DON'T OVERTHINK IT

IF YOU COULD see it now, (which I'm glad you can't) my studio has just enough room on the floor for me to tiptoe through without stepping on anything.

Here's a section of a piece I'm in the middle of:


But honestly, I'd be forcing myself to be work on anything else today. When you don't feel creative you can't make yourself make 'stuff'.

So I'm going to make some more tea, clean a path through my studio and find something else to do today.

What's everyone else working on? Show me your work! Send some inspiring links this way!

Prisoner of Hope

YOU KNOW that feeling you get when you're *so* frustrated or discouraged with something you just want to give up? Recently I've learned that I need to keep positive thoughts in my head no matter what my situation may hold. Even if I don't feel positive, I can speak positive things and my emotions will start to catch up with my thoughts. I started in on a new piece to remind me of that mindset called, Prisoner of Hope. It reminds me that I cannot be defeated and I will not quit.

AND I started back in on some card-making. Spring colors. I kind of find it therapeutic. No computer work, no rules,... just buttons, ribbon, paper and stitches.


Anyone here have art shops online? I think I will open up a temporary shop until I can get my site finished. What do you like using, Etsy or BigCartel?

Creature Feature & The Yarn House

BUTTON EYES and simple, child-like shapes. The start of yet another new project. Welcome to Creature Feature:

Sneek peeks of Lily Lamb

& Lola Lettuce.

These are just two of many which will begin in illustration form and end in fabulous fabric.

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AND! This Singer sewing machine that my Joey found for a piddly $25 dollars at a store going out of business.


Okay, yes...so it does have it's quirks, but after thinking about it, it's quirkiness may be just the ticket I needed. Part of my new line of work lends itself to being 'unperfect' on purpose.

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Yesterday, my friend Dee asked me to check out this this quaint, little shop called


in Elm Grove. In the back of this little cottage, a wise woman in her 80's sits and teaches free crochet classes on Saturdays. 6 of us gathered around to share stories and learn a new craft.

After all was said and done, I'm afraid I'm not a fabulous crocheter. The atmosphere alone, which was filled to the brim with stacks and stacks of yarn, card catalogs stuffed with crochet hooks and knitting needles, followed by rows of vintage buttons was...


to say the least... candy for the eye. I only wish I had brought my camera. Passing crocheting on from one generation to the next was never sweeter.

I Wanted To Show You...

A snippet of this Sunday's Studio day:



And these bird tracks I found in the melting snow:

Happy lazy, lovely, rainy Sunday.

Studio Sunday #3

A BIT MORE progress on the stitching heart:
I *love, love, love* where it's going.
Also! I think I've finally figured out a new style that I'd like to try. I've always been really heavy on outlines in my illustrations, but now I'd like to try something new. Here's a sneak peek at some raindrop detail in a new piece with the new style:



Many people have been asking about the progress of my shop. Right now, my main focus is to continue creating new work. Developing a site takes alot of time and I just haven't had time to focus on that right now. I've been considering offering some prints through PayPal right on my blog.

But for now,... the sunshine is out! Off to Alterra by the lake for an afternoon of coffee-sipping!