Continuing to work on these blocks.

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I've been reading like a maniac again.  Two favorites in the recent batch of mysteries:  As the Crow Flies, a Sheriff Longmire mystery by Craig Johnson  and The First Rule of Ten a mystery about an ex-monk who joined the LAPD and has recently resigned to become a private investigator-- by Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay. Both were great reads. I've just posted a review of  As the Crow Flies on my book blog and The Rule of Ten is scheduled for next week.
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Our friend Teresa has been busy for the last few weeks preparing for the Highland Blooms Garden Tour which was held this past weekend.  The Highland area in Shreveport is an older neighborhood with many Craftsman-style homes, and complete with an old-fashioned/quirky/creative atmosphere.  Teresa and Ricky have been active for several years with the Highland Restoration Association for several years, and Teresa is the current president of the association that seeks to restore and revitalize the area.

Since I was unable to attend the Garden Tour, I've enjoyed seeing the pictures Teresa posted on her blog, Views from My Highland Cottage.  Stop by and visit!

Monday Musings

Good Monday to you!  My gosh, it is already May 21; where does the time go?  I've been trying to catch up on book reviews over at A Garden Carried in the Pocket and have several scheduled, trying to catch up with Karen's class, trying to catch up with blog reading,  just trying to catch up!

I need some potting soil, so today I'll be running various errands.  If I have to get out for one thing, then I may as well take care of several others.  And, uh, my library books are overdue.  (note to self:  make list of books so I won't just wander around for 3o minutes)

I also want to check for some larger waste canvas since I just can't see the very small blocks in size 14 well enough to do a decent job.  Of course, once I get to JoAnn's I will find other items that I "need."

The white work continues:

 I still have such a long way to go in filling the blank space in all of the blocks I'm working on.  A long way.  Very slow cloth.  Maybe I should work on just one section at a time so that I could at least have one block completed, rather than going back and forth between blocks.

So many things that I love in Sophie Blackall's home!  Sophie is an illustrator, and she does have a blog, although the pic comes from Design Sponge.

via Design Sponge

 I want to make a quilt like hers--already trying to decide what poems and which lines to use.

Dylan Thomas, of course, offers a multitude of choices.  I could probably do one based on his work alone.  Or maybe I could use the poet/lyricist Paul Simon.  Now, to decide--mix and match or one poet, many lines?  Not that I'll be getting around to this anytime soon!

Do you have favorite poets, poems, lines, or quotes?

Saturday Thoughts

This has been quite a week.  Our first grand nephew, who weighed in at 1.1 lbs, arrived Wed. afternoon and is holding his own.   They tried to delay his arrival to allow his lungs to develop a little more, but circumstances dictated differently.   Megan didn't get to see him until yesterday afternoon, but mother and child are improving, although Jack will be in NICU for a long time.  What miracles modern medicine can perform!
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I've continued working on the white on white for Karen's class.  Here are some of the bits I've been working on.  

 Ruching--used a silk gauze for this section.

 I worked a piece of twine with cotton a broder and added it.

The thing is--you can just keep adding and adding to these blocks.  I've added some little tufts and some cut work (still working on that), some applique, and I keep adding to seam treatments.  I think I have 5 different blocks that I'm working on, moving from one to another.  Will take some more pictures soon.


I have lots of blogs to catch up on since I haven't been on the computer much this week!

Mother's Day

A full weekend!  A wonderful Mother's Day with both of our girls, our son-in-law, and our 3 grandkids.  Too much good food (I have a food hangover today).  


We looked at old pictures and discussed days gone by.  After Amelia and Chris left, Fee dragged out another box of old pictures, and Erin and I went through them and laughed at hair and clothing styles.  No matter how stylish we may think we are, in 10-20 years we will wonder what we were thinking!


We found the program for the Mikhail Barishnikov and Peter Martins performance (my 3oth birthday present from Fee in 1979 & the best ever).  We still marvel at seeing those two in their prime:  they were enough to make you think you could fly, and I had trouble keeping my heart in my chest during that performance!

 I didn't take enough pictures...I was drinking Mimosas and eating and going through old albums and forgetting to pick the camera up.  Erin played with Fee's grandfather's accordion.   Mila and Bryce Eleanor ate blackberries, blue berries, and strawberries...on the bed.  


I've done my morning yoga and finished watering the garden.  I've still got some chores to finish up, but after Erin and the kids leave, I'll be back upstairs stitching and remembering what I have to be thankful for.


