Studio Tour ~ Part Two

The Closet
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That’s right. Though it wasn’t even that messy, I let this little niche of my creative world go undiscovered. I didn’t open the doors to this part of my studio for the virtual studios tour, earlier this month. I had stacks of projects and fabrics on top of the tubs instead of back inside; from whence they came. Due to pending work on an art quilt [more likely a journal quilt], this particular issue has since been resolved.
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Some will remember I spoke about my ironing board [though considerably useful in more ways than one] , as the sore point in the studio. When I leave it out it restricts my movement. And I’m constantly dragging it back and forth; in and out of the way. I’ll address the suggestions made during the tour soon. For now, -- if anyone can figure a way to put wheels on this, I’m game to give it a try!
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Also, when it’s up [and not really in use], it becomes the favored place for either Lucy or Pearl to preen and nap. When I collapse it down and lean it against the closet doors it becomes a tempting scratching post. They are usually dissuaded from either activity when I opt to use it as a clutter catcher instead. Okaaay! So it doesn’t always work!
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ANYway, here’s a look [below] inside my studio closet. Yardage is generally relegated to the shelf. I picked up three lap throw-sized fleece blankets on sale for $1.99 each. I used one as the batting in the log cabin quilt that I finished earlier this year.
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I have several tubs that I use for my fabric stash. All sorted out by use, i.e., quilting fabrics; fashion fabrics; scraps; holiday fabrics; wool blends etc. The suitcase is currently the home of projects that remain either unfinished, still in the mulling-it-over stage, or are no longer relevant, but I can repurpose the fabrics for something else.
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Due to my health limitations, I need to seriously readdress the use of all of these tubs. I can’t move them about like I used to; they’re simply too heavy. Hence, whenever I return something to that area, it all gets layed out on top of the tubs and not back inside. I need easier access to the fabrics, and was truly inspired by many of the fabric artists and quilters [of the above-mentioned tour] who store their stashs out in the open; whether in baskets or shelves or bookcases.
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Note: As I'm still making my way through the tour list, I'll come back and update this post with a few examples and links at a *later date.

*ADDED 10-28: Candied Fabrics, Cloth to Creation,
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I took a day last week, when I felt like getting out and about, and stopped in a local thrift store to see what I might find. Nothing to use for shelving, but I did leave with a vintage handkerchief and a small beaded bracelet that I may work into a handbag or an art quilt.
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To the left is where I hang certain yardage such as velvets and recently-washed unbleached muslin. These are waiting for various dye baths. There are also a few tops and skirts waiting to be repurposed as well. I bought two tops a few years back and tried on only one of them. Though the inserts and fabrics were nothing but a variation on the same theme [and pattern], when I got home I found that one sleeve was a good 2-3 inches longer than the other. Needless to say, it still has the ticket on it and waits patiently for my undivided attention.
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There's one tub that's filled with nothing but recycled/repurposed paper; different colors and textures for future hand made papers. In the full on shot above you can see a tall stack of cup carriers that I’ve saved from numerous trips to Tim Horton’s, for cappuccino. In the previous shot you'll notice a few paper egg cartons; all destined for papermaking.
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To the right are storage units for printer and graphic paper, along with photo mats and small picture frames.
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At the top are a few bolts of various cording and trims. About 3-4 years back, one of the local JoAnn Fabric and Crafts stores closed down [to move into a much larger facility], and I bought seven yards of that 3” burgundy bullion fringe [which generally runs anywhere from $11-12 a yard], for 90 percent off. Oh yeah! For me, that was the buy of the sale.
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Let's go back to my display hutch for a moment. During that same sale [which lasted a few weeks], I bought a good twenty yards of various fabrics, lots of cards of buttons, and dozens of spools of organdy, satin, and silk ribbons for 70 to 90 percent off.
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A couple of years later, Hancock Fabrics went out of business, but by then I no longer had the funds for that kind of shopping, as medical bills took priority.
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Well, that’s it for the extended portion of my tour and this little diatribe. My next post will be a thank you to Quilting Arts' [IN THE STUDIO WITH CATE], Cate Prato, for the very cool door prize.
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On a closing note: Anyone need a little flat bottom one of a kind status bag?
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This is my Garden Lantern Handbag [named for the oriental lanternesque beads that I used.] and it is ju-u-ust about ready for sale. It needs a finishing touch here and there, and then it is done. The surprise is the beadwork and silk ribbon embroidery on the inside of the bag.
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Time to focus some attention on building up my Etsy account. I registered for HeartSong Studios earlier this year, but I don't like some of the things I've heard, recently, about PayPal, i.e. putting holds on sellers's accounts [a huge complaint on ebaY], and most recent, putting holds on revolving balances. Okaaay, that's another topic for discussion for another time. But-- if anyone has any input on Etsy and PayPal, feel free to leave a comment. I value enduser experience.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Blessings
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Hummmmm.... Who's that napping underneath the overhang?

Tweet Tweetly-tweet...

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While I get the value of networking on Twitter [See, Lori Widmer's What I Finally Get About Twitter], I'm finding it juuust a little harder to navigate than what's professed. I know interviews and conversations are held there on a regular basis, and I've seen other writers posting numerous updates a day. But I seem allowed only one.
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If I post one even few hours from the initial day's update, either the first one disappears, or my current one doesn't post at all. Though I'm still waiting for my ticket to be assigned, any help will be greatly appreciated.
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[Update: I just managed a second post on Twitter!

