finally friday

At last it's Friday and I can anticipate spending some extended time in the studio over the next couple of days. I worked on the silk paper journal cover a bit last night, fusing the silk paper to some heavy weight pellon to give it a more regular shape, then free-motion stitching all over it. Of course, the white pellon against the bright silk paper looked horrible and I thought I needed to damp the colors down somewhat anyway, so I spritzed the whole thing with walnut ink.

I think that helps to blend the edges in a less obtrusive way and knock down the extreme color vibrance while at the same time giving me a substantial surface on which to do more embellishment. I'm going to study up on my Maggie Grey crusty surface techniques-- she's a genius.

I've been trading recipes with Sara who by all accounts is a wonderful cook. Her blog is a fun read.

Today is catblogging Friday (also Leap Day--happy birthday to anyone who only gets to celebrate every four years!) and I have to say I'm not happy with one or more of my kitties. This morning I found a formerly perfectly beautiful skein of Stef Francis spun silk which used to look like this:

lying in a draggled heap on the floor. Grrrr. I'm sure I can still use it, once I get it untangled, but still. It wasn't like I left it where the little furry darlings should be able to get at it, but cats will be cats.

Happy Friday, everyone.

journal cover

I've had several suggestions to use the silk paper I made as a book cover, so I think I will. Sara suggested it be a journal cover which seems like a great idea. In fact, I think I will make it the focus of my next giveaway. Not sure how soon I can finish the journal so it may be awhile before you see the finished product posted here, but I do have all the necessary supplies. I made my mother a journal for Christmas but didn't actually get it bound so this will push me to get that little project out of the way, too. By the way, my mom has offered to furnish the main dish for our evening meal tonight. I did not turn her down!!

silk paper musings

I'm wondering what to make with my new silk paper. Perhaps a limited edition of four artist postcards? Or ATCs? Or a book cover? It's nice to have options.

I need to make more space dyed silk cord. I had made some quite a while ago and have just recently used it all up. Perhaps I'll dye some silk velvet ribbon and do the cord at the same time.

My DH made a late-night run to the store for some 12 hour cough medicine last night, which enabled me to get a better night's sleep than I'd had for several days. I've noticed I can always cope better if I've had some rest!

and the winners are...

Here is my sweet boy Dylan drawing the names for the stash bundle giveaway. He took this job very seriously!















We used DH's special Superman hat for the drawing.











Here are the winning names (click for a closeup):


In the order drawn they are saralynn, debbi baker, and kate north. Sara will get the warm bundle, Debbi the wild bundle (which has some warm elements), and Kate the cool bundle. Congrats, ladies! Please e-mail me your address information so I can send the stash bundles on their way.

Here are photos of my silk paper making binge last night. Dylan had to get in on the act in the first photo, which shows the wet soy silk roving sandwiched between layers of very sheer netting. The next picture is the papers drying on my dishrack.





















First is the Entwife roving, and next is Summer Flowers. I can see I'll have to devise a way to actually hang the silk paper to dry instead of draping them over a rack because I don't like the marks left by the slats! Oh well, live and learn.

feeling better

Although I was up coughing several times last night I do feel better this morning. Not great, mind, but better.

Thanks to the 10 people who posted to enter the stash bundle drawing. Later today I will put all your names in a hat (or something similar) and let Dylan draw for me. For those of you who expressed a preference between the bundles, if your name is drawn I will try to accommodate you. Otherwise I'll give the bundles away in the order listed (warm, cool, wild). I will post the drawing results as soon as I can.

I tried making silk paper last night per the instructions in the free projects section at Fibre & Stitch. I'm pleased to say it turned out pretty well. I used soy silk roving and fabric medium from Joggles which if you aren't familiar with it is a wonderful online store. Now I just have to figure out something to do with my pretty silk paper. The roving colors I used are Entwife and Summer Flowers. If you look at the other soy silk colors available you will see why I had real difficulty choosing just a couple. I will post photos of the silk paper when I get around to taking some, probably when I post the drawing results.

