every-single-day

I cannot fry an egg.

Jane Lafazio sent me a present through the mail! I am late in posting about it, but I love them with all of my heart. Jane has a pair that she wore when we did our QATV segments last month and I couldn't take my eyes off them. The thing about them is that they are contour drawings in wire. A single piece if wire to make each bird. Amazing. It speaks to both my love of drawing and birds! And not only that but Jane and I both love to draw!

I wore them this weekend while among fellow birders, they were much admired. Really good stuff. Thank you, Jane.

I have half my hand spun, hand knit scarf complete and made additional yarn to keep up with my uber fast knitting style (not). But I am hapy to say I spun and plied the yarn prior to running out of the first skien.

I have been meaning to post a photo of this piece for weeks. This is one of the pieces I made for the QATV taping. I will be talking about machine drawn line during this segment and there is nothing secretive about it! I can talk about it, blog it, the whole deal!

And here is a detail shot.

Anyway. I really can't fry an egg. I tried to this morning. I broke the egg. I love eggs.

Little Thank You x2

Sometimes Thanks are necessary. And what better way to do so than in cloth and thread?

I am calling this Peace Flight, 6x8" Cotton and silk with collage and machine stitching.

I will call this Serenity, and again, 6x8" Cotton and silk with collage and machine stitching.

I am slightly burnt out on creating artwork right now and these took much longer to finish than I would have expected. But a thread company sponsored one of my segments on QA TV and I wanted to say thank you in the way I know how. If I were feeling more creative, I bet these two little pieces would be a bit more intense but I couldn't force it.

So anyway.

I don't know what is up with the elder folks home yet. The interview went well. In the meantime, I took a trial job (a one month trial) as a real estate agents' assistant. I am a faxer, computer fixer, organizer and I research travel arrangements (so far). The woman I am working with is really nice and I hope to acquire some salable workplace attributes. Maybe we will both fall in love with one another and I do appreciate trying each other out and seeing if I am compatible with the work.

My book edits are coming, have begun really. So I will be glad to get going and off my plate. It has been looming large.

Hiss and Make Up.

In which two addicted fiber friends visit a crack house alpaca farm.

This little princess spit on Lauren upon first meeting her. I didn't actually get to see the event, nor did I hear it, sadly. But I did get to take the I-need-to-hide-after-that-incredibly-scarey-event photo. Spitting includes getting bits of grass on you but we will leave that for now.

I can confirm that the two made nice, Lauren gave the princess some pellets, a highly sought after treat that alpaca's love. Treats for hissing? hmmm. There was a period where the princess was penned and separate, afterward, she was compliant and amenable.

I was so happy to be hanging out with Lauren and visting the illustrous alpaca farm, here is my shit-eatting-grin-of-proof. When Lauren came up with the plan of visiting the farm last week, I woke up every day thinking it was Saturday and that I had something to look forward to. Today was the day and I am sure that I am inundating you with photos as a result.

This guy is a gelding, and help mate. If another alpaca is going off for a show, he comes along and helps everyone stay calm and focused.

And, can I say, alpaca eyes are like looking into deep pools of concern and love. If I could post a large photo of this guy which would show the depth, I would. They made us both want to grab and pet, scratch behind the ears and pet that soft fur while looking deep into thier beautiful eyes.

Lauri, the ranch owner, herded these gals and gave us educational tips on selecting alpaca fiber. It turns out alpaca are very shy and react as though you may be out to hunt and eat them at every turn. Not generally liking to eat meat, I was hoping the alpaca would percieve my smell to be akin to hay and grass, but alas, no.

Skiddish was the word of the day.

And Lauren and I came home with a bag of fleece, a mission and a great day.

Insert Title Here

I have been spinning and this is my first sample of wheel spun yarn. It is biting me hard, I want a wheel and I want to make yarn and that is that. This is Shetland, from the sheep who live nearby. And I am going to make the Morning Surf Scarf (Ravelry link)

Because my journals are out at the publishers and I am without my current book, I have moved into a new book and am now officially polygomous, as far as visual journals go. I have never started a second book when one is already in the works. I felt guilt about it at first, but then, visual journaling is as important as written journals might be for someone else (at least as far as I am concerned). So call me a two timer.

I started this one at Macy's last week (click link and imagine David and I in the window seat to the far right of the photo-drinking coffee). Today I put the curly-Qs in the background.

A few months back I submitted this piece to a book-article query. It didn't make the cut but I still love it and it is now in my possession again. Yeah!

Tomorrow I have an interview to be an 'activities assistant' in an elder folks community. I am excited about it, I have always loved old folk (I mean this quite respectfully). I used to fall in love with old folk when I was a child and ask my parents to photograph me standing by my new friend. I can remember studying an older persons skin, marveling at the transparency. Don't get me started on my Grandma's!

So wish me creative luck.

Yyyyyup; QA TV, here I come.

I am incredibly happy to have been asked to participate in the third season of Quilting Arts TV. Here I am on the set with Pokey Bolton of Quilting Arts, Cloth, Paper, Scissors and QA TV. This is the 'unofficial' photo because it shows the dye Pokey got on her thumb from the taping we just did.

It was an amazing experience. First off, it was great to see Pokey in action. The woman works like a maniac. She is driven, enthusiastic and inspiring.

I was afforded the opportunity to meet Jane LaFazio in person, we have been blog buddies for a few years now. (Correct if I am wrong, Jane) I think we met through the Everyday Matters email list. We both love to keep sketch journals and have a love of cloth and art in common.

Hollis Chatelain also taped on Tuesday, though I didn't get a decent photograph of her. I'd met her once before through a marketing course she gave at my last guild (and she remembered me). I felt a little intimidated to walk into the studio when I realized she was also taping. It is awe-some to be in league with her, especially when she also does figurative work, doesn't shy away from drawing, and works so hard at her own form of textile art.

I also met Shelly Stokes, who makes me want a full set of Shiva Sticks. Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero creator of Kaleidoscope Kreator software.

I can't wait to see the two episodes, and the entire season for that matter. Luckily we get the program in our area but I will need to order a copy of the DVD's for the archive too!