.....and for the past two months

 I've been busily enjoying myself, my husband, my home and garden.....but especially my time in the stillness of hand stitching.

Confession time:  I have a problem.  The problem is not necessarily a good one nor a bad one.  It's just a problem I have of needing to finish what I start - whether a movie, a book or a quilt!  I've learned through the years to walk out of theaters when the movie isn't giving me pleasure.  I can even shut a book and return it to the library unfinished.  Yet, I haven't been able to give in to having an unfinished quilt.  

So, what started out in my mind to be a grueling task, turned into a joyous adventure.  Two wool applique quilts finished in no time....an hour here, an hour there.  

A quilt pattern....A Cottage Garden

Quilt pattern.....How Does Your Garden Grow

Add to that my newest wool applique table runner....a kit purchased years ago at a quilt show in Little Rock, Arkansas that was a bust for vendors.  I stopped and chatted with one vendor who had not made a sale in her two days there.  My heart went out to her and while I didn't embroider, I purchased the kit.  Lucky me!  

And still a work in progress that I had initially intended to finish with machine decorative stitch embroidery, but now might just do all the edging with hand stitches.  Inspired by a painting I saw somewhere???

Revisiting some art quilts from my past...this one I dubbed 'Opposites in Black and White'.

and 'Chinese Checkers' 

and some free motion thread work 

Here is 'Collette' a framed fabric art card....one in the series "Pretty Ladies in Smart Hats".

and my thread sketched self-portrait.  Funny thing is she has no mouth which doesn't equate to she has no voice! 

  

Until next time.  While I enjoy re-visiting previous projects,  I remain being one who enjoys looking forward ~

Putting on a happy face: lost and found

With new computer
pictures
lost in the system

or, so I thought. 

I'm laughing out loud
today at finding all those lost pictures in
folders

right where I left
them. 

Lady with man's best friend beach-combing in blue water on the shores in Italy - 2012

 Blue door under the hill in Natchitoches

 I found this perfectly manicured blue building on the streets of New Orleans.  I could make this building my quilting shed! 


So, what do all these pictures have in common?  They are all about blue 'cause that's how I was feeling about having lost them .   All pulled from different folders where they were safely stored, just waiting for my next visit. 

Boy in blue with father in blue taking a lunch break at outdoor restaurant

Putting on a Happy Face

Prudence ~

Pru.dence:  Care, Caution, Good Judgment.  As well as wisdom in looking ahead!
(prood-ns)

 Care taken in the management of one's resources.

Consideration of one's own interests.

 

 

Prudy LuAnn

 

 

 

I took great interest  and considered what was a prudent way to spend my time this early morning. 

It took me a few minutes in Photshop, but Prudy LuAnn was sketched and colored. 

 

I'm not always prudent in the use of my time...but, I was tired yesterday afternoon so took a nice nap. 

I do make lists... but my lists may not always be on paper.  I don't use my phone memo pad either!

I find it amusing as I walk the grocery aisle to hear a phone spitting out in an orderly fashion what grocery to pick up next.   Or, even more amusing, the husband and wife team shopping together.   He's on the phone telling her "I'm on aisle 2 and have the mustard and mayo.  Heading for aisle 6 for milk and cheese.  You go to aisle 4 for the cereal, then aisle 5 for the toilet tissue and I'll meet you at checkout  #2." 

 

I organize my errands and run them in an orderly fashion so as not to backtrack.  Some days I'll go to the farthest point and work my way back home.  Then, there is always the choice of  stopping at the nearest errand destination first and moving outward, then circling back toward home in a more relaxed frame of mind, knowing that all the errands are done.  I do this only when there's no risk that the ice cream will melt! 

 

I press my clothes just before putting them on.  Perhaps not a very prudent use of time or electricity, but I always know I'm I fresh as it's gonna get that day! 

 

 

THE END

no beast is a burden

All Alone Am I

no beast is a burden when looked at from every possible angle

there's good in most things

 it just takes

keeping an open mind and being flexible

while thinking about the beast

or the burden

 

and on another topic -  i had a thought this morning.....comfortable bra......is an oxymoron!

 

and, while i love to draw, i'm not trained so must draw in my own style.  oh, i know  she isn't beautiful, but she was what was in my head this morning.   sketched, painted, saved and shared in photoshop. 

and in further explanation - oxymoron is derived from the greek term "oxymoros".  that means "pointedly foolish."   Oxymoron = the conscious combination of two contradictory ideas that together creates a new, overall concept.  For example, bittersweet, pretty ugly and living death and comfortable bra! 