Fingers cross-ed that my dilemma is solv-ed!]

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I had a bad reaction, this week, to the new NSAID Arthrotec. Exhaustion set in Wednesday, to the extent I felt ready to crash, and was followed by a spike in my blood pressure Thursday evening. I started feeling bad around 10:45pm. There was nothing to explain the change since I'd been sitting, with my legs up on the ottoman, all evening. I took a BP reading and found it at 150 over 101. Pulse was a seemingly normal at 65.
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When I woke at 5:15am the next morning, still feeling bad, I took another reading. 160 over 101, though my pulse was up to 70. I took myself off the dosage for the day, called my personal physician [who wants me on one tablet a day], and woke up this morning at 148 over 90. Pulse down to 61.
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My prescription was changed as the OA is now showing up in my hands. That along with the fibromyalgia in my ankles, needless to say-- I've been concerned.
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Part of this year's writing-related goals was to set up for writing-related activities downstairs; when I'm in my all-too-often, periodic recovery modes. I generally use this time for my knitting. But, as I was able to accomplish Wednesday, I had several notebooks [too many notebooks!] and topics to sort through and into their own respective files. That was partially achieved. As I could no longer sit at my desk, I did feel I accomplished SOMETHING along the lines of productivity; while sorting through all that long-hand.
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Oh! Yesterday I won a free coffee from Tim Horton. They're playing RRROLL UP -THE RIM TO- WIN, again, and I'm shooting for a laptop. One of those would be quite helpful when I'm relegated to the couch and recovery.
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Though I still need to take it easy today, there is also laundry to tackle.
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More soon,
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Blessings,

And So It Begins!

Good November Morn!
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Yes. I didn't wake up from that nap yesterday, until around 8 p.m. And I felt just about as tired as before I laid myself back down. If it’s what my body needs right now, I intend to allow it. But! I awoke again, around 1 a.m., and seeing as how I’d intended to start at midnight, I came up here, set myself down and eventually logged in 257 NaNoWords. That was about all my brain could handle. [whine]It’s all just part of my challenge![/whine.]
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Before this current bout of fatigue set in, I shopped for and ordered my new programmable moist heat heating pad, and I am merely waiting for the site-to-store pickup notice. It should be here early next week.
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The winner of that Mini Halloween Contest will be announced today. It’s not like there’s a contract is in the offing, but— I’d like to believe I wrote something worthy of a win. We shall see. Regardless, I’ll post either a link or the snippet here and let the judging begin.
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Now, to focus on NaNoWriMo.

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Yesterday morning I managed to create a little NaNo graphic. And, as I thought on how to proceed today I am reminded of the tip, earlier in the week, about one’s writing not being set in stone. I wrote that I sometimes tend to leave things unsaid. Right now, I believe erring on the side of overdoing it would be of benefit. If I take nothing for granted, I can always edit out or rework a scene and weave descriptions into action or to flow with dialog in a subsequent edit.
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There's also the confusion over opposing critiques--too much description versus leave it to the their imagination--which also has me at odds. Not every reader will know the experience of hiking a mountain trail. It’s my responsibility to share what it’s like.

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Regardless the thinking process, music is a must today. When the moving-in-reverse beep-beep-BEEP! sounded outside and startled my girls from their respective windows this morning, I looked out to find that my next door neighbors are moving. Drowning out their goings-on is a necessity.

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As regards 30 Tips for 30 Days? Day One: Words on Paper!

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Ok! I fixed a good breakfast, took my meds and vitamins, and now I'm off to Tim Horton’s, for a large Cappuccino. Then? Back here to NaNo my quota for the day.

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Happy Halloween!

I trust that everyone is celebrating today.

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Myself, I'm just back up and moving around, though not at my best. It would seem I've overdone things [as I tend to do] trying to get ready for the upcoming writing marathon. Severe fatigue set in Wednesday. Not even a large Tim Horton's, French Vanilla Cappuccino could keep me awake and going. And Thursday--amid a couple loads of laundry--I succumbed.

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I've managed to get a little editing and research done in the morning, but by mid afternoon I went to lay on the couch to take a nap. When I woke up about six hours later, still very tired, I called it a day.

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Here's where the erratic sleep patterns of fibromyalgia kick in. I've been up now, since about 3:00 this morning, and aside from getting seed out for the birds, feeding my girls and me, I've really only managed to get the laundry going again. I'm so darn tired right now it's difficult to concentrate, and I'm struggling to even get this post finished. The desire to lie down for another nap [yes, I've already nodded off a few times today], is so strong, but I worry on not waking up for another half a day.

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Pacing. The only way I'm going to make it through November is to pace myself. Keep up with my vitamins, supplements, the right foods, and-- yadda, yadda, yadda. I've also decided I'm not going to beat myself up and/or get frustrated when a day or two comes and I simply need to walk away and take a break. That said, I couldn't help but think, yesterday, I'm wore out and haven't even started yet.

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So, though I still need to go to the grocery, I need to tend to myself today and not worry on tomorrow.

and a Blessed Samhain!
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