Catching Up...

Welcome to my new home! This is a collage that my friend and downstairs neighbor, Angela, made. She is an awesome artist with pen-and-ink and collage. I was admiring her work one evening and she just gave it to me! It's mounted on the wall in my hallway, and I'm honored that it hangs in my new home.

This is a two-bedroom apartment -- the spare room is a WIP for my workroom. For some reason, I just don't like the word "studio" in connection with my work. Yet. Perhaps I'm a WIP, too??!!

The other reason, besides needing a workspace, that I chose a 2-bedroom is, naturally, my Sanity (*grin*), aka The Piano, needed space. A 1-bedroom would have had me sleeping UNDER the piano, with my workspace in the bedroom. That scenario had no appeal for me (duh!!). Of course, I sort of neglected to tell the piano movers that I was on the second floor, and my Sanity weighs rather a lot (over a ton). I do believe I actually learned new words, as well as new and inventiveways to string said words together!!

Be brave! Be optimistic! And I'll be back!

I'm Baaaack!!

Hey, everyone! I have FINALLY been able to acquire a computer. Just yesterday. (*GRIN*) I'm getting it up and running, software loaded, and pix prepared to post.

I have started a second blog, Tumbleweed Designs. Over the next few days, I will be posting personal work here and professional work by Tumbleweed Designs there. Please stay tuned...I have been faithful about taking pictures through these last painful, computer-less months (the library here does not allow one to upload anything on their system, which make sense of course, but is SO inconvenient!!), so please stay tuned!

Be patient! Be adventurous! And I'll be back!

And So 2008 Begins...

Hey! Slowly but surely, things are getting into shape. Not BACK into shape, but INTO shape. A dear friend sent me a wonderful gift, and in it also was enclosed a piece of blank paper. She had written on it: Your new life is a blank page, and only you can write on it. I have taken her statement to heart!

I have a new Haiku for 2008, one with a definite positive outlook! Entering it at the beginning of the year as a forecast, rather than at the end of the year as an observation, seems to change my perspective towards a more enlightened attitude!

And, poking around again, I have come up a couple mention-worthy spaces. A friend of a friend has a blog and a new website -- Judy Whitehead is an art quilter and also a fiber-dyer extraordinaire! Do go visit her new space -- and her blog, Sodypop's Creative Journey. Judy features some wonderful colors in her work, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on some!

From Judy's blog, I followed along to The Illustrated Garden. I will be visiting this blog frequently, and Val's website. Val Webb is a highly accomplished botanical illustrator, and you will spend a lot of time drooling at her inspirational work. I strongly recommend that you visit her!

Because I have no computer at the moment, I am still at the library and thus unable to post pix at this time. That should change shortly, I hope, and there will be several entries with all pix and no (or very little!) text!

I want to thank all my readers at this time for y'all's undying patience and fortitude during this period of readjustment. I have found my strength, however, and am forging ahead full speed.

Be attentive! Be a listener! And I'll be back!!

YESSSS, it IS a new year!

Last year sucked. It really bit the bullet. As a series of Learning Experiences (tongue in cheek here, please!), it was an unqualified success. Is it possible to groan and grin at the same time??!!

I raise a toast to the New Year, to 2008 and all its unexplored corners, unmet opportunities, and unmapped possibilities for success and happiness!! And, of course, a few less not-so-positive experiences.

For all my readers, I give you warmest regards and best wishes for a peaceful and satisfying 2008!!

Be curious! Be adventurous! And I'll be back!

"Slow and Steady..."

ring pillow
Originally uploaded by Marjorie from Illnois.

I'm snatching a few moments on the computer at the library, came across this beautiful piece by my friend Marjorie on Flickr. Along the lines of Sharon B's post (www.inaminuteago.com), and others' posts, on the current theme of "Slow". Sometimes fast is good, depending on the circumstances, but I do truly believe that when you take time and care in creating something, its beauty lasts so much longer.

Although this lovely piece is for Marjorie's niece's wedding, I find it fascinating that she had included the turtle. It puts me in mind of Aesop's fable of the turtle and the hare, where slow and steady gets it done best.

