New Website

I am proud to announce that my new website is up and running! DH worked long and hard to set this up and I owe it all to him. He even translated the entire site! There is still work to do on it so it's not completely finished but it is well on it's way. Please stop by and take a gander. I would love to hear what you think!
www.cymberrain.com

Floss Candy Galore!

I have been crazy busy the last few days with a large dye batch I did. I wasnt planning on dyeing this week but then I received a custom order for some stone floss. That was all the incentive I needed so I set to work and dyed four different sets of stone colors along with another eight colorways besides those. I also did several silk ribbons. It doesnt matter how many times I dye it never gets boring. I just LOVE to play with the colors.


Even with the new studio setup I have been having quite the problem with where to put my pieces as I dye them. When I am doing a lot at a time I run out of space quickly. So I made this stacking box.


I have a ton of boxes from the move and they are fairly sturdy cardboard. I also had a big sheet of double cardboard. So I cut out shelves and mounted them in the box and then cut pieces of cardboard big enough to slide into the shelves as trays. I had a whole role of nice thicker plastic and covered all of the trays with that. Now I can just dye my floss right on the trays and slide them into the box. I was able to do my whole dye batch and had room left over. I love it, even if it is just a bunch of cardboard it works like a dream!

A lovely day in Strasbourg

DH and I wandered into Strasbourg Saturday afternoon just for. It was such a gorgeous day out and we have been missing the sun lately. What a perfect day. They were having an agricultural fair near where we got off the tram so we checked out all the tents. They had lots of baby animals on display. A bee hive, and a stand where you could milk a fake cow. The kids seemed to be having a lot of fun. They also had a huge tent where they were serving fresh flame roasted tarte flambe's which is a regional special here. Its like a cracker crust pizza with a cream sauce, onions, lardon and cheese. A whole tarte for only 5 euros! We couldnt resist and we were glad we couldn't because it was delish!.


After we left that area we came across this industrious crew of two working on this huge mural.

We took a few picks then, and also on our way back to the tram so you can see the progress.

I love exploring this city, every time I turn around I find another great viewpoint.

Peeks into alleys and gardens that are just wonderful.

The crooked rooftops are so enchanting, and the great dormer windows.

We happened upon this huge carousel that had two levels. So enchanting!

There was also a huge protest going on the whole time we were down there against Isreal. There were many youths there wearing flags as capes and parading up and down the streets and giving speeches. The police were out in force but we saw little action.
We came home tired but happy that night. I was so glad the next morning that we had gone on Saturday as we were hit with a HARD storm Sunday afternoon. I just snuggled up and finished my sugar skull...

Imagination Packs

I just thought I would make a quick post since I forgot to tell you all. I now have my Imagination Packs, the Autumn Forest Fiber Arts Fabric and Trims Pack and the Undersea Fiber Arts Fabric and Trims Pack available in my ArtFire Store. I really love this idea and plan on putting together some more if people are interested.

I am also stitching away on this idea.

which will be on the cover of one of the new Ipad covers I am designing. I am trying to come up with a nice design for my covers, something a little different from what is offered out there and hope my idea can be structured that way I want. Right now I'm just having fun stitching this in some beautiful silks I dyed. Wow do I love hand dyed fabric and thread. I dont think I could ever work with flat fabric again. The depth is just amazing!

The calm is finally setting in

I am falling into a routine I think. I am finally feeling at home here. I dont bump into walls in the middle of the night as often. I am finally getting a 'feel' to this house. My mind doesnt feel all cluttered and crazy like it has for the last few months. I can start letting some of the worry and stress go and start concentrating on my new life here. I have decided to spend the next month working hard to make some items to fill up my ArtFire shop We bought my son's ticket this weekend and he is coming at the end of June. I am SO excited! I want my shop running smoothly by then, nice and full of lots of pretties. Then I can spend my time with him having fun and not constantly worrying if I have enough on my shop. I have lots of ideas as always. Sometimes they just overflow my brain and I cant write them down fast enough. Having ideas is never my problem it seems. It is the making of them as each piece I make takes so long.


This piece that I showed you a glimpse of last post has progressed some more. It will be a choker with hand dyed silk ribons to tie it in back. I had in mind an elaborate celtic spiral centerpiece for it but then I saw the most lovely cabachons on an ArtFire store that I would love to feature on it that I am undecided as to what I want to do with it now.


I also started working on this, another of my favorite paisleys...the spiral sun. This will be an iphone cover and I plan on making several of these and/or ipad covers. I find it a perfect canvas for my embroidery and truthfully, I dont care what I make with it after I finish the embroidery. I just love having something to stitch.

I also have a huge pile of velvets I need to list so I plan on working on that this week. After these I am hesitating on dyeing anymore quarters. I havent been selling them much and wonder if the size is the problem? I wonder if people would enjoy my velvets in a larger size? I know the price is reasonable because I actually have it marked lower than other sellers who ARE selling their items. I dont think the colors are bad either so maybe it's just that I dont have the 'Name' that others have, or the contacts...

I just know that I want to get all this in order. So I dont need to worry about it as much. It's been such a disorganized mess since moving to Grenoble, and then on to here. I think once its all put in a managable form it will start running smoothly and I can concentrate more on my art. Because when it all comes down to it, I do this part so I can do my ART.