BACK to WORK!

I know I have mentioned before that I often work late into the night.  I just find it is the best productive period for my creative thinking.  And I'm not the only one!  I recently read a quote from a famous piano player...He was talking about how working in the wee hours of the night is liberating and stimulating for him...And I know how right he is!  It was great to find someone else putting out there.

So the studio is coming along though not finished.  Haven't even been able to set a date for an open house yet.  Still there is progress.  And my finger is healing so I have been able to get back into my studio the last couple days...though I must admit that the antibiotics are giving me fits and drain my energy so no late night working at this time.  But...I am off and running on a new batch of projects and it feels so GOOD!  Creating is so exhilarating!

1. A set of curtains/drapes for the front windows of the studio.
2. A wrap/scarf/jacket kind of thing using nuno felting techniques.

Each are coming along well.  I have some pictures for you...first the full length curtains...

And now here are the beginnings of what I hope will be a stunning spring wrap for me to have for the opening of Farmers Market...

The wrap is made up of layers.  In one layer will be the fuchsia gauze fabric, along with the pink & purple metallic gauze and a stretchy velour burnout fabric.  Then there is a layer of merino...that covers another layer made of silk roving, nubby wool blend and more metallic gauze.  I haven't yet decided if I will add some floral silk on top of the fuchsia gauze...

Soooooooo much fun!

Janet

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!