Art.....Life.....Intermittent Internet

I have been in one of those typical artist slumps. It is a normal thing and the odd things it takes to get OUT of one, well, are unique to each artist.
Too much stress, feeling like my creativity was being pulled in too many directions without any particular benefit to me, the artist.....time for change. Had to make more than one hard decision just for me. And after the first, things started to flow.
Something absolutely silly to get the  art-cells awake.....

Yup.....an ATC that is half Sweet Pea and half, well....YOU KNOW. It just came out of the clumps and crevices of grey matter. And that's okay too. I like it!
Then I moved on to a 6"x6" canvas which gave me FITS. I had the central element in it but it was fighting me tooth and nail so I left it in the dark cellar and stewed.
Finally, it all sort of blew through the brain at once and I worked quickly.

 

Lolo, those eyes were inspired by your photo on your blog.......and I am hoping you take this as a compliment! LOL! Of course if you hate it, don't tell me...haha!
I used mica gels and iridescent paint on this and little shows unless you have the piece in your hand and gently move it back and forth in the light. Things appear, glitter, and disappear again. Yes, those are tiny watch parts punched through the canvas. I also used a crackle medium, which turned out so-so. I am perpetually in search of a really GOOD one. You can see bits of it, but not what is visible on the actual piece. None the less, the whole makes me happy and I think the meaning is pretty clear~~my heart, my key.

While in search of the elusive mojo, there were a few moments of utter lunacy and hilarity.....I have no qualms with making an ass of myself for the sake of a good laugh. (had a heck of a time finding that knife of DH's that is firmly gripped between the teeth)
And then there are my friends that *know* me and send things totally appropriate for my studio work.....

At my age, I need BOTH types! LOL!!!!
As I ramble through this post, I might also mention the internet has been down, up, half up and in other stages of non-use. I have been indulging in a book from Silke when I am off-line, and I think I could spend MORE time off-line~~it is a good thing.
And now to finish this off, back to my sewing. What I have been cutting.....

I generally am a pretty hardy soul about fabrics, but the one in the background? It had me terrified. Yesterday I put the scissors to it and feel 1000% better. Two stole pieces cut and ready for the sewing when the hand work is completed. Bead decisions....visualizing....letting myself soak into this one as it requires a different approach and must be PERFECT, and I want it to tell a story.
I also have on the sideline, brewing, a commission for three altar cloths and matching pulpit hangings, so there is work-work-work through the winter. Feast or famine. It's all good.
I will be in and out of here sporadically.....I think it is pretty obvious *where* I'll be and what I'll be doing.
When I'm not out Swashbuckling.
You have to have a little fun!  ;-)




Pax....

Fiber Moments~~or~~Yes, This Will Be A Church Hanging!

I worked in the studio yesterday until a thunderstorm from Monsoon Land blew through--and I do mean THROUGH! The water was coming through the ceiling, so I know what I will be doing on Saturday....crawling the roof with latex caulk.

But I digress.

As usual.

Below you see on the left the inside of a cleaned snack chip bag, on the right, the same bag after heat was applied and in the center, a piece with the first coat of acrylic color. That is what has been such a stinker about drying! Since the base is completely non-absorbent, it is taking forever to get these to dry. (the roof leak probably is not helping either.....grrrrrr....)

The pieces below are all different cuts or bags, and almost all of them have four coats of different colors, so that when I go to make the creek section on the hanging, I have this wonderful variety of *water texture* to put in atop painted areas and other fabrics, and lots of light reflection. I have also ordered some oddly shaped and colored pearls, which will be sewn into the creek bed as glowing, wet pebbles. Then the leaves I have whined incessantly about will be all along the edge of the creek, and maybe if it feels right/looks right/works right, I might *float* a leaf or two. I don't know. That's just me thinking out loud. (hear the grrrrrrrinding???)

