The next step...

In the last post of my studio, there was a pile of t-shirts waiting to be sewn together into this quilt... I finished it last week and presented it to Tom for his birthday. Tom has been a part of my life for the past couple years, and while there will never be a replacement for my father, he comes pretty close and is an amazing person. The quilt was made up of t-shirts that he collected from Harley rides and boat trips. Unfortunately I neglected to take a photo of the finished thing.... The fatigue overcame me, and it ended up in a box with a bow before a final photo was taken. Next time I visit them, I will surely take a photo of it in Tom's "man room".
Working with the Jersey cotton is a different experience, the cotton, folds onto itself, stretches and just refuses to stay put. However it is very soft and forgiving when it comes to the final project. It was a nice project that helped get my mind off everything else and I just sewed away for a couple of days.



February is a month full of anniversaries, and memories for me. Some of them good and others I wish I could forget. However as time moves ahead the bad start to have a hazy glass over them and the good shine through. This year in honor of our one year anniversary and meeting my other half and I took a day at Lewis Ginter Botanical gardens. It was hazy and foggy that day and as you can see in the photos empty everywhere we turned. In the green house the blooms were alive and outside the gardens shapes, and water was enough inspiration on its own.
It was a lovely quiet day and it almost seemed as if we were alone in the gardens. After having lunch and walking around for a while, I decided that the greys that fill a foggy day are perfect for painting a house..... and so...
I started collecting some paint chips because.....
In a few days we close on a house of our own!!!! This is such an exciting thing, I have always taken joy in creating a space that is great to live in and pleasing to the eye. This time, its not just some place it has our names on the title, so I promise to take lots of photos and track the process of choosing everything from paint, and trim to plants and china. Can't wait for the adventure.

science, and art

"If artist's were in charge of making the world, it would be the most aesthetically pleasing, thoughtful, conceptual place. Without toilets or plumbing because they would forget them... If a scientist were asked to make the world it would be full of all the necessary things but not have one thing just serving the simple purpose of being attractive..." In this world we need the marriage of both... In my world the marriage of both is what makes it work.

thought.

"Ask what is possible? NOT What is wrong? ... Keep asking."

sketch books

Check this site out, there is a sketchbook project that has a couple thousand books traveling around the country... I find that sketchbooks are an awesome way of getting ideas out without, the fear of the outside world. They are un-inhibited little makings. Can't wait to see this exhibit!!!

www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

If you are looking for another interesting exhibit there is a yearly one at the museum for women in the arts in Washington D.C. every year that features handmade books, and book art. I have gone a couple of times and it is worth it every time. I leave with inspiration.

...will take photos of some of my own pages and post them soon....
Happy February.

studio

One of the main attractions of moving into this place, was of course the studio...Amazing would be a good way to describe my favorite work space, to date. There is built in shelves, stairs enough work space and storage space, with a bit of room to dance, should I feel motivated. There is natural light, an airy glow in the afternoon and it is quiet, unless I blast some music. Anyhow there was a little problem with the production part of the studio, I needed a little more room on work tables for sewing and spreading out. So here is what I did...

Upstairs stayed much the same. I have my tower of thread, and notions... Overlooking the bottom of the studio.


My wall of inspirational photos, that goes around the studio in bunches. Along with my trunks full of finished works or large pieces of fabric. One day I may convert those trunks to something with drawers.... Still torn on the idea because they just work well. (even though I do not like to match everything I often wish the trunks matched...)


My old desk is now a work table, just for sewing, or laying whatever I am working on out.


My second work table, all my fabric, stamps and other goodies are stored underneath, and on top another work space to spread out on. This way I can have two projects at a time, or one large one.


An update, on my alphabet project, not abandoned, just a small holiday sabbatical, so that I could wrap and finish all the holiday events.


The nook under the stairs, houses my reproduction card catalogue, one of my favorite things! Along with a few of my quilts that I have made and collected underneath.


