Well, as usual this morning was a flurry of activity and I slowed down to a complete crawl this afternoon. I feel like a total slug now.

I just ran across these pictures of two (YES two) 50's decorating books that I own. The graphics are great, there are some real decorating ideas, and frankly if you're into 50's mid century decorating, it doesn't get any better than that.

This one is a Better Homes and Gardens Workbook with a looseleaf binder:



This one is a book, my Mom actually had it and it's from Ladies Home Journal:



Since I have a 50's house, this provides inspiration and frankly some horror about the combinations of fabric and styles. However, it is interesting to see what we remember from the 50's and what we all seem to happily blank out.
Thanks to all on the positive comments about the blog redesign...I'm still tweaking. Stumble It!

We had to do a heap of gift shopping yesterday, followed by a huge party at one of Missy C's little preschool friends. I bet there were 45 adults there and at least as many children. It was huge, but oddly a lot of fun!
Today we're finally celebrating Matey Moo's 3rd birthday....a week late, but he doesn't really know. We're celebrating my Dad's too. Of course nothing ever goes smoothly and last night Alec didn't sleep very well, so neither did I. I've been planning on taking a nap, but instead got hooked into playing with the redesign of my blog. Not sure I like it, but it's a move in some direction! :-)
I'm also working on a self portrait - more on that later! Off for a nap! Stumble It!

It's pretty scary when you get so close to a new piece of technology that you nickname it, but my lappy is getting a workout. I love taking it outside and watching the kids play, but in an effort to make myself more productive, I'm cranking out lists on backpackit...I'm really enjoying it. I used to keep all of my lists in Outlook, but that annoys me because it makes me assign days to things...if I get to nothing on the list, I just feel guilty.

So, that's not good. So, this morning I transferred all of my info to Backpackit and so far I like it. I'm hoping my husband will work with me on the "to do household" list, but we'll see. I seem to have attracted a few of you to the list...not the least of which is Sharon - well, Sharon, we'll see if we both use it, maybe we can check back in a few weeks and see how it's working for both. I'm going to just use the free service for a while, but I've already maxed out the amount of lists I can have.

We also had a babysitting drama yesterday and so that kept me entertained for most of the late afternoon...we've ended up arranging to swap with a friends this afternoon - their kids here for a bit and our kids there for a bit. Everyone will end the day really exhausted, but the arrangement worked out in the end. You have to love that...oh, and the aside was that I got a long list of potential sitters for the future, so that's definitely a positive!



Not sure how many of you are Star Wars fans, but I KNOW most of you are fabric fans and I just had to giggle at this fabric at Hancock Fabrics. So, how many of you are thinking about possibilities for gifts? Starwars.com even had a little tutorial on how to make a pillow (which I thought was very cute!). Stumble It!

Well, in the spirit of last nights motivational get stitching night, I've posted my "To do project list" - This is a free tool from backpackit and it's pretty neat. I've posted the last known photo of each of my projects, so as I blog an updated picture, I'll update it on the list. This just makes me realize how many projects I have going (not all of them are on there yet) and see if there's any progress. We'll see...it sounds like a good idea! :-)

Update: Debra's right! I totally forgot any links....I've corrected it above! Sorry about that, and thanks for telling me Debra! I'm also keeping the link in my sidebar so that I (and any of you who want to nag me) can make sure I update it! Stumble It!

Stitch night was wonderful last night...gave me inspiration to get off my tushie and back into stitching. Not sure why, but I've been "stuck" lately. In going through my "in progress" projects last night I seem to have an issue with a heap of projects that just need all the busy work done on them. Well, time to sit in front of the tv and stitch until I get them done, eh? The picture above is what I ended up working on. I'm beginning to think it's getting close to done.

Antonia was working on doing some of these dragonflies from this book (shameless link to Amazon)

- they are amazing and if she gets one to look 1/2 as nice I'll be in awe! She was well on her way last night!!!! I didn't take my camera and so you all missed pictures of her garden. It's FANTASTIC! I promise to take photos next time.

For the few of you who read my blog and don't read Chloe's Place , she has been doing a LOT with Aprons, showing off lots of interesting ones and more links...go check it out!

Speaking of collections, I saw a link to the Vintage Hat collection on Meggicat...how wonderful. Talk about a different age, eh? I love the idea of picking out a lovely hat to go visiting...it would have been fun! Now, I hate to admit this, but my Mom has a heap of vintage hats on top of everything else....I wonder where those are?

Speaking of checking things out, if you're into historic needlework, go check out The Needles Excellency - it's not only a good blog, but a wonderful reference for historic needlework (you have to poke around in the companion sites for a lot of this. She's historically accurate in her reproduction of needlework and it's really interesting to see. Stumble It!

Well, I'm off to stitch at Antonia's, my friend from the Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilting group but wanted to quickly point all of you to my friend Leslie's (also from the RMCQ group) blog: Pinyon Creek Stitchin'! Not only did she put up a fabulous picture of my round robin block (I can't wait to see it in person), but she's showing some of her machine embroidery.
I love machine embroidery...and she's thinking of doing a side business doing small specific pieces for people who do crazy quilting and craft projects....check it out and let her know what you think. I think she'd love a lot of input right now! Stumble It!

