Monday, December 6, 2010

Little Boxes







I had a lot of fun making these little boxes to hold the little dollies that I made for each of my friends in the doll group I belong to. I've made several more for gifts for co-workers and can't seem to stop making them-of course it helps to have my new workhorse of a sewing machine to help whip up these little guys.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010



Now that I have these new "friends", I've put one to good use modeling the Jane Thornley inspired shawl that I made a few weeks ago. I used a different yarn for almost every row, some wool, some handspun by me, some fun fur, etc, etc... It was just knit stitch on large needles-I cast on 110 stitches-and knit a couple rows of each yarn. There are a few rows of the Feather and Fan stitch which turns out really cool. I hope to make another one but in all shades of grey. These are so fun and easy. I'm working out ideas for scarves like this, too. I'm not a very accomplished knitter, so this is a big deal for me, and I guess I'm patting myself on the back a bit.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Gift of Thanks


So, this morning as I was playing around with my new sewing machine, making tons of little quilted squares to sew into little gift boxes, I took notice of a copy of a picture I had thrown in my garbage a few days earlier. Now, this was a poor quality copy of an old photo of my mother when she was young that I discarded from another project I was working on last week. Something about the picture made me want to take it out and try a little quilted frame around it and jazz it up a bit. I began sewing, add ing lace and bits and pieces of scrap fabric. one little scrap was a little print of music notes, and since my mom loved music I figured it would be perfect for the piece. It was upside down when I stitched it in place, so when I turned it over to admire my work I got a huge jolt when I noticed that the letters on that little scrap are my mom's initials- m p -for Myrtle Pecor--At that very moment I felt her presence (she's been gone for many years now.) I cried a bit because I miss her so. She loved Thanksgiving, with all the wonderful baking and setting of a beautiful tablewhere we all could gather and enjoy our family.

Today I am thankful to my mother and this wonderous gift of her memory, and all the memories of Thanksgivings past. Thanks, Mom, I love you and miss you.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

fun colors


I had some fun with a little color this morning-I had read somewhere that there was a Mexican equivalent of Koolaid out there, and just happened to find some at the local PicknSave. It's called Klass and comes in several flavors-but my store only had Tamarind, Pineapple and Mango. So I just grabbed one pkg of each. I had no clue what Tamarind could be-but really needed to find out-so it was first. I just used a canning jar, and poured in the powder and some water. It smelled very strange-and I had to try a teeny bit---eeeyukkk--but it was a light shade of brown that could be nice. I put in a glug of vinegar, and 1 oz of wool. Then I "cooked" it in the microwave for a few minutes. I did the same with the pineapple and mango, and they all took turns for a few spins. I then let them sit for a bit to cool-but not long, cuz I was too anxious to see what I got. Well, let say for some better color it would be a good idea to put several pkgs of tamarind to get a nice brown-but I'm ok with the pale tan I got. The same goes for the pineapple-its a very very pale yellow-but pretty. The mango turned out the best. It's a pastel-but definitely the prettiest of the lot.

So what did I learn from this adventure? The taste of tamarind is hard to rinse out of your mouth, I need to find the other flavors of Klass, and I need to get many packs of each kind to get a more saturated color.

All in all-I learned a lot today.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010




Last week I checked out the Fiber Arts Friday blogs and read about cardboard looms for weaving. I searched the web like crazy for more info and found all kinds of fun stuff. So I proceeded to snag some huge pieces of cardboard from the garbage at work to make all kinds of looms. I started small-first a round loom to make a beret...then I figured out how to make one to make a nice long scarf-I finished the beret-its cute but I don't look good in a beret-so someone will be getting it for Christmas--and the scarf has only just begun-but I'm lovin' it so far. I plan to use up all my practice spinning stash. The next project will be an attempt at the big triangle loom. Cross your fingers for me.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

working with fiber







I've been trying to make a dent in the fiber projects waiting around the house. From the huge bin of wool that I recently washed, to the wild colors I've been carding to use in the Fiberwire I've been spinning and also, the Romney wool I've had in a bag for a few years that I carded and have now started to spin. Nothing is organized and I keep hopping from one project to another-I must have wooley attention deficit disorder. Oh well, I love playing with wool in all its stages, and will be up to my ears in it for quite a while.

Sunday, September 19, 2010


Had some fun trying some core-spinning with wire as the core. I first carded some random wool with lots of angelina and firestar for glitz. I put lots of different colors. I then took the batt that I made and split it into four long strips. Then I predrafted each strip til fairly thin and just barely holding together. I used 24g wire on a spool and attatched one end to my leader on the spinning wheel. I let the spool just roll around on the floor while spinning Z (clockwise) and just feeding the fiber on , from the right, at a 90 degree angle. I let the wire just glide across the top of my left hand. The only problem is the spinning wheel doesn't pull it on to the bobbin. You have to spin a length and the wind it on by hand, but that is really the hardest part of the process. I just love how it turns out and plan to make much more. I'm sure it will make great necklaces and bracelets.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

another class




took another class from Mystele-I enjoy her style and creativity. Had fun painting a couple little items.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010







Twirling

It has been way too long since my last post. I'll blame it all on work. I'm lucky that I have a good job, but we are working way too much overtime for me to enjoy the fun stuff I like to do. I did squeeze in some time to make paper beads--LOTS-- of paper beads! They are very addictive. I cut up several, brightly colored, magazine pages. Now that I have a shopping bag full, I just sit in front of TV and twirl away. After I get a large amount done, I've been stringing them onto a length of twine. I then plan to take them to work where we have a nice ventilated area (that we use for spray glue) and I'll spray them with gloss varnish. After all of that I hope to whip up some simple bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. I'll be back soon to let you know how they turn out.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

fun at the flea market







Today was spent hunting for odd treasures at the Elkhorn Flea Market. I had nothing in mind to buy and ended up with an eclectic array of interesting goodies. I bought a porcelain doll head, not old, but she's pretty. I haven't made a doll in a while, thought it might be fun. I happened to find a nice little slip that I'll make sure her body will fit into.



