Bayou Quilts

Prayer Flag - Grace

2012-01-28T10:53:00.018-06:00

"Grace" in early morning sun, still all wrinkled up from being in hoop and crushed in hands when working without the hoop.

Pressed, although still a little wrinkly. Eco dyed scrap of flour sacking, very coarse, and not a particularly graceful cloth. I notice now that the "flower" is still pinned on, not sewn.

Chosen from my list of word possibilities, "grace" has so many meanings:

-elegance of movement, form, expression, or proportion
-a short prayer
-the condition of being favored or sanctified by God
-to add elegance and beauty to
-to honor or favor
-to make more attractive by adding ornament, color, etc.
-poise, ease
-mercy
-benediction

from the Latin gratia - favor, pleasing, charm

The word even sounds pleasing and grace-ful. One of my favorite poems by Yeats has the line, "How many loved your moments of glad grace" which I think is such a lovely image. "Glad grace," now I'm wishing I'd used that phrase on the flag. I think of "glad grace" when I look at my grandchildren.

And I love this quote: "Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God." --Karl Barth
I think I'm going to use this on a "laughter" prayer flag...if I can fit it in. Maybe I'll print some quotes on fabric, then add them to the flags.

This week's TAST stitch was the Cretan stitch, and I only got a few examples in this flag, partly because it was awkward. I've continued to practice and have improved a little, but find that the creative variations of others are still beyond my reach.

TAST and Tuesday Stitchers and Prayer Flag Project

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Next to my reading chair (and in all of my other reading stations)

-1Q84 -- up to page 700 something. Kay, did you ever finish?
-A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore
-Mary Gostelow's Embroidery Book (just got this in the mail from Amazon used books)
-The Dyer's Hand by W.H. Auden
-Bring Me One of Everything by Leslie Hall Pinder

A New Blog Favorite and The Prayer Flag Project

2012-01-27T11:30:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Wendy, I've discovered a new blog, Do You Mind If I Knit? Vanessa knits, sews, gardens, illustrates children's books, has an Etsy shop, and makes wonderful creatures like Evangeline!

How can you look at Evangeline and not feel your spirits lifted? She delights me! Just look at her tiny aprons and the exuberant joy of her stances...she makes me want to lift my arms and twirl. I have tea towels...I could join her in her tea towel dance!

Jane LaFazio featured my prayer flags on the prayer flag blog: The Prayer Flag Project: hand stitched prayer flags! How exciting is that? I've been so surprised and pleased by the comments about my prayer flags! As I mentioned in a post a while back, Jane's blog Janeville was one of my inspirations in deciding to create the prayer flags.

This week's TAST stitch is the Cretan stitch, and it gave me quite a bit of trouble. It would turn into the feather stitch or I'd fail to get the thread under the needle. Again, I'm not to great at improvising new variations, but others are. I've seen some wonderful and complex designs that I've admired...as I struggled to get the basic stitch to flow.

My attempts. Actually, the ones I like best are those that are completely irregular, with changing width and length like the one at the very top. They remind me of brain waves or heart monitors. Also with that irregularity in mind, you don't have to be careful about placement, just soldier on haphazardly. :) More my style!

Anyone have big plans for the weekend?

Lovely New Perle Cotton

2012-01-25T11:15:00.001-06:00

My hand-dyed fine perle cotton arrived from Sassa Lynne and is even more beautiful than I'd hoped. I've already played with them a little and am in love!

Today, I'm going to practice on the Cretan stitch a little more. For some reason, I can't get this to flow easily. I'll practice with some scrap threads that I save, then try again on a prayer flag. I've already got some rather unattractive and awkward Cretan stitches on a prayer flag; I'm not going to use it again until I have a better feel for it.

Below are some prayer flags (see the Prayer Flag Project) ready for embroidery, some that are in progress, and some of the ones I've completed.

I started the orange piece in the bottom corner a couple of weeks ago, then put all my orange floss together and misplaced them. Found them last night and worked on it a little. However, I used the last of the one of the orange colors and am almost out of another so a trip to Michael's seems to be in order.

Great tai chi class this morning. I wish transferring from Wu style to Yang style was easier for me, but I am enjoying the class anyway and come away so relaxed. I miss my old Wu style group and our practices in the park. With our park practices, we could help each other pick up on anything we missed and help refine our style.

Can't complain too much, though. This class is part of Wellness Center (less than 5 minutes from the house) where I take yoga classes as well--convenience counts, as does not having to drive after dark. :)

Have a great day!

Guerrilla Art and Gardening

2012-01-24T07:55:00.000-06:00

Here is a new guerrilla artist that I've just discovered:

The Polish Artist NeSpoon

I love guerrilla (subversive, urban, or street) art in any form. Below is by Banksy.

Yarn Bombing has made its way around the world. I know I've posted pics somewhere on this blog before, but the Yarn Bombing link is worth a visit.

And Guerrilla Gardening:

below, in Japan (via Cubeme)

and in Montreal (via Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams)

2002

2011

More about guerrilla gardening:
here, and here, and here -- and dozens of other places...just Google guerrilla gardening!

Monday Morning

2012-01-23T12:41:00.001-06:00

I've had an interesting morning. After tai chi, I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things, and as I was heading to my car, I noticed a young woman who appeared to be in serious pain. I watched a few moments, then walked over and asked if everything was OK (which obviously it was not, but what do you say?)

She said she thought something had ruptured, but that she was going to drive to the emergency room. She could hardly talk. I asked if she was really capable of driving and told her I'd be happy to take her. By then, she could barely move, and she agreed. The hospital was only about 5 minutes away, but it was lunch time traffic, and I don't know if she could have made it by herself. I took her to Willis Knighton's emergency room and am hoping that everything is OK. She called her husband on the way, and he was supposed to meet her there.

I remember the pain before my appendix burst and the pain when I had a kidney stone...I was past being able to think in both cases.
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On a more cheerful note, this video of a crow snowboarding on a roof is so funny. Crows are really intelligent birds, but this one knows how to entertain himself!

Crow snowboard on roof (via time goes by)

Prayer Flags and Feather Stitch

2012-01-21T11:37:00.001-06:00

This week's stitch has made its way into two prayer flags.

It is always good to have something that requires you to reach, to stretch, to grow--so I chose this word as a reminder. I want to keep reaching for something, extending in some way for better understanding, improvement, new goals...whatever.

One of the most beneficial books I've read is The Vigorous Mind by Ingrid Cummings (I've written tons of posts about this on my book blog). Cummings recommends becoming a dilettante and being proud of it! Expand your horizons, experiment with your interests.

Although our society has come to prefer the specialist over the generalist, Cummings recommends developing diverse interests and enthusiasms, becoming more well-rounded, and reaching for things to expand your pleasure in life, without striving for the perfection of the specialist.

"REACH" has some wool stitching at the top, but the rest is all pearl cotton. I like the feather stitch, but wasn't too creative with it. I've seen some really creative versions here at Jizee's blog. She has 3 posts this week on variations of the feather stitch. Inspiring!

"TINY DEVOTIONS" also ended up with a lot of feather stitch. The butterfly is paper, but coated with a Modge Podge. The fabric is some of my eco dyed experiments with rings from rusted bottle caps.

The stitching on the prayer flags has been a kind of tiny devotion in itself, but as I stitched, I found myself thinking of many things that are tiny devotions in life: slicing baby carrots for a spinach salad, unrolling my yoga mat, taking a walk to appreciate the warm weather we have been having, grooming the cats (oh, no--that doesn't count because I often curse during that chore).

And while the Triad may consider grooming a way in which I display my feline devotion, it really has more to do with wanting less cat hair to deal with. :) Totally self-serving.

I've completed 4 flags so far: Fresh, Balance, Reach, and Tiny Devotions, and there are several more in progress. I have all of the original words and phrases I jotted down before beginning this project, but keep adding to the list.

You can see more work by TAST participants at Tuesday Stitchers, TAST Facebook, and Stitching Fingers.

More about prayer flags here

Digressive Thoughts

2012-01-20T08:37:00.000-06:00

Not much progress on this one. I've been too obsessed with Take a Stitch Tuesday and embroidery to work on her.

She has a hat and hair, but she isn't moving forward. She still has no legs, and I have no clear idea yet about who she is.

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Yesterday meant another visit to the opthamologist. Spent much of the day on the way to and from the appt. (nearly 30 min. each way since my doctor moved his office), in the waiting room, getting the exam, and waiting to get my vision back to normal. I listened to some speakers on TED and did laundry and other chores to pass the time that I couldn't spend stitching or reading. I do love TED. My favorite one from yesterday was on neuroplasticity and meditation.

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This is an interesting article about creativity and the need for solitude and time without interruptions. Group think and brainstorming may have their places, but creative activity in any area appears to benefit much more from privacy, personalized space, and lengthy periods of uninterrupted time.

Some people create under any circumstances--no matter how busy their lives may be; there are individuals who will always find time for creative endeavors, even if it is a few minutes here, a few minutes there.

Everyone, however, benefits from having periods of solitude, time to focus, to ponder, to play with ideas. I think that is why you see people who have never had much evidence of creativity suddenly blossom after retirement. Suddenly, they have time to pursue activities that have interested them, but that during their working lives, they have had little time to indulge.

Creativity takes so many forms: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual....

Thinking about the article brings to mind Virginia Woolf's essays/lectures A Room of One's Own, in which she ponders the importance of having one's own money and a place of privacy in order to create. We know that some people have managed with neither, but not having to worry about the next meal and having a place where one can work undisturbed can certainly make it easier to create.

And Thomas Grey's Elegy in a Country Churchyard, a thoughtful revery about the poor whose lives, circumscribed by poverty and work, never achieved what they might have been capable of achieving.

Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid

Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire;

Hands, that the rod of empire might have sway'd,

Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre:

But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page,

Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll;

Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage,

And froze the genial current of the soul.

He notes, however, that not only were their virtues, but their crimes confined. A Cromwell "guiltless of his country's blood" may also lie in the graveyard. Possible tyrants and murderers, as well as possible poets and scientists, may be buried there. Poverty meant that they never achieved either wonderful or terrible things.

I've digressed, but the original article kept lingering in my mind, then began spreading out to more distant connections. For instance, the way that women found ways to create while tending to never-ending daily tasks -- like re-using fabric to make quilts, then finding ways to make these mundane articles beautiful. Cooking and gardening and other tasks that were necessary and time-consuming, in the hands of some individuals, also became creative in unexpected ways.

The main thesis of the the original article remains valid, some sense of uninterrupted time is beneficial to the creative process. Virginia is also correct that money and a "room of one's own" make creative endeavors easier. But it is also true that we don't always recognize and appreciate the creativity involved in even the most basic functions of existence.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Stitch after Stitch

2012-01-18T12:04:00.001-06:00

When I decided to make prayer flags for the TAST Challenge, I wondered how many techniques I could include besides stitching: applique, stamping, transfers, felting, etc.

So far, I've been completely absorbed with stitching. Each evening after supper, I move upstairs to pick up needle and floss and stitch away while watching Netflix.

I've done this before with embroidery. Spent hours and hours stitching, sometimes with a goal in mind, sometimes not. I've embroidered tee shirts, here and here, random designs, pillows and more pillows, miscellaneous ideas, practice strips and buttons, tiny quilts, framed pieces, slow cloth, and much, much more.

It becomes an obsession, an addiction that lasts for a while until I've worked my way through each cycle. I just can't seem to quit. Until I finally do quit and move on to another endeavor.

I've finished another prayer flag--this one is for balance. We all seek balance in our lives. Emotional and physical and creative balance. (balance between work and family, the checkbook needs to balance, a balanced diet, the government has certain checks and balances,
"on balance" - having considered various outcomes or aspects, "off balance," and things can "hang in the balance")

This prayer flag doesn't really highlight a weekly TAST Challenge stitch, but does use both the fly stitch and the button hole (or blanket stitch) variations. And, of course, lots of seed stitching. "On balance," this prayer flag was a way to keep my hands busy and calm the mind.

My new goal is to begin using some other techniques, but I'm not sure I'm ready to leave the mindless stitching. :)

-------New Give Away over at Victorian Motto Sampler Shop!

2012-01-15T20:28:00.001-06:00

Nancy, over at Pomegranate Trail, has a great post on prayer flags. Lots of information and some great links to some prayer flag sites that were new to me--go check it out!

Wow!

via May Your Bobbin Always Be Full.

You can make a contribution here. Very cool!

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I'm doing more reading again. Still, slowly working on 1Q84, and strange as it is, I'm enjoying it very much. It is, however, slow reading. Very dense and very strange. It isn't a page turner in the usual sense, but rather, a "read a while then come back later" kind of experience.

I went to the library on Friday (I wanted some "in between" books), and Deborah Lawrenson's The Lantern had finally arrived on the new book shelf. I checked several times last fall, and it was still on order each time, so finding a copy was a nice surprise. Sadly, however, despite many glowing reviews, the book wasn't grabbing my attention. It may work better for me later, but it wasn't what I wanted right now.

I wanted a book that immediately drew me in, one that would read quickly. Rummaging through my library bag, Lars Kepler's The Hypnotist found its way to my hands. Another book that I checked on several times, only to find the library didn't yet have a copy and another pleasant find on the new book shelf.

Amelia had read and liked it. It is another Scandinavian mystery/crime novel (last year was a big one for me and Swedish crime novels--Hakan Nesser, Kjell Erikson, Asa Larsson, Steig Larsson, Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell, Johan Theorin, Jussi Adler-Olsen, and Camilla Lackberg were some of last year's reads-- thank heavens for translators). The Hypnotist begins with some gruesome murders, but certainly grabs the attention.
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Two and a half hours of yoga this morning. A Yin yoga series and later, a Kundalini series; slow, relaxing, emphasis on breath--just what I needed on a Sunday morning.

