Studio

Eric and I are both artists. I also sew, crochet and craft. You'd think that with two creative types that we'd make a studio space a major priority. Well, we haven't really given ourselves a good space to work. The result is that we end up with projects scattered around the house and many projects that wait and wait and wait. Recently it has become abundantly clear that we need to make a space that is just for creating. We have both had a lot of commissions and inspiration and we just cannot have a dozen paintings and prints laid out in the kitchen, waiting for a splash of sauce or 3 year old fingerprints.

We really want to rent a workspace downtown, but decided that it would be in our best interest to wait a year or so while we pay down hospital bills and such. So we started looking around the house and tried to figure out just how we used our space. Finally we zeroed in on the guest room (click here) and realized that we have company 5-7 times a year. The space was good for a studio, but we didn't know what to do with the guest bed when it wasn't in use. Then...on a hunch...I tried stuffing the bed, the WHOLE bed into the large closet space. The bed fit, along with all of our stored artwork. Sheesh that closet is huge.

Next we set to work organizing the space so that it would fit our needs which included: drawing, painting, printmaking, sewing, crocheting, a bit of knitting, jewelry making, and too many random crafts to count. We set up a few major stations and have been settling into the space over the last couple of weeks. I must admit that we have both been in there working each and every day since the space was made. Wooo! We can also turn it back into a guestroom easily so company will still have a space!























Do you have a studio?

Currently

Currently I am...


~Loving the turkeys that come out of the mountains this time of year.

~Crocheting hats.

~Updating Wyoming Rose....check out our new stuff.

~Working on art for an upcoming show.


~Enjoying the cool fall air. I stepped outside this morning onto a carpet of leaves (bare footed thank you very much) and watched my breath hang on the air in small clouds of white.


~Adoring our little family of pumpkins

~Working on a shadow box. Results to follow tomorrow or the next day.

~Trying to decide if I should frame my Master's Degree or just wear it like a giant necklace...

~Keeping an eye on Bumblebee. She is still recovering from last week's surgery, but she is well I assure you.

~Practicing yoga with Cordelia.


~Reveling in the golden light filtering through the trees.

~Trying to decide if I have it in me to make a new bedspread.

~Plugging along through my classes for the semester. My students just had fall break, can't believe that the semester is halfway over.

~Enjoying Pinterest.


~Avoiding any raking.

What are you up to???

Pirates, Green Baby Fingers(or toes), Animals, Flowers

We are off to a slow start to this morning. The last bits of illness are being coughed out in a symphony of hacking between Cordelia and I. We are both feeling fine, but the little bits of cough tend to linger as a phlegmy souvenir of this weekend. I am not really dressed for the day. I am wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt from the Alamarosa truck stop/restaurant. Despite how this may sound I have been super busy this morning and Cordelia has been playing like she's making up for lost time. She only stops briefly to hug or smooch me. Her hugs are always a little overwhelming and I end up with a head butt or a handful of hair missing from my scalp, but who can complain about sweetness at its most intense?

Cordelia wearing a pirate dress and sporting a serious case of bedhead

Elsewhere the house is calm. The sun is streaming in through the open curtains. The cats are lounging downstairs.

Ophelia


Mia

Bumblebee has quietly climbed onto the couch (she knows it is against the rules). I didn't bother to enforce the rules this morning. Bad and inconsistent of me. Shame---or I should feel shame, but generally I feel apathetic. Bum is such a sweet girl that I just don't mind this little indescretion. Ceasar Milan would not approve!

Sneaky Bumblebee

While the animals have been snoozing and Cordelia has been playing I have been crafting tons of flower clips. Why, you may be asking, am I making so many flower clips (see here for the tutorial)? I am so glad you asked. Well, on the 24th of this month my mother and I are going to be participating in our first craft fair with Wyoming Rose goodies. Between the two of us we are crocheting and crafting up a storm!

Pile of flowers

Finally, on a completely unrelated note check out this plant...

This succulent plant is called either baby fingers or baby toes. The translucent tips are where photosynthesis occurs. Cool huh?!

How is your morning going?

Project: Flowers and GIVEAWAY WINNER

I love flowers, a lot. Maybe it is because my middle name is Rose, not really sure. Maybe it is because I can be a bit of a girlie girl. I often wear flowers in my hair. My friend Sarah commented on it the other day. She mentioned that it was my "thing". I shared with her a little secret, I did not invent the trend of flower wearing. So, I invited her over to make some flower clips of her very own. Now, I did not invent the burnt flower technique, but there are many variations on it. I thought I would share with you how I go about it.

