orange county, ca

Is where I grew up in S. Cal. There were actual orange groves there at the time (70's-80's) but now not so much.


I am enjoying this landscape format I've been doing lately. It's a sort of painterly way to work with fabric. Not too controlled or stiff..

This is 12x12" and hand and machine stitched, with fabric, floss and beads. The smaller scale is a personal challenge going on with me lately too..

the sea

hmm, I see these pictures aren't too hot, well, that's what I get for waiting until 9pm to do something!
Anyway, this is an attempt to evoke the feel of the tide pool/ocean life without getting too literal, ie., fishies, sharkies etc.. I, on purpose picked colors and forms a little off the blue/green/aqua (ok, I had to put in some aqua..) scheme of things.

Many different techniques here, machine stitching, hand stitching, yo-yo's, beading, applique, over-dyed lace and fabric (very fun to do)..

I promise better pictures here of the latest, soon. Really.

Sunday

I was tagged by lovely Monatka, who does the most wonderful things with fiber and felt, in Inverness, Scotland, no less, on 5 things I love every day..

1. I try and pray each and every day. Love stems from this.
2. Coffee is a must, I like it very strong.
3. Art in just about every form or fashion is always on my mind. I've taken to carrying a small sketch pad, just so I can 'get it out' of my head..
4. I love how each and every day is new. The saying is true, things that are monumental in the night, are usually in perspective in the morning. (See #1)
5. Music is always a part of my day. I like all of it. Really..well just about..

I will tag Jackie , Kayla , and Annie Their style and their blogs knock me out!

seaside stitching

I'm working on this stitchery of a landscape, again, one of 3 I've got going, this one is done with machine and hand couching of fabric and floss. I love embroidery floss of all kinds. I wish it came 1,2 or 3 strands on a spool, though..the separating gets tiresome. *whine*

This is from some photos I took while at the beach last year, and transferred to my sketch book..

The pictures with the flash look a little better than without, I usually have the thing off..

camera shy

not too fond of pictures, but.. I was at a nice dinner.. I hadn't realized the camera was clicking..

ha, and I notice my son trying to engage in the teenage conversation at the other end..

silence

Deco's are down, out with the japanese stuff. This is an older cotton obi sash, with a nice ceramic bowl..

quiet

Well, school's back in session, so I can ease off the 5am work start. If I don't get distracted. I am happy to have the quiet back, though..I think better.

I am contemplating a big camera upgrade, I think I enjoy the picture taking a lot more than I used to..

These are two separate pieces, that I'm working on. The top is a landscape quilt/fiber piece that's a lot of couched down fabric and embroidery embellishment. I've used the machine on some of it too. These things tend to come in 3's..interesting. Maybe I'm used to thinking in series form, which I love.

The one below is a horizontal landscape the top 1/2 done with strips of fabric sewn and folded down. The bottom 1/2 is again, couched down and then is getting heavily embellished w/floss and beads. Some dyed scrim in there too..

There's another one going on w/underwater elements in it..more pic's coming..

Hope you have a creative week!

a stitched landscape

I've noticed that trees crop up in the majority of things I do. Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by them, or they represent a lot of steady, living things to me, but there they appear, often. This is a machine/hand stitched piece that going on, trying to incorporate the feel of nature, and the meaning of the steadiness of trees..the Methuselah tree, perhaps.

no excuses

When I go for a project, I go for it. The fabric, thread, needles (watch out!) fly without reserve. I am not a neat person. God bless those of you who are. I am not.

I like music when I create too..loud. So I wear the headphones..


I like to go for the gusto too, I don't work on one project at a time, I have a lot going on at once. It doesn't bother me to have a lot of unfinished projects, it's ok..

No excuses, I pull fabric, let it fall, reject, edit as I go. I should refold and store after I do something but I don't..

I work in our basement, I like it that way, I hope to have walls by the end of 2009..

A happy New year, and a wonderful 2009 to all..

black

I've been bad about taking pictures of done projects, which was the whole point of doing this blog! Will work on that. Anyway, I've found black particularly difficult to photograph. This is a small 1/2 scarf, which snuggles around just the neck. Secured with a button. A combo of manos yarn, and lighter weight black acrylic..

quiet

after a snow fall..

{december views}

Rejoice!

image by May Smith


I wish you all the peace, joy and love that this one infant brought to the world. Merry Christmas.

handmade

I try to give a lot of handmade things, but not everyone in my sphere likes getting those types of gifts..so I trudge through the stores and do my thing. It's getting smaller, year by year though, those trips..

I did some illustration work in the day, and still like and collect children's books with wonderful illustrations. They inspire me.

I've done some handmade cards for our New Year's party:



Here's some potential, I'd like to sit down with, but alas, will have to wait a while...I haven't found a Colinette or a Noro yarn I didn't like.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, no stressing!

{december views}

interiors

A few objects around here...

{december views}

a few of my favorite things...

feeling musical lately!

{december views}

december

{december views}

winter scenes

{december views}

I love lanterns

and snow!


{December views}

december views

Darlene at this site has a great idea for December...silence.. A silent night, a holy night. How I love this idea. So for the rest of December, not many words, but lots of love and images..

Peace. If you are interested, take a look at the other bloggers being quiet too..

{december views}

scarf weather

Can finally wear this! Noro Iro, simple garter stitch. Let the yarn do all the magic..

No need to embellish this one!

Yea! Look what was there this morning!

andy goldsworthy

It occurs to me I haven't posted about the artists that I admire lately. People I look to for inspiration once in a while..
So I submit British artist Andy Goldsworthy for consideration:


An environmental artist, he wanders the Scottish country side (and elsewhere) and uses no tools or implements to construct cairns, wool fences, sculptures in situ. I was not familiar with his work and was recommended to watch this video, "Rivers and Tides". While I was convalescing a few months back , I watched it. Can I say you will never take a walk in nature and view it the same way. You will have the urge to stack rocks, arrange leaves and dig holes.
How about this thing:

Like an ice meteorite. He stuck the icicles together with spit, his..

And this... I would love to build something like this just to confound my neighbors! Well worth it, check him out. There are also several books around about his life and work..

shorter days

It's getting dark pretty early now..so I've been working on some snuggly things.. this is a very colorful shawl made with hand dyed chenile yarn from blue heron..

Not sure if something was eating at these, out there in the garden..

The gloaming, as the Scots say. Dare I use the word 'twilight'? Is a lovely, peaceful time of day. Winter just around the corner..

stitching weather

I'm a sucker for this type of fabric. Soft, feminine and floral. I was (am) a huge Laura Ashley fan from way back. I remember those shops, so girly! I wanted to wear a peticoat like Laura and Mary Ingalls. I know that that style of decor is not popular now. But I am always drawn to that country cottage stuff. I love peeling paint, rust and tattered, frayed fabrics and objects.

This is a wall hanging quilt, about 45x45", I took these blocks on various trips and hand appliqued and quilted them while traveling. I look at this quilt and remember what we were doing and where we were going. That's a huge secondary benefit to hand making something, a reminder of where we were and what we were doing..