This evening, more work on prayer flags. Tomorrow? More of the same...unless Fee doesn't have to go out of town, and we have a chance to do something. We had planned to go to the Robinson this weekend for the Bollywood Film Festival, but he ended up in Texas and didn't get back until tonight.

Damn good thing I'm so easily entertained with my little projects! Reading, yoga, planning my garden, and working on prayer flags-- the weekend has flown by.

2012-01-14T07:23:00.002-06:00

Prayer Flag #1 is finished! It features the first 2 stitches Sharon posted for the TAST Challenge: fly stitch and button hole stitch. Of course, there are other stitches, too, but I tried several variations of each of the posted stitches.

The flag is a prayer for a fresh start for the new year, but works equally well for a fresh start for each new day.

"As to those for whom to work hard, to begin and begin again, to attempt and be mistaken, to go back and rework everything from top to bottom, and still find reason to hesitate from one step to the next--as to those, in short, for whom to work in the midst of uncertainty and apprehension is tantamount to failure, all I can say is that clearly we are not from the same planet." --Michel Foucault

I do begin and begin again, each day. New chances, new opportunities. I attempt and am mistaken about so many things; I hesitate from one step to the next; I am working, always, in the midst of uncertainty and apprehension. Every day, in every thing I do. And so I feel fortunate to be from the same planet as Michel Foucault.

Getting it right the first time and every time? Who does that? Beginning again is my mantra. Trying and failing happens every day in so many ways. Making the attempt is success.

That's why I love beginning and beginning again. I love fresh starts. Each day is an opportunity. I try not to get to upset that I've tried to be better organized for most of my life (without much success), that I fail at being nonjudgmental, that I'm hesitant about so many things, that I procrastinate like crazy, all the failings that I'm willing to reveal and more that I am not. I have another chance to do better tomorrow. I don't mean this as an excuse, but as a hope to do better. As Alexander Pope reminded us, "hope springs eternal" and "we are created half to rise, and half to fall."

Begin and begin again. Make a fresh start. A prayer for the new year and for each new day.
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Prayer Flags, AAQI, and a Give Away

2012-01-11T13:43:00.001-06:00

Some other prayer flags that have been getting some attention and awaiting new TAST stitchery magic:

I'm just playing with them right now, but will add weekly stitches as we move along.

I was able to get two more Alzheimer's Art Quilts on the latest auction. I have an idea for using these and will fill you in later if the idea is successful. Here are my latest purchases:

Forgotten Places donated to AAQI by Brenda Krause, Sandra Spicer, and Nadine Bird

Strength of Heart - donated by Erin Martin

My thanks to the ladies who made and donated these quilts to the auction!

And thank you to Ami Simms and her team of volunteers for the efforts they put into raising money for AD research.

I'm proud of my latest acquisitions and am hoping that my idea will give them a suitable setting. However, I also need to put aside some current projects and get to work making some more quilts of my own to donate.

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Visit Victorian Motto Sampler for a chance to win beautiful hand dyed embroidery floss! If you drop by, please mention my name/blog so I can get an extra chance at winning. The same will work for you, too, so spread the word.

Have a great day, y'all!

TAST Week 2 -- Button hole stitch

2012-01-10T18:06:00.001-06:00

The 2nd stitch in the TAST Challenge is the buttonhole stitch. I started experimenting last night, filling in as much of the first prayer flag as possible. The button hole stitch is another simple stitch with numerous possibilities. I've used it quite a lot in the past, both as edging and as filler. Like the fly stitch, the button hole stitch will appear on many of the prayer flags because of its versatility and because I enjoy the simplicity of stitching the button hole.

One or two of the variations can prove more difficult, or perhaps I should say, slower (the knotted button hole and the detached filler), but mostly it is easy to get variety from the most basic form of the stitch. I've included regular button hole, crossed, closed, knotted, alternating, wheel, detached filling, and detached twisted bar. Further research is revealing even more variations. Should be interesting to see what interesting versions will emerge from other TAST participants. (Later -- I've been checking on the TAST Facebook page and finding lots of interesting variations and variations on variations!)

Still raining off and on here. Of course, we really need the rain, but it also gives me a great excuse to avoid going out and running errands. Time for another cup of tea, then I'll get back to the laundry.
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I managed to get several chores done, and supper is left-overs, so I have time to go upstairs and play this evening!

More Eco Dyed Fabric

2012-01-09T11:51:00.020-06:00

I forgot to show some of the browns from various dye pots. Some have been over-dyed in more than one dye pot: birch bark, acorns, leaves, spinach, and rosemary.

Yesterday, Fee and I went to lunch, dropped by to see Bryce Eleanor for a brief visit, then went to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I read a bunch of John LeCarre's Smiley novels years ago. Some, at least 30 YEARS AGO. I enjoyed the books, but when watching the movie, the only thing I could remember were the names George Smiley and Karla. I may try reading through the entire series from first to last, especially since I never read all of them, just the ones that were available at the library at the time.

The film was good, but occasionally difficult to follow with all of the flashbacks, especially since I couldn't remember a thing about the plot. Gary Oldman did a great job as the laconic George Smiley, but John Hurt, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch were also quite good, as would be expected.

It rained and rained last night and has continued to do so throughout the morning. Although tempted to stay in enjoy the weather by having a cup of tea and reading (something I haven't been doing too much of lately), I decided to go to the 10:15 tai chi class anyway. The class is Yang style, and I practiced Wu style.

You would think trying a new style wouldn't be too difficult; however, I'm finding it pretty demanding. I've only been to 2 classes, and hopefully, things will begin to fall into place eventually. Most names of positions are the same, although with slight variations, and the movements the same, but with many slight differences, including uprightness or leaning, direction, hand positions, etc. These important details take some time to nail down.

Yang style is more open and sweeping; Wu style more restricted. Sometimes it is difficult to recognize a movement from one style to the other without paying close attention.

Wu style has a 13 form, 24 form, 48 form, and 108 form. Yang style has a small circle form, an 8 form, a 16 form, etc. So sequences changes as well. Nevertheless, I'm going to try to keep two classes a week in my schedule because...tai chi feels good. :) Like yoga, much of the benefit is in the breath.

Five people playing one guitar...very, very well.

TAST Stitch #1 Fly Stitch; Prayer Flag #1

2012-01-07T09:16:00.001-06:00

The fly stitch offers so many ways to vary it, and I only touched on a few. Some I liked better than others, but that might be because sometimes I used one, sometimes two, sometimes three strands of floss.

I have plenty of room for the next TAST stitch and any other stitches I might want to add. Oh, and maybe some beads. I like beads.

Some of the flags will be like this one, completely experimental, with no previously considered design in mind...simply filling the space with assorted colors and stitches; others will be more pre-planned. At least that's the goal.

Still Working on Prayer Flag #1

2012-01-05T18:17:00.002-06:00

I've used several stitches so far on my first prayer flag; lots of fly stitching, but several other stitches for the text and the leaf. I would like to include at least two TAST stitches per flag, so I need to save room for the next announced stitch.

I ordered some linen thread and some Aubusson embroidery wool from Hedgehog Handworks. I've never used either, but can't wait to try, and to make threading a bit easier-- especially for beading needles--I couldn't resist the brass threader!

A word about Hedgehog--I ordered on Tuesday, and it arrived today! Also, I got a call Tuesday after placing my order, and the nicest person informed me that one of the colors I ordered was temporarily out of stock. She suggested a substitution, and I agreed. Don't you love friendly, courteous, thoughtful, and prompt service?

Wednesday

2012-01-04T15:10:00.002-06:00

Both of these are marvelous.

OK - I read a lot of yoga. I have a complete library of yoga books, some of which I read from start to finish over and over. I visit yoga sites and read Yoga Journal. I do my morning sadhana and am getting back to classes after a long break for the holidays. And yes, I over-do many things that interest me, including yoga.

And this is makes me laugh out loud (several times):

Now--who's going to make one about S*** Quilters Say? What creative comedian out there can come up with one for fabric addicts, stitchers, and/or crafters. I mean, for example:

a) I just counted my WIPs. Will I live long enough to finish them?
b) Hmmm, auditioning fabrics. Do you think this hot pink will pop or what?
c) I'm in heaven; the kids are back in school, I'm still in my pajamas, and I'm wearing my
Bernina out!
d) What the...? You mean, I'm gonna have to rip out all this stitching?
e) I've got a coupon for Jo Ann's and it's burning a hole in my pocket!
f) I can't find my rotary cutter. I JUST had it.
g) Call the doctor! I just sewed my finger on the machine!
h) Of course, we don't drink at quilting retreats! Well, maybe a little wine with dinner....
i) I'm meandering.

Can you think of any?

Here's a new one for me: "Sh**, I stabbed my palm with my embroidery scissors!"

Very sharp embroidery scissors. Bled and bled and still hurts! No, I'm not explaining how it happened, but it was an impressive example of hand-eye coordination...or not. No blood on the prayer flag, thank goodness.

The first stitch for Take a Stitch Tuesday is the fly stitch, and Rian asked what it looked like.

Here is the basic fly stitch (via Sharon's Stitch Dictionary). An extremely useful and versatile stitch!

Have a great day, y'all!

Blues

2012-01-03T18:42:00.000-06:00

A mixed bag of blues and blueish from the red cabbage dye pot. I will try this again at a later date, but I wanted some blues for my prayer flags, and really, I'm pleased to acknowledge that red cabbage does produce blue.

The gauzes took the blue better than the large piece of dupioni, each gauze took the blue a bit differently, and the small strip of dupioni has a much deeper blue than the larger piece.

They were all a lovely light purple at first, but the blue took over as the dye pot cooled after the simmering. I rinsed, washed with Eucalan, then dried them, and the color lightened to (approximately) the above shades.
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The first stitch for TAST is the fly stitch. I know everyone who is participating in the TAST Challenge was excited to finally begin stitching, and the fly stitch is very versatile--the kind of simple stitch that can be soothing work for the hands while listening to music or watching television or Netflix streaming. (My current Netflix love is Kingdom with Stephen Fry, and last night I stitched on the first prayer flag while watching the lovable Fry and the eccentric inhabitants of a small village in Norfolk.) I started with some simple fly stitches just to get the feel, and then began working some variations, and developing a pattern.

I'm still not certain how many prayer flags will be the result; I simply can't see myself as disciplined enough to make a new flag each week. That would be 52 prayer flags! I'll just see how I get along in the first month or so and hope for a pattern to arise.
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Uh, oh. Now there are a bunch of blog posts about pantry re-organization. I'm always enchanted with the way some people's pantries look so beautiful, so homey, so designed to make you want to live in a house with "that" pantry.

I haven't even organized the bedroom closet yet, and now I want a gorgeous pantry! Sigh. "I want" does not, however, mean much. I only want a gorgeous pantry if someone else would do it. I definitely do NOT want to do it myself.

2012-01-02T00:41:00.003-06:00

I've strained all of the birch bark out of the dye pot and added some fabrics. As I suspected, the brown has a pinkish tinge to it, not the deep brown or grey that I wanted, but I've have some other options for those pieces.

I love the way the birches shed their beautiful bark. I used birch bark in some fabric art pieces about five years ago; flattened and treated the bark (which has a kind of paper layer to it), then sewed it directly on to batting and backing for fabric postcards. It quilted nicely after being treated with either gel medium or ModgePodge.

Below is the red cabbage before going into the dye pot. I have some silk dupioni and gauze mordanting in a plastic bucket.

We will see what happens. Hard to imagine getting the blue I want from the purple/red of the cabbage.
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I've been reading lots of resolutions and goals on various blogs, and one item that crops up in the top 5 or 10 pretty consistently is organization. And I, willing but not able, read them all with fervent good intentions. I particularly like the ones with titles like "20 (or 15 0r 10) Ways To..." If you could see me, nodding like a bobble-head, at some of the excellent ideas, you would most likely be snickering to yourself at the very idea of me following through.

In the same way that I love reading about neuroscience and quantum mechanics, I find the complexity and methodology of organization fascinating, and yet am unable to incorporate the concepts into my own thinking in any meaningful way.

Yes, yes, nod, nod. I understand this sentence, this concept, this technique! then 5 minutes later... Say what?

Not that I don't make lists, have good intentions, and frequently tackle the problems of organization. I do. Usually with some short term success, but never with consistency.

Nevertheless, I'll give it a go...again. And, of course, I'll fail again, but here's the thing: I always feel good about the effort! First on the list? Our bedroom closet. Last on the list? May be our bedroom closet. This project has to be done at least twice a year because I start using the closet as handy storage space. The larger the closet, the more junk can accumulate.

I love this little postscript on today's Notes from the Universe: Why not just celebrate that you're alive, Jen, every single day? After celebrating that you don't need a bike to get email, in January.

My little stack of prayer flags are awaiting the announcement of the first Take a Stitch Tuesday 2012 Challenge embroidery stitch. Tomorrow!

2012 - Welcome!

2012-01-01T12:29:00.002-06:00

I love the Tiny House Blog! I've been reading if for about 3 years; since before we built our cabins. A recent post was of such a beautiful tree house; more here. Why are tree houses always so enchanting?

A new-to-me creative place, Crescendoh! Lots of good stuff to browse through.

Linda of Linda's Art Quilts has made a cheerful mobile of tiny scraps--it is a perfectly charming version of the prayer flag and reminds me of Valerie's wonderful Thankfulness Installation.

I love Linda's idea. It would be great for those lovely scraps that are too small for most projects, but that would flutter in the wind in such a pleasant and graceful way, sending prayers and gratitude out into the universe.

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For Christmas, Erin gave me these lovely place mats, napkins, and adorable owl napkin rings! Ignore the computer.

I love the colors, and the little owls are adorable!

I have birch bark steeping for a dye bath. Later, I'll try the red cabbage (green cabbage for the New Year's meal, but red cabbage for a dye bath). While at the grocery store yesterday, I stuffed a lot of onion skins in the bag with one lone onion. I gathered all the loose skins I could. If anyone was watching, it may have appeared strange, but since no one else wants them and I can use them, I carried on.

