Hello my name is Marlynne Joy Snare ( pronounced Marilyn) and I'm really excited to be jumping into this new world of BLOGGING! Since at the age of 74 years last February 6 I'm just barely learning my way around on a computer period! Just last week I learned how to Google. I was born and raised in Kansas City, Mo and met my future husband and raised three sons there. We celebrated our 56th wedding anniversery last Feb 26. We even celebrate our engagement anniversery on August 26th every year. We have been blessed with 6 grandchildren and two more have been added by marriage.
In 1976 we moved to Garden City, Mo to a old family farm where we built with our own hands a rustic ranch house, barn and out buildings. I have always loved to create as a child with crayons and paper then wood, hammer and nails on my daddy's work bench. Then making doll clothes, my own clothes and later my kids clothes. Now I call myself a folk artist. I love to paint with bright colors. Red and yelllow are my favorite colors, but I also love the Victorian look. With muted colors in rose, green, and gold, ecru lace, velvets and cranberry glass. I've always said "I have to create something everyday no matter how small it might be then I can get on with my other work!" On this blog I am looking forward to sharing with you some of my creations inside and outside the house.
The Tulip “Spring” and Cherry “Summer” fabric covered cardboards are a style of handwork I enjoy lot. These two are approximately 8” squares, but I make all sizes. I keep all my fabric scrapes and look at thrift stores for cheap articles of clothing in fabric design and colors I like too. The “Spring” board has two background fabrics. The “sky” piece I cut 6” plus and the “grass” piece 2” plus and handstitched them together. I hand drew a cardboard pattern for the tulips, leaves, stems allowing a fourth inch seam to turn under. It’s fun picking all the different fabrics. I put the background fabric in a hoop and applique the tulips and etc. onto it. Next embroider the sunrays and word spring which you can pencil first. Next I tack the finished piece onto the cardboard square at the corners and middle. Then cut a piece of fabric about 9 and a half inches square for the back which is also the border. Lay the back side of the cardboard picture centered on the wrong side of the back fabric. Bring the sides, top and bottom to the front , turn under a seam making a half inch border and pin. Handstitch around sides. Can sew a piece of string on the back if you want to hang it, or put on magnet strips if you want to put it on you frig. Or do both.
The cherry “Summer” fabric picture has 24 one and three fourths inch squares sewn together as shown, turning under seam making finished one and a fourth inch squares. Cut your solid background fabric like above ,put it in hoop and applique onto background like shown. Cut cardboard patterns for cherries and leaves , use to cut out fabric pieces remember to allow for turn under. Embroider stem. Finish like the “Spring” board. I have made this kind of board for all seasons and occasions. Fun! 
