Beachy schedule box

When they post our schedules at work one large copy is placed in a black ringed binder...

 

 

 

 They also cut a wallet size that will fit in our name-badges holders--
 
 Those little credit card sizes are housed in a central area where we can pick them up...

 ...the little treasure box we've been using for the past couple of years, fell apart one too many times, so I purchased a wooden box,

painted and decorated it and will be taking it to work tomorrow--just in time for the new schedule--which is due to be posted at the end of this week!

 

I love the colors--reminds me of summer vacations at the beach...

World Wide Blog Hop

I was invited by blogger-friend, Sherrie Spangler from Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, to take part in a World Wide Blog Hop -- to answer questions about my art work and introduce you to other quilters and artists and keep this blog hop traveling along.

Sherrie’s fabulous post was last Monday, September 29^th, which you can read here! 

QUESTIONS

1.     What am I working on/writing?

2.      How does my work/writing differ from others in this genre

3.      Why do I do what I do?

4.     How does my writing/working process work?  

 

I am currently working on several things at the same time: a scrappy quilt, improving my drawing skills, jewelry making and (hopefully) writing my life story!

scrappy quilt swatch with bits and pieces of brilliant fabric which would otherwise be destined for the trash!

Traditional quilting such as log cabin, flying geese, double wedding ring and such like that, is very beautiful and takes a skilled hand to be sure. But, I don’t tend to be successful or find quilting in that manner enjoyable. I much prefer free form, raw edges utilizing primarily recycled and repurposed fabrics and ephemera. During random moments of free time, I can be found making stacks of “swatches” which eventually get incorporated into a bohemian shoulder bag or similar, an art quilt or nap quilt.

I must create, it’s in my soul—my mind is busy making something all the live-long day! Sometimes when working a long shift at the hospital, I end up with several new sketches in my art journal—idea’s I’ve rapidly committed to paper with scratched out directions, so I won’t forget the original inspiration and can then expand on it later when I’m home.

I have recently renewed my interest in sketching and drawing and have set out on a mission to improve! When vacationing recently in South Haven, MI I found a wonderful series of sketchbooks by Quarry Books. Each book has a theme (nature, flowers, animals, etc.) and each page has one or more drawings with lots of blank space for practice—so much fun!

 

Can you tell which drawings are the original and which are mine? Humor me, say NO!!!!! ha-ha!

This past summer while on a yearly retreat with a long-time girlfriend group, we had an art session led by jewelry artist, Heather Powers, and I fell in love with beads and semi-precious stones all over again!

 

Heather led our group in making memory bracelets and gorgeous copper earrings that began with 18 gauge copper wire that we pounded and textured and oxidized with chemicals. It was awesome. So much so, that I went home and continued to make more of my own...what do you think?

 

 

Say, did you know that November is NaNoWriMo? That stands for: National Novel Writing Month! You can find detailed information here.

I plan to follow the rules and write my first novel during this marathon season, November 2014!
I’m sure I have loads of material!
It's going to be a busy year!!! I’ll keep you posted!

On a personal note:

I’m not gonna lie, 2014 has been a pretty tough year for me, both personally and emotionally which has affected my artistic creativity and productivity. I lost people and pets much too early, who were very dear to me; I moved in the middle of the sweltering summer with NO air conditioning, and ended a long relationship with my S.O. At times it felt like just one terrible setback after the next.

However, I am a very positive person, and with the power of prayer, support of a wonderful family, loving friends and an excellent work situation, I have begun to re-write my life story!

I am sincerely grateful for the life and opportunities I have. My art evolves from that feeling of gratitude and happiness and is expressed with a passion for giving back and doing my part to preserve the environment through reusing and recycling!    

Thank you so much, Sherrie Spangler for choosing me to showcase my art. I’m sad and embarrassed to say, that I have no other artist to introduce you to. The several that I invited were either not able to participate due to previous commitments or did not answer my requests.

However, I do have a fabulous acrylic artist friend, Dori Sherman, who plans to establish a blog site soon, it’s just not ready yet for this posting. If you wish, you may read about Dori’s art on her Face Book page here!

Thank you so much for reading my contribution to the World Wide Blog hop. Hope to see you again! xo

finding creative time

Isn't this bouquet beautiful? It was a surprise gift from a friend I haven't seen in too long a time. She recently retired and moved away but came for an overnight visit last week. It was such a nice treat to have almost 24 hours of girl time to chat, craft, shop and eat--so cool! We MUST do this more often!

2mm beads in creamy multi-color on a memory wire bracelet with dangles

amber and organic seed beads on a memory wire bracelet with accent beads and dangles

2mm sunset colored beads on a memory wire bracelet with amber and organic dangles

Lake Michigan September Sunset as viewed from aboard www.catsmeowcruises.com during our FABULOUS sunset cruise!
 

What a glorious first night with sailing and sunsets my FABS group had during our September retreat in South Haven, Michigan. Its a quaint little tourist town on the West coast, a.k.a. "the art coast of Michigan" where we meet once a year. The following days and nights were equally "fabulous" but this sunset cruise on "The Cats Meow" was the perfect start!


 Dear Readers: I have had some recent life-style changes which avail me more free time-yay-My promise to you AND myself is that I fully plan to consistently update and maintain my blog with sewing and painting, art and recipes and various other topics.

Thanks so much for reading--I hope you will leave comments and visit again. Hugs!

Beginning again

It has certainly been a year of changes for me...adding some new, removing and/or walking away from some old...deaths, new additions...moves, deaths again, darn it all...but always growing stronger, cementing relationships and sadly, ending some as well...

I have also experienced too long of a hiatus from my art and now, suddenly I cannot find enough hours in each day to create the many imaginings that have been developing silently in my head!!

This past few week I've found myself jumping from painting to beading to drawing and watercolor...and back again!

I haven't made it to the sewing room yet, but the fabric is calling to me every day--especially in my "just before sleep" and "am I really awake yet" hours...ah me, life is good, every day is a blessing.

I have so much, I am so very grateful, I am happy and feeling blessed.

Creative Finishes!

Finally finished the Sunflower Watercolor series I've been working on and got it posted on my etsy site!

 ...and other random floral watercolors...

...yay for having 2 days off in a row...finally!!! Love Ya!

Orange you glad it's almost Spring?!!!

 Having fun with orange...

 ...and pink, of course!

 ...and mint...and aqua...just having fun...

...a little bit of whimsy going on in the studio lately...

Pink, pink, boy you stink!!!

 I love making memory boxes...altering memory boxes is more like it...I typically purchase the boxes new from a craft or art store or vintage from rummage-type shops and sales. I paint and collage them and try to bring out a unique personality or perspective...customized sort of, to the person I'm making the box for.

 Anyway, this box is for a very special grandma; a friend who has been instructed by one of her son's, a first time father, to remain "gender neutral" to allow his daughter to choose her own direction.

 My friend will, of course, respect her son's wishes...as much as she is able...which may be difficult since pink is one of her own favorite colors...but, she will give it her best shot and avoid pink as much as possible when gift giving and such, until, of course, the little one begins to choose for herself!

BUT, this particular memory box is MY gift for my friends--no one will even see it except grandma until, alas...grandma is no more!!! So, pink it is =)