Princess Bubbles Creates

  I have landed on this as the face for my wonky doll.  I think it is delightfully quirky!  It still needs to be stitched down to the base.  I haven't quite decided how I want to do that.  Maybe x's all the way around?  I had thought about a simple running stitch but that wouldn't add to the quirkiness.  It is fun to puzzle over this. I am also thinking about making some things for her to wear.  She might need some wings or a crown! Of course, she has to have hair.  That is almost finished.

 Nope, still not tired of playing with my mandalas!  I can totally get lost in colouring my own designs.  I have a comfy loveseat on my enclosed front porch now.  It is a lovely place to sit and enjoy this pastime when it is too windy to be outside.  I still get lots of glorious sunshine there!

  I have felt the need to play with very bright and vibrant colours of late.  This mandala I made a few years ago but it was calling to me again.  I have been loading it up with stitches to add texture.  I realize these brights aren't everyone's taste.  Since I am making it for me, I am not about to worry about what other people like or don't like.  Playing in this field of colour makes me happy! I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/ Happy Mother's Day!

  LeeAnna  has asked did you ever wear gogo boots? Platform shoes? Earth shoes?  bonus for sharing a photo! a bonus question, what would you like for mothers day if price were no object  (dream big) I don't remember ever wearing gogo boots.  I did have a pair of white rubber boots, does that count?  Yes, I wore platform shoes and yes I work earth shoes.  Sorry, no photos!  I still have some platform shoes as they are popular again.  I love a good shoe!  I love when they are pretty and comfortable.  Definitely leaning more towards the comfortable shoe these days.  I used to manage a shoe store and would 12 hours shifts in heels!  I am a super woman!  Or was! Dream big for Mother's Day!  I would love for the whole family to go on a cruise together.  That would be so fun!  And since I am dreaming big I would want it to be to Asia.  There are so many interesting countries there that I would love to see...

 I love the way markers slide across vellum.  They glide smoothly and with ease.  I would like to figure out a way to hang my vellum mandalas in the window.  The window cling mandala I posted about last week was not nearly as detailed as I like.  The vellum ones are more interesting.

  I am making slow progress on my wonky doll.  Hopefully, she will come together this week.  I want to make sure to get her face right.  The face is everything!  I have had to restart it.  I love it when I get it right the first time, but that has not been the case.  I am not giving up! Even though I have not finished writing and illustrating the book for my grandson, I am imagining this wonky doll being the main character in the book for my granddaughter!  I think she will love it! I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

  LeeAnna  has asked do you do spring cleaning ? All over or just clear out the yard of debris for example, just do a thorough dust collection, or purging of clothing no longer wanted? Yes, I often do spring cleaning.  Sometimes it happens in the winter or fall though.  I regularly purge the things I no longer want/need.  In the last 1.5 years, I have sold a lot of things on Facebook Marketplace.  It feels good to get a bit of money and move things to a home where they will be used! We usually try to do a big cleaning of the yard in the fall.  It is easier to get up the leaves before they get snowed under.  Of course, there is always a tiny bit to do in the spring. My neighbour's magnolia tree is in bloom!  So beautiful!  Oh, how I love seeing things in flower again!

 I created a mandala on a prismatic window cling.  I have installed it on a north-facing window, so I doubt I will get many rainbows coming through it.  Still, it looks pretty, and I like it.  It is the closest I will come to doing stained glass.  I have always loved stained glass, but have never tried it.  I don't think I am precise enough to do a good job with it.  

  LeeAnna  has asked For National telephone day,  what is your relationship with phones? lol always have it with you? Check it at intervals or use it mainly for calls? Remember when there was one phone for the family hanging on the wall? Remember party lines? Do you use a phone as a computer even tho the screen is so small? Fave apps on the phone? I have my phone with me most of the time.  But I don't use it a lot!  I mostly use it for texting or looking up something.  Neither of those things do I do often.  I use it as a camera.  I rarely use my Nikon any more, which is kind of sad to me. I have downloaded some apps that sounded interesting, but I rarely use them.  I do like to read ebooks when I am waiting.  I prefer using my desktop computer for most things.  I guess I am kind of old school in that regard. I like that we got some glorious sunshine yesterday and I was able to be outside while art making!  I like that today is...

