsome playing with the local orchestra or concert band, I fall in love with him all over again. Sunday, I was completely head over heels.
You see, today was a little special. He and the orchestra's string bass player, Jerome Butler, accompanied a gifted and talented pianist by the name of Mike Markaverich to form an incredible trio performing out in front of the orchestra.
With the orchestra, they performed Love Walked In, The Man I Love and Love Is Sweeping The Country in one set. Then they performed Hooray For Hollywood, Singin' In The Rain, Over The Rainbow, As Time Goes By and A Day In The Life Of A Fool in a medley of cinema favorites.
After intermission, the trio performed alone onstage. They played much-loved jazz standards, Beautiful Love, When I Fall In Love and Doxie. Call me biased, but they were really good. They were a trio for this performance only - and only had time for a few rehearsals together prior to the performance - but they were really in sync.

Oh, yes...Mike is an incredible pianist and completely blind. God has given him music in all forms. He has perfect pitch and his range and repertoire seem endless. He and Handsome really connected. Three talented musicians came together for this ensemble performance, and they got a standing ovation. I guess it wasn't just me!
The orchestra also played American Symphony by M. Kamen. You do remember, Mr. Holland's Opus, right? That's this. Handsome was back on the kit behind the other musicians for this number.
Their final piece Sunday afternoon was Stars and Stripes Forever. Mike came back onstage for this number. The program was so perfect, and the music "filled me up". I recorded the whole concert on my new Canon Vixia HG21 Digital Camcorder, and just as soon as I can figure out how to download the performances to my laptop, I'll be sharing some of this beautiful music with you.
Until then, please enjoy these images, and imagine all of these talented musicians performing for you on a sunny, November, Florida afternoon, making beautiful music together.

If you're interested in listening to and/or purchasing some of Mike's cds, here's a link where you can preview his music. Really, it's a great listen!

Sunday morning, I created the Scissors Bunny I & II tutorials for you. This second pattern will give you the option of making a bunny with a front pocket, instead of little bunny feet. If you have trouble downloading the pdf of either of the pattern sheets, just send me an email through my blog link, and I'll be sure to email a pattern sheet back to you. Thanks for your patience.

Friday In The Studio...

It's always hard for me to say that I'm "working" in the studio, when I find that all the time I spend in the studio is more rewarding play than work. In the studio, I find a creative escape, a joyful outlet for my mind and my hands.

I've decided that this year, Christmas gifts will all be handcrafted by me. That means whether it's a quilt, the annual "Grammie's Jammies" for our grandchildren, a knitted pair of socks, or a package full of cookies, the only gifts I will give my family and closest friends will be handmade.

So today, my friends, I'll be in the studio...working...playing...creating...
and, oh, yes, making another Scissors Bunny with better instructions, more photographs and a pdf file that you can download separately for pattern pieces. My profound apologies for being so enthusiastic to share the new project that I didn't get all the bugs out first. Lesson learned.

Enjoy the seasonal vignette I created on my kitchen counter to share with you today. I'm always inspired by the bloggers who share their design sense with me. Today, I share a little of mine with you. I smile every time I walk past it. I really like the feel of it, and I hope you do, too. I'll be back tomorrow with the corrections I've promised.