More drawing in my journal!

Yes, I still need to knit my sweater but I'm having fun filling in  my gelli print journal pages!  

I think this pic might be upside down but you'll get what the page looked like before I started!

I used the circles to draw flowers...no particular flower...just my made up one!  HA

I also used my Faber-Castel crayons to color in the edges of the papers.  I love those crayons...forgot I had them!  Who knew!  They are in my dye room on shelves with other pens and crayons.

This was another page printed and in the journal.  It too could be upside down.  HA

Just played with more flowers.  I need more practice for sure..

I used Neocolor pencils to color in some areas and then used a wet brush to blend.  

OK, so I'll get back to knitting for a few days...then back to the journal.  I'm going to have to add more pages...but that's not a problem.  I have an entire Rubbermaid container full of papers I made back in Hilary's online classes!

 

Christmas Cards for 2025!

 

Crazy, I know...but I finished over 60 Christmas cards for this coming Christmas!  The spring/summer get so busy and if I wait I will be rushed.  I've only been sending out cards every other year for the past few years.  So now all I'll have to do is take my time writing a message to friends and family in the cards.  Print out labels and mail!  Easy!

It is mindless cutting/stitching rows together of different fabrics.  

I had some Christmas fabrics I purchased as well as Charlie Harper fabric.

Love Charlie Harper fabrics!

I also like the mixture of old time Christmas fabrics. They both make up nice cards...

This is a mix of both!  HA

So now they sit just waiting for Christmas!

Actually, I put them all in a plastic bag on a shelf in my sewing room.  Who knows...some rainy day I might even print out the labels to put on the envelop before Christmas!  HA

Drawing and stencil papers

 Since the 'puzzle' is finished and given to my friend, Donna...Now I have time to work here and there on my journals of hand painted papers.

So I saw my stencil journal with a few pages in it and decided to add some drawings to it.  Not my strong suit but fun to be doing something with the pages.  

original on left and papers added on rt

Added funky leaves...good practice!

This was another page using old printed/stamped/stenciled papers.  Kinda boring! 

I started a little flower....suppose to be Queen Anne's Lace!  I'm learning!

I think it filled in the area pretty good!

This was a page that I glued down a flower from a coloring book I had.  I used some colored pens to try to enhance the flower and leaves.  

I wasn't getting the flower dark enough so I got out some colored pencils which seemed to work better to add more color.  

Before and (rt) covering with papers

Hard to see the little flower on the side...but it's there!  HA

Just having fun with some drawing.  Now to get back to knitting and practicing drawing more flowers and leaves.  A good start! 

Family Time

Last weekend, we had a wonderful family visit with Bob’s son, Ron, and daughter-in-law, Mary Jo! The guys got to race RC cars together for the first time in over 40+ years—such a special moment! Thanks to Acprc in Burton for providing a great place for them to race. Arron also let them in to race by themselves, which was great!!! Of course, Bob was thrilled that he beat his son! HA Ron hasn't raced RC cars in years! They did enjoy bonding again!!!

Mary Jo and I enjoyed some retail shopping in downtown Ortonville, visited the Cottage Used Books in Goodrich, and wrapped up the day with a specialty coffee from ABeanToGo in Goodrich. We both love our coffee

Over dinner, we listened to the racing highlights—what a great experience for Bob and Ron! Since we don’t get to visit often, we cherish the memories we create when we’re together.

MaryJo gave me this lovely vase with tulips (fake - so they'll last from year to year). I love the vase...it's so unique!!

Kids live in Indiana so we don't get to see them very often. But they are great to take time out of their busy schedules and drive up to spend time with us. I know Bob really appreciated the time with his son. Ron is great and calls Bob every Sunday evening. AND  THEY TALK FOR OVER ONE HOUR AT LEAST! MaryJo and I have to laugh as we're not sure what or how they can talk to each other that long but they do!

We just had a great weekend with them!!!!!! More memories and MaryJo remembered to take a picture!!!!

Some progress and one completion!

 Yep, I'm still working on the weekly circle challenge!  Here are 10 & 11!

Dogma Rules week 10: 1. 1 piece of heavy watercolor paper or cardstock. Trace at least 3 circles in the same size, wherever you like on the paper. Cut the circles out. Pre-poke the holes. 2. Stitch the way I show you in the video on YouTube, or follow the diagram. I have no name for this kind of stitching. Do each circle differently, meaning different amount of poked holes between where you are coming up and down. 3. Use white or cream colored thread. 4. Free options. Paint your page in your book in a light color or glue a piece of colored paper on the backside of your embroidery.

