Poppy Play

I'm trying really hard to practice 'playing'. The goal is not to have a finished product in the end. Just use the materials on hand and play with them. And I guess when you do you're sometimes pleasantly surprised by the outcome. That's what they say, and I guess the more I look at this the more I like it. Anyone familiar with Linda and Laura Kemshalls books will recognize the poppies, though I have poppies in my own garden, (and this year made poppy head dolls) and I designed and cut this stencil, and used a scrap of my own hand painted fabric, so it really is mine. Paintsticks, too. Maybe I'll do more and see where I end up.

Deborah's coming all the way from Texas next weekend for a big Frayed Edges weekend! We'll be taking a workshop with Natash Kempers Cullen on Monday, so big things in store!

Fall Socks

Vacation is over, birthday is over, and I have my repaired camera back!!! Now I can show you the socks I made while riding in the car to Prince Edward Island and home again. You know, "Idle hands are the devil's tools" and all. I made a trip to my now favorite yarn store, Halcyon Yarns, before we left and found not one but two beautiful merino wool hand dyed sock yarns, so I bought them both with high expectations. Two pair of socks. I usually finish one sock and I have to force myself to finish the second. And now, another head game...i made one of each pair so now I have to finish both. Of course there is a little loophole: they do sort of match in a funky way. But I will finish them both, she said with determination!

Birthday Gifts

She said she wanted color, texture and doo-dahs. What she really said was "I want that quilt hanging in your bedroom." This will be a miniature version of that. Well, there's lots of color and some texture which you can't see very well. Next comes the doo-dahs.

I think I'll call this one 'Patched Work' because it really is scraps just thrown on top of a base fabric...scraps from old projects and the triangles of color are actually a piece (about 20x20) I started and didn't like. It was even quilted and I still cut it up. Wow. It wasn't that hard because it wasn't very good. Too busy. This one is too but at least the black areas give your eye a place to rest.

Camera Woes.

I'm at a loss without my camera. It's on it's way to Idaho? Ohio?, to be repaired. My pop up flash isn't popping up. Frustrating. Mostly because I'm finally doing some work in my studio and I can't show you. Yesterday my husband let me borrow his to take a few shots of my in progress piece, but of course I forgot to download them last night (company for dinner) and he had the nerve to take it with him today. I'm kidding. Probably because it's his birthday and maybe his co-workers are going to have a little party for him and he wants to remember the moments. Ah, well.

I have two things going at the moment. One is a request (not commission because I won't get paid :) and the other is influenced by Sandra Meech/L and L Kemshall/and the need to create something that's different for me. I'm stuck at the point where you say to yourself over and over...PLAY, JUST PLAY, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. We'll see.

I love the 12x12 journal project that's going on and seeing how differently everyone interprets the theme. Deborahs piece is amazing, tying together her passion for her medium and her confidence in herself and who she is and what it all means to her and how she puts it all together to make an abundant life for herself and her family. All in a 12x12 square. And my interpretation of the theme "Illumination?" I have no idea... and it's not like I haven't been thinking about it. It's a stumbling block for me for sure, this process. Maybe if I really had to come up with something I could. Joanne has been doing it independently and has a beautiful piece to show for it. Maybe I need to push myself more. I'm all for that.