Where I Create....

"Any day is the perfect time

to begin getting

organized,"

I say.

It's Party Time!!

Yes....the party day is finally here. I reorganized a majority of my creative space like an absolute man woman yesterday. I am not the neatest "picker-upper," so I had to devote a little time to share with less embarrassment.

I really appreciate Karen linking all of us to her blog. This is going to be even more awesome than last year. I can't wait to start visiting you all.

I got my studio about the time my daughter, Amy, moved out of the house to get married. I just never had the time or the energy to plan and organize my vast stockpile of goodies and then organize a space to actually say, "I have a room of my own!"

I had a desk that was a complete disaster. We bought it at a garage sale when I first got married, so it required about a week of stripping and staining and then varnishing. I am really quite proud of that accomplishment. Then I switched the rug shown here from my family room. This carpet is so much fun! I ordered posters from Shutterfly and framed them in poster frames. I can't seem to part with my magazines. I have Somerset issues from 1998!!

My husband, Chuck, tackled painting one wall my favorite shade of green. Then he built shelves to store my books, finished projects, and other doo dads. I sewed my own curtains to cover the tiny basement windows. There is so much I would like to do someday.

Because I have a lot of interest in sewing, knitting, and paper arts, here are a few photos of my work areas. Due to taking the KC Willis Collage Camp, my sewing machine was pulled out of the closet and I organized a sewing table near the back of my room.

Actually, I would love to own a cupboard to store my yarn. And I need another cabinet to store my rubber stamps with a little style. One of my future goals is to own a huge "inspiration board."

So today, here is my space. I wish I could really have you stop over and play with me. I love seeing all the talent and inspiration from all of you. I just love visiting everyone.

It may take me a while to visit all of you. I want to really fine tune my room so I can be truly proud of it.

Thanks, Karen for this great idea of opening every one's home and viewing our creative spaces. I am thrilled to be included.

My Fair Lady File Folders

My desk is usually cluttered with all sorts of papers. In between working my regular secretarial home-based real estate job, I squeeze in a little bit of time each day to work on my art between normal business hours.

Some days the shuffling of paperwork can be just plain monotonous, so I thought to myself: wouldn't it be wonderful to create a few file folders to help me do my job more efficiently AND make beautiful art. File cabinets contain some really boring topics, and rarely see the light of day when we slip a piece of paper into the inside. These pieces of art look great just setting on my desktop. I feel they are just too special to hide away. I am hoping to complete a set of file folders that read, "To Do," "Mail," "File," "Urgent," and "To Be Paid."

These sweet gorgeous lady images were designed by Moonlight Journey. They are a digital pack set of over 25 images called "My Fair Lady." Each women's image measures from 3 to 5 inches. There are 12 women, 6 vintage ads, postcards, labels and more. I used a free motion stitch surrounding the form of each woman that was attached to tulle. Then attached the fabric to book text. The letters for each tab are from magazine article titles. What a wonderful way to "dress up" your workspace!

I really like how these file folders sprung from just a plain manila folder!

Gone With The Wind Art

GONE WITH THE WIND has always been one of my favorite movies. With my fascination with historical films and romantic aspects of the era depicting the saga of the War Between the States and the Old American South, I decided to make a fabric collage for my latest art group challenge.

Olivia de Havilland plays the character Melanie Hamilton. She is the epitome of an ideal southern feminine sweetheart. The film portrayed her personality with so gentle a voice, with never an inclination of rudeness or jealousy. It pained my heart to see a sister-in-law, quite selfish in nature, prey on Melanie's naiveness starring the famous character, Scarlett O'Hara. It is a film of both women in love with one man, but married to only one of them. And Scarlett, married to another, still longing for someone already taken. Then throw them into the sorrow of the Civil War.

I fall into this film every time I watch it again. So with that thought, here is my submission for a page in my latest art endeavor with the theme "Movie Stars of the Silver Screen."

I would also like to thank KC Willis, for presenting the opportunity to participate in her Collage Camp. The techniques I used for this collage were taught in her online class, and can also be viewed in her section of the book "Creating with Fabric," a Tweety Jill Publication by Jill Haglund. Both class and book can be purchased from the Lipstick Ranch, KC Willis, Proprietor.

Garden Mouse of May

'But I must gather knots of flowers,
And buds and garlands gay,
For I'm to be Queen o' the May, mother,
I'm to be Queen o' the May.'

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

For most persons, old sweaters may be cast aside and taken to the thrift store. But in my world, a wool sweater hanging sadly on a rack in a thrift store is a treasure. I have to know it's 100% wool, will it felt, and is the color perfect for my artwork.

About a month ago, I found this wonderful lime green sweater at the Salvation Army. I washed it in the hottest water with a little detergent in my washing machine, and then dried it in the dryer. Usually I then cut the side seams and up through the underside of the sleeves. This gives me the maximum area to begin cutting out shapes.

This sweet mouse (pattern created by Debra Abel from "It's All Good") is setting on my felted sweater pincushion, surrounded by a few silk posies, and a vine snapped from a silk flowered garland. I used a couple of circular shapes from my kitchen dishes to make a huge pincushion. Then all you do is sew around the rounded edge (remember to leave an opening), stuff with fiberfill, and embellish!

Have a magical day!

Nancy

Altered Apron for Amy

When my daughter came to town this past week, I decided to make her this quick gift by altering a window curtain panel. I loved the bottom lace, the fabric was stiff, and it looked practically new. As I am a great fan of rummaging through everything at our local thrift store, I am always looking deeper into the stacks of goodies that line the crowded racks. I thought this would make a lovely apron! So, by adding some accent vintage-inspired fabric, and using the pattern that I have had for years I simply shaped the upper part of the fabric. There was just enough material to finish the job. I love the fact that the sides are hemmed, the bottom had that sweet crochet lace, and all I needed to add was the large apple blossom. Fun and easy project to do in a day!