Finally Organized!

I realized last week that I am finished - finally! - organizing the new studio. It has taken me about four months, due to everything going on around here, but it's done. While I still have to go through magazines, filing, and sort out some small containers, I can use the space and know where to find what I need. With the holidays approaching, it is just in time.

Even though it still looks messy due to the paper and containers that need to be processed, I thought you would like to see the new space. It includes not only my sewing studio, but all of my art and needlework supplies and doll-making materials. To my delight, I finally have a design wall. I was also able to fit in my books. All of this is a real blessing, since I no longer have to go to different levels or rooms to access needed items.

In the process of organization, too, I was able to identify the WIP's I am interested in pursuing, cull patterns and books that no longer work for me, and set up projects so that I am more likely to get them done. It bodes well, and I am looking forward to a creative and productive season. I hope you have one, too.

Until next time, I wish you peace.

Recycling Doll Parts Continued

One of my followers told me, in response to my request for suggestions last time, that it would be helpful to have pictures of the pieces. I was unable to post them until I worked out why my camera and computer would not interface. Since I have been able to work out that last issue, I can now include some shots of what I have inherited. I am only including a couple of examples, since most of the pieces are similar. The exception is the head with the dark markings, which my sister had marked as needing to be fixed, presumably due to a problem with the firing.

This is only a small range of the sizes I have available to me, but they are representative of the types and range of finishes. I did find I have a couple of jars of non-fire glaze in flesh tones, but have no idea how to use them, as I've never worked with them before.

On another note, I was motivated to reorganize my wet studio as a result of doing an inventory of the doll parts, This is how it looks, now, and how I have organized my supplies.

Once again, I'd appreciate any suggestions for using the doll parts and/or methods/products to use on them.

Until next time, I wish you peace and all good things.

Bridges from Past to Future

When I was a small child, my grandmother did a lot of embroidery work. Around the same time, she showed me how to sew on buttons and tried to show me how to darn socks. After she died, I inherited many of her supplies, including embroidery threads, buttons, needles, and darners.

From my other grandmother's supplies, I inherited a sewing basket my aunt had made.

These things bring me great joy, as I use the supplies and remember the women whose hands touched them in the past. I have also had the pleasure of showing my children how to do the things my grandmother taught me, and thus, had the opportunity to talk about her and my experiences with them.

It pleases me, too, to be able to sit quietly during weather like we have been having feeling connected with the past and creating anew for the future. I hope you have the chance to sit and enjoy quiet moments.

Wishing you peace.

Studio Reorganization Question

I have been busy reorganizing the studio since we switched out a bureau. We purchased two bookcases to replace it. Like these:

Now, I have to decide what method to use to store fat quarters. I have been folding 1/2 yard and up fabrics and stacking those.

The shelves are 11 inches deep and 11, 14-1/2 or 16 inches high, so I am reluctant to simply stack the fat quarters. I want to have easy access and need to be able to easily determine the color range/theme. Does anyone have any suggestions? What works best for you?

As far as I can tell, my options include baskets, bins, plastic shoe boxes, CD cases, boxes of various sorts, and trying to fold the fabric to fit. Are you using one or more of these options? Do you have a preference, if you are?

I appreciate any help you can give me.

Purpose

I finally caved in and bought a floor frame for hand quilting larger quilts. What sold me on this one is that it is, apparently, the type that Helen Kelley used. Since I have admired her and her work for many years, it was the push I needed.

I had tried, several times, to get used frames that were more traditional. Each of them presented their own problems, usually that some of the pieces were missing. At any rate, it is my hope that my handwork on the larger pieces will be done more easily.

In preparing to write this entry today, I was looking at Mary Fisher's website. She has been devoted to making a difference in the treatment of people who are HIV-positive. What struck me was a reiteration of something I believe in my core: each of us has a purpose in life. Our task is to live our life the best way we can, accepting each challenge as the possible reason for our being. If, along the way, we discover a mission we can embrace and foster that may give us a sense of our purpose. However, not knowing that purpose does not mean it is not there or that it won't be accomplished within our lifetime.

Years ago, my mother had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. Since she had told some of my siblings she wanted no extraordinary measures taken to keep her alive, she complained to me about "someone" having called the paramedics. I had to break the news to her that she had called for help herself. She, then, wondered aloud why she hadn't simply died from the attack. I suggested to her that she still had work to do and a purpose to fulfill. She lived for about two more years. In that time, she did several things that she had never before attempted, and met a lot of people she had not known. I may never know, in this lifetime, exactly what it was that she still had to accomplish, but I firmly believe that she did have something to do.

All of this, of course, is my way of saying that I believe I have something I am supposed to accomplish in my lifetime. I am still exploring a variety of possibilities and trying to enjoy the experiences that come my way. I hope that, wherever you are in your life journey, you are doing the same.

Until next time, I wish you peace and all good.

Learning New Things

I finished the pages for the Visual Journaling Workshop today. Last week, I showed you week 2. Here are week 3 and week 4.

As I mentioned last week, the pages are also my interpretation of "Highly Prized" for the Sketchbook Challenge. While I am not terribly satisfied with the piece, working on it did give me more experience with watercolor paper, gesso, charcoal pencil, oil pastels, watercolor brush pens, gel pen, ephemera, what Pam Carriker calls "re-usables," and recycling art. It also taught me something about my process and what I do and do not enjoy.

I hope that this exercise will help me to move forward with work in my journals/sketchbooks. It has given me a bit more confidence to attempt new things in that direction. I hope that it might inspire some of you to try new things.

Until next time, may you experience peace and all good.