Allowing Nature To Have Her Say

I've had a few emails inquiring if I am okay since I haven't blogged much lately.

I want to say "Oh yes, I am fine!" but truth is -

I'm not.

I've got a bad case of the winter blahs...I'm ready to be playing around outside, aren't you?

I did go on a short bike ride (about 18 miles) with my husband this week.

I also went sledding with him and a few friends (and family members) in the great snow that we had.
And wasn't it wonderful to see 8-10 inches of snow in upstate SC??
I loved it!

I've been reading a lot (mostly in my Kindle).

Watching movies.

Moving supplies around on my studio table.

Looking at patterns (apparel!).
I am going to try to stitch up a few pieces of clothing.
I haven't sewn apparel in years (with the exception of fingerless gloves and scarves) and am itching to get started. I thought that I would start with a simple knit tee shirt.

What I would LOVE to have is a sewing group to bounce questions off of...
Any takers?
Maybe I'll search for one or create my own.
Email me (or comment below) if you're interested in being a part of a group like that.
It would be so much fun to sew the same thing together!

I must say that just jumped out of my fingers onto the "page". I never intended to broach that but now that it's out there- it sounds good.

I have done a little tiny bit of art work...teeny tiny bit for sure.
I've created a sample book for a project that I am putting off doing.

You can also see the turtle shell full of buttons
that I made from shed deer antlers.
Oh, and the sample (duct tape) book.

Yep, that same project that I have written about before.
I have completed reinforcing the spine of the signatures and punched the stitching holes.

I figured out the closure and I LOVE it! I can't wait to see if it is going to work the way I hope it does.
I've got the cover completed and just need to tweak one little thing before I attach it (after the signatures are in).

Tonight (or tomorrow) I am going to stitch the signatures in.
I am, I promise!

Here's a sampling of the pages just waiting to go in.

Here's a peek or two of the rusty threads, fiber, and cloth on the cover.
The cloth that is not rusted is naturally dyed.

I've allowed Nature to have her say on this one.

There you have it - a quick synopsis of the past few weeks.
Without all of the hot tea, coffee and chocolate of course...

Sunday Urban Sketching

My husband and I were riding our bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail today (rode apx. 25 miles).
I went up to the A.J. Whittenburg Elementary School of Engineering to look around.
Imagine my surprise (and delight) when I saw the play area that had A.J. the robot as part of the slide arrangement!
What a fantastic idea.
I had to stop and sketch while my husband rode into Falls Park.
I want to go back and sketch the play area at the Kroc Center - it looks like a huge molecule!

140 pound watercolor (single sheets to be sewn into a handmade sketchbook), watercolors, Pitt pen. Apx 20 minutes with a few details done at home.

No Swimming

I can't believe that it's been over a week since I posted!
I'm not an everyday blogger by any means but I usually have something new at least three times a week...
Not to say that I don't have anything new - just haven't posted it.

My husband and I ride bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail here in Greenville SC (which is an AWESOME trail btw).
We usually ride up to Furman University, around their lake and back to downtown Greenville.
At Furman, they have beautiful swans swimming around, humorous ducks and shy turtles.

They also have a small chained in area at the lakes edge.
For several weeks, there was a black swan in the fence...
Then a white swan...
Now no swan.

We can't quite figure it out but this photo that my husband shot may shed a little light on the subject...

The swans in question must have been swimming when the "No Swimming" police went by...