100 Day Project

With retirement comes more art time and the chance to participate in projects I never had time for in the past.  Beth shared The 100 Day Project link with me and how could I not jump in with both feet!  My goal is to work on pattern and/or texture for at least 10 minutes each day.  After 100 days I will have a notebook full of ideas and a daily habit of creating art! 
Last week I played at the library for a day and made a ton of gelli prints trying to pull in some of my designs:

studio 52 week 2 / Linnaeus Garden

Realized that I had not posted #2..

Made the decision after this little piece to forget trying to piece and to move ahead with layering my fabric with fusible web or glue.

Credit to Kate Beaton for her adorable sketch of "wee Carl Linnaeus " that I used with free motion stitching. Check out her site: Hark! A Vagrant. 

The Linnaeus Garden is in Uppsala Sweden . Carl developed a method for the classification of the plant kingdom. (Your history and science lesson for today).

studio 52 week 4 / Asige Sweden

I visited Asige with my cousin, her daughter, and my son a few years ago.  It was the village that my great grandfather Henry Nelson migrated to the states from in the 1860's.  What a wonderful feeling to walk on the ground that he called home.  My quick little map used stitch and inktense pencils.

Crazy woman #23

Not enough stitching and baubles, but she must join her friends "in the box"...  I think she needs to hold a little purse, and when I can find my stash of old Barbie dolls and clothing, I'm sure the perfect one is there! 

I haven't felt very creative with my crazy woman project, but with an upcoming cruise in the Caribbean, I'm thinking 'island girls'! 

Sunday, 21 January 2018

I am not concentrating well this morning.  My brain keeps popping from place to place!  Random thoughts:

I signed up for 'The 100 Day Project'.  It begins today.  I picked "texture and pattern" for my 100 days of exploring.  With so many ideas in my head, this should be an easy and fun project.

While on the treadmill I was reading a blog post about revisiting old photos.  I love doing this.  Is it not why we take so many pictures?  Looking outside there is only shades of brown.  I need some green, so I revisited my Ireland trip photos.  This church from somewhere in Northern Ireland spoke to me.  I am always amazed by structures that have stood for centuries.

Later today I am heading to my brother's with my mom for a few days.  It is his birthday and being of retired status, I can go!  Speaking of retired... It has now been 1 month since my last day of work.  People keep asking how I am enjoying being retired.  Funny thing - I just feel like I am on vacation.  I spent 2 weeks in Germany with my son for the holiday.  Then returned home and came down with the flu.  My next adventure was 2 days in the court room dealing with issues with my aunt.  That is now resolved and I am finally able to start being retired!

Studio 52 - week 3 Jardin du Luxembourg

I am feeling horribly behind with life.  At least I did get closure with the guardian battle with my aunt.  After 2 long days in court, the judge ruled that a third party would handle her affairs.  Now she is safe and her assets are safe.  My job is done.

Next order of business is to start doing more art (and clean my house)...  

Week 3 - map of Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. This garden was inspired by Boboli Gardens in Florence created upon the initiative of Queen Marie de Medici in 1612. 


It was fun to watch children (of all ages!) play with boats on the pond. Since it was my favorite part of this garden, it is my focal.

I used fabric, stenciling, applique and stitch to make this little map.  

Crazy woman from paris

I do so love Paris...

Friday fiber arts at the library

It was great to get together with friends and stencil a little fabric this morning.  For me it was very little stenciling, but much talking.

Crazy woman

I'm back playing with my crazy woman!

Studio 52 - Gamla Uppsala

I signed up to participate in Studio 52 (on facebook).  During the year we are encouraged to create weekly art for ourselves.  This type of project came at a good time for me as I explore my new world of retirement.  While unpacking from my trip, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of maps I had picked up from various places.  Maps of cities, subway maps, art museum brochures with maps, etc.  It was pretty easy to pick a theme of Maps & Places for my year of a series.

To challenge myself, I will be working in fabric.  I would like each map to be functional in a quilt (it can be washed in the washing machine). 

#1 map is Gamla Uppsala, Sweden.  I'm not totally happy with how it turned out, but one must start somewhere.  I scanned the image and then printed it as large as possible on an 8 1/2 x 11 paper.  From there I used tracing paper to create a "map", (or pattern), for my quilt.  This first block was a great learning experience and gave me some hints on what not to do in the future.

It was missing something...

Yes, words make a difference!  

Creative jump start #1

My arm was twisted and I just had to sign up for creative jump start 2018!  Yes, if my friends were jumping off a cliff, I would probably follow.

I am a few days behind due to traveling, but am ready to jump in, watch the videos, and get messy:

2 January 2018

Homeward bound.... should be home in about 20 hours.  I know there are clean sheets on the bed and my pillows are fluffed (did that before leaving home).  I wish for ruby slippers, and pray for a safe trip.

1 January 2018 / Berlin

This city is amazing. The fireworks at midnight welcoming in the new year went on for hours.  I kept thinking about how terrified my dog would be if he were here. It was wonderful to be a part of such a grand celebration.

I haven't taken tons of pictures on this trip, but a few should inspire me later or at least remind me of my travels.