Tuesday after

First of all, let me apologize for my non-posting. I am still having some problems with my computer and am too stubborn to use anyone elses. But I am happy to post when I can.






I have been busy finishing up the details in my office. And I think, should I ever again have a space that is strictly office, it will look amazing. I am enjoying finishing project after project. What I should have guessed what that finishing one project leads to finding others that I can't wait to start. Thank goodness for the giant post-it I have up in the kitchen.





Monday was a snow day for the kids. We got about 6 inches of the stuff here at the house. It was very beautiful. One of the pluses to living up in the hills. I am still definitely in town, but I feel a little bit like we are in the country.

Anyway, I have been busy and productive (which if you know me, can be two very different things). A part of me feels as though I have lost some focus. But the days are getting longer, my house is very clean, so things can only go forward.
K

I'm back, I think

I would love to think that my computer is working correctly again. It seems to be. I haven't been the one using it today, so I can't be entirely sure.

Anyway... I spent today finishing up a few projects that have been sitting waiting for me. I mended(by patching) a pair of pants for Sissy, I finished the messanger bag I made. This was a big achievment, because I didn't use a pattern, I just kindof winged it. It turned our really cute, and I love it.

I will be finishing a little mailbox that I got from my mom in the next day or so. ANd I have another pillow that needs finishing. I am having a breakthrough of sorts. I realised that I can't have all of these partially finished projects laying around the house. They take up space and lead to dissarray. But they hold me back as well. On some level, things that are not completed take up mental space and are a tether to the past. Enough of that. I will be spending time in the next couple of weeks determining what needs to be finished and doing just that.I have been spending quite a bit of time thinking about what kinds of things represent me. A bit of a strange way to put it. But when I see certain images I think of certain people. And I am working on defining my voice and using those types of images to define my voice. I don't know how that is coming along. Sometimes I think that the more I think of defining my voice, the further I get from it.

I am going to call this good for tonight. I could go on and on but I will save it for later.
K




I

I really didn't forget about all this

I really, truly didn't. My laptop is still acting up. I can't get it to do much of anything. So I am finding myself at this very frustrating crossroads. I really am getting tired of these somewhat ridicoulous set backs.

Let me just brief you quickly on what I have been making. I made darling tacks. I thought that it was a very good idea to do some little detail things around the office area. So I made tacks by gluing buttons onto regular tacks. Now they match the office and look finished. I quilted a pillow. But I am not all that happy with it. It was my first attempt at quilting so... I think all things considered I did okay.

I have been reading and finding other things to do to keep busy. As always, as soon as I can I will post photos.

K

Still having trouble

Man, oh man, My computer is still down. And we are heading for a three day weekend. This is not looking good. In fact, there are many many ways this is a bad thing. But I promise, I will get something worked out and worked out soon.
K

Technical Difficulties

Just a very quick update. My computer crashed (blue screen and the whole thing), and I have been swiping the computer from the kids as I can. As it is I am posting this before they are all up. My computer should be working again tonight. I have lots of fun photos to post, but very little else has been going on.
I will get back on track in the next couple of days! I promise!
K

Weekend goings on

I have been busy the last couple of days. I mentioned that I found my canvases. Well, I have put them to good use. Finished two paintings. I will be hanging the cherry one in the kitchen, and I don't know what I will be doing with the other. But I am very happy with both of them. The roses one felt like a dramatic departure from my "style". And both of them strike me as very graphic.

I made a darling doorhanger for the girls. I was watching football (UGH!!!!) and like to have something to do when the game starts to stress me out (I take my football very seriously). I have started lifting from my old magazines. I would call it scraplifting, but I am not making just scrapbook pages, so... I should really call it idea left. WHatever, I am finding inspriatio and using it as much as I can. This doorhanger is from an old creatingkeepsakes mag. I love how it turned out.

Yesterday I made yummy chocolate covered pretzels. Very simple, although really messy! But the girls loved them! Just look at how much Stinky likes them! Another thing we are doing this year is being very careful what we eat. I read labels like crazy. I discovered that the packets of oatmeal that the girls love for breakfast are packed with chemicals. So we will be making our own from now on. Sissy is still trying to find the right flavor combination.

Tomorrow we are having a girls day. They boys will be playing football with a bunch of brothers friends (a belated birthday get-together), so the girls and I are going to see a movie at the dollar theater. We may change our minds though, because the weather is supposed to be very nice. I would not say no to getting out and exploring.

I got to take a shower!!!!!!

