So good to be back at it!

I am one happy camper to be back working in my dye/work room!  I can make a mess if I want or just play with different techniques and have the space for all of it!  HA

I was lucky we had last week off from the MIP online class with Hilary!  Certainly gave me time to do some cleaning, get roots dyed, see the dentist (ugh...that's a whole other post!), etc. I've still not worked on our lesson/homework from this past Monday but I will by the weekend.  Today I finally got to play.

First off, I applied the wax/medium coating to some papers I stamped and dyed when we were in Florida.   I love seeing all the colors and prints on the papers!!!  And so much better hanging papers to dry on my drying rack!

These are papers that I stamped today.  I was trying to arrange for a 'focal' point  which I need for this week's lesson, but I really didn't do a good job.


BUT I know they'll get used somewhere!  HA




 Since it was raining out but warm, I thought I might as well over dye the papers to have that job out of the way.  Have to say I did have fun doing both of these techniques!  And I decided I like working with blues/oranges!  Go figure!

I purchased a wooden fish stamp several, several years ago while in Florida and decided to use it today.   I stamped with a Setacolor coral paint to stamp the fish on the papers.  I also purchased the pot wooden stamp from Hilary, which is on the blue sheets.  I also used just the ferns/leaves from the pot stamp to print on the fish papers above and on the right.

Well, I've come to the conclusion that I don't have the right stamps for a focal point and I wasn't in the mood to do any lino cutting...so hopefully, I can find a small focal point in previous papers or in the ones I did today!







And I am so happy to have my dye/work space back.  Here are some before and after pics...not a whole lot of difference except lots of the boxes are gone and everything put away.

These are the before pictures...yep, that's my Kalee girl at the door.  We have a walk out which is perfect for the dogs and for me dragging wet fabrics and paints outside!  HA

And my table all cleared off...well, doesn't look like it but it is.  I have items along the back that I use often (baby wipes, rubber gloves, scissors, etc.).  Middle pic is my padded surface that gets used a lot!  The last picture on the right holds a cutting board, small drawers for pens, tapes, etc. as well as a place for my Neocolor crayons, oil pastels and other crayon type items.

Bob's work room is directly behind my table so we can both be working on our little 'tasks'...HA  He built a partition between us which kinda separates our areas.

This cupboard holds most of my paints, utensils, dye supplies, etc.

Another cupboard which holds my stencils, thermo screens, stamps, towels, plastic, etc.   More of the standard items we dyers need.  And some we don't!  HA


I am so fortunate to have this space downstairs that I can mess up!   We have a large utility tub in this same area that is quite stained with dyes but functions just great.  It's also a good place for the dogs when they come in full of mud!  HA  Easy to wash them!

Sewing Room Finished!

I finally got all my sewing supplies put away on Sunday!  So glad to have my sewing work space ready for my next project!  Who knows what that will be....we've had the week off from Hilary's MIP online class, which worked out great so I'm not behind.  You can see boxes/etc. all over as we would just place the golfing, sewing or painting/dyeing boxes in their respective rooms.  The dye/work room is next on the to do list! 

Here are some before and after pictures of what my sewing room looked like and what it looks like now.!  

                       BEFORE                                                                                  AFTER

This is a baby chest my daughter and I hauled home one day from Pottery Barn.  It's all wood (very heavy!) but works great to cut on, plus the drawers hold lots of stuff!!  I took several pieces of my art work with me so you'll see new quilts hung in different areas. 

 

This is coming into the room, moving from left to right.  Again, before on the left and 'after' on the right.  

Moving right along....boxes and bags were all over.....that's a very old steamer chest, which holds lots of items from the kids when they were younger.  Works good to hold my rulers and, of course, just another flat surface, which can get filled with projects! 

This is my sewing table...well, actually, it's a place where the girls lay.  I put a large dog bed on that empty spot so they can look out the window while I sew or work on projects!  It's Kalee's favorite place and Gigi is getting to be very fond of it as well.  

Looks busy when I see pictures this way but I actually know where everything is at and everything is right where I need it when sewing!  I use this chest top to iron fabrics or blocks when sewing.

This is the door which leads to the living room area straight ahead and to the right our computer room and then on the left a full bath.   The room is 11'x11' and works perfect for me.  My dye room is where I can make a mess....that cleanup will be coming up in another post this week!  

24 Hours Later!!!!

Well, 24 hours ago we made it home safe and sound thanks to my hubby!  He did a great job being a good driver and being so alert!  We had 3 near misses but because he was alert, we were able to avoid accidents.  Weather was great for the first two days, but traffic was terrible!  And I do mean terrible...between the volume and the crazy drivers...ugh....the 3rd day it rained but traffic was way lighter and drivers were pretty good!   This is a picture of arriving in Michigan to the rain!  But at least it wasn't snow!  

Before and After pictures of our unpacking!!!

Starting to unload the car!  You can see some of the back of the SUV where girls are directing us!

Before on left and on the right all 'stuff' put away!

Not much different for before/after in the living room..except TV is working and dog bed is down in the after!

Dining table empty!!!

Suitcases and space saver bags ready to unpack!  After: Gigi was happy to have her space on our bed again!

Family room all clean...well, today there's a large plane Bob bought on it!  HA

This is my art workspace and Bob's is behind my art table.  No, I haven't unpacked those items and I'll won't until later this weekend!  I forgot to take a picture of my sewing room but I'll be sure to do that before I clean it up and post!

Fortunately, Bob and I both have to put away our suitcases, etc.  when we return from a trip!   Now it feels like we never left Michigan!  HA  I usually go to the grocery store and market but I was too tired and with the rain yesterday I held off until today.  No rain today...a little overcast but temps in the 50's.  Not bad really.  So it's back to baking Cinnamon rolls and preparing dinner!  Good to be home...DO miss our friends!!!!  I'll be posting some of our good bye's later this week!!!