In response to some comments about ironing board covers and ironing in general, I have to say I am an "on demand" ironer only. I don't mind doing it, I just don't have a specific time set aside each week (as my mother did) to iron clothes. My husband dresses nicely for work (shirt & tie) and usually irons his own shirts. One thing my MIL did right was to teach him to iron! Anyway, the cover I currently have is rather new but is stained with black dye from a velvet discharge project I did last fall.

ironing board cover

You know, it might pay off having a horrid ironing board cover. Libby is having a contest in honor of Leap Year and Sadie Hawkins day. Here is proof that I really ought to either be more careful or else get a dedicated cover just for ironing actual clothing.OK, so you can't see its full yuckiness, but trust me it would make a fastidious housekeeper shudder. Which I obviously am not one of :-). And this is my newer cover. The old one was truly unmentionable.

It is now evening and I feel better now than I have for about four days. I hope I feel this good when I get up in the morning because, ready or not, it's back to work for me.

good news, bad news

The good news is I have 9 people vying for the stash bundles. That amazes me. By the way, today is the last day to post a message on that page telling me you want to be included in the drawing, which I will do tomorrow, probably with Dylan's help.

The bad news--I'm still at home feeling absolutely awful. I've never coughed so much in my life. My middle son, Chris, is now feeling like he's coming down with something and Dylan continues to have swollen (but not infected) tonsils and gummy eyes, vestiges of when he had what I've currently got. All I can say is ICK!

I have no photos of my own to post today, but I want to leave you with something hopeful and nothing seems more hopeful right now than thoughts of warm sunshine and spring flowers.

feeling sorry for myself

Tomorrow is the final day to put your name in for my stash bundle giveaway. I will draw names on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

I still feel pretty rough today, more or less as if I've been hit by a bus. However, I'm soldiering on in hopes of returning to work on Monday morning, looking at least passably healthy.


This is the final version of the postcard I posted previously in an unfinished state. The silk cord around the heart is some I space dyed myself.

Another postcard, this one with felted wool roving over kunin felt, stitched concentric circles, and hand dyed silk habotai bits. It is backed with purple velvet!

saturday

(not my bear, not my photo, but he looks like I feel!)

I'm feeling like absolute poo today. I hate to spend my weekend, which is really my only time to spend extended periods working on art, lying in bed, so I'm not. Don't know how productive I will be but we'll see.

I am excited to see so many lining up for the stash bundle giveaway. I'm already plotting my next little freebie deal, so be ready.

I may have photos to post a little later in the day. Right now I'm going to go get about a quart of strong, hot tea with lots of sugar and see what inroads I can make on this cold!

Thanks all for your posts and good wishes.

home day

Go here to get in on my stash bundles giveaway. The cutoff will be Monday, February 25.

I'm taking a personal day to try and get over the nasty virus I caught from Dylan. So of course I'm doing some art so as not to get too bored. (OK, I did the dishes too, and later will fold about a mountain of laundry, so I am doing some housework as well.)

This is the scrap left over from cutting out the pink felted heart I posted on etsy yesterday. I embellished it to a piece of orange felt, layered under a piece of dyed cheesecloth and some red chiffon. Don't know what next but it will evolve, I'm sure.

I came across this little tag book I had made several months ago. It is along an Asian theme and is really quite cute. Perhaps I'll post it on etsy as well.

Dylan has his Cub Scout "Blue and Gold" dinner tonight, so I shall try to feel good enough to go. The theme this year is "pirates". I'll have to search out my eyepatch and parrot. Arrr!

more etsy

I sold a piece on etsy yesterday and was surprised how little time it took to get noticed. So I decided to put a couple more things up.

You may recognize this now-finished postcard from an earlier post. I added another bit of ribbon and a kitty cat bead to finish it.

I used the remainder of my first felting attempt to make this heart pin. I embellished the original layers of pink roving and purple chiffon with some ribbon and layered on a bit of red chiffon, then added beads and blanket stitched around the edges.