The next thing I tackled was getting some small burn samples of the two felts I have purchased. I am still debating which to place on top as they melt under the heat gun completely differently and even the melt pattern is different. The pic below is strictly felt--colors reversed so I can think which is best for a bark texture.

Then I added one layer of felt over a selection of fabrics, did some stitching, and applied the heat gun to burn away parts of the felt. This is pretty light weight, and there is some merit to it for highlighted areas of bark, but there was a lot of curl as the felt shrunk, sooooo......

I moved to sample two, with the brown and black felt stacked over the woven fabric, and a piece of black felt on the back. This was quite substantial---in fact, I was not sure I could free-motion it through the machine, but it did okay.

On the far right, you can see just the stitching, then as you move left on the image, there are areas where the heat was applied for shorter and longer amounts of time. This is one of those things I wish I could  get a really good shot of for the *feel*. It is extremely textural.....which I like. I spent some time online researching walnut tree bark and found sufficient images that I should be able to get a decent stitch pattern in my head for the tree bark sections.

Sorry about this last photo but black thread on black felt does not show up AT ALL...

This is the back of the above fiber package, with some of the felt burned out, which allows the whole to lay a bit flatter. There is still a lot of *feel* to it but not the wobbles like the first piece. The other benefit of using the felt layer on the back is it makes excellent shaded area for the tree bark.

Now I am just waiting on the canvas to arrive (it was on back order--of course!) , the pearls, the fabric paint and I should be ready to get this puppy really in gear!

Of course, I have to get the roof fixed first, because the wall I work on is the one that had water running down it.

I just love multi-tasking.....don't you???  >:-[

LOL!!!

Now go get creative and make something wonderful! Or just have a wonderful day!

Pax....

I See Dead Leaves........A Sewing Horror Story! LOL!

Okay, bad pun.....they're not really dead, and it's really not a horror story (it might be horribly told....) they are just being made to look like fallen leaves in various stages of becoming those beautiful, lacy skeletonized miracles that pop up in the flowerbeds in early Spring. This is part of a sewing commission, and frankly, this is the third go I've had at getting these things right. Without the leaves, there is no piece, period. And this is the first time in my life that the original plans I have had just flat out tanked.
There are a couple of problems.....one being that when I purchased my machine years ago, I bought software that was supposed to perform miracles! WRONG.
Secondly, while is does an adequate job on the embroidery, it is an older machine with lots of *miles* on it and after a few patterns being run, I have to shut it off to let it cool. I don't have $8000 (yes, you read that right) for a NEW one. Not that I would buy one this elaborate again. And no, I did not pay that much for the one I own.....I'm crazy, but not that crazy!

The whole theory of the leaves was that, and it was a great idea, the machine would do it's thing and I could catch up on some other projects that have lain around for a year due to those two pesky surgeries.
Well.
HA.
Thread breaks on a regular basis, bobbin thread runs out and everything has to be lifted out of the machine, I have to have spare bobbins wound because I discovered the hard way I cannot exit the program to wind a bobbin.......*rolls eyes*.......it just stops completely and there is no way I know of to get it back to where it was.
So below is a walk through my leaves, with a few humorous comments!

First I start with a layer of water soluble stabilizer. This is the best because the scraps can be reused and there is a lot of waste in the process. A lot. REALLY. A LOT.

I learned the hard way I don't have to cut a FULL hoop of fabric....if I tighten it down good, a partial piece will work just fine. This has to be fit into the hoop extremely firm as there is a lot of movement and vibration as the machine does it's thing.

Hoop is locked in place, and the threads are brought to the top surface. Then the presser foot is lowered and........

......push *Start* and pray. It always makes it through this section just fine. But as it begins some of the satin stitching.......

.......of which there is an ample amount, that is when I receive what is equal to a Windows System Blue Screen Of Death........

.......the dreaded Yellow Screen Of Broken Thread! (I get at least two of these per pattern stitched.....)

