Studio Friday - Playtime!

This week for Studio Friday we were to have fun...doodle....make a mess...free flow....with our drawing implement in our mouths? Geez, I don't know about this one. I thought this was supposed to be fun, not fraught with anguish. Where do I begin?

1. My doodles on a good day are linear, overly controlled and uptight.
2. An inventory of my art supplies is pathetic...paint pens are dried up....tossed my wee watercolors pallet in a clutter clearing frenzy....cannot find a paint brush that isn't more suitable for painting woodwork...oh and chalk pastels in the mouth, blehhhh!
3. Cool, found a brand new tin of Caran D'Ache colored pencils stashed away. Pretty colors, yipeeee!
4. Flat on the table or hanging on the wall? Either way I couldn't put enough pressure to get a good line. And I have a huge psychological hang up about pencils with teeth marks in them...super ick.
5. I was just about to resort to using the ugly coral lipstick that was a free gift with purchase when I found a few markers that weren't past their prime.

Consider me stretched! And fully aware of how pitiful my selection of art supplies truly is, sigh.

Studio Friday- Sparkle/Shine or Shimmer

This week's topic for Studio Friday asked us for things in our space that Sparkle/Shine or Shimmer. I had a wee bit of difficulty with this since I work mostly in feltable wool yarns and cotton textiles. Not really a glitter girl in my knitting and quilting. Odd though, since I am quite the sparkley girl...sparkley earrings, sparkley shoes, sparkley barrettes, oh I could go on.

My glass beads have a nice bit of sparkle. And my brand new Addi Turbos are quite shiny. Sadly, the photo does not do their shininess justice (but the future entrelac bag...yummy. )

And just as I was dispairing my lack of dramatic bling in my studio, these little darlings caught my eye. Walking home from work, I passed a store front that always catches my attention for their fab, uber-curant eyewear. There hanging in the window were these sunglasses. A bit excessive, yes, but I just love them! Hhhmmm, when the income tax return comes, if they are still there they are mine.

My Work Hands- Studio Friday

Idle hands are the devil's playthings. Thank heavens we are all so busy!

Today for Studio Friday we are being asked about our work hands. I have always marveled at those women who create art and who craft and still manage to be well manicured. Once I got sucked into the acrylic nail tip craze. They lasted about two weeks. Two weeks that I couldn't hold a sewing needle. Two weeks that my nails poked through my knitting. Bring on the dish of acetone cause those nails have got to go! I have another problem with manicured nails...color. All that color flashing around at the tips of my fingers is sooooo distracting; I am fascinated by it.

I have a lovely scar on the inside of my left-hand ring finger. About six years ago I had a very misguided "I am woman. Hear me roar," moment. I attempted to move a medium sized, but suprisingly heavy, entertainment center from the fourth to third floor. The need to have it done now defeated every bit of patience and knowledge of physics that I possessed. At the bottom of the very steep and narrow staircase I lost control...momentum and gravity had taken over...and pinned my finger to the wall with a corner of the enterainment center. The ER doc said it was just shy of the bone. They could stitch me up, but weren't sure that I would be able to use the finger again and most cetainly would never be able to totally straighten it. Haha, silly doctors, everything works just fine. It just looks icky, bleh.

Now I have "I am woman. Watch me hire a handyman," moments.

Golden Slumbers?

Back to working on Claudia's blankie. The good news is that there is every possibility that it will be finished before Claudia hits pre-school. This may be a record for me. Artemis is enjoying having a quilt top to lounge on. When I try to move her, she thumps her tail, and bears her fang (yup, singular, she broke one off in a plastic frenzy induced by a stinky pair of brand new platform flip-flops.)

I do have a design dilemma. Most of my quilts have lyrics on them...patriotic songs or lullabys, etc. I have reached the border that would normally hold these, but...all of the other quilting on this piece is straight lines, no curves...straight lines are a breeze and super quick, lyrics take a long time.

Oy! However I do know what I will use if I go with lyrics...

Golden slumbers fill your eyes

Smiles awake you when you rise

Sleep pretty darling do not cry

And I will sing a lullaby

Studio Fridays

The view from my studio windows are largely old townhouses with skyscrapers in the distance. The trees are budding and spring is finally coming to Philadelphia! One of my favorite things to see out my windows is the Peco Building, which has a lit banner that all night has messages wrapping the building. I get to see what groups and special events are happening in town and between messages...the time!

I also have a tiny window by the ceiling. Hanging right outside are silverware windchimes my darling friend Bill made me for my fortieth birthday.

And as much as I love living in the city, I crave color most. This is the fantasy view from my studio window...sigh.

The Entrelac Felted Bag

My bag is finished and I love it! Knitting this was lots of fun, watching the diamonds evolve and the colors change. This is one of the best patterns for Noro Kuryeon- not only do the diamonds change color without a ton of lose ends, but felted the colors mellow and WOW! I always swear that I will take photos before they hit the washing machine and forget. This bag is no exception. I am nothing if not consistent.