If you want to get in on my stash bundles giveaway, please see the previous post.

heeeer they are! stash bundles

First of all, let me say that I'm not sure what sort of response I'm going to get for this giveaway and I want it to be fair, so we will proceed thusly: If after a reasonable period of time I have only 3 respondents I will give the bundles to them in the order listed per the order in which I receive the names. If I receive more than 3 names I will draw for the three winners. I would also like those interested in getting a bundle to specifically say so in their post.
Bundle 1--warm colors. This bundle includes pieces of velvet (cotton, silk, and stretch), batiks, silks, some hand dyed pieces, several lengths of ribbon and other fiber trim, a selection of interesting papers, a moon face charm, a stamped and painted column on paper, and a bit of embossed and crimped copper shim. There may be other stuff in there I forgot about and can't see well in the photo.

Bundle 2--cool colors. This lot includes velvets, batiks, at least one piece of hand dyed fabric, a hunk of wool roving (will be more than the photo shows), Some nice trims, ribbons, and fibers, plus a couple of collage papers, a metal tag, a paper tag, a wire hand charm, some fun purple star sequinny things, and an embossed and painted paper star. Oh, and a teeny little glass bottle with a stopper (hard to see, it's on the left of the photo about 2/3 of the way up).

Bundle 3--wildcard. With emphasis on the "wild". I admit I went a bit crazy here, but I couldn't stop myself. Some lovely apricot velvet, silk, batiks, commercial quilting fabric, a bit of orange cotton I dyed myself (!), plus a bunch of ribbons and fibers including a hank of bluey/gray/brownish hand dyed fibers. Also included are 6 papers, some collage type, some handmade, a little glossy red Chinese money envelope, wire heart charm, key charm, teeny clothespins, some buttons, and two pewter stick ons.

If any of this is unclear please let me know.

stash bundles and one word

I will be posting my giveaway stash bundles this afternoon. This is the official heads up!

Got this from Kate's blog. Give it a try and remember, one word answers only!

One Word
1. Where is your cell phone? dead
2. Your significant other? steadfast
3. Your hair? spiky
4. Your mother? walking
5. Your father? napping
6. Your favorite thing? home
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream/goal? art
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your ex? who?
12. Your fear? poverty
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? studio
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? angry
16. Muffins? where?
17. One of your wish list items? freemotion
18. Where you grew up? midwest
19. The last thing you did? breakfast
20. What are you wearing? velvet
21. Your TV? old
22. Your pet? cats
23. Your computer? insufficient
24. Your life? good
25. Your mood? content
26. Missing someone? siblings
27 Your car? minivan
28. Something you’re not wearing? ring
29. Favorite Store? many
30. Your summer? hot
31. Like someone? Kerri
32. Your favorite color? red
33. When is the last time you laughed? recently
34. Last time you cried? forgotten

stash bundle giveaway

Last night between supper, running laundry, and supervising homework I managed to put together warm and cool color bundles from my fabric and fiber stashes, with some other fun stuff thrown in. I will organize a wildcard bundle (which means anything goes as far as colors), photograph the three bundles and hopefully get them posted for the giveaway either Wednesday or Thursday, so be watching. Combing through all my stuff I came to the realization that if I don't buy any new fabric (or anything else) for years and years I would have plenty to keep me busy. Yikes.

Since I now have a working embellisher I shall have to purchase this:

from the immensely talented Dale Rollerson. Anyone who does anything with fibers and stitch should get acquainted with her work, as well as that of Maggie Grey. Tremendously gifted and inspirational women, both of them.

how silly of me and stash giveaway announcement

Thank you to Julie and Jules for gently pointing out my mistake with the links. That's what happens when I get in a big hurry to get my post done, I guess! Anyway I've fixed the bad links.

It was such fun to do the recent postcard giveaway that I've decided to get together at least two and possibly three bundles from my fabric/fiber stash to send off to three participants. I'm thinking of making up cool colors, warm colors bundles for sure, with the possibility of a wildcard bundle in there, too. I'm giving a warning for this giveaway so maybe the word can get around. I don't have photos of the bundles yet (don't have the bundles yet, either) but I will in the next day or two. If you're interested, keep watching!

etsy

I've taken the plunge and opened an etsy shop (see right sidebar for link). I have a couple of things listed right now, including the postcard above, and will probably confine myself to artist postcards and ATC's, but who knows.

