Where to start?

I've been feeling like starting something these past few days. It probably has to do with the torrential rain and cold outside. Also probably something to do with the unsatisfactory completion of the last project ... the whirlygig scarf ended up way too short because I ran out of yarn. That was disappointing. But I have vowed to not buy any more anythings ever. No, really!
I have like 3 rubbermaid bins of fabric. And another bin of yarn. All of which was purchased with a project half-in-mind. I can't say it was with a specific project in mind, because there were never any actual plans. I didn't have patterns, or even all the ingredients necessary to make any of the projects. I just got inspired by the textiles and I needed to have them for when I was ready to make something. And then they just sit around. And they tend to loom over me (not only because they're on a shelf above my computer) and make me feel pretty lame.
So I have lame vibes coming at me from all over -- the failed scarf, and also the sundress I made last summer that never really got finished. I didn't hem it, because I don't know how to make it a straight hem if I'm not wearing it and I don't know how to actually do the hemming while it's on me. I'm sure this is one of those things that has an easy solution, but I don't know what it is. But I wore it last summer when it was so hot even I was considering not wearing clothing (and if you knew me this would be shocking) and so I wore it unhemmed and then washed it and some parts of it unraveled and it's just a disaster. I don't know how to fix it. I should definitely fix it. Sigh.
So anyway, there have been projectitis rumblings going on around here. The sewing cabinet is opened. So that's a good sign that some sewing will be getting done soon. I just need to buy thread. Uh, nope! I'm not buying anything ever, I forgot!
The other thing is that darn canvas, the one that used to have the mares painting? I think it is going to be a deep-sea creature now. I'm really excited about that. Only issue? I really ought to buy some new acrylic paint, because I'm limited to like olive green and rusty red (and yellow? I think I have yellow) at this point. And my deep sea creatures are not those colors. I need to buy paints, mix colors. I need to do it right. So that one's on hold too. Though I did pull out all my paints and brushes in anticipation of working on it.

Anyway, I do have a bunch of yarn, but only one skein of each sort, so I have to get a little creative. I really hope I have enough for this one. I think it's going to be beautiful. Maybe. I'm never sure if it's going to work out (what do you do with the hanging out ends? How do you change colors and make it look seamless? I'm afraid this one is going to be another failure, too. But as I made that last ruffled scarf, I kept thinking of things you could do to embellish it, and this was one of my thoughts ... RIBS! It doesn't seem to be ruffling like the last one. Maybe the ribs are hindering it. I don't know. I'm afraid to find out. But aren't the colors just beautiful? I had to had to had to buy that teal yarn because the color was just painfully beautiful. I had planned on making a felted hat out of it. But then I was afraid to try that, because what if the hat doesn't fit? At least a scarf will fit. I hope.

while the cat's away ...

Nitro's out of town, so I have the house to myself this week. It's also raining (!) so I am somewhat stuck indoors. I had visions of all sorts of spare time in the evenings where I'd be a whirlwind of creativity and then be a cleaning dervish as well! No such luck on either count.
The "real" workload has been really intense, leaving me pretty well burnt out by the end of the day, and no time for the rejuvenating workouts that usually kick my creative drive into gear.
The original plan was to spend some time on my painting. I got a book from the library called Microcosmos that I'd hoped to paint an interpretation of one of the pages onto my big 5' canvas (used to be the 'mares' painting but the mares are long gone and now have been through several phases of birds and then a swamp, and now just swirly doodles). But I haven't gotten into it. I just can't.
But then yesterday I had to start pawing through my fabric in order to finish up a project that I've been working on for belly dancing -- I had only a small scrap of my harem pant fabric left to make a vest out of, but not quite enough, so I was looking for another coordinating fabric that would complete the vest. Sure enough I found, a dusty rose colored silk that I'd been hanging onto for a long, long time, that came from great grandma's, I believe. But I also found lots of goofy little scraps. Some no bigger than my hand, some only a few inches wide but several yards long. Totally worthless for making anything out of, so why am I saving? That's when I decided I'll try my hand at a quilt.


This is something I've always wanted to do, but I lack the dedication. The stick-to-it-ness. Also, I know for a fact that as soon as this project gets put away (which it will need to do, since it's set up on the dining table and eventually I'll have to eat), I'll forget about it and it will never be finished. But, I really do want to try to make something beautiful with all these pretty little scraps. And so, inspired by the book Quilter's Playtime I've decided to just start sewing. Nothing quite as "planned" or organized and definitely not well-done, because I have no idea how to do this, but at least I'm getting started, and trying to figure out how to make these things come together.

At first I thought I'd create one big radiating "sun" of fabric strips, but then after playing around I decided that I'd need several big suns, and then come up with pieces that fit into the gaps. So, I've got one sun started, and another coming along.
Looking through that book, though, has me really wishing I understood how to make some of the gorgeous patterns, how to sew the pieces together so they lay flat and smooth. I really want to get together with my amazing friend Luna Sea who is not only an incredible artist, but has made some of the most beautiful, creative quilts I've ever seen. I'd really like to spend a day working with her to learn from her. Plus, she's just nice to be around. :)

Ongoing projects

Today I just sent off the orchid logo to the client. I made several, and I hope that at least one of them is what he's looking for. It's funny how the paying jobs get finished long before any of the ones I've done for fun. Perhaps I need someone telling me there's a deadline, and then I'll have a compulsion to finish a project, as well as the compulsion to start it!

Here are some ongoing projects around the house, ones that I don't think will ever be finished, but constantly just dabbled with.

1. Rock garden wall. Our back yard is a steep hill that is continually sliding toward the house. I've terraced it somewhat, with rocks found around the ranch. I hope to eventually build these little walls all the way up the hill, and alongside the whole house. Then, when that's done, I might be more inclined to spend some money on plants. I rather enjoy building the wall. Collecting the rocks, placing them. It's hard labor, exhausting. But I enjoy it, and sometimes think I could spend all day doing it.

2. Mares painting. This painting started as an effort to create a very serious, photo-realistic painting based on a photograph I found of some grey mares in a barn in Poland. The lighting was superb, so that the mares' backs looked almost like rolling hills, or just backlit outlines. The heads were barely visible, elegantly curved. I started it ... then felt like I wasn't having much success so I took a break from all that seriousness and started painting those little birds. Then I started in with the stripes, until I realized it looked like the opening credits of "The Partridge Family" so I need to paint over it, and get back to seriousness. But at this point, I'm just using the canvas for doodling.

3. Kitchen painting. Our 100-year-old farmhouse has 100 years' worth of paint in the kitchen. Many, many layers. So when we decided to paint the kitchen, I figured I ought to scrape off most of the old paint. Well ... I got as far as scraping off SOME of the old paint. Never did get very far in the painting department. I was gone one weekend and my husband got a substantial amount done, but only HALF the kitchen is done. The half with appliances, etc., that need to be moved has not been touched. It's got to happen. I keep waiting for a rainy weekend, but there's been about 3 years of drought here.

And the final project, which really will get finished, eventually, is the sari silk purse. I got the pattern here. Probably the only time I've ever bought a pattern, so I should really make that money well-spent by finishing the darn thing. I've attached a photo of the strap, which is maybe halfway done, and then I'll be practically finished. I don't know what's taking me so long, honestly. I think I just keep getting distracted by other projects.