Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Eastern European Wedding Scene

Handmade by Beryl Meuli, Bill Meuli, & Kim Meuli Brown
On October 1, 2011 we took a class at Castle in the Sky in Berkeley on how to create miniature food out of polymer clay. The plan was to create a Polish wedding scene to surprise my son Cullen and his new fiancé, Tory. My sister's had borrowed a Ukrainian wedding scene that was displayed with the guest book at their weddings. So my Mom, Dad and I set out to create one of our own. Everything you see is handmade, with the exception of the figures, silver vase, and candlesticks. A great deal of love and research went into this project.
We presented it to Cullen and Tory at their engagement party on January 21, 2012. They will hold on to it until the next grandchild of Beryl and Bill Meuli choose to use it on their wedding day.

Close up of food, even the candles we made. The silver vase was part of a collection my mom had as a young girl. She also created the table cloth which is linen with embroidered cross stitch.

We wanted the scene to appear to be in the country, and went to work researching what a Polish barn might look like. Anything made of wood, Dad constructed.

Here is a close up of the bride and groom. The musician in the back is in traditional costume you would see in Krakow Poland.


The hanging flowers in the back were hand cut out of paper in a stylized polish design, we created. Embroidery thread was braided to create the garland.


In the background you can see a photo of Cullen and Tory on 11/5/11, the day Cullen proposed in Central Park. Look closely and you can see braided rolls, the Meuli family has a tradition of making these at holidays and weddings. My Dad made the table and fashioned it after a doll house table that Holly played with over at Grandmas.
Here is a shot from the party, which gives you some idea of the scale of the barn at least.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Songbird Jewelry Roll

Finished sewing this Jewelry Roll. The pattern for this was designed by Sue Spargo, and I purchased it at the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara last week. The marbled cotton fabric was something I purchased on one of my trips to Kansas City, from Florileguim in Parkville Missouri. I enjoyed combining these hand dyed wools with the cottons.




Sunday, October 23, 2011

Shadow Quilt


This morning the sun came in through the front window and made these beautiful shadows on the ceiling. The sculpture of the nude woman is something Cullen made at SJSU, she is enjoying the view. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Sewing for Kristin


Beautiful bride to be, Kristin with gift I wrapped. I enjoy creating a uniquely wrapped present. I used her save the date and enlarged some of the images.
I made 12 napkins and a table runner for Kristin's wedding shower. I used my serger to edge the napkins. Thread in the upper looper is a cotton pearl thread made in Japan. The table runner is quilted, batting is Warm and Natural cotton and I used my 1950's Singer Featherweight sewing machine to freeform quilt.
Her every day dishes are white and she has some green ceramic plates as accents. The colors in her kitchen are reds and yellows. The fabrics are woven 100% cotton Kaffe Fassett.





Close up of the edging, I just love my serger, which is an 8 thread Baby Lock Evolution. Enjoyed making this for Kristin and wish her the best in her marriage to Jered.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Silkscreen Project


This week I am going to Kansas City to see Cullen. Wednesday we are going to a studio that lets you experiment with silkscreening on paper and fabric. Here is the image I put together to test. I will be printing on green fabric and using 4 colors. My dog Paco is my inspiration.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Yoga Dog with Longer Body

This yo yo dog has a longer body. Compare him to this and let me know your favorite.

Birth of a Felted Vessel