Waiting on black eyed peas and cabbage and cornbread and apple pie!

Prayer Flags

2011-12-31T07:59:00.003-06:00

In the same way that you can overlook Christmas items when putting them away after Christmas (you know-- you have everything boxed up and put away--and then find another Christmas item that you somehow missed; it has been right in front of you, but you somehow didn't "see" it), I see Prayer Flags on blogs I visit several times a week.

Thursday morning, as I looked through my Google Reader, I must have seen one or two because later, thinking about TAST, it suddenly dawned on me that combining the two projects would be fun. I finally "saw" the Prayer Flags as a great means of accomplishing two things at once.

Sometimes an idea just keeps sparking possibilities, and as soon as the thought of using Prayer Flags for the TAST Challenge began simmering, the creative juices began flowing. I was immediately jotting down questions and promising themes.

I've posted about wanting to make Prayer Flags before--now combining the Prayer Flags with TAST makes both projects more appealing.

All day Friday, I was either thinking about, planning for, or working on Prayer Flags; the ideas and options were plentiful. Even when running errands or finishing up the housework, my mind kept turning things around, considering and dismissing various concepts.

While there are any number of ways ways to make flags, I have decided to use my eco dyed fabrics, linen, and muslin and to keep the colors pretty monochromatic. I'm also making sketches of embroidery designs...drawing inspiration from my own doodles, fabric prints, my bedspread, Jacobean embroidery designs, quilting designs, etc. Although some of them are on an old envelope and others are on a scrap sheet of paper, I'm going to transfer them to a notebook where I can continue playing with ideas.

Yesterday afternoon, I went upstairs and cut or tore fabrics into 5 x 11 strips. When the top is folded down approximately 3" for the twine to go through, the finished size will be 5 x 8".

The above picture shows the strips with tops folded down.

Below, I've added batting and stitched them creating the passage for the twine to run through and to keep the batting in place.

Now, I'm really enjoying myself. I have 8 pre-flags and 6 are already stitched, and now I'm thinking about elements to add: words, phrases, applique, embellishments, etc.

Here is the link to the Prayer Flag Project (with tutorials and more) and one to the Flickr page. I don't know if I'll sign up there, but the blog has lots of inspiration and after considering various size options, I liked the finished 5 x 8 and the simplicity. Of course, prayer flags can be any size or shape, but using the tute makes it easy to begin and the small size will be a benefit, too.

I don't know what I'm going to do with this eco dyed piece, but I'm not cutting into it for prayer flags.

I'm excited about the new year and have been making a list of things I'd like to do in 2012. I'm not making resolutions, but I am creating a list of reminders to post in the studio.

One of the items on the list so far is to get out the personal "history" I began several years ago. There are so many memories that I'd like to record for my grandchildren. When my parents died, I realized I had questions that could no longer be answered about their lives before and after they married and began a family.

Rian mentioned doing this on her blog some time back and reminded me that I wanted to continue working on my memories. Are you still working on yours, Rian?

The list-making will continue for a few days, then I plan to cull it down to ten or fewer items and post them where I can see them daily. I want to include everyday improvements, travel, creative endeavors, etc.

Are you making resolutions or forming intentions for 2012? Tell me!

Wishing a Happy and Productive New Year to all of you!

She's Got Trousers

2011-12-30T11:35:00.002-06:00

Autumn has trousers! About time, you say? I agree. She was having way too much fun running around in her tights.

I finally told her the tights-only business was over, and she was very accommodating; she slipped on the trousers and modeled them. She does love a photo shoot.

This morning, my plans for TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) have undergone a transformation. Yesterday, I mentioned that a vague idea was floating around in my head. Well, that possibility has gradually become more intriguing. As the thought gained emphasis in my imagination, I jotted down some notes.

:) I know that TAST is almost here, and I do plan to keep up with my little 4 x 4" and 5 x 5" linen squares, but will let them remain mostly kantha stitching. Today, I'm going to make a few more decisions about my new idea. A little experimentation and maybe some prep work...if I still like it, I'll post more tomorrow.

In the Tuesday Stitchers group, almost everyone else has had more definite ideas and many have already done a LOT of prep. Many are doing the crazy quilt project in conjunction with TAST.

However, there is a definite difference in my style and quilting abilities, and I've been a bit intimidated by the size and complexity of some of the projects.

My preferences are not very sophisticated; I'm not as skilled, nor am I a good pre-planner, most of my projects evolve pretty spontaneously. I like raw edges and primitive stuff, and I'm irresistibly drawn to Janet Bolton and Jude's styles.

janet bolton

jude hill - spirit cloth

I will have to work within my own parameters and sensibilities. And even though I admire (adore is not too strong) both Bolton's and Jude's styles, I can only take inspiration from them, not imitate them (although I wish I could!)...and maybe I will try some imitation.

At any rate, what I have in mind will definitely draw on the above styles and many others, but will remain relatively simple and primitive, allowing a great deal of leeway and experimentation and still help me practice more elaborate stitches.

So...
1) I have to keep things simple, and
2) accept that I really just want to improve my embroidery skills, not create a piece of art.

The kantha stitching 4x4's will remain my comfort stitching projects because I can work on them and catch up with some television and Netflix. Love being able to do that because I can't seem to watch television without handwork.

Now, I have errands to run before I can come home and start playing.

Have a great Friday, y'all!

Embroidery and DIPs

2011-12-29T12:31:00.000-06:00

I will probably be sticking to my idea of small 4 x 4" squares for the TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) challenge. I've done one 5 x 5" square with primarily kantha stitching and liked the larger size as well. In the end, I may decide to move from one size to the other, depending on how I feel. I'll probably combine more than one style stitch in each block.

Another possibility has emerged in my foggy mind, but at this point, I'm leaving it as a vague idea for a completely different path.

Dolls in Progress...DIPs

Yesterday, I worked on the eccentrics...two dolls that are in the stage of becoming. Here is one that I'm working on...

Something weird happened when I put the glaze on the eyes, though, and the eyes are no longer green, but brown. They were brown originally, but I decided I wanted green and painted over them. Too bad for me because now they are brown again.

I worked on her some more last night and smoothed out the area where the neck meets the shoulders by adding a thin covering of clay over the entire shoulder area (it is still really rough in the above pic), and I added and subtracted some detail on the face. Her neck probably won't show at all when she's dressed; her embroidered heart will be covered, too, when she gets some clothes.

:) I like the big noses and overly large hands...they aren't "pretty" dolls; they have some eccentric features to match their eccentric personalities.

Until Next Year

2011-12-28T13:46:00.003-06:00

Christmas has come and gone for another year. We stayed down in the country during the holidays this year. Erin and I stayed with the kids on Friday, and Fee (and plenty of rain) came down Sat. A muddy mess all around.

New pjs for the kids on Christmas Eve...

There were over 20 people for Christmas dinner, and we had food a-plenty. It was all so good! I missed having Amelia, Chris, and B.E., but we had a great Christmas Day anyway.

I didn't take a single picture while everyone was there! Everyone else had cameras and were snapping away. By 8:00 Sunday evening things were quiet again, and we were all overly full and tired.

We packed it in on Monday--I came back to town, and Erin and the kids headed to Baton Rouge, a long drive, especially in the rain.

No post-Christmas blues, but this week is one of those lazy "recovery" weeks. I will eventually put away the Christmas decorations, but right now, I'm spending most of my time reading and relaxing. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel more energetic.

It is time for a little reflection as well. Another year has made its way through the calendar, and we will all be changing the date to 2012 soon. As usual, the year has provided both ups and downs and that is the stuff of life, but we have experienced some really good times this year and are grateful.

Although we can (and frequently do) make new beginnings at any time of year, the end of each year sends most of us into a period of evaluation; we review the past year and make a few plans for the new one. Resolutions? Sometimes, but not always. Anticipation? Definitely.

One bit of news provided anticipation for our whole family: niece Megan and husband Drew are expecting their first baby. Next Christmas will have a new family member!

I've finished several more Scandinavian mysteries (Until Thy Wrath Be Past by Asa Larsson, Mind's Eye by Hakan Nesser, and The Hand That Trembles by Kjell Eriksson) that I need to review on my book blog, and I have begun 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. There are a bunch of books in the TBR pile, too. Reading and maybe some sewing will take me through the rest of this lazy week.

Also on the list of things I may or may not do this week: some more eco dyeing, another art quilt, dress a doll that remains bare-legged, and complete a couple of dolls that need arms, legs, faces, and clothes--they are pretty much heads and torsos at the moment.

I'm in the mood for this kind of thing right now; reading and crafting and maybe some Netflix. Too much hustle and bustle. Time for quiet and restful activities.

How about you? What are you doing in this lull between Christmas and New Year's Celebrations?

From Curmudgeon to Grandmother

2011-12-24T09:29:00.010-06:00

I'm so sick of seeing this ad on every other blog page I've looked at lately. I'm a yoga practioner, love yoga clothes, but will not be buying anything from Lucy, now or after Christmas, free shipping or not.

I don't mind seeing occasional marketing of a product, but I don't want to see it on the post itself, over and over, every day, on a hundred blogs or more. I get tired of some of the other ads and product endorsements, too, but this one has gradually worked its way to the top of my list, and I've stopped reading any post that begins with the ad. Originally, I stopped because I thought maybe I'd already read it, now that I know that it is as invasive as a weed, I'm treating it as toxic and when it appears, I'm clicking outta there.
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Amelia's staph infection didn't clear up with oral antibiotics, so she ended up in the hospital on an IV. She did get out of the hospital Thursday night after the last IV and in time to leave on their trip to Crested Butte Friday morning. Since Rachel is an RN, she will be able to pack and unpack the wound. No more IV, though. So far, her messages sound as if she is doing well (in between the wound packing and unpacking, which is PAINFUL). She developed MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant staph infection that is becoming more and more common.
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Erin and the kids arrived Thursday night.

Yesterday afternoon, Erin, the kids, and I went down to the cabin. I spent the night with them and came back to town this morning, but will be going back down later. We played Chutes & Ladders and began work on the Gingerbread Barn. :)

I took a couple of pictures with my phone of the construction process.

Sparkle and Solstice

2011-12-21T09:42:00.001-06:00

We all need a little sparkle, don't we?

Bryce Eleanor brings a little sparkle with each visit. Yesterday, another tent.

She dressed herself, but I didn't get a picture of her in all of her glory, just snippets.

She's no angel...

But she's a lot of fun!

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Tomorrow is Fee's birthday, and Erin, Mila, and Max will here!

The winter solstice this year is again on Fee's birthday, Dec. 22.

"In 2011, all time zones to the east of the Central Standard Time meridian (90 degrees west longitude), the December solstice falls on Thursday, December 22."

"As seen from the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice – typically around December 21 to 23 – is the day on which the sun’s path stops moving southward in the sky. The winter solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. For us in the northern hemisphere, it’s the day on which the days stop growing shorter and will soon begin to lengthen again. For this reason, in festivals and celebrations across this hemisphere of Earth, the winter solstice is linked to the idea of rebirth."

"In the case of Stonehenge, this great Trilithon faces outwards from the center of the monument, with its smooth flat face turned toward the midwinter sun. In fact, the primary axes of Stonehenge seems to have been carefully aligned on a sight-line pointing to the winter solstice sunset."

Monday Adventures

2011-12-20T07:26:00.001-06:00

More presents wrapped. I think that takes care of that category. A roll of wrapping paper will actually survive for next year's use.

When Bryce Eleanor arrived yesterday morning, she came bearing a gift. She didn't seem certain about who it was for, and Chris explained that there weren't any presents under their tree. They have a train under their tree and gifts will all be in Colorado; Bryce Eleanor wanted a gift, so Chris told Amelia to just "wrap something."

This turned out to be a great idea as B.E. was totally happy with the "gift." After Chris left, she wanted to open it, so she happily ripped the paper from the box. Amelia had wrapped a box of blueberry muffins...and B.E. and I had breakfast!

Later, she wanted some crackers for her snack and got herself all comfortable to watch Thomas and Friends.

There was plenty of cavorting yesterday. Pretending to be a cat, playing tag and follow the leader, working puzzles, gathering holly berries, cleaning leaves out of the pond, making a tent, and generally keeping busy.

Some things she liked:

Tiny Tim-- from a page in an old magazine that had been placed in a frame. I bought it at a flea market years ago and enjoy his presence each year.

And a little greenery and some appreciation of nature, around the house. Especially birds.

Outside, we discovered 3 bird nests, two in the arbor and one in a tall shrub.

She will be back shortly for another day of play. Maybe we will make some banana bread.

Shopping, Wrapping, etc.

2011-12-18T11:12:00.001-06:00

Fee and I finished our Christmas shopping yesterday. Oh, there might be a gift or two left that I might decide on, but essentially, we are done with shopping.

Yesterday afternoon, I wrapped some presents and snacked on the edible gifts that we've received so that I'll be sure to have a New Year's Resolution of getting back in shape. Even doing my daily yoga doesn't quite take care of the extra eating I've been doing lately.

Fee's Santas (carved from our old Christmas trees when the girls were little) are scattered around the house. And since both Amelia and Erin have been taking them home with them for the last several years, there are fewer of them on display here. Amelia has already taken 3 this year, so when Erin comes, she will get 3 more. Fee really needs to get busy carving again, because those girls are takin' all my Santas, y'all!

Last night, Fee made red beans and rice (mmmmm!), and we drank wine by the light of the fire and the Christmas tree while listening to Dylan Thomas reading A Child's Christmas in Wales, Fern Hill, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, and a few other poems. Although Dylan Thomas was only 39 when he died, his voice sounds like that of an older man and his Welsh lilt almost smiles at that the most humorous incidents.

