the angst fairies

I believe that an army of Angst Fairies lives in my house and they've set up base camp in my studio. I have a picture in my mind of Tinkerbell gone terribly wrong. I imagine a general barking orders and dozens of the little stinkers smirking as they flutter away to do their nasty job. And doing it well, they totally are...

I have tortured myself into absolute madness over an art quilt that is 1) not that complex, 2) a wonderful topic, and 3) for an exhibit I really enjoy being part of.

And the insanity is spreading to other projects...

Its kind of like a game of pulling the petals off flowers and reciting, "She loves me, she loves me not...she loves me, she loves me not..."

Only I'm pulling out hair from my head while repeating, "I make good art, I totally suck...I make good art, I totally suck..."

I like to blame the Angst Fairies. They come and whisper in your ear when you least expect it and before you know it, your confidence in your ability to create art is shot.

I think I've managed to squash a few of the little buggers because I am finally progressing on aforementioned quilt, but still...I wasted a lot of time bouncing around from idea to idea. (Mary and Jackie can attest to that, they got to listen to me whine about it. Aren't they the lucky ones?) I can say with certainty that I was close to stealing away the title of "Goddess of Indecision" from Mary. (Of course, it doesn't help that Mary and Jackie are almost done with their quilts for the exhibit and they are both gorgeous. La de da, aren't we happy for Mary and Jackie? No, I'm not bitter, why do you ask?)

I go through this somewhat pissy period every so often and I know I'm not alone on this one. I usually take out my frustration by cleaning something. Sounds weird but I figure if I can't get my artwork to do what I want it to, I can make inanimate objects do my bidding by obsessively organizing and tossing what has ceased to be useful.

I say we figure out how to squash these fairies dead. There has to be a way. Some kind of poison, a type of roach motel (but bigger for the fairies) or a sticky sheet like they use to trap flies. If I figure something out, I promise to distribute it to all the artists out there plauged by these evil things.


**A side note...when I was stopped at a traffic light on the way home from work today, I was sitting next to a gas station. I watched as one of the workers trekked over to the price sign, and changed unleaded to $3.89. And premium went to $4.09. That means its lower priced friend will follow suit soon.

I felt sorry for the guy, I was pretty sure he could feel all the stares of hatred from all of us stuck in our cars. Its not his fault by any means but you gotta wonder what kind of karma he's working off that he is the unfortunate soul that has to change the gas prices to that.

it's entirely my fault...

...and I completely apologize.

The Michigan weather has turned cold and wet and surly...and I'm feeling responsible for it.

I did three things that Mother Nature could not overlook.

1.) Dooley got his summer haircut.
(My little man lost about fifty pounds of fur and is looking teeny and delicate. And he now has to wear his little courdoury coat when we go for walks in the evening. He keeps looking at me sideways as if to say, "Jerk, couldn't you wait for summer?" Sorry buddy.)

2.) I finished knitting my wool socks...and then whined that I couldn't wear them because the weather was too warm.

3.) I've been shopping for new sandals. (I still haven't found any I like, if you know of an awesome brand, let me know. I have a bad back so they have to actually have some support and no wedge heels.)

I've mouthed off to Mother Nature on more the one occasion because the weather here is proof positive that she is moody and generally uncooperative.

She's taking revenge now...sorry everyone.


Sock knitting notes

A quick note about sock knitting resources...I did take a class. I met with my teacher twice and she was fantastic. But the book and online videos I used were beyond helpful.

The book I used (recommended by Lynne-the-Sock-Knitting-Goddess who taught me) was The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns and is a general formula type of book that tells you how many stitches you need to make something based off the gauge you get. It has socks and mittens and hats and a few other things. And if I can follow it, anyone can.

I also found videos from Knittinghelp.com to be very...well, helpful. Which is apparently the point of the site so I'd say its successful.

I also found YouTube to be an invaluable resource for knitting videos. My favorite being videos from theknitwitch. She's the goddess that showed me how to do the kitchner stitch. Doing a search on YouTube in general produces a TON of videos on pretty much any technique you're not sure how to do.

Hope that helps. Go forth, make socks. Apparently we all need them now that the weather has decided to go cold again...

Where I Stand Sunday

Flowers smear the landscape with color, their intensity requiring attention. As people walk by, small smiles dance on their faces as memories of how flowers marked major occasions in their lives sneak back into their minds. Their petals, stems, endless variety of shape and colors help celebrate milestones, bring comfort and remind us of the little miracles.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. The ground we tread on has its own stories to tell.

the dark side of knitting

And I thought I had a twisted imagination sometimes...

example #1

example #2

I'm in awe and greatly impressed. I think I need the pattern for #2...

the perfect summer accessory

Nothing goes better with a summer BBQ then a brand new pair of hand knit wool socks.

Or...not.

The Olive & Pimento socks are done. Finished. Completed. Over. Viola! (I'm tired, can't think of any other words for finished.)

There were a couple sketchy moments there toward the end when I started to question the directions in the book. But I came to my senses and decided that the book was smarter then me as it had obviously knit socks many times and these were my first pair. So I cooperated and followed the directions and I have to say, I think they came out pretty nifty.

I did go online and look up a video for the kitchner stitch. If you are like me and go cross eyed when faced with written directions for something you've not done before, check out the video. I'm convinced its a gift from the heavens.


When I feel stressed, I knit. (Expect a bedspread and wedding gown soon, there is much relief required.) And these were so close to done, I figured I should attack them and get them filed in the finished objects category.

Feels darn good too.

