Reach Out

Reach Out

9x7

I read an article by Olga Norris and decided to try the technique myself. I transfer printed an original drawing to fabric and layered it over crumbled freezer wrap that had been used as a "drop cloth". I handstitched around everything with embroidery thread and then snipped away some of the top layer to show the paper. The drawing was a little too detailed for this technique, but once I started, I just kept going.

An Unusual Occurance

Snow in the Hill Country

Beginning

" It doesn't make the slightest difference where you begin."

Barbara Sher

I wrote this quote on index cards and posted it all over my room. If I am brushing my teeth, I can look up and see these words. When I am getting dressed, I see the words taped to my mirror. On the way downstairs I see them again close to the door. I want to be reminded that you do not have to begin at the beginning. A week or so ago, I went to the hospital with all of my current projects finished. Not a good idea because when I came home to recover, starting something new seemed too exhausting. I kept thinking about it, but in the end. I would read another book instead. Flipping through the pages of a new book by Sherill Kahn, I found directions for making twisted silk cords. That sounded like fun. I have a stash of silk scarves I buy at thrift stores to use in art projects. I cut several of them into strips, soaked them in water, pinned an end to the ironing board and then started twisting and ironing the strips dry. Very cool! I cut somemore and twisted somemore. I thought of all the things I could use them for and then I thought of an idea for a piece and started working on it. Soon, I was painting, sewing cutting and arranging. I am "beginning".

The Library

When I moved back to Kerrville, the first thing I did was get the address changed on my driver's license so I could get a library card. The library in Kerrville sits on a bluff above the river and is a wonderful place to find books as well as read them. There is a gazebo and benches outside as well as steps down to the river. When the library was first built, it was a marvelous thing. It is decorated with mosaics of scenes and quotes from famous books, has a native plant garden and beautiful big trees. It is old now and needs a lot of work, but it is still my favorite place in Kerrville.

A Hole In My View

For Filamental:

Happy Birthday

Disguise

The ultimate disguise or would my friends know me anywhere?

Charm

Yesterday I saw an ad in the paper for an Avery charm, a tiny silver, heart shaped candy box. I cut out the ad and taped it to Steve's breakfast chair as a joke, but when he saw it, he said, "Let's go get it!". What a sweetheart, Lovely the present you would like, but don't expect to receive.

Thistles

OK I like this template better.

I have many photos of Thistles since there are a lot of them growing in the field next to my house. I like to photograph the ones that are fading.

Fruitcake

Oh my God. Some may remember the fruitcake I made at Christmas. My friend Mindy gave me the recipe, and this is the second year I have made it. It is a beautiful cake, full of rum soaked fruit. After the holidays, about three quarters of it was left (we had a lot of other goodies), so I sliced it into serving sized pieces and stored it in a container in the freezer. The cake slices filled a one gallon plastic box. This afternoon, I was moving some things around in the freezer when I noticed that the container was very light. Imagine my surprise to find it completely empty. Even the wax paper was gone, leaving just an empty box on the bottom shelf of the freezer. My 89 year old, diabetic Mom, has eaten every bite. It must have gone well with the carton of vanilla ice cream that is also mysteriously empty. She doesn't remember eating it of course and if I asked her about it would swear convincingly that she never touched it. In the past she has gone so far as to suggest that some stranger came into the garage and got stuff out of the freezer. I don't think I will even bother to mention it this time. There is really no point. I am just glad she didn't OD!