His essay A Child's Christmas in Wales has been part of our Christmas tradition for most of our marriage. (I would dearly like to see the National Theater of the Deaf performance done for a PBS special in the 70's, but have looked online and can't find any of that production. I know the NTD continues to give live performances in places like New York so maybe someday, we will take a trip and see a live performance.)

Thomas has always been one of my favorite poets, but his essay, A Child's Christmas in Wales, holds a special place in my heart, the imagery so perfect for December:

"Our snow was not only shaken from whitewash buckets down the sky, it came shawling out of the ground and swam and drifted out of the arms and hands and bodies of the trees; snow grew overnight on the roofs of the houses like a pure and grandfather moss, minutely white-ivied the walls and settled on the postman, opening the gate, like a dumb, numb thunderstorm of white, torn Christmas cards."

Today, I'll wrap more presents, listen to Windham Hill and Manheim Steam Roller, and try to stay away from the fattening stuff.

I'll be keeping Bryce Eleanor this week as she is out of school; Erin, Mila, and Max are coming in on Thursday for Fee's birthday and Christmas. Amelia, Chris, and Bryce Eleanor will be leaving on Friday to spend Christmas in Colorado.

Hope everyone is caught up (or almost) with all of the Christmas details.

Thanks to those of you who shared book suggestions--my list grew by quite a few good titles!

Unleaving

2011-12-13T09:49:00.002-06:00

As I've been working with eco dyeing and leaf printing for the last month...

my thoughts have continued to return to Gerard Manley Hopkin's poem:

Spring and Fall: To a Young Child

Márgarét, are you gríeving

Over Goldengrove unleaving?

Leáves, líke the things of man, you

With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?

Ah! ás the heart grows older

It will come to such sights colder

By and by, nor spare a sigh

Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;

And yet you wíll weep and know why.

Now no matter, child, the name:

Sórrow's spríngs áre the same.

Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed

What heart heard of, ghost guessed:

It ís the blight man was born for,

It is Margaret you mourn for.

The child Margaret is sad about the autumn leaves dropping from the trees (unleaving), and the poet appreciates her innocent sorrow, but knows that other sorrows will eventually cause her to weep. Death and loss are part of the cycle of nature, and in the end, with each loss it is ourselves for whom we mourn.

As I outlined the leaves on the eco prints, I kept thinking about the term "unleaving," and decided to make an Alzheimer's Art Quilt using leaf prints and the word "unleaving."

Memories fall away from our loved ones as the colorful leaves fall away from trees in autumn. Our loved ones recede from us gradually...

Unleaving.

As their memories ebb, the singular, distinctive persona also fades because experiences, memories make us all who we are. The unique individual, the person we remember even if they no longer remember us, begins to disappear, to retreat, to unleave while the body remains. And, yes, it is ourselves for whom we grieve as we contemplate the loss of a parent or loved one.

The habotai silk on which the leaves are printed was dyed in a leaf dye pot, a variety of leaves went into it. The muslin was dyed with rosemary (just long enough to knock down the white a bit) and so was the cheesecloth which covers portions of the quilt like a web. The beads represent the brightness, the uniqueness of the memories that are being lost.

I think I'll make another quilt or two before registering this one, and oh, I have one left over from September that I hadn't quite finished when I mailed in the others.
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I've been reading again, after a month or more of a pretty dry spell in the reading category. I've ordered a few more bargain kindle books from Amazon and have an order of real books that should be delivered soon, but I need to get to the library!

What's on your agenda today? Any good book suggestions?

Just for Fun

2011-12-12T10:55:00.004-06:00

Hazel loves nature and hiking. I'm working on her hiking boots.

These little pixies make me smile. Found at Creativity Direct via The Magic Bean.

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Using photos of your children, you could make adorable angels like these at Plays With Needles. It would be wonderful to eventually fill a whole tree with these and to have one of each child each year. She offers a tutorial on bringing each one to life!

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OK -- the cutest request ever on a Christmas list comes from Ren's Chloe (who is entirely quotable on almost any occasion). According to Ren:

"Alison used half of her Xmas list to ask for things for her mama. Chloe asked for a real life cow and a snowflake."

Good luck with that, Chloe!

Another recent Chloe-ism:

Chloe: you know what I like about this picture?
Ren: what?
Chloe: that I'm in it.

The kid cracks me up.

Hey girl, let's talk handmade...

2011-12-11T10:05:00.010-06:00

These are so cute and sweet and funny...Handmade Ryan Gosling. Via Craft via One In The Handbag.

Handmade can be sexy, eh?

Hmmm!

2011-12-09T09:04:00.003-06:00

OK - my visit to the eye doctor determined that I have PVD, a separation of the vitreous humour from the retina, but no tears, so no immediate fear of retinal detachment. Very common in individuals of a certain age, particularly women. The doctor also mentioned developing glaucoma. He didn't prescribe any medication, but I need to see him again in six weeks.

My feelings about this are divided between "Oh, crap!" and "Boy, I'm glad it isn't worse!" I was aware that my distance vision (something I never even had until lasik surgery a few years ago) wasn't as good as it should be because reading road signs has become more difficult.

All in all? Definite relief that there is no retinal detachment and that the doctor didn't seem that concerned about the glaucoma. I'm glad to have that out of the way, since I've worried all week.

Snippets in the studio. Ready to apply binding to a little quilt...

and pondering what to do with another eco print.

Have a great weekend!

In the Studio

2011-12-08T09:03:00.000-06:00

Plunked some cheesecloth in a rosemary dye bath and added it to this piece. All it did was add enough color to make it blend a l a little better. I've been working on making this a small art quilt for AAQI...and have some definite ideas for it. Making progress.

Planning another small linen block and auditioned some blues.

Morning in the studio with my favorite Ho Tai Buddha.

I've got an appointment with my eye doctor for 10:30. I've had some difficulties with my right eye for the last few days and want to find out why the these disturbing, filmy floaters have appeared. Gotta' get ready.

Have a great day!

WIPs, Interesting Links, Creative People

2011-12-07T09:42:00.000-06:00

Made some progress on the autumn doll,

had two dye pots going yesterday, and a little more kantha stitching on a 4 x 4 linen square.

I've also made more progress in the studio clean-up and organization. I'm not finished, but I may never be; now that I've made changes that result in a more compatible work space, the need to use the space creatively has already begun. Legs for a doll, feet for another, stitching, quilt planning, and so on and on.

I saw this over at Nancy's blog Pomegranate Trail. Prison inmates knitting--what a great way to lower the blood pressure and improve one's mood. I always enjoy seeing how crafts like quilting and knitting can improve lives, especially for those in prison.

Deborah at The Wednesday Quilter had a nice post about AAQI and the $679,000 raised since 2006.

Michelle Palmer is having a give away of a beautiful vintage doll dress with her delightful drawn cardinals.

I love her little drawings of birds, and animals, and right, now, Christmas Snowmen. Lots of great Christmas gift possibilities.

Dark Alley makes the most wonderful, charming, and curmudgeonly alley cats! Each one is a distinct personality, broody, petulant, and full of exquisite detail.

Visit her blog to see some of the creatures she has created in the past or her Etsy shop to see which ones are currently for sale.
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Bryce Eleanor hasn't run fever for over 24 hours, and Amelia has spoken with the school about policy. She may be going back tomorrow, but kissing and eating or drinking after her will be verboten. Kind of difficult with an almost 4 year old.

She is feeling fine, though, and according to Amelia, has plenty of energy. Good immune system, evidently.

Have a great day, y'all! (Southern-ism for second person plural)

2011-12-04T12:17:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I abandoned all work in the studio--whether re-organizing or stitching. No dyeing in process, no reading about dyeing.

Yesterday, my creative work was a different kind of play, because I had company: Bryce Eleanor came a little before lunch. She is so talkative now; she has something to say about just about everything. She also wants more input from me. "Let's work this puzzle." "Why don't we play with the ponies?" "We can have a picnic." "Let's color." "Do you want to make a castle with me?"

And we did all of those things and more. It isn't that she doesn't still play perfectly well by herself because she does, but she is more inclusive. She will play alone, verbalizing everything that goes on, and I listen, fascinated. Then she comes to me, and "Jenny Clay-uh, let's play...."
I'm Jenny Clay-uh; the stairs are the stay-uhs. We also like nonsense talk, and Bryce Eleanor is an expert at that, making up words by the dozens.

Last night, after Fee got home, she enlisted her new play mate. He was to select which pony was to be put in the dump truck. He was usually wrong, and Bryce Eleanor patiently corrected him, removing the offending choice and replacing it with the correct one, but he did get one right, and B.E. cheered him!

It was a great day. But that was yesterday.

This morning, however, she woke up not feeling well. Headache and fever. She even cried, breaking my heart. Then she went back to sleep on the couch with a damp hand towel on her head and Edgar at her feet, and woke up sweet and happy, but still with those fever eyes. She continued to rest until Amelia and Chris came and picked her up. I'm hoping it is not anything serious like the flu.

Amelia just called. Her pediatrician is open until 11:00 AM on weekends, so she took B.E. on because her head started hurting again. Mono. I may be complaining of headache myself in the next few days 'cause I've definitely been exposed. :o

Hopefully, Bryce Eleanor will be well enough to attend her 4th birthday party next Saturday! And hopefully, her little friends will be able to attend because they were probably all exposed at St. Joseph's.

Selling, Giving, Donating, and AAQI

2011-12-02T12:52:00.001-06:00

I just read an intriguing post by Rice Freeman titled "Why I Don't Sell What I Make" -- check it out. Every time I consider opening an Etsy shop or selling at craft fairs, I've faced the dilemmas she mentions.

When I had a small antique shop years ago, I sold some handmade items and crafts that my husband and I made. We had a booth at a local flea market once a month, and it was fun because we made a lot of friends. Was it worth the effort? Not financially, but we were younger and more energetic then and other rewards were worth it. As we were already selling antique and vintage items, adding the crafts to the lot was no more trouble as we were already keeping inventory and tax info.

Now, however, even though I sometimes want the validation that someone would want to buy an item, it seems like an awful lot of trouble to determine price (which would never be worth the investment of time and energy) and go to all the effort of selling and keeping track. Dilemma.

On the other hand, making art quilts for AAQI is definitely worth it because the money goes to Alzheimer's research. I love that (!) and all of the generous people who are involved in making, donating, and buying the quilts. It makes you feel good about your work and the purpose it serves. I'd certainly donate dolls in the same way, if it were to raise money for a good cause.

Right now, the Alzheimer's Art Quilts Initiative December Auctio n is underway, I've already bid on a couple! The money raised on each quilt goes to research; can't lose, you purchase a little art quilt and the money goes to research for a cure for Alzheimer's. Win/Win.

One reason I'm working on my studio re-arrangement is so that I can make some more AAQI quilts. I need to have my cutting table available--so my other crafting must be transferred to another surface (at least temporarily), and the table given a new orientation.

Where has this week gone?

Busy...

2011-12-01T10:36:00.000-06:00

I've worked on the studio. And worked. Shuffled and purged and moved stuff to the attic. Worked all morning yesterday and began to see the difference. Still a long way to go, but definitely improvement.

Started this little 4 x 4 linen square on Tuesday and finished it up yesterday morning. This may be the size I work with for the TAST Challenge. The Tuesday Stitchers are all contemplating or finalizing their ideas.

Also spent more time stitching on some of the eco dyed and/or eco printed fabrics. I've backed all of these with muslin and pieced the smallest scraps together. Still don't know exactly where these are going, but I love working on them. They have a tattered, aged, vintage look because of the natural dyes and raw edges .

I love the striated marks left from the strings and yarn used to bundle or wrap the pieces.

The work is back on for the laundry room. It stopped when we went to North Carolina and then for Thanksgiving week, but the guys are back and busy. In the meantime, no washing machine or dryer, but when it is finished, I'll have more room, a built-in ironing board, and shelf for folding clothes!

I also had them put in a big sink upstairs in the studio because the closet up there is where the hot water heater is. They did this before the work stopped in November, and I've not actually used it much so far, but I will.

Back to organizing and re-arranging upstairs. Trying to decide on a layout that works for sewing, crafting, sculpting with clay, mixed media, felting, etc., that provides storage for the items required for each, and that avoids interfering with the doors to the attic, the closet with the sink, and the door from the stairs. And what needs to have access to electrical outlets.

I have to do everything in that room, including yoga, so sometimes when I think I've got it worked out, a snag appears. When I finish, if I ever finish, I'll have to re-organize the tiny attic space I have access to.

:) Have a great day, ya'll!

Thinking About

2011-11-29T12:08:00.000-06:00

I'm still in the kantha stitch embroidery mode. Maybe I just need the meditative feel of simple stitching with no end in mind, no design in mind, nothing but wandering over the cloth. Or is it an avoidance activity?

While I'm not feeling any obvious anxiety, the Christmas season often feels overwhelming. A great shame, isn't it? Yet holidays, which should be a time of joy, bring pressure as well. I love seeing Christmas decorations, but have to be in the right frame of mind to begin them in my home. So far, only a little Christmas decorating here, because I keep retreating to the studio and needle and cloth.

The studio itself may be a source of some repressed anxiety. :O I want to re-arrange things, but as you all know, re-arranging means disassembling, organizing, calculating where and how to fit things in, decisions, decisions, decisions, and effort. I'd like to move my large storage cabinet, but it must be emptied out first. Whoa! Now that is a big and time-consuming job.

My cutting/work table is not as convenient as I'd like, but in limited space, where can it go without causing another problem?

As I work myself into a frenzy of anxiety (may have been repressed before, but not now!), I realize that my Christmas decorating mood is dependent on my being actively Christmas crafty, and I can't really craft until the studio is at least more organized.

Now, what? Retreat to stitching or gather my energy and determination and attack the studio?

This Autumn doll should have been completed by now. Maybe I'll work on her today.

What? I'm procrastinating again?

