I am still here . . . really!

Perhaps you have looked on occasion for me and my blog. Or, maybe you haven't!  At any rate, I am here. I did not leave the planet. There is a reason why I have been so quiet in the blogosphere. It is because most of the things I have been working on have been for a project that has yet to be revealed to all the participants. So, I did not want to show any photos here on my blog of the things I have been making for the project. The project is the Row by Row Round Robin project that the Museum Quilt Guild is doing. I am one of a group of 5 quilters. I think there are maybe 5 groups in all. We will be revealing all the rows made for each participant at the September guild meeting. So, stay tuned. After that meeting in September, I will post the photos I took of the rows I made for the project for each of the other 4 quilters in my group. I have photos, too, of the rows put next to each other as they came to me and along with the row I made. It has been fun and it will be great to see all of them revealed next month! The rest of the time that makes up my days, and often my evenings is my real estate career . . . so that takes me a way from my studio, and is not what I include in this blog. We are especially busy at this time of year when our real estate season is very active. My husband and I are a real estate sales team. I try, however, to get into my studio very early in the morning or very late at night when I have some "spare" time!

I have been making a lot of things in my studio at my paper crafting station. I have my studio set up for all the steps I need to take as I make an album, or a quilt. I have a sewing station, a painting / stamping station, a cutting station, a table for assembly of album components and a table for my various machines, storage for my stamps and  dies for die cutting used in making albums. I have lots of paper stored on my bookshelves and paints, ink and stains, and embellishments in bins on rollers with removable drawers that are nestled under and in between my work tables. I can remove the drawers from the rolling bins and place them on the little table next to my chair so I can see what is inside without having to practically stand on my head to see what is in each drawer! The windows face north, so the light is very nice for working in my studio in the daytime. I have taken over what used to be our TV room. I think when our house was built in the 1840's, what is now my studio was a library. It is just the right size for me and I like to be on the ground floor where I have access to the kitchen, the porches, and the living room. I can work in my studio in the evening and listen to the TV so I can "watch" along with my husband . . . even if I am only watching with my ears! My husband is very kind to me and he often pauses a show so I can run in and catch something especially good.  :-)

 

HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF MY STUDIO SPACE.

There is another small table across the room that has my portable sewing machine, Ott light, threads, rotary cutters, cutting mat, and iron and mini ironing board on it. I have been doing a lot of paper piecing lately. 

Machines, die cutting supplies, adhesives, punches, rubber stamps, & rulers (for quilting, too!)

 

A place to use my inks and storage to the left for my papers that are in tablets.

My studio angel, that my husband gave to me as a gift, watches over me when I am working.

Storage beneath and in between my work tables, and the little that I use so I can look in the drawers.

 

I have posted a couple of videos on my YouTube channel of mini albums I have recently made. I have more to post in the next day or so. I have two minis completed that are related to school days and another I am working on that is a Halloween theme. I will be making some Autumn/Harvest theme, some Thanksgiving theme, and of course, some Christmas and Winter theme minis. In addition I will make some engagement, wedding and new baby theme minis, too. There are so many topics that call out to me for mini albums. They are a nice size to hold, to leave out on the coffee table, and to give as gifts for just about any occasion. My paper collection is rather extensive, so I am anxious to get more and more of it used up! It is too beautiful to sit on the shelves in my studio!

I am mailing a mini album out today to a special little girl named Teri. I made a quick video of it and posted it on my YouTube channel. You can view it at:  http://youtu.be/pdFaaRhT6H8

Here is a photo of the cover of another mini I made for a client who wanted a gift for a young woman who is engaged to be married. I made it with the idea she could commemorate her wedding planning and shopping trips in the album. There is a video of this on my YouTube channel, too.

 

 

 

Another day is almost over. Now that it is past mid-August, there is a definite tinge of fall in the air at night. The night sounds are different now. The bugs seem to be singing with deeper voices. The leaves on the trees are drier and they sound different now in the breeze than in the spring when they were young and tender. The hummingbirds will soon be stocking up on food at our feeder for their flight south. I love this time of year and tonight there will be a spectacular full moon. I plan to sit on our deck with my husband and enjoy the sights and sounds that late summer brings to our backyard.

 

What I have learned:

There are many nice people in the world. I meet some of them every day.

 

What I want to learn:

How to streamline my paper crafting activities.

 

What I appreciate:

My husband who supports me and encourages me in all the aspects of my life.

 

What I want:

World peace. Amen.