Yet More Computer Trials!

Yet again, Real Life is using my rear end for a target. Due to unforeseen and *deeply* unappreciated circumstances, I have recently been informed that I have lost my email account that I have had for seven years- "texascalamityjane". I can now be reached at tumbleweeddesigns dot sarahe at gmail dot com, or txstitchermom at gmail dot com. For any of you out there who may be reading this, please take pity on me, as not only did I lose the email and address books, but I also lost my groups pages. If you know of me through a group, or have contacted me privately in the past, *please* forward links and email addresses, as I am completely starting over, just like in my Real Life!

Be perceptive! Be amazed at what you can do! And I will be back!

Computer Troubles

My best friend is writing this for me because I have no computer. My first one died after only a few days in my new nest, but one of my daughters came to my aid and lent me hers. She, unfortunately, in the manner of a true budding Computer Queen, had turned off her virus and firewall protections in the hope that she would be able to do something she had been unable to do.
Hmph.
She never turned them back on.
In fact, in a typical teenagerly way, bless her heart, she completely forgot to tell me. So within 24 hours, another computer lay gasping its death throes out in front of me. So it may be a couple to a few weeks before I am again a Whole Blogger. I will try to check in periodically through my long suffering dearest friend ( any typos are her fault!), and thank you all in advance for your patience.
While I am gone, be experimental! Be amazed! And I'll be back!

Crewel Choices

Crewel choices
Originally uploaded by Marjorie from Illnois.

You MUST click on this to get a larger view...absolutely exquisite work! Not only is it a great example of needlework, but also the variegations of color are worth a study as a background for other ideas in many types of needle-related arts. Enjoy!

P.S. I'm baaaaack.....be scared! be silly! be fun, and I'll be back!!

Huge Texas regards to all my readers for putting up with this temporary upheaval in my life...GRACIOUS, I've missed being here!!

YAY!

I was so pleased to receive notice that my blog has been listed at FiberArtsOnline!! For those of you who are unaware of this fabulous resource, I strongly recommend that you visit the site. There are directories for Business and Art, lists of organizations world-wide, all kinds of resources, and an Artist Gallery. I confess, I'm quite thrilled to be there now, and I hope all of you will pop on over and investigate the site -- it is seriously worthwhile!

Be curious! Be interested! And I'll be back!!

Paisley Embroidery on Paper

Paisley embroidery on paper
Originally uploaded by dogdaisy92.

This is another piece of Jackie's wonderful work. I love the paisley shapes, of course, and the colors are my favorite combinations. But what really gets me is if you click on this for a close up, it looks like lace. IMHO, it's an amazing piece of work. Here's Jackie's flickr link so you can see more of her stuff:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogdaisy92/

There are so many wonderful artists out there, periodically I'll feature others. Today, however, I wanted to show off Jackie's work not only because she sent me a personal piece, but also because I have a genuine admiration for and excitement about her stuff.

Enjoy!

Be adventurous! Be different! And I'll be back!!

Sumptuous Swirls

Sumptuous Swirls
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

This luscious piece was sent to me by my friend Jackie C. Her work is utterly captivating!! She's in Greece for a couple weeks where I hope she's getting lots of inspiration because all her work is just beautiful!

Change Is Good!!

On another note, many of you may be aware that Sharon Boggon of Inaminuteago has had a change of link. I've changed her link in my Sidebar -- it's now http://sharonb.wordpress.com. She's been talking about scrumbling lately, as well as her usual many other wonderful posts and topices, so toddle on over and say "hey!" Do be sure to change your own link in your favorites -- http://sharonb.wordpress.com. Enjoy!

Be observant! Be curious! And I'll be back!!

To Explore Is To Learn!

On that, here's a new-for-me place I've just found...alteredkat has a neat site called Great Musings. I'm putting GM in my Sidebar, too, because there is a lot of great information there as well as vintage images and generous freebies and other stuff! So go visit Great Musings as you're exploring around today!

Be inquiring! Be thoughtful! And I'll be back!!

Looking Forward to FIBERWORX!!

