The tale of the blind dragon.....

Remember this?

Quite a while back I pronounced it complete

but in the joy having of finally completed all of the waves and making the whole thing "square up" there was a small piece that didn't get added





This is the test -- what is different about these two dragons?

Stumped yet?

Ok, I completely forgot to applique the eye on him!

I did it this morning

There --- much better

(being able to see where you're flying is much prefered)



Another block of the recycled afghan complete!

I still don't like doing the CroKay around the edges (mostly because its so "fiddily" and I'm so SSSLLLLOOOOOWWWWW at it)

on to the next one!

Quilting has begun on the log cabin quilt -- I got 7 pieces stitched all around yesterday afternoon (I'm just stitching in the ditch) -- looking good

And another quilt project has been added to my que -- on Monday we got a note that our oldest granddaughter will be having a baby in November ----- I'm working on a design for a baby quilt ------

time to get moving!!

Black and white and RED ......

Ta Da!

As I mentioned yesterday, the black and white beads for this item are FINALLY all complete.

Having reached the "I'm bored beyond belief" on the round ones, I decided to try doing vertical stripes on these last two and actually discovered I could make that work -- YIPEE!!

The large red bead is the bar for the toggle clasp, and the two little red ones are the first of 6 spacer beads (yup, have 4 more of those puppies to do -- hopefully today)

Then it will be on to the stringing up

Along with doing the week's laundry and those beads, I also got the "quilt sandwich" pinned together -- ended up having to do it twice because I had the batting turned the wrong way the first time (ok, DUH!!), but now I'm ready to start in with the quilting.

I also started in trying to do the trim pieces on the angel panel I'm working on right now. I'm not real happy with the way that is going, and I may be making a trip to the frog pound after doing some thinking about the way this is all going.

We'll see.

A little more digging in the dirt......

spent some time out in the yard planting some new things yesterday afternoon



This one is an acorn squash

We put it toward the back so there will be room for it to sprawl if it does well




and this little group of 3 is a "hill" of crook neck squash

I wanted to get zucchini, but there weren't any of those available

so if any of these "get away", I'll be making yellow pickle relish -- oh well, there's always adding a bit of food color to fix that!



and we put in two of these

these are Big Jim New Mexico peppers --

sort of like anaheims (I think)







The tomatoes that we planted last week are growing --- but very slowly

we've had 2 very cool days since then, which is not real good for growing anything, but these little babies are trying hard

I have finally finished the last of the black and white beads and started on the accent ones -- pictures soon, I promise!

work on the angel quilt and the newest mystery Christmas project are moving along -- I'm thinking I might get the log cabin quilt pinned together today between loads of laundry

time to get to it!

a small shopping trip and new projects galore!

My sister came down from Denver on Wednesday for our annual "play date". We worked on various projects, had some "good eats" (home made chow mein and a "quitata" -- recipes are posted over on Hattie's Kitchen)



On Thursday morning we made a trip to the local Hobby Lobby for some "supplies"

As you may recall (or not, its been a while!) I've been reworking some bears in a kind of "primitive" style, and I have one that I have been waiting for inspiration to finish.

DMC has some great new (well, ok, new to me, I don't really know how long the stuff has been available, I wasn't paying attention!), embroidery floss that is RAYON! I love the way rayon fiber looks -- it has this sort of "glow" about it, especially when dyed in very intense colors.

Anyway, I got 4 skeins of the stuff to do floral embroidery on that awaiting bear -- so watch this space (as they say) for pictures of that to come (hopefully) soon

I also picked up a package of very small brads to use for the paperdoll experiments -- I got the variety pack so I didn't have to make up my mind on the spot what color combos I might be using, and knowing that I couldn't buy a full box of each. This will be a totally new thing as I don't usually make paperdolls with moving parts -- it should be fun!




One of the things my sister brought along with her was a log cabin quilt top that she put together about 20 years ago.

I'm going to quilt it for her -- so that was also part of what we picked up while we were shopping -- fabric for a backing (its white) and thread (one very dark navy and one a sort of burgandy -- the idea is to do concentric "rings" of those two colors from the center out)

This project will get under way shortly -- I need to pin the sandwich together so I can get started






This box of goodies arrived on Thursday while we were out shopping

The awaited box of supplies for yet another project to be worked on

(Christmas project at that!!)




And in honor of the momentous occasion of swaching and getting both stitch AND row gauge, we will be issuing a stamp, minting a coin and striking a medal!!

