A Little Imagination and a Pile of Junk

art in miniature

Isn't that the happiest super hero you've ever seen?? I signed Soren and Maisey up for Erin and Blair's Kids ATC Swap, so this week for school we've been incorporating a bit more art than usual which gives us all something to look forward to. Each day I'm focusing on a new art medium. So far we've tried watercolors and acrylics and talked about the properties of both. Tomorrow I think we'll sample watercolor pencils and crayons for something new. Watercolors aren't something I reach for on a regular basis, although I love my opaque ones, so it was nice to be reacquainted. I had forgotten how great they are.

 

I'm working on my own little something that involves miniature works of art. It came to me yesterday how I could use up some of that Mexican oilcloth I've been hoarding. For now I'll just say: patchwork.

And it gave me an excuse to order some of Anna Maria's new oilcloth fabric. And its already shipped! Tomorrow I'll start stalking the mailman.

hanging around

If you're looking for me, I'll be here.

Not napping. Well, not much anyway. But working with string and hooks, dreaming wide awake, listening to This American Life, and drowning in color. The kids love that they can find me in one place and are always within a few feet, mesmerized by the stories, using my stuff, and just doing their own thing.

 

Poor little peep.  And poor Red Teddy with his head swinging low as a sweet chariot. I don't feel sorry for Superman, though. He looks like he's got an idea to get out of this fix in a jiffy. Tip for sewing moms: if your little boys can be trusted with a cushion full of straight pins, it just might provide those hours of enjoyment you were looking for to get a little work done. I'm just saying.

 

The blanket is coming along nicely. Slow and steady, but just right.

 

But what I'm most excited about is garlands, garlands, garlands...

 

Bows and swags and dangly things. I wake up in the night dreaming of garlands. Be expecting to see these and a few friends in the shop, hopefully sooner than later. But for now: later! Have a great weekend. I know I will!

more stripes than I know what to do with

 

As bitter as I am that we never get a real Winter here, I have to admit that the early Spring-like weather has its advantages. I've been spending lots of time doing  this and watching the kids play and not much else.

 

It is just cool enough when we sit outside in the late afternoons to make crocheting my first blanket very enjoyable, especially as it gets long enough to cover my bare legs. Whether I like it or not, the heat is setting in fast so it is a good thing this pattern is a quick one. I can't wait to see it spread out on my couch. Not to even mention the snuggling that will go on under its colorful rays.

 

And for the sheer fun of it, I had to make another stripey tote bag. Eager to share the love--and I do love this pattern!--I quickly handed this one over to a good friend needing a daily rush of color therapy. And who couldn't use some? But you know what that means: After my blanket, I guess I'll just have to get started on another tote for me!

 

Maisey let me raid her bead box to add even more jingly color. Could it be more perfect? Maybe it's the crochet, maybe it is the yoga I've started recently, but everything seems so peaceful and right. Even while the house needs dusting and my to-do list is growing, I'm perfectly content to sit still, fingering my yarn, listening to the kids describe their perfect day, and dreaming about doing the same thing again tomorrow.

best laid plans

I had a short lived burst of creative energy today and it was mostly frustrated. It just happen to be at the same time Maisey was looking for something to do which means someone to entertain her and I got to be it. She followed me around until I forgot what I was doing, begged me to play with her or let her help me until I felt like I wanted to scream, then made herself at home right next to me at my small desk until all of the creative energy was squeezed out and pure frustration set in. I decided to forget any dreams I had of productivity and just get out of the house. And I'm so glad I did. How could she know that was the first time all week I'd actually felt inspired to create? Is it her fault she needed her momma at the same time that my to-do list was calling my name, taunting me? I just keep reminding myself what a privilege it is to spend my days with my children. And they want to be with me! What did I do to be so blessed? I have the rest of my life to spend time alone, but only a few precious years with them. I know I'll never look back on the day when I wished I would have spent more time doing...well, anything...than just being with my children. It is good to be shaken out of your routine and reminded of what is important. Before it slips away.

 

 

i understand if you don't ever want to come back

If you're on Facebook, then you know about the memes that go around just like in the blogging world. Right now, it seems like everyone I know is posting 25 Random Things About Me and since a guilty conscience and nothing to do one night compelled me to spend about 3 hours coming up with these 25 highly fascinating tidbits, I thought I might as well post them here too. So you can point and laugh at me like everyone else. And once you've read them, I will totally understand if you don't want to associate with me again. If I had a choice in the matter, I'd probably chose the same thing. Unfortunately, though, I'm stuck with me. But just in case you're on the fence about it, I'm throwing in a couple of random pretty pictures at the end in hopes of luring you back. 