Although I do say in my Sidebar that from time to time I will share glimpses of my personal life, I do think y'all have had quite enough of this particular episode. SO NOW...(drumo roll, please...!!) BACK TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF, the stuff of which life and dreams are made: creating what you love!! In this case, fiberworx!!

Today, in between packing, I will be sewing like a fiend to finish my JQ piece for Houston. I have chosen two WISPs that I REALLY want to be done this week, and I have a TAST item that will going up here for (gentle) comment!

Stay tuned! Be forward-looking! Be excited about today! And I'll be back!!

Onward and Upward!

I apologize for my recent absence. As a couple good friends know, 4 weeks ago this Wednesday, DH informed me via telephone we were to be no more. The first days after that I was devastated, much less being able to pick up a needle and focus. But time passes, yada yada yada! So I'm packing my life, and moving it to a neat-o torpedo little apartment in Waxahachie.

The Big W is a wonderful town just down the road, lots of history, and most of the folks I know. It has a great library (historic building), super bead store (Bead Barn) and quilt shop (Common Threads Quilting), all within a couple blocks so I continue to not need a car. YAY!

Truthfully, I find myself a bit excited about this new turn in my life! I have been given a generous financial settlement, and I have received some help from another quarter. My Treasure has graduated from high school and is making college plans. I will have the chance to work with my fibers and fabrics full-time, in an extra room at the apartment (I got a two bedroom). AND, I already have some chances for a local exhibit and marketing opportunities. It will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it!!

So wish me luck! And stay tuned...although I'll be moving on the 15th, I'll be working like a fiend inbetween.

Be daring! Be imaginative! And I'll be back!!

The Teen with the Jeans!! (see previous post!)

My Treasure
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

I wanted to let you know that just because one loses something does not mean one has lost everything. As you can see above, I have a Fabulous Treasure!

Two weeks ago tomorrow, via telephone, I suffered another personal relationship loss. At first I was devastated. But I find that all is not lost, in truth. And as I learn to see with my Sarah eyes again, I think that perhaps this is a good thing that has happened.

I have, as you see, my daughter who is as beautiful inside as she is outside. In spite of transmogrifying health issues, my hands, fingers and smile still work. Oh yeah, and my feet, in case I have to give anyone a little kick in the ankle (cheeky grin!!). And I have my friends, both in real life and in our textile/fiber/fun-with-fabric-creativity community (I defy Germaine Greer (click for story) to pound THAT down [grin!])

Blogging may (or may not!!) be a bit less frequent as I pack and move and unpack (I expect a group groan of sympathy here), but please know I am truly a blessed woman. And I am made even stronger by all of you who read my blog, participate in the Yahoo! groups, check my Flickr site, and comment, email me, etc.

My life is so very rich, thanks to all of you.

So be caring! Be creative! And I'll be back!!

What Aspect of Sewing Fills YOU With Dread??!!

I was talking with my friend Rain a couple days ago and she asked me that question. Without ANY hesitation, I said, "Mending." And then I further clarified, "JEANS." She couldn't understand so I had to explain to her the grueling process of trying to mend the jeans of a teen aged girl.

The jeans are brought to you, waving hysterically in the air. MMMOOOOOMMMMM, can you mend these? They have a hole in the back. So I take the jeans turn them over, around, upside down, and inside out. And I finally find the hole. The teeny weeny infitesimally small hole which is unacceptable because Heaven Forbid anyone would see the color of their panties for the day. Which they only could see if their face was an inch away from the hole and they had a magnifying glass. Although what someone is doing that near to my daughter's bottom would Require An Explanation.

But, I lovingly proceed. I find the patching denim. I pin it on. I tape it, too, just in case. I armwrestle the jeans onto the free-arm of my little machine. I begin. The jeans have to be turned three times. After an hour and a half, I've sewn at least three fingers together, my eyes are bloodshot from squinting trying to find the minuscule hole, and my mouth is dry from biting my lip concentrating. I manhandle the jeans off the machine and take them to my treasure. She examines them and hands them back to me, a lone tear dripping down her cheek. She says there's a wrinkle in the patch. HUH????

