Stymied by "gadgets"

Spent part of my morning "quilting" with my mother's Singer slant-o -matic. I am not sure what constitutes quilting, ( Questions I plan to figure out included, can stitch line cross, what is an acceptable stitch length, how many layers .) Without the answers, I decided to accessorize this blog.

I tried to place a different photo, and then changed my design,, but my true desire was GADGETS. SO I went to work on adding "gadgets" to this blog. Really I just wanted to add some links, after 5 unsuccessful attempts , I decided to get rid of my frustration by sharing it .

Suggestions welcome!

Collectionds

I collect paper by the sheet, fabrics by the quarter yard, and yarn by the skein. Not enough to wrap a gift, or clothe a child, but just enough to wish, imagine and suggest.

In Jane La Fazio's class, I got a chance to use some handprinted cotton, kuzo paper, soy resist painted cloth from I class I took from Melanie Testa, and swatches of vintage kimono cloth from Japan.

What do you think?

Opportunity, again

I adore Jane La Fazio. (http://janeville.blogspot.com/) She is an exceptionally accessible artist. I have taken a number of half and full day workshops from her over the past few years. Normally that has involved taking vacation time, telling my husband I am off for a few days and traveling some distance, solo.

This was my first project ( well, a poor photo of it) from one of Jane's workshops. It is based upon a black and white photo of our dog Flossie, an old english sheep dog. It is a combination of paint, marker, quilting, hand embroidery and embellishments.

Jane has an ease of inviting you to explore a technique, or combination of techniques. She takes the fear out of the creative process, and make certain you leave with a sense of satisfaction, and a successful product. (Regardless of your self critic). She "speaks" to both the beginner and the consummate. I always leave from one of her workshops with good intentions to do more, little time and competing priorities.

I just started a 6 month Art Quilt class with Jane this past Sunday. I intend the once a month format, will enable and challenge me to truly explore and build on her lessons and my search for self- expression.. ( Or so I hope).

annual posting?

The other day I followed the Oscar Meyer "wiener mobile" on to the Hollywood freeway. Actually, we just took the same route, but for those about six so miles I marveled, tried to read the vanity plate and worried about rear ending the "car" . The plate read "RELISHME2"

Road side poetry

Driving to work the other day, I described the items I saw discarded on the side of the road,
a hubcap, a blue plastic bag, a clear plastic sheet, a shoe... blue, a white plastic bag, a canvas strap, a red plastic bag, a flattened hub cap, an uppolstered chair, a flat cardboard box with grey duct tape, a water bottle, a tennis ball, a plastic bag, ...

A Beginning, Finally

I have been thinking about doing this for years,
Creating a Blog;
Mentally composing odd thoughts with the idea of putting it down, for no other purpose than self disclosure. A vanity project, my own personal stream of conscienceness ( not even spell check helps here ) and likely mine alone to follow .

Today, I passed a young man in the hall at the office, he nodded solemn as we passed by. I tried to describe how he moved through each day, almost, blank. Never initiating or respond with any animation. His presence rarely missed or noted.
As I sat considering him, I wondered when I started feeling comfortable (again) referring to adults as young men or women. It had to be an aging thing. I decided it was some time after age 50 and considered what "young" now meant. On the up side of 50, I figured that the age of the young was creeping up on almost to 40.

I not sure I was ever comfortable referring to an adult as a young person (after I turned 30 or) until I considered it today. A long time friend and I have shared on every birthday that we are either older than any of us ever planned to be or that "sophistication" was just a few years and an accessory away.

I knew the history of the man in the hall accounted for his demeanor. And at that moment I knew that he did have an impact on the people around him and me. I mentally thanked him for the moment of reflection and left the ladies room. Smiling.