TRUMPET LILY

 This flower thing could get out of hand....every street in our community is named after a flower. My newest piece is made mostly with hand ice-dyed cottons. SOLD

"Trumpet Lily" - 13" x 13"

I must also share today's happy dance. The gal who purchased my previous piece, "California Poppies" sent me a video of her opening the box that arrived today for its reveal. What a thrill to see someone so delighted and in love with my work! Made my day for sure!!

WOW!

The delightfully quick sale of my last project, 'California Poppies' has helped to get my creativity geared back up.  This moving thing sure had me down and floundering.

The name of my new town is Roseville.....obviously flowers are the focus everywhere. Our community's road's names are all floral based......daily forced marches bring me new ideas and a recognization that I knew so little about flower varieties.  Trumpet Lilies have caught my attention.

Here's the beginning of a new piece......keep watching won't you??

CALIFORNIA POPPIES

 What a delight to create a small piece with my new inspirational surroundings!

I ice-dyed this linen handkerchief numerous years ago and couldn't bring myself to use it....now was the time.

And ta-da......it's finished.....

CALIFORNIA POPPIES - 13" X 13"

Ice-dyed linen, ice-dyed cottons and some batiks.

Machine appliquéd, thread painted, hand embroidered, & machine quilted.  Wrapped onto a canvas frame and secured in wood frame.

Available for purchase. - NOW SOLD

HOW SOON I FORGOT......

First let me say, I know it's been awhile since I posted.....really I do nothing much here except continue to settle in which means multiple appointments to establish new doctors which always leads to more appointments for tests and procedures.  Such a hassle!!

However, I did have a little free time to start a small project using an ice-dyed linen handkerchief.  My inspirations have shifted from the Blue Ridge Mountains to my new environment.  Poppies have caught my eye.

In my enthusiasm to get going, I (dah) totally didn't think through the process.  I traced a poppy shape on tissue paper which normally I'd pin to a piece of stabilized fabric. Then simply sew over the traced lines.  In my haste, I decided to avoid having to stitch around pins and did a very light application of wash out spray adhesive instead.  Of course the paper was impossible to remove.

Back to a sensible approach which honestly I haven't used in YEARS......clear washout stabilizer.

Once stitched, I trimmed the excess film away and soaked it in water to dissolve.

Now that's better...honestly, what on earth was I thinking previously!?!

Stay tuned for the reveal of this small California Poppy piece.

 

THIS AND THAT

 Yes, we are STILL getting settled...sigh.... Even after selling excess stuff for 2+ months before leaving NC, we still have more than we can use. BUT, because I've collected antiques for over 50 years....it's hard giving up items that one has stripped to its bare wood and refinished.

Here's a look at some wood carvings I've repurposed.

Also I did a bit of sewing...made three mini notebook covers using small pieces of ice-dyed silk noil that I couldn't bear to part with.

LITTLE PROJECTS

 Having a bit of fun making bento bags.....simple once the folding/sewing steps are understood.  Great projects for those special fabrics you have been saving!

A LITTLE GELI PRINTING

 Yeah, I got my hands dirty with two new friends doing some gel printing.  It's HOT here....next 3 days temps. will be over 100.....good grief.  So we got started early, 8:00 AM and puttered till just before noon.  Paint started to dry nearly as fast as we put in on the plates....time to stop.

My goal was to create some background pieces to use in small landscape work.  Mission accomplished.  

I got so busy and focused I didn't take any photos till I got home and laid out my treasures.  Thanks to Michelle and Mary Lee for including me.