Almost
three weeks have passed since my last blog post. I have been working on gifts
and swaps, so most cannot be posted here yet. It is still chilly enough to keep
me inside most days, so I have been crafting and also trying to clean out old
files. My shredder and I have spent a lot of quality time together! When I look
at some of the papers I have saved over the years, I am amazed at what I have
kept. After I get finished with this task, I vow to never keep things I do not
really need! I hope I keep my word to myself!
It
is still hovering in the 30’s and 40’s most days and after a winter of recovery
from surgery, I feel like a delicate flower who can’t take the cold! I have been getting out a bit more to shop in
some of my favorite stores and go for rides with my husband to see what is
happening out in the world. We have had snow and rain and now it is just starting
to green up. My husband cut a bunch of forsythia branches for me to force in
the house. It is something I love to do and it ushers spring in a little early
. . . at least inside! As you can see from the photo, they have a little way to
go before we see their beautiful yellow blossoms!
In
the online craft group that I am in . .
Craft That Divas. . . on Facebook, our leader recently had surgery, so as a
surprise another member and myself organized a card shower. I made an easel
card using the Graphic 45 paper that I have been hoarding and only use for
special occasions . . . Fashionista.
It was the very first designer paper I ever purchased and, like all of my
Graphic 45 papers and embellishments, I love them it so much that I have a hard
time cutting into them! I realize that does not make a whole lot of sense
because I buy them with ideas for projects in mind. I do the same thing with
beautiful cottons that I buy for quilts. I usually have a quilt in mind, but it
doesn’t always get cut out and sewn. This is a habit I need to and want to
break. Cutting into Fashionista is a
step in the right direction! I have only used it three times, and each was for
a gift or a card for someone.
5"x7" Easel Card
I hand stamped the block letters for the phrase on the clock and fussy cut and inked the edges. I cut a second clock image from black card stock to give the clock more dimension.
Side View of Easel Card
The popped up chipboard pieces hold the card front up.
Easel card interior.
I hand stamped the block letters to create the sentiment and inked up the parchment paper to resemble the background in the dotted paper.
I didn't have the right color flowers . . . so I used my Spectrum Noir alcohol inks to dye these little gems that I had picked up a while ago in the bridal section at Michaels. :-)
I used some of my hand-dyed seam binding for the bow.
I
used some of the scraps to embellish a handmade three-inch square box. These
are sometimes traded by artists, as ATB’s . . . Artist Trading Blocks . . . similar to
ATC’s, which are Artist Trading Cards. I like it and I am keeping it! I like to
look at it on my craft table. :-) If I was to make one to trade,
it would be embellished and fancier!
Artist Trading Block
I used chipboard to make the box.
Front side view of ATB
Back view of ATB
Audio
books are my companion in the studio. I love being able to listen and work at
the same time! At night I read on my Kindle (while I watch/listen to TV!) and when I get tired of reading, I
do some handwork that I keep next to my chair. I am back to
making hexis (little fabric hexigons that I can use in a quilt project) and some
wool appliqué and embroidery. Perhaps the wool piece will be done soon and I
can show it to you here in a post.
Even though I enjoy it, organizing
is one of my biggest challenges. This week I have been putting lots of my crafting
doo dads and beads in small jars and labeling them. I hope to get this all done
and get my studio all set up so I can take some photos to share. Right now, it is
in disarray, which happens every time
I finish a project. It takes a little extra time to put things away before I
start anything new, but it really has to be done. So, that is where I am at right now. Typing
this is a good distraction! :-)
I
plan to get to two meetings this coming week. My ArtCGirlz http://artcgirlz.blogspot.com art group and Museum Quilt Guild http://museumquiltguild.blogspot.com . I hope I make it. It will be
the first time I have attended either in about six months! Being laid up has
really kept me out of the loop. Thank goodness, though, for blogs and Facebook. I have been able to keep up with much of what has been happening in both
groups as well as with some of the members.
That
is about it for now. It is 7:00 in the evening and the sun is shining brightly. I am liking the time change!
As always, your comments are welcome!
And
until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Emmy
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