So I go back to the machine, which now seems to have fangs and an evil laugh. I base my foot against the dining room table for leverage, haul the jeans onto the machine, and begin again. By this time, my face is red and I have invented words that would make God blush. I've sewn at least two more fingers together. My feet are practically waving in the air as I keep my nose dangerously close to the needle and carefully sew out the wrinkle that I never *did* see in the patch I could *hardly* see over the hole that it took me five minutes to find in the first place.

Finally, after another three hours, I finish. Triumphantly, I turn the jeans right side out, shake them out with a good, satisfyingly hard smack, and, brandishing them with victory, take them to my daughter, my darling, my delight.

As I retreat down the hall, I hear a piercing shriek of anguish. MMMOOOMMMM!!! WHAT?? I've put on half a pound in the last five hours and now the jeans don't fit!!!!

Go Figure.

And THAT, dear readers, is why I HATE mending jeans.

What is YOUR Least Favorite sewing chore??!! (Very Big Grin!!!)

FREE!!

If you have not yet been to Quiltersmuse, you must go visit as soon as you finish reading this post. Pat Cummings, owner of Quiltersmuse, is one of the foremost experts, if not THE expert, on Outline Stitch Embroidery. She also has amassed a formidable knowledge of quilting, quilting and embroidery history, and other types of embroidery in addition to OSE.

Jim Cummings is Pat's hardworking, totally wonderful husband who handles all the photography needs of the site. And over the last few years, the two of them have produced several stellar books. Previously these books were available for sale on the Quiltersmuse site. Now, however, Pat and Jim have begun putting the books up online...available FREE OF CHARGE.

The first book that went cyber is Straight Talk About Quilt Care: Display, Cleaning and Storage of New and Antique Quilts and Needlework. Straight Talk gives extensive coverage exactly as it promises. Display, cleaning, how to know when to call in a professional, and several other subjects are presented interestingly and thoroughly. The information is applicable NOT ONLY to those in traditional quilt and needlework fields, BUT ALSO is equally applicable for those in the art quilt field. I highly recommend Straight Talk to anyone in the textile field.

The second book that is now available is Pat's Just For Fun Redwork Book. Just For Fun includes stitch directions and 98 authentic old redwork patterns from an antique quilt. Again, this book is offered entirely free of charge.

There are also many fascinating tidbits...for instance, the bear logo in the top right corner is a redwork piece that Pat completed when she was five years old!

I don't think I've ever seen such generosity with this type of research and information. Quiltersmuse not only has these books available (and more on the way), the site also covers an abundance of other subjects. Pat has other free patterns, historical articles, product reviews, and many other categories. And the Quiltersmuse also has a blog which is fascinating reading.

Go visit the Quiltersmuse today -- it will surely be worth your while!

Be educated! Be inquiring! And I'll be back!

Fibers, Fibers, NEVER ENOUGH!!!

BJP Fibers
Originally uploaded by txstitchermom.

You know I'm involved with the Beaded Journal Project as well as Sharon B's class, Sumptuous Surfaces. I began to show you my stuff for SS (yes, more pix by end of week); now here's a bit of what colors I'm using for BJP. These fibers are very soft and, as you can see, so beautiful! I got them from Gail at Gail Forces Fabrics. Gail's link is in my sidebar, but click here, too, and you can visit her great site.

Who Knew??!!

I now know (painfully!) why the instructions say to REGULARLY change the blade on your rotary cutter. After an hour of frustratedly wondering what the *#*@&!!? was wrong, getting crookedly cut pieces and neatly rotarying three fingers (grrrrr!), it finally dawned on me that Other Rotary Cutters do not behave in this murderous fashion. So I called Mother. Her first question, after laughing unsympathetically at my tale of woe, was "did you change the blade??". AHEM. So we hung up, her chortling in my ear, and I changed the damn thing. Humph.

Be safe! Be aware! And I'll be back.

P.S. Please notice the cool thing about blogging versus writing someone a letter is that blood cannot drip on the post. (GRIN!!)