Slowly Getting Things Done

Yes, I do have a pasta machine!  And I fired that puppy up a couple of days ago (okay, turned the hand crank) and fired up the toaster oven and made stuff! 

I finished one necklace just in time for Claypen Chat.  My working title for it is "Desert Snow".

I'm trying to get a couple of things together for the Art Bead Scene challenge for January.
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-monthly-challenge.html 

And I'm running out of time! So this may have to be it.

I'm just having a hard time focusing right now.  I am getting some things finished, but I seem to be taking longer than I should.

I finished Thorn Rainbowfly last week!  This was the most fun knitting project ever!

I made polymer clay buttons for her.  And did a little beadwork on the danglies.

I'm mulling another knitting project around in my brain.  A desert snow queen fairy.  But, It will be in less expensive yarn.  Thorn Rainbowfly just about broke the bank!

But, I need to finish some other random things before I start another knitting project.  And, I also need to start planning the February Bead Journal Project.  I'm thinking reds.  February.  Needs reds.

Jan. Bead Journal Project is Done!

It's small, but I think that is good. I was able to finish without stressing over it.

I was inspired by the snow we had over New Years (which is long gone).  We don't get a lot of snow  and it doesn't last very long.

Onward!  "The Painting" is nearing completion.  It's on a gallery wrap type canvas, and I painted the bottom a couple of days ago.  It's sitting upside down drying.  As soon as I can turn it back over, I'm finishing it.  Hopefully, this weekend.  I'm going to lock myself in my little room and not come out until it's done.

And, I worked on some polymer clay buttons for "Thorn Rainbowfly" (my knitted fae project).  I try to post some pictures of them tomorrow.

I've got lots of other things whirling around in my brain to work on.  It feels good to have my room done and to get back creating stuff!

A New Year and a New Project

 I joined the Bead Journal Project this year: www.beadjournalproject.com/

I need to make one beaded piece per month.  And, they all need to be the same size and format.  I'm going with 1 1/2" X 3".  I did not want to large a size, or I would never get them done.

I started on January's piece this morning.

I opted to cover the entire surface with beads. I'm hoping this size isn't to large.

Its so wonderful to have a nice space to drink my morning tea and work. I need to do a bit more organizing so I can paint, play with polymer clay or sew.

Why can't I be a one medium person?

My room is done!

We put shelves up last week. We were waiting next to forever for Lowes to get a new shipment in. I have most of my stuff moved back in. I have a few more books to put on the top shelf. There are also some large canvases and an ironing board I don't know where to put.

Lots to do, and I don't know where to begin! Projects to finish, projects to start!  The room is so clean, I'm afraid to mess it up! 

I have been doing a fair amount of knitting.  It's a winter thing for me.  I can't get myself to do it during summer. ICK, too darn hot then.  Although, I'm looking forward to warmer weather.  It snowed all day today.  Except when it rained a little bit.

 I finished the knitting part of my "fae" project.  I'm planning on making polymer clay buttons. And adding some beads as well.  So this next week I need to wash it and block her.  And make some buttons so I can finish her up.

My Room is Officially Painted

We finally finished painting!  We cleaned up the mess and moved some things back into my craft room. I already had hubby help me rearrange the furniture. And will probably do it again.

Hubby still has the shelves to build for the closet, but I can move some things in and get back to "work"!  We are still thinking about the closet, shelves and a work table for the polymer clay.  And a bookcase.

But, in moving things back in, I was able to find enough tidbits to put a necklace together for the Claypen Chat tomorrow.   I made the pendant some time ago, but wasn't totally satisfied with it.  It was supposed to be a sun, but it looks like a sunflower.  Ah, well.

It felt nice to get something finished.  And, I am much happier with the pendant now that it's part of a necklace.  I could probably nit-pick a lot of the parts of this necklace.  There are quite a few things beads included that didn't turn out as planned.   Oh, like the yellow bits that are supposed to be faux amber.

But, taking all those separate bits and building something with them makes them all feel whole.  I find a lot of times if I put things away for a while, I feel different about them later.  Things I didn't like, I do like after all.  And vice versa.  Sometimes it really helps to put something away for a time.  But not always, there are things that suck no matter what I do!

I went yarn shopping and bought some more yarn for my fae project.  I lovingly hand wound balls of yarn and then put them in a basket.  They look so nice in the basket, I don't want to do anything with them.  Just look at them and pet them from time to time.

Thorn Rainbowfly

We got two coats of paint on the wall of my studio/craft room. YAY!  Still need to do the trim, but that won't take too long.  Jim still has the closet shelving to do.  We keep debating, exactly what to do there.  But, I'll be able to get my desk unit into the corner, and be able to do a few things in there.

It's impossible right now to do polymer clay or paint.  But, since the weather has turned cold, I've been doing some knitting. I don't knit much in the warmer months.  Can't even get myself to work on small projects like socks or hats.

The Jane Thornley Group over on Ravelry is having a "Knit Your Fae" KAL.  Jane is my favorite knit designer.   Her knitted garments are wonderful works of art!   Here is herweb site in case you are wondering:  http://www.janethornley.com/blog/index.php/site/index/

Your fairy is called Thorn Rainbowfly

She is a fortune bringer.

She lives in brambles and blackberry bushes.

She is only seen at midday under a quiet, cloudless sky.

She wears purple and green like berries and leaves. She has multicoloured wings like a butterfly.

Get your free fairy name here!

I am currently working on gathering yarn for this project.  The two yarns on the left and the one on the bottom right, I bought at a local Renaissance Fair Last summer.  All three are hand-spun.  The one on the top right is Manos del Urugauy Wool Clasica I bought at "Knot Another Hat" in Hood River back in September. 

Those are four of my yummiest yarns.  I don't have a whole lot of yummy yarns, I just can't afford it.  I plan to fill in with some wool yarns, and whatever else I may find.  I also may kool-aid dye some yarn. That has been on my to-do list forever.

Here are  few other yarns added in.  Some Cascade 220, and some KnitPicks  Merino Style yarn.  I'm not sure about the yellow-green yarn, but it does give jazz it up a bit.  But, I'm still working on this.

Oh and speaking of fairies:

Yes, that's my leg and that's a tattoo. And it hurt like you wouldn't believe.  Anyone who says otherwise is not being very honest.

I have been remiss with my blogging (again)

It's not that I haven't been doing anything :)  But I'm not really very focused right now. I did manage to finish this afghan that I started last spring.  Rosie is sure enjoying it. :)

I don't really do much crochet and every time the mood strikes me, I have to relearn how to do it, lol.

I have a couple of knitting projects I'm working on right now.  The weather must have turned cold.  I'm pretty much a fair weather knitter.  Okay, make that foul weather knitter.

Haven't done a lot with the "room", hubby and I seem less that motivated right now.  But, we bought a corner table and computer table.  We've decided to use the closet for storage, so he's going to build some shelves for it.  We looked at some wire shelving, and boy does that get expensive fast!

He is also planning on making a work table for my polymer clay, a book case and some shelving the room.

I have been trying to focus on finishing the painting.  I've been working on it off and on.  I'm just not focused enough.  But here is a little "sample". :)