 This is a fairly large art journal page.  I have an old wallpaper sample book that I am using for my journal.  Paint and wallpaper stores give the sample books away for free when the line has been discontinued.  It is a great way to keep something from the landfill! It also helps me to not be too precious with what I create in it.  I made expressive marks and had fun!

 I have been playing around in Kaleidoscope Kreator.  So much fun!  I especially love using photos of my textile work.  I think it might be interesting to print one of these on a clear base and then hang it in a window.  It could possibly look like stained glass.  

 I have finished this butterfly.  These butterflies are such enjoyable projects to stitch!  I have been distracted by stitching flowers so I haven't done much on my latest butterfly.  I enjoy having numerous projects on the go.  I flit between them.  It is a good way to avoid getting bored with a project.  I must get bored easily as I always have multiple projects on the go.  Mind you, I am rarely bored, and I am getting better at staying focused on finishing things. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

LeeAnna  has asked what is your favorite daily routine? describe it to us... for example wake early when others are asleep for the peace? Make list? Oh, I love a slow start to my day.  Coffee, some word puzzles and an email to my sister are good!  I do make lists  most days.  It is mainly for the pleasure of crossing things off of it.  That feels so satisfying.  I try to make all my appointments for the afternoon so that I don't have to rush.  Life is good! I like that it has been fairly warm this week.  Lots of rain, which is good for the flowers, but means I can't be outside as much.  I did manage to get some of my art put into my art garden.  I need more mulch before I put out the rest of it.  I like that we got some new deck furniture.  Isn't it pretty?  I am not super keen on the accent pillows though.  I will probably use my old ones as I like them better.  They will match just fine.  I am excited...

 I added more to my scroll.  It is mostly finished now.  I would like to look back at all of the stitching that I have done and see if there is anything else that I can add to make it more interesting.  It will feel good to have this project finished.  I have other scrolls that I would like to get at!

  I played with stickers to create this mandala.  I don't love the white outline on those stickers.  Oh well, it was just fun to play like a little girl again.  It was a sweet indulgence. And here are some random thoughts I have collected this year.  I wanted to record them somewhere.  They might make titles for art pieces! The comfort of nothing is missing. Don't let the tamed ones tell you how to live. Art is a wise elder. A soft woman is simply a wolf in meditation.

 I am still working on this scroll.  I am using only the buttonhole stitch.  I am doing circles, not perfect circles.  There isn't a lot more to do on this scroll, which is a good thing.  I am having a hard time staying interested in this project.  My other projects feel more interesting to me.  Still, I will persist and get it finished.  It will feel good to have it completed. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

LeeAnna  has asked Do you like Spring? Why?  what makes you feel Spring has sprung around your house? I love spring!  It means the end of winter.  It means being able to be outside and enjoy it!  No more bitter icy winds whipping my face.  It means sunshine, warmth, flowers starting and bird songs.  It means summer is just around the corner.  Love it! It also means that my sweet hubby will start barbecuing again.  He makes the best hamburgers!  I love barbecue season!    It is interesting how differently we eat from season to season.  I never use my slow cooker in the summer.  I wonder why. I like dreaming of travel.  We are planning to go to England in September.  At least that is the hope!  I like researching all the places to go and see.  The Bayeux Tapestry is supposed to be on display this fall.  It would be so interesting to see it.  

  I honestly never imagined that I would make an art doll.  Never say never!  I saw some on pinterest and they inspired me.  This is the back of my doll.  It is a chance to play with brightly patterned fabric and embroidery stitches.  She is so fun.   This wonky girl might end up being a character in a book for one of my grandchildren.  I must finish my dragon book first.  So many ideas!

 I am loving the pinks and magentas right now.  I love most colours.  It is fun to see how they play together.  I wouldn't mind doing some stitching into this mandala.  I am mulling over whether to stitch directly onto the paper or transfer it to fabric in some way.  So many options!

 More flowers!  I have used silk, printed fabrics and some really interesting textured fabric.  I have also used some fabric that I painted/dyed myself.  It is all so satisfying.  It is a simple pleasure to create these little beauties with scraps. I am still pondering how I will use these flowers.  I wonder if I could use some of them to cover a journal.  That might be quite spectacular. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/