This just never happens -- I almost always get stitch gauge the first time out with the stated needles (as long as I'm using at least a similar yarn), but it is equally RARE for me to get row gauge.

It must be that the designer of this new project knits like I do!!

(Oh yes, the color on this photo is a bit off -- much too blue -- the yarn is actually BLACK with little flecks of red, blue, white and yellow in it, very "heathery") But because the yarn is 4% rayon, it sort of "glows" (very like the embroidery floss) -- and it has a wonderful soft feel ---- mmmmmmm, I'm not going to want to give this one away!!)

I've also been working on stitching up a new bear design that the DH drew up (its now back to him for joints); making up the last of the black and white beads for the necklace; and putting a face on the angel panel.

Just the usual business of having a dozen projects going at once!

A history lesson for the day

I'm going to digress from Studio business to give a brief history lesson today



64 years ago today the invasion of Normandy begain




40 years ago today Robert Kennedy died








25 years ago today, my daughter was born

I'm too young to remember D-day first hand, and though I remember Robert Kennedy's death, I was not really politically aware (I was still in high school)

My daughter's birth was one of the most important days of my life. I can not really imagine what the past 25 years might have been without that single event.

It is true that having a child changes your life forever.

If you do it right, you work yourself out of a job and acquire a friend for life.

I feel blessed!

Happy 25th Birthday Baby!!

knittin' and piecin' and beadin' and cleanin' (?!)

Ta Da!

another vest complete for Warm Woolies

I really like the color combo for this one -- and the Patton wool is just a JOY to work with

now I'll be going through the box of yarn to find some yarn for the next one!



And Gabriel isn't flying in circles anymore

I put the last of the wing pieces in last night, and have the halo all pinned in (even started on stitching it in)

So we're moving right along with this project







these are the first 2 of the wood beads covered with size 15 seed beads

even though I was convinced this was a good way to do these, I admit I was a little unsure about actually being able to do the work -- but it was much easier that I thought it would be

and just to be different, while the stripes on all of the other beads run around the beads, these go up and down, which required an entirely different technique

now about 10 more of these to go in various sizes!

Cleaning?!

Once a year about this time my sister comes and spends a couple or three days at my house and we work on projects.

Today is the day she arrives, so I also had my annual excuse to do some cleaning (ok, I do clean more often than that, but its not a high priority!) -- so we're ready now, and we can spend the next few days trashing up the place!!

we're off and runnin'

some work done -- and welcome to meteorological summer

After my trip to the craft store the other day, I worked up these four beads for the black and white piece

These are smaller wood beads that I had previously covered, and are done with slightly smaller beads (size 11s instead of 10s) that have a matte finish

So now its on to the next smaller wood beads and size 15 seed beads -- these will take a bit longer











On Sunday the "weather girl" on the local station informed us that the "meteorological summer" begins on June 1.

WHAT?

Ok, I'm thinking what she really means is it's the beginning of hurricane season -- who knows.

We have, however, reached the part of the year when scenes like this are a daily part of our weather --

These clouds produced some BASEBALL sized hail -- just not in our area, thank goodness


time to go do some cleaning and preparation for my sister's arrival tomorrow -- at least put sheets on the bed!!

Dodos in Cyberspace

This cartoon was in our paper the other day, which I thought was quite funny ---

I don't know if I qualify as the "idiot bird" or the "crested stupid", but this morning I did put a dodo out on Ebay!



Here she is in all her glory!

click here to view auction

She'd love to fly (ok, I'm planning on putting her in a Priority Mail Box and shipping her, we KNOW dodos don't fly!) to some body's home and set up housekeeping there, why not yours?

completed mystery project and a reward

Here it is!

The second completed "mystery project" with in a month

Let us say I'm getting a "leg up" on my Christmas work

(and I ordered the yarn for the next one today!!! YES!)

now you can just wonder and imagine what that little square might be a piece of......



The month of May is gone and I for one am glad to see it gone, as it has not been any fun at all

To reward myself for having SURVIVED the month and for having "been good" by walking every day for almost 2 weeks, I made a little trip to our local Michaels.