And when it is done it looks lovely, as though it were no effort at all. What you are looking at is over 35 minutes of work. The pattern, when things run RIGHT, is 25 minutes, but of course, we have to have a few fits and stops and thread breaks and other assorted bad behaviour. (and yes, if you follow me on FaceBook, this was the machine I was threatening to throw out the upstairs window, just to see how many parts it would break into when it landed on the driveway.....but I figured it would crack the concrete and my poor DH would have to throttle me.....)

And then you load it up and start again. Hold breath, pray sincerely, push *start* button.....

On the sheer fabric, the finished embroidery is lovely. This will have the extra stabilizer trimmed away, rinsed in cold water to dissolve the rest, be pressed on a teflon sheet with a cover to set the stitches and then each leaf has to be hand cut from the fabric.

And here is a view of the ones in progress.......I generally get three patterns run before the machine begins emitting a hot smell and I shut it off a while and we ALL cool off! LOL!!!
As I said....
I... see... dead... leaves......

Now, have a laugh at the short tempered blog-mistress and her sewing issues! Make something to brighten your day, or that of others. Life is too short to waste!  :-)

Pax.....

Hey Toto....Was That The Wicked Witch That Just Flew By???

Just in case you were wondering how I spent my evening.......as this monster rolled in, I thought it would be interesting to get photos.

Still not too frightening, though I noticed some VERY COLD AIR was starting to blow.....

.....And it did seem to be coming in at a rapid pace......yikes.......

 

.....And this was when I exited the cover of the porch for the safety of the house! If you notice, the trees are whipping about. I was no more inside before all hell broke loose; thunder, lightening, 60 MPH winds, hail and sheets of rain so intense and white I could not see the field at the side of our yard.

And it had no more passed and calmed to normal rain, then the power went out.

For two hours. (I read to the birds this time, because they are as scared as I was.....)

I had great sympathy and many prayers for the Linemen that have to go out and fix electricity in the WET. Just think about that one for a minute.....

And then later, we were treated to......

.....Pink, lavender and peach clouds, beautiful but.....

.....Those are clouds that still have some serious punch left in them.

Had no internet last evening nor this morning; behind on everything and have some work issues here I am going to have to figure out so I may be off blog or not visiting until I can get them under control. This has to do with paying work.

If any of you use a Janome 10000 and have the software for embroidery and really know how to use it, please--I beg you--e-mail me. If I can't get this to work, I am up a dirty little creek with no paddle and back to square one on one very important element!

Okay kiddies.......I'm off to a day of grunt work and thinking. Oy.

Pax.

Good Monday Morning......

A quick and late check in to Blogland; sorry this is a short one, and again I am behind visiting all y'alls blogs.....but this was too humorous not to pass along.

The other day in the throes of the worst of the IP problems, my friend Vicki posts the following photo on her blog.........just for ME! In fact, the caption below said photo was "Hi Anne!"

(copyright Vicki Miles, 2010. used with permission.)

I encourage you to take a quick click over......we both had a good laugh off it! I mean, at some point there has to be humor even in the worst of fit-throwing and connectivity issues!

I am off for another day of heavy studio work...If I don't check back in for a few days, well, they either tied me in a knot at PT or I have been swallowed by the carnivorous sewing machine, wrapped like a tasty Spring Roll in banner fabric and deep fried....sigh.....

I'd rather be blogging!

Have a good week, do something you love, laugh, enjoy Spring moments if you have them, and above all else.....

Pax.