O.K. I can do this. Marshaling my determination...and going up to work on studio. For a little while...

Maybe then I can move on to other things.

What a cute video!

Take A Stitch Tuesday 2012 Challenge

2011-11-27T09:06:00.002-06:00

With Debra's encouragement, I've joined the TAST Challenge (Take a Stitch Tuesday). I'm hoping for the best in my participation-- maybe I'll do a better job about posting my results than I do in book challenges. (I always complete the book challenges, but don't always post on the link sites. Good intentions, but poor follow-through on the posting.)

Although I have several books on embroidery, I tend to use the same stitches over and over. My favorite? Kantha stitches--love the simplicity of the simple running stitch. There are plenty of variations of Kantha stitching, but I don't use as many as I should. Other favorite stitches are buttonhole, backstitch, and stem stitches. Sometimes I venture out and make an effort to use other stitches, but I always come back to the simplest stitches.

Above, more eco dyed scraps and failed eco prints pieced together, wrinkled, crinkled, pleated, tortured, manipulated, and embroidered. I love doing this while watching television.

Maybe the TAST Challenge will be a way to move into a greater variety of stitches. Debra has created a blog for a group of us who have joined the challenge: The Tuesday Stitchers; there are no posts yet, but I'll post a link when things get going. The group members will be participating in either the TAST 2012 Challenge or the Crazy Quilt Journal...or both.

More at Stitchin' Fingers on the TAST Challenge. If you enjoy hand embroidery, take a look at the links and join up.

Do you enjoy hand embroidery? What do you think? Interested?

Friday & Saturday

2011-11-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

We had a lovely Thanksgiving in Baton Rouge with Erin, Mila, and Max. Eric and Katerina joined us for the Thanksgiving meal, and there was, as usual, more food than could possibly be eaten. Not that I didn't give it my best shot. :)

The trip down on Wednesday was hectic because of all of the RVs and other folk headed down early for the LSU/Arkansas game today. The traffic on the bridge Wednesday afternoon went back for miles. We changed our plan, reversed course, and went by the old bridge which was obviously the better choice.

The kids stayed with us at the hotel Wednesday night, and we thoroughly enjoyed having them with us. Thursday morning, we all went to Erin's to help with preparations.

Eric brought a chocolate cake, fresh from the oven, and Max and Mila decorated it.

Mila did the turkey; Max did the blue sky.

We all admired their creative touch to the chocolate cake!

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Saturday: LSU beat Arkansas in an exciting game yesterday. Fee watched the game. I played in the studio.

I haven't really been in the mood to work on the dolls lately, and I have so many in the works. Maybe it is because I have so many in progress, or maybe it is that I've spent a lot of time trying to get some decent results from the eco dyeing, but the dolls continue to just sit around. At least I've made some progress in dressing this Izannah Walker-inspired black and white lady.

Two of my little ---Alzheimer's quilts sold in Houston, and Debra just bought the third one! My thanks to Debra and to all of those who have bought the AAQI quilts and have helped raise money for research!

WIPs and Off to Baton Rouge

2011-11-23T11:21:00.001-06:00

Some new attempts at eco prints hanging up to dry. Both are new versions of previous complete failures. The prints at least show up on these.

Above--started working on another patchwork of scrap samples.

We will be leaving shortly for Baton Rouge to see our two oldest grandchildren, our red-headed daughter, and to have Thanksgiving.

What is going on with Blogger (or my computer) now? Some more weird stuff going on...

Tuesday...

2011-11-22T09:00:00.001-06:00

I won two free prints and three magnets from Mariette Heb's Etsy shop! Because we have our Triad of cats, the cat print and magnets are our favorites. :) Bad as our Triad can be, their personalities cannot be denied. Thanks so much, Marie!

Vist Mariette's blog - Mixed Media - Leap of Faith

I LOVE that stretched out paw. So Edgar in a commanding mode.

Bryce Eleanor came Sunday afternoon to visit and spent the night.

She is quite the chatterbox now, and we had a several interesting conversations. She even does knock-knock jokes--only one was a tried and true favorite, the rest were created on the spot and were funny just because they made no sense at all.

We took a long walk and gathered lots of leaves and acorns, had any number of picnics in which she spread all the little quilts out, drew pictures, played with her ponies, etc. She wants to be a snow bat for Christmas. Think she has some residual Halloween thoughts mixed in with anticipation for Christmas.

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Lately, I confront a new difficulty with Blogger or Facebook at least once a day. A change that I don't understand or some weird anomaly appears out of nowhere. This morning, my "new post" screen was about 1/3 the normal size.

How did this happen? How to fix it? I hate spending time trying to figure things out and have had to do just that so frequently in the last couple of weeks. This one is some kind of maximize/minimize feature that appears without my deliberately employing it.

:) We will be leaving for Baton Rouge tomorrow to see Erin, Mila, and Max! Erin is hosting Thanksgiving this year, and we are looking forward to seeing the kids. Amelia will be spending Thanksgiving with Chris' family in Jacksonville, Florida.

Hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving Week.

Hate the New Lightbox Feature?

2011-11-20T14:30:00.006-06:00

Michelle at with-heart-and-hands has posted a tutorial on how to disable the new lightbox feature:

If you have noticed, and hated, the new blog Light Box...where instead of opening and enlarging a photo, you suddenly see a center box photo with little other photos down below from the post...you can disable it and revert back to your previous photo viewing.

Here are the instructions for disabling that photo feature and returning things back to the old version. (and thanks to everyone who has previously mentioned this and reminded me I should mention it too!)

1. Log into your blog via your Dashboard

2. Click on Settings

3. Select the Formatting tab

4. Scroll down and look for 'Showcase Images with Lightbox'

5. Select "NO"

6. Save settings

A pretty easy fix...thanks, again, Michelle.

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I finally got some decent leaf prints on a sleeveless top that I didn't wear but once this past summer. It isn't great, but all of the leaves except the ginko made an impression. It was first dyed yellow with turmeric, then I tried bundling it with leaves and simmering in a coffee dye. Not sure what I'll do with it next...leave it or keep working for something I like better.

Right now, it is hanging out to dry.

Saturday Thoughts

2011-11-19T11:02:00.000-06:00

I haven't been online as much for the last couple of weeks. I've missed a lot of blog posts by my favorite bloggers because I just check in occasionally, and then I'm overwhelmed with the number of posts in all my areas of interest.

I've been experimenting with eco dyeing...with less than outstanding results. All the pre-mordant, co-mordant, and post-mordant possibilities make the outcomes so variable, and I'm not keeping up with the details very well. The cranberry dye came out with a purple flavor to it, especially on muslin. The leaf and bark dye was also pink, but with less blue. The silk takes up any dye with much greater intensity than does the muslin.

I didn't take pictures of my first two dye pots, but above is when I tried turmeric. Maybe added a bit much turmeric, but definitely a yellow dye. You can see a pinkish batch from leaves and bark in the background of lower right photo.

My eco prints haven't been very successful at all, but I'll continue trying. And take better notes of what I'm doing.

India Flint's Eco Colour has been read cover to cover and perused frequently (often without my full understanding), but each time I return to it, my thoughts are a little clearer. Her blog (not all those who wander are lost) is also inspiring.

Since I'm only using small strips or squares, I don't mind the mistakes too much. I'm piecing together a tiny quilt of dyed and embroidered scraps. Taking some tips from Jude of Spirit Cloth-- I've been admiring her work and reading her blog for several years now. Her free and spontaneous style suits me since I'm not too good at following directions or patterns and love using embroidery (moodling) as a meditative process.

Embroidering these pieces and checking on my dye pots has kept me busy in a pleasant way.

I finished watching Everwood while working on some of these. I enjoyed this series and didn't see it while it was running.

A little more work on the dolls has taken place, too, but I'm sorry to say they have been neglected for the most part.

Hope everyone is having a great pre-Thanksgiving Weekend!

Home Again

2011-11-12T12:56:00.000-06:00

We flew into Raleigh on Monday, picked up our rental car, and headed to Chapel Hill. The trees were just hitting their peak in the Triangle of Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh. Breathtaking views of yellow, orange, and "pale and hectic red" (to borrow from Shelley's Ode to the West Wind, one of my favorite poems).

We stayed at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill--a delightful experience! If you are ever in the area, please give it a try. Small, intimate, and luxurious, the Siena has the friendliest, most accommodating staff imaginable, and a restaurant of remarkable quality.

Il Palio, the restaurant, was a favorite with locals; despite having a large selection of wonderful restaurants, several people told us they tried to get to Il Palio at least once a week. The menu descriptions sounded scrumptious, looked beautiful, and were heaven in the mouth. They were big into buying organic and local (as were all of the restaurants where we ate in both Chapel Hill and Asheville).

They take their food seriously in both places, and we didn't have a single meal that didn't elicit surprise and delight and a number of "mmmmmmmm"s as we ate. The emphasis on locavore and organic didn't interfere with creativity, and I've never had such a series of delicious meals.

On Wednesday, we drove into the mountains and to Asheville. The higher we got into the mountains, the less colorful foliage as the mountain foliage had already past its peak, but the mountains were so lovely, with such wonderful vistas. We were on I-40 all the way because it was about a 4 hour drive, and so we didn't have a chance to take pictures of some of the gorgeous scenery.

When we got to Asheville, we had a late lunch and visited the Ariel Gallery so I could see Akira Blount's dolls in person. That was a highlight of the trip for me since I've loved her work for years now.

Then we drove on up to Mills River to visit Marc and Debbie and fell in love with their house and the wonderful views from every window. It was so nice to spend a little time catching up with each others' lives. Kids all grown and that sort of thing, old friends, etc.

Back to Asheville before it got completely dark so we could check into our hotel. When we woke up Thursday morning, it felt like it had turned into winter overnight. We woke up to the day's high of 54 and the temps went down from that point. They were expecting the temps to drop into the mid-twenties that night. And the wind! It was really cold and overcast, but we walked around and visited some interesting shops before we had to head back.

We left Asheville and traveled back to Chapel Hill. I really regret not getting good pictures of the foliage. We didn't get any pictures of the glorious reds and oranges that were in the Chapel Hill and Durham area--such a shame because they were so spectacular. We enjoyed the trip so much that maybe we will get back again next year and make up for the pictures that didn't get taken.

Chaos in Action

2011-11-06T09:13:00.000-06:00

Fee bought me a new lens for my camera-- a 35 mm, f 1.8-- an early birthday gift! I've been playing with it and hope to make the most of it on our trip.

A little fabric play. Exaggeration. I spent most of the day playing with fabric. Dyed and embroidered.

Above, silk habotai , unbleached muslin, and flour sacking dyed with cranberry juice. We had an old bottle of unsweetened cranberry juice, and I decided to try it with a few scraps.

Below, some garden pics. It is a little overcast this morning.

Cold bundles from the last few days. Silk scraps with onion skins, leaves, spinach.

And a few shots from the studio.

Moodling on this piece continues. Used new lens; the new lens is perfect for some things, but may not be the best choice for detail pics like this because of blur characteristic. Still, I have a lot to learn about lens choice.

Actually, I finished the entire strip; it is embroidered from top to bottom; need to get a shot of the entire thing.

What to do with it? Always my problem. I like the fun of playing, but rarely consider before hand the purpose or how I might incorporate the finished piece. Maybe just the calm and pleasure of taking stitch after stitch is enough...

I've been auditioning fabrics for this lady. She's hung around in her knickers for too long.

Stinker on the step ladder. A wonderful cat toy.

Since I spent most of yesterday playing, I guess I'd better get busy with what needs to be done before we leave tomorrow morning.

How has your weekend been?

Light and Shadow

2011-11-03T11:33:00.000-05:00

Edgar lazes in the sun. No, I haven't gotten all of the Halloween stuff put away yet. Note to self: Quit Procrastinating!

I've been working on this piece of habotai silk with some pearl cotton. Just folding and gathering and wandering around with abandon while watching re-runs of The Guardian on Netflix.

It is a peaceful activity that requires no mental effort at all. Moodling. Happy idling.

We got a little rain last night and it is much cooler this morning. :) Very fall-like. I'm loving this cooler weather!

Danny isn't coming today to work on the laundry room, which is absolutely fine, because I can do without the noise, AND he has my washer and dryer hooked back up so I can wash clothes. :)

I'm going to do a little housework (very little), some more research on eco dyeing, and play upstairs in my studio. A good day!

This and That

2011-11-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

I still haven't taken down all of the Halloween stuff. Yesterday, the plumbers were working on the new addition to the laundry room, and I stayed in my bedroom reading. I couldn't play in the studio because they were adding a sink up there.

The addition is very small (but then the laundry room is so tiny that anything will be an improvement); it will give me a little more space, a built in ironing board, and a shelf, hopefully, for folding clothes.

Anyway, I spent most of the afternoon going back and forth between a mystery and India Flint's book on eco dyeing. I started it about a month ago, but was side-tracked by various other projects and the R.I.P. Challenge.

Yesterday, I started at the beginning again, hoping that it would be easier to digest (the chemistry aspect and multiple mordants tend to overwhelm me). As I suspected, a second reading was beneficial -- and third and fourth readings will probably be even better.

Flint's eco dyed fabrics are so beautiful (slow and complex cloth) and just looking at her work is a real treat. Her influence is felt all over the textile world and more and more people are venturing into this environmentally friendly method of dyeing cloth.

She uses eucalyptus in many of her fabrics, and I regret even more the loss of our eucalyptus tree to the tornado. I need to get another one for this house (although we have a postage stamp yard) because both Fee and I loved that tree. It was fast growing, too. I planted a baby that grew mighty fast.

You can see the eucalyptus at the end of the path. It had grown much larger before the tornado hit. Terrible picture, but it had grown this much in just a couple of years or so.

early spring; the comfrey hasn't gone crazy yet

early summer

Oh, how I miss my garden. This one simply can never be the same. This yard is so small and already planted in a simpler style with lots of shrubs. The soil isn't very good either.