Here are the goodies:

2 packages of wooden beads (little ones -- to be covered with size 15 (!!!) beads)
1 package of wooden spools (also little ones for size 15 bead covering)

(those items are so I can try to finish the piece of jewelry I'm working on after my attempt at making tube beads without support didn't work out for this particular project)

2 skeins of yarn that were on sale -- these are to be knit into afghan squares that will go to Close Knit Hugs

and the big treat -- the latest issue of Art Doll Quarterly -- I love these magazines -- and I keep them for future review



In this particular issue there is a challenge to do a paperdoll -- they provided the template (shown here)

I'm thinking about playing with this idea --

if I like the results, I may submit them (hey, the worst thing that will happen is another rejection slip for the wall!!)

a wing and a prayer?

or perhaps flying in circles!

Work is progressing nicely on the center panel -- this one is Gabriel -- and one wing is complete! I'm definately getting quicker at putting in these "feather" pieces.

The challenge of this panel will be the piecing of the trim on the robe -- its a very Greek looking series of stacked rectangles -- just something to learn new techniques from!




Yesterday we spent some time in the yard working

The little, barely visable green bits in the picture are tomato plants.

We put in 6 of them and installed the wire baskets to keep the dog from sitting on them (she likes to go out and sit any place that the ground is damp)

Today I will be trying to figure out a "hail shield" we can rig in case of nasty weather (which in this area is a normal part of summer) I'm thinking an old sheet with some modifications -- we'll see how that works

The plan is to also plant some green beans out on this tier of the terraces of the back yard -- but we have to build a trellis system first



While we were out in the yard I spotted this interesting item.

I've been complaining about the cottonwood this year, and here is a good example of how bad its been

I'm thinking this is not what the busy little spider had in mind when this web was built, but its done a great job catching a lot of cottonwood that's blowing around!

(made for an interesting picture against the grey of the tool shed!)



And I guess it's nap time here

After being out in the yard,

barking at the neighbor's cat,

running through the hose

time to snooooooozzzzzzeeeeee!



For the past couple of days, the back of my right hand just below the thumb has been bothering me

Until last night I couldn't tell what was going on

Here's the picture -- OUCH!

(don't ask, I have absolutely NO IDEA what I did here -- which is typical)

So today there will be more yard work (there's a bush by the front door that wants to grab you on the way into the house that I need to trim back!)

Then I'm going to try a new approach to the issue of finishing the black and white over wood beads piece -- the first go at spacer beads just didn't work, so I'm hoping the new idea will

time to get to it!

knitting along

on the recycled afghan squares

This is the second one -- heather grey acrylic and white cotton -- with the "mattress ticking" look going on because of the way the yarn changes were done

I'm still not real good at the CroKay work around the edges, but I promise to press on

So after I spent about 20 minutes weaving in all the ends of the yarn from the color changes (I'm still not sure carrying those up the side wouldn't be easier), I started the next block -- 5 equal sized stripes -- in this order: light blue, grey, red, grey and white -- I'm aiming at making this a colorful piece, just using that grey to tie it all together (because that's the one color I have a lot of, and can get more if I absolutely must)


So, now there are some outdoor chores to be done, and other miscellanous chores then back to a project of some sort......who knows what!

One done, 2 to go

here we have the first panel -- the color rendering to the left -- the completed fabric piece to the right

there will be additional details added when we get to the quilting stage -- especially in the armor, the hair and the wings

So, what do you think?

I'll have maple, thank you

No, I don't mean syrup (although that sounds pretty good right now, as I'm writing before breakfast!)

Last night we had wind, and the red maple tree down the street sent down a rain of these little goodies

more for the maple art that I've been thinking about!










I also found this

It looks like auto glass -- like from a headlight

I'm thinking it would be a good "focal" piece in with the other glass pieces I have to make into a necklace

(Now where is that instruction about tumbling glass......)


Today we're actually going to do that yard work I was talking about last Friday, then its back to work on projects....

jewelry and angels and maples (oh no, another new project?)

Since we'll be doing a show with our jewelry in about a month, I figured I should get moving on finishing some of the pieces that I've just been futsing with.

Finished up this little lovely yesterday afternoon (the 3rd time being the charm for the netting around the glass -- for some reason it took that long to get it right!)

More details about this piece can be seen here



The "wing work" on this panel is officially finished!

All 81 little feather pieces clipped and turned and stitched ---- I am getting quicker at it tho'

So now its on to the bigger pieces in the panel






While I was out walking this morning I found these on the street

There are a few maple trees along my route, and evidently one was still shedding some of these ---

I'm not at all sure what I will do with the pictures or the seeds, but the shape intrigues me

it may become jewelry -- or part of a quilt -- or an altered piece of clothing -- or who knows......

stay tuned

Oh yes, thanks to my daughter's clear instructions over the phone, I'm happily walking (and this morning typing) to "tunes" on the MP3 player ---- I'm smiling!!