Now I'm moving on to my mom's socks. With any luck, they'll be done by her birthday (in December)...

real estate listing lingo

I’m preparing myself for house hunting. I’ll most likely be ‘seriously’ looking by the end of the year but I enjoy torturing myself by browsing through the current listings and getting depressed.

I know they say the housing market in Michigan has crashed but I’d still say that the majority of it is way out my reach financially. I don’t really know who could afford it. Apparently not many people can since there are so many places in foreclosure.

This is my second time purchasing a place so it’s not entirely foreign to me. But I find the terms they use when trying to sell a place so amusing.

Here are some of my favorites:

Great potential
Translation: this place is a dump, hope you have a good imagination

Pottery Barn decorating
Translation: we aren’t going to neutralize the décor of the house so hope you don’t mind dark red walls and a lime green bathroom

Bank owned, sold as-is
Translation: the previous owners couldn’t afford it anymore, you probably won’t be able to either but we’ll sell it to you anyway

Cute as a button and very cozy
Translation: hope you’re skinny, its really really little

Recently updated
Translation: we fixed it within the last ten years

Trendy neighborhood
Translation: you’re going to pay too much for something you could get for way less somewhere else

I’ve also looked at the rentals. Since a lot of people are having trouble selling their places, they are renting them out. But there is definitely something whacked going on there. Either they got hideously bad loans with monstrous interest rates or they are delusional about trying to make money off renting.

Somehow - and perhaps this is just me - but I’m not willing to pay $2000 a month for an 1100 square foot condo. I can get a freakin’ mortgage for less then that.

And the sad thing is that I'm not looking for a gigantic place. I want something modest that I can live in for a while and not want to upgrade again in the next five years.

Every once in a while I will not set an upper limit on the price when I do a search. Just for giggles, just to drive myself over the edge. (Its very effective.)

The most astounding one was a brand new construction house that was 7500 square feet that is for rent for $15,000 a month.

What a bargain, I think I’ll get that one.

*sigh* I’m wondering what the going rate is for cardboard boxes set up along the edges of highways…

resistance is futile...

...or in this case, its entirely the point.

I was looking through some Quilting Arts magazines last week and came across an article that Jane Dunnewold did on flour resist printing on fabric. She is the almighty surface design goddess in my mind. In Jane I trust...

So I took the article, and started figuring what I needed to do to execute this. I am always attracted to a lot of surface design techniques but I often cringe at what is involved in accomplishing it. Sometimes the chemicals rival those used in warfare or the steps involved are so complicated that standing on one leg while hoping across a tight rope seems easier.

But Jane made it sound easy. And I liked that it was flour, something that was not likely to kill me in the process. I had debated whether or not I really needed to make a print board like the article says to do. I asked one of my friends who does a lot of surface design and her exact words were, "Don't be a dumbass, make the boards."

Okay.

Point taken.

So I made them (directions in the article) and was a good girl and finished the directions to the letter. I didn't fudge a single thing. I think Jane would have been proud.

I'd tell ya every single thing I did but you know, its an article in a magazine so I'm thinking both the author and the publisher might try to hunt me down and kill me if I did that. Well, maybe not that extreme but you get the point.

So I'm brining you my flour resist printing experience in a photo essay:













**I added in an extra step here after the soaking step. The article says to soak it and then toss it into the washer. I opted to really scrub the flour resist out in the sink before putting it in the washer. There were tons of black flour boogers all over and I had the sinking feeling I would be shot on the spot should I put those in the washer and they wouldn't come out. It was more out of self-preservation then anything else but I still recommend it.



And after ALL that, here is the completed fabric:



I gotta say, it was fairly easy. But, oh boy, did it take a long time. I got all twitchy when, not one but TWICE the article told me I had to wait 24 hours before moving onto the next step.

Really?

Okay. (head hung low in a pout)

I did it and I'm glad I did although I did stand in front of the table trying to figure out if I could accelerate a step. I mean, really, 24 hours is a long time to wait. Surely a hair dryer or heat gun or sneaking it into the washer when no one is looking would be perfectly acceptable, right? I could think of no alternative so I left it and went about my business. (Good thing work keeps me out of the house ten hours a day or I wouldn't have been able to resist. Ha. Get it? Resist? I made a funny...)

I'm not sure how I want to use the fabric yet. It kind of fits in with my split personality of wanting to embellish the hell out of my fiber art and wanting to do simple things that showcase the fabric. This one falls into the latter category.

I'm understanding why this stuff costs so much when you see it at the shows.

Did I mention it took a long time and you can't skip steps? Yeah, that would be why.

Give it a shot, its way easy and there is a lot more you can do with it, I just did the basics. I see a lot more flour flying around in my future.

Ready? Set? GO!!!!

Asian Fall
Angie Platten

Collage Mania opens today. (I picked up the two collages featured in this post and I can't wait to get them in person!) It only runs today and tomorrow so be sure to go take a look at it, you totally don't want to miss out on this opportunity to own some awesome artwork!

Collage Mania is another fantastic fundraiser that has been organized by Virginia Spiegel for Fiberart for a Cause. 235 collages were donated by 100 generous artists from around the world. Each one is available for you to be the new owner simply through a donation to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart for a Cause.

Today, collages are available for a $80 donation.

Tomorrow they are available for a $40 donation.

Think about how much we spend on our hobbies, on things that make us happy. Consider spending that money on a collage over the next couple days and help improve the life of a cancer patient and their family.

But don't wait too long or your favorite might be gone! So head on over there and let's help make a difference!!! :)

Full Circle 2
Sherrie Tootle