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:) I wrote this post early yesterday morning.  Erin and the kids didn't leave until around 4:00 yesterday afternoon.  They did a little shopping, then just hung around, giving Erin and I a chance for a nice long visit.


After they headed back to B.R., I wemt upstairs and worked on the white on white blocks for Karen's class.  I got about 5 hours of stitching in before going to bed.


I'll take some pics today to show you how the blocks are progressing.

Warhol on Art

“An artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have.” 
― Andy Warhol, Andy Warhol, Thirty Are Better Than One

I love that whimsical description of what being an artist requires--nothing more than producing things that people don't need.   Not that all of those useless "things" would qualify as art, perhaps, but that there is an artistic temperament required to steadily turn out things that no one needs.

In the physical sense, of course, we don't need art, but after the physical needs of food, shelter, safety, etc. are met, individuals begin to climb Maslow's pyramid.  At the top of the pyramid is not only creativity (morality, etc.), but a genuine appreciation and need for beautiful, creative, inspiring things.

One of my favorite poems comes to mind, Peter Meinke's Advice to My Son.  Meinke explains the need for balance in life in such visual ways.  We need roses and tomatoes; we need bread and wine.

S 5 10 15 20

Advice to My Son by Peter Meinke The trick is, to live your days as if each one may be your last (for they go fast, and young men lose their lives in strange and unimaginable ways) but at the same time, plan long range (for they go slow: if you survive the shattered windshield and the bursting shell you will arrive at our approximation here below of heaven or hell). To be specific, between the peony and the rose plant squash and spinach, turnips and tomatoes; beauty is nectar and nectar, in a desert, saves-- but the stomach craves stronger sustenance than the honied vine. Therefore, marry a pretty girl after seeing her mother; speak truth to one man, work with another; and always serve bread with your wine. But, son, always serve wine.

I have no idea what happened to one of my favorite tees, but two small holes appeared in it.  My solution, as it has frequently been before, was to embroider it.  The holes are still there, but at least They look deliberate.  I may make more holes to give it a more unified look.

Where is this one?  Haven't seen it for a while--my favorite color and favorite stitch.

Now, I'm going to have to do some serious searching.

Garden Gossip -- dug up two more boxwood yesterday.  Have a few more to go.


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I paused in working on this post and browsed some of my favorite blogs.  As often happens, serendipity magically sends things my way, and I found this post by Peregrine Blue.

Oh, the wonderful quotes and photos she included in this post.  Please drop by and see them!

Studio Chaos

I'm having computer problems.  Still.  It may be time for the Geek Squad.

I love the color and airy texture of dill. Note from the Universe: Remember, you will always have friends, guides, and love, Jen, but no one is coming to "save you." That's the adventure package you signed up for. The one that comes with all the superpowers, guaranteed rebounding abilities, and the all-powerful scrunched-nose-when-you-smile. Your 5 Star Time-Space Adventure Tour Agency Manager,     The Universe  Darn.  I really wanted someone to come "save me."  I get tired of doing it myself...I'm not very good at it.  I procrastinate even on that-- or cause bigger problems. Right now, I could use the Universe stepping in and cleaning up my studio space.  It is chaos at the moment.  White fabrics, vintage linens, lace, doilies, tatting pieces, etc.  all out and in various piles for auditioning for the white on white pieces for Karen's class.                                                      Even on the design board. And at my embroidery work area-- there is floss, perle cotton, cotton a broder, shades of white and ivory floss and threads...everywhere.   Time to put together one or two more sections, and then fold up the fabrics and put them away for awhile.  I have 3 sections that I'm working on now, and two more sections will be enough to keep me busy for a long, long time. I've also been learning that counted cross stitch is too hard on my eyes, at least when using white on white.  Maybe I should have gone with a larger size of waste canvas; maybe I should get magnifying glasses.  Tuesday night, I stitched and pulled out.  Stitched and pulled out.  My eyes wouldn't focus on those tiny cross stitches well enough to find where to put my needle, but it was easy enough to see the problems when the stitches were done.  Counting those tiny squares is difficult visually and frustrating emotionally.  May try again today, but no matter how much I love the way it looks, I may not be able to do much of the counted cross stitch. Oh, and Universe, I could use some help with the computer.