Supplies

• Satin fabric. You really don't need a lot. I bought 1/2 a yard of several different colors and I can make about one zillion flowers from this.
• Paper and pencil
• Something round to trace, I used a small cup
  
• Felt square, you won't need much (the vegan in me says to use synthetic felt and not wool felt)
• Needle and thread to either match or contrast your button and/or fabric
• Hair clip
• Candle and something to light it with
• Scissors
• Pinking shears, not necessary, but helpful
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  
• Buttons
• Beads, glitter, other ephemera (optional)

Directions
First you will need to trace and cut out a circle onto a piece of paper. The finished flower will be about one to two inches smaller than the circle you trace.



Take your satin fabric and fold it several times, you will want 6-8 circles. Pin your paper circle to the top of the folded fabric.



After you have cut out your circles you can remove the paper and pin. Hold your stack-o-circles in one hand and cut at an angle into the center to create the petals. Be careful not to cut all the way to the center, you will need an area to sew them together in a bit. I think I cut about 5 petals, but you can experiment and see what you like.



Now it's time to add an element of danger to this. Who needs safe crafting right? Grab your candle and light it. I do this next to the sink in case things get out of hand. Just use common sense and don't set yourself, your home, or anything else ablaze please.



Grab your circles of fabric one at a time and hold each petal to the flame, but not actually touching the fire. The fabric will curl away from the flame and darken. Note that if you have pre-washed the satin it may react a little differently to the fire and burn a bit more easily. You can play around a bit here and see how holding the circle at different angles results in different effects.



Once you are happy with each circle you can stack them back into a pile (once the risk of fire has passed). Blow out your candle and move over to your button stash.



Choose a button to go with your flower. Sew the button to the pile of circles. Once the button is secured and the flower is stable you are ready to finish this flower up.



Set your flower aside for a moment (you can take a second to admire your handiwork if you like). Grab your felt and cut a rectangle that is about the same width and length as your hair clip. I used the pinking shears to cut it out. This is also a good time to note that you will want your flower to be slightly larger than the clip, if it is small you can just make two flowers to attach to the clip.

When you have a rectangle of felt cut out you fold it in half lengthwise and snip it twice in the middle, don't cut all the way through, the idea is to make some slits.



Slide the top of your clip through the slits you just cut.



Now use your hot glue gun to adhere the flower(s) to the felt and the pin. Now you can add beads to the button top, some glitter, a little bee, whatever strikes your fancy.You're done!



They make great hair clips, but you are really limited only by your imagination. I can think of many places that I might need flowers (presents, decoration, headbands, necklaces, wristlets, shoes, bags, etc).


Crazy excited about her flower



Go forth and have a creative weekend. If you make these I'd love to see what you come up with, just send me a link.



GIVEAWAY WINNER!
The winner was chosen by way of the random number generator and the winner is...
AKM! Congratulations and please contact me to ensure that I have your mailing address.

Stay tuned I have some big giveaway plans in the not too distant future.

My New Obsession

Last week I was over visiting with my mother. She was working on an adorable crocheted hat for a friend. She put a crochet needle and some yarn in my hands (talk about an enabler). One thing led to another and before I knew it I had fallen into a crocheted vortex. I have been crocheting hats like a woman possessed----think mashed potato Devil's Tower from Close Encounters of the 4th Kind, but not really.



I have been crocheting on the couch, in bed, in the car, at the table, while baking, while entertaining company...it's kinda weird.



What do I have to show for this weird effort? A lot of hats...my mother and I are hoping to sell them here in town, online, and perhaps at a craft fair. There are big hats, little hats, boy hats, girl hats, hats with ears, faces, bows, flowers, etc.

What is your obsession?

Project Update

Well, I know I told you I was nearly done with my first ever quilt and I am, but I have been having some sewing machine issues. I think I need to take it in to the shop. I have tried everything suggested in the manual. So now I am finishing off my quilt by hand. I am veryclose to being done and the end results will be posted ASAP.

In other news I went fabric and supply hunting at the local thrift stores. I found some zippers, bias tape and these great fabrics. I had a great time looking through vintage sheets and old tablecloths as well as fabric remnants. With the remnants I always wonder what their purpose was supposed to be and why they were never fully utilized.

I also had fun looking through the old craft books from the 60s, maybe not projects that I currently want to do (tin can shakers, lamps from boots, etc.), but it is interesting to see projects that were all the rage in the past. I wonder what trends will define our time?

Do you hunt for crafty supplies at thrift stores? What's your best ever find?