Why not a list
Posted: May 18, 2012 Filed under: Garden, Happy things, Home and family, What I've been doing 7 Comments »Kelly often uses the list as a tool to make order out of the details in her brain…to much success and entertainment. So here I go…..
-I apologize for being absent from the blob for so long.
-Its spring, and I have been doing those springy kind of things…cleaning up the outdoor furniture:
-Planting:
9 window boxes, put new soil in all of them this year. I try to do that every other year. How about you, do you start fresh or reuse the soil?
I filled most of the window boxes with my most favorite, easy and dependable plant….red dragonwing begonias, and vinca vine….for hangy down interest. They have already filled out quite a bit.
-The garden is lush with new growth, I can’t help but stare and take photos:
-Jackie is working on her new house, and Jeff and I are helping. Jeff is replumbing (his favorite job, ha!). And I am wielding a paint brush. All her closets were hunter green, deep fuschia, or chartreuse. Why would anyone paint a small closet these dark colors? They are now white. I don’t think they have been painted since the late 40’s.
- You should see my sewing room. Stacks of stuff, boxes, furniture piled in front of other furniture, all awaiting Jackie’s move. No wonder I have not wanted to come in here and use the computer.
-I went to Home Depot with Jackie to help pick out wall colors. They had a large display of “Favorite Colors of Empty Nesters”! That would be us. But no, I do not want any of those colors.
-I do understand the feeling of wanting to feather the Empty Nest! I have some plans to shuffle, and reorganize and tweak our living space.
-Back to gardening: After a failed attempt at a wisteria given to me by a friend, I purchased one. It’s a native plant, an american wisteria, with slightly shorter blooms. So excited to watch what it does. Yes, I am easily entertained.
-The requisite photos of the viburnum in its blooming splendor:
-We have the second robin nest of the season on the climbing hydragnea…there are three babies about ready to fly on their own. I have enjoyed watching them. But have no way of getting a good photo.
-The Japanese peony had a record number of blooms this year…for the short week it bloomed, quite lovely:
-The spring peepers have come and gone in our pond. But there was a new danger for them….waiting on the warm rocks. This particular one was caught in the netting we use to hinder the heron. Luckily, we rescued him and no others got tangled:
We have since come across a couple in the the plantings and grass. I am have never seen them around before, and am glad they are there…but they can surprise me when I’m poking around pulling weeds!
Hope you have a great day….
What’s the doings…catch up
Posted: April 12, 2012 Filed under: Mosaics, What I've been doing 6 Comments »Picking up glass nippers again….
And setting out to finish projects started last fall. Also fulfilling a promise of participation in a charity event:
Jeff convinced me to temporarily move “out of the closet”-mosaic closet that is. We set up a table on the porch, so I can work on some larger pieces (like the vintage window, below) that just would not fit in my little closet workspace. It’s not feng shui (phooey), but it sure makes for a pleasant working environment. Thank you Jeff for knowing me so well, and suggesting something that what would get me out of the slump I’ve probably been complaining about way too much.
Tip of the iceberg of getting back to making stuff? Hope so…..
Abstract
Posted: January 24, 2012 Filed under: 2012 Count Up, Quotes, What I've been doing 8 Comments »In one of the groups I belong to (212 Fiber Artists), the challenge was issued to create a piece of art using a limited color palette. And within that palette use 70 percent of one color, 30 percent of another, and 10 percent using any of the remaining colors. In addition the piece had to be attached to a painted canvas. Inspiration struck this weekend…and I finished my challenge piece. 
Although it was a lot of fun playing with color and shapes and balance and repetition, I found myself sitting back and asking what this abstraction says to me… deriving some meaning and connection to it after it was finished. I decided to title it, “Listen”. And then, I found this quote:
Catch up week
Posted: April 9, 2010 Filed under: Virginia, What I've been doing 1 Comment »I’ve been goofing off…..you know, laundry….cooking…..taxes…..cleaning…..all that fun stuff!
Another thing I’ve accomplished is finishing mosaics, getting them ready to hang at Art Is In Market. This always takes more time than I think it should. Edging the mosaics, attaching hangers, inventory taking.
I hope that next week is “the calm before the storm”. With the storm being my parents’ move into their new condo. But, storms serve a purpose and are a good thing, just difficult to handle. During the calm, I would like to finish up a quilt, and a mosaic or two. Sounds like a good plan.
I’m still thinking about our weekend in Virginia……
This is Lis’ and the big, bodacious, bruised and bitten bully boy……Brutus. He loves his Lisa, but not the other neighborhood cats so much. Here is his story.
Cam and Miracle have a daily meet at the fence….Miracle has Cam trained well, he always has carrots:
Wishing you a good Saturday…..