The Grey Days Of Late Winter

I am going through one of those late Winter phases where not only is the body in slow motion, but the mind as well. Yes gentle readers, it has slowed more than it usually is. In fact, if my brain activity could be checked with a blood pressure cuff, I am sure I would be ready to code.
I jinxed myself writing about the 400th post.
That's it. I am sure.
The brain figured out I had used it that hard and decided we were going on a vacation, at least inside the cranium.
Mark this on your calenders: Anne is at a loss for words. (actually, I should probably have that printed poster sized for my DH to savor.......)
I have, piled up, things to photograph for the blog, but have not had time. The scarf that never ends now has a matching tam, with pompoms on top, I still have the endearingly nicknamed *socks-from-H#LL* that need their little picture taken, there are a couple of items I got into frames yesterday that are a post in and of themselves and they need to primp for their close ups.
And there are the banners I have been working on, lugging heavy duty sewing machines on top of boxes and cutting tables so I can work standing up. It is much more comfortable than the contorted sitting and sewing I had been doing, but it is not easy to figure out the logistics of *how* to make it all work. While trying to figure out a particular element that needs construction for this project, my mind has wandered off and solved some of the issues (or at least produced what seem to be viable ideas for some innovative items) to incorporate into the piece. I never seem to be able physically or mentally to work on one thing at a time; my best problem solving is letting the grey matter wander until it has solutions while occupied with something completely different.
So, in a very long winded manner--as usual!--I am saying it will probably be a quiet weekend in Anne's little corner of blogland as I deal with some of the things that need attention. Hopefully Monday I will have a post with enticing photos and be able to prattle in an entertaining manner about them.
Today though, it is work and then a bit of rest. Because once again, I have worn myself out running and next Tuesday I see my surgeon for a little pas-de-deux, and I want him happy. I don't want to tell him about how many times I have been up and down the stairs, standing calf-deep in the snow shooting frost pictures  or the particularly funny-but-humiliating story of the huge spider in the studio bathroom that decided he needed to get up close and personal while my PJ drawers were at half mast. (for anyone who heard strange screams in the last few days....that was me in de-spidering mode)
Alas, as I look at this, it is utter proof that I can talk about absolutely nothing. So now I'm off to slowly greet the day and hope there is a lot of creativity flowing in blogland, and I apologize for not having a "Take Your No-Doze" warning at the beginning of this.
And the pic today?
It has nothing to do with anything, other than it is monotone like the slumbering earth right now, and I guess I am the bulb, waiting for Spring to come to burst forth and make something beautiful.
To all of you........make something beautiful, and.......

Pax.

Rambling thoughts and musings...400 posts???

I've had a couple of questions related to New Orleans so I thought it would be good for a post. The brain is a bit numb from too many crawfish and the delicious earthiness of Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager, so I know I can write this! (I probably have crawfish still trying to escape me through my ears----I have no sense once I start eating them.)
The above photo for those who have not seen one is a King Cake. They are served through carnival season only (traditionally) though now can be ordered from commercial bakeries in the South. The dough--at least what I make--is a sweet yeast dough that takes a long time to rise. It is then seperated into three pieces, rolled flat, and filling is inserted. I have occasionally done three different fillings but the original usually has cinnamon, or in some cases, no filling at all. Then the three lengths of dough are braided, and shaped into an oval or circle. When baked, the cake is iced and sprinkled with the green, yellow and purple sugars---the colors of Mardi Gras.
New cakes have a tiny plastic baby baked in; older cakes inserted a lima bean or dime---as these were taken to parties and served, the person who got the piece with the inserted item was responsible for making the next cake, or it was considered a sign of good luck. (I've always put the bean in mine.....)
These are delicious pastry and there are numerous variations on recipes. If you're up to a full day's work, try making one. You'll understand why they are worth the effort.

Images in my header.

I have had a few questions about the images in the header---so let's start with the one of the ex-votos. That is from the ex-voto room at St. Roch's Cemetary chapel. They are just larger version of the small milagros I use in my work. Try Googling ex-votos, it can explain it all better. The cross photo is a color enhanced version of a pic I took of the door to the chapel of the Ursilines convent. They have about a full quarter of a block for their convent/compound in the Quarter. The postcard is one I've saved from when my grandmother visited the city, oh.....I have no idea what year, but the style of the image gives you an idea. I still need to frame it; note to self! Then the final picture is LaFittes Blacksmith Shoppe (yes, Jean LaFitte the Pirate), which is now a bar. Gary and I were photographed in front of it by a professional photographer trying to meet deadline for a travel publication. He was kind enough to shoot our photo with my camera too.......this is strictly the building and if I am not mistaken, it is the oldest in the Quarter. There was a horrible fire that consumed almost every original wood building in the area. How this one stood......  At any rate, it is slowly sinking into the *terra-nonfirma* of the area. I am not sure there is a single bit of the structure that would measure square. It is so interesting to really look at the materials in it in person because it appears to be quite close to the crumble point, yet it has withstood hurricanes.
Amazing.
These are all things that inspire/influence my art work, and that was how I chose them over whatever I was making at the moment. Art changes but inspiration tends to stay.

