Finished!

And I'm pretty happy with the results, despite all my struggles (or maybe because of them!) There were many frustrating moments, but overall, things worked out. The colors are a bit brighter in real life and it doesn't look 'painted' as this picture seems to.

 
 One struggle was the hairline behind the ear, trying to make it blend in.  And then there was the ear...this is the second try, cutting out the first one completely and attaching a new one. Better.

And the ponytail, slipping out of it's elastic. Love this. I'm looking for a title, any suggestions?

Hello everyone, I'm back with a new fabric collage to share with all my quilting friends. I've always been so impressed with what some fabric artists do with light and shadows, dark and light areas that I thought I might try it for myself. I'm finding it challenging and just the right mind stimulating project to be working on as fall approaches. I'm also reaffirming some things I already knew about myself. I don't follow the rules. I don't color in the lines, literally. I can't for the life of me cut a piece of fabric to FIT in those shapes (and apparently I change the shapes too). So, I fly by the seat of my pants and somehow I think I'm making it work. And if only I did it the 'right way' life would be so much less stressful. I SHOULD have fused all the fabrics first. But, she says, I wasn't sure which fabrics I'd use for sure, and I didn't want to have tons of fused stuff I could have used for something else if they weren't fused. So, I used Susan Carlson's technique of using a dab of glue to hold everything down, and it's maybe not as neat as it could be, but it works.

Starting to add some color. The photo was enlarged using PosteRazor, thank you Deborah.

Today I start working on hair.

No Starfish were hurt....

I love summer in Maine. Finding these little treasures hiding under the seaweed is one of the true joys of a day spent at the beach.

I met this lovely young woman at the quilt show today. She had the most amazing 'sleeve' tattoo on her arm that immediately caught my eye. Before I describe it, I have to say I had a conversation with my 30 something kids this weekend saying I just didn't get these big tattoos every young person seems to be sporting these days. I felt like my grandmother complaining about Mitzi Gaynor's bare legs. And, boy, did I think she (my grandmother) was out of it. Back to this beautiful piece of art on skin: it was colors, soft greens and pinks (maybe?), some blue?, but it was also about the design; scissors covering a bicep, a spool of thread with a needle through it, and a measuring tape wound around it all. Check it out here.

As you can see, I haven't been motivated to post in a very long time, but meeting this young woman, Brooke, has stirred things up for me. Her 'package' was what I always felt was inside me but could never express. Things are so relaxed nowadays even though I was a teen in the 60's (late 60's that is) and some remember that as a very relaxed time. I WANTED to dye my hair and wear different clothes, but I just couldn't, shouldn't. Well, if hydrogen peroxide counts, I guess I did once. I think I was too afraid of what people would think. It wasn't done in those days. You know, "only her hairdresser knows for sure" attitude prevailed.  It was just really cool to see that the way I thought of myself inside then was present in front of me today in living color. Cool.

I still don't think of myself as old on the inside, though I surely am on the outside. I've heard more than one older person say that, and I plan to continue to think 'young' even if I don't express it in sleeve tattoos or clothing designed with the twenty something in mind. I think I can create a bit of wiggle room between 'age appropriate' and 'thinking young', don't you? At least I'll continue to try.

Work in Progress

Still working on water.

Sunday afternoon spiders and snakes

Assignment for the day: make 15 spiders and 15 snakes to be sold at the 'Sidney Mall' for 50 cents each. A classroom assignment to raise a little money for the kids. Each 3rd grader had to come up with a product to sell and make 30 of them.

Attending: one 9 year old with an experienced eye for color and two 'olders' with exceptional eyes once they had their reading glasses on.

Materials: wire, beads, polymer clay heads and bodies made ahead of time. Tea and cookies. Laughs and good conversation.
A good time was had by all.

Little Chicks

Here's a fun project I found one day while checking out other blogs:

Done by using the blanket stitch, (which I'd say I need to practice a bit more). They're tiny, less than 2 inches so they work up fast. The directions call for felt or wool, and really, that's the best.