When last I posted I had no water. My sewer line had backed up into the garage and the plumber could find the release valve thing that would give them easy access to the line. Well, they came back this morning, and it took the poor man nearly an hour to find out that the line was covered by cement. He then spent the morning and afternoon digging and fixing my sewer. Hooray for the roto rooter man! He is a small ungsong hero. And if you don't believe me, go without water for a day!

While he was working (and while it was primarily one guy, at one point there were three trucks in my driveway. What the neighbors must have thought!) I ironed fabric and started a message bag. This is something that I have wanted to try to work out all on my own for some time now. I have all the peices cut out and some of it sewn together. Of course I will post a pic when it is done. As of right now, I think it is coming together very well!

I also started a painting that may turn into a series of three for my kitchen, maybe my office. I found some old canvases that my mom gave me. Now, I don't claim to be a painter. I certainly don't claim to do any sort of figure work. But there is something rewarding about painting. Again, I will give you pics when I have them.

I think tomorrow will be a day dedicated to cleaning and organizing. I told a friend that I was feeling lost in my chaos. That is not a normal feeling for me.

K

It sure was...

A wacky Wednesday. We have a leak somewhere in the plumbing around the washing machine that is leaking all over the garage. We are currently waiting for a plumber.

I couldn't use the washer, so I made the above pretties instead. They are just simple and fun felt pencil toppers. I expect that I will be expanding on that concept in the near future. I already have some ideas floating around in my head.

We went to the library, of course. I found a book on composting. And vegitarian cookbook. The pic of Stinky is of what she does when we go to the library. She has to hold the door and she has to push the button on the elevator. Although today she did go down the stairs. She can't help it. These are her "things" and we just try to run with it.

I did get my 52 projects book and am looking through it and picking out some good ones. I think that I will need a couple of days to catch up and get my ducks in a row, before I leap into even more things I need to keep track of. And if I don't post for a couple of days that is why. I want to keep up on thi silly little blog though. It helps clear my mind. That cold from a week ago is still playing havoc on me and I am exhausted. So I feel cluttered.

Anyway, the plumber is here.

K

Busy Day

I had such a busy day that I don't know how much I will post now and how much I will post at a later date. The kids went back to school, I went around town finding new places, Sissy had her first play rehersal, and I got a bunch of busy work done. That pic is of sissy after rehersal. I wish I could tell you how excited she is for this musical.

Part of my struggle the last couple of days has been feeling like I bit off more than I can chew with a new project. I decided to do a 365 project. That means I do some specific thing at least once a day for a full year. I had thought that I would go and find objects discarded by people around town. I wrote up a great started bit and was (and, to be fair, still am) very gung-ho about it. What I discovered was, it may not be reasonable for me to get out of the house every single day. So I thought, okay, I just need to find one object for every day, and if I miss days (like I did due to that illness last week) I can catch up. But finding objects was the tough part. I rethought the project. And in rethinking it I redefined it. Now, I am looking for objects that can be either picked up that may or may not have been discarded, or objects I can photograph, that have struck me in some way. My biggest stipulation to this is that I was in some way touched, or inpired by that object. I hope that loosening up my rules will keep the project going.

So I left the house after I dropped off the kids. I went shopping, found a great yarn shop, and a cooking school. How cool is that. But the most amazing thing was the STREET MANDALA that I found accidently. Just out driving. Someone put a lot of time and energy into bringing a bit of peace and harmony to their neighborhood. I love it.

I bought yarn, and three tiny little pots. I finished a cuff ( and it was quilted, I have never done that before), and started another one. I organized a bunch and started a scrap page. I realized that it is okay to start a page if the idea is there and finish it when the idea is finished. I can not be the only person in the world who missed creative oppurtunities because of waiting for the idea to become finished in my mind. Now I jump on those ideas and enjoy the process.

More tomorrow

K

I think it might be snowing again!

I just peeked out the livingroom window and it looks like snow. This concerns me, as the kids are supposed to go back to school tomorrow. School tends to get canceled at two flakes. I am so trying to find my zen place right now.

Today was Boo's birthday. 14!!!! We went out to dinner, but that was about it. He plans on going paintballing this coming weekend. I think the fact that school is starting tomorrow is taking the fun out it.

I spent today scrapbooking and sewing. I am fiddling with quilting. I have tons of scraps and the same number of ideas. I will see where this path takes me. I did make a darling cuff. And nearly finished it. And then I pulled a totally stupid thing. I put the snaps on wrong. Now it won't close. Easily fixable, and on the list of things to do tomorrow.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Which is really just a hyped up way to say, not much happened today. I only got about three hours of sleep last night. That made functioning a challenge. I cleaned, watched more football, and finished the collection of valentines cards I am making for the girls. My dad and step-mom stopped by. It was very good to see them.