I spent hours and hours, days, weeks, months... shoveling huge piles of eco mulch, creating my old beds; the goal was that the grass would just be for pathways. It had finally gotten there. My beloved perennials came back each year and many annuals re-seeded to the point of invasion.

Oh, how I loved my Queen Anne's Lace, comfey, daylillies, etc.. It is sad to think of all the dye material no longer available, but maybe I'll have a little more incentive to work on this new garden. All I have to do is dig up dozens of box woods and double dig the soil. Huh? I don't guess that is going to happen. There is a great deal of difference between 50 something and 60 something.

I'm looking forward to next week and our little trip to North Carolina. We will fly to Chapel Hill and rent a car and see as much as we can in 4-5 days. I suspect it will be just a taste of what is on offer!

What's going on at your house?

Trick or Treat

2011-11-01T19:28:00.000-05:00

I had lots of candy, but very few trick or treaters last night. I've been steadfastly working my way through the left over stuff. The little people who did come were adorable and so well-mannered. One little guy was much more interested in Edgar who was perched on the chest in the foyer.

I'm not sure why he was so interested in Edgar, as his mother had an adorable French bull dog puppy (with bat wings) on a leash.

My hat got plenty of compliments, and I thoroughly enjoyed our few visitors. Unfortunately, today is the day when all of the Halloween decorations must begin to come down. Not nearly as much fun taking them down.

Dolls in progress. Seems like they have been in progress forever.

November!

2011-11-01T11:08:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the most charming garlands and trees -- all expressing gratitude! What a great way to celebrate November and the Thanksgiving season. Check out all of them at Under the Table and Dreaming--Stephanie has collected 20 garlands and trees to share.

Tiffany blogs at Simply Modern Mom.

From Leafy Treetop Spot (via Craft Gossip), a pumpkin on a bumkin. Makes you smile, doesn't it?

Forty Years and Counting

2011-10-29T10:45:00.000-05:00

Today is our 40th anniversary! Hard to believe we've been married for 40 years. It's a real milestone. I wanted to get married on Halloween, but Halloween was on a Sunday that year, so we got married on Friday, the 29th.

Last night we had our anniversary dinner at L'Italiano. He had the veal; I had eggplant parmigiana (because I can never get enough eggplant). Coffee and cheesecake for dessert. Delicious.

When we got home, Fee gave me a witch's hat. Not just any old witch's hat, but a gorgeous, wonderful witch's hat!

I look a little stunned and my bangs are pretty squashed, but isn't it a gorgeous hat?

Tonight we will be keeping Bryce Eleanor, which is why we celebrated last night.

We will get the little darlin' around noon today. There will be a little window and grocery shopping. Maybe a visit to a park; we'll see.

Still working on five dolls at once. I move from one to another. The Izzanah Walker style doll still needs some clothing, but at least I've finished her knickers (although things are just pinned in the picture). This is the 4th pattern I've made for these dolls, and I made the arms and legs a different style from the others.

I had one experiment on the other doll heads go terribly wrong. Using the sheer bamboo cloth as a "skin" worked beautifully, but using a paper version meant I had to scrape off glue and paper for an hour at least. Particularly frustrating because head was already sewn to neck and neck to torso; arms had been sewn on, too. I might have tossed the head, but too much time had gone into the completing all the other parts and sewing them together, so I scraped and scraped. Now, I'm thinking that if things don't improve, maybe I'll just cut off her head (shades of Marie Antoinette) and make another head.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Craft: 5,4,3,2,1 things

2011-10-28T09:40:00.001-05:00

Craft has a series for the crafting community.

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of:
The quilt I made for my first granddaughter's first birthday. It prompted me to become involved with quilting and quilting blogs. I'll always be proud of that first attempt because it set me on a path I've enjoyed tremendously and introduced me to a lot of creative blog friends.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past:
How to decide on just two. I'll generalize:

1.) I don't think things through--I dive in and get busy without a clear idea of where I want to go with a project. I continue to make this mistake.

2.) I start too many projects at once, because when I'm in the mood to create, I get carried away.

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique:
1.) I like using vintage or found objects in my Eccentric dolls and each one is one of a kind.

2.) I like some whimsey in my dolls, pillows, and little quilts.

I originally drew silly birds for embroidery projects, but I've used them in pillows,
and in an art quilt based on the above pillow

3.) And maybe the fact that I don't always plan an outcome...I let the project guide my decisions. Sometimes this is a mistake, sometimes serendipity.

Four Tools You Love:
1.) My sewing machine.
2.) My scissors.
3.) My yoga mat. It allows me to take breaks that are relaxing if I've been bent over something for too long.
4.) My new Dremel tool. (I haven't really used it yet, but I love it. It was a surprise from my husband.)

Five Inspirations:
1.) Blogs. Oh my, the inspiration from fellow bloggers, the enthusiasm, the encouragement!
2.) Flea markets. All kinds of inspiration there.
3.) Magazines. There is a magazine for every interest.
4.) Poetry. I love adding text to items. Sometimes the poetry inspires the project; sometimes the project
me think of a line of poetry.
5.) My Yoga Mat. Often when I'm doing yoga, I find solutions to problems in my work.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

2011-10-25T13:49:00.000-05:00

I've finished Rowan, the witch doll. She was almost done when I abandoned her for other projects. Then I noticed her again and felt a little guilty, so I made her some shoes, mounted her on a wooden block, then finished painting and sealing her. She is holding a little ghost poppet, who looks a little tired.

Another cloth and clay doll in the Izannah Walker style is also being neglected. All she really needs is clothes. Her head and body are done, face and hands painted and crackled, but choosing fabrics for her clothing stalled her progress.

Inspired by Akira Blount (my favorite doll maker), I've been working in cloth for the last four or five days. Long days, too, as the process (learning, making mistakes, etc.) is relatively slow. Pulled out my Susanna Oroyan books and have been giving them a great deal of attention. Ordered a DVD by Akira Blount and found even more enthusiasm for cloth dolls and needle sculpting.

There are four dolls in various stages of progress. I plan to handle all of the heads differently, but have gotten one head through all the stages except for doing something about the baldness. She has a light coat of paper clay over the cloth. The other heads be finished differently without paper clay, as I experiment with various methods, including a "skin" of gauze.

I've made quite a few patterns lately for the stump dolls, the Izannah style dolls, the Bitter & Boo twins. Now, I've made dozens more for these newer dolls. The arms...too big, too small. Try again. Hands too big. Try again. And again. Shape of the heads, shape of the torsos. Keep trying. I've discarded a lot of versions and am still not happy with what I've got, but I'm getting closer.

Haven't even decided about legs yet. And clothing and hair,hats, or head dressings of some kind.

The pattern I made for the neck needs changes. I liked the way Cindee Moyer made the neck part of the torso, but all of the above have separate heads, necks, and torsos that have to be sewn together. All of the heads and necks have been sewn together, but I still have two heads/necks left to attach to torsos. They are all pinned and waiting.

I'm reading The Tin Ticket:The Heroic Journey of Australia's Convict Women and discovering the horrors of the poor in Scotland during the early 1800's and the unbelievably dreadful conditions that existed in the factories where children as young as five were put to work for 12-18 hour days. The book follows the lives of four of these women who, for the crime of poverty alone in many cases, were shipped off to Australia where they were imprisoned in another factory.

I have to take it in small doses because what happened in the "civilized" world during the 1800's is so sad and shocking, but the book is fascinating, and I know will be ultimately triumphant because the descendants of these women have been interviewed. The book was sent to me as an ARC and will be released Nov. 1.

Enough of this, there is housework, laundry, and grocery shopping to be done. Have a great day!

Monday Musings

2011-10-24T08:18:00.000-05:00

Check the tutorial for one of the cutest Halloween costumes I've seen this year. This is the work of Lindsay at Diary of a Crafty Lady . Creating a costume about a child's favorite book or movie works in so many ways.

I also discovered a new favorite crafty blog: Diary of a Crafty Lady is full of creative inspiration. Her Cowgirl Jesse costume gives just a taste of the Lady's talents.

I wish I'd kept track of the costumes I've seen based on a favorite book or movie. There are some cute and creative ones out there.

This mobile is such a terrific combination of fun, recycling, and creativity, as well as being a child friendly project:

Check the tutorial at Happy Clippings.

I've quite fallen in love with Emmy the Great. She wrote Mistress England for all the mothers of daughters of a certain age who were disappointed when Prince William married Kate. The hopes for their daughters ended with the Royal Wedding.

Yesterday, we planted pansies and mums. My back is giving me a twinge or two this morning.

How was your weekend?

Bone Jour

2011-10-22T13:16:00.000-05:00

I got the best Halloween card ever in yesterday's mail! From Mila and Max with a nice long note from each (Mila wrote Max's) and a note from their mom, the card lifted my spirits and is now on display. On the outside, the card says "Bone Jour," and on the inside, "that's skeleton for Happy Halloween!" I especially like this because Mila and Max are half French on their dad's side.

Performed my civic duty this morning and voted. Turn out isn't expected be great, but there were quite a few people in line when we got there. The wait wasn't too long, though, which was good.

I stayed in the studio almost all day yesterday. Painted figures, tea dyed some cloth, made knickers for a nameless doll, made a bunch of doll heads. Lost a hand. I've looked and looked for that hand. Where the heck did it disappear to? It is a little more than an inch long--small, but not minuscule. A puzzle. I'll probably find it once I've made another.

Edgar and I are still going round and round. He's bad, I'm mad; he's sweet, I'm suckered in again. He is quite the charming con man.

Little Stinker is in my lap right now; she must know that Edgar is on the outs. Good cat.
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I've been having some problems lately with blogs that I've subscribed to on my Google Reader not showing up. Of course, I don't notice at first, then suddenly a post shows up, and I discover that I've missed quite a few posts. Annoying.

Have a great weekend!

Links and BAD Cat!

2011-10-21T09:37:00.001-05:00

I've mentioned The Prayer Flag project before, and when I get some of my current done, I want to make some of these. I love the inspiration behind all of these projects.

Jane LaFazio keeps adding to her Prayer Flags.

And the Bhavana Project's Prayer Flags can't be forgotten. Bhavana can mean intention, becoming, meditation, even attitude. The yoga tradition I follow includes forming a bhavana at the beginning of each practice. These bhavanas have been turned into prayer flags.

In the same vein, Valerie Kamikubo's Thankfulness Installation. Looking at Valerie's weekly additions always cheers me.

O.K.--now to complain. The Triad. Most particularly, Edgar. Why can't he leave anything alone? Here he is on a shelf I never expected him to be able to access. I think he used the mantle as a means to his end.

I bought that bowl and pitcher at the Peden's Antique Shop outside of Ruston, LA nearly 40 years ago. I really don't want to lose it. Bless their hearts, Mr. and Mrs. Peden let us put a table on lay-away because we couldn't afford to buy it outright. I bought pieces of Depression glass there for 50 cents. Now, I wish I'd bought a lot more!

In the Mail and Miscellaneous

2011-10-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

I ordered some fingerless gloves from Infinity Threads on Etsy, and they arrived yesterday. The gloves are really beautiful (love the ruffle and the button embellishment), and I'm so pleased with them. Marie had just opened her shop, and I was her first customer, so she added a lovely flower pin as lagniappe.

Now, I'm from Louisiana, and I just love a little lagniappe! It was a generous gesture and duly appreciated for both the generosity and the beauty of the flower pin. Thanks, Marie!

I'm still working on the little witch and another cloth and clay doll. They are coming along-- a little slowly as I try to imagine what they will wear. Fabric is strewn from here to eternity. Vintage handkerchiefs and laces have been auditioned. for one, Halloween fabric for the other. The floor, the ironing board, chairs, table are all covered in some crafting material. I must clean up to be able to get anything done.

My list for today includes:

clean studio (at least enough that I can think and work)
dust and vacuum the rest of the house
review at least one of the 8 books in the "to be reviewed" pile
work on dressing dolls

There are a lot of other things to be done, but I can't even think about them until having a go at the above 4!

Have a great day!

Thinking about

2011-10-18T14:11:00.000-05:00

Today, two things have bothered me. One is a book that I finished last night and that is lingering today. The Night Strangers is a ghost/horror story and has all the suspense of and some similarity to Rosemary's Baby. (Remember the book and the movie with a young Mia Farrow, anyone? It was a long time ago.)

I read The Night Strangers for the R.I.P. Challenge I participate in each year on my book blog--Readers Imbibing Peril. You know, a kind of pre-Halloween kind of reading challenge that my friend Carl hosts each year. For the past six years, I've participated in this challenge and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've read (and occasionally reread) books that involve the supernatural or scary or just plain weird.

However, even though The Night Strangers is a good ghost/horror story, it is unsettling, disturbing. And this morning, after doing my yoga sadhana and pranayama, and beginning my meditation, the book appeared in my mind. Usually, I can dismiss thoughts and return to meditating, but this morning, I simply couldn't because it had jarred my mood too much.

The other thing that bothered me was reading about a post and counter-post on a quilting blog and the really unpleasant, and often anonymous, comments that were made.

So, overall, an unpleasant way to begin the day. Not even the little bit of rain we received this morning and the wonderfully cooler temperatures we are enjoying quite rid me of these oppressive feelings.

BUT THEN...

I happened on a blog post that cheered me up and offered some really good advice in the form of a quote. Amy's post this morning at The Idea Room puts things in perspective. Here is the quote:

The world has enough women who are tough;

we need women who are tender.

There are enough women who are coarse;

we need women who are kind.

There are enough women who are rude;

we need women who are refined.

We have enough women of fame and fortune;

we need more women of faith.

We have enough greed;

we need more goodness.

We have enough vanity;

we need more virtue.

We have enough popularity;

we need more purity.

