mountain of dyed silk ribbon

A quick update.  I spent most of yesterday dyeing silk ribbon and today I have been wrapping onto cards and listing some on Etsy.  I'm gearing up for the Tucson Bead Show the first week of February so many of these are going into a suitcase as I wrap them.

Studio Addition - I'm all moved in

I am all settled into my new studio space and have been rearranging and working as I go.  We had a whole lot of rain for 4 days and while the new space was nice and dry, the original old part sprang leaks.  sigh.  This spring the roof tiles will have to be taken off and new tar paper laid down which will be a time consuming ordeal.  So in the midst of moving into the new space and trying to organize I had to pull things away from the leaks.  I'm not going to show you that mess.

But I was able to accomplish a few things.  I began putting together these garments.  Things are just pinned and adjustments will be made but this is how I start.

A Cut Loose brand flannel jumper sent to me by my friend Pam.  Black lacy frills and rhinestones will jazz this up.

A gently worn to softness flannel shirt with a vintage crinoline to attach.  The waist will have a draw string ribbon so the waist can be cinched to fit and flatter.

Dyeing dupioni silk bias ribbon strips for the Tucson Bead Show.  I'm teaching ribbon dyeing classes while I'm there and students will be able to dye their own ribbons in various colors and techniques.

Hope everyone has a happy holiday season!

More on The Hope Flag Project

I realize now that I created a link for the Hope Flag Project on my previous post that is a FaceBook page and not all readers are FB members.  For those of you not on FaceBook here is all the info from Leighanna you need to know to participate if you so desire.

The “rules” and frequently asked questions

-This is about hope & good wishes, not about any specific religion, or even praying if that is not a part of your life. It is about showing that we care. If you want to include a prayer, wonderful, but it is not required. This was an issue with one of the schools participating, so we are now calling them hope flags. Sheesh.

-Your flag can be made out of any cloth material... An old piece of clothing, an old sheet, canvas,- you don’t need to go out & buy anything.

-When you finish, the size of each flag should be about 5” wide by 8” long- so that the chain remains uniform in size. Please sew or glue the top of the flag over, leaving a one inch gap so that I can run a string through it- SO THE TOATAL MEASUREMENT OF YOUR FABRIC BEFORE YOU BEGIN SHOULD BE 5 INCHES WIDE BY 9 INCHES LONG. Sorry for the initial confusion about this. This project is about love, not about exact measurements! Some people are sending triangular flags b/c they don't have time to make new ones, I will be including everything that I get, no matter what size. It will be beautiful!

-You can make them as simple or elaborate as you’d like. You can paint on it, write on it, sew on it, make a little heart in the center- anything goes EXCEPT please refrain from addressing the person who caused this or the names of the victims. This is about hope & I think it’s a good idea to keep it as positive as possible.

-Please make sure these get to me by January 2nd. If they do not arrive by then, they will not make it to the school, & probably won’t be mailed back to you.

You can make flags until the cows come home, please make as many as you’d like.

-I would love to photograph each one, but I’m not sure how much time I will have for that. Please take a picture of your flag before you mail it off. Feel free to post it on this page.

-Please don't send me any money! Many of the families have facebook pages where you can donate directly to them. I'm going to cover the postage to Newtown, & I've already bought art supplies for the kids who are making flags here. I'm fine with that & would love for the parents or town to get the money instead.

-I would prefer that you post any questions that you still have here on this page, instead of sending a private message or email.

-Please send the flags here...

Leighanna Light

PO Box 2861

Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557

Thanks again so very much for participating in this, especially right now, in the middle of the holidays. Really, I am blown away by the response to this.

 When I was making my hope flag I began making the rows of stitching and then decided to make 20 vertical rows of stitching for the children and then 6 horizontal rows for the adults.  I didn't mention it on the previous post because this project isn't about the flag itself but about the hopes and prayers and thoughts we are sending.  I hope you can find a way to send your hopes to these victims of such a tragic event.  peace

The Hope Flag Project

Leighanna Light has put together a prayer flag project for the community of Newtown.   Please click on the link and get information about how you can join us.   This is my contribution.  Can you imagine enough flags donated to encircle the whole town?

Time Rushes By

Time rushes by, really it does.  Since my last post my studio got finished enough for me to move into the space.  There is still work to be done on the outside but I am so happy to have this extra space.  Now the issue is to find time to organize.   When Michael asked me what I wanted for Christmas I told him minions (thank you Joanne T-H).  I don't think I'll be getting them.  I will add pictures of the studio later when I find time to take them.

We took a trip to Kauai with some friends joining us.  We were having a fabulous time until we got the phone call on Dec. 1 that my mother-in-law, Rose Scott, passed away.  She was 95 and lived a very rich life.  We were sad of her passing but relieved she died peacefully.  She always had a cheerful outlook on life, really up until the day she passed she seemed content and happy.  So I am busy sending out cards and helping Michael plan a celebration of her life here at the house on Dec. 30th.  Christmas plans seem to have been put on the side burner.

We bought a small living tree, I strung some small lights on it, and this is probably it for my decorating other than a few poinsettias and some candles.  Maybe we drag Rockin' Santa out (that's another story).

I'm off to the studio today to continue with organizing as I have Carrie Clayden coming to visit me on Wednesday.  We have not met yet and only just discovered each other and that we only live an hour or so away from each other.  I can't wait to see what we scheme up!

