Friday's child

The week has gone by with dizzying speed, and here we are again.

You know those old photograph albums with black pages and little notes? I thought I'd take it further.... I'm thinking I'll do a series of these and put them together in a book.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

There are days when I don't merely think I'm blessed, but I know that I'm blessed. This is one of those days. There was a time I thought I was jinxed and it took a lifetime to turn that around. But you can, yes, you can. It takes time and effort, and, in my case, stubbornness. 

My teachers used to complain about my stubbornness when I was a child, a trait that wasn't bad in me (it can also be a bad thing, as we know) because it helped me survive a very painful time, but because they were teachers and I was a child, I was convinced that it was a bad thing, until a wise man came along and told me that my stubbornness would be my salvation. I was an adult by then, with even more painful times, and I realized that my stubbornness was an outward display of an inner belief that there had to be something better than this.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Decisions, decisions

Do I vacuum and do the laundry, or do I go out to the west end and get some supplies from the Paper Shop? The trek to the Paper Shop is a long and tiring one, otherwise I could do all of it. The laundry could wait, I suppose. But then so can the supplies.

I'm told that this kind of thinking is typical for those, like myself, born under the sign of Libra. Well, at least we weigh the pros and cons before going into action. I'm also told this can lead to dithering, but I'm happy to report that I am not a ditherer.

Meanwhile, I stitched this saying (I have no idea who said it) on a lovely piece fabric that I purchased from KINGxACE on Etsy. The finish is impeccable, which saves me the trouble.

It's very true, when you think about it.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Ibuprofen day... it's hot and humid and my head was warning me. I was waiting to see if the headache threat was real (when you've been dealing with barometric headaches as long as I have, you get a feel for these things). The threat was real. so I had to dose myself. enough to continue the day without debilitating discomfort.

Making my favourite things is one way to distract me. It's doesn't heal the headache, but it makes me forget it.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

I finished this piece yesterday. Odd for a die-hard coffee drinker to make so many tea images, but I find the idea comforting...

Time for Tea, detail -- available in my Etsy shop.

Have a happy week.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Necessity is the mother of invention. I ran out of vintage gloves, so...........

Words by Tennyson.

I took a change and drew the glove with a very fine-point pen on some of my precious old linen from France. This is not ink that will disappear or wash out. I do the same with the writing, but that part is easy. I know there's a disappearing pen for this kind of thing, but I was home and it was raining and there was no way I was going to put off making this.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Friday's child

...is staying in until the rain stops, although, by the look of things, it may go on all day. Happily I have no pressing business outside.
I finished this piece which I've been working on for several days. It was a matter of time before this Irish proverb got stitched. I decided to do it in Irish rather than English. Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way. You see, I actually did break my shin on a stool that wasn't there, irony of ironies, a few days ago, and when I realized that, I think I laughed for 5 minutes.

And, of course, a little painting with my beloved Caran d'Ache pastels...

 Be a tourist in your own city. It's amazing what you'll find.

Brooch available in my Etsy shop.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

My little stitching class at BizzyB went very well yesterday because I had superb students who really wanted to learn how to make a quiltie and enjoyed the process. I think they may just continue stitching in their own time, in which case I will have done my job.

Martha dropped by and made my day. I haven't seen her all summer and I've missed her.

My latest rubber stamp love is from Paperbag Studios. It's tiny and irresistible. [I added the dots and the stars.]

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Ink dropper drawing. This time I used India ink

I get these Japanese paper cards at The Paper Shop. I love their faded blue and green colours. I usually paint on them; this time I tried stitching. Nice effect, I think.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

At the Queen St.West art crawl this weekend.

Danielle, as beautiful as the art she creates.

 

Dani's table. I love her little suitcase to pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And an old friend I haven't seen in a while. Lisa "Girl Can Create". I enjoyed meeting her adorable baby boy.

And the weather was just perfect!

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

I am currently playing with Drawing for Artists, by Carla Sonheim. Ever eager to try new things, I drew with an ink dropper, using my rubber stamp pad inkers. You really have to be free and loose with this and accept the results, and the results can be quite surprising. One was done in black ink and the other in sepia.

 

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way. -- Irish proverb

Teaching

Stamp and Stitch.
I'm happy to announce that I will be teaching my first BizzyB class on Tuesday. Sept. 20.
We'll be creating a mini art quilt using rubber stamps and hand-sewing.
Like the idea? Check the calendar here and sign up.
Fun guaranteed!

Friday's child

I'm almost back to normal with my computer, that is, getting used to the newness. I tell myself change is good.

Drawing/painting faces is not something I do often, but... since change is good, I drew a few faces. One of them almost shocked me because the face looked to be in some pain. I don't know where that came from. This face is somewhat impassive. I use Caran d'Ache neocolor oil pastels, my current favorite, a paintbrush and a very loose hand.

I had to send the computer away to get cleaned and sorted out. Two days later it's back, behaving very well, and we are back in business. Unfortunately, I seem to have lost my bookmarks -- I'm sure they're somewhere, I just have to find them.

     Meanwhile, I did a lot of stitching. The beach/seaside was obviously on my mind.

SOLD

And so was time.

Work obligations completed, I amused myself with new tag stories... tiny, small, minuscule stories.

Please cancel by hand.

Available in my Etsy shop as a set.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Another week begins.What will my hands make this week? La mano is Italian for the hand. I believe it's the same in Spanish.

But first I have a writing deadline coming up in a few days' time.

La mano assemblage.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Saturday Special: First make a yoyo...

The Mad Hatter's pocket watch.

And then there's St. Jude reminding us that nothing is hopeless.... This brooch with its own pouch has just been listed in my shop.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way. -- Irish proverb

Friday's child

More objects of my affection. This is how I display my goods in my imaginary shop...
My imaginary assistant suggested we try it in real life and set up a corner of the work area as a display of all the vintage-inspired items. Next he'll be suggesting a studio sale.... Stay tuned.

Embroidered antique glove, Dupioni silk bows, heart brooch

Objects of my affection, including the frame.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way. [Irish proverb]

And is there honey still for tea? [Winnie the Pooh]

The last couple of pieces I've made would be at home in a nursery. I think I'm making these for the comfort and nostalgia. Whatever the reason, there's a third piece brewing.... (no pun intended).

Ship detail - SOLD

I don't believe in competitions, especially for children. They create complexes, mostly unhealthy. If there's a First, there's automatically a Not-Good-Enough, and a Last. Now, if competitions were followed up with help to get better, aim higher, learn more, that would be another thing, but usually they're not. More often than not the "loser" feels like a loser and gives up.

Never give up

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way -- Irish proverb.

Catching up with old friends; a lot of rest; and some labour.

Available in my Etsy shop

Completed project.

Ná bris do loigrín ar stól nach bhfuil i do shlí. (Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.)

Friday's child

One look outside at the hair-frizzing-skin-frazzling haze and I know I'm not going anywhere until later in the day when it cools off.

Meanwhile, I have a lot of things to do at home.

 Happy Labour Day weekend.

Ná bris do loigrín ar stól nach bhfuil i do shlí. (Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.)

Magnificent [little] obsessions.

I call them my sidelines, little distractions that make me happy.
Like these bows.

Last night's painting didn't get finished; the paint had to dry. Naples yellow and titanium white, two of my favorites. I tend to use white the way others use gesso. I only use white gesso for "tooth".

Ná bris do loigrín ar stól nach bhfuil i do shlí. (Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.)