Wednesday, November 2, 2011

P.S.

We just had company visiting from Washington state!  We had a really good time!  When they left, they gave us this ristra!  We are drying it out in the sun & bring it in at night.  Once all the Sandia chilis are dry, we will use them this winter to spice up our meals!  They smell wonderful!  Thanks, dear friends!

Creation Vacation!!

After talking with an online class teacher, I realized that I had projects clamoring to get done!!!  Here are just a few of some sample boxes/trays that need to get finished!
These are full of almost finished projects:
One of a series of mixed media beaded projects to finish:
Other misc. beaded projects to finish:
And all the yarn to make into things:
Anyway, she told me that someone once told her that 'artists couldn't organize their way out of a paper sack'!!!  I believe it.  I have so many projects on my "to do" list that I decided to take a Creation Vacation!  I'm really excited about it!  I spend alot of time online, which can be a great tool if used for creativity.  But I was just deleting newsletters and checking out ads!  ACK!  So, one project at a time, I am going to take the next few months to get them done!  Well, to at least attempt to get them done.  And who knows...maybe start some more!  So I will be offline for awhile.  If anyone needs to get ahold of me, please feel free to call and I'll call you back as soon as I can.  Or you could always try my DH!  :)  He loves talking to people!  So I'm covering up my computer and hoping you all have a wonderful holiday season!  Wish me well!

Amulets and Talismans

So I decided I wanted to make some amulets and talismans.  Not sure if I'd carve them from stone, bead them, or what.  So since I couldn't decide, I decided to practice with some pouches to hold them.  This one is to hold a small item.  I used a larger yarn:
This one is a copy of my iPod holder.  Only I used a crochet thread instead of yarn to see how the size of the pattern would change:
The one on the right is a knotless netting pouch I made with waxed linen.  I decided to see what would happen if I changed the technique to crochet & used a larger yarn.  The result is on the left:
This one I used crochet thread & a ridge stitch.  People seem to like it almost as much as the knotless netted one.  But this tiny pouch took 2 and 1/2 hours!
So after all this experimenting I decided that, except for special occasions,  I'm just gonna make a flannel or felt pouch for the talisman or amulet.  Now to get to making them!!!

Meanwhile...

...someone came to show us something...the Kirby salesman!!!  Yup, they're still around!  So they showed us all the nasty dirt that is hiding in our carpet, sofa & bed!  Ugh.  I noticed there was a difference in colors on the samples he cleaned!  Then I realized that some of what he'd cleaned had come from Kaua'i & the rest was dust & sand from here.  I had to take a pic of the different colors of soil!  Kaua'i soil is more red.  The soil here is darker.  See if you can tell the difference!
After 3 and 1/2 hours we still decided not to buy!  Whew!

More Doodles and Symbols

I've always been interested in symbols & how they are used.  So here are a few more that I did.  I had practiced with them in my Imagineer book, and had to copy them into my doodle book.  Plus a couple I did just in my doodle book.
This one is some I copied from my Imagineer book:
These are more I copied from my Imagineer book as well as a tag I did:
Here's a couple of heart ones I did right in my doodle book:
Studying where & how symbols came about has been very educational!

Oh no!

I have a wonderful e-pal in Italy who sent me an embroidery design for a pincushion.  It was so cute!  You can check out her site here.  She also has another one with more cooking!  (Pizelles, Mom!)  Anyway, I have 2 pens for embroidery.  One is a disappearing ink one & one is a water soluble one.  I thought I'd try the disappearing ink one first.  Here's a pic:
So I started to embroider it here and left the rest for the next day.  BUT when I got to it, all the lines had disappeared!!!
Apparently the air here sucks the water out of everything!!!  So I decided to retry copying it with the soluble ink pen here.
I'm hoping I can get this one done before the soluble pen disappears!!!
If not, I'm going for pencil!!!
Wish me luck!

More RAAKS and some crochet

We got RAAKed with more yarn!  Wowee!!!  This is fun!  Here's a couple of pics:

So I've been busy rolling balls and I started this scarf:
This pic doesn't do this yarn justice!!!  
It's called Juniper & is beautiful!
I'm keeping the yarn in my Tibetan prayer bowl 
so each stitch is full of prayers for whoever gets this scarf!

Test Swatch

Spoonflower has a special once a year.  You can send in a design and they will send you back a free test swatch.  I sent in a jpeg of a pin I made a pal.  Here is the result of the test swatch on quilt fabric:
The fabric design came out a little darker than the original, but it was a fun idea.  I guess you get better results with paler designs, but I'm not that kinda gal!  LOL!

Where have I been???

Wow!  I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted!  And what have I been doing?  Well, since I had a bit of a relapse, for awhile I did nothing but read and do Oprah's Life Class!  So here's a pic of some of what I've been reading:
Been studying a lot of nature religions.
I also just got a book on over 3,000 motifs for artists & craftsmen!
So I guess I'll be busy with that.

Monday, August 8, 2011

WE HAVE A WORKING KITCHEN!!!

Wow!  What was 'sposed to take 4 days is only gonna take 1 and 1/2!!!  The 2 restorer guys today worked really hard & everything is back together!  They just have to come back tomorrow for some touch up painting and a little trim!  Yahoo!  I'm so excited!  So tonight we're gonna have spaghetti and sausage & sing the Italian Mambo song!  Here's a link so you can sing along with us!

My niece's bridal shower gift!!!

