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.    

And So It Goes

My studio overhaul is still in progress, but has definitely slowed down.  I'm looking for some inexpensive bookshelves for convenient storage and easy access, and I want a new table of some sort for working on projects.  I use my cutting table for almost everything, but it takes up so much space in my tiny studio that it would be nice to have another work surface so I only have to open the cutting table when I have a large project.

As I've continued to look through the plastic storage bins and sort through what to keep and what to cull, I find interesting tidbits from the past.  I've stored scraps and small blocks in plastic bags that I'm setting aside for more hearts or small projects of pieced and embellished items.  The "heart basket" overflowed, and I'm sorting things out a bit.

 Hearts in progress.

 They make nice pin cushions, too

 Buttons and other embellishments litter my sewing table,

and must be swept out of the way in order to sew.

I look through a lot of pictures of craft spaces, and although I love seeing those perfectly designed or beautifully decorated studios, the ones that feel like "me" are the ones in absolute disarray.  You know, the ones with fabric and tools scattered about by crafters in the process of some creative project.  

While a beautiful room is one of my dreams, the truth is that I will always be pulling stuff out to audition and leaving it for a while in case I change my mind.  And I will almost always be working on more than one project at a time.

If I can just manage to get things more easily within reach, get some shelves, and a new table--things would be greatly improved!

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.

Busy Weekend...

Guess who came to visit?

Saturday morning, she took all of the beads, etc. out of the plastic cups (B.E. loves plastic cups and plastic storage containers) and distributed them into the muffin tin.

 She has strung all kinds of bracelets onto the pipe cleaners,  sorted buttons and beads, asked a million questions, explored my stash of fabric and assorted embellishments, picked up, put away, and gotten it all out again several times.

Yesterday, when we went to get the mail, she saw my neighbors three grandsons playing kick ball in the street.  We live in a cul-de-sac, which makes street play much safer.  She played, and ran, and jumped, and giggled and screamed when she got put "out"  -- such delight!

When the boys' mother came to pick them up, and she had to come inside, she cried.  She wanted "to play with those boys" some more.  It made me sad to see her sadness,  but she recovered pretty quickly and transferred her four-year-old-love to Edgar.

She is watching The Lion King right now, and I have a short break from being the recipient of her monologues and the constant companion to her imagination.

Two of my buddhas enjoy the sunshine and the scent of rosemary.  I love my happy, big- bellied Ho Tai buddhas.

Amelia and Chris are in New Orleans for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon for the American Cancer Society.  Chris, Rachel, Kyle, and Steve will be running--Amelia and Robin will be watching.

Oh, how I love all the shelves and containers in this craft room!  (Stephie, I like the way she has her paints tilted so the tops show up so nicely...)

Source: makethebestofthings.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

Uh oh, another disturbance in B.E.'s room; evidently Edgar is causing problems.  He adores her, but he just knocked over her castle.

Chaos in Action

A couple of years ago, I bought this top at a shop in Baton Rouge.

 I thought it was something I might want to try.  And, of course, never did.  I liked the primitive effect, the wrinkled applique, and the fact that I could make use of old tee shirts.

Later, I saw the much more elegant and sophisticated Alabama Chanin creations and fell in love again, pondered trying it on my own, even picked out an old tee shirt.  Then got distracted with all of my other interests and failed to pursue it.

I finally ordered one of her books.  It arrived on Wednesday and is full of beautiful pictures.


"To everything there is a season" and as I've discovered many times, what has been a peripheral idea or interest finally gets a spark.

 I used old tee shirt scraps to clean up after eco dyeing, and since Natalie Chanin's book was already open and causing my fingers to itch, I started to work.

A scrap that was stained and rusted from eco dye clean-up went into the hoop

I started it Wednesday night, and alternated working on this and the encrusted pieces, and the cleaning and re-organizing of the studio.

Spirals and couched spirals:

It is far from finished, but as I work on it, ideas flood my head.  I have a tee shirt that I plan to de-construct and do more experimenting on.

BTW, although I've done more looking at pictures than actual reading, I love Chanin's introduction to her book.  She has a companionable, down-to-earth voice, and she emphasizes the importance and value of the handwork in her pieces.   Her style is so elegant!

I've finished all the major work on re-vamping my studio.  Still a lot to do, but I have all my areas set up, each with appropriate tools.  Now, to do the refining.  Well, that will probably have to wait as B.E. will be here this afternoon to spend the weekend.

And maybe Fee will be home.  He's been gone all week.

Have a great weekend!

In the Studio

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!

Busy...

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!

Spreading Out Again

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.

  Remember I told you about the studio chaos?   These are just isolated shots, taken as a whole, it is simply too much to contemplate.  No wonder I have trouble getting things done.  Yoga books on the floor next to my mat, cutting table covered with stuff, some of the treasures from the trip to Natchez  (I mean doesn't everyone want old rusty items?), my cabinets overflowing because I don't bother to put things back straight and orderly, just toss them out of the way.

  Have been browsing through some of the wonderful works on the TAFA Flickr site.  So many talented fiber artists and their works to admire! If I had more energy and commitment, I'd open an Etsy shop and join TAFA.

Last night's yoga class was a real work out.  Slow but lots of repetitions and stays, and I'm feeling it today, but in a good way.  I put a little more difficulty in my morning sadhana as a result.  I've been fairly lazy lately in my morning practices, doing more relaxing and stretching than holding poses like warrior poses and chair poses which require more strength.  Must remedy that.