My shelves have remained the same, and now that is the view from my desk. Lovely, I get to look at all my collections, trinkets, and inspiring materials while I type away now.


Finally my new desk area, that houses the lab top, a few needed items, such as bill payments etc. and my new wireless photo printer....Which I love! I can print from anywhere in the home, or from my i-pod touch, and it comes out here. Also the photo aspect of it is fantastic so I can play around with my photos without leaving the house.


So there it is my fresh work space. I have to admit it has been easier to work with more space to spread out, and I have been in here more and more since I re-worked it. Now to finish the alphabet and the t-shirt quilt I am working on.

looking around.

I have spoken to the notion of time so much on this blog that I am sure you are all finished hearing about my obsession. However no matter how many times I sit and think or make around the notion of time I am fascinated. It is the one thing that always moves, can't be taken or brought back.
This year has proven to be one of the busiest for me, but also one of the most fulfilling. I have done my fair share of traveling, exploring and trying new things. I moved into a new place that I love with an amazing person, I never expected to meet. I have made a few odds and ends and stored enough ideas in sketchbooks, and journals for the year to come. I have learned to compromise certain things, without compromising myself. (Maybe the most difficult thing to do when it comes to living with someone again.)
So here I am sitting by my tree, and enjoying the first snow fall of the season. It has that quiet, that snow brings and it has me thinking of all the things I have done in 2010 and all the things I want to do in 2011. I realize that I have everything I have ever wanted right now. I have dreamt of the holidays at my home with family, and friends and they are coming. I have wanted love, not a young, learning love, but a mature, grown love, and I have it. I have wanted friends that are like family, that can bring me to reality and be there when needed, and they are around. I have a close relationship with my family and it is great. All of these connections are what make me whole, you can only live in yourself so much, before you need others. I don't need a great deal of people, but instead a handful that truly get me, and appreciate me just the way I am. The ones that do not fear giving me a challenge every once in a while. That is a true relationship, whether it be a friend, lover, family, sibling, someone that can confront you when needed, bring you back to reality, that is a true relationship.
So I am thankful for every single one of them and all the moments spent this year. As far as 2011 goes my goals mostly involve taking ideas and making them realities. Hiding in my studio until the magic that is making happens. Enjoying every moment, using every frustration as a means to learn how to improve upon myself, or the creative process. I am also challenging myself to learn how to say "no" more, and use my limited time to make, and be in my studio.
I hope that everyone is enjoying the preparations for the holiday, I have a few more gifts to wrap and dazzle and I am almost ready to start roasting. The tree above is the first I have ever put up in my own home. It is real and smells wonderful, I stuck to a color pallet that is limited and "vintage inspired". The rest of the house has touches of Christmas too, but the mantle is the true joy. Happy holidays everyone- may there be peace, light, love, and creativity in your celebrations!

travels

For as long as I can remember every time that I go somewhere different or even a day trip sometimes, I take a picture of my feet as proof that I was there. It has become a way to track where I am and what I am doing and its almost expected now that I have pictures of my feet everywhere. I think that one of these days I would like to gather these photos and make a collage of them, there must be at least 100 at this point.
Recently I took a wonderful vacation that included a stop at Hogwarts, and then a cruise in the Caribbean, not that nightmare out west... It was beautiful, romantic, and adventurous... Coming home always feels good when I have been gone for a little while but nothing beats standing on white sand with the best person, looking out onto a gorgeous view.











This is what has happened since the return the 1000 plus photos and "stuff" we collected while traveling have taken over the living room, with all the stuff it takes to put it in a photo album. I love a real Scrapbook, I am not talking the new ones where they sell all the paper that matches and the pre-planned pages and all that... No I am talking of the ones where you actually keep all the ticket stubs and postcards etc. from travels and add them with the photos for a visual remembrance of a nice trip. So that is what I am doing- and re-fusing to call it a scrapbook because of all the ugly associations that come with it.