My Creative Space--Fragmented

I have a starting and stopping problem. I need to stop starting projects before the last project(s) is finished.

Just look at all this stuff: a Halloween cat softie, a WildOlives Halloween embroidery, more yo-yos for a fall door hanging. And I didn't even include my Frank N. Stein's garage piece which is awaiting bonding and applique.

And then I wonder why my life seems so fragmented and stressful....hmmmm....maybe because it is fragmented.

Memo to self: finish these projects and the other half dozen before you start on anything else. (Internal voice: but I have a great idea for a Christmas softie....)

Find voices of reason, finished projects and organized crafters at My Creative Space.

I'm Ready!

For once in my life I am totally prepared for an upcoming holiday. Yes, indeedy. Not Thanksgiving. Not Christmas. No, I---organized person extraordinaire--am ready for Ground Hogs Day! I know, I know. It's hard to believe. It's fine; go ahead and weep.

Seriously, remember how I told you Spoonflower was offering free fabric swatches? Any money you wanted to contribute towards your swatches went to Heifer Fund? Remember?

Well, I got these lovely samples printed. Yes, Ground Hog Day Gig is ready.

The sample pieces are sort of small so I think I might better order a couple of yards of this groovy fabric designed by yours truly. I'm thinking pjs. But curtains are an idea. Does anyone else have holiday curtains? Curtains for just one day of the year? I could start a trend. I could start an industry. Someone get me the phone number for Hallmark quick!

My Creative Space--Falling

The temps are starting to cool off, the leaves are starting to turn, the mums are in full bloom.

There won't be many more days for me to sit outside and stitch while the girls play.

This is my latest work-in-progress (in addition to the millions of yo-yos I am still making): Frank the Mechanic.

Hey, check out more Creative Spaces. For bonus points, pop over to WildOlive's etsy site. All profits this month go to World Vision Caregiver Packs.

Cowgirl Red

I had planned to enter this in the Online Hand Embroidery Exhibit. I got it completed in time. I just didn't get it entered. The deadline was 1 Sept. Oh well.

* This embroidery has nothing to do with the Red Work Quilt Project over at kootoyoo but if you want to see some amazing, inspiring, gob-smacking great stitching and design, go over and check out the project.

N-C-I-Yes!

I am fanatical about very little. I don't have a favourite brand, place, dog breed, sport, perfume, detergent, breakfast food. I barely prefer one colour to another. I'm pretty low key.

Except about my favourite television programme: NCIS. Let's review what it isn't: it is not going to inspire the viewer to go out and change the world. It will not expand your mind. It will not teach you new things. It's just a prime time American television programme.

But it is funny, entertaining, engaging, suspenseful, well written and it has Mark Harmon, sign language, agitated nuns and Abby.

1) Have I ever mentioned I have a bit of "a thing" for Mark Harmon? Probably not. I'm subtle with my drooling. In addition to the fact that he is handsome, he seems like a really nice guy. "Niceness" is pretty much at the top of my list of attractive qualities in a guy. (And what does that tell you about Head Honcho?) Mark Harmon refuses to dye the grey out of his hair and he's been happily married to the same woman for over 20 years. Years, not months. And he raises money for special needs kiddos. He's nice....and hot.

2) Abby and Gibbs communicate via signed english/asl from time to time. (Dare I mention that Mark Harmon was also a signing hottie in Reasonable Doubts, another of my fave shows?) I love knowing what they are saying while the rest of you don't! Uh....I mean I love having additional insight into the characters and would be happy to translate for anyone. Cause signing rules!

3) This show is really funny. You'll have to watch for yourself to find the agitated nuns reference. If you ask nicely, I'll tell you it's in Season Six.

4) And then there is Abby, the forensic scientist who dresses goth and rues meeting her former boyfriend in a graveyard. Did I mention funny? She is smart, gorgeous, adorable, sweet. I just know that Abby and I would be BFF.

5) Did I mention Mark Harmon? Cause I might have forgotten to say that he is in every single episode and his character is very interesting and he looks great in black. Did I mention him?

And so in honour of the kick-off episode of Season Seven I offer you NCIS: Amigurumi. I didn't have time to finish Gibb's arms yet but I think the pattern shows promise. So turn off your computer, grab your crocheting and watch NCIS!

Click

For some reason my girls have been clamouring for a camera. I simply cannot imagine why. After a disaster with a $20 Hello Kitty camera which was broken almost as soon as it was out of the packaging, I realized something different was in order.

First of all, I needed something which was gorilla-friendly or at least gorilla proof. And I realized a camera is a Magna Doodle. Some toys can and must be shared between sisters. Some toys cannot be shared and either each girl must have her own or we shall have none at all in this peaceful (hahahaha) house. Magna Doodles and cameras fall into the second category.