But yet again my laptop is being taken over by kids, so I will post and run. I will be back to a normal scheduale this next week as the kids are going back to school.

K

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

It is snowing! The girls are out playing in the dark in to snow right now. It isn't really sticking, so they are really having a slush ball fight. But this may be the only time this winter that they get to play in snow. At least it is snowing before they head back to school. The two years we have been here school has been closed at the first hint of snow.

I made cards again today. That and watched playoff football (Go Seahawks!!!). I made several and started with the massive project of making the cards for the girls classes. That means about 60 cards. I try to keep the design as simple and easy to repeat as possible. But I like them to be fun and tactile as well. This year I am making felt a key feature (duh!). So far the result is really cute.

I posted the tote again. Still no bites. But I am still feeling very good about the process. I think that it will just take a purchase or two and I will be on my way.

I think that is all today.

Pics!!!

These are the cards I made today, just like I promised!
K

I am still sick!!

I think that says it all. I have been drifting in and out of a waking conciousness all day. Little bit is sick on the couch, and that is kinda pathetic. I have three days to get us all well before school starts again.

I did spend the day making cards. I hadn't replenished my stock for at least one year. I made some that I am actually very pleased with. The bird motif is big with me right now. And I seem to recall spending a summer in Baker sketching birds and horses. But I don't think that any of those turned out so cute.

I did make another cuff last night. It was based on a shirt I had seen out shopping yesterday. I am trying to get the spring/summer stuff really ready to go. I keep posting, but haven't gotten any bites yet. However it is definatly something that I know will take off in time. I am sure these are ready to sell.

I will post pics as soon as I can

K

Jan 3rd

I can't think of a clever title for todays entry. I and I need to post and run. Boo is having a friend stay over and they will comondere my computer.

I would like to show off what I made today. (Keeping in mind that I am still pretty sick and have been in a fog all day) I am very proud of this because I hand sketched everything. Sketching is something that I am very nervous about. I have been forcing myself to sketch 10 to 15 minutes every day. Anyway, this bangle/cuff/whatever is the result of my work this morning. I love it and think it might be my favorite so far.

K

So when my head explodes....

Only two of us in this house are not sick. I am not one of them. One of the well ones is very bouncy. It has been a long day.



On the plus side, we did go to the library. I know I have said it before, Wednesday is library day. I try to stick to it no matter what, because it is a break every week. I love the public library here. The childrens section is huge and very welcoming. Because it is in a seperate part of the library (away from where the stodgy grownups are) the kids can be kids. The staff is starting to know that we come in every Wednesday and they aer super friendly. Anyway, we went today and I just sat on the floor with the girls playing with a big puzzle. I was pretty out of it.



I even worried if I would be able to work on my project today. Fortunalty, the project kind of worked on itself. (Sorry for the vagueness here, but like I said yesterday, I want to be sure this works the way I want).



So the point to the above is... on the way home from a mentally foggy trip to the library the following pictures are of what I saw on the road. The first is of a jacket or shirt of some sort that was just draped over a utility post thing. The second is a work glove lying in the middle of the road. Why does this seem important? Because 1) they were a block away from each other and 2) I find discarded articles of clothing odd. I assume the shirt was left by a new years reveler probably around 2 am on the first of January. The glove threw me for a loop. I don't tend to set things aside and forget them, and I don't tend to drop things. So this is a "thing" that catches my attention.



K

p.s. I ordered my own copy of 52 projects. I can't wait until I get it

A whole new year!

I hate hate hate spiders, but this web on my deck was just amazing!

And actually that statement amuses me just a little bit because I don't see time as linear. And I believe that a hard and fast time to declare a new year is a little silly. But since all my calenders have been replaced (really just the one) and my organizer is fresh and new...

I took down the tree and put all the Christmas stuff away. I picked up the new copy of a favorite magazine of mine and it got me ready for Valentines day. I am kind of excited about that. I have some great ideas bouncing around in my head. I am also pushing a new line (series, as I like to call them) of bracelets. I have the "heart on my sleeve" ones. I also have one that doesn't have a name just yet. Here is pic. Let me know if you have any ideas for a name for this series.




I also started a new project. I will be forcing myself to get out of the house and create, at least for a while everyday. Trust me, this is a big thing for me. I won't give you anymore details then that at this point, because I am a bit nervous that this won't work out the way I want. I would like to give it more time.



And for the family that reads this:We all have colds! We woke up with them. Happy new year!

K