Halloween...where?

Me as a tattooed lady one year for HalloweenHere in France Halloween is not really celebrated. Too many people here view it as a commercial holiday and have no interest in it. If you are lucky you might see a few children wondering to and fro, hoping to find someone with some candy. Occasionally you will find a store that actually has a selection of costumes and decorations, but for the most part...

And we pass into autumn

The days are growing shorter and the leaves are finally starting to change color. The heat is on and I keep my blanket on my lap while I work these days. I love this time of year though. Mother Earth prepares for sleep and I see long quiet days ahead of me. Time to create. I no longer cringe at the thought of the holidays. They are not so hectic here. The crazy shopping frenzies are behind me.I have...

Explosion of color

I have been working myself silly here, so much so that the days have just flown by. I was kinda shocked to realize that it was Friday already and I hadn't posted here all week. I went a little dye crazy...well actually a LOT dye crazy, and I'm not even done yet. I still have a pile of ribbons in the soda ash waiting their turn on the dye table. I have spent days ironing and photographing. I have...

Dye experiments and more quilting

I have been busy at my dye table. First off I decided to make color samples on velvet so I have a reference point. I will be working up combination recipes also. I like the convenience of quick mix colors but I started with a few colors and learned to combine them into more, and I like to have a nice list of known colors that I can make in an instant. I will never stop my experimenting and love...

Variegated Embroidery Floss

I made a small sampler (by small, I mean REAL small) to show people how my variegated embroidery floss looks as a cross stitch or as an embroidery stitch. I just used a few simple stitches, chain stitch, feather stitch and cross stitch. I then posted this to my ArtFire blog. I plan on posting short articles over there dealing mainly with my hand dyed items and possibly a series on the different types...

Star Dreams WIP

Spent this last evening quilting on this piece. It has grown quite heavy but the work is still soothing. I love how this is turning out. Each stitch is another peaceful moment. I look back at the last several months, how scattered I have been, and feel that my thoughts, just like this cloth, are finally coming back togeth...

Full moon out my window

This is my latest little piece. I had a lot of fun making this. I fell back into the groove quickly, and found myself happily stitching away without a care in the world. I love how this came out so far and can't wait to see it mounted on a piece of velvet with the edging around it. Another silk velvet bag in the making. I plan on doing several different bags this next month or so. I really enjoy...

Star Dreams and new work

So I spent the evening dreaming of stars and stitching new things.It has a calming effect on me. My body is still sore and my thoughts still tangled but I am working in the right direction I think. I have pushed too hard and expected too much and now it's time let go of the expectations, take some time to just sit,relax and enjoy the cloth and the thread.I like these two pieces. They both speak to...

Introspection

I am in a bit of a melancholy mood today and can't seem to shake it. It started out by waking up to a pain day, after going to bed from a pain day yesterday. Then going into the studio and turning on my computer to find that it died again last night. Did I not learn my lessons the last time? Why have I not backed up my files for over a month? All my plans, schedules, photos, notes, etc. Gone.Most...

Slow stitching

It has been quiet here. Hubby drowses on the couch, healing slowly. I putter around trying to make sense of my vast pile of To-Dos. Yesterday I spent the larger part of the day setting up the new shop and starting to list but in the evening I turned to my cloth.This cloth has brought me much solace. The slow regular stitching bringing comfort and peace in this time of much distress. When I look...

Things Are Looking Up!

My honey returned home yesterday and I finally quit holding my breath.He is a little worse for the wear but nothing time wont heal. I have him plumped up with lots of pillows upon the couch and it is good to see his face here again. It is a lonely place, this house, without him here.The Rainbow Fingers of cymberrain Goes Live!I have tried to keep busy as much as possible even with this upset. Today...