in the wee hours

I have involved myself in a lot of daily art challenges, some organized, and sometimes it has just been something that I have done to inspire myself, to fire myself up for all the creative things that I will gleefully tackle in my day. There's usually only one problem-- sometimes I get so wrapped up in the daily piece that I never get going with the things I -need- to accomplish, and then I find myself making excuses, like-- "but I did make art. the printing can wait until tomorrow"

So I have decided to look at this in a different way. 

Instead of warming up with it, I am winding down with it. A way to shut down my brain at the end of the day, to wander away from some of the more static parts of what I do in my daily work. It's my 'color outside the lines' time. 

Evening Stitch Meditation, 11/18/2014

 For as long as I can remember, I have kept an art journal beside my bed. I often find myself awake at 3am after a strange-really-need-to-remember-that dream. I don't mind waking up for those and scribbling things down. Whatever I was working on before I went to bed can often be found in my dreams that night. I would rather take a bit of random stitching into dreams than a paper jam or a low ink warning!

Evening Stitch Meditation, 11/19/14 detail

 Things have gotten really busy around here. It has been so wonderful. I've made new connections, collaborating on some new projects with other artists. Scary wonderful. I've wanted to make my art my career, to support myself with what I do, and I'm just on the edge of being able to do that, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't just a wee bit terrified. What happens if can't keep creating? Should I be more worried about retirement and supporting myself without this huge retirement fund and the security it brings? Well, I've always flown by the seat of my pants, and have always tried to live in the moment- this moment- right now. Thinking too far ahead only means missing out on what is happening right now. I put it up to the Universe, and this is the path that I'm being set upon, and I believe in the Universe. Still scared shitless sometimes though.

Tidbits!

I'm paring back my Tidbit Collection. There just isn't enough time to do everything without taking away from the enjoyment of it all. So for now? The embellishments will be going into winter hibernation. I imagine I'll still do special orders as they're requested, and there are still clubs and grab bags being finished up, but it's time to reel myself in and work with needle and thread for awhile instead of hook and fiber.

Time to go do just that.

hoopin

New freeform art hoops that I just put up in my Etsy Shop, fuzzystitches. Am finding that these little bits of art are quick to stitch, and incredibly addicting. I also think others are doing the same as I rarely find the hoops in the thrift shops anymore!

some new things

Newest of the Whiskerkins Collection, "Hip Hop & Bob"

Rolled, recycled fabric scraps, inspiration coming from the things that grow on the side of a tree.

Rust dyed muslin sack cloth, watercolor wash, hand stitching

stitches & cheesecloth

As I have  continued to sort my new creative space, finding more boxes of this, that, and so many other things, I ran across a small stash of cheesecloth that I had forgotten I had. Why exactly I had it, I cannot recall. I believe it was picked up on one of my thrift shop adventures- one of those "take it home, you will find a use for it one day" kind of purchases.

I picked it up, pushed the threads around a few times with a tentative finger's tip, and went...hmmmm....

...and here is where it went from that bit of contemplation...

Oh, the visions I have for this piece. I will be working on it for awhile this afternoon and see how the web evolves.  Yesterday also found me working on another of the free from cross stitched pieces.

A scrap of pink jobelan stitched with a variegated hand dyed silk thread. This one is a little bigger than the others I have done, but I am really in love with this particular pattern.  Not to mention, stitching with silk again was just a positively yummy experience. 

from the dye pot

I wrapped up old nails and old safety pins with the cotton cloth, stuck it in my dye pot with vinegar for 24 hours and this was what I found when I took the pieces out this morning. I am tickled! 

I find it curious how something with the strength of metal can produce such softness.

Surprised by the blue, but then the nails were not rusted and this was the color that vinegar pulled from the metal.  It leaves me excited to see what other kinds of old nails and wire and metal bits might do. 

I am really quite pleased with the softness, the liquid feel of these.  They fall into what I have been contemplating lately, the movement of water, the unpredictability of that movement. Ever changing. 

And here is a bit of what I am creating this morning as my stitching warm up.

I need to make a trip to today to pick up the threads I am missing to start on Flakey Friends Tangled.

And that is the plan for this afternoon!