Today we will be doing yard work in the back (Oh joy, my most favorite thing -- or NOT!)

Then it will be back to working on the black and white bead piece, and maybe starting the prep work on a whole new bead embroidered collar I've been working on the drawings for.....

too old to figure out the technology?

My daughter gave me this little lovely so I could have music while I'm taking my walk every morning

Trouble is, either every battery I have is no good, or I'm too old to figure out this new fangled stuff ---

guess I'll have to ask the 6 year old across the street



some progress on projects was made yesterday

the main section of wings on both sides of the face is now complete

looking good!




A while back over at Mason Dixon Knitting they started a project that I thought looked pretty cool, so I saved the instructions and have been making a version of my own.

The yarns in use here are all recycled -- as in yarn that has previously been a sweater, has been raveled out and is now being knit into this

This is the first "block"

Oh yes, and the plan (at least right now) is that this is actually for me (SHOCK!)



and this unrevealed project for Christmas is now complete

moving right along

nothing much.....

I spent most of yesterday recovering from our trip

The laundry is done, the van unloaded and stuff put away, the paperwork complete (ok, I do still have a couple of thank you's to write, but its NEARLY done)

I did finish up this little wool vest for the Warm Woolies folks. I especially like the "button" on the little pocket -- Its also made out of the wool yarn by crocheting very tightly around and around a chain -- I learned this technique from a pattern for a baby sweater, and I like using it on these as well because it means the button ALWAYS matches!

So today its back to the routine things -- up and feed the dog, empty the dishwasher, take my walk (the knee is feeling better, thank goodness), do my computer work then into the studio to do something -- I'm just not sure just what yet

we'll see

home again, the travel log concludes!

We can begin by saying that a knowledgeable hotel clerk is worth her weight in gold!

While we were out and about on Saturday, the "low air" tire light on the van came on. I was dreading the idea of actually checking them again myself as the last time I did it I had to actually remove the hubcaps to get to the valve stem and I just didn't really want to get so dirty that I couldn't work on anything while we traveled.

So, I asked the hotel clerk that checked us out and she sent us to the place where the hotel has the work done on their shuttles, and they took care of the tire pressures all around, at no charge!, and we were quite quickly on our way.



This was the sign posted in the rest stop we were in in northern New Mexico.

Another handmade sign said something about the nitrate levels in the water being determined to be to high and that the water is hazardous.

Its a scary thought -- not being able to drink the water has long been a running joke when talking about going to other countries, but most of us here in the U.S. take clean water very much as something that is always there



The little restaurant we stopped at for lunch was in Colorado City.

This was the window that ran all the way across the front of the place (I told you it was little!). There was art work on every wall.

The food was good, and very reasonable.




Oh yes, and they have a sense of humor too! This sign was posted over the towel dispenser in the ladies room....

If you're ever in Colorado City, stop by Max's Place and have a bite!!



Coming out of Colorado City and headed towards Colorado Springs, we passed a long train of cars that looked like this -- those folks are tanks

All of these are coming back to Ft Carson for refurbishing after being with the group of troups that have just returned from Iraq



And as we returned from Ft Collins after picking up our dog from our daughter there, we passed 7 trucks like this, hauling huge highway I-beams that are headed for a big interstate project south of us

all in all an interesting, but uneventful (thank goodness!!) trip home





while I was hanging out in the motel room in the evening I finished the first of the angel wings.

After having pulled out all of the first attempt, I must say I'm pretty pleased with how this went the second time. I've even started on the second wing now.

There were 4 New Mexico Memorial afghan squares knit in the car -- all in oranges and reds and turquoise and purple -- mmmmmm, very colorful


and so today there is the van to unpack, laundry, paperwork and a run for a few groceries

I'm still pretty tired, so I'm not rushing into anything --- all the time on the road yesterday wore me out!

time to go do something.....

Show report on Albuquerque

This was our table at today's show

All set up and ready to "meet and greet"











remember this one from earlier in the week?

remember I said he needed to go to a new home so I wouldn't have to face a rework?

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

I do want to have another go with this new head pattern tho', as it is rather interesting to work with one with 2 gussets instead of just one -- it changes the entire shape of the head


So, tonight having set up, worked all day and torn down the display, I'm a bit weary.

We're staying here tonight and heading home in the morning -- just couldn't handle driving home in the dark tonight

time to go pack