 

On the 3rd Day of Christmas

I couldn't resist revisiting a day in December, 2012.  Is he not the most huggable boy tyke?

This isn't a posed picture....it's the real kid!

He knew he wasn't suppose to be climbing those steps by himself

and turned around to see if he was in trouble yet.

 

 

And he only got cuter and more huggable in the year just past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thread sketched lady with hot lips and an attitude ~

I didn't like  her attitude!  All hot lips and pouty.  No, I didn't like her attitude at all ~

 

 

 So, I gave her something to have an attitude about....a feather tattoo!

 

Here's looking at you, BABE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I can't color inside the lines!

I don't accept commissions....because I can't do what you want me to do.  I can only do what I want to do and if you like it, then you make the purchase.  Simple as that!  Right?  Well, would someone please tell my friend Lil that I can't color inside the lines. 

Lil is the most persistent of ladies.  I thought if I ignored her long enough she would forget that she asked me to thread sketch the Panera Bread lady.  She even bought a loaf of bread so she could give me a picture of the Panera Bread advertisement for me to make her a look-alike.  Yet, I continued to put her off.....until yesterday, when she cornered me! 

 

This morning, I dug deep in my "I'm sure I'll get to this later" pile and found Lil's greasy bread wrapping as I mumbled to self that I don't do commissions!

 

I set about pencil practicing the bread lady until I was satisfied that I had her in my left and right brain to transfer to fabric.  She's not an exact rendition, but she certainly has an attitude that is making me smile out loud.

 

 

 

 

From tablet paper to fabric.....she lost something in translation and I am for certain I can't get it back!

Panera Bread lady look-alike she is not. And, I sure

 

hope somebody tells Lil that I can't color inside the lines! 

 

 

 

 

I feel as though the year is ending, but I've only just

BEGUN: 

 

 

 

 

It's going to be a busy day again, but I just couldn't resist the temptation to reflect!

 

 

 

 

 

Lou, Lou, Skip to the Lou

I haven't sketched anything in so long....this morning

was the right time to renew an old habit.

 

Louise and I greeted the day together.

 

 

Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo

There's a little red wagon, Paint it blue

Lost my partner, What'll I do?

I'll get another one, Prettier than you

Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do

Cat's in the cream jar, Ooh, ooh, ooh

Off to Texas, Two by two

Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,

Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,

Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,

Skip to the Lou, my darlin'.

 

All Boy!

If you think I'm cute:  Clap your hands!

thursday

But that was yesterday:

Just wait 'til I get you home:



Finley and Jamison

It's been reported that the baby boy is home and doing well.  Big sister hasn't yet learned that she's going to get less attention for the next few years!   But as of this picture taking, she's still loving the little tyke.   Welcome home Jamison Paul, aka The Little Boy.....

Faces of Friends:

Why does art have to be explained?

And then the finish - Her name is Dorothy.....

It started like this.....I drew a face, made a brush in photoshop, then just had to use it ASAP.

I had just taken this picture of Dorothy's quilt one day last week and decided this would be a perfect backdrop to practice my latest brush on.



If you live stateside....then happy Labor Day....and to those living elsewhere, then a happy day to you!

Making new brushes in Photoshop....

I first took my face sketch on watercolor paper....the one I sketched last week....I used it because it was already in my computer.....and made a brush per Margaret Applin-Happ's instructions.  You see, Margaret is the guest artist at 3 Creative Studios this month.  I follow this creative blog religiously and am very inspired by what Margaret is sending my way!  It's all about black and white: creating personal imagery. 

Grabbed a picture of the fabric I selected to make my next quilt, made a few color adjustments, then added my new Picasso face image stamp!

and then just to make sure I had done this correctly, I grabbed the picture of my August calendar and stamped on it!  I've made a few brushes before but never with the ease I experienced this morning.  Thanks Margaret, Terri and Vicki over at the 3 Creative Studios for the pleasure of your creative company!

Sketch on Watercolor Paper

Amelia

I found this little 5" x 4" watercolor paper this afternoon with the blob of blue background....but before I could get it to the trash, I saw Amelia.   With my micro ink pen Amelia got a bonnet on her head and a teeny little smile on her face just below her button nose.  Is it my imagination or is she blushing for the camera ~

Face Sketches

It's too hot to garden or take bike rides so I've been sketching...here are two out of the studio from yesterday afternoon!

Her name is SuLynn

.....and this is Serena

 And they've joined "The Sullen Girl" on my wall ~

I hear it's your birthday.....Happy Birthday to you

....where have the years gone....she's almost grown.....Abbi is three today! 

The boys better watch out....here she comes!