Dogma Rules week 11: 1. 1 piece of light-colored fabric of your choice. Trace 1 circle with something erasable and divide the circle up into 5 different areas as you want. 2. Only sew the # stitch/ hashtag sting, 3. Use 5 different colors of threads as the color of your fabric, just different in value/ tones so they are visible. 4. Sew each of the 5 areas with one of the colors.

It's hard to see but there are 5 different color of yellow threads. The picture almost makes the top right look white...and the yellow I used in the center blends with the edge. Guess I need to redo or alter in photoshop.

AND I finished Susan's puzzle she gifted me for my birthday! WOOHOO! Now back to my regular scheduled program(s)! HA Thanks, Susan! I did gift this to my bud, Donna! She was working on a 1000 piece but said she gave up. She's looking forward to putting this one together! It really is a pretty puzzle! Thanks again, Susan!!

Other Progress....

 

Yep, I am working away on Susan's BD puzzle!  Some days I can't find a piece at all!  Other days I find quite a few and then I'm able to join together!  WOOHOO!

Funny how a little project can give you so much satisfaction!  HA  Thanks, Susan!!!

Not a very good picture of my sweater...but I'm making progress...I'll be putting sleeves on holders and then get to start on the body!  Finally!  

Just like the puzzle...I don't get to knit every day...30 min. here.. or 45 min. if I finish dishes early!  HA  I go in my sewing room and I don't come out until the evening news comes on with David Muir.  

I choose not to listen to the news all day long (as my hubby does!). Instead, I catch the local morning news and check in again before dinner. Of course, they always include national news—often depressing and disheartening.

This past week was a perfect example. Watching the exchange between Trump and Zelensky was sad, frustrating, and frankly, embarrassing. Moments like that remind me why I prefer to limit my exposure.

For now, I’ll keep my distance—until it’s time to research candidates and cast my vote. I don’t base my decision on party lines; I vote for the person, not the label. In the meantime, I’ll continue reading books and perspectives from both sides to stay informed. After all, the best I can do is educate myself and make my voice count at the ballot box.

Enough said...

Weekly Circle Challenge

Weekly Circle Challenge Progress:  

Dogma Rules Week 8: 1. 1 piece of fabric in one of your favorite colors. Trace 1 erasable circle or stitch on the traced line.

2. Use only blanket stitches / tungesting, so they are lying horizontal. Experiment with the stitch: long, short, wide, narrow rows, columns, or squares and so on.

3. Use the same color thread as your fabric has, but in other values/tones so the stitches are visible. Use many different fx. shiny, matt, textured threads. Thin knitting yarns is also an option.

 

Dogma Rules Week 9:

1. 1 piece of black fabric. Paint/print as many small circles as you want, on the fabric. Look at the video on how. Do them in the same color as your fabric color in week 8, or color of your choice.

2. Use only straight stitches. Stitch from line to line in each of the circles and from line to line in the space between the circles. Do the stitches random and as long or short as you want and as many as you like.

3. Use black thread for the circles and 2 of the colors you used in week 8, or 2 colors of your choice, in the space between the circles.

I have to say these are fun to do and EASY!  You can complete in the same day so you feel like you are accomplishing something.  Just a fun project and making the commitment to do something productive everyday is a nice benefit! 

Playing with my Gelli prints and booklet!

 

 My worktable downstairs...I had to pull out some of my older papers I made in Hilary's online class several years ago.  And I do have a ton of them!  It looks messy but I was picking and tearing papers!  

In one of my last posts I showed some gelli prints that I had made into a little booklet.  I haven't added any more papers to the booklet, yet but thought I would play with the ones I have already.

So this was my busy day just playing with collage pieces and prints.  Next I'll add some more papers to the booklet.  Just fun to feel like I am accomplishing something.  What will I do with the booklet!?  Keep it for my kids to toss when I'm no longer here!  HA  

Page on left is the actual gelli print.  The right side is with playing around with other printed papers.

I thought some of these prints were just too plain.  If I have some that I like as a gelli print, I'll keep.  But this was a fun exercise to do.  Nothing that exciting just fun That's All Folks!

Project(s) Progress

 

Well, I'm making S-L-O-W progress on the puzzle!  But it is progress, right!  I have to say I am enjoying the process and satisfaction you get when you find just one piece!  HA  Baby steps I know.  Thanks again, Susan!  I think!  HA

This is a really pretty puzzle picture for sure.  I love the colors and it would be really cool to replicate in a quilt!  OK, I think Susan could do a much better job making this into a quilt than I could.  So I'll try to encourage her to do it!  

