Keeping Busy, but not always productive :)

I have been on another attempt to straighten and organize my sewing and craft stuff.  I've gone through my fabric stash and filled a box for Goodwill.  Added some ancient Quilting Arts magazines and even some of my beloved Prims magazines.   Started another box and filled it with more fabric and other miscellaneous items that were intended for various projects and will never be used again.  (Sometimes items move back and forth from the donate to the keep pile and back again.)  

Have to wrangle the chaos upstairs before I can play again.     

Favorite books so far this month:

18 Tiny Deaths:  The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics.  I'd never heard of Frances Glessner Lee before, but she is almost single-handedly responsible for pioneering forensic science in the U.S.  A remarkable woman.  

Glass Houses is the 14th book in Louise Penny's Three Pines/Inspector Gamache series and as compelling as I expected.  

February Incoming 

From Iliana, aka  "the bookbinder"

from Hannah

Mardi Gras Season card from Teresa

Outgoing

Lost Words postcards to Hannah and Melody

 (Kingfisher)

(Bramble)

Love the Chinese New Year stamps and have already used several.

Word Play  -- such fun!  Manipulating words to illustrate meaning.  So many good examples!

More Fun--Since it is the Year of the Rat, it seems appropriate to mention Rachie's Ratirement Home.  Far, far away in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel and her team take in rats and mice and care and rehabilitate them.  They even have a FB page.  It was, however, the best and worst rats of the week that got my attention.    

Laughter Is the Best Medicine

Events in the 6-8 weeks have been depressing, and like many others, I have been unsettled and feeling a combination of sadness and anxiety.  Looking for things that make me laugh has become important.  



This funny twitter battle between staff at the Science and Natural History Museums in London was clever and funny.

On a weekend trip to Natchez, Mississippi, this sign made me feel better about my meal.  

And among the beautiful old buildings downtown and the lovely Victorian homes and cottages, the sight of this house...  :)

What else raises my spirits?

Incoming Mail:

from Penny B.  :)

 from Jacque

 from Connie

 from Penne M.

from Suzi

with her handmade paper on the card :)

Outgoing:

 first Halloween mail

Most of my Halloween Eccentrics are out.  Finding a place to put them is the problem. I didn't make any more this year.  I'm not sure why because I still love the whimsy of Halloween characters, but my creative energy has been way down this year.  

These are some pics from last year.

I've been making some Halloween mail art though, which is fun, and I have a few letters to answer.  

Books

I read like some people eat chocolate or potato chips.  One book right after another; it is an addiction.  September only saw one book that genuinely rose above the pack:  Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke.  It is not a comfortable book in many ways, but it resonated with me on several levels.  I loved the protagonist, recognized the location (generally), was intrigued with the plot, and loved the writing.

What have you been reading lately?  

Sock Pockets!!

There are few things I love more than serendipity--when something pops up at just the right time. Doing the laundry this morning, I sadly noted that no matches had yet appeared for the lonely socks: those socks that survive the mysterious sock wormhole, those mate-less, lonely socks.  They remain in the laundry room--melancholy, hopeless, and matchless.

And then I stumbled on this post by Catherine of  Stuff You Can't Have:  Sock Pockets!

And then the next day, Catherine posted the adult version.

Love these.  Funny and useful!

A couple of years ago, I made my first "studio" shirt 

from one of Fee's old shirts.

I added pockets, but I always need more.

I'm going through the lost socks to see what I can use.

I never took a picture of the one below, just the detail of working on it.

These shirts come down to my knees, and I use both of them all the time--

and still get paint on my clothes.

--------

We are in the midst of an unprecedented weather system 

that has been dumping huge amounts of rain since yesterday.

Flooded streets, school closures.

Fee is stuck in Texas.

Roads closed all over Texas and Louisiana.

Since Fee has assured me that he will stay put,

I feel better.

Definitely a pajama day.

Think I'll watch a little of the last season of Justified

and play with my fabric postcards.

Namaste.

Rain Works

Love it!  (Via Time Goes By)

Hey girl, let's talk handmade...

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
















Handmade can be sexy, eh?

