etsy

Hello! I have my etsy page running! It is so exciting to put somethings out to the world and seeing what happens. I am going to do this with an open mind, and post all sorts of differnt things that I make, hopefully someone will take interst in some of it. Give it a visit www.anaslayers.etsy.com

flowers and touch

Lately I have been busy working on things to put onto a website called etsy.com. I am going to see if I can sell any of the things that I love to make. I am excited about this site because it is a way for me to put my work out into the world. I love the site and already have things from other peole that I would like to purchase. It is a great place to check out if you are intersted www.etsy.com, and my specific one is www.anaslayers.etsy.com. Above are some pictures of some pillowcases that I have made to post on there, my goal is to have things up tommorrow evening.

love and art

I was reading an article in Vogue recently about a woman and how she met and married her husband in a few months time. There was a qoute in there that stood out to me, that made me smile, it is how I feel on the subject.

"Love is not science, like physics or biology. Lovesis more like art. You see a painting and you know weather it works right away. You don't have to stare at it for years...."

spring cleaning.

The other day I went looking for something in one of my closests and could not find it, although I did find plenty of other things... most that I no longer needed or wanted. I also relized that I had no more room in my closet to hang up a new shirt. All this made me frustrated, for one that I have so many things, and two that they were cluttering my mind and home. Yesterday I went through every closet, nook and crannie, and compiled 8 bags of things to donate, and 4 bags of trash. Ridding my home of the clutter and only leaving the things that I really love, which is plenty- trust me, really makes me feel better.
One of my favorite shows comes on tonight on the home and garden network, its called Small Space Big Style, at 6:30, it is a great show about spaces under 500 square feet and what people have in them. I love the idea of small spaces, and do not want to ever live in one of those hideous mini-mansion things. Pulling ideas from this show is always great, and it reminds me that there is plenty that one can live without. The main reason behind my clensing spree. I am off to enjoy the sun outside, it is a beautiful day!

green tomatoes and colections

I picked up the lint project today and finished sewing together the first batch of 'squares'. I am really liking the shape that it is taking, and it is neat to build up the shape of them depending on how many pieces I layer. While sewing I turned on the movie "fried green tomatoes" I had seen this movie before, but never paid such close attention to how beautiful certain aspects of the movie are. The fabrics in the bedrooms, are beautiful small florals, and stripes, fresh cotton, the look is overall soft and worn.. which I love! There is also the bedroom where the older woman lives, with the rose wall, it had been pointed out to me once before, but it is so beautiful that it is her view into her old life. I guess this is one of those movies that would fall under the-feel good movie- category.
So colections, I have been reading some articles lately on how colecting certain things can inpire creativity. This is nothing new to me, I have been colecting things for a while. One of my favorite colections are my vintage and antique sewing notions and boxes. I have to agree with the article any time I look through my things or go to find something to use, I see something new, and it does inspire something in me. I would love to hear about anyone else's colections and what makes them tick... if you want to share.
The plant in the photo above is a happy surprise. Last summer I thought that I had killed my calla lilly plant, but somehow never cleaned the dirt out of the container it lived in. I was walking out to work the other day and relized that there was something budding from that pile of dirt. My calla lilly plant is alive and well, and it looks like a strong start. I will try not to kill it this time!
Otherwise, things around here have been well, busy with work, and tryign to find a way to balance all my projects. That can be a challenge sometiems, finding the time and energy to make all the things in my brain. Day by day I find a little time to make something, and if nothing else at least a small part to add to my blanket.

hook and loop to a calm mind

There has been a lot on my mind lately, the idea of balancing art and busines, a career and a passion. Last year when I recieved my negative graduate school letters I was terribly upset and it took me a long time to not feel bad about it. In college I worked so hard, spent all of my time making, or thinking about making. I had a well put together portfolio, and great recomendations... Even though everyone kept telling me that most peolpe do not get into art-grad school on their first attempt, I could not get over it. I could not help but feel inadequate worst than all the other emotions- angry... Well it took some time but I did realize that graduate school was not in the cards for me at the moment, and I am glad that I did not go at the time, because I am glad to not be in school at the moment. I have toiled with the idea of business and art for a while now. I love both. Creating and using inspiration and ideas to better understanding of the world and showing it through my eyes. Business, well... what can I say I love the competitive aspect in it, and how rewarding it can be to reach a goal and set a new one... as far as retail and business go, I love that there is constant change, people, problem solving, ideas, and goals to exceed. I am working to find a way to mesh these two worlds into my universe. Little by little I am finding the "adult" inside and it is happening. I am seeing that what I have been working towards for a few months is right in front of my eyes.

HOOK, HOOK, LOOP....
I have been crocheting lately, the lint project is in progress but I am waiting on more lint to proceed. I want to make two of these crochet blankets by the end of the summer, so that there will be something to keep my toes warm in december. I am making this one out of some yarn I had laying around my art bins, but I want to use organic cotton for the next one. It is so much softer and the softer the more luxorious in my eyes. (I have a thing for 600 thread count sheets...)
It is so unlike me to make something utilitarian, but I am having fun making something that is so repetitive and "fun" that it clears my mind of clutter, and lets me think so that I can really concentrate on making more intersting things.

books and things

This weekend I finished another one of Joanne Harris' books, 'Holy Fools'. Her books are almost intoxicating, they consume me within the first 20 pages and I can't stop reading. She writes beautifully and brings in strong female figures, sets her scenes in europe, and manages to write about food in her books, mixing it in to the plot in a gorgeous manner. She also writes stories that take places in other times in history this last one was in the 1600's. If you want to find out more about her and her books visit her site here-www.joanne-harris.co.uk/
I recomend her books for a weekend trip or a time when you can really sit and inhale them.