So I wasn't able to get to WA state for her shower.  I was really sad!  But I wanted to make her a special OOAK gift.  I decided to make her a small beaded purse for her to keep her honeymoon key and an emergency $100.00 in...everyone needs to have an emergency $100.00.  Her wedding isn't until the end of the month, so told her to start saving!  Or maybe, as a "bursa", she'll get some money at the wedding.  Anyway, I forgot to take the final shots of it before I mailed it!  So all I have to show you are process shots until my family sends me shots from the shower!  
Here we go:
1.  Bead front and back of the purse and pin in the lining.
2.  This is the lining on the inside ready to sew.
3.  This is the lining sewn in.
4.  This is edging the thick part of the purse.
5. This is putting the picot edging around the open top.
I'll add the finished photo when I get it from my family.
See?  I told you we've been busy!  :)

House Pouch

Before the restorers came today, I wanted to bless our house.  So yesterday I smudged the whole thing!  Every nook and cranny!  And I made the house a pouch.  I made sure it was placed in the wall of the house before the insulation was put in.  Here's the process:
1.  Make a knotless netting pouch.
2.  Add a cord and beads.
3.  Choose crystals, stones, charms & write wishes.
4.  Add gifts to pouch.
5.  Tie pouch tightly.
6.  Leave in framing before insulation is put in.
Then just make sure the restorers really leave it there!
I hope our home feels loved and happy now!

We were RAAKED!

So while all the kitchen mess was going on, 
we got a RAAK from a pal in HI.  
(Remember a RAAK is a Random Act of Art Kindness)  
Lots of goodies in this box!!!  
Who knows what we'll make of it all!
It sure was nice to be treated during this time!  Thanks pal!

2011 Kitchen Leak

OK...so I've been talking about out kitchen having to be restored.  Here's why.  Ron noticed a dripping outside next to the house under our hose.  He thought it was the hose & moved it, but it remained.  So we called out the NM Leak Detection people.  They pried open under our cabinets & a storm of mold came flying out!!!  They, the plumber & the restorers have all been working on this.  We had to get down to what the cause was before our insurance would even consider covering us.  So the counter tops, cabs, sink, etc. were all ripped out.  There was so much water, mold & wet wood (including the framing!) under there that we had a dehumidifier living with us for 11 days.  We ended up calling him R2D2.  Finally one of the restorers said it was dry enough for the plumber to come & try to find the leak.  She & Ron did a simple water test & found a hole had been drilled into a pipe, filled & covered with duct tape!  It had passed the water inspection, but over time the hot water from the sink, dishwasher, & our upstairs shower, loosened it all up.  So since it was what some people call "sabotage", & happened 7 years ago, our insurance wouldn't cover us.  They would only cover from the time we bought coverage with them.  ACK!!!  So today the restorers are back trying to put it all together.  Ron bought a cabinet that sorta matched & they're trying to make it work with some leftover pieces.  Here are some pics:
This is 7 years of wetness & mold under our cabinets.
This is R2D2 - the dehumidifier that ran 24/7 for 11 days!
Here is the hole that had been drilled into a pipe.
It was hidden behind another pipe!
Here is Ron putting in a screwdriver to measure the size of the drilled hole.
This has been a major mess!!!  
Trying to cook & wash dishes without a sink has been crazy!
Our dining room table is covered with tubs & a drying rack.
And the noise from R2D2 was really tiring.
I can't wait to get it all back together!!!

Flaming Muse Workshop

So while our kitchen is being restored to it's beautiful self, I decided to take an online creativity workshop.  It's pretty intensive, deep and fun!  I'm in my last week now, just as the kitchen is getting finished!  We had videos to watch & assignments to do.  I'm just gonna show some of the assignments without explanation.  It would take too long to go over 3 weeks' lessons!  :)
This is my bliss board:
This is my Irrelevant sign
This is my permission slip
This is my MORE page
And this is called The Magic Circle.
It's by John William Waterhouse & really inspired some of my magic work!

Culture Inspired art

As I've been doodling, I had an idea to make some culture inspired art.  Here are 2 hearts I did.  One is inspired by the Southwest and the other is inspired by Celtic design.
I'm not sure where I'm going with all of this,
but it sure has helped me relax with all the work going on in our kitchen!

Adjustable Cords!

Don't we all love adjustable cords?!   Well my DH found me some instructions online so I could make a necklace for the pendant my pal brought me.  And here it is!
And what I learned on this was to make sure your knots are bigger than the beads at the end or they'll fall off and you have to start over!  :)

Practice and Problems

While my pal was here, I gave her a quick tutorial on needle felting.  I made a couple pieces with her 'cuz I wanted to see if they'd fit on greeting cards.  Too thick!  Ah, well.  Maybe I can use them for something else!

Doodle Style ATC for a pal

While my pal was here, we worked on Zentangle inspired art & just some regular doodling.  I made her this ATC to mail to her later & thank her for being my pal:

Ron's Felted ATC

When my pal came to visit, my DH helped us.  He let us play in the studio while he cooked meals for us.  So I wanted to let him know how much I appreciated him.  I made him this felted ATC.  He said he liked it.  Hope so!
1.  Finish a felted ATC on craft felt
2.  Gather materials
3.  Iron Wonder Under to cardstock & ATC
4.  Trim excess
5.  Button hole stitch ATC to cardstock
6.  Write on cardstock
7.  Finished ATC