Studio 31 - Day 1

I've decided to give myself another 31 day challenge. The last one I completed was to watch a movie a day for 31 days. I was able to get though a nice chunk of my Netflix queue that way.

This time, I'm giving myself a challenge to spend at least two hours per day in my Studio. I've got quite a long list of PILLs (Projects in Long Lines), just waiting for me to give them some attention. In particular, I have about twelve projects on my cutting table that are getting in the way of me doing any real sewing. So I'm hoping to have most of those done by the end of my month. One of them is my granddaughter's embroidered quilt that I've been working with off and on for months.

I've also got a couple wreath ideas, a painting experiment, an autumn floral pumpkin idea, some mending, some card-making, some beaded ornaments, a Fall cross-stitch, and much more. If I get those done, I'll move further into my stash. Sometimes the amount of things I want to make and the number of techniques I want to try get overwhelming because I already have most of the supplies in my stash. Maybe if I clear this one table in 31 days, I'll develop a regular habit of spending more time in my Studio.

So today, I started by making one of the wreaths. This is an idea I saw on Pinterest. It's a colorful summer wreath made of the little paper umbrellas used in tropical drinks.

Dale was able to find the umbrellas on Amazon. There are more than enough umbrellas for several wreaths.

I bought this 8 inch floral wreath form at Dollar Tree. I used the wreath form as is. I didn't wrap it to camouflage the foam because the umbrellas would cover the entire base.

Each umbrella is kept tidy in the box by a rubber ring. I slipped the ring off, opened the umbrella, and measured it against the wreath form. The smaller gasket on the toothpick holds the umbrella open when slid up under the canopy.

Since the toothpick part of the umbrella was longer than the depth of the wreath form, I used some pliers with a cutting edge to snip off about an inch-and-a-half of the stick.

After that, it was simply a matter of sticking the umbrellas into the foam. I thought I might have to hot glue them in place, but I didn't because the toothpicks stayed put in the foam where I placed them. I started in the center and worked my way to the outer edge. I kept the colors in a loose pattern so that not too many umbrellas of the same color would end up on top of each other.

I made the hanger out of some 30-gauge floral wire and a couple floral pins.

I looped the wire between the two pins, then wrapped the loops for a tidy finish. The pins slipped easily into the back of the wreath.

That's it! I hung the wreath by the front door.

Were I to make this project again, I think I'd use a larger wreath. I think the proportion is off a little bit. This size of umbrella would be better on a ten or twelve inch wreath, I think. And a ten or twelve inch wreath would be a better proportion on the front porch.

I have plenty of umbrellas left, so ...


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Inspired by Family Chic
They used a grapevine wreath as a base. Ah.

Tummy Time

Tummy Time is easier to take if you get to suck on Mommy's thumb.

Melody isn't too keen on lying on her tummy. She's learning to push up. She even rolled over a time or two (not in front of Grandma!) when she figured out how to get her left arm in a conducive position. But 10 weeks is pretty darn early to start rolling over.

She sure can scooch around a bit when she gets her little legs pumping, though!

Hothouse Flowers

I bought myself a colorful treat today.

A Crafty Reward

Besides lovin' on our new grandbaby every couple weeks, I've been busy with a long-put-off job. Thoroughly cleaning the ten window blinds in our home. These fussy things had to be taken down and sprayed with a vinegar-and-water solution. Then each slat was shot with steam, front and back, and wiped individually.

The blinds near the kitchen had more greasy dirt on them than I care to admit. Those five blinds, three of which are floor to ceiling, took three hours each to clean. Then after cleaning each blind, I washed the windows thoroughly inside and out. Once reinstalled, the blinds got one last wipe down with rubbing alcohol to remove the last bit of grit. It's quite a job in this hot weather with all the intense odors, the steam going off near my face inside, and 95 degree days outside.

I got the blinds done last weekend. Now to wash the rest of the windows in the house. I put this job off for so many years that I figured if I only did two windows per day, I'd actually finish the task because I wouldn't wear myself out too much. I have only seven more windows to do, but three are at second-story height, so I still need to figure out how to attack them.

With that big job nearing completion, I've decided to reward myself by setting up my next craft project.

I found this idea on Pinterest a while ago, but wasn't sure where to get all the supplies. Dale found just what I needed. It's a wreath composed of the little colorful paper umbrellas that decorate tropical drinks.

This should be fun!

Who's That Baby in the Mirror?

That smile! Ack!
Slayed again

Secrets with Auntie Jeanne

My Little Love

Melody Grace Otto - 10 weeks

A Visit with Great-Grandma

Just as I was running out of photos from our visit two weeks ago, Julie and Melody decided to drop in. It's a little cooler and with less construction here in Post Falls than it is in Moscow right now, so Julie decided a road trip was in order. We decided to share the visit with Dale's mom and brother.

So here's Melody with her great-grandma, Joany.

