I had it all wrong!

I thought being an artist or craftsman was about producing stunning pieces; to do that I needed focus and discipline. I tried, I really did. I would go to the studio with all the determination to focus in one medium and work on it until I perfected the process. But I had so many interests I could not focus on a specific project and when I tried to force it, the results were not satisfactory and I was not having fun. And then I would find myself dabbling a bit in sewing, a bit in card making, a bit in drawing, a bit in pastels, a bit in decoupage; you get the picture. And all the time I felt guilty and frustrated for not having discipline.

Then I had an epiphany! (Okay, I read a book.) This is the way I was created! Just as God gave me hazel eyes and curly hair, He gave me a bit of attention deficit.

Returning from our 2 month New England adventure, I went to the studio intentionally having no specific agenda, just follow my muse (actually for me that is the Holy Spirit) and see where it leads me. Guess what? I had more fun and, though not stunning masterpieces, I was happy with what I created. You see, even though I knew the process of creating was more satisfying than the finished project, I wanted the recognition of being an accomplished artist and craftsman. I tried to force myself to be something that was not part of God’s plan.

Since the first of November I have done a bit of sewing, a bit of stenciling, a bit of painting, a bit of organizing (yep, that’s a craft) and my current favorite, resin pour.

These inspirational blocks were made using photos from our travels, scrap wood and 2-part resin.

Following the directions in the resin kit it is very easy, just be sure your work surface is level (ask me why.)

With left-over resin, I created these cute little pins.

Oh, the book I am reading rereading is The Creative Call by Janice Elshiemer.

Wishing you joy and peace this Christmas season and a creative, fun New Year. Enjoy the process!

New Favorites!

We found a couple more favorite on our fall trip.

Loved getting off the interstate and getting a taste of the rural New England; looking forward to returning and exploring the beautiful back roads.

Stenciled using contact paper on Silhouette Cameo

Handy Randy and I love craft beer which led us to Ashville, N.C. where we found a new favorite. (We stopped in again on a recent trip to Wilingham; definitely a favorite!)

I was pleased with my attempt to recreate the Burial logo

Logo on a sticker

using 651 Vinyl cut with the Silhouette Cameo. The sickle was freehanded. South Slope was a contact paper reversed stencil.

In a few days we will be leaving on our winter trip to explore again in the southwest. Yep, I will be packing project supplies!

You can keep up with our travel adventures over on our retirement blog, Living Richly in Retirement.

Which way do we want to go?

Quite often we are asked about our favorite places in our travels. So, on a post here they are.

The signs are made from recycled fence pickets, stencils cut from contact paper using a Silhouette Cameo and painted with all-purpose craft paint.

Latest Prayer Flag

Having become involved with the Sew Powerful Purse Project, it seemed only fitting that I hang a prayer flag in the garden to remind me to offer prayer for the young girls in Zambia and for the team that works tirelessly to keep them in school.

I like using the prayer flags as a way to try out new techniques and products. Hanging out in the elements where they will eventually decompose and where no one will see all my little boo-boos makes for pretty much a stress free effort. Having read about using Terial Magic as a fabric stabilizer before cutting with the Silhouette Cameo, I gave it a try. I like it!  The fabric was very much like paper and didn’t fray with the cutting. According to the bottle it also works to stiffen fabric before printing fabric with the computer; I haven’t tried that yet but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. According to the instructions, the stabilizer washes out leaving a soft fabric. (Since this will be hanging in the garden, I saw no need to wash it.) 

Following the directions from the Silhouette School Blog, I ironed Heat ‘N Bond to the fabric before cutting the letters with the Cameo. There was one little glitch, the letters did not adhere to the black fabric. Hmm….I bet that is because I didn’t prewash the fabric as instructed. So fabric glue to the rescue. This stuff works really well; again it gets tested in the elements quite often.

I will post more about the Sew Powerful Purse project after I have more purses to show. In the meantime, I have found what I think will be an excellent resource for improving my sewing skills; and it is free! More about that later.

If you would like to see more of the prayer flags that are currently in my garden as well as those that have been retired, there is a link at the top of this page. More information about the Prayer Flag Project and directions for making prayer flags can be found here.

And my 2019 One Word is

I know, it is about six months late, but there is a reason for that.

In case you don’t know, One Word or Word of the Year is a concept where one chooses a word on which to focus or inspire throughout the year. It kind of replaces the New Year’s resolution. I put my word on a sign and hang it on the steps that lead to the studio where I will see it every day (at least on the days I am home.)

I actually chose my word earlier in the year, but am just now getting my sign made. If you have been following our retirement blog, you know we were on the road the first three months of the year, home in April to host for Quilt Week and on the road again for three weeks in May. Handy Randy (aka Captain) says there is not enough room in our little RV for the craft supplies I might need, (actually there could be enough room if we removed the wine cellar, but we won’t go there) so the sign had to wait.

I chose “fearless” as my word for 2019 because, well I am going to die. Yep, no way out of it. I don’t know when or how, but I am certain this body will die. While it is a non-negotiable fact, I do have some control as how to live until that appointed time.