Back trying to knit for 15-60 minutes at least 4 or 5 days a week.  I try after I've finished dinner/dishes, which is usually around 5-5:30.  I'll knit until the evening news at 6:30 or when the dogs leave me alone to do so!  I did return the pink yarn and choose this pretty gray/blue.  

I had to make up another cheat sheet for the rows on the front of the sweater.  It's too easy for me to get off count.  Too many interruptions and I'll lose my place for sure.  This sheet helps me keep on track.  

And I made over 15 more Christmas cards!  Woohoo!  It takes me about a day to stitch strips together and then sew over with a decorative stitch. 

 The next day, I fuse 808 Pellon on the back to give stability to the 'card' insert.  I still have to stamp on the back then insert in the photo card.  

I'm not sure how many I have but I did run out of the Pellon and black thread!!  A trip to JoAnn's is upcoming. These are more of the Charlie Harper fabrics.  

So I'm keeping busy...enjoying staying home so I don't really minds the snow!  

Lisbeth Circle Week 6 & 7

What I had in mind!  HA

Honestly, this isn't my favorite one to do!  I should have stopped sooner but I kept adding to the dang thing!  HA 

Dogma Rules Week 6: 1. Take inspiration from the planets and our solar system. 2. Use a black or very dark fabric. 3. Only use French knots and running stitches, double running stitches or back stitches. 4. Thread in white or a light color and in several thicknesses.

This was week 7 and I enjoyed this one!  HA 

1. Paint a piece of watercolor/card stock paper in a color you think looks like the night sky. Trace 1 circle and cut it out. 2. Poke/punch holes totally random, as many and in any size you like. Look at the video for an idea to place the holes totally random. 3. Only use cast over stitches/kastesting around the holes. 4. Thread in white, off white or a beige.color, flat or a little thicker ones works best.

I'm sure ya all are wondering "why do this?". Heck, I'm not really sure but these are so easy to do. It's only once a week and nice to see you are able to accomplish something. I really enjoy Lisbeth's YouTubes. She has so many interesting textile/medium projects to do. She's an inspiration for sure. check her out!

Lisbeth Circle Week 5

So this wasn't a fun one but I did finish for week 5!  

The circle background was blue painted watercolor.  We played with a design on graph paper, then punched holes in a circle from the watercolor paper. 

Well, I didn't like the holes I ended up punching so I just started sewing!  HA

These are the rules for this week:

Dogma Rules:

1. Cut 1 circle out of watercolor paper. Paint the circle in the same color as your thread, just in a lighter in value. Cut a little smaller circle in a checked squared paper/ graph paper/ ternet/kvadreret papir. 2. Draw (and play) a pattern on the square paper, lay it on the top of the watercolor paper and pre poke holes through both papers. Poke where the 2 lines crosses. Stitch your pattern with straight stitches/ forsting/risting. 3. Use 3 different thicknesses of thread in the same color of your choice.

I used embroidery thread , Maderia lana thread and some silky thread my daughter gave me a few years ago.  Hard to tell even though each thread was a different weight but it's done!  HA

And I'm working away on my knitting project!  I had to create another cheat sheet so I know how many stitches I should have with each marker.  Yes, I should be able to just follow the pattern but I like knowing what I should have vs what I end up having!  Easier this way. 

And I'm still working on the BD puzzle from my friend, Susan.  Donna told me to enjoy the process!  So I am 'trying' to do that.  

I don't get to work on it every day but when I have some time or I just set the timer for 30-45 min. before dinner or in the a.m. makes me feel like I am accomplishing something!  

 

Gelli Prints What Are They Good For!

 In my last post I showed the Christmas cards I'm making using Strathmore Photo Cards.  I wanted to show some other ways you can make your own cards.  

In 2023 I made some cyano printed watercolor sheets, which I cut up and inserted in these cards.  I still will send these out just as a 'hello' card to friends.

Gelli prints or painted poster board are also great for cutting up and inserting into the photo frame to make a card. 

You can purchase the photo frame cards online...guess where!  HA  Yep, on Amazon!  Where else.  

I showed in the last week or so, some gelli prints I made.  These (the 3 at top of the page) are perfect to cut out and also insert in the photo frame.  Just a nice way to send a special card to a friend or even to just an acquaintance. 

Also, Lisbeth Degn has some video's on using your printed/gelli prints.  She has a cool way of folding the papers to make a book!  So that's what I'm doing.  I have lots of printed/gelli papers I made in Hilary's online class.  I'm excited to have them all in one spot vs in a bin!

You can see the papers are all together!  It's a cool way to keep these beauties together!  

And that's what you can do with your Gelli or printed papers!