Working on some natural stone and shell pendents and cords for necklaces that the senior ladies might make.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Lovin Lace!
Well today was a great deal of fun...my artist friends came over and we covered all my tables with plastic and lace and got busy dyeing. One of my friends brought a mineral with her that we mixed up with water. It turned a beautiful deep purple. After our lace came out of this dye bath it was purple or pink...but as it dried it turned all sorts of deep brown to orange-ish brown to just a pale blush of brown.
We selected two really odd pieces of lace for the mineral bath for the sheer enjoyment of seeing what would happen...one was a roll of cheap, bright blue lace of mine and the other was a very fancy pink fringe. Both turned out quite well and look rather interesting.
Then my mother came over and did some handpainting of hearts on a small piece andafter she left I followed that up with several more - one piece is quite large and has beautiful swirls in it. I chose to use turquoise on that one as I intend to felt it with a whole lot of blue fancy fiber and some fancy silk solids and prints. Can't wait!!!
As far as my hat goes, I have removed the lace I had on the brim and I am hoping some of the cotton lace that we dyed today will look more appropriate...(no more granny bonnet look!)
Off to bed as tomorrow is another day and many more chances to create something even more beautiful,
Janet
We selected two really odd pieces of lace for the mineral bath for the sheer enjoyment of seeing what would happen...one was a roll of cheap, bright blue lace of mine and the other was a very fancy pink fringe. Both turned out quite well and look rather interesting.
Then my mother came over and did some handpainting of hearts on a small piece andafter she left I followed that up with several more - one piece is quite large and has beautiful swirls in it. I chose to use turquoise on that one as I intend to felt it with a whole lot of blue fancy fiber and some fancy silk solids and prints. Can't wait!!!
As far as my hat goes, I have removed the lace I had on the brim and I am hoping some of the cotton lace that we dyed today will look more appropriate...(no more granny bonnet look!)
Off to bed as tomorrow is another day and many more chances to create something even more beautiful,
Janet
Now for a new look!
So as usual I find myself fiddling with my pieces of work as I wander past them. I have currently under construction a purse, a hat, and a jacket and two pillows. Today I took time to pin some lace and a few other things onto the hat I posted yesterday. By the way, it is nice and form fitting after its soak and then drying on the glass head!
I do plan to make a felted flower to go in place of this beaded red thing that I bought somewhere long ago. And I am thinking I should try the lace on the topside of the brim and see how it looks as well. I have the hardest time trying to get the colors anywhere close to what they really are - sorry about that! I am going to look for a different way to do them, but for now here is a quick shot of both sides.
Tomorrow will be a fun day...artist friends coming for soup, salad and bread and then some lace dyeing!
Goodnight everyone,
Janet
I do plan to make a felted flower to go in place of this beaded red thing that I bought somewhere long ago. And I am thinking I should try the lace on the topside of the brim and see how it looks as well. I have the hardest time trying to get the colors anywhere close to what they really are - sorry about that! I am going to look for a different way to do them, but for now here is a quick shot of both sides.
Tomorrow will be a fun day...artist friends coming for soup, salad and bread and then some lace dyeing!
Goodnight everyone,
Janet
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Oh What to do About the Fence!
There are those times in one's life where you need to quit straddling the fence and decide...you know what I mean...you want to do something, but you're not sure if you should...if it is the 'right' thing to do...so you make lists of Pros and Cons...talk with friends and relatives...and stew...and make more lists...talk to even more people...and stew some more.
I just finished reading the last book in the dragon and rider series by Christopher Paolini (he lives not far from my home town in Montana). The reason I mention this is because Christopher has created an aspect of life in Alagaesia where one may discover their true name. It is something to be guarded and treasured...but more than that in order to discover your true name a person (or Elf or Dwarf or Urgal...) must really and truly understand all aspects of their personality...the good, the bad and the ugly as they say. I would like to think at this point in my life that I have at least gained some understanding of who I am...but some days I am less sure than others. And I am positive that I do not understand enough about who I am to be like the characters in Christopher's books and discover my true name...I need more time for that...but...
