Free motion Jelly

While looking at photos of jellyfish I noticed their tangle of swirly tentacles, and right away I thought of free motion stitching.

This one started out as watercolor, then I added some messy free motion stitches, some black outlines, and a little bit of acrylic paint. 

And I had some empty frames sitting around in my effort to get more art up on my walls, so I popped it in a frame and mat...and I'm loving how it looks sitting on my shelf. 

monsieur otter

I began him weeks ago, and finally finished him up tonight.

He is the otter from Countryside Softies  and he was fun, but a bit finicky and time consuming to get done.

But he looks so charming out in the garden. 

explore. dream. discover.

When I saw the theme for The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap, I couldn't wait to get started. 
This time around the theme is DISCOVER, and right away I thought of one of my favorite quotes:


“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Mark Twain 

This quote has inspired me often to abandon my fear and go discover.

I sketched out simple shapes of worldwide iconic travel buildings, added acrylic paint, and quick sketchy lines in pen.

Then, even though I'm not very good, and I was worried I was going to mess the whole thing up, I got out my free motion foot, and added sketchy outline's in black thread. 

And I'm pretty happy with it. And extra happy because I'm done early, instead of leaving it to the last minute, and it is so much more enjoyable that way. And I got to practice my free motion stitching.

Now I'm just waiting to see where I will be sending my little postcard.

Leaving it unfinished

Well I'm off for 4 nights in San Francisco with one of my most favorite people to travel with. And it looks like I'm going to be leaving this little project unfinished, waiting for me to return.

finally finished...an elephant quartet

Wow, I don't know where the time has gone since I've been back from Hawaii. Mostly into Christmas I suppose. And getting ready for my African adventure. I've had zero creating time lately, and can feel myself going a bit crazy.

I sold out of my elephants pretty quick at the craft fair last month, so I committed myself to making another four before Christmas for someone. I figured that would be easy. Not so. I am so not in the making-stuff-to-sell-and needs-to-be-done-by-a-certain-date mode. It was tedious. But finally tonight. They are finished. And they are cute.

Hopefully over the next (less than)three weeks until I leave, I can now do some fun creative things.

another bag

Another plastic bag done, just in time.

Tomorrow I'm off to Kauai.

Interrupted

I was sewing away on one of my plastic bags, loving how it was looking. Sewing fast. And then my finger slipped. And the needle went through my nail, bent and came out the side of my finger. Panic. I was stuck to the sewing machine because I was in shock and couldnt get the needed out of the machine. And I was home alone and the doors were locked. Luckily I had my phone in reach and my parents are just a phone call away. Luckily my sister lives upstairs and has keys to my house. And luckily my dad can do basically anything and he cut the needle and pulled it out.

And shortly, the sewing continued.

 

And today is the day of the craft sale. Eeeek. 

currently experiencing technical difficulties

My machine has never been perfect. Its probably older than I am, and frequently has bouts of confusion when it does bizarre things. Normally I just muddle through with a few imperfections since sewing is by no means my forte. But right now I have sewing projects I want to get finished. And, my sewing machine is experiencing technical difficulties worse than we've come across before. She used to be sort of self-healing if left to her own devices while I had a stiff drink to calm my nerves. But it dosn't seem to be happening this time. And so, I'm shopping for a new sewing machine. But even that isn't as simple as it sounds. I've got one lined up...hopefully she will be coming home with me soon.

For now, the unfinished sewing projects huddle together in the corner of my studio and wait.

getting nothing finished

My mind is going in a gazillion different directions, with tons of projects all swirling around in my head. Which basically means that some things are getting started, none are getting finished, and too many are just staying in my mind.

I bought this pair of socks at the dollar store the other day. Right now they are just socks, but in my mind, they are something very exciting.

Working on new digital creations.

I am slowly playing with paint. We'll see what becomes of it.

I finally started working on a stuffed flamingo I've had in my mind for a while. Lots of trial and error. Lots of seam picking. He's getting stuffed now, and then to finish the feet.

Thats it for now, maybe this week something will get finished! Thanks for visiting!

an elephant softie

I've been spending way too much time on Etsy these days. I've fallen in love with many things, but I had to break out my sewing machine and make one of the darling elephants from Retro Mamma Patterns.

This pattern was awesome. Super simple, the only part I had to google was the ladder stitch at the end (which also turned out to be fabulously easy). I simply adore this pattern...and this

elephant!

inspired this week

I was inspired by Donna Downey this week and last night had to rush home to play with image transfer onto canvas. I am so happy with the results and I am letting this play around in my mind while I decide what I want to do with this piece of canvas and what other wonderful things this new technique will do for me. Makes me happy.

I have a design for a new dress in my mind, bursting to become a real dress so I am going to try to create my design from random patterns that I have and use this fabric I've had for a year or so. Its been way too long since I've sewn anything, especially a dress.

Oh fabric, how I've missed you. Looking forward to my return to fabricland in a few weeks...