Sunday, January 22, 2012

adding




As I have tried to be more disciplined about stitching I have realized that each moment that we stitch we are "adding" to and building the blocks of the quilt...Each stitch makes a difference. The piece grows ever so slowly. I see life is that way. The little things we do each day add up. Good or bad. 

back to stitching.....
<3

Sunday, January 15, 2012

A beautiful day



This is my day....driving by a small barn at a local apple orchard. (It was such a gorgeous day and I always
love seeing this little place.) At night the Christmas wreath is lit by a single up-light and it is quite beautiful. See the very old apple tree to the right? There is a whole orchard of trees to the right of this
picture.


This is a local park that sits at the lake edge. Just beyond the sign is the lake which is partially frozen
over. I decided to take a drive to my favorite little quilt shop which takes me through the country side and this little park is along the way. It is my way of getting away from it all.


I stocked up on some of my favorite bits of fabrics: 1930's replica flour sack cloths and replica Civil War fabric. 

It is not like I needed more fabric....it is more like a diversion for me. A way to get away from it all.
I stopped in at a local grocery store grabbed a hot cup of coffee and a gingerbread man with a peace sign on it! Fun times for moi". 
<3

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

results :/

Obviously the girl does not know what she is doing! lol! I boiled my pomegranate skin
and seeds. Threw my fabric in, let it sit for a while, added a bit of salt to pull the color
out of the seeds and skin. I let the fabric sit ALL DAY. When I came home it was a lovely pinkish color.
I added a bit of white vinegar. Rinsed the fabric with cold water. Still a bit pink. Washed with soap (probably a bad idea) Still a nice bit of pink. Let dry overnight....


: /



(the result!)


This is not a great photo of the fabric because it is dark this early morning....
Don't let the picture fool you. It looks pinkish but the fabric really looks a shade 
more beige yellow. When I first hung it to dry it was a slight pinkish color with a few
deepened spots. But they disappeared! Obviously, I have a lot to learn. I think linen would
have worked better then Kona cotton.....

Now I am determined to learn about this process. I have read India Flint has a fabulous book.
Will have to look into that.

I found this blog that is no longer posting but thought it was interesting and worth sharing:

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Pomegranate


THIS +THIS =????



This is my quick project for today....
My son ate a pomegranate for breakfast and I asked him to save me his leftover bits.
(Many of you are pros at this but for me it is a new adventure.) 
wish me luck!
<3

Monday, January 9, 2012

Progress


Old cloth being revisited......

Gathering fun photos for a miniature book for daughter #1 that I have been working on for at least 2 years. The little tiny book has pictures of family and just random things that are meaningful to my daughter and myself.

Still stitching on dolls and working on new ideas for this coming year....
<3

Thursday, January 5, 2012

words and dolls



So, I have begun this new year with keeping a journal of thoughts, words, new creative drawings of things I want to make, and poetry I find that resonates with me. My own poetry and poetry of others...


My open journal.....

Keeping a journal is not new to me as I have other smaller ones. The difference now is I want to add consistency to my journaling. Trying to do something every day.





I have been stitching away on some new little doll faces. The one in the center turned out too somber, so a new one was begun on the right. Funny how each little face "becomes" what it wishes. No matter how hard I try to control the outcome...it just becomes the face it wants to. I took apart and re-stitched the doll in the centers face 3 times and no matter what...it was somber!



I have found a new book by Alice Walker. I could not photograph it because of the glare on the cover of the book.


It is a lovely book of poetry.

I particularly enjoyed "My Teacher" 
(about Marley Mu)
and 
"Calling all Grand Mothers"


This is good:
http://alicewalkersgarden.com/2012/01/democratic-womanism-
2/




p.s. regarding goals check out this: 
http://www.gaiansoul.com/2012/01/my-non-goals-for-2012/
LOVE IT!