Dylan is home from school today with about the grossest, messiest upper respiratory virus I've ever seen. He is leaking mucus from every facial orifice he has, excluding his ears. Other than that he doesn't seem to feel too bad. Ick.

I'm noticing the links I've put within my text don't work, at least on my computer. Can anyone else use them successfully?

postcards (or finished, almost finished, and not nearly finished)

Here is my progress on the postcards from my first feltings. The center one is finished, the blue one needs something (I'll have to think about that) and the red one is more or less a blank slate. That one is made from a piece of mixed color roving I bought a long time ago and never did anything with. I'm very happy with my altered sewing machine/embellisher. It is a good solution for me.

I was hoping to get a great deal more done this weekend, like trying my hand at making silk paper, but I accidentally took a nap, and then I had to cook dinner (roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, onions & carrots) and help get the laundry out of the way before Monday. I did work on some fold-up fabric boxes that I blogged about here, but I'm not done enough to take photos yet.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

it works!

I am happy to say that the transformation of my old sewing machine into an embellisher/felter is complete, and I'm relieved to say that it works quite well. Here's the attachment holding the 6 felting needles, screwed onto the bar that formerly held the sewing needle.
The machine's "guts" have been removed and replaced with a piece of firm foam rubber.

This is my first attempt with the embellisher. I started with a piece of felt and added silk velvet, a piece of scrap scrim I had dyed for another project, sheer blue fabric, and a piece of dark blue chiffon headscarf my mom picked up for me at the charity thrift store she volunteers at. I trapped a bit of embossed paper between the top layer and the rest of the piece, embellished around, not through.

I moved on to pinks and reds, this time using felt, hand dyed silk habotai, pink wool roving, angelina, and a top layer of red chiffon scarf. I will make these pieces into postcards, I think.

For some reason my family was hungry at dinnertime, so I had to stop playing and produce food. This is a baked pasta in basically a mornay sauce, recipe here. The recipe calls for ham, but if you are vegetarian inclined or don't eat pork I think it would taste perfectly fine without it. I did add a topping of seasoned bread crumbs mixed with cheese. I'm one of those recipe tinkerers.

And finally, since I didn't post a photo of my kitties on cat blogging Friday, here is Tiger sleeping off the effects of his unmentionable surgery. He and his brothers all seem to have forgiven us!

i want my money back

We are scheduled for yet another ice storm beginning this afternoon. DH and I had planned to go to a Japanese restaurant in Wichita for a belated Valentine's dinner but it appears we'll have to postpone. Rats. I'm sure I needn't express again how I feel about this winter, especially the ice. It would involve invective and this is a family friendly blog.

Speaking of my DH, he is currently engaged in helping me (read: doing it all himself) modify my old sewing machine for use as a felter/embellisher. This involves removing everything that would be in the way of the felting needles and replacing it with a piece of dense foam rubber. Let me just say I'm glad he's mechanically inclined. I'm anxious to try it and will let you know how it goes.

We retrieved our three now "neutralized" boy cats from the vet this morning. Other than being somewhat tense and bug-eyed, they weathered the trip home OK. They ate and then collapsed and are now sleeping off the experiences of the last 24 or so hours. Poor babies. They'll be better off and we have done the responsible pet owner thing. Now if there was just a surgical procedure to keep Tiger out of the tree! (I guess we could have him declawed, but I don't like that idea.)

My lovely friend Jules has issued a challenge on her blog to list 5 nice things you do for yourself, 5 nice things you do for your closest friend, partner, or child, and 5 nice things you've done for a stranger. Here goes:

For myself:

1) I treat myself every so often to a soak in a tub full of hot scented water.
2) I keep in close contact with my 3 siblings and my parents.
3) I try to allow my creativity freedom--sometimes I have to push myself here.
4) I have a daily prayer time.
5) I keep up this blog--this has been a really great experience for me!

