Busy Week Over and Busy Week Ahead

This past week has been a busy one, indeed!

Monday was the usual routine of laundry and general cleaning.

Tuesday brought a full day of artsy stuff and an evening with our Ladies Ministry group at church. We had Secret Sisters last year and this was on the apron Julie gave me,

Wednesday included decluttering of the Art Studio. I tend to save a lot of "stuff" that can be recycled.

Thursday had Jennifer from Farm to Table Delivery stopping by with our produce, dairy, and meat order.

Friday morning I went to ABC at 9:30 to introduce myself to the With These Hands group of stitchers.
That afternoon I also connected with a stitcher in my neighborhood and was invited to join another group.

Saturday, the Palmetto Fiber Arts Guild met at the Charleston Museum for a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the lovely textiles they have available for study. Maria Louisa and Maria introduced me to Puerto Rican food afterwards. I had steak Mofongo. Getting to know these two ladies was definitely the highpoint of the entire day. 

Sunday came and off to Cornerstone Baptist Church we went. Salmon on the grill was George's offering for our lunch. Also took care of getting the menu planned for the upcoming week and did the grocery shopping.

AND now for the upcoming week's activities:

Monday- laundry, general cleaning, install driver for new printer, haircut (?), prepare Sangria dye solution and do the first testing of it, Playday if Fran can make it, and all the other things I have on my "routine"

Tuesday- first day of a new Bible study group, lunch with friends, spend some time in my sewing room OR dyeing more things if I like the Sangria color

Wednesday- I'll be meeting Vicki and the group of stitchers at the clubhouse nearby for a morning of stitching and lunch with them, hopefully I will be in the midst of some dyeing or deconstructed screen printing

Thursday- Leslie's Birthday, should do a full system backup on my computer, and I'd better get some progress done on the Challenge #1 piece I've been mulling over for too long

Friday- will be checking in with Carol at the Antique shop for an update on my consigned items, set appointment for health insurance conference, Challenge #1 piece! ! ! !

Saturday- George will be away for the weekend so this would be a very good time to work in my sewing lab or art studio and order food delivered????

Sunday- March 1, time to tweak the plan and decide on weekly focuses

I think that's a pretty full week coming up. I'll let you know how well I do at staying to plan.

Let's Create Today,
Something that brings us joy and contentment.
Luann

Happy Valentine's Day

Every day is a day to share God's love. Valentine's Day should remind us how important this is. 

George and I spent the weekend sightseeing and enjoying being with each other. We stayed in Beaufort, SC. We visited The Old Sheldon Church, Fort Fremont, Fort Pulaski, Tybee Island, Hilton Head, The Ace Basin area, Hunting Island, and some nice restaurants. 

I haven't downloaded all the pics yet, but here are a couple from some church ruins we saw on the road out to Fort Fremont. 

This is one of very few remaining examples of tabby concrete. 

I find the designs in metal work very intriguing. 

This was from the 1700s. Amazing how some things have lasted. 

We had a great time. As usual, we were glad to get back home. Even though I enjoy seeing the country, I prefer sleeping in my own bed. 

Luann 

The Truck

Just pictures today,

The ride is comfortable. What can I say?!

Dodge was very creative with this!

Let's Create Today 

Luann

Can Groundhogs be trusted?

I heard that the ground hogs around the country saw their shadows on Monday, and went back to sleep for another 6 weeks. Those in my area, forgot to pick the flowers before leaving.

I could hardly believe my eyes. Dandelions on February 5th! 

Just had to share the adventure. 

What says Spring to you?

Let's create today 

Luann

The truck of HIS dreams,,

When my husband said he found the truck of his dreams, and that it was the only one on the East Coast,,, I should have told him to go back to sleep!  But I didn't, so as of noon today, I will no longer be driving a 2007 Cobalt. I have fondly thought of it as being mine, even though it is often used when I am not driving. It will be used for trade-in on this new truck. 

Now, just to set the record straight, I have a fondness for trucks, but we already have a Dodge Ram with a Cummins diesel, and four doors. So why is his "dream" a 2-door, shorter box, no diesel truck. And if it's the dream, why couldn't the other one be the trade-in? Or perhaps the 1999 LHS that is most definitely "his" car? 

