Still here...coming out of stasis

I have been going through a re-evaluation of what I want 'my world' to be, spending a lot of time thinking and napping. I go through these periods ever so often. Generally I exit them refreshed and excited. This time not so much, maybe because I couldn't reach a definitive decision on what direction I want to go.
So, falling back on a childhood (ok, young adult) idol I'm going to take the following view 'Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try'. Yoda is the 'man'. The theory being I'm going to take each day as it comes, no worries about 'what I should be doing', no thoughts about plans I should be making, just living.

Here is inspiration for my new lifestyle:

Do you know of anything more self assured about their life than a cat? Japser is VERY self assured (and darn cute)!

Mutant Coneflowers

I don't know what's up with the coneflowers this year, but they are growing spikey and lime green. Eventually as they are open they get a little purple. The one at the top and center is really interesting, sort of chrysanthemum looking.

Iris

Fern

On the chicken front Fern has finally stopped being broody (7+ weeks!). Iris is a total trooper, she just kept laying eggs the whole time. It's good to see them both out and terrorizing bugs.

working in unison

Texture and Pattern

I really like the sun bleached patterns on the brick

 I live less than 2 blocks from a grain mill and train tracks. Surprisingly, except in winter, I seldom hear the trains. I do however here the blowers on the mill. Some might find this annoying, but it's a constant and soothing sort of sound. The other advantage of the mill is all the wonderful textures and patterns it offers for photography. Here are a few photos from my last 'mill shoot'. (The sky was very bright that day so it looks white in some photos).

The texture in the stucco above the roof is just fascinating to me

brick, wood, glass, cement...lovely

...add in pipes, aluminum, metal walkways, venting and sky, sigh.

I must admit I think this improves the look of the boxcar

...and this one is just fun

This is my favorite part of the whole mill, I love the shape.

It's even higher up than this picture suggests, 'zoom' is wonderful!

better(?) pics of quilt tops

Well, I guess you can see them a little better in these pics. I'll have to find a non-windy sunny day and try again.

Teasel Rue Larson

 8/15/98  - 5/3/12

It never gets any easier.

Keeping Busy

 

This is how I've been spending my evenings for the last couple of months. I hope to have them completed by the end of May. The blue zig-zag is for my man and the other is for me. I never really thought of myself as a 'blue-purple' person, but I really love the color periwinkle.

The girls are rototilling like the good chickens they are and the flowers (Iris and Lilacs) are blooming beautifully. Now that it's Spring I'll be spending more time in the garden. I've built a raised bed and hope to get some heirloom veggies started in it, so that will be keeping me busy in future evenings, but I'll still make time to sew or knit or sculpt - I just don't feel 'whole' otherwise.

Completed Birds and Dad Quilt

Well, I'm doing pretty well I think, 2 projects down in 2 months! WOOHOO!

This is the 2nd official (translates as 'finished') quilt I've made. It's a scrappy quilt I made my Dad. He loves blue, I lean more towards turquoise hence the 'background' color of the blocks. He loved it and the booties I sent with the quilt. You know you've done well when your Dad tells you he was napping under the quilt (with the booties on) within 10 mins after opening the box! Yep, I did a lot of patting myself on the back. :-)

 

Here is the transformation of the Birds that were started in DECEMBER (dang!). I didn't use all of them yet, but some have undergone further transformation and are waiting for me to figure out how to display them to their best advantage.

                                   

The base is a wooden votive candle holder that I transformed into flowers. I used 1/2 a stryofoam ball for each center, cut out and painted paper flower petals and then used some paperclay to ring the 'centers' of the flowers. Although it is mostly acrylic paint that colors the forms I tried my hand at combining mediums on this one, acrylic paint, watercolor pencils, watercolors and paperclay. Now to find new homes for the 2 other birds!