In the Mail

Several weeks ago, Debra Price from Artisun, asked if I sell my work.  She was interested in the encrusted pieces I was working on a while back and wanted an example to show her art classes.   As I've mentioned before, selling seems like a lot of trouble, and although I occasionally think about opening an Etsy shop, the work involved would be time consuming and would require a great deal of effort, and I'm not good at that sort of thing. Knowing that someone is interested in your work, however, is thrilling; it gives the finished product a worth beyond the pleasure of the making.  So I sent Debra one of the encrusted pieces as a "thank you" for her interest and appreciation.   Yesterday, this lovely candlestick and beeswax candle arrived in the mail.  You can imagine how thrilled I was to take this out and examine all the details!  Picture a big smile all over my face. Thanks so much, Debra, it is a real treasure and will be proudly displayed! And now, for a few more details: Gorgeous!  Even without being able to see the lovely sheen that adds to the beauty, you can see what a beautiful piece this is.

detail of candle

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I've been adding to the embroidery on the seams of the first section I've been working on for Karen's class.  She recommends double and triple seam embellishment, and I'm happy to oblige.  

You can also see that I've been playing with fonts.  

The garden received some rain last night, but the sun is out this morning.  Cooler, too.  

My two little art quilts for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (minus the one that was 1/2" over in size) are in the mail.  One more thing checked off the ever-lengthening "to do" list.  

Gardening

Yesterday, I decided to move some things around in the garden.  So many plans and ideas flit in and out of my head that I often sit and stare rather than actually getting around to the more physical stuff.

The rosemary in front of the fountain had gotten too large for that space, so I dug it up and moved it to the opposite side of the garden in front of the fence.  It is a big plant and needed a big hole...I was expecting a little back strain from moving it, but nothing so far.

Now, what will I do to fill in the space the rosemary left?  That will require a little more thought, but as the area around the fountain needs revamping as well, it is time to browse through my gardening books and check out some garden blogs.


                              A pot of begonias in the early morning--

                                             I love the graceful, airy blooms of parsley.

Dead-heading is a tedious and boring chore, but the dianthus is in dire need, 

so I pinched faded blooms for a while yesterday and will get back to it today.

                     In front of the dianthus, oregano functions as a nice ground cover.

Yarrow, given a little leeway, will take over with a wild abandon-- so while I was in the digging frame of mind, I moved it to a couple of pots (where its growth will be circumscribed) and to an area that is pretty bare.  If it goes wild and spreads there, it won't be much of a problem;  the hardy, drought-tolerant yarrow will do a nice job of filling in without requiring any care.

I had some serious hand-scrubbing to do last night before playing with fabric.

P.S.  Do you have some favorite garden blogs?

Finished the seams on the first piece, but may go back and add another layer for some of them.

I'll try to get some better pictures later, but this is the only one that is half-way decent.

Second piece pinned.

Oh, the slow work of embroidery!  I can spend hours and have so little to show for the effort--a few inches of French knots over the thickness of prairie points was not a smart move on my part.  When hand stitching over as many as 8-10 layers of fabric, don't choose a mass of French knots--'cause I'm here to tell you, it will take a while.  A long while.  And a lot of effort.

 Initially, I was going to place a few scattered French knots on that seam, but the effect was not what I wanted.  Added a few more.  Still, not so hot.  More.  Now, I think they look great, but from this day forth, all stitching over prairie points (or rouleau loops, for that matter) will be utter simplicity.  I used two colors and thread thicknesses.

Although my computer has been cranky lately, I hope my husband has fixed the problems.

Last night, Bryce Eleanor came for a visit.  Before she went to sleep, I gave her a back and leg massage and said (as I have done many times before), "your mother and your Aunt Erin loved to have their back and legs massaged when they were little."

She looked puzzled for the first time.  She's heard this so many times before, but never seemed confused by it.  Finally, she said, "I don't remember.  Where was I?  What was I doing when my mommy was little?"  (Oh, my dear, you were just a promise of the future.  You weren't there.)
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This morning, I got some blogging done and scheduled my post for Tuesday Stitchers before 7:00, but then B.E. woke up and the world began anew.

It is 1:35, almost time for a nap, but Chris is supposed to pick her up for a birthday party.  I hope he has some clean clothes for her because...she doesn't look as fresh as she did when she got out of her bath around 8:30 this morning.

Classwork

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” 

― Andy Warhol


Stephie (Peas in a Pod) is having a great give away.  Stop by and see the wonderful May baskets Mama and Sweet Pea made for Sweet Pea's friends!  Leave a comment to be entered in the give away.  