Men! ARGH! I will not even try to understand this one. It's going to get interesting when I want to drive half way across the country to see my Grandkids, and he's not in the mood to go. Much less, I need to get to Bible study, grocery shop, and more often than before,,, I want to get together with other artists and sewists that share my passions. 

Well enough whine for one day, I'll wait to post this until I can get a picture of it. I haven't even seen it yet, so,,,,,  

This was the best I could get as it was dark outside by the time we picked it up. 

And, according to the hubby, it's a Ram Express Sport Truck, with a Hemi ! Ok, ok, so it is going to be quick down the road. I'd better make some cookies and get them delivered to the local authorities, hope they'll be understanding if I'm driving!!   LOL

Finding it hard to focus but will persevere,

Let's create today 

Luann

PS. This post has been viewed and approved by the proper people. 

Challenge Due March 1st

I have a challenge piece due March 1st. It is with the Just Use It group on Stitchinfingers.ning.com

The challenge is to take a piece that I rec'd from one of the swapping members and "frame" it. Now it doesn't mean it needs to be conventionally matted and framed, just "framed" in some way. We are doing these to encourage one another to use, not just collect, all the lovely pieces rec'd over each year. I think I received over 100 pieces during 2014. 

It wasn't easy to chose which one to work on first, but Hazel's wisteria piece won. 

It was done on a white damask napkin. I totally loved it, but the white was too stark for what I wanted to do with it. I used some weak dye solutions and a method that Ellen Anne Eddy taught for coloring the background. The lace insert pieces on the left don't show their color very well, but they were done at the same time. 

I know where I want to take this, I'm just not settled on my method yet. I will keep you posted. 

So,

Let's Create Today!

Luann

Deconstructed Screens, The Inspector, and A Worker Bee

Here are more pictures of the screens I used in my deconstructed printing day. 

 

 

 

 

And the "inspector",,,

 

The "worker bee" on the screen porch. 

And the inside workroom. 

Tomorrow's forecast is for "mostly cloudy", a good day to create!

Let's Create Today and Every Day!!

Luann

New Year's Eve Project

I just realized that I didn't post any pictures of my newest project. I started the sewing portion on December 31, 2014!  I know most folks celebrate this evening by going out, etc. But not me!!

During December I did some deconstructed screen printing. It was my first time and I was experimenting all the way. The prints I ended up with seemed to fall into three distinct color ways. 

Two of the sets had a predominantly blue hue. 

I used an improvisational trimming and sashing method. My new design wall came in handy. I had to decide where more white would be added to bring these pieces all together into one cohesive unit.  My design wall was laying on it's side when I took this picture. I think you can still see the "pojagi" look that is appearing. 

I want the size to be larger but I haven't settled on the best way to accomplish it. I want to stay true to using only white and fabrics that I have printed. I also want to keep the improvisational approach. At present I'm leaning towards an improv pieced border using much smaller pieces of the printed fabric and narrower strips of white. 

I think that even if you are doing something in the improv mode, there comes a point at which one must make very calculated choices in order to portray the feeling or mood you're going for. At least that's how I'm feeling at this point with this piece. 

Something that's really been different about this quilt is that from the very first trimming of fabrics I've had a sense of what I want the quilting designs to be. This is the first time I can remember that happening! 

I've also decided that I will NOT agonize over any small imperfections, and maybe not over any BIG ones either! I want to let this unfold and move forward at it's own pace. And now that I am feeling better, that should be picking up momentum shortly. 

I hope you are all creating from your heart, and enjoying the journey. 

Let's Create Today 

Luann

Here's what a few of my screens looked like before printing. 

Sunday Health Report

As many of you know, we have been suffering through colds. This all started while we were in The Midwest on vacation during early January. We are getting better daily, but still very lethargic. Today, we gave ourselves some very needed warmth. We went to the beach. I started out walking with three layers between unders and winter coat. By the time I warmed up, I was down to my cami and a sweater!! Yes, I kept my pants on!! Not only did I sit on the beach, I felt a sand angel needed to be made. After all, if I was back in Wisconsin, it would have been a snow angel! So here is the best I could do,

And just to show you I am feeling a lot better,

I wish you all could be here with me. We would invest some serious time on the beach!!!