-Margaret D. Nadauld

This quote and Amy's post have begun to restore my equanimity. It is a reminder to be ever conscious of the choices we make, the things we say, even the things we think because these words and thoughts can be harmful not only to others, but also to ourselves.

Which brings me back to this quote I've use before on this blog and that concludes every email from A Note from the Universe:

Thoughts become things...choose the good ones.

**I also want to read Jeffrey Sachs' book The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity, in which Sachs' "offers not only a searing and incisive diagnosis of our country’s economic ills but also an urgent call for Americans to restore the virtues of fairness, honesty, and foresight as the foundations of national prosperity."

Idea Overload

2011-10-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

My head is so full of ideas right now that I'm almost stalled. Which current project to work on, which new ideas to work on, which fabrics, which technique....

I've got 3 figures in the works, but I really want to begin on some new ideas.

A case of crafting ADD--a flood of possibilities-- to the point that choosing where to begin is a problem.

Black cat is pretty much finished. Here he is in process.

Haven't been able to decide what he will hold in his hand. I tried a few things made from last year's Halloween Tree, but I guess I might have to make something else. I used an old grater for the base, and had to seal it well because of the rust.

Old Friends and Quilts

2011-10-15T08:57:00.001-05:00

I had lunch yesterday with Beth, Nina, and Thomas from our old Tai Chi group. Mike couldn't make it, but we had a great lunch with lots of catching up. We used to be together about 6 days a week for classes and practice in the park, but we haven't seen much of each other for quite a while now. Beth is moving to Colorado, and we will miss her!

AND I just found out for sure that...

My three little art quilts (Hope Is the Thing with Feathers, I Want to Go Home, and I Carry Your Heart) will be going to Houston to the International Quilt Festival! I'm so happy that they will be on display and hope that they will make some money for AAQI. Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative does so much to aid in finding a cure for this awful disease. I'm honored and thrilled to have all 3 of my little quilts selected to travel to Houston.

Have a great weekend!

Dolls, Family, Plants, Books

2011-10-12T14:27:00.000-05:00

My, little kitten, what big eyes you have.

Bryce Eleanor went to a Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze last weekend. Courageous little beggar!

She's not even four yet; next thing I know she'll be sky diving. She evidently liked the corn bin, too.

I bought some ornamental cabbage, kale, heuchera, cordylene, violas, etc. and have been filling planters this morning.

We are getting a little rain--praying it lasts all day!

My review of The Devil's Puzzle (A Someday Quilts Mystery) is on my book blog. I will be looking for the previous quilting mysteries by O'Donohue. I read one of Jennifer Chiaverini's quilting mysteries several years ago, but it didn't really hold my interest. The Devil's Puzzle was fun.

Aaron Copeland

2011-10-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

I've been listening to "Simple Gifts" from Appalachian Spring. I know it is the wrong time of year, but I LOVE it!

Bitter and Boo

2011-10-10T09:07:00.002-05:00

Finished Bitter yesterday and gave him a little photo shoot. Because of the size of the fabrics I stitched together for him from left over pieces, I had to make a new pattern, slimming him down some. He and Boo are posing with the pumpkins I made a la Frugalicious Me.

I think Bitter is a little put out by his thinning hair. Oh, well, he is temperamental anyway.

Boo's ears are felt and the heat gun kind of melted them before I realized it.

More little Halloween creatures in the works; actually, they are in the oven to speed up their drying. :)

-----
Got my first issue of Eating Well in the mail yesterday; maybe it will inspire me to put more than clay in the oven.

Oh, and I read The Devil's Puzzle (A Someday Quilts Mystery) by Clare O'Donohue recently. I really enjoyed it! I'll be reviewing it soon on my book blog.

How is your week looking?

Polish the Stars

Invisible Snow

2011-10-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

Invisible Snow from Kim Kyung-Hoon on Vimeo.

I saved this quote some time ago and think it works with the video:

"I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge." -Og Mandino

Saturday Crafting

2011-10-08T10:10:00.001-05:00

Bitter is in progress. Not sure yet if Bitter is male or female, but Bitter will partner with Boo.

Lots of decisions left on Bitter.

Boo hangs on the wall.

Another little flower bouquet; this one is a tiny basket with a left over ruffled piece of burlap and a Halloween cat head I made last year and didn't use.

The tag is from Sabrina Zanetti's Etsy Shop, where I went a little crazy. I loved so many of her Halloween images! I printed this image on linen. I also used one on Boo and will add one to Bitter.

Here is how simple the flowers are. I'll make more in other fabrics at some point.

You can add a bead to the end of the wire at the center of the flower or just curl the wire. Of course, you wouldn't have to use either Mod Podge or fabric stiffener, but I used both so I could shape them a little.

Linked to Thirty Handmade Days, The Trendy Treehouse, Frugalicious Friday, Feathered Nest Friday

:) Yesterday Was Terrific

2011-10-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the nicest thing happened--Ami Simms called me! She called to thank me for the 3 little quilts I donated to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative! She mentioned each one specifically, and I was absolutely blown away. With all that the woman does, to take the time to call and thank people for donations shows such a generous spirit!

I floated all day. Each time I thought about the call, I was alight with gratitude for Ami Simms and all she does. What a remarkable woman and what a remarkable organization. The AAQI is all volunteer and every penny earned goes to research. Would that more charities would take this format.

So now, of course, I'm looking back through my journal for ideas I'd jotted down for Alzheimer Art Quilts!
--------

This is one of the Halloween flower bouquets I've been working on lately.

They have been fun to play with while watching Netflix movies like Goodnight, Mr. Tom and Zelary.

Have a great weekend!

Cursive Writing No Longer Taught in Schools?

2011-10-04T09:42:00.001-05:00

I was appalled to learn that cursive writing is no longer being taught in Louisiana schools. According to different sources, 41 (or 46) states have eliminated the teaching of cursive. Keyboarding is taught in its place.

Teaching keyboarding is fine; it is logical; it is keeping up with the times. However, discontinuing the teaching of cursive writing is (in my opinion) a mistake.

Here are some dissenting voices:

The reason school systems give for discontinuing the practice of teaching what we used to call "real writing" or penmanship is that it is becoming obsolete. Sure it will, if everybody stops teaching kids how to do it. So will solving algebra equations and dissecting fetal pigs. Why do you think nobody can read hieroglyphics anymore? They stopped teaching it in Egyptian schools. And look what's happening over there today!

Those in favor of scratching chicken-scratch from the school curriculum of our state argue that people just don't use it anymore. They say that today's generation uses word processors and other electronic means of communication. They insist that the only thing they use cursive writing for is to sign their names on checks and other documents, and that pretty soon signatures also will be unnecessary.

excerpt from A Call to Keep Cursive Part of Public Education by Darrel Huckaby, educator, author, public speaker

Reasons to reconsider the elimination of teaching cursive (from an article in the Evansville Courier & Press:

No matter what is said, sometimes pen and paper are necessary tools of communication. Learning cursive is a form of discipline, much like learning the motions of ballet or yoga. It teaches the discipline of repetitive motion along with a feeling of accomplishment when the skill is mastered.

And from a neuropsychologist's point of view, learning cursive writing is a much-different skill than that of keyboarding.

According to an article in the Washington Post, "the neurological process that directs thought, through fingers, into written symbols is a highly sophisticated one."

The Chicago Tribune has written that "several studies have shown that good handwriting skills, taught at a young age, can help children express their thoughts more clearly."

From a cognitive development standpoint, research has shown that children who do not possess proficient handwriting skills produce simpler, briefer compositions.

As logic would dictate, students who print, rather than write in cursive, typically need more time to take notes or write essays for the SAT.

According to the College Board, SAT essays written in cursive had slightly higher average scores than those that were printed. (Currently, both SAT tests and Advanced Placement exams require handwritten essays.)

Research has shown that handwriting makes a difference in the perception of a student's knowledge and ideas.

Whether fair or not, legible handwriting may improve a student's test score, while messy handwriting can detract from it.

"In one academic study, first-graders who could write only 10 to 12 letters per minute were given 45 minutes of handwriting instruction for nine weeks. Their writing speed doubled, their expressed thoughts became more complex and their sentence construction skills increased," according to Wikipedia.

and from the same article:

Anthony Judson, a long-time educator and former school superintendent, agreed, saying, "Deciding not to teach cursive writing based upon other communication tools at our disposal, is like deciding not to teach mathematics due to the availability of computers and calculators.

"In my opinion, cursive writing is still a valuable communication technique which should be made available to our students. Instead of eliminating it from our curricula I believe we should be evaluating all of the testing forced upon our schools by politicians who, in the majority of cases, have little understanding of child development, individual learning styles or ability and achievement comparisons."

And David Mingle, an experienced instructor with whom I taught at a two-year college in Indiana — and who, not coincidentally, has beautiful penmanship — said, "Writing in cursive and in lettering (printing is performed by machines), develops who we are artistically and intellectually. It promotes individuality, thus promoting creativity."

------------

During the conversation at Amelia's in which this topic was discussed, all of the mothers present said they would teach their own children cursive if the schools did not. Ashley, a 4th grade teacher, said she still includes it in her class despite the fact it is no longer part of the curriculum.

No one is suggesting that teaching keyboarding is a mistake. In today's world, keyboarding is a necessary skill. That does not mean that eliminating cursive is a good idea.

What do you think?

31 Days

2011-10-02T23:03:00.015-05:00

I've seen a few of these posts in the last week or two, and they provide an interesting take on blogging.

Topics include just about anything and everything--from 31 Days of Holiday Decorating, to 31 Days of Change the World, Balance Your Budget, Make a Rental a Home, Thrifting, Courage, Memory Keeping, Photo Tips, Fall Nesting, Handmade Gifts, Halloween Hijinks... and on and on. Cool idea for a challenge.

Check them out at Nesting Place's 31 Dayers post.

Maybe I will just try to post each day for 31 Days...
That would be an achievement for me. Or maybe just to check in on some of the 31 Day posts each day.

I took the weekend off as far as crafting is concerned. I enjoyed playing with Bryce Eleanor and the cooler weather. After B.E. left Sunday afternoon, I got in some reading.

Fee and the guys had a great weekend at the camp. It was the annual Squirrel Mulligan. I think they all had a great time.

Hope everyone has a great week ahead!

I've Got Company

2011-10-01T14:58:00.000-05:00

Bryce Eleanor is here, and we've watered flowers, had a popsicle, and finger painted!

We have more plans in the works, but we move on her agenda.

A little while ago, she asked me if I'd read her a book, and before I could answer, she said, "Say: Yes, I'd love to!"

Which I did say--with all the emphasis she indicated--as soon as I quit giggling.

She also told me that "stupid" was a bad word, and I agreed that we shouldn't call anyone stupid. Then she stuck her head under the covers. When she reappeared, she said, "But I can say it under the covers." Hmmm...maybe if we all waited until we were under the covers to say something mean, the world would get along better.

Her Name Is Boo

2011-09-30T11:30:00.002-05:00

Boo is a cloth doll with a clay face. Eventually, she will have a partner, Bitter, but I haven't begun him yet.

I loved deciding on the embellishments for Boo, and they changed daily for a while.

She was fun to make, and I'm eager to begin her little partner. I aged the fabric with Kahlua coffee and cinnamon, and when I pressed the fabric, the entire studio smelled good. :)

Hope you are having a great Friday!

2011-09-29T10:55:00.020-05:00

Since Edgar knocked over and broke the vase that held this Halloween arrangement ( I hated to lose that vase, but E. was after a moth), I had to come up with another way to display the twigs, etc. I found some delicate little napkins I'd bought with crafting in mind almost a year ago and Modge Podged them onto a terra cotta pot, then re-assembled my arrangement inside.

I really liked the way the clay pot turned out, and the cost couldn't have been more than 3-4 dollars; the napkins probably cost more than the pot. I've always liked the way crumpled tissue paper sealed with Modge Podge looks, so the napkins were an easy way to adorn the plain pot.

The little Halloween quilts I made several years ago have gone back up on the brick wall. I've got lots of fall and Halloween fabric left, so I should make some more of these little quilts; they were fun.

I thought I'd have one or both of the dolls I've been working on completed, but I ended up being side-tracked several times yesterday, and I'm not pleased with what little work did manage to get done on them. In fact, the pumpkin head doll I've just about given up on. There was a reason that pumpkin head remained without a body for so long...

Hope you are having a great day!

Check out some creative ideas at Frugalicious Me.

Decorations in the Works

2011-09-26T01:58:00.003-05:00

Still working on the other two dolls and hope to finish Boo today. Here she is in her early stages. Boo is another doll that evolved from one idea to another, but I'm liking her evolution as she has become more fun with each step.

I have so many projects that I want to begin, but I've got to get through some of the ones still in progress first.

Fall and Halloween ideas lead to serious ADD problems. While waiting for something to dry, I begin working on something else. Then... I kind of get lost in all of the diverging ideas.

The rag banner (with skeletons that I bought at Michael's and then found at Dollar Tree :/) is finished and hangs below the mantle.

The entry has some decorations now. The picture I got at Michael's is in the normal view.
I love the way it switches to the skeletons when you move.

I had the pumpkin last year, just added the bow and the owl.
I'm still having fun making stuff and getting out last year's Halloween decorations.

My friend Thomas has christened the cage doll in the previous post. She is now Zarra Gilderoy. :)

I've been participating in Daily Challenge for Every Day Well-Being for several days now and enjoying it.

Hope everyone has a good week!

Dolls and the Symphony

2011-09-25T15:38:00.001-05:00

I'm calling this lady done. I've added the skirt and embellishments (and may add more beads if I feel like it, but essentially, she is done. Although she did not turn out to be The Gatherer, I certainly benefited from Cindee Moyer's online class. I learned several new tricks that will be useful in the future.

Fee and I went to the opening of the Shreveport Symphony season with Marty and Robin last night. Zuil Bailey, the cellist, and David Amram were just wonderful guest artists. The symphony and Michael Butterman were also terrific, as always.