I found some 2 dollar hammers that will work for texturing copper for jewelry. Then got quite a nice bunch of laces and seam bindings from different booths, and a handfull of stuff from my friend Carol who bought a basket filled with sewing notions. I'll pay her with something handmade.



I also got 3 rosaries that I'll be using in some sort of jewelry. I'm not sure what I'll do with the round block of wood I got for a dollar-but I had to have it. I also was caught up in getting some old books. Why do I need more old books? I have more than I need already, but I always figure I will rip them up for art projects. Then I can't bear to ruin them.



To top it all off, I found the man of my dreams. For a buck--he's well dressed, quiet, and I'll know where he is at all times. Good old Ken-gotta love him!!!



All in all, it was a great day spent with friends, blessed with great weather, and getting more junk to add to the piles of junk I already have!

Monday, April 12, 2010











Here's todays work from today's prompts in class--and the new additions to the front cover of my journal.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

wild painting


I went a little "wacky and wild" and had some fun painting this. I'm learning to let go and have fun in my art class and I think its working.

Friday, April 9, 2010

day three


Day three of the Gut Art class was very inspirational-but sent me in a different direction than I thought it would. I've been working at painting my reactions-but this time my gut told me to make a necklace from the prompt we were given-so here it is-I'm really pleased with the results.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

day two


here is my journal entry for day two of art class. It's very different for me.

Monday, April 5, 2010

New art class











I'm taking a new art class on line and so far I'm enjoying it. Had our first lesson today and I did a few paintings. I tried to let go and free things up. I like my girls with the purple hair. I may do some other stuff with them, but not sure what yet.

Thursday, March 25, 2010







I've been bitten by the painting bug since taking my class. I've been sketching a lot more, too. I forgot how much I liked to paint when I was younger. It's been fun getting back into it. I hope to do more. Here are some of the things I've done

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Painted faces




I decided to try my hand at some face painting-just last week I joined allnorahsart.ning.com to take Sharon Tomlinson's online painting course. The lessons are great, and I love her teaching style. All the gals in the face painting group are really nice, and its great to talk to people all over the country-the world, even.


I'm learning new techniques-and trying hard to put them to good use. It's been a long, long time since I've done any painting, and this is a lot of fun. And frustrating, too. Here are my first two projects--the purple one isn't quite done-I have to finish her wing (she's an angel) and add some flowers. Her shadowing is a bit too dark-but I just can't play with it anymore. I have more lessons to work on so I think I'll move on to them.

Sunday, February 21, 2010


Last week I had some fun taking a class ironing plastic bags and bubble wrap together to make "fabric". Its makes for some interesting pieces that can be used for all sorts of things. I'm thinking of ways to use it for jewelry.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

art play







I haven't done much with fiber lately-I've been spending time rekindling my desire to paint. I always been able to sketch and draw with pencils and markers, but can never seem to manipulate paint (of any kind) to do what I want it to do. Well, I found a wonderfully inspiring painter on Youtube. Her name is Mystele, and she started a ning network for artists. Through that I took a mini class she was teaching, and she shares many of her techniques on Youtube. I've been practicing and am enjoying the outcome. I'm looking to find my own style in the process. My mini paintings are for my personal use, but do resemble Mystele's work. I give her full credit for getting me used to painting "her way". Thanks Mystele.

Saturday, January 16, 2010











It's been quite a while since I posted anything here, got caught up in the holidays and the cleanup afterward. I haven't done anything fiber related since the Christmas tree went up-no room for my "stuff". In the meantime, I got myself addicted to a "new" form of art called Zentangling, or Zendoodling. Yes, doodling! It seem to be all the rage lately. I decided to doodle all 25 of my ATC's for my trading group this month. It's been fun, and I've found related cool stuff on the web all about doodling. There's even a place out east where you can take a seminar to be certified-for mega bucks. Well, even though its tempting, I figure I've been doodling for at least the past 50 years or so (Yeah, I'm old) Then, this morning while searching for a book I can't find, I came across my graduation yearbook. It made me chuckle. So, I'll share pictures of that and some of the doodles I've done.




Happy Doodles!!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Passage of Time




Happy New Year! Hope all is well with everyone and that this year brings peace, joy and love to all.


I am posting pictures of a piece I made to honor my dad. He's been gone now for 27 years. I still miss his smiling face and lighthearted personality.


I learned the techniques to make this piece in a class taught by Richard Salley at Raeven's Nest Art retreat. I love how it turned out. I feel that it belongs with my brother, and will be giving it to him for a Christmas present. I sure hope he likes it.

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