For my closest friend, partner, or child(ren)

1) I get up early and make breakfast for my family every work/school day.
2) I hug all my children frequently and tell them I love them.
3) I choose my DH's ties. I don't know why this seems like a loving thing to do, but it does. He must wear a shirt and tie to work and he always looks spiffy.
4) I make sure everyone has clean clothes, whether this means actually doing the washing myself or directing the other three people in this house big enough to run the washer!
5) I work hard at ensuring my family members get to where they need to be on time and with everything they'll need when they get there.

For a stranger:

1) I hold the door open for someone who has their hands full.
2) I treat respectfully people who come to my workplace to apply for a job. I am a receptionist at a manufacturing firm and a lot of people we get look like they don't have a lot going for them, but I try to be encouraging.
3) I try to make supportive comments to young mothers I see struggling with small children.
4) I have donated jewelry items I've made to be auctioned for charity.
5) I have let people use my cell phone when they needed to make an emergency call.

This exercise made me kind of uncomfortable. When thinking of things I do for my family it seemed there wasn't much to say--maybe I'm really selfish. And talking about what I've done for strangers felt like bragging. I probably have mental issues!

signs of spring?

Probably just wishful thinking, but as I was leaving the house I heard birds singing cheerfully, including a robin and a cardinal, and it did make me think of spring.





These photographs are not mine (no, I have not added wildlife photography to my list of addictions). The robin photo comes from here. The cardinal photo comes from here.

David came home with lovely Valentine gifts for me, including a candle in the shape of a bunch of roses. I don't know if I can bring myself to burn it. The card he bought plays the theme from "Sleepless In Seattle" (A Kiss to Build a Dream On) when it's opened. Who says people married 23 years can't be romantic?

I got the needle felting attachment for my old sewing machine yesterday. I plan to convert the machine and play with felting this weekend. I have a hand felter but I have trouble with the needles bending and breaking very easily. They seem much longer than necessary and they're so slender and brittle which I think contributes to the breakage. They aren't cheap, either. The machine needles are much shorter and I hope that will mean they last longer.

Our three young male cats are going in this morning to be neutered. I'm sure they'll be thrilled. :-)

happy valentine's day

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blog friends.

My day started at 5 a.m. when I woke up and realized I had forgotten to bake the chocolate cheesecake I had promised for the Relay For Life silent auction at work. I was at the nearest grocery store at 5:30 only to find out they don't open til 6. So I drove across town (OK, I live in a small town, but still) to the all-night Wal-Mart, got the needed groceries and headed home. Mixing up cream cheese, eggs, etc. at six in the morning is not my idea of a good time, but I'm glad I remembered to do it. The cake is chilling now and I'll go pick it up at lunch. I put a photo of a chocolate cheesecake on the auction table until the real thing arrives. I hope people appreciate this!

I felt like mother of the year when I discovered I had forgotten to send Dylan's valentines to school with him yesterday. There's no school today so they had their little class valentine parties yesterday. Fortunately, Dylan didn't seem to mind because after all, he got stuff from other people. He said he can take his valentines in on Monday. He's much more pragmatic than I am. I think first with my heart.

I made the heart ATC above with a piece of my first attempted hand needle felting. I used a commercial felt base and felted on dyed wool roving, a piece of purple chiffon, and a piece of some kind of hand dyed sheer fabric I bought somewhere. I blanket stitched around the edges with variegated purple machine quilting thread and attached wings and a heart cut from stamped and gilded scrapbook paper with a heart-shaped brad in the center. I also stitched on a little clock charm because the piece needed something. Not bad for being in a hurry!

Hope everyone has a nice day.

One last thing

I did find the photo of the postcard I sent to Lesley at moogsmum so I thought I'd share it. I have to credit Beryl Taylor with the idea for the angel figure. Beryl is a brilliant and very inspiring mixed media artist.

snowing AGAIN

Yes indeed, Mother Nature is visiting us once again this morning with an unforecast snowfall. After my experience last week I'm a bit leery to say the least. BTW, the photo above is from a clipart program and not, alas, my own.