Just for Fun Links

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?

:) Hair Raising!

You’re watching CuteWinFail Pets: Static Pup. See the Web's top videos on AOL Video

 

I've been AWOL lately.  Only one obsession at a time.  Or maybe two.  But I can't seem to keep up with things after that.  

For a while it was making pillows and home dec crafting, then another cycle of intense yoga reading, then the discovery of Feldenkrais and Anat Baniel, now I'm playing with my eccentric dolls again.  

 

Although yoga is about balance, I can't manage that aspect unless one considers that moving in a great circle of first one period of absorption in this area, then in another, and, another, then back to the first, then discovering something new--is a kind of balance.

A visit with my friend Suzie (two hour telephone visit), also had me back to thinking about the way the brain and body work.  We talked about how technology changes our brains and behavior.  The younger generations adapt so quickly to i phones, computers, e books, and whatever new innovations occur.  

Since she works with children with Asperger's Syndrome, part of her time is working with children who have problems with manipulative skills.  Evidently they can be competent with keyboards and computer skills, but lack the pincer grip that enables handwriting and drawing.  My SIL, the Adaptive P.E. teacher, deals with many of the same difficulties of mind-body coordination.   

Which leads back and coordinates, in synchronicity, with Feldenkrais and Transformative Movement and neuroplasticity--which also fascinate me.  So in and out and here and there and all over the map, I move from one subject to another and back again.

 

Now, I have to catch up with blog reading.  What happens when I do that?  There are so many interesting ideas, thoughts, and inspiring projects that new directions open up!

Just For Fun

Beautiful blog:  The Feathered Nest    -- I just love her baby shoe pin cushions!

New: Where Women Create  -- if you've enjoyed the magazine, check out the blog.  One of the links in the sidebar led me to the The Fabric Bar.  I want some of this Japanese sewing tape!

Don't you want some, too?

Monday Morning

I love this sign!

It makes me laugh (and I can think of two little princesses that would think it only appropriate)!

What started as a mild cold is now a little worse.  Coughing, sneezing, and lethargic.  But I have things to do, so I'm going to take some more Thera Flu and get on with it!

Links

Nothing much going on here, but check out this recipe over at Of Interest to Me. My mouth waters...

And this parody:



"Wow! That's really good!"

3 Year Old Is Amazing Finger Painter - Watch more Funny Videos

Just for Fun

I know I posted this a year or so ago, but it is so much fun, and who knows, maybe you missed it:

Lost Fans

How many of you are fans of the series Lost? Why? What involves you in the series?

I didn't begin watching until the writer's strike, but became completely enthralled and have just finished watching Season One via Netflix. I love the characters, the mythology, and the smart undertones and complex connections.

Thanks to Stephanie of Confessions of a Book-a-holic, I've discovered a reading challenge that involves reading some of the books that the characters have been seen reading or that have been mentioned or quoted. I've read quite a few of them in the past, but intend to participate and choose some of the books listed that I've not read before.

You can read about the challenge over at My Friend Amy.

Here are the rules of the Challenge:

1) Check out this site, and this site and compile a list of 5 books and upwards that you want to read to complete this challenge. (If you know another book mentioned on the show or relating to the show, you can defend your choice in your post) Update: If you have not finished watching the show, please use this list, so as not to be spoiled!
2) Write a post on your blog announcing your intention to participate in the challenge, list the books you want to read, and invite your readers to do the same. Then come back here and add a direct link to your post to Mr. Linky. (not a general link to your url)
3) You are absolutely welcome to cross books from this challenge with books in other challenges.
4) You must complete the challenge by December 31st, 2008.
5) There will be prizes raffled for those who complete the challenge, I just haven't figured out what yet!
6) If you are not a blogger, you can email me your plan to participate and I'll make a post for you right here on my blog...see? I love you too!

Periodically, I'll host another Mr. Linky so you can record your progress and any insights you've learned about the show.

Another link: The Lost Home Page

Masquerade's Knitted Graffitti

This is so much fun. Masquerade has knitted across Europe.

