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.