Princess Bubbles Creates

 This is my project for the On the Bright Side challenge with San Fransisco School of Needlework.  I really enjoyed creating this bright and healthy under-the-sea piece.  Sea life really lends itself to interesting textures and bright colours.  I like the way the bright colours pop on the black background.  The lint and dog hairs really show up too.  Boo.   A sweet senior shared some interesting yarn with me.  I try to honour the generosity by using the gift immediately.  I have added it to this piece and think it adds a lot of interest.  The challenge is due on Jan. 15 so I better get a move on to finish it.  It doesn't need much more stitching so it shouldn't be a problem.

 Hi my name is Angela and I am a paper addict.  I have collected so many beautiful papers over the years.  The Japanese Paper store in Toronto is so fun.  They have sampler packs that are impossible to resist.  Like some fabrics, I have found it difficult to use the precious papers.  Until recently that it is.   I went through my treasure trove and started tracing shapes and then cutting them out.  I can cut paper for hours on end.  It is meditative like stitching is for me.  After cutting out the shapes I start to layer them into pleasing designs.  Looking through to find just the right colour combinations.  This one was adhered into a small handmade book.  I also added a bit of sparkly paint to the outer edge.   Next week I will be doing a talk about mandalas at the university where my solo show of mandalas is on display.  I am fine with public speaking but I am trying to not be intimidated about doin...

 Happy New Year!  May this coming year be filled with joy and stitching!   I have made some progress on this piece.  The lower right corner is filled to the brim with beads, buttons, sequins and embroidery.  I have a box that is filled with all kinds of bits and pieces.  All the things that get left on my table and not returned to their proper home.  Sometimes it doesn't seem worth the time and energy to put one little thing away properly.  So I decided to use up some of that stuff. I am not sure if it works or not.  The piece isn't finished so I will ponder it.  Possibly I will pick another section to encrust in the same way.  Definitely, more stitching is needed.  I doubt I will have time for any slow stitching today.  We will have a big turkey dinner today.  This is the second year we have celebrated Christmas on New Year's Day.  It just works better for our family. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.bl...

This is the first thing you see inside the altered book I posted about yesterday.  The large spool on the left flips down and there is another spool behind it as well as some sewing ephemera.  The beautiful stitching on the right was gifted to me.  It is silk, I believe and slightly damaged but still pretty.  I so enjoy creating altered books and journals and artist books and... LeeAnna  has asked facing a turning of the calendar page, and a new year stretching out in front of us, is there anything you'd like to try or to learn this coming year? Some new art technique? A new hobby to try? A place to visit? a challenge to face? I am not one to wait for the New Year to start something new.  I am a curious person and if something new comes across my path I jump right in.  Why wait?  I have been on this arts and crafts path most of my life so there isn't a lot new.  I am sure I can still learn new things but there is nothing imminent.  ...

 This is the cover of an altered book I started earlier this year.  The theme of the book is stitching.  Some of the stitching was done by me but some pieces were collected.  It has a lovely old-time feel to it.  I do love the look of vintage/romantic.  I have been puttering away at this again and it is a pleasure.  It is very close to finished.   I had created a small booklet to include in this but the book just can't contain it.  I have a tendency to make my altered books bulge.  I decided to resist that temptation with this book.  That leaves me with a small book that needs a home.  Another altered book has to be started!  So now I have a second one on the go.   It is fun to go through my supplies and experiments to find the right things to go into these books.  Then ponder how exactly to use them.   I will try to show more of this book for the rest of the week.  Not every page is stel...

Thank you  LeeAnna  for these questions for our I Like post.   Tradition! Do you have a favorite tradition in your family.... special dinner, open gifts before the 25th, special ornaments, songs, tours of neighborhoods with light shows, skating in DC at the sculpture garden, going out into a tree farm and cutting your own tree, opening one gift on eve or all of them? Going to midnight services? Visiting frien ds the day after or making cinnamon buns for Christmas morning... Big yes to a lot of Christmas traditions.  That is a bit different for me as I am not big on tradition typically.  We have gone to a tree farm to cut down our own tree for many years.  Last year was the last time.  The farms around here no longer have long-needled pines and the cost has skyrocketed.  It no longer makes sense to spend a lot of money and not get what we really want.  This year we bought our tree from the Boy Scouts and I am happy with it. Our sons and t...

 I haven't counted but I have created a LOT of these Kaleidoscope Kreator mandalas.  A LOT!  I am a prolific creator.  When I installed my approximately 400 mandala installation one of the helpers commented wow!  It was done in a positive way but I was concerned.  I asked if it looked like mania.  She commented in return that she thinks artists are on a different frequency.  I agree.  I definitely move the beat of my own drum.  Proud of it. I have to allow my creativity to flow.  I get cranky if I don't create for a couple of days.  At the very least, I make this world a better place by not being cranky!