Dylan had a very nice birthday and is quite proud of being 8 years old. Thanks for your birthday wishes to him.

Over on Jules' blog she has posted six personal quirks and encourages other bloggers to do the same, so here goes:

1) I'm a compulsive reader. Cereal boxes at the breakfast table, etc. It really is an illness.

2) If I know the library is going to be shut, like for a holiday or if the weather is horrible, I mentally take stock of whether I have enough reading material to see me through. I can't stand the idea of being caught short. See item #1 above.

3) I am totally seduced by color. Certain colors or color combinations can literally make my mouth water. I cannot be trusted to make a rational decision about a purchase if there is lovely color involved. Not so bad when you're buying a dress; somewhat more serious when you're purchasing a car.

4) I'm terrible with finances, which is a pity since I'm the one in charge of the checkbook. I really have to work at it and admire those who seem to find it not only easy, but fun. Ick.

5) My favorite numbers are 5, 3, 7, in that order. I don't know why, but 5 just feels right to me.

6) I never keep the same hairstyle for very long. It's probably a boredom issue. Sometimes this applies to haircolor as well.

I could go on but I'm supposed to stop at six, and anyway I don't want you all to think I'm a total weirdo.

On the crafting front, I am just about ready to purchase a felting adapter for an old sewing machine. I want to have a felting machine but just cannot swallow the price. I've researched these and they seem to be a reasonable alternative. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hope it's a sunny day where you are!

happy birthday to dylan

My baby is eight years old today! Sob. We're having a special dinner for him tonight with his choice of menu: hamburgers, creamed corn, and fruit salad. He's also requested a Yu-Gi-Oh cake which my mother is currently in search of. I don't know if they make such an animal. Dylan has invited his friend Sebastian to eat with us.

Lesley reports having received my postcard but I can't find my photo to post here so you'll have to look for it on her blog. So far my cards have met with approval. I shall have to do more.

I was attempting to nap yesterday (amidst a horde of cats who were trying to nap on my legs) and was just drowsing off when an image of a fiber book based on gothic arch shaped postcards popped fully formed into my head. Sigh. I'll either have to make it right away or do sketches or something before the image evaporates for good.

I really shouldn't have

OK, I know I didn't need any of these, but I wandered into the fabric store and they jumped into my arms. I'm lucky it was only six fat quarters and no more.

No comments on my ugly worktable. Surely no one else works amidst an incipient avalanche!

My friend Jules has notified me that she received the postcard she won from me a couple of weeks ago and so now I can reveal the whole card without ruining the surprise for her. Here it is.


I will post the other cards when the recipients get them.

between doctor visits

Well, I managed to hoist myself in to see the doctor today, who pronounced that I have a pulled hamstring. Yup. If it weren't for meeting worker's compensation requirements I might not have gone to a regular MD at all and just done chiropractic but that's a hoop I had to jump through, not literally, thank heaven. The doc says I can return to work on Monday using a hard chair and a foot prop, and he gave me a prescription for a pain reliever that will do more good than naproxen sodium. Mobic, I think the name is. My mobility is definitely better today but it still is very painful to sit up without something to elevate my left foot on.

Now on to more pleasant topics. This is a lousy photo, but the beads are gorgeous in real life. Please ignore my old ugly countertop. I had purchased these beads on ebay in December and they were custom made, etched, and shipped, and I received them yesterday. Truly wonderful.


This is what my workspace looked like Saturday when I was making my postcard at the Gallery. I couldn't pass up the chance to photograph all those yummy bright colors together.

And finally, in honor of Friday catblogging, here is Rusty looking imperious.


I shall now go sit on an icepack and wait for my chiropractor appointment. Have a great weekend everyone.