I retrieved this from the internet and want to pass it along as I think there are some very valid and inspirational thoughts written here and I know my mother-in-law would agree.

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,
Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
  It is the most requested column I've ever written.

  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and

parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey

is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God

never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is

up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for

an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't

save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will

this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did

or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd

grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Art Is You 2013

The Art Is You team, Sallianne and Ellen, are gearing up for next year's retreats.  The dates and places are set and information is starting to come online at the website.  If you have attended a retreat of this type then you know how fun and inspirational it is and if you haven't then it's time you found out.

This year when you go visit the website and choose which event you'd like to attend there is an intention button.   This gives  you the option to say you want to attend so when the classes come online you have first dibs!  I like that.  So go hit the intention button and I hope to see you in Petaluma where I'll be teaching and vending.

Click here to go to the website!

Studio Progress

I have spent the last few days working on my studio addition.  Thursday I primed and painted the walls,  yesterday I primed the cement floor, and today I will put the first coat of paint on the floor.

We had a winter storm come in which means lots of rain for us in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  It also means it will take the paint longer to dry so I will probably have to wait until tomorrow to add the second coat on the floor.

Michael will be putting the trim around window, door frame and along the wall/floor.  Next he will hook up the electrical in that room and remove the garage door.  After that I can move in.  Yahoo!

Of course moving and rearranging all my stuff will not be an easy task but one I will delight in tackling!  The construction clean up not so much. :-)  Sometime in the future the addition will get stucco and paint to match the existing part.

Donating for Hurricane Sandy Relief

I may be going out on a limb here but these are my thoughts on donating for the hurricane relief funds.  Over the many years that disasters have occurred the forefront organization to collect funds has been the Red Cross.  Millions upon millions of dollars have been donated but I have heard first hand from victims of two disasters (Loma Prieta Earthquake & Katrina) that the Red Cross was no where to be seen and not helpful on getting funds to those in need.  Here is one of the many articles about the mismanagement of this organization.  I'm not saying that the people involved don't help at all and I do believe many of the workers have their heart in the right place but the organization is so huge and widespread that the management begins to break down and the funds don't necessarily go where to the area that the donators think it is going.  So consider this before donating.  My two cents.

So where to donate?  I just read an article this morning about how Doctors Without Borders has set up station in New York to get medications and treatment to people who have been without heat. lights, and have no access to help.  Perhaps donating would help them.

Or  "Join Art is ......You, Adorn Me, An Artful Journey, The Artful Gathering and Vivi Magoo Presents as we raise much needed funds for essential personal and household items for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Donations go directly to Family-to-Family.  Go here to the Art Is You site for more information and links to donating and for an art raffle.

One more website for information and donating is New York mixed media artist Seth Apter's.  He has organized artists to donate items as an auction where the donations will go to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.

I hope you can donate whatever you can to help and have a good feeling that the people in need are being helped.

Missouri in the Fall

I know I'm a little late in posting these pictures of how beautiful autumn is in Missouri as the wind and rain have come and blown most of the leaves away, but I have just found time to load my photos onto the computer and the time to write.  I feel a little awkward posting lovely trees with sunlight glinting through them while the East Coast is looking at the massive amount of damage done and figuring out how to clean it all up.  Such a huge ordeal.

When I first arrived in St. Louis I went to stay at my friend Janet's and we went to meet an old friend, Joe, at his sisters for dinner.  Such a nice time reminiscing about high school days.  The next day I drove to Poplar Bluff to visit my folks.  My brother came from Texas with his wife and dog and it was a great time to see them all. We missed that my sister wasn't able to join us.

Drove to Big Springs at Van Buren and it was the perfect weather to walk around and marvel at the beauty.  With an average daily flow of 276 million gallons of water, Big Springs has been described as both the largest single-outlet spring in the United States and in the world.

We do not have the deciduous trees in California that are in Missouri so we don't get to see the colors of the leaves like this.

After the week in Poplar Bluff I drove back to St. Louis and participated in the Weavers' Guild of St. Louis annual show.  It was a great show and I got to see a lot of friends I have met over the years.

I am in Ashland now and will give my workshops this weekend and fly home early next week.  This is me on the road to St. Louis.

Take care everyone and especially all those on the East Coast my thoughts are with you.

Studio Progress

My husband and son Tony have been making great progress on my studio addition.  I am so excited to get extra space to work in!

There will be an overhang off the front with pea gravel around, a nice place to dye outside when the weather permits.

From the inside looking out.

When all is done I may plan to have an open studio, would you like to take a drive to the mountains to visit me?

Last Flourish of Summer

This morning the waning moon hung distant in the sky. The days are noticeably shorter.  Darkness comes at 7:30 but summer is still hanging on and sending temperatures soaring.  100 degrees yesterday.  Ninety degrees in San Francisco, unheard of!

Michael and I went to Capitola at the beach for dinner to sit outside where it was much cooler than here on our hill.  Cool enough the outdoor heaters were lit.

The garden still pushes it's produce but shows signs of winding down.

In my studio I've been dyeing and gathering items, making piles of like things to create with.  But not now, not today, it's a bit too warm and we don't have AC so I just putter around and sit in front of the fan stitching these scarves.

And I'll weave these crochet runners together with silk ribbons, both of which I've dyed using natural dyes.