NO SOPA

Granny Squares!

I have all sorts of fantasies about using my many partial skeins of stash yarn to make one huge wild multi-colored granny square afghan. I've made a few, they are fun, but I haven't really gotten into it yet (can you say TOO MANY QUEUED PROJECTS? I knew you could...). My friend (and enabler) Darla shared a link on her Facebook page which got me all excited about it again.

Apparently at All Free Crochet they are having a giveaway for what looks like a completely fun and exciting book on Granny Squares, appropriately called Granny Square Love. Quick, go to that link to enter, the last day is October 5.

 Even if I don't win it, it's going on my wishlist. Fun!

C.A. Therien

I am so excited! I go to take a glance at the Art Daily Blog, and what do I find? My friend Cat (C.A. Therien) is a featured artist. Go read her interview, it's lovely - then go look at her amazing art.

I met Cat at Polymer Clay Central's discussion forums at Delphi, and then in real life after I moved to Chicago. She's in Peoria, and I used to get down there for Clay Days now and then. It's always so good to get together and make art with other artists. Cat is an amazing person, with an amazing family. I've had the luck to meet her husband and several of her kids, and spend quite a bit of time with her eldest daughter who is just downright fabulous.

Just another example of the light, life and talent in the polymer clay community!

Back in the saddle again!!

...out where a friend is a friend... and my friends in the art community are certainly that, in spades. I love you all, and I'm constantly challenged and delighted by your creativity and talent.One of my favorite things to do is prowl around Artfire and look things up. In the past, before all the big changes, I enjoyed making collections. All those are gone now, sadly, but I have a chance to do many more. There's certainly enough to choose from. Today my eyes lit on something and inspired me to create a new collection... Gorgeous Goddesses.

I am in the middle of redoing my studio so that I can get back to more regular creating. Look for some very new and different items in my shop! Right now I have one commission to finish and a show to plan for in December, plus some items to create for the Interfilk Auction at the Ohio Valley Filk Festival. Plus I just got my son started at all-day first grade! Quite a change from half day kindergarten, but he's loving it. The fact that standing just outside our back gate I can watch him walk to and from the school door helps a lot.

Look for more Sunday Sensations coming up on (hopefully) a more regular basis, and I have some other ideas to hopefully thrill you with. *grin* I hope it's a lovely weekend where you are!

Gorgeous Goddesses

   Curated By: gundowerks

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Moving ahead

I think i might have decided what i want to do when i grow up (at 45 it's got to be coming sometime, right?). As i get my artistic and domestic life back in order again i want to start focusing my efforts toward more fiber arts, particularly clothing, bags and other wearable art. I want to continue working with yarn and polymer clay, maybe get back to silk, possibly wool and felting.

If so, you will be seeing more in this blog. We shall see.

Getting ready for some changes

So far for me 2011 is FIRED - there's been a lot of turmoil and negative stuff going down. I haven't had a chance to be very creative, and one big reason is that my studio is a junk room. I am trying to get into a position where I can start clearing it out and using it again. My positive affirmation today says "I am in the process of making positive changes in all areas of my life", and that's exactly what I'm doing.

I want to give a shout out to my bestie, Darla. She's agreed to be a beta tester, checking out my ideas and new items, and giving prototypes a look over. I've needed a critical eye, someone who has a good artistic sense. Thank you, Darla, I have yet to really put you to work, but you just wait!

I am thinking about a bit of change in direction with my art. My thought is to go more toward the spiritual side. I've been doing things of that nature for a while, although not many of the items are up for sale yet. Keep an eye out, there will be more things on the way in the near (I hope) future.

Any thoughts you have would be appreciated - I love input from my friends & fellow artists.

Sunday Sensations!

I have to admit I'm a pretty bad housekeeper. I try, but it gets overwhelming. Mopping is hard for my physically, and I get annoyed by even trying. A few months ago I got a Swiffer Wet Jet and I was really excited about it. The only thing I didn't like was that sometimes things were so messy that I'd go through two or three of the disposable pads trying to get the floors cleaned. I hated that. I'm by no means the world's greenest person, but I try to reduce, reuse and recycle when I can. Luckily there was my friend at MicroMops to the rescue!

That store is amazing. There is everything there... many things that I will buy when I can, because they are all designed to help the desire to be green. I bought a set of four reusable Swiffer pads. They pick up -everything-, and I don't care how gross they get, toss 'em in with a load of towels and they're ready for more duty. I love them!

Right now I'm drooling over the wool dryer balls. I use a set of plastic (rubber? something) nubby balls right now. I love the way things turn out, I love that I can use them with towels (since you shouldn't use fabric softener on them) and I LOVE that I don't have to buy fabric softeners or sheets. However, I don't like the sound they make thumping around. The wool balls aren't supposed to be nearly that noisy, so I can't wait to get some of them.

MicroMops has so many things it's not funny... that shop is amazing to browse. Add to it the fact that Amy is wonderful, sweet and amazing and you've got the best combo - good products, good prices, and fantastic customer service. I was very pleased with my experience shopping there, and I will be a repeat customer.

So, get to work reducing, reusing and recycling. MicroMops is one way to help you get there.