I tried using some of my cotton scraps and they're okay but not as smooth as felt or wool. If you want to make your own, here is the link.

Two New Littles

I like to try to make my own thank you notes when I can. If I were smart I'd sit down sometime when I can't think of anything else to do and just make up a bunch. IF I were smart. But I always wait till I need them. I don't know if they're appreciated by the recipients, but I feel like I want to do something special for someone who did something special for me. This first one started out as just experimenting with some fiber I had on a piece of background fabric. If I had known how much I'd like it in the end I would have chosen a different background. It's okay.

And this one. Love the sky peaking through the branches.

Hand dyed fabric, scraps of yarns, thread. Next time I think I'll try for denser thread painting.

Frayed Edges March 2012

We had a great Frayed Edges meeting today! This one's for you Deborah.

I provided fabric and pigma 08 markers (sorry no microns to be had) for Kate and Sarah. And then we watched the tutorial she made, which I'm having one heck of a time linking to, so for anyone who's interested just go to Deborahs blog and scroll down a couple of posts and it's there.

Yes, those are your hands on my computer screen. We watched. Then dove in. Things we learned:

1. Following your advice, we worked loosely, keeping those wrists flexible.
2. Don't try to ask fellow workers questions that require a thoughtful answer while trying to write. No one can do this and respond at the same time. At least Kate can't.
3. If you can't think what to write try Music lyrics. Mary Poppins. Chim chim-in-ee works well. Happy Birthday would work too, everyone knows those lyrics though there's not much to them.


When the writing was done, we added a bit of color. Now to use this great new fabric in some sort of project.

Blue

I'm into my typical March behavior: longing for spring to hurry up and get here. Along with the birds and the warm sun. Until then, I'll have to settle for pretend.

Snowy owl in a not so snowy winter

Does anyone else besides me have a hard time spending $15 on shipping for 25 lily bulbs, or
$17 shipping for 3 /$4.95 lavender plants? Grumble. Needless to say, I won't be ordering any plants on line. I should buy local anyway. And hold off on those springtime longings.

On another note, birding is free and sometimes you win the golden ticket. Like seeing this beautiful and rare snowy owl. He's been hanging around the Samoset Resort golf course for a couple of weeks, just waiting to be photographed. I was able to get right under him yesterday morning before he took off.

Friday morning moment....

Who doesn't love pink tulips in the middle of winter. Or anytime.

Another Project:

DONE!!!
Since our new concrete countertops were installed last week, I was able to bring the rest of this mural down to meet it, finish grouting and call it complete. I wrote about this back in July if you check out my archives. Mine is a smaller version of the school's and working independently without the help of professionals, I think it came out alright. I certainly would do a few things differently, like blend the darks and lights a bit more along the edges. But, no regrets.

I LOVE Mail

From my 6 nearly 7 year old Daisy scout who not only gets the message across but has to decorate it as well. Just like her Nana. And if you're not sure of your answer, it's right there in black and white for you.

Progress

The colors, either from my camera or from blogger are very distorted because these are both the same brown background and somewhere in a shade between the two of these. It's a beautiful linen.
This little bird is based on a phoebe, but since I'm deep into The Hunger Games it is turning into a Mockingjay.

Two New Projects

One: a new bird will soon land on this branch.

Two: a knitting project for a special birthday.

Having more than one project going at the same time is not unusual for me. Or for you, I imagine. When the creative spark hits, you just have to go with it.

And finally, a corner of our house this Friday morning.

Thankful

Christmas Eve Day is here and we are finally settled into our new home. Most boxes are unpacked and I can say that UN- packing is a whole lot more fun than packing. There's a feeling of accomplishment when you can break down the box FOR THE LAST TIME and throw it into the recycling bin at the dump, oops, transfer station.

