Sweet Girl

I have been carving away....made a new gal. Here she is.

Views on the deck

Sitting in the sun on the back deck today.

I got a new sketchbook the other day. This one is for a friend and I to mail back and forth, sketch, paint, collage, anything, and fill up over the next year.

Got it started so I can throw it in with her birthday package.

Carving up stamps...

Last night, I carved up another stamp. I have plans for her.

She may end up in my postcards for Liberate Your Art.

She may pop up on some fabric for an art quilt. I decided to try to get in a ( sort of) juried show here in Olympia. It's to raise money for the Washington Center of the Arts. I have a deadline of August 3rd, and can submit up to 3 pieces of 12x12 art.

A deadline- it's just what I needed.

And, more stamps coming, I think. I have some ideas brewing.

The Felting Workshop

The whole reason for going to Durango, CO was to attend a felting workshop with Lisa Klakulak...it was 4 days of felting wonder!

I had the best time and learned so much.

We experimented with colors and design,

and rolled, rolled,

and rolled some more.

Here were my doors and windows cut from the color gradation I did with red and purple. I liked them so much. After felting the windows got a wee bit smaller- I am going to stitch around there for more definition and pop.

The little purple and red thing here was one one of doing vessels--this actually has more felting to go. We also learned to felt vessels with a resist, but it has quite a lot more to go- so we'll leave that out for now.

Below, is my mailbox.  Okay, I am not loving this. Maybe some stitching will help it...but I'm not worried about it.  I liked the process and learning how I can take design in felt to another level.  This just didn't happen to be a fave.  

Oh....as it was my birthday afterall, I had to treat myself to a pair of Lisa's beautiful earrings! Happy Birthday me! I love these big hoops! Her jewelry is amazing!

Lisa Klakulak's earrings

This is blurry, but I think you get a better idea of my doors and windows...

This isn't felting at all.....this is one more reason to go back...deep fried ice cream at Francisco's Mexican Restaurant!! As good as I remember from my college days there!

Thanks everyone for stopping by. If you missed it, the last two posts are from the trip too. I am still getting all settled and back to work. I need to come and visit all my blog friends-- I promise I will this week! See you soon.

xo

More from the trip...

There is just so much to post. I don't know where to begin....how about Salt Lake City, UT...and some food. We found a great tapas restaurant while wandering around downtown. Here's a selection of what we had...

Smoked pheasant & taleggio bruschetta with tapenade

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Tart Cherry Chutney.

Yum.

Tarragon Halibut Cakes with Meyer Lemon Jus & Saffron Aoili

(my favorite)

And, here I am at the Family History Library near the Temple. In case you didn't know, the Mormons keep records and family history on most Americans, and many other countries people, as well. I am no expert on the why and when they started this, but I wanted to go there and see what I could find about my family.

Surprisingly, quite a bit in the short 2 hours I was there. A volunteer helps you look things up-- and let me tell you, she was very helpful. I made copies of 1930s census reports from my Mother's side, both her father's parents, and mother's.

I could have spent days there looking into all kinds of family history, but decided to go to a pub instead. Then, the tapas place. Oh, and another bar.

If you are interested in geneology and searching your family history, this place is amazing!

Wow--- there's a lot to do once ya get home from vacation! I've been busy catching up on everything.

Tomorrow, I will get pictures from the felting workshop and my travel journal- we did a ton of sketches and writing in it! It was perfect.

How I celebrate birthdays...

Lots of jumping and silly poses, of course...

May 28th

In Moab, Utah and Arches National Park.

The trip to Colorado was amazing! The felting workshop was inspiring and wonderful! I will get more posted soon....may need another day of sleep first! :0)

by Wilson Arch near Moab,UT

You should have seen the landing...

More fun at Wilson Arch

Can you tell I don't actually do yoga? Haha!

Arches Nat'l Park

So, here I am, 36!

More soon!

Almost Road Trip Time!

It's almost time to hit the road- one more day of packing and organizing. 1289 miles to Durango, Colorado.

I'm looking forward to heading down the highway. The first days' goal is Boise, Idaho, but we'll see if I really feel like driving 10 hours. I want to get as close to Salt Lake City as possible because that is Monday's destination.

I really like SLC so we're going to stay there a day and do some exploring.

Tuesday, the journey continues through Utah, down some 2 lane highways, through the desert and heat, stopping in Moab and Arches, and finalling in Durango.

I decided for our trip we needed an extra special travel journal/ sketchbook. I had this fabric signature and sewed in some paper ( and my sewing machine needle somehow made it through all these layers mostly with ease). We can jot down fun things from the trip and sketch scenes. There are some pockets to keep mementos like menus, receipts, postcards, etc.

I will take photos of our book when we get back too. And, of course, photos from the trip!

See you soon!

The perfect Ring!

Look, it's my new ring! Isn't this great!!

I may not be crafting too much lately, but I sure am supporting the crafting community on Etsy!

This is my new favorite shop, Nothing but String!

Her rings are so affordable too...I had to order one for a friend.

XO

I'm still here

Hi Everyone! I am still around.

I haven't done too much crafting lately. A few weeks ago i painted some fabric in the sun, but it remains to be used. One of these days... It will be waiting.

I need to do a major spring cleaning of the craft room and see what I have, and look for inspiration for some new projects.

These fabrics may become wall hangings or notebook covers...

I did make a lavendar sachet for my cousin. These were some flowers I had painted on muslin a while back. See, eventually, I find a way I want to use these bits of fabric.

We are off to Durango, Colorado in a couple weeks for a road trip and the felting workshop with Lisa Klakulak! I have been looking forward to it for months! I have to get together my supply list and figure out some simple images for the surface designs. I will definately be sharing what I make when I return.

Hope you're all well! See ya soon. xo