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"

Another non productive week

I'm really having trouble focusing and actually accomplishing something, I'm doing a great job of starting and leaving things.  On September 14, I will be teaching a soy wax on fabric class here at my studio for the regional SAQA group. I really want to get some new samples made and plan the class, but I keep getting distracted by a lot of other things that I really don't need to do. If you are interested in taking the class, there are still spaces available.

I have another idea for an almost daily project (like I need another!) that keeps bouncing around in my head. I keep putting it off, but it won't go away so I think it's telling me I need to do it. I'll keep you posted.

My garden has been pretty dismal this year, but I've been getting and enjoying some wonderful produce from our local Farmer's Market. Saturday morning I bought the largest blackberries I have ever seen.

That's a quarter next to them! They were huge, quite tasty also.

Daily project updates
365 Red circles #233 - #239

Indigo and Rust #161 - #167

Weekly #34

Monthly "Notions" August

By writing this blog post, I just did one thing from start to finish, now maybe I can get something else done.

Linked to "Off the Wall Friday", check out some great work.