A FINISHED LAP QUILT....

Some time ago, no doubt when it was really cold, I started stitching. I had two jackets and a skirt from the thrift store, all either wool or velvet. I washed them and cut them apart, and started just cutting and stitching. I had no plan, no direction, just stitching. It got bigger and bigger. I added embroidery stitching to the patches. And still it got bigger. Yesterday I bought 2 yards of black velveteen and today it all came together in a striking lap quilt measuring 39 x 57. I may do a bit more decorative stitching on it, but it is just about where I want it to be. These colors are a different twist for me, as well as the fabric types!

WELCOME TO OUR ISLAND!

Well, actually, we just got a kitchen island which has doubled the counter space. It came in 3 boxes delivered by UPS and was assembled by Roy in an evening.

::::Cautionary note to my local readers; UPS decided it was too inconvenient to actually deliver the 3 boxes. The driver dropped them by the side of the road about a half mile from our house! Fortunately, one of our neighbors investigated the boxes, saw Roy's name, loaded them in the trunk of her car and delivered them. Be assured I am on the hunt for some one's head on a platter.:::::::::::

Back to the island! There were bags and bags of screws and other metal things and many many pieces of pre-drilled nicely finished boards. Here it is finished and in all its glory. It fits perfectly in the kitchen. I am thinking it would be a wonderful place to put out cheese and wine, yes?

LEARNING TO DRAW ...LESSON #2

Oh my! This was extremely difficult! The assignment was to rest your hand on the table and draw it, (whichever hand is not holding the pencil). I finally had to stop because my "resting" hand was getting a cramp in it. I found this exercise to be much more difficult than drawing my face. Even though, as I go back to view that face, it does look a lot like Jim Carey as "The Grinch".

This drawing stuff is kinda fun actually. In fact, yesterday I bought a sketch pad, many more #2 pencils and some charcoal pencils also. I guess that means I am committed to finishing the workbook and doing additional sketching on my own. I am looking forward to learning how to draw Perspective.

AND NOW ... CAN I LEARN TO DRAW ?

This is scary stuff now! Am I too old to learn? Nope. My sister Kathy sent me this book. While my left shoulder is healing, I can draw with my right hand and be successful, so she says. There are a series of lessons for me to follow. The first one is to sit in front of a mirror and draw my face. I had a real fear it would look just like Charlie Brown. I'm not sure who this is on my paper; but certainly this old hag of a librarian (apologies to all librarians) is not me! Ah, but it is.It was a fun exercise. I think when I finish all of the drawing exercises, I will again have to tackle the self portrait. It is assumed I will have learned something along the way and that the final portrait will resemble me. I plan to take you all on this journey with me. The good, the bad and the ugly will be presented here for all to see. Now, isn't that just so brave of me! For those of you who notice small details, I have signed it with my maiden name.

LEARNING .....CONTINUES IN 2009

It is a conscious effort I have undertaken, to learn new things in 2009; to try and keep my mind sharp and to be a more interesting person, not so self-absorbed. In line with the new plan, I am reading all I can find by and about Ernest Hemingway. This book is a reasonable biography hitting the high points of his life and including many wonderful old photographs! I love looking at them! This will soon be finished and my next Amazon purchase will be a good copy of "A Moveable Feast", a set of memoirs by Hemingway about his years in Paris. Curious thought; two posts in a row referencing Paris. How strange. A secret wish?

DANSE PARISIENNE DE RUE - (street dancing in Paris)

My experiment in painting (without any glue, fabric, beads, string, weeds,yarn,etc.) is complete. It measures 27" x 33". I learned a lot and enjoyed the journey. Here is an interesting fact I discovered as I was putting away the paints. There are 17 different colors in the background. I still have lots of paint, so I am thinking about the next one!

This is dedicated to my sister, Kathy who challenged me to do this and was quite sure it would be a success. Thanks Kath! And, thanks to Vanessa for the French translation!

A NEW PROJECT.....

There will be Physical Therapy twice a week for the next few months to repair an injured and presently useless left shoulder. This, a project I had not anticipated, but a necessary one as I have no intention of being crippled and I need to get back to doing the things I love to do. So, Roy and I travel the 100 miles round trip to fix me. Between the three times a day exercise sessions, I will continue to do some painting. It does not tire the left arm and is really a lot of fun! Stay tuned for the next post showing the latest work. The title is "Danse Parisienne de Rue".

YELLOW ROSES IN THE DESERT.....

Recently we loaned our tile cutting saw to a neighbor who was needing to do some tile work in her house. She returned the saw yesterday along with these. They smell so good! And, we see so little in the way of flowers here; mostly cactus flowers.