This fall, when summer school was adequately completed and surgery was successfully endured I rewarded my girls with their own cameras. I found some Crayola cameras which have been terrific--dropped many times but they keep coming back for more. In addition, all the pictures save to a standard HD memory card so there's no odd software to load, etc.

The girls can edit the pictures of the camera--especially nice in order to delete the 16 pictures of their foot, the electrical chord or their sister with rice krispies in her nose. For the record, none of my daughters have ever stuff rice krispies up their noses. Cheerios are a different matter.

The youngest two have been using their cameras for a school project. The local farm museum is hosting a photo contest; the theme is bounty. We are studying farms right now so....click!

My Creative Space--Achoo

Alas, as the weather turns colder and the kids return to school up here in the North, the cold germs have come a callin.

This is how I feel today. Blah...chooooo.

I did manage to finish my Sherlock Hones embroidery. Maybe I'll embroidery a cold germ next. Hope all the rest of you are well and rested. Check out other Creative Spaces.

It's Not Even Thursday

Lately, it seems I only update my blog for Creative Space Thursdays. Not good. Creative Spaces is good--it's great! Me not posting otherwise is not good.

Schooling my girls, who are none too sold on the value of education, is robbing me of all my spare time, creative energy and will to live. Okay, maybe not the will to live but any of you who have stood over an unwilling child and demanded that they do yet one more page of math understands.

The problem is I need to be creative, imaginative, expressive. When I'm not I get glum, depressed, irritated, crabby....you get the idea.

That's why I've been hitting back, fighting for creative time and energy. First, I completed this banner using Wild Olive's Ice Cream Socializers. I intentionally kept the stitching big and bold so it could be seen from a distance.

Second, Head Honcho very graciously offered to take the girls to the park yesterday evening so I could have some "down time." In addition to a nice spot of uninterrupted...yes, I did say uninterrupted....reading, I got a good start on this embroidery piece of my own design: Sherlock Hones.

Next on my "to do list" is to catch up on all my fave blog reading to get inspired by everyone else's creative flame.

My Creative Space--Screaming

This week I'm doing a wee bit of screaming....for ice cream. I'm working on another great embroidery pattern from Wild Olive--this time of her ice cream socializers.

Yes, summer is over (for us in the north), but this weekend we're hosting our church's Special Needs Ministry "New School Year" kick-off ice cream social. Whew. I think this pattern is going to look great as a banner hanging from the trees.

As a bonus, I will show you yet one more cool yo-yo project. I had some pj pants which became too small through no fault of my own. They shrunk in the dresser. Really. I hated to give them away because the fabric is so cute--Hello Kitty! And my girls gave them to me as a gift. Then I bought the jumbo yo-yo maker. I figured why not.

The soft, often laundered fabric, makes the very best yo-yos ever. I haven't decided what I will do with them yet but suffice to say it will be something that will not shrink in the dresser. Plus I love a project which fits completely in a quart size ziplock--the perfect grab it and go kit.

Check out other creative spaces--which won't shrink--here.

Down Wonder!

Hey little bunny! What are you doing upside down?

I'm practicing so I'll be right side up when I get to Australia.

Why are you going to Australia?

I'm part of the Softies for Mirabel crusade. This is the 3rd year that cool crafters have banded together to make softies for the children of parents with substance abuse. I'll be traveling to some awesome kid's home for Christmas.

Well now! How cool is that! I think other cool crafters should check out this to learn more information about how they can join the crusade too. And now it's time to get you off on your journey little rabbit.

My Creative Space--Books and a Box

School is back on. I'm the teacher of four kids, four different grades and about 4,000 different subjects. I'm also taxi driver, cook, supply officer, nurse, mechanic, char woman....you all know the drill.

But in the midst of all that I need creativity. Like air, like water, like chocolate...it's an essential. I know you can relate.

That's why I had my eye on this little beauty: the purely portable, highly durable, darlingly adorable small sewing box. I've been wanting, wanting, wanting it but held off until Head Honcho got paid last week. Then, I pounced.

It's perfect for holding everything for hand-sewing yo-yos: some pre-cut fabric squares, the yo-yo maker, thread, needs, scissors...and a hippo for company and good luck.

I can make yo-yos while my daughters are reading to me, yo-yos while daughter number one pokes around not getting her math done (rolling my eyes), yo-yos while overseeing recess, yo-yos in the evening during Scooby Doo time (cause you know my girls can't live a day without watching some part of a Scooby Doo dvd).

That's my creative space. What's yours? Don't forget to check these ones out too.