The sabbatical is over

and I am back in the studio. Well, I was back in the studio, but currently I am in Texas. Since retirement a couple of years ago, I have been on the road as much as I have been at home.

Over the summer we did an epic western USA tour in The Wanderer. I won’t bore you with a bunch of photos or details, but will share a few art and craft finds.

In Eugene, Oregon we stumbled across Mindy’s Needlepoint Shop.

In addition to fabulous needlepoint canvases, she had an overwhelming amount of embroidery and needlepoint thread, a huge selection of the cutest buttons and a collection of “Outside the Box” unique, boutique style clothing and jewelry. (I came away with some embroidery thread and a really cute tunic.)

While in Eugene, we visited Aragon Alpaca Farm. Ann Dockendorf showed us around the farm and

her shop, A Spinners Barn.

A haven for knitters and spinners!

While in Seattle, I had to explore the artsy community, Pioneer Square.

In Santa Fe we explored Georgia O’keefe Museum

In Taos we spent a whole afternoon exploring galleries and shops.

I have to share a couple of ideas for crafting with wine corks we found while wine tasting in Washington and Oregon.

Will do this one,

this one, probably not.

I would like to say I am in Texas for an art retreat, arts and craft show or maybe a workshop, but actually we are here for football. I did pack some embroidery and drawing material. Perhaps I will create a fabulous piece of art to share……. (more likely I will share some sincere attempts.)

Gig'em Aggies!

My Thanksgiving Guilt Trip

Happy Thanksgiving to all my crafty friends! Wow, do I have so much for which to give thanks! Retirement, opportunity to travel, good health, a warm and cozy home (complete with a craft studio with more craft supplies than I will ever use,) totally awesome friends, a wonderful family that loves me (even if they don't understand me) and of course HR (whatever would I do without Handy Randy?) 

I don't know about you, but I sort of feel guilty to be so fortunate. While I leisurely drink my coffee each morning, reading the news, blogs and emails, there are women struggling to find food to feed their family. Many cannot read because they live in a culture that does not embrace a woman's right to be educated. When I go to my studio in my free afternoons, I often "struggle" to decide just what project in which to become immersed. Many mothers and grandmothers in the world do not have "free time" and if they did they would not have the resources to create for fun. When we go off in The Wanderer to explore our great nation, I am reminded of refuges camping in tents to survive oppression. I ask myself, do I ignore the plight of grandmothers, mothers and young girls not as fortunate or do I find a way to use my passion to craft to help ease the struggles (and my guilty conscience.) This is an issue that has taken a great bit of real estate in my mind of late and is leading me to search for a resolution.

So, do y'all know of organizations that would like to have donations of craft items? Sewing, knitting, crocheting, paper; if it is not a craft in my skill set, perhaps I can pass the info through The Underground to other crafters. Or maybe you have other ideas on using the craft passion obsession to serve others? Please share your knowledge and ideas in the comments below.

Now that I have that off my mind, I am leaving you with the instructions on making this really easy centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.

All you need is a pumpkin, moss, succulents and a glue gun.

First put some moss on the top of the pumpkin using a glue gun (or you could use spray adhesive.) Do not cut the top off the pumpkin.

Take succulent cuttings and glue to the moss. That is it!

Note, this arrangement will last for several weeks. When you no longer want it or the pumpkin starts to decay, slice the top off the pumpkin, leaving the succulents attached; plant the pumpkin top in an appropriate size pot with potting soil and water rarely. The succulents will continue to grow.

BTW, I was at the Farm Patch in College Station over the weekend, they still have pumpkins and a nice selection of succulents.