"If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." --Vincent van Gogh

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Curlicue

I probably won't have much to show this week, with Thanksgiving and all. I baked some bread today ... maybe I'll share my recipe for Cranberry Apple Bread, if you'd like. Let me know and I'll post if there's interest.

I did manage to complete and ATC for Carol in Wales, who is the owner of the Textile Challenges group. She chose the motif of "curlicue". Well, I always thought a curlicue and spiral were the same thing, but that wasn't what she had in mind, so here is my interpretation. The background is layered and fused, and the motif is hand beaded. I hope she likes it.


I thought you would like to see my hanging mechanism for my inchie display. I can't take credit for the idea, because I read about it on Ami Simm's Alzheimers Quilt Initiative site. An excellent place to find art and support alzheimers research, by the way. Since I used foam core, I glued two pop top pieces (from soup, I think) to the back. They make excellent hangers!

We are dog-sitting for a friend this week. It took about 24 hours, but Rosi and Angel seem to have finally wore each other out. They are both sound asleep at the moment. I'm sure I'll have some pictures for you before long!!!


Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A Long, Long Time Ago ...

Back when inchies (little one inch pieces of fiber art for my non-fiber art friends) were all the rage, I participated in a swap. Shortly thereafter I began to make this display for 25 of them. Today, I finally finished it. It took me about 15 minutes to finish ... don't ask me why I waited so long. It's hanging on the wall now.
It was very hard to photograph. I'll try to get a better picture when it's daylight. I started out by covering a piece of foam core with copper leaf. I cut a piece of peltex to size and cut windows into it. I used eyelets and hung hooks and put an inchie on each hook. I used balsa wood around the edges to give some depth, so the inchies would hang free, and then I used decorative upholstery tacks around the outside. I like how it turned out and the little bits of art are unique and fun.

So last Saturday it was 76. There were a bunch of tornadoes about an hour east of here. We just had some wild clouds. Yesterday we had flurries! Craziness. Well, the only one home besides me, was Rosi, so we popped out onto the deck and I took this photo. Not a lot of snow by any stretch of the imagination, but any snow in November is pretty rare here.

And since you're still with me, even after another photo of Rosi ... here she is all tucked in. We had the sleeping bag out and Rosi thought it was wonderfully cozy. She sacked out on it and Joseph covered her up. She slept there for a loooong time!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Well, then.

So I haven't posted in a month. Well. First, when the computer's not working, I can't load pics, so I can't share. Computer's been out for most of the month. Finally is working - who knows how long. I'm sure you are as sick of hearing my computer woes and I am experiencing them, but that's how it goes ...

Anyway, now that I can post, what do I have to share? Well, I made some ornaments, but I can't show you because they're a surprise to the recipients. I also worked on some complex cloth for a trade, but I can't show you that either. I made tons of bottlecap stuff for a fair at a local preschool, but you've seen that already. So, lucky you - here are pics of life over the past month, more or less. They're mostly pics of the dog. lol.Meet "Fitty Biskitz" - she's such a patient animal. The kids had fun with her costume. This was just a test though. She wore a witch's hat and helped me pass out candy on Halloween.

This is my favorite Hickory tree in my front yard. It was a really pretty yellow this year. The fall color came and went quickly this year. Most of the leaves came down this weekend in the wind and rain.

Our Rescue (Palisades Animal Rescue) had a "reunion". Here's a pic of Rosi with her mama. I was shocked that Rosi is taller than her mom. I knew she wasn't nearly as fluffy! Actually, mom was starved and she looks so different now I never would have recognized her. Rosi got to reunite with one of her sisters and two of her brothers as well. We also got to see Cassie, the dog that we fostered briefly last April. She is doing great. It was wonderful to see all the dogs happy and doing well.

Last weekend we drove to Charlotte for a soccer tournament. Jenny's (DD) team played and Tom (DH) coached. Well, never in a million years would we have predicted it, but the girls won the championship! It was amazing and we were all so thrilled. The girls worked really hard to overcome some challenges this season and it was so nice to see their efforts pay off.

And finally, Rosi turned one year old on November 7th. Here's she's enjoying her Frosty Paws doggie ice cream. She loved it. You can sort of see the jute necklace Jenny made for her, and PawPaw bought her a bully stick. Birthdays are a good thing!!!