Making Lace While the Skies Are Grey

Free Motion machine stitching on scrim.

Nothing but grey skies...

Started with the piece on the left which includes scraps of fabric sandwiched between two pieces of scrim. The piece on the right was done on one layer of scrim and then partially applied on top of the first piece. I think I will keep going with this..........

Beginning

Starting on a new piece.
Mono print on cotton
Machine embroidery
Cut work
Deconstructed vintage embroidery
Smocking
Paper piecing

Knit One ?

Yes, I know. Still knitting. I must have a virus. I have had this yarn in my stash for years. I have started several things with it, but I have always pulled them out. The last thing was a sock (what else). I was down to the last few inches of the first one and I just didn't like it and couldn't imagine knitting the second one. It was easier then you might think, to slip the work off the needles and rip it out. I decided if I want to get rid of this yarn, I would have to disguise it. The bottom ball of yarn is the offensive wool, plied with a solid pink. At the top, the yarn is plied with turquoise. On the left, I took what was left and Navajo plied it. Now, I think I will be able to work with this. I will let you know....

Practise Makes Perfect (or close enough)

 

More Socks?

Yes, here are more socks. I finished these last night.I don't know why I have re-entered a "knitting" phase.  They are knit from two strands of different wool sock yarns held together. The yarns were in  similar colors so they blended well together. I spun the orange accent yarn with my Rakestraw spinner.

Now here is the thing. I thought these socks would make good "gift" socks, but then I went and made a mistake. On the first sock, I re-enforced the bottom of the heel, but not the back. When knitting the second sock, I forgot about that and re-enforced the bottom and the back of the heel. What a dummy. I guess I will just have to wear them my self (Oh darn) or give them to a good friend who won't care about the different heels.   

Finished Socks

I can hardly believe it. I finished these socks last night,
then washed and dried them early this morning. Here is something interesting about these socks. The first one I made, (the one with the orange ribbing) I made in the regular way with both yarns in my right hand. The sock with the yellow ribbing. I made holding the yellow yarn in my left hand. The "orange" sock looked smooth and the yellow one bumpy! Is that just because I am not all that adept at holding the yarn in my left hand? Washed, the difference is not too pronounced. I think I read something about this somewhere, but where? Maybe you can tell me and save me the effort of going through a zillion knitting books and articles!

Playing Around With Drawing

8" x 8"

I know there are other things I should be doing, but some new drawing supplies came in the mail this morning and I couldn't resist playing with them. This page started with a "pulled" paint print. On top of that, is a pencil drawing on tracing paper (I used it originally to transfer the design). The tracing paper drawing is tinted with grey Coptic markers and watercolor pencils. I like the effect don't you? I may experiment with this a bit more. 

Perhaps A Movie

Wow. I have never made a "movie" before. I wonder if it works? You all will have to let me know.

I was thinking about how we perceive ourselves. When I was in the fashion business, my daughter Robin and I were walking out of the "Market" building after setting up a display in my showroom. We were laughing and talking and playing "lets pretend"--something we often played at. I said, "I know, lets pretend I am a fashion designer and we are....." Robin stopped walking and looked at me. "But Mom," she said, "You are a fashion designer." Oh, right. I was. I don't tend to label myself so I am surprised when others do. Does that make sense? Don't get me wrong. I take my work very seriously and I will be insulted if you assume I "just like to do little crafty things" (see recent post about an inspirational visitor), but on the other hand, I rarely take the time to wonder how other people see me. A couple of days ago, a friend of mine asked me if she could bring her Granddaughter by to see my studio as she is interested in art and would like to see a real artist's studio. Of course that is fine with me. I love to have people visit me in my studio, especially children. But I had to stop and think, just like I did in that Dallas parking lot all those years ago, "Oh right. I am an ARTIST".

So this morning, I took some pictures of my studio, nothing studied, just some quick photos of different parts of the room. I wanted to see how it might look to others (and then I saw I could make it into a movie!). I am reminded of when I was a young married woman living in cheap apartments or houses. I would have plans for fixing them up and somehow I visualized those plans as accomplished. But it was only in my mind and when suddenly, I was expecting visitors, I would panic. They would not see those cute curtains I put up in the kitchen because they weren't really there! That sounds crazy doesn't it? I just had, and do have, a good imagination.

 

Lace Embroidery--In Work

 

Shaped Purse

   

I am excited.
My purse handles came today, so I could finish this strange little purse.
I made this shape as a design exercise in Karen Ruane's class
and decided it would make a cute purse.
Hard to see actually, but what do you think? 

Lady Fair Isle and the Elephant

I found a home for the Pink Elephant.
He is now sitting with Lady Fair Isle on top of a pin cushion in an antique chair.
In case you are wondering--
Lady Fair Isle is made from socks I began and then abandoned for some reason.
Her arms and legs are I-Cords and she has a crocheted skirt.
I still plan to change the color of her legs! 

Auditioning

 

Lace Collage

A Lace Collage in work for Karen Ruane's class Alchemy.

Fabric Fusing

Tried fusing some three cornered shapes using organza
and a soldering iron. Some of them have threads sealed inside.
The black, white and gold one was made by
fusing narrow srips together to make a stripped fabric
and then folding and fusing them into the hollow shapes.

with thanks to a book by Margaret Beal 

Paper Work

10" x 14"
Some paper stitching I am working on for Karen's class, Alchemy. I have done the free-motion machine work on the paper which is attached to a piece of silk. Small bits of a mono print are inserted into holes in the paper. A few bullion knots are done at the top right and some French knots started around the appliqued shape. Lots more to come......