I do know that generally I am the type of person that is excited by change, loves a challenge and a change of scenery. When I decide to do something it usually doesn't take me too long to put that change into action. I like to be in control of what is happening in my life (to the extent that I have an option) and I love to share the things I am passionate about with others. Which is one of the reasons I became a teacher...though in the end I did not get much chance to share things I knew and was passionate about since so much of a day in the life of an elementary school teacher and student is dictated by others.
I am a hard worker, but I can also be extremely lazy...have a tendency to procrastinate though I am getting better and better about not doing this every year. I used to always need to have the radio or TV playing. It drove me nuts to visit my Grandmother and Grandfather because it was so quiet! Nowadays I am comfortable with silence...we have become friends even. There isn't an organized sport I can think of that I like, but I enjoy walking and hiking. And I love all things about nature...the natural world...science...what makes the world go round. In the past, I have struggled to manage the money in my life. I try real hard to be a good friend, but sometimes I mess up. Sometimes I loose my cool. Sometimes I have little self-control and over indulge myself.
This is a beginning of what I know to be true about myself. Yet sometimes knowing it doesn't seem to be of help with the fence I am straddling and making a decision and so I go back to my lists...my friends...and my family. Yet in the end, a person must just jump off toward one side or the other...or just give up the cause and leave it alone!
I just finished reading the last book in the dragon and rider series by Christopher Paolini (he lives not far from my home town in Montana). The reason I mention this is because Christopher has created an aspect of life in Alagaesia where one may discover their true name. It is something to be guarded and treasured...but more than that in order to discover your true name a person (or Elf or Dwarf or Urgal...) must really and truly understand all aspects of their personality...the good, the bad and the ugly as they say. I would like to think at this point in my life that I have at least gained some understanding of who I am...but some days I am less sure than others. And I am positive that I do not understand enough about who I am to be like the characters in Christopher's books and discover my true name...I need more time for that...but...
I do know that generally I am the type of person that is excited by change, loves a challenge and a change of scenery. When I decide to do something it usually doesn't take me too long to put that change into action. I like to be in control of what is happening in my life (to the extent that I have an option) and I love to share the things I am passionate about with others. Which is one of the reasons I became a teacher...though in the end I did not get much chance to share things I knew and was passionate about since so much of a day in the life of an elementary school teacher and student is dictated by others.
I am a hard worker, but I can also be extremely lazy...have a tendency to procrastinate though I am getting better and better about not doing this every year. I used to always need to have the radio or TV playing. It drove me nuts to visit my Grandmother and Grandfather because it was so quiet! Nowadays I am comfortable with silence...we have become friends even. There isn't an organized sport I can think of that I like, but I enjoy walking and hiking. And I love all things about nature...the natural world...science...what makes the world go round. In the past, I have struggled to manage the money in my life. I try real hard to be a good friend, but sometimes I mess up. Sometimes I loose my cool. Sometimes I have little self-control and over indulge myself.
This is a beginning of what I know to be true about myself. Yet sometimes knowing it doesn't seem to be of help with the fence I am straddling and making a decision and so I go back to my lists...my friends...and my family. Yet in the end, a person must just jump off toward one side or the other...or just give up the cause and leave it alone!
Ahhhh...Valentine's Day,
My husband told me today that he is still head over heels in love with me...and then he presented me with this glass 'head'! Guess he was listening when I said I needed some hat blocks. Who knew?!
I decided I just couldn't throw out any of my scraps from cutting my jacket out so.......I AM ATTEMPTING to piece together a hat. Not sure I can get the shape I need. I have it pinned together for now...tomorrow I hope to do some stitching. I wet it down this evening and stretched it over my new head...tomorrow will tell me if that helped.
Hope you all had as good of a day as I did today an I wish you an even better tomorrow,
Janet
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