Working Weekend….61, 62, 63
Posted: February 25, 2010 Filed under: Small Stuff, What I've been doing 4 Comments »Yes, that’s what I’ll call it…..lest you think it will be all about the fun! I am getting together with my baggette friends and staying here…
A house meant for art making….worktables, natural light, off the beaten track. I can hardly wait. Its been a crazy (but good)couple of weeks, and a chance to focus on “making” is most welcome.
We plan to screen print and mosaic. I think Kat and I are challenging ourselves to see how many mosaics we can get done! No competition here between us, I wouldn’t dream of it….she will outnumber me no doubt. Kat is gifted in the “getting things done” category. I can aspire to do my personal best, though.
#61, Pin, felted red wool, leather, button and threads
#62, Pin, aqua ultrasuede, red wool, vintage button and thread
#63, Pin, felted mango wool, misc felt pieces, button and threads
Friends, have a good weekend….I will try my darndest to have a good one myself. Be safe, be well.
57, 58, 59
Posted: February 16, 2010 Filed under: Mosaics, What I've been doing 6 Comments »More mirrors…….
Keys, upholstery tacks, and mirror tiles
Very thick and heavy stone tiles
called “Meet in the Middle”. Featuring two sweet little lizards.
54, 55, 56
Posted: February 15, 2010 Filed under: Small Stuff, What I've been doing 1 Comment »Three new pins…..think spring!
Felted cashmere sweater, large vintage button
Felted Grey mohair, black glass vintage button
Felted brown wool, vintage ‘50’s plastic button
Finishes-Week 5
Posted: February 5, 2010 Filed under: Mosaics, Patchwork, Pets, What I've been doing 9 Comments »This week, I’ve many pieces in progress, but not much finished.
I’ve been moaning and groaning to Jeff about the grout color of the key hearts. After days of listening to my passing thoughts on possible grout color, he said..”aren’t hearts supposed to be RED?”. It was an AH…HAAA moment.
So I went ahead and painted the grout just that:
Now I am satisfied. And I ordered some lipstick red grout.
Speaking of hearts. Yesterday, I was gifted with some GORGEOUS pieced blocks from Gail. I wish I could piece like this….Gail and Kat are both so gifted with their combinations of colors and fabrics.
I immediately put them to good use, and made a banner for my side door:
#53
And just for fun, this photo makes Bibbs and the pillow appear as one…kinda, funny:
Week 4 finishes, continued
Posted: January 29, 2010 Filed under: Small Stuff, What I've been doing 5 Comments »As much as I wanted to get back to serious stitching this week, it was not to be….almost. There is a price to pay for going in several different directions. If one goes in many directions for a while, though, pretty soon you’re going in a circle…where all action is connected. One thing leading to the next, all perfectly related but unrelated. One can hope!
My bit of stitching this week was a request by a friend, for a crown pin….
I made two, and had her pick her favorite:
#36
#37
In exchange, I received a sweet little harbinger of spring:
Thank you, Lynn…I love it, and hope you are royally smitten with your brooch.
This is Lynn’s etsy shop, where she has necklaces, and other good things available.
I also spent a day making flower pins to restock ArtIsIn Market….
Black and brown, neutrals. Meant to go with just about everything.
Also spring colors….meant to brighten the winter dreariness.
The buttons are in, what I hope, is continuous improvement. I like these better than my early ones. I’m using vintage and new buttons, wool, felt, leather, ultrasuede. Constantly discovering new materials and new ways that work well. 15 pins….numbers 38 thru 52
Speaking of new materials….look at the bargain I came across:
many, many buttons on cards, for a ridiculously low price. This was the find of the century. Thank you JoAnn’s. I am sorry you are closing another store near my home, though.
And I have a new favorite thrift store….Value World. Kelly took Lisa and I there last week, and I found wool clothing that will get cut apart, washed, and felted for pins and ?????? One man’s junk is another’s treasure, certainly! The colors are so gorgeous:
I can see that this may well turn into a new way to shop for fabric. Suits my likes perfectly…beautiful fabric, economical price, supporting a local charity, recycling clothing.
Mosaics done
Posted: January 29, 2010 Filed under: Mosaics, What I've been doing 3 Comments »and grouted…
Kelly’s plate:
I took the liberty of adding grey grout to the spiral, just to accentuate it.
Kelly landscape frame!
Jackie’s mirror, with the camera reflection
and her orange collage.
Lisa took her mosaic home, to Virginia, and has it grouted too. See it here.
They all turned out so very good.
I found some tiles that were just so beautiful, I wanted to experiment with them. They are like sea glass, with a little metallic burnishing added. I did this plain but pretty mirror. Keeping it simple! #34
I also completed another “Key to my Heart” mirror….
Not too sure about this grout color, but at a loss for what color to use. Perhaps this is just too beige??? Any suggestions???? I have a thought of adding a wash of fine silver glitter to the grout once it dries completely….hmmmmm. #35
Addendum: No glitter, but I think ivory grout might be better. Will try it next grouting session
This is not all I’ve completed this week…will post again today, later….