Slow, Slow Cloth and Tortured Cloth

Some progress on the slow cloth, and boy, it is it slow. I only work on it when I'm watching television, and I'm pretty slow anyway. I watched two episodes of the last season of Slings & Arrows on Wed. night and last night, I watched Lost--and made a little more progress.Gradually filling in the larger open spaces.

In a bit of straightening, I discovered some stained pieces of fabric and started ripping and folding, unraveling, free motion quilting over the folds, taking the raveled threads and punching them back in with the embellisher, adding bits and pieces of failed tatting and wool roving. Tortured cloth -- and it was kind of fun.

I've been a bad blogger lately...which usually means longer posts. Amelia sent me an email titled Through a Child's Eyes and here are some of my favorites.
I would love to see Mickey's shoes, wouldn't you? These are so funny and so touching to me; can't help but smile when I think about these kids.
Oops, almost time to leave. And I'm not finished! May have to have a second post today.

To Do

Are you a list maker? I am. Too many. Rarely followed. But when I can mark something off the list, I have such a sense of satisfaction. Some items appear on list after list because I refuse to do them. You know I love "how to" lists and post them frequently. I am not only a list-maker, but I am a list-reader.

Sooo...what do your lists reveal about you? How many different kinds of lists do you make? Not just "to do," but lists of pros and cons, goals, chores, gratitude lists, how to lists, etc. Lists you make, lists you love to read?

Sasha Cagen has a magazine, a book, and a blog -- all about lists. Check out Marge and Mary's Thanksgiving list and Eight Surprising To-Do List Facts, especially number four which is my secretly satisfying habit.

Now I must return to some of the items on one of my current lists!

But first, while I am procrastinating, I discovered this great Procrastination Flow Chart.

And this list that I've been saving for you:
25 Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality.

Lists, Cats, and Shopping

I love lists like these: The Natural Way to Clean Everything in Your House. Of course, I never know where the list is when I need it, but reading them gives me some kind of deep satisfaction.

melia and I are having another lunch and shopping expedition today. There are a couple of Christmas shopping events downtown:

Les Boutiques des Noel, selected merchants display their wares for an early shopping frenzy that raises funds for the Shreveport Opera Guild.

and

Deck the Halls at Art Space offers gifts created by local artists. The director of Art Space is William Joyce, the illustrator and author of children's books and animated movies (Meet the Robinsons, Robots,and Rolie Polie Olie).

Our original plan was to go to Joann's to use our coupons and see what crafty items were available, but I imagine that will have to wait as the two annual events mentioned above will take so much time.

Too funny! The first few seconds are a little slow, but then....!

Since yesterday's trip to the post office was a no go --and I did know it was Veteran's Day, I just had the post office and the bank on yesterday's list of errands without thinking. Actually, I don't think another couple of stops were in the works yesterday anyway because I was pretty tired.

Today, however, saw the book off to Amy and the beads on their way to ACey. What I want to do tomorrow is...not leave the house. At all. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know there is something I have to do, but I haven't checked my calendar yet so whatever it is just kind of teases me.

Latest addition to the onesie sets. I will probably make a burp cloth to go with this one, too.
I've also made a little progress on the letters for the Winter Class. The invocation by Dame Julian of Norwich posted a month ago has stayed with me; the repetition, rhythm, and simplicity of the quote are calming. I had planned to use pieced letters for "All shall be well" and then move to embroidered letters for the rest of the quote. Unfortunately, relying on my faulty memory, I thought it was will (no, it is shall) and made a w and an i and will now have to make the appropriate s, h, and a and discard my i. All I had done was the first two words and one of those was wrong, nevertheless:

All shall
be well,
and all shall
be well,
and all manner
of thing
shall be well.

dame julian of norwich - 14th century - mystic

Or I may decide on something else entirely. The pieced letters appear to be more challenging for me than for some of the other participants, but if there is ever an hour straight to work on them, maybe I'll get in the flow. "All shall be well" as Dame Julian said. Whether I stick with this plan or move in another direction with-- maybe-- only one word. And a short one at that.

The refrigerator is clean, left overs disposed of, sheets changed, living room picked up, sewing room re-arranged again, laundry almost done, supper planned. Life is good.