I'm in the midst of a big window-and-blind washing project, so I haven't been taking many photos. I went for a walk to the park today to specifically try and find some decent nature shots. It's such a dry and dying time of year, though, that my eye didn't catch many decent shots.

So more baby photos it is! Can we ever get enough pictures of new life? I think not.

Madonna

Mother and child

Julie and Melody

Mommy, I Don't Feel Good

This is where I've spent the last 14 hours. I think it's heat exhaustion and dehydration. Taking it easy for the rest of the day. Grateful I have no scheduled events today.

Why does the carpet look blue? It's brown in real life. Is the photo really out of focus? Or is it just my eyes. Probably both.

A Bit o Backlighting

Melody's Cupie moment.

After Bath

The day I visited, it was very hot in Moscow. So Julie and I decided to give Melody a bath to cool her down. She loves bathtime, and was starting to get the hang of splashing with her hands and feet. She wasn't sure how much she liked having a sponge full of water squeezed on her head (Grandma!)

I also don't think she wanted to leave the water. What do you think?

The expressions my granddaughter makes with that precious little mouth just slay me!

Photo credit to my daughter, Julie.

Listening to the Birds

Melody is a studious little girl

At the Park

One visit to visit Julie and Melody is sure to spawn about two weeks of blog post photos, don't you think?

Punkin Tears

When I went to visit Melody and Julie on Tuesday, Melody didn't want to have her picture taken. Especially with this strange grandma around.

She even managed to squeeze out a single tear.

Grandma just laughed.

Have Your Cake

and display it, too. In my case, it will be displayed in our guest room. For now, it's on a bedside table resting in a plate stand.

This is the last of the pieces I've stitched thus far from the 2006 Cross-stitch Calendar. Now that these are framed, I feel I have the latitude to begin another in the series. I don't like getting too far ahead of myself.

I sure do like the finished products. I found this antique-white wood frame for three dollars at a thrift store. It came with glass and a quite pretty handcrafted handmade paper and pressed flower piece in the shape of a heart. I'm sure I'll find a use for that in my future, too.

This chart used some Smyrna cross stitches in the border, and a little backstitching for definition of the cake layers, as well as for the word "Love." For embellishments, I found the little heart beads in my stash and added them to the cake in a playful up and down pattern.

Once again, I added a label to the back for a complete finish.

Luau Aftermath

After I took the Luau selfie a couple days ago, I neglected to put the props away. I found them like this when I walked out to the dining room this morning. The flamingos are glowing!

[click for larger image]

I knew the light was fleeting, so I didn't even have time to grab my "big girl" camera. I had my phone in my hand, so used that camera to capture this pretty still life moment.

Embroidery and Pearls

At the end of last year I went on an embroidery-on-paper jag. I used the finished pieces for Christmas cards. I think I stitched about 30 pieces. I kept just this one for myself. I loved everything about it. The colors go with my home decor. And then pearls. I can rarely resist pearls.

I couldn't quite decide what to do with it, though. Until this week. I decided it was so pretty that it needed to be displayed. So I cut it from a rectangle into a square, mounted it with double-sided tape to a piece of scrapbook paper, and framed it in one of my thrift-store finds. This black frame is in pristine condition. Plus, it's a bit too big for my 2006 Cross-stitch Calendar pieces.

I realize the background color choice is bold. It does mimic one of the pinks in the center of the design, so it works on that level. I may or may not keep it. However, I've had the framed piece on my mantle for a few days, and it's growing on me. So for now, it stays.

Luau

Idaho style

Fabric Frame

Today I did the finishing work on the Strawberry Quilt Block. I completed the stitching in February of this year.

I was attempting to make a frame much like the one I purchased for Just Nan's Rose Lady (finished in 2008). I used that frame as a guide for the one I sewed myself.

I learned quite a bit while constructing this frame, making several mistakes along the way that I can improve upon if I attempt this method again. For example, after the first hour, I learned that velvet is not the most ideal fabric for this project. I learned to use cotton, and to give myself lots of extra fabric, then cut off the excess instead of getting by with "just enough." I learned how to use mat board to stiffen the fabric frame, and how to create an easel. I also have some ideas on how to improve attaching the cord to the frame next to the stitchery.

Most of the mistakes can be seen close up if you know what you're looking for. From a distance, my Strawberry Quilt Block looks fine. The reforming-perfectionist part of me is trying to keep from making another frame for this project, incorporating the changes.

I'm always learning something new and finding ways to improve my skills. It's part of the joy - and frustration - of being an artist.

Pumpkin Patch

Here's another of the finished pieces from the 2006 Cross-Stitch Calendar. I stitched it up this month. This one features cross-stitch, satin stitch, and backstitch. I did change up the colors slightly from the chart, giving the pumpkin a two-toned effect along with the stitch variance. 

