My first little quilt...

I stopped by the Cleveland Handmade Market (a group of Etsy artists that get together and sell their art at different venues during the year) yesterday. It was taking place in Lakewood (Ohio) at the Screw Factory Art Studios. This is a big old nail factory in an old part of Lakewood. The bottom floor is still used as a nail factory but the second and third floor are Artist's Studios. During the market the vendors had their studios open. I was talking to a woman who was a mosaic artist. She had a great studio and did some beautiful work. She had stated that she worked full time in the corporate world and has two kids so this was her time to do something for herself. So I asked her "how do you find the time and the energy?" I'll be honest, there are days after work, and after the girls are put to bed that I really want to go to my back room and create but I'm just so tired! She told me "you have to make the time, and make it every day. I don't watch TV, this is my TV time." She's absolutely right, my New Year's resolution is going to be to make more time for my crafting/art making!

I am not a quilter. Quilting is one of those things that I've always wanted to know how to do but have been afraid to try. Don't ask me what I'm afraid of! I've often used the excuse that I don't have a permanent place to set up my sewing machine, so every time I want to go ahead and try it, by the time I get out my machine (from the dining room closet) and set it up, I'm already frustrated and tired. After picking up a copy of Stampington's Art Quilting Studio I decided to give it a go. This project does not require the use of a sewing machine, it's all done with fusible interfacing. I fused my cotton fabrics to a base of felt and then I'm just embellishing after that. The technique came from an article in the magazine by Deborah Boschert. It has been a project that has been very relaxing. Of course I've had to finish up unfinished Christmas projects first but I'm on my way to actually creating a small art quilt!

A Book about Dolls...

I found this book at the local Antique Mall (great place right on Main street, and open all the time). The title is "Dolls to Make for Fun and Profit" by Edith Flack Ackley. It was printed in 1938. It's a wonderful book, and it is in near perfect condition. I have had the book since May but only within the last month have I actually used one of the patterns.

What makes this book so great is that it is written in simple language, in a simple time in history. The patterns are just hand drawn patterns and the instructions are clear and to the point. I love it. The book reminds me that less is, alot of time, much, much more. It also made me realize that I could make a doll, with a little bit of patience...

Cloth Paper Scissors magazine is challenging it's readers to create an art doll. I have never made a doll before and I've had the book for awhile so I thought I would give it a go. However, this is as far as I have gotten when it comes to creating "Sadie". (I figured if I gave her a name I would be more inclined to finish her) The deadline for the challenge is December 18th so I don't think I'm going to make it. (I still have a couple of Christmas presents to make!) I will finish her after the holidays; she will be completely hand stitched and I think I'm going to put some floral wire inside her so she can be posed. I traced the pattern on a plain piece of muslin and then painted it. She's going to be a fairy and will have "paper-cloth" wings.

A New Camera...

My husband Andrew, gave me my birthday/anniversary/Christmas present this past weekend. A new camera, it is a Canon Rebel T1i and it's wonderful! I have a Canon Rebel G film camera that I have had for ten years. I also have four Promaster lenses that go with it. These lenses are compatible with my new Canon. This was taken using my Macro lens. This is part of our fire ring in the backyard. I love how rusty parts look under a Macro lens.

I love taking pictures with my Macro lens. Macro makes even simple things seem wonderful and almost surreal. This is part of a mixed media Christmas tree I made, but taken this way, it cold be anything I wanted it to be.

I'm going to be taking lots of pictures in the next few weeks. I have a lot to learn and figure out with this camera. I'm taking a free class offered by the camera shop in January. The class is going to be on using the camera. I did that when I got my Rebel G film camera (oh so many years ago!) and it was a great way to really get comfortable with the camera. I will be sure to post plenty of pictures!

A Sneek Peak...

I am participating in Sweet Goodness Swaps. Here is a small peek at something I am working on for the swap. I can't give you any details about what I am doing until after I have mailed my package and I know my swap partner has received it. I will post plenty of pictures later. I can however, tell you that the theme of this swap is Winter White. It's all about winter sparkle, crisp white, moon silver and blue. I'm very excited!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. Here is a poem I thought of on the way home from my in-laws tonight: "Bountiful Living

Blessings to be Thankful for

Gratitude is Beauty"

It's been a very long time...

It has been almost a year since my last post. Andrew and I had been talking about me going back to work for quite some time. Money was just too tight and the financial out look was just not getting better. A development position opened up at the Catholic School where my girls attend. Last December I was offered the job and I started in January. It has truly been a blessing for us, however, I quickly became overwhelmed with work, day care, domestic responsibilities and on and on... So the blog got put on the back burner. I entered the Sweet Goodness Swaps over the summer and that sparked my interest again. But it has taken me until this most recent swap (and the most recent issue of Stampington's Artful Blogging) to get me motivated to start posting again! So here it is! My goal is to post once a week (for now). I'm looking forward to being back in the blogosphere of wonderfully crafty, soulful women...

A Mixed Media Christmas Tree...

I have been doing a little mixed media lately. Nothing on a grand scale, just trying to add some layers to my embroidery projects. One thing that I have been making a lot of is "Paper Cloth" I used the technique taught by Beryl Taylor in the premiere issue of Cloth Paper Sissors. I was in the craft store one day looking for some styrofoam balls for the girls to do Christmas ornaments when I saw the cones. I used the same techniques when covering the cone as I did for the Paper Cloth only I replaced the muslin with the cone. It was a lot of fun to make and it only took me about three hours to create. I still need to put a top on it, but I'm not sure what to do yet..