I've got a ktichen with a workspace that flows, and counters that are half done, but I guess with concrete it takes a month to cure after its made. Butcher block on the island. In the distance is the mosaic I posted part of earlier. It was a colossal error in measuring (ditzy kitchen planner lady) and because of that it has overflowed it's original boundaries. It's still pretty though.

I have a pantry. And lots of room for the dozens of vases I can't seem to be able to part with.

We even have a tree and little lights in the windows.

We will have a white Christmas after all. This field behind our house is now covered with snow and we have a houseful of family: kids, grandkids and dogs (4). Family traditions. I am hoping the same is in store for all of you reading this post, well, maybe not the 4 dogs! Peace to all.

STITCHED

My friend and fellow Frayed Edges member Deborah has created a video for one of Alma Stoller's STITCHED series of workshops. If you've never taken an online class, this would be the perfect series to start out with. I looked at the long list of offerings and, believe me, there's something for everyone. Of course I'm VERY biased, but I think Deborah's is the best. Here's a little information about the series:

STITCHED is a collection of 20 online video workshops by 20 talented fabric artists. Students have access to all 20 workshops and can choose to view and work on the projects any time of the day, any day of the week. Registration opens on Dec 1 and the workshops kick off on Jan 1 and run through June 1. Registration is only $89. Deborah is teaching a workshop titled, "Branches, Buds and Blossoms: A Botanical Fabric Collage." She includes videos on selecting fabrics, adding surface design, composing and improvisational hand embroidery.

Above is a sample of her work. I happen to love it. If you can, zoom in on the picture to see all the details.

New Windows and Gingerbread Houses

Here are two of the three window boxes lining our garage. I can't tell you how patient I have been, wanting to do this the minute we had vertical walls! There's someting about green greens and red berries that makes me so happy. We move into our new home this coming weekend. Even the thought of moving boxes one last time and unpacking is not so overwhelming. I've loved the whole process of building. Everything has gone so well, probably because we have a great contractor, and I can check in every day. Always there are questions.

We've been carrying on with our annual holiday preparations and one of them is getting together with friends to make gingerbread houses...this year is our - yikes!-31st year! That's a lot of houses, trains, lighthouses, you name it, it's been made. This year we added a fish to the lineup:

A lot of time is down time, like when you are in charge of holding the roof until it is firm enough to add the next piece:

and there are engineering feats that just never work out:

like the adirondack chair that never was. On the other hand, there's beginner's luck with this perfectly constructed, first house.



And always, there is wine and lots of smiles shared with good friends and family. Good holiday tradition.

Thanksgiving Week

Hello! I've taken a little break from blogging, and I'm not sure I'm back to any kind of regularity, but I thought it would be a good idea to post something before I forget how it's done! Our new house is nearly complete: walls are being painted, built-ins are being built in, kitchen cabinets will be here in two weeks (fingers crossed) and our moving date is Dec.10. This is a week for being thankful, and I am, for many things, including a process that has been nearly perfect. No delays. A great contractor. No change orders.

Above is a piece of the mosaic I've done on the wall in the kitchen. It will be the backsplash behind the stove and below the fan. It's one inch glass tiles cut in half or quartered and arranged to look like islands in the ocean. When the stove is installed I'll post a picture of the whole thing. I'm hoping the whole package (cupboards, counters, stove) will deflect the errors I made in design, which I truly didn't see until it was all done.

One of the things I've missed since we've been on the move and living in rentals for the last 6 months, is gardening. Yesterday was such a nice day here in Maine I was able to plant some bulbs around our yard. And today it's 31 degrees. My plan is to head out soon and cut some greens to make a wreath and fill the windowboxes we installed last week. Decorating for the holidays is one of my favorite things, and using natural materials is my preference. Having a home to decorate helps too. Thankful me.

I hope your week leading up to Thanksgiving is a good one, with plenty of blessings to fill your plate. My plate is surely full.