Yesterday, late, I noticed I had reached my 400th post. I was delighted it was on Fat Tuesday! I can't believe I have blithered that much, but those of you trying to slog through this blog probably can...LOL!! Hmmmmmm.......I may have to figure out a little something to celebrate with for us all. Give my brain a day or two.
And now I am off to sewing. I'm not sure it will be creative work, but it is paying work which lets me be (or BUY!) creative! So I hope y'all have a good creative day too, make something wonderful, or just go look for King Cake recipes.
And enjoy your time, whatever you choose!

Pax.

The Bargello Mystery.......

Well, now for the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. Sorry for the hodge-podge on the photos; Blogger is being most obnoxious or I am clueless to what I am supposed to do to get them to behave.....and not awake enough to really care!

As stated previously I had this marvelous bargello piece, in fact, two identical pieces that I had received from Tristan. He had e-mailed me about how to make a liturgical stole and I sent him the *pattern* I work from, which is loose to say the least. I guess when you make then and tinker with them you don;t need a highly detailed pattern, plus the idea is always in my head. At any rate, he said since the bargello was done he was afraid he would screw it up (it was for an ordination gift) so would I be interested in finishing it? SURE!!! But I could not understand why he had hesitation about cutting into the pieces.

Until I got them in the mail, looked at these absolutely amazing works and though, OMG, I'm terrified to cut into them!!! No choice; we were working on a short deadline and I knew the amount of time I had each day to work out here was limited. I still cannot manage anything close to a full day so a job that should have taken me a day and a half, welllll, it took longer.

Yesterday I finally finished it up, except for trim on the edge, and in the meantime have written Tristan telling him it was basically done........come to find out, the ordination is TOMORROW, so I slapped that baby under the machine, got the trim sewn on, did what I was NOT supposed to do and drove it to town for overnight mailing. It should arrive to it's new owner this morning.

These pics are lousy as the last thing I did before bundling it up was snap a few photos, and by that time I had myself worked into a lather about getting to the Post Office so it would make the next day delivery. Remember, I live in the sticks and *Next Day* is relative, applying to larger locals. So I had to ask if it would be delivered today. Ask.

At any rate, you can get an idea of how it looked; I think the pics for the most part enlarge when clicked and like I said, these last ones are fuzzy, off kilter, and just not good.

Oh, and to explain the last photo. When originally corresponding with Tristan, I told him I had NEVER had the back of the neck line up, and always used a nice applique to cover it. (the ones I have made have had a woven design, that--the least bit off--YIKES....) Well, to get a good length I had to cut off the bottom of the piece which had beautiful reds...check the top photo. So naturally, when putting this together, I had the same problem with the back of the neck not matching, and carefully took apart the remnants of the bargello, getting a small, three strip piece, which was appliqued in place over the seam.

It visually tied it all together and gave the eye a place to rest.

And then I rested!

So.....this is what has kept me busy, in between naps and resting (or in other words, attempting to be good!) and I could have lived with that beautiful bargello just hanging on my pinning board for ever! But I got to enjoy it a short while and tomorrow, a young man will be wearing it at ordination, and all the meditation and prayer that I put in these as I do the handwork will be there with him, upon his shoulders, with Tristan's talent and color magic making him look wonderful!

