A busy week

One of my brothers, my sister in law and a friend traveling with them were here from New York for a week long visit. This was the first time in 43 years that my brother has been here, first time ever for the other two. The last time my brother was in the west was when he got out of the Navy and stopped in Reno on his way home to NY, my youngest was 3 weeks old, that's how I know it was that long ago.

Don and I have been married 26 years and this is the first time any of my three brothers have come west to visit, I usually go east. It was great to have them here for a week.

Last Sunday the second episode of the filming I did for Quilting Arts TV was aired here in Idaho. My good friend Barb had a viewing party at her house and my creative friends, yoga friends and bowling friends all showed up. We had a great time and it made me realize what a wonderful, supportive group of friends I have.

About a month ago I complained about the piles and lack of usable space on the makeshift table in my sewing studio. My husband has built a new table for me and he and my brother installed it. But first my job was to empty out the file cabinets that were the former base of the table, clear off the old table and make room. I did it! I now have three bags of "stuff" to send to the thrift store, I recycled a large box of papers, threw out a garbage bag full and found storage for most of the items I'm keeping. Here are 2 views of what I now have, the chair can be rolled to either side and I can access all my machines.

I will probably get a rolling storage cart that has at least one drawer big enough to hang files and it will go under the left end of the table.

Daily stitching updates, multiple pictures because I honestly did plan on blogging a few times, but it didn't happen.

365 Red Circles #261 - #272

Indigo and Rust #189 - #200

Weekly stitching

#39  & #40

Monthly Notions 

September

Now linked to "Off the Wall Friday".

A new favorite book

I've had one of those weeks where I've been busy the whole time , but I don't have much to show for it.  Most of the busyness was not in the studio and will be that way for at least another week.

I did treat myself to a new book recently and it quickly became a favorite,  Mark Making by Helen  Parrott.

Mark Making

Helen Parrott

I don't think I learned anything new, but I really like how the author presented the information. Her art work is wonderful, it is what attracted me to the book in the first place. Very striking hand stitching that she does, oh my it makes my heart sing.

Speaking of hand stitching, here's what I've done this week.
365 Red Circles #254 - #260

Indigo and Rust #182 -#188

Week #38

Now linked to "Off the Wall Friday"

Leaves and more

I'm having a great time with my "Almost daily leaf " project even though I'm a bit scattered bouncing between various techniques. I think that I'll be starting a separate blog just to keep track of what I'm doing. Here's a sampling;

Sketching and watercolor, this was my very first one and I was thrilled with how it came out. I've done a few more, all with watercolors that I've had sitting around unused for a very long time.

I've been stenciling a variety of different sized blocks that I plan on putting together. It's the first time some of these stencils have been used.

Carved a stamp and printed some fabric.

The best part is that I keep coming up with even more ways to play with and create leaves. Some of the ideas have been put aside for winter, they will be perfect for the leafless time of year.

I also am making a few postcards for Pokey Bolton's Pet Postcard project.

Daily Stitching updates
365 Red Circles #247 - #253

Indigo and Rust #175 - #181

Week #36

Week #37 (a bit early)

Now linked to "Off the Wall Friday"

A good week and a new start

After complaining last week about not being very productive, I've made up for it and had a good week. The first thing I did was start the pair of socks that I'll be knitting this fall (and possibly winter). I work from toe up and I like to sit down uninterrupted for a couple of hours to get the toe done, then the rest of the sock is is much easier going for me. I've been knitting one pair a year for the past three years and it takes me awhile to get them done, but I like having them sitting by my favorite chair so I can pick them up and work on them when I don't have stitching to do, or when I just need a change of pace.

I finished quilting and binding the latest donation quilt.

I mentioned that I had an idea in my head for a new project and I finally stopped thinking and just started. It's nothing major, but it has been nagging me. I'm referring to it as "The Almost Daily Leaf". Leaves have been  in my work for a long time, I pushed them aside when I participated in the Art Cloth Mastery program with Jane Dunnewold, I focused on circles for my imagery and have continued with circles for the past few years.  I'm simply going to do something leaf related on most days. So far I've played with some leaves and using a gelli plate to print them, both on fabric and in my sketchbook.

I've also made a cover for the sketchbook, quilting around a stenciled leaf.

And did a few samples with stitching and soy wax resist.

I have a long list of different techniques to try and see what happens, most with fabric, but not all of them. I have a varied selection of art supplies, many rarely if ever used, so the plan is to get them out and give them a try. In fact this evening I plan on sketching a leaf and using some watercolors I have.

Daily stitching updates
365 Red Circles #240 - #246

Indigo and Rust #168 - #174

Weekly #35*

* I've had questions about the "netting" effect on this block, it's rows of blanket stitch.

Now linked to "Off the Wall Friday"