Like the other charts in this series, it called for an embellishment - a leaf charm. The problem was that the charm looked a lot more like an oak leaf than a pumpkin leaf. Plus, the placement seemed odd to me, like it was floating in mid air. So I filled the space where the leaf would have been placed with a few more of the green dots in the background. 

The mat on this one is one of my favorites. Simple and whimsical. Again, I found this frame at a thrift shop. If I remember correctly, it cost about $1.50 and it was brand new! It came with the original mat, glass, and photo. It was fortuitous that the color of the wood frame matches the colors of the pumpkin so well. I finished the framing with a label on the backing board.

I have one more in this series ready to frame. I promised myself that I'd complete that task before starting on another chart.

Bee Trio

I tried a little something different as decoration in our home's entryway. I added a trio of art pieces that are related to each other, but in a couple different mediums. Two are needlework pieces, and one is a photo I took.

First up? One of the finished pieces from that 2006 Cross-Stitch Calendar I've been working on. This was the first design I completed -- all the way back in 2006 (before I started this blog!) It's primarily cross-stitch. The beehive is satin stitch and there are some Smyrna crosses in the border. The bees are buttons I found in a fabric department. The frame was a bit too big for the mat, so I added the black border with construction paper.

Next, I framed Bumblebutt, a photo I took this Spring when the bees were having a heyday in my grape hyacinth patch. I purchased this gold-tone frame at Dollar Tree. I don't often print and frame my photographs, so this is a nice little treat.

Finally, this week I framed Secret Flower Bed by The Trilogy which I stitched in April of this year. This is all cross-stitch with some mini button embellishments. The linen, chart, and buttons came as a kit. I found this frame with the double mat at a thrift shop for under $3.00.

Along with the rabbit, bird, and ladybug, this garden has a couple bees in it, keeping the flowers pollinated.

I'm planning to make more themed vignettes for our home. We playfully call our guest room the love nest. There, I have a number of art pieces that are heart-themed, including stitchery, a poster, cards, art glass, and a painted pallet. But you know me. I have lots more heart-shaped crafts to add there.

Stars & Stripes

I've slowly been working through my 2005 Cross-Stitch Calendar. Each month of the wall calendar came with a piece of aida (this is 18 ct), a themed chart, and a printed mat made of lightweight cardstock. This cheeky patriotic bird called Stars & Stripes was the July design.

The stitched area of each design is 3.25 inches square. Some have fun "specialty" stitches. In this case a modified Smyrna Cross is used for the fireworks, the stars in the flag, and the gold studs in the corners of the black stitched frame.

Each piece also calls for embellishments or charms. My guess is that back in 2005 these embellishments were available as calendar add-ons, but I didn't purchase them. So I used some star-shaped plastic beads on this eagle. Those in my stash are slightly pink, but they read as off-white in the overall design.

[click for larger image]

I found the off-white distressed frame at a thrift store for less than three dollars. I think it works quite well with the Americana themed piece. After I framed the stitchery, I added a label on the back. I usually make labels for heirloom pieces. Even though this little stitchery isn't of that stature, I enjoy the finishing touch.

Palms in the Desert

This is another picture I rediscovered while finessing my photo library last week.

Photo Challenge

In one of the photography groups I participate in on Facebook, a prompt is provided for a photo each day. Most of the time I can find a photograph in my library that fits the bill. Sometimes I can't. Today was one of those days.

Today's prompt is "anchor." I had a few ideas, but settled on this. I bought a nickel plated charm in a craft department. I strung is on some yellow-orange string with a substantial knot. I hung the charm in a jar that I'd filled with water with a little green food coloring. Then I took the jar into a dark room with only a couple spot lights shining through it. That's what give the photo that eerie glow.

Fun, eh?

Dressed for the Big Day

This weekend I spent several hours filing and finessing my digital photo library (a never-ending pursuit). In the process, I ran across the folder from Julie and Jeff's wedding just over two years ago. I took a few of the photos before the wedding, but the majority of the pictures were taken by Julie's friend and photographer Diana Fein.

 This photo of their cat, Fawkes, is so beautiful that I just had to share.

By the way, I made his bow tie.

The Introduction

Baby Melody was born to daughter Julie at the end of May in Idaho. Daughter Jeanne got to spend a short afternoon with them the first week.

Two weeks later, daughter Jodie got married in Oregon. Both of Jodie's sisters were able to attend the wedding. Jodie met Melody then.

My heart melted when all three daughters gathered around the newest addition to our family.

Mommy and Aunties

This is my new favorite photo of all my girls together. Makes me feel like Dale and I did something right in helping these young women grow into adulthood.

Foxglove

My neighborhood is full of flowers that I get to admire on my walks.

Using the RAW setting on my camera allows me to get some great details in editing.

Walk of Fame

Do you think my neighbors might have been inspired by Hollywood?

This is the same neighbor with this beautiful dog. I've posted this photo before.

Yucca Bloom

All over the neighborhood, the white yucca are in bloom.