Wednesday, I made some prairie points out of some white on white fabric and some rouleau loops out of a fine pima cotton and more of the white on white.

Yesterday, I spent almost all day working on the first section for Karen Ruane's class.  First, washing and pressing some of my vintage linens, then trying to find a pleasing format for piecing them together.  It was difficult to cut into the old handkerchiefs, especially as I'd been able to get out some of the stains in one of them.

I finally--after a great deal of dilly-dallying, adding and subtracting, arranging and rearranging--came up with something that pleased me.  I pinned and basted the pieces.  I added some French knots around the edge of the hankie on the bottom left, then remembered that I wanted to take a picture before doing the rest of the seams and hung it up--you can see the hoop marks from working on that first seam.   


After taking the picture, I got back to work on the rest of the seams, and that was what I did off and on all day and into the night.  Downstairs, vaccuum.  Upstairs, seams.  Downstairs, clean and straighten.  Upstairs, seams.  Downstairs, put on laundry...  


I've also pinned together another section, but haven't basted it yet.  


 This morning, my husband looked out the window and said, "I really like your prayer flags hanging in the garden."  Fee is always so nice about whatever I do, but I wasn't sure he liked the look of the flags in the garden, and although I've enjoyed looking at them, I wasn't completely comfortable because I thought he was just being his usual sweet self.  


Our decorating styles are not at all the same.  I'm kind of shabby (without the chic); he is usually more spare and sophisticated.  Our house reflects that lack of unity as we try to accommodate each other.  


Now, that he has said that the flags make him feel peaceful, they mean even more, and my day begins on a high note.


Errands are in the forecast for today, but the pull of the studio is keeping me from getting started.    All I want to do is go upstairs and stitch.

Grin and Share It!

Looks like fun!  Found via Dixie Redmond's NorthDixie Designs.

Too hot and humid for that right now--back to the studio.

Oh, I forgot to show you the round address labels I ordered from Moo a while back.  They can be used for other things as well.  I chose 8 of my photographs to use on these stickers.  They would also, depending on the information you might choose to include, be good for those of you who have Etsy shops, etc.

I made prairie points and rouleau strips this afternoon while watch Red Riding Hood with Gary Oldman.   It wasn't very entertaining...the film, I mean.  The prairie points were actually far more interesting.

A Novel Introduction to Dye Plants

January-April found me stitching almost every day--until the last week of April, that is.  At some point, I lapsed into a reading cycle and began neglecting the stitching.

I've got several books yet to review on my book blog.  One of them is Hush by Donna Jo Napoli, which I'd hoped to count for the Once Upon a Time challenge.  Napoli writes for young adults, and her Zel (a retelling of Rapunzel) is excellent.

As it turned out, I'm not sure that Hush qualifies for the Once Upon a Time challenge, and while it is by no means as good as Zel, it caught my interest immediately because on the first page it mentions Brigid's cloak, dyed with woad.

woad from Wikipedia

madder - Wikipedia

weld- Wikipedia

A few pages later it mentions Melkorka's red cloak, dyed from madder root, and her linen tunic, dyed yellow "from the weld plant."  I couldn't locate the passage where Melkorka describes the treatment of woad to create the blue dye, but it is brief and accurate.

 I love it when a novel serendipitously evokes my other interests.   As a novel, Hush had some disappointments, but the historical tidbits of Eire in the 10th century, dyeing and knitting references, the making of vellum and illuminated manuscripts, the Viking attacks and Norse lifestyle...make this YA novel well worth the reading.
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A slow cloth on eco dyed fabric that I've been working on when I don't have another project going.  Working on projects requires thinking, but working on this slow cloth in between projects allows me to stitch with no destination in mind.

Karen Ruane's May class has begun, and I haven't even watched the first video!  I'm really going to have to put my books and gardening on hold and work on the class.

AAQI May Auction

The May auction at AAQI is in progress.  I have my eye on one or two; fingers crossed.


After laughing at Michele's April Fool's joke about having her AAQI auction quilt disqualified because it was too large, I was registering the quilts I'm about to send in and had to pull one because it measures 9 1/2 x 12"!  I know how it happened, but didn't realize it until now.  Over by half an inch.  I knew it would have looked better as a pillow!