If you follow the link in the title, you'll see the post on "Angry Chicken" that started all of this.
If you scroll down there is a picture from a magazine and it's of an apron that I have failed to photograph (oh horror!). Believe it or not, I not only OWN (hey, it was my Mom's) the apron that turns into a bonnet, but I own a mother/daugher version. I had forgotten it because my daughter was using them for dress up. So, without furthur ado:


(Flattering, eh?)
I also neglected to photograph this one, not because it's a lesser loved apron, but because I actually use this one (I know, hard to believe I don't prance around in the organdy ones!):
Stumble It!

What's more aquatic to a mother than a kid in the tub...my son loves to be showered with water - I love the ripples in the bathtub around them...there were a bunch of photos, but I thought this one fit the theme the best.
This is a digital photo I took of my son, enhanced in photoshop and then further enhanced with color pencils.
I'm not positive I've finished it (might work on it a bit more) but I definately needed a kick start with the creativity. I've been a slug lately. Stumble It!

Because I'm feeling uncreative I thought it would be fun to show you some of my inspirations hanging around my house...if you look at the previous post, you'll see that Gerri wrote about "whats on my walls"...so I'm taking inspiration:
This piece is by a local artist - Louis Recchia. I bought it from my old hairdresser (the salon was in thier house) and they didn't have a wall big enough to put it on...lucky me!! People either love this piece or hate it.

Top of a bookcase in my living room. Photoshop altered pictures of my kids and some artsy pieces including a wedding vase and a Tibetan singing bowl.

Our kitchen with our prized Monorail (these are too expensive, but WAY cool) and two cheap frames with pictures from a calendar...cool and cheap art.

This piece is by Tom Taylor...not typical of his work, but the quote and the piece is one of my favorites (I have some more by him that I'll post another time).

And this is my...ahem...fish lady. I did her in college. Just pencil on art board. I like her, but my husband was totally disappointed to know that it was an illustration of a funky fashion photo...I guess he thought I dreamed her up. Oh, and that's one of our few flat white walls left....flat paint and kids is a HORRIBLE combo.

Well, I need to go fix my kids dinner and maybe get something done tonight. I'm so unmotived!! Stumble It!

Ok, not really, but I ran across Crazy for Fiber a few days ago when she posted a question asking what was hanging in your house...what a cool idea...I'd love to see what type of art/decoration all of my fellow bloggers have in their house...it's a great way to find out about tastes and interests....don't you think? I'll have to run get my camera here in a minute.

Her most recent post is even better...about learning shibori dying...how cool...I'd love more information on that technique...looks like it has great results!!

Speaking of technology, I'm WIRELESS! My new laptop got a wireless router today and so I'm able to wander anywhere and be netty! Cool, eh? Hmm, my hubby already thought I sort of had a problem...now I'm wondering if it will get worse? Stumble It!

Well, I hate to sound really lame, but blogging has cheered up my day!

It appears from quite a few blogs around, including thimble - More Donkeys and Aprons, Wee Wonderfuls and Angry chicken (which I admit I just glance in on ocassionally) and Roller Skates and an Apron that I'm HIP! I've been collecting aprons for a while.

Actually it's probably cheating because I think they were all my Mother's, but I especially adore the organdy ones...some never even really used (just for company)...so I wonder how I'd look the the neighborhood if I busted them out and started wearing them?

The cross stitich on the one on the right is really nice...the yellow flowers are printed.

There's some nice detail on the one with the pink on the top and the lavendar is ribbon...the other is cotton, but I actually remember my Mother wearing that one.
The two below are really my favorite...and the flowers are hand stitched onto both - the bottom one is hand stitched between the layers to give it that filmy look.

Onto other new and exciting news: This is "Lappy"...(thus the geek icon in my sidebar)...it arrived from Australia today - an "extra" in my inlaws household (can you imagine?) and I'm the great bearer of it! (Thanks in laws in Australia - big wave here!!!!)

I'm so excited about my brand new toy (okay, it's really a work tool, but that doesn't sound as much fun!)! Stumble It!

I decided to work my way backwards through the art quilters web ring and I came across this blog and post: Even Quilters Mouth Off on Occasion: My Aunt Carla's Divine Little Purse. I think most of the CQ'ers will be awed and the blog is a very fun read! Stumble It!

Thanks to all who sent messages of encouragement regarding my Mom. She's ok, going to be in the hospital longer than we thought (or she imagined) but things are going pretty well. I'm fairly well exhausted - dealing with family personalities as well as all of my regular stuff, but all in all things are pretty good.

I've started working on a really old project...really the first thing I started on my own:

This is the picture that inspired it...a picture off of an Australian calendar.

