Try, try, again

Obviously, it didn't work. This is so frustrating! I'm trying to move into the 21st Century, but it seems that the century is fighting back. Well, DH wants his computer back so I'll have to try again later. I have spent 40 minutes trying to do this. I could be doing other things.

Trying again

I'm trying again to send pictures to this blog. Every time I try I get into all sorts of weird places, and only rarely actually manage to get a picture on here. When I do it disappears in a few days, along with the message. I suppose they are in blog archives. I'm going to try to make a label for this and see what happens. Maybe someday I'll figure all of this out. This picture is of a small piece I made to try out a process called "Poverty Piecing" where you seam up the smallest pieces of scrap fabric. I didn't go as small as some peo-le with this, and I think it's worked out okay. I also tried putting a facing on the piece instead of a binding. I think I need to work ont the technique a bit, but it looks promising.

What do I want?

I've not been blogging because I think my blog is bo-o-oring, and because I'm betting not many people are reading it ( thinking of you Ada Betty--I know you read it). So how can I make it more interesting? I've been visiting other blogs, and I'm blown away with the pictures. I rarely take pictures and only when someone reminds me ( thank you Linda) that means that every time I want to post a picture I have to learn how to, all over again. (Mind you, maybe if I posted more often that wouldn't be a problem) But when I do post a picture, it slowly disappears as the blog entries scroll away. I guess I want a section where the pictures can stay forever. I like the way Roseanne has several different sections according to what her interests are. I don't have a lot of varied interests, though. I want a picture of me--guess that means taking one. I had my passport picture taken this morning--oh oh--noblog pictures of this face! I like Linda's little moving slide show of her quilts. Most of my quilts hve gone to other homes--no pictures there.
AAARGh! How can I make this more interesting?

Back to work

Now I really have to get my act together. All of the visiting family have gone home--the last one left this morning. I've made a list of all the commissions and commitments I have, and it looks like I'll be busy until Christmas--except they are all due within the next month! EEEk! I've got to get to work! Except I'ld much rather sit here or play internet poker. What's a girl to do?

Geckos and labyrinths

Finally, I'm back in the swim of things. I'm told that my torn retina is healing nicely, but that it could tear again. ( Oh swell!!). Anyway I had friends over to try out some "sun printing". We had a ball and everyone went home with several pieces to play with. I had wanted to do one with the outline of a gecko, and had cut several gecko's ( at least I thought they were geckos) from craft foam to use as a mask for the paint. They look okay but not quite right. So today I went to the library and found all sorts of pictures of geckos and hundreds of other lizards and reptiles. Boy, was I off base with that gecko's foot! The idea worked so well with the sunprinting that I want to make a much better planned one and work it into an embroidered picture. I also wanted to get the gecko's colour right. No problem there--any colour under the sun is okay!! I bought a book on making embroidered bags and purses on Saturday, and I have a hunch the gecko will appear on one of them soon.

Then this morning I heard from a juried show I had entered. They want one of my pieces, not for the show, but for the catalogue cover and the show flyers. What a thrill!! There is even a chance that I could sell the original picture in a gift shop that will be associated with the show. So now, of course, I want to make hundreds of pictures to sell. What a laugh! I know what it costs to make them, not only in terms of paying for supplies and framing, but also in terms of the wear and tear on my hands. Maybe not such a good idea. So I've spent the rest of the day sitting and puttering and dreaming, and accomplished almost nothing. What a neat way to spend a day!

Sometimes life gives you lemons...

It's been awhile, but over the last week or so I've been to emergency four times, and had eye surgery twice. I even had a serious gall bladder attack, despite having had my gall bladder removed five years ago! Believe me, I've had better weeks. Using the computer is very difficult for me--I just can't see the darn thing! So this will be short. I have a big family reunion this weekend. It's out of town, and I'm not likely to get to a computer until at least next Wednesday or Thursday. My sale last weekend was poor, but there was sure a lot of interest in my sunprints, so I'm going to make a few more of those. In fact, I have a commission for one. Anyway, have a great long weekend, and I'll be back next week.

Progress report

My blue and silver piece is coming along just fine, thank you for asking. I'm progressing slowly, about 2 hours each evening. I have a big sale this weekend and may take it along to work on during slow times. I like to be busy at sales. It brings people to the booth, at least. I did another piece yesterday. This was a technique out of Stitches magazine involving silk paper and brown paper painted with planned colours (including metallics), and then fusible web, painted in an associated colour, attached to the brown paper. You pile up a layer of muslin, two layers of painted brown paper, your silk paper, and a design marked on tracing paper. Pin it all together and machine stitch along all of the lines of the design at least twice. Are you confused yet? Then parts of the design are cut away to reveal one of the layers of painted brown paper. Once you have cut away as much as you wish, the whole thing is pressed to fuse it all together,and then embellished with beads or whatever. I am very pleased with the result. Colour choice is essential for success, and since this is an area I've been struggling with, it's something I need to play with and get more comfortable with. I want to do more of these, and then maybe mount them for framing. I need to make more silk paper, but need to buy more silk roving for that. It may be awhile.