Of Stuff and Things

When I begin a project I like to have everything at hand.  In fact I like to have more than I'll probably need -- just to be on the safe side.  

So you could say that my 'mouse journeys' started with a trip to Etsy.  There I found two wonderful sources for felted wool - TaDaa Studio and Felt On The Fly.  Each has beautiful colors and were so helpful in my search for 'mouse' shades.

Next came thread.  I dove into my stash of "Wildflowers" thread by Caron.  These were left overs from my punchneedle days and with their variegated tones turned out to be perfect.

Ahh, a few smooth rocks for weight.

Last, but certainly not least, were the buttons.  Now who could ever have TOO many buttons?  Not I certainly.  No matter what I'm working on, I always tend to add new buttons to my collection just in case...

So my days of procrastination are over and it is time to get stitching...

"There's nothing wrong with procrastination.  Or is there?  I'll leave it to you to decide, but only if you have the time." - Craig Brown

The Fun Always Begins...

...with a mess or two.

...some painted Osnaburg fabric...

... some thread, some lace, some embellishments -- and a bit of anticipatory joy thrown in.  Is not the beginning of a project the very best time of all?

"To find a form that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now." - Samuel Beckett

What is it?

Living in North Carolina we see lots of these spindles in antique and thrift shops.  They were used for the threads that were created and then woven into mostly utilitarian items such as sheets, towels, socks, etc.  The textile industry has all but disappeared from this area, unfortunately robbing many people of their work and livelihood.  

This spindle attracted my eye several years ago.  Although as you can see it was not originally from this area, it was so lovely that I brought it home.  Today it is becoming a tribute to those many people who worked in the textile mills throughout this area.  It was difficult work and took place in mills that operated with none of the 'comforts' of today's factories.

Of course my tribute will include punchneedle embroidery but who knows what else. What kinds of embellishments will I use?  I find that it is sort of creating itself as I go along.

"Humankind has not woven the web of life.  We are but one thread within it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.  All things are bound together.  All things connect." - Chief Seattle

Feeling Grey

I don't know whether its because we've had a lot of grey, overcast days interspersed with rain lately -- or because many of my morning walks seem to be into the fog -- but I've become smitten with the color grey.

I feel myself being drawn to these misty, soft shades of grey with perhaps a little bit of soft blue or lavender thrown in.  Usually this is a light, bright tones time of the year - but I keep thinking of the softness of grey and its counterparts and I am drawn into its mystery and magic.

Recently I went to a Quilt Shop Hop where I seriously looked for grey fat quarters and the other day I spent a beautiful hour in the "Asheville Cotton" store where I searched out shades of grey to add to my collection.

I'm not sure what I'll do with all these fog, mist, ocean, clouds, steam, smoke shades but here they lay ready and waiting.

The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Carl Sandburg

Blank 'canvas'

This 'page' is sitting on my table waiting for stitching and embellishment.  Although this isn't really a 'blank' canvas as I have already put a collage of fabric and paper upon the true blank page -- it is still 'blank' from my standpoint.

It needs more layers -- its needs some embellishment and most of all it needs stitchery.  The stitchery is the 'exciting' part.  What stitches will I use?  What would go here and over there?  How many French knots or x's should go in this spot? 

Okay time to thread the needle...

"At no time are we ever in such complete possession of a journey, down to its last nook and cranny, as when we are busy with preparations for it." - Yukio Mishima