***UPDATE***The chiropractor agreed with the MD that I did not do any serious damage and should just continue to rest, ice, take anti-inflamatories, and generally take it easy, so I shall. This is also the last post in which I will whine about my sore leg/back.

wow, two posts in one day

Lest anyone was getting worried that my injury was negatively impacting my ability to do art, I wanted to say I've been doing some embroidery inspired by this piece by Susan Lenz. I've been particularly attracted to the gothic arch image lately because of my commissioned piece (which, sadly, I cannot work on until I can actually sit at a table for stretches of time) and this is a way to work with that and feed my need for bright colors at the same time.

queen of pain

I'm still at home and still hurting. I can walk better but sitting upright and putting pressure on my strained hamstring is out of the question. I have two doctor appointments soon so I hope I can get some relief.

I wanted to share images of the beautiful postcard I got from Susan Lenz at CyberFyber. I love the way she's signed the back of the card in stitch. If you haven't taken the opportunity to get in on this very interesting event, you really should check it out.


My mother gave me this nifty quilted bag for Christmas. I've enjoyed and collected angel images for several years so this fits right in. I decided to use it as a workbag which it seems very suited for.

big boo-boo

A word to the wise--don't slip on the ice when you're 47 years old and out of shape. Or in shape, for that matter. That is exactly what I did yesterday on the sidewalk immediately outside my office. My legs went right out from under me with my left leg trying to do the splits. I am pretty sure I've strained or pulled my hamstring because my symptoms line up with what I've been able to research. Ow, ow, ow. I can't sit up properly, can't put on my own socks and shoes (never mind pants) and am generally miserable. Needless to say I am at home today. Thank goodness for worker's comp and helpful co-workers who have been helpful and sympathetic. It is still very icy outside and I am not going out when it is still so treacherous. The doctor cannot see me until Friday morning anyway, which may be all to the good.

I hope I can find something arty to do in a semi-reclining position. Otherwise I'll be confined to crossword puzzles and my latest Peter Tremayne mystery. My kids are all home (school closed for weather) so they are being helpful, bringing tea and ice packs, etc. Any available sympathy would be appreciated!

postcard is in the mail

I'm pleased to say that my postcard is winging its way to Susan Lenz at CyberFyber. One great thing about this event is the way it is bringing fiber artists together, and I doubt that anything near this scale would be possible were it not for the internet. Marvelous.

In spite of a bursitis flareup in my shoulder I am soldiering on and plan to work on embellished fabric boxes this week, along with getting further on my commissioned piece. My uncle came through with the wooden gothic arch I asked him to make and it is well up to his usual high standards. I will finish the arch and post it soon.

These are the fabrics I have chosen for the boxes. Outside:





and inside.



I have no idea what I'll do with the boxes once I have them made, but I'll think of something. :-)

***UPDATE*** I received my postcard from Susan Lenz in the mail today! It is lovely!

postcard and a new friend

I was anxious to finish my postcard for CyberFyber and really didn't have any plan for what the finished product would look like other than the color scheme of orange and purple. I ironed a piece of kunin felt onto some fusable pellon for a base, then tore some strips of purple and orange dupioni silk. I stitched these to the base, alternating colors.

I layered on a piece of purple chiffon and free motion stitched in swirls over the whole piece.

I rummaged through my boxes of fibers and embellishments and pulled out some things that fit with the general palette and feel, including hand dyed silk ribbon from Carma, space dyed wool and silk fibers from Stef Francis, some silk cord that I had dyed some time ago for another project (I save everything), and some glass beads and colorful cotton perle thread. After that it was just a matter of deciding where to put everything and how to make it work together. By this time I had lugged everything over to the VAAM Gallery for my Saturday shift, and I set it all up there. Made for some interesting conversations with various people wandering through.


This is the final product. It is 4x6 (or thereabouts) and is backed with purple batik from Hoffman and zigzag stitched three or four layers around the edges. I will be sending it to Susan Lenz at CyberFyber on Monday.

I found this little fellow in the snowy gutter in front of the Post Office on Saturday morning. He was a bit damp but none the worse for wear. I scooped him up and took him to the VAAM Gallery with me, where he kept me company as I worked. When I was drying him off I discovered there is a squeaker in his tummy. I have called him Bryony which seems a fitting name for a hedgehog.



I hope you have all had a good weekend.