I just finished a beautiful book.  One that I unreservedly loved; my favorite book of the year.  The Summer of the Bear by Bella Pollen is beautifully written, seamlessly plotted, and devastatingly human.  Part spy story, part fairy tale, Summer of the Bear is set in 1980 during the Cold War and is about a family that must come to terms with the father's death in  unusual circumstances, shortly after he returns from a visit to East Berlin.  I love all the characters in this novel.  I'm not sure when I'll get around to reviewing it on my book blog, but it was a delight to read.

Today, I need to get my packing done for our road trip.  Tomorrow we are heading to Hot Springs, Ark., then we'll move on to Memphis, Tenn., then to Natchez, MS.  A 5 day trip at a leisurely pace.  I'm so looking forward to it!

Fee, Amelia, and Erin all have i phones; I've resisted because I use my cell phone so seldom.  The other day, Fee brought home an i phone for me, and I've been enjoying some great music, and now I can get email on my phone, play games, listen to audio books...  It will be nice on our road trip to be able to listen to a novel....

Frantic Friday

 The wire light fixture with lamp fixture taped on at this point.  I found some fabric beads I made years ago and a little quilted brooch, a tiny brass locket, and an old red cross pin--these may or may not be used.
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I started that post on Monday, and I've made some progress since then...at least in deciding more about how to move on with her.  Instead of the fabric beads from years ago, I'm in the process of making more.  Don't know if I'll use the brooch or not, but I found the discharged fabrics I made and used for the fabric brooch when I was on that kick and may quilt a larger piece to include as part of her clothing.

  I'm making the new beads out of the same discharged fabric.  I've added details to the head and made some hands for the main figure, and  the  5" red-headed girl may be placed in the "cage."  She's been painted and given a wash with burnt umber that was supposed to give her an aged look, but instead she now looks as if she's been playing in the mud. She's in there now, but may not stay.

The last few days have been literally waiting for paint to dry, or gesso to dry, or sanding, or wondering what to do next, but yesterday afternoon ideas began arriving, I was able to get busy again.  So many projects in progress at the same time...

The studio is in chaos, and now things will slow down again until order can be regained.

Thursday Thoughts and Pictures

Some pictures of my studio, shelves, and various projects.  Shelves are filled with some of my flea market treasures, but there is no way to display all the junk I've collected over the years.  Some is organized in containers, some still  in boxes behind the attic door.

 I've been working with some papier mache again, using balloons.  I have intended to do this for some time to have a place to put my crowns.  Papier mache is slow and messy (but strangely, I love it) and requires a lot of hand washing, so I do it in the kitchen by the sink.  This means I have a mess to clean up before Fee gets home and that I try to do it when I know I'll have a lot of time.

There is also  the drying time required after a few layers to be considered.  I've done 3-4 balloon basic shapes, but haven't had the opportunity  to work much with them yet.  I did do a nose on one and stuck it on the dress form with a crown.

This is an interesting article about children and television:  Screen Time Affects Children's Mental  Health.   It discusses the effects of television viewing in a balanced way.

Too much tv is an unfortunate problem that results, in part, from the climate of our times.  Parents can no longer feel safe about sending their children out to play the way my brothers and I were when we were small.  Tell Mother where we were going (not that we always stayed there) and be back for lunch and/or  dinner--oh, and don't fight.  Pretty much our instructions.

I didn't feel comfortable with that even when my kids were small.  Too much going on in the world.  Television became a safe,easy alternative entertainment.  Parents know where their children are; no worries about the villains of the world.  A shame, but a fact.

Of course, limiting television exposure is still a good idea and substituting books and imaginative play is a way to keep kids busy and creative rather than passive receptors.
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Oh, and I wanted to  share a cool place to visit--Crae's Creations.  I especially love this wreath, but so many wonderful projects here!  Lots of inspiration; do go visit.

Found Objects

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

I made some progress on a couple of projects and cleaned and re-organized my studio.  The studio re-organization & clean-up took most of Saturday, but supplies, workspace, etc. are better arranged and more convenient.  I also found my old inkwells, alphabet blocks, snowman, and Chinese snuff bottle -- and a few more things that had not yet been unpacked.

Today is beautiful; the kind of day for playing outside.  Hope there will be some time for that later, but first, a looong "to do" list.

Cats and Catastrophe

Cats:  Fee brought this tower home tonight for the cats -- so they can look out the window (and maybe quit knocking things off the furniture). 

They seemed to think it was a good idea.

Catastrophe:  The studio was actually clean this morning until about 7:30 A.M.  After lunch, I noticed that I was shoving things here and there to make room.  It got worse before the day was over.  I should go back upstairs and clean up a little. 

I should at least pick up the things that are all over the floor so I can do my morning yoga sadhana.  If I don't, there won't be room for my mat.

Studio Peeks, Happy State

 Another couple of peeks into the studio:

Photos of my grandparents (Mother's parents), a little thread drawing, and an old alarm clock from Laddie's collection. 

Amelia mentioned that in a recently released study, Louisiana ranked highest in "happiness"--  To say that I was initially surprised is an understatement.  On the other hand, this study provides some interesting correlations that have more to do with culture than with economics.

We smile a lot here in Louisiana, and we smile at strangers.  We talk to people with whom we are standing in line.  We comment on a stranger's great outfit or cute kid.  We have little reservation in this behavior. It is a typically Southern behavior that you will find in most southern states, but I'm sure it is not exclusive to the South.

Fee and I were talking the other day about how smiling lifts our spirits.  Laddie always said that a smile was a gift to be both given and received.  It works for me.  Someone smiles at me, I smile in return, I feel better, someone sees me smile, and smiles back, then someone sees that person smile...and the smiles can continue.

We have so many problems in our state, but we do have a friendly culture, great music, great food!  And evidently, in spite of everything, people here rate their quality of life pretty highly.