We're kind of like Batman and Robin.......the Dynamic Duo!!!! (okay, Tristan is dynamic.....I'm more the speed of Alfred......)

And that's today's story kiddies! Tune in next week, same Bat Time; same Bat Channel!!!

In other words, have a wonderful weekend........

Pax.

A Sneak Peek......

(click to enlarge and see the exquisite color combo better!!!)

...At what I have had the delight to be working with. Notice I did not say I made this piece...it is a collaberation. I never would have gotten this sewn, as I discovered doing basic functions like serging and then a very few seams on the big sewing machine.

But what this will become (and it is in process enough that I can mentally see it and am excited!) will be beautiful and I do get to post the finished photos here!!! YAY!!!

I also discoveed over the weekend that while the BRAIN thinks we can hop right back in and work the hours we did pre-surgery, the BODY has some other ideas that annoy me...like, no, we art NOT. So I am having to pace myself on something that would have otherwise been done and ready for shipment. My frustration level with this (me=slow) is through the roof but I keep talking to self and reminding self it has just been over one month since magor surgery and we still can't fit into our satin tights and grab that golden lasso and starred headdress.......

Hmmmmph!

Anyway, I feel blessed and delighted I was entrusted with this job, and when it is done, and I tell the full story, you'll know why!

So I am off to work; early is better. I'm too comatose to know if anything reeeeeeeally hurts! LOL!!! (usually not in the a.m.)

And for about ten minutes I tinkered with the Paperclay pieces I cut out, before I completely gave out and headed for the chair and rest. They have paint--look nice. That was easy and fun.

Till later.....I hope everyone has a great creative week and that your ideas exceed your time, but keep a sketchbook handy!

I bid you.....

Pax.

While I should have been cleaning and finishing the decorating....

...I discovered my friend Jan in Oregon sent me this YouTube video, and I watched it not once, but three times because anyone who has had someone touched by breast cancer will find this uplifting and dang it, I want to go to a hospital where they dance!!! (super job!)

And I heard that apron pattern calling my name again........

... so I chose instead to escape for the afternoon to the studio and play with the short apron in the pattern envelope---I knew that Day of the Dead fabrics would be just right for it. Although this one was in some ways quicker than the other, I screwed up the first set of ties thanks to the *hemming-foot-that-hates-me* and had to redo them, and they still are not stellar, but servicable. Hey, it's a work apron.

There are two pockets on this one, as it just felt unbalanced with one (much like the maker--LOL!!!) and quite by luck I ended up with the little skellie drinking beer, and the bass player as focal points of the pocket! Trust me, this was not planned.....
Again, it was fly by the seat of your pants sewing day, and then it was go clean up the mess started in the kitchen, in the process of thinning out junk that somehow breeds at an appalling rate.
I have to run the sweeper, which the Keets HATE....it is war, usually when Mr. Sweeper comes to visit, but the house is in desperate need.
I have hit that time of year when I cannot think and don't want to do what I have to; I am doing my imitation of a naughty child misbehaving before the Holidays.
Which is okay......get it out of my system now.
Now gentle readers, it is back to the real salt mines for me; since I played, the house fairy didn't show up, soooooo........
Off to clean.
I'm hoping you're creating something fun and wonderful instead! Or at least, go dance!

Pax.

How I Spent Black Friday....And It Wasn't In A Store!

First off, I do not leave the house on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving is a day for me to recoup and do things here, with DH, or in the studio. I cannot take the crowds, the traffic nor do I want to end up with a cell mate called "Large Marge"..........nuff said there.

And so, the other day when I was digging--and I do mean DIGGING-- for the instructions for my felting machine, I came across this apron pattern I had purchased in the dark ages and for whatever reason, put in the plastic bag with the machine gizmos.

So I looked it over and it seemed to be a pretty quick sew, and my old aprons have or are currently rotting from age, therefore........

I dug through my scrap bag and pulled some of my favorite pieces, exiled there because I haven't quilted and could not bear to part with them. Also, one large piece that was never cut into for fear of the *Fabric Cutting Police* paying a visit to the studio.......ahem! Any others out there like that???