I must watch David Amram: The First 80 Years! He was so much fun, so full of energy and enthusiasm!

Friday Frivolities

2011-09-23T14:31:00.001-05:00

Fee has been out of town a lot lately, and I have spent most of these days in the studio. In the works: a cage doll, a silly stuffed doll, a re-paint of an old head that never went anywhere, but is now getting a body to go with the head, a rag & skeleton garland, the burlap and fabric pumpkins (yes, copied directly from Frugalicious Me because I love hers; I have made a couple out of different cloth, though).

I'm definitely not the stylist that Tasha is. She has a knack for making beautiful photos.

On the doll front, each step seems to take so much time. Waiting, waiting, waiting, for clay to dry, gesso to dry, paint to dry. The cage doll (as yet unnamed) is now mounted on the cage I just finished.

I've learned to enjoy stuffing, something I used to hate; I like it now because I can watch television while I stuff. Stuffing one large doll can take a long, long time, but with my mind occupied, it is a relaxing activity.

Last night as I stuffed the silly Halloween doll, I watched Kenneth Branagh's version of As You Like It--set in Japan. At first, I wasn't too impressed, but after everyone got exiled to Arden, it really picked up. Keven Kline was Jacques and Alfred Molina was Touchstone. Oh, could Shakespeare put the human condition in such beautiful language!

And I've been ordering books like crazy (even though this week I've not had much time to read because I've been upstairs and downstairs working on eccentricities.

In the next week, I'll be getting half a dozen (well, at least 3--but a quarter of a dozen just doesn't have the same panache) separate orders and since some of them come from independent sellers--lots of deliveries.

Books for Carl's R.I.P. challenge (Gothic, witchy or zombie or vampire-y or scary or supernatural), books I just think I want to read (now, not when they finally arrive at the library), books on mixed media. That may cover the genres, I'm not sure because each purchase has been impulsive, spur-of-the-moment.

When I get Sew Wild: Creating With Stitch and Mixed Media, I probably won't have time to read all the fiction!

Have a great weekend!

A Visit to Spooky Time Jingles

2011-09-23T08:31:00.000-05:00

The first links are to the artists' pages on Spooky Time Jingles.

I love Chicken Lips! I've been admiring his work for some time and these little fellows are too cute. You can also find his visit his blog.

Cat & Fiddle Folks is another fun artist. My favorite ornament is Daper Moon, and he hasn't sold yet.

Cat & Fiddle Folks blog and Etsy.

I know I've mentioned Junker Jane
before. I can't help falling
in love with her creations.

Visit her blog and her Etsy to see
more of her little monsters.

Crafty Shopping

2011-09-22T09:49:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I went to Michael's and to JoAnn's and bought more than I intended. It happens. The coupons don't count for much when everything you buy is on sale!

I loved the picture that I got from Michael's. One view--a vintage family photo; the other, if you move just slightly, a skeletal view. It amuses me, so I've been standing in front of it and swaying right and left. A little creepy, but fun.

I got the paper mache skull at Michael's and the new Halloween fabric at JoAnn's. The bowl, which has been on the table a couple of days holds my apples. Whenever, I'm a little hungry, I just grab an apple. Looks like I need to get some more-- bowl is getting low!

The other day when I was making the fabric pumpkins (which are such fun and so fast), I cut a large circle of burlap, gathered a strip of Halloween fabric, and sewed it on. Easy, peasy. Put my apples in the bowl--a little table addition.

What else? I also got some wooden rounds that I plan to use for the latest doll, a skeleton garland, an owl, a crow, a new hydrangea stem in a burgundy color....

I've also placed another order with Amazon for couple of mixed media books. As if I don't have enough projects in the works...I need to go upstairs and get busy!

What's on your agenda for today?

Today Is World Alzheimer's Day

2011-09-21T07:29:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I posted about this with links to AAQI and The Wall of Remembrance.

Here are some facts about Alzheimer's in Louisiana:

Estimated number of people age 65 or older with the disease.
2000: 73,000
2010: 83,000
2020: 92,000
2025: 100,00

Think of the number of caregivers and family members these numbers indicate, just in Louisiana.

Here is a link to the Alzheimer's Association 2011 Facts and Figures. There is a list of statistics and predictions for each state included in this report, although you have to scroll down to find it.

World Alzheimer's Day

2011-09-20T17:52:00.001-05:00

Put Your Loved One on FaceBook

World Alzheimer's Day is Wednesday September 21st. Please change your FaceBook profile picture to a photograph of a person who has/had Alzheimer's that you wish to honor and remember on September 21st and always.

Please include this statement in your status update:

I support the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative at www.AlzQuilts.org

If you make a $5 donation (below) to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative before midnight on Wednesday post the invoice number generated by your donation to the AAQI FaceBook Page*, we will capture the image of your loved one from your profile picture and add it to the 2011 AAQI Virtual Wall of Remembrance where it will remain for one year. Names will not accompany photographs.

If you are not on FaceBook, or wish to make multiple donations to honor more than one person, email one photograph of each of your loved ones and the invoice number generated by your donation ($5 per photograph) to Diane at diane456@gmail.com. Pictures may be cropped and sized to fit the wall.

As it is somewhat time consuming to snag and post your profile picture, please do not change it until you see it appear on the "wall" on the AAQI Update Blog. It may take several days to keep up! We'll do our best.

Spreading Out Again

2011-09-20T07:54:00.000-05:00

Remember that I said I wanted to make some pumpkins like those of Frugalicious Me? Well, night before last, after working on the newest doll, I got out my burlap and my Halloween fabrics to do a little crafting and decided to try the pumpkins. I even had one stem of the light lime hydrangea, artificial. I think Frugalicious used dried hydrangeas which would be much, much better, but using what I have works for me (until I can find some dried hydrangea blossoms).

Yesterday morning I went upstairs to do my yoga sadhana, and found this---

No room for my yoga mat! Time to clean up again. Well, as soon as I finish with the burlap. Right now, it just gets piled out of the way. The cardboard box is where I sand dolls, etc. I need more burlap.

A trip to Michael's and/or JoAnn's is definitely on the agenda.

I've been putting things away and making room for Fall/Halloween stuff. My decorating is limited because of The Triad, who manage to leap onto almost any surface, scattering (and sometimes chewing) whatever is there.

I need to get in the attic space and straighten up so I can store things in a more organized manner. You can see the attic door in the first photo. All the Spring/Summer stuff has to be put away.

The new doll is coming along. I have some decisions to make about the kind of cage I want for her body, so she may remain in the jar for a while.

Rain and D.I.P (doll in progress)

2011-09-19T09:22:00.000-05:00

We finally got some rain! Yesterday, off and on all day, it rained and refreshed our dry world. I moved the hibiscus out from the overhang so it could get some of the blessed event. One day of rain won't end the drought, but maybe it is a start.

Here is the doll I'm working on. I took a class from Cindee Moyer on Joggles. Really, I just printed out the pattern and instructions because the online class was actually in August, and I knew I couldn't get to it then. Cindee Moyer is an extremely talented and whimsical doll maker, and I wish I could attend one of her real life workshops.

Last week, I got out the instructions (which I didn't always understand) and began-- even though I didn't have a good knit and had to use torn up tee shirt scraps I'd bought for cleaning.

For various reasons, I made many, many mistakes, but I learned some new ideas and techniques. The Gatherer, Cindee's doll is all cloth, but because my head was so wonky, I covered the head, shoulders, and hands with paper clay over the cloth.

Next time, I'll pay more attention to the instructions, and I've ordered some knit fabric that will be a much better option than old tee shirt scraps.

She still looks pretty wonky in these pictures, but truthfully, that isn't unusual. The more I work on her, the more I like her. I should have taken a lot more pics of the doll in progress, but I kept thinking that I was going to give up and send her to the Neverland of Dolls, along with so many others. There are so many heads and unfinished dolls hanging around the studio; poor things, abandoned, neglected, and scorned.

I'm glad I kept working on her, though, because in the last two days, she has begun to materialize, and I have become quite fond of her.

I wish I'd had the information from The Magic Bean about stuffing before making these last five dolls. Her method of stuffing is quite different from anything else I've seen, and I can't wait to try it. Need longer hemostats first. Here is a link to her Etsy shop. Beautiful dolls!

Have a great day!

A Little Fall Flavor

2011-09-18T10:09:00.001-05:00

Tasha, at Frugalicious Me, made these lovely, lovely burlap pumpkins. Aren't the colors wonderful? I think I'm in love. Hydrangeas always speak beauty to me. I may try to make some, but I really want Tasha's.

And have you visited Mamie Jane? I really like this version of a Halloween/Harvest/ Fall pumpkin from a spool of crochet thread and may try making one (or two) of my own...when I finally get around to decorating for the season. Elegantly simple.

Mamie Jane is a very creative lady. Here is another version -- a vase! Who knew what you could do with a spool of crochet thread! Oh, yes, I guess I have a blog crush on Mamie Jane.

I love this little fellow! Clarissa's Creativity Space offers a tutorial! :) The back says, "Cleaning Crew."

What wonderful ideas, creative and funny, you can discover on the web!

I really need to do a little house work. Lately, I've been spending my days upstairs in the studio. A new doll in the works. She is little like the way she was intended to be, and I almost abandoned her, but decided that as an experiment, the project was worth continuing. Now, I'm beginning to like her. Will share some pics later.

What creative things have you been up to? Are doing any Autumn or Halloween decorating? Any ideas to share?

I'm much better at collecting ideas than actually making anything.

September Is Flying By

2011-09-16T08:49:00.003-05:00

Rosemary and Agnes are finished!

Rosemary, above, has arms and legs, but Agnes, below, is another weighted doll.

I just had her arms pinned on at this stage, so I wouldn't get them confused with Rosemary's arms.

This is the only picture I've taken of Agnes complete.

I believe I'm finished with this style for the time being. And since October is just
around the corner, maybe I need to work on a Halloween figure or two.

It is time to get out
some of last year's, Halloween creatures,the Halloween tree, the little
Halloween quilts, etc. and decorate for the season.

We began the week with 106 F, and we are ending it with highs in 70's and 80's.
That is fall weather for us! Even though we will be back into the
90's next week. We can delight in these cooler days.

Just for Fun Links

2011-09-14T08:16:00.000-05:00

I found this over at Aunt Peaches, and it really made me smile! In fact, there were quite a few posts that made me smile. Check out this one. Oh, just go to the blog and enjoy the color and the craziness.

And with all of the disasters this year, C.R.A.F.T. suggests 25 Ways to Give Back to Your Community.

How about 20 Unique Pumpkin Ideas...also from C.R.A.F.T.

This one is from Thread Addict -- quilted blocks with text (and interesting takes on text). :)

What fun things have you discovered lately?

Silly Cats

2011-09-13T11:37:00.000-05:00

Cats are funny and furry and frustrating. Edgar loves his boxes and climbing in the cabinet over the computer desk. Frequently knocking things down.

Little Stinker loves her stair steps.

Rosemary and Agnes

2011-09-12T10:16:00.019-05:00

Rosemary in progress.

Agnes is in progress, too. I continue to refine the pattern. The first one I drew has changes already and will have many more as I continue to decide what I like and don't like. Rosemary and Agnes patterns will be different in future incarnations.

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This is a Note from the Universe that I saved because I like it so much:

Of course there are exceptions, but all-in-all it seems to me that those who are religious, cling, whereas those who are spiritual, seek.

But to be really honest, Jen, it's the happy folks who know how to live.

Grins,
The Universe

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I've completed my 70 minutes of yoga, pranayama, and meditation. I skipped Friday and Saturday, but got back on schedule yesterday. Boy, does it make a difference in the way my body feels.

Now, on to cleaning and laundry before going upstairs to play.

Our Team Won!

2011-09-11T09:39:00.000-05:00

In a surprising upset, Hotai and the Foo Dogs won the Shreveport 2011 Dragon Boat Races. I still can't get over the big hearts of these first timers, who beat the two-time defending champions, the Blazing Infernos (Fire Dept. crew - to whom we all owe our gratitude for their service). Our crew included family friends, Air Force guys, and Sports Spectrum. Only 8 were able to make the first practice, so for most of the crew, it was the first time in a dragon boat, and for the rest, only the second.

One of the earlier races. I didn't get a picture of the final race.

Team Captain Chris Chandler, our terrific SIL, recruited and organized our crew. Did he do a good job, or what? These guys gave everything they had and ended up with the best time of the day.

There were 28 crews giving their all Saturday. The Blazing Infernos, the Texas Tornadoes, St. Joseph's Catholic Church were the leaders early in the day, but as the day went on things began to shift.

In the final race, The Foo Dogs, The Blazing Infernos, and The Texas Tornadoes were so close that they had to examine the finish frame by frame.

Niece Katie and Amelia:

Bryce Eleanor playing with her new friend, who liked the chocolate ice cream on her face.

Ashley and Paddie:

Bryce Eleanor (after playing in the fountains), Amelia, and Paddie.

It was a grand day!

Here and There

2011-09-08T15:33:00.000-05:00

A Spoonful of Sugar offers a tutorial for making these beautiful pattern weights! I love them! What a great use for yoyo s!

I've had so much fun visiting some of the links for the pictures of "Where I Sew" -- a series hosted by Pink Chalk Studios.

Some New Dolls

2011-09-07T20:01:00.002-05:00

I've been working on some new dolls, cloth with clay over the cloth heads in the manner of Izannah Walker dolls and inspired by many doll makers.

Here are Harriet and Matilda. There is a little painted lace around the neckline and the sleeves.

Harriet and Matilda must be sisters, as they look so much alike.

Rosemary and Agnes are in the works. I like the way the crackle turned out on these.

Before starting this group of dolls, I did a thorough re-organization / cleaning of the studio. It is already a mess again!