I can make myself comfortable in our little bungalow, waiting for a cancer diagnosis or heart attack. With Google, I can research what could be a devastating symptom. I could put my doctor’s phone number on quick dial just in case Google isn’t conclusive. I could insist we move into a one level house to avoid the risk of falling down the stairs (or more likely, have a heart attack climbing up the stairs.) I could avoid making left turns when driving. Regardless of all the precautions I could take, it doesn’t change the fact; I am going to die.

So, do I want to spend so much of my allotted time obsessing over dying that I forget to live? Nah, I don’t think so. I want this “fearless” sign to remind me to go on an adventure, hike a mountain trail, push Handy Randy around on the tandem, dig in the garden and be free from fear and worry.

“Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?” Matt.6:27

Now, what to do with all these signs from years past? 

Recycle? Maybe. Or perhaps I should hang them on the back fence to create a little curiosity conversation piece. 

This is what I use to make the signs:

Scrap wood

Silhouette Cameo

Dollar Store contact paper for stencil

Craft Paint

  

When the cat husband is away, the mouse crafter will play.

At least that is the plan. As Handy Randy left this morning for a three week visit with his mom, I headed to the craft store to prepare for a three week marathon crafting retreat. (Well except for that pesky jury duty thing. Fingers crossed that it will be a sparse court docket.)

First thing on the agenda is to pick up a few supplies so my flow will need not be interrupted by a trip to the craft store.  I am in a no-rush, all about me mind frame, so I take my time browsing the aisles at Hobby Lobby.  One never knows what one might need that one didn’t know one needed. Interestingly the things that drew my eyes I already have in my studio stash; some of which I had forgotten I owned! What does checking my inventory in the retail shop say about me? I don’t think I want to know.

I did pretty well, buying only a couple of IDenti-pens for a project in progress (the reason excuse to go to Hobby Lobby) and a couple remnant fabric pieces for a Sew Powerful  purse. Oh, I also picked up some new Micron pens for doodling in case the jury duty doesn’t work out as I hope.

Sticking to my plan, I am in the studio this evening, working on a couple of drawings,

stenciling and painting a garden project

and prewashing fabric for a purse making session this weekend. 

My AADD soul is being fed!

Prayer Flags

Being away from The Underground 6 months of the year, I haven’t had much to share in the way of crafts. A friend’s art club is thinking about making prayer flags as a group project. Having made a number of prayer flags, I offered to share a bit of insight here on the blog.

I am not an artist, but have been a crafter as long as I can remember. I ran across an article about the Prayer Flag Project in a Cloth, Paper Scissors’ magazine in 2012. I was hooked. There is no right or wrong way to make them and, since they are made to hang outside in the elements, there is no need for perfection. It is an excellent way to use scraps and to try new techniques.

Below are directions copied from ThePrayer Flag Project website.

Here's Vivika DeNegre's tutorial on how to make a prayer flag. Feel free to be creative and change them to fit your own style. The dimensions used here are 5”x 8” dimension with a 3” hanging area (12.5 x 20.5 cm with a 7.5 cm hanging area) as described below.  Do sign and date your flag. Let me know via email that you are “praying along” and include a photograph of your work or link to a blog so I can post about your flags as well.

Also you can post your flags on our flickr group.

1. Create a place to thread a string by folding one short end over to the back by 3” and press, making a rectangle approximately 5”x8”.  

2. Choose a theme for your prayer, and embellish your flag with paper, painting, stitch, embroidery, buttons, etc.  You are only limited by your imagination and your stash.  Examples of flags can be seen on our flickr group.

3. Add words or journaling to your flag using free motion stitching, hand stitching or simply by writing in a permanent marker.

4. Sign and date your flag.

5. Join the Prayer Flag project (how to participate)

6. Hang it outside!

You will notice, nothing is said about hemming the edges. If you take a look at mine, you will notice most edges are hemmed.

Positive Prayer Flags

I participated in an artist Positive Prayer Flag exchange in 2017, none of the flags I received had hemmed edges, so I no longer hem mine. I wish I could share the beautiful, artistic flags I received, but I am not sure about copy rights and would not want to infringe.

When I am asked to do a workshop, I will take a width of fabric, cut it to an 11-inch length, fold down 3-inches, sew it and then cut into 5-inch widths, making several 5”X 8”-inch flags. Remember these will eventually disintegrate in the elements, so there is no need to back-tack.

As for fabric, I use whatever I have on hand. I really like using Everbilt drop cloth from Home Depot.It takes stenciling really well and the thread pulls easily for a fringe.

And it is inexpensive! (I use drop cloth in a lot of my crafts. It is a good idea to wash the cloth first.)

Pinterest and Instagram  are excellent places to find inspiration.

Click here to see some of my flags.

I hope the art club has a fun evening making Prayer Flags.

As for me, I will be living in a 200 square foot RV for the next few months. I have colored pencils, my Featherweight (aka Miss Wilma) and a bit of fabric with me. Maybe I will create something to blog about.