And, a few hours later, this is what I ended up with! A happy, bright and lively apron, that I made without consulting the instructions for the most part, so there are some things that are different......

I must, absolutely MUST, have a pocket on an apron and I pieced a scrap of batik to make it wide enough to cut the piece, then lined it with a vintage light blue flowery fabric. Yum! The flounce was to be cut as one piece but that took a LOT of fabric, and if I accordian-folded the pattern, I could cut multiple fabrics and have an extra bit of ZING at the bottom! (yes, all those pieces were hemmed with the rolled hem foot first, then pinned with the hem edge matching......and my rolled hem foot hates me, for some reason......I mean, reeeeeally hates me......)

Even the facings and neck strap were made from different favorite leftovers; I wanted all the apron to be special, and definitely *me* when worn, or just hanging in the closet! And best of all, I was able to use up or put a dent in fabric I had lying about. That made me very happy! A scrap apron that just rocks....  :-)

I have to admit I have not sewn for myself in a long time, and eventhough this did not require bodily measurements (thank God!!!) it was sort of odd doing something strictly for me. I had to allow myself to make the apron. I mean, that is NOT right! LOL!!!

Then, I sucked up all my courage and threw one old apron in the garbage and brought the other out to the studio, to try and see if I can cut a pattern from it. Then it goes. Honestly. I promise. For real!

And yes, for those of you wondering, I do have fabrics MUCH BRIGHTER than these.....I was trying to keep from glowing in the dark...well, I do have glow in the dark fabric too, which might have uses for candle lit evenings......

And then there are all the psychedelic prints.....and the skulls and Dia De Los Muertos fabrics.....it is not a bland studio, to say the least!

Hope you've had a few creative minutes yourselves over the holiday, and I am going to have to get the house tended to for Christmas really soon, as my life will get interrupted. Pooey.

Now off with ye, and have a creative day, whatever you get into!

Pax.

Welcomes and Work

I've been remiss in welcoming new followers to the blog, so here is the official WELCOME!!! I'm glad everyone is here and bit by bit, others pop in. I am very bad about updating the blog list on the sidebar, and if you aren't on there and want to be, just let me know. Some things I'm right on top of (like the table when taking above photo....) and other things just sort of slip into the ether....

After fighting with the 12 feet of lined fabric and the weight of it all, it was time for a break, so here we are and yes, I am still looking for a Studio Pixie who just wants to help and enjoy the company.......LOL!!!

Posting a few photos so you can get an idea of what I have been dealing with, such as the above tassels. They started out being only the small purple part, without beads, trim, or bullion fringe. I basically build them for each set of banners. Premade tassels the size needed are far too expensive and never match anything I'm working on.....such is this life!

I did luck out on the candles not looking lost on the large background fabric and also, in the never-ending stash of fabric, found a sheer for the stars that allows the pattern of the b.g. fabric to show through subtly. I was afraid I was going to have to SHOP for something, and with my recent luck in getting junk, I was not looking forward to it.

Here are a couple of the other candles; the color is fairly accurate on them, though the fourth darker purple is out of the picture frame.

Physically and mentally, I will be glad when these are done as I am exhausted from the weight of all the fabric and batting. These have turned out to be pretty much like working with a stubborn quilt, especially the freemotion work required to put the candles on.

On the other hand, I like the design as it reminds me of some of the work I saw when I was a child in Europe, and there is a nice, reminiscing quality to dealing with them. Stars on Christmas cards were almost always the six pointed variety over there. It seemed a natural to do the same on these.

Well, enough......there's fabric calling me, and it's not calling me nice names! LOL! Yes, that's where we're at in this project relationship---calling each other names. Baptism by fire.......

I really do like them. Shhhhh........don't tell!!!

Hope everyone is having a good time and working on something that is not trying to throttle them! Have a good one; I bid you all......

Pax.