In order to get the effect I really want with the leaves, I'm using organdy ribbon and doing just a straight stitch with the ribbon all over. It's really time consuming, but gets the effect I was looking for. I'm pretty pleased with how it looks, just 5000 more leaves to go! LOL!

It's interesting that the few who left comments agree with me on blogging and having a "personal touch" to it...I think that's important and frankly makes the whole thing more interesting. I find balancing privacy and security with the camaraderie that you can find on the internet an interesting challenge. The world is changing and with it comes a whole assortment of new problems, but also new connections.

Anyway, thanks all of you for being there. I find this artistic relationship building to be surprisingly fulfilling! Stumble It!

Well, Sharon as usual has gotten me thinking about blogging as have my current life situations.

First, thanks for everyone who sent good wishes for my son...he's much better (his obnoxious almost 3 year old self!!) - and it is nice to get support from a community like this.

However, my Mother is now in the hospital...her 2nd time in a little over a month. This time fairly serious, she has a blood clot in her lung. She was upgraded to ICU when she basically almost quit breathing and they did a procedure to break up the clots...she seems much better now, but it was really touch and go. Now we're looking at needing to get her home care with some ongoing physical therapy. It's going to be a fairly long haul I think.

So, aside from my personal life - which seems FAR more dramatic than usual, I was reading all of the info about the "seamy" side of blogging. Arlee had some comments on it, and it got me to thinking about what I love about blogging.

I think, like quite a few of you creative types it became a way to think through the creative process. For me, who had been out of the art/creative world for SO long...it was a chance to explore other new ideas and get feedback on some of my crazy ideas (thanks by the way for everyone's comments on my scanned flowers...now I have to figure out how to scan those bugs...what a great idea!!)

Anyway, I know Sharon started out (and continues to be) very professional in her approach to her blog, but I've found it really fun to have glimpses into her personal life. I enjoy the links (and think that the information she gives is what makes her blog wonderful) but I enjoy that she's now documenting the process of her work as well. I feel I know several of the people I admire in a personal way, wee wonderfuls, loobylu, pamdora, rock,paper,scissors.....I mean it is absolutely great that these creative individuals are people too! I find the most wonderful thing is combining day to day life (whether they have "day jobs", families, and such) with the creative process and their finished projects. Even glimpses into the business side of things.

At any rate, all of this is really a long rant to justify a lot more personal details than I usually put into my blog. It's been a crazy month, without a heap of stitching or art and I miss it, but I guess that's life! Stumble It!

I had a question from Debra which was not only a good question, but I could only illustrate it with a photo (which has taken me several days) - you are right that Hostas need shade and the ornamental grass needs full sunlight, but I have a bed which (ironically) has both. The picture is taken in late afternoon (the only time that Hosta gets sun) but you kind of get the idea:

My first hosta is planted in the center (there will be a cluster of 3 of them there) with a couple large shade lovers on either side that will grow tall enough to cover the water meter (in the shadows on the left) and the hose). On the far right is a grassy area which lies in front of a side yard with rock. I want to put my big shaft of ornamental grass on that corner. Where it gets good drainage and will be in the sun most of the day.

So, any ideas for my two tall shade loving items on either side of the bed? (by the way, this area is so shade loving that the grass in front of the bed there has moss in it!) Stumble It!

Fun with photoshop! I read this entry on a blog I read regularly and it's link to this site and had to try it, so the flower above is from a bouquet I was probably going to throw out today. Cool, eh? Ah, the applications? I can think of so many things to do with these (and except for lightening it this isn't even souped up much in photoshop!!)
Well, I should be cleaning today, but am spending a bit of time this morning with this...maybe more photos later. (or variations of the one above).

I've had heaps of thoughts about art, blogs and my art specifically, but haven't organized my thoughts yet. Thanks to Sharon, Arlee and Nicky for getting me thinking. They all have had insightful and experienced (a LOT more experienced than me) insights into the art world this week. It's given me lots to think about. Stumble It!

Okay, GROAN...just "lion" around!!! (I crack myself up). Anyway, we ust got back from the zoo. Perfect timing because it looks like it's going to pour. I'm working on my illustration Friday and I might do some stitching, but not quite sure what to work on. Do you all ever look at a pile of unfinished projects and not feel like doing any of them? UGH! Well, maybe I'll get ambitious this afternoon. Stumble It!

I've spent the last 3 days just working. Not doing a whole lot that's fun, just catching up my volunteer obligations and getting caught up on work. I have a postcard design that I've almost finished and I just updated my own company website (whew! It always seems like the last thing on the list).

I think the kids and I are off to look at plants for the front of our house...it really needs a lot of sprucing up and I'm not sure what all I want, mostly hostas and ornamental grasses. I think we're going to check out some local nurseries and see what's there. The picture above is the back yard and I think it needs a lot of weeding before I go buying more plants!

PS - and Thanks all of you who sent good wished to Matey Moo! The good news is that he's a LOT better. However, I must confess that it's almost disconcerting the way kids bounce back from these things...I think I'm much more the worse for wear because of the entire drama than he is. Stumble It!