The magnolias are in glorious bloom right now.  The ones across the street have been for several days, but ours, standing as it does in the side yard, began blooming at the top and working its way down.  Now the blooms on the lower branches are within reach.

A Little Stitching

I did get around to a little stitching this weekend.  Using Sassalynne's beautiful variegated perle cotton and a bit of raw silk, I embroidered a square that will eventually be a pocket.

I'm not sure if it will go on the quilt that I had in mind (which, of course, I haven't begun yet), so there may be another pocket in the works tonight.  The next one will be a quilted pocket with batting to add that quilty cushion that I crave.

Last week's TAST stitch was the wheatear, and I added that to the spiral, then lots of French knots and seed stitches.  I love running my hand over it and feeling the texture.

I found the above at Kailana's blog.  A Pinterest Challenge that encourages Pinterest Addicts to Create (or DO) something they've found on Pinterest and post their accomplishments.


The origin of this Challenge can be found Here at Love, Laugh, and a Touch of Insanity .


The Details:
1. To participate you will choose your level and then make (or do) that amount of pins during May 2012. Challenge ends May 31st. (can be new pins or old pins...doesn't matter)
2. Report back on your Pin It and Do It success. Ideally this will come in the form of a blog or tumblr post. Or you can post about it on Facebook or Flickr if you don’t have a blog or tumblr. Or create a board on Pinterest for this challenge. If none of the above, report your success in the Wrap-Up Post comments.
3. Anyone is welcome to join. If you need an invite to Pinterest, let me know your email address and I’ll send an invite.

The Levels:
Timid Pinner: 1-3 Pins
Pinterested: 4-7 Pins
Pin Obsessed: 8+ Pins

Some Pinterest Etiquette and Courtesies:
--If you create a pin from a post, make sure you are pinning the true URL of the post and not the main website so folks can easily find the link again.
--When you create a pin, try to include the website in the description of the pin.
--Do not include the entire recipe or instructions in the pin description.
--If you embed a pinned picture on your own blog, make it clear that it is not your original picture--a link back to the original blog post is always appreciated.

And other little tidbits...this does not have to be a food or crafting challenge. Saw an interesting photography lesson? Click! An outfit you'd love to put together? Yup! Organizing idea for around the house? Go for it! A workout Regiment? Kick butt! Really this challenge is endless--you just need to tell us what you pinned and what you did. Make sure to note the original pin wherever you complete your wrapup (or if you do progress reports) to give the originator credit.
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What I SHOULD do is pin recipes and try them, but that might prove too much of a challenge for me, as cooking doesn't interest me much.  On the other hand, it might gain me some Brownie points with my dear husband (who accomplished several "honey do" chores this weekend).


 Or maybe...I should try some of the organizing ideas; however, every time I try to organize, I lose things.


Anyway, I think it is an interesting challenge for all of us who spend inordinate amounts of time looking and drooling to actually use the information/inspiration.  


I haven't joined, but I am thinking about it.  Maybe I could manage the Timid Pinner category.  Surely, I could manage 1-3 Pinspirations.


The formal challenge ends on May 31 (I just discovered it), but a personal challenge could extend it throughout the year.
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Whenever my brothers and I reminisce about our childhoods, our memories of events are often askew.  We remember things differently in both large and small ways.  It's funny and kind of entertaining to see the wildly different versions of the same events.


When I found the following quote at the smallest forest, I couldn't help but smile.

Maybe that’s all that family really is, a group of people who all miss the same imaginary place.

—Zach Braff, Garden State

So Saturday

I'm finally catching up on some of my book reviews over at A Garden Carried in the Pocket.  I only have 3 more to go.


Since I've neglected my stitching and my experiments with cloth this week, I really hope to get something done today.  I haven't done the TAST stitch (wheat ear) this week; guess I need to catch up with that.


The only cloth related work I've done this week has been with rust dyeing.  Our friend Ricky gave me some rusty old horseshoes a while back, and I've been working with those and a few other rusty items.  The pieces have gone through two alterations so far, and a third is in progress this morning.

Another pic of the banana bloom.  I just love the colors.

I love The Adventures of Claudia!

I've already wasted 2 1/2 hours piddling: deadheading dianthus, wallowing in Pinterest, wrapping the 3rd incarnation of rusty fabric, working on book reviews, and communing with stray grey cat.  


Time to go upstairs and get busy.  Sometimes I marvel at my own ability to delay.  Looking at it a certain way, I'm a Champion of Displacement Activity.