25 Random Things About Me

1. I have one paranoid, irrational, completely embarrassing and ridiculous fear that controls my life daily. And it’s not just me—hey, Latane!
2. I freak out if I have more than 1 or 2 things that I have to do in a week.
3. I wasted 4 years of my life learning French to live in the Rio GrandeValley and struggle with Spanish.
4. I had a miscarriage last September and don’t ever want to go through that again.
5. I’ve had my artwork on the cover of 3 magazines and inside numerous others.
6. 25 is a really big number to me.
7. I could live contentedly for months with my art and my books and never speak to another soul—as long as I have Internet access, of course.
8. Two things that I’m most proud of having accomplished: graduating college and giving birth (twice!)
9. Why can’t this be 9 really fascinating things about me?
10. I was initially attracted to my husband because he reminded me of the lead singer of the Human League. (I was 16 at the time…but I still stand by it.)
11. When I spend time with other couples or read about others’ marriages, I am fall-on-my-face grateful for the wonderful husband I have and am in awe at our really great relationship.
12. I’d be thrilled to live in rural Mexico if I could live near my bff and have a/c.
13. I pray regularly that I won’t have to live here in the Rio GrandeValley for the rest of my life. I want to live somewhere with 4 seasons. Sooner than later.
14. I have a headache almost every day.
15. Are we to 25 yet? I’m just not that interesting….
16. I can’t sit still without doing something with my hands (notetaking, doodling, knitting, etc.)
17. If I could get my way, I’d take a 2 hour nap daily. And then stay up to 1 or 2 a.m.
18. With a very few exceptions, I hate talking on the phone. I’d rather miss out on something really great or lose contact with someone I truly care about than have to call them on the phone. Pathetic, I know.
19. I like to drink a glass of wine while I cook. And really probably cook much better this way.
20. I’m a crappy friend. I can keep a secret, but that’s about it. I will not return your phone calls, or come to your get together, but please don’t take it personally, because it has no bearing on how much I really love you!
21. I can’t stand the sound of the TV in the background. Watching TV makes me feel like a lazy bum (but taking a 2 hr nap evidently doesn’t) and I can’t stand to do it, unless it is movies with my sweetheart after the kids have gone to bed.
22. Reading 25 random things about myself makes me depressed and want to go to bed.
23. I’m sitting here trying to think of positive things about being me…and I just can’t….
24. I’ve developed a sense of humor over the years, at least that’s what my husband tells me.
25. It has just been in the past year or so that I’ve become comfortable actually calling myself an artist.

   

 

 

 

meandering stripes and dancing flowers

 

I've been crocheting up a storm lately. I can't seem to get enough, even though my wrists are starting to rebel on me. Mom, will you sit outside with us for 3 hours instead of cooking dinner while we ride scooters in the front? Why, of course, you adorable children! How about we stay up late again watching 100 episodes of 24? Great, honey, whatever sounds good to you sounds fun to me! Hey, lets go...do...see.... Hmm, can I bring my crochet? Then sure, lets go!

 

You may recognize this striped bag from Lucy at Attic24. I LOVE her blog and have been visiting daily. Some might even say obsessively, but not me. In fact, she has inspired quite a flurry of flower making over here. And I'm just getting started.

 

 

 

Remember my fringy flowers? I loved Kim' s comment about the flowers needing their tails to dance--that is exactly what I thought, so the tails stayed on. Unfortunately, now they're looking a bit droopy. I may need to weigh down the strings with some beads to tilt their shining faces back up again.

I'm going to confess that one of the reasons I've been able to finish so many knit and crochet projects lately is...well, cheap yarn. I've never been a yarn snob. I can't afford it and we don't have a decent yarn source within 200 miles. But, on the other hand, the feel and sound of cheap acrylic yarn squeaking around my crochet hook makes my skin crawl like the thought of biting into aluminum foil or scratching nails on a chalkboard. The yarn I bought for the garland was perfect colorwise, which is why I chose it, and it served my purposes since it wouldn't be washed and rarely handled, but I'll never buy it again. Too creepy. I'm already working on striped tote bag number 2 with another less expensive brand and it's turning out nicely. For me choosing a yarn is all about color & texture--which is why I can't buy yarn online. However, I almost always find that the yarns that feel the best to me are made out of natural fibers and usually on the more expensive side. Any tips on less expensive yarns that have worked for you?

And for more inspiration, check out these excellent blogs:

• Attic24
• Alessandra Hayden
• resurrection fern
• creative yarn
• the fabled needle
• Lindamade

• a friend to knit with