A Pip of a Poppy

Yippy!  I have been able to get back to felting...finally.  On Sunday evening I worked on a few samples for my class with the Senior Ladies.  Then today I taught them to wet felt jewelry.  Two finished and they are shown below along with one of my new poppies!

Keeping My Perspective

You know it seems that I have forgotten how beautiful this place is…   Remembering back to when we arrived in May of 2010 to live here for a while - having just departed the southern desert region of Nevada - we were in awe as we rediscovered the amount of lush greenery, tree covered mountains and water in the form of streams, rivers and even a handful of lakes!  Ahhhh…we basked in all its glory. 

Come winter we got to experience the dramatically changing weather as clouds streamed past when storms blew in.  We missed the exciting elements Mother Nature can contrive that we came to appreciate so much during our days living aboard our sailboat, Sapphire.  In addition, we had snow!... Sparkling flakes on the trees covered mountains.  Even the dead looking trees waiting to be reborn in spring, shone with a stark beauty as only they can when snow adorns their dormant limbs. 

Spring showed us our new neighborhood was full of new life!  Crocus began peeking out from the last bits of frozen moisture, with daffodils and tulips following in their wake.  Yet in the time since that, everything has lost it appeal.  Things began to irritate me.  I realize now that the busier I got, the more I forget to stop and appreciate these things of beauty surrounding me!  Especially lately…I seem to have forgotten to take the time to “Stop and smell the roses.”

And while I love change and all its promised new discoveries and challenges…I have found setting up my new art studio/art school, which initially was thrilling, is now…well dis-satisfactory.   And I find myself paralyzed each time I walk in as I am faced with this:

The paralysis has spread to other parts of my life.  And I find I am accomplishing very little some days.  Discontent has spread too.  I am no longer happy with where we are living, my choice to make a go as a fiber artist, or even the way the winter played out.  I missed being able to pit myself against an indomitable foe (Mr. Winter) and feeling triumphant each time I prevailed and made it home safely.  This past winter barely gave birth to the idea of winter!  Even spring seems a wet blanket to my usual enthusiasm for this time of year.  But why?!  I revel in spring!!!   I love all the new growth; the promise of home grown food and flowers everywhere!  And they are there…those crocus are popping up to show their bright, cheerful faces…so why my gloom and discontent?  

It is my new studio!  And why should the uprooting of my studio cause me such discontent?!  I need order!!!  And until I am able to organize and contain my new studio spaces I will not be…happy…content…and able to create.  


And so it's back to work... but it is a labor of love!


Janet


P.S.  See!  I have managed to get some things organized...so all is not been in vain...and I have hope!

New Studio - New Spaces

While getting Sapphire product making materials out of our home has been joyous...moving all of the materials in batches to their new location has created chaos tenfold!
The one place that is already taking shape is, of course, the relaxing corner full of compfy spots to sit!  Which is what I find myself doing frequently as I stew about how I am going to put order back into things!

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted!!!  Vacations really create their own kind of havoc even while creating fun and enjoyment of life!  My mom, younger sister, one aunt and I all took 10 days to visit Kauai, Hawaii...kind of a birthday celebration/girls trip.  What an adventure!  There were flash floods, road closures (never was able to get to north end of the island), record rain, culverts washed out which caused sink holes, beaches were closed, terrifically LOUD and long thunderstorm which caused more flooding. hail storm (lots of crop damage) and a tornado!  Us?  Well we just did our little touristy things right through it all!

So now I am home and back to reality....and just what is that?  Well before I left on vacation, I signed a lease on a retail/industrial space on one of the main roads in town.  What for you ask?  It  is to be the home of my new Art Studio.  Yep!!!  I am really excited!  Happy Birthday to me!!!

So since returning to Idaho, I have been hunting high and low for bargains to outfit my new space.  What fun hubby and I are having doing it too!  Might be one reason we love staying on the go - we love setting up new spaces.   Gypsies at heart I guess.

I must tell you the story leading up to this some day...for it was a true nightmare!  For now I want to share with you some of the color, textures and patterns I found in Kauai...future material for felting...

Next post I'll update you on my studio and include some photos of our work as we progress through the evolution of the space from warehouse like to workable art space...stay tuned!

Janet