Thank you all for your kind notes and thoughts over the past few days. They mean a lot.
I spent Wednesday with Angie and her son Max. Max came over to swim and Angie and I got to do some artwork. I was not quite up for doing much, so I just doodled in my journal. Nothing to show, as the page is not finished, but it was a good way to pass the day and Angie let me tell stories about Aunt Millie. She is so fondly remembered by all who knew her.
I’m feeling creative again, so there is finally some art to share!
This week I made a few cases for our trip. To the right you see the first one. This one is a case for a DVD/MP3 player that Dave and I can watch movies on. Since we’re already bringing our iPods, it made sense to have a player that we could share the movies while on the plane and in France. It has a hook and loop closure so the player is safe.
The second is a pencil and pen case that fits perfectly into my daypack and my purse (so it can be used after the trip!). It fits all my Albrecht Durer pencils and Pigma Microns for the trip. I can even fit a tape runner in there
for ephemera I pick up along the way.
Today I picked up some magazines I had been hoarding saving as collage or source photo material. I found a great photo of a mother and baby elephant and I just needed to draw it. Every time I looked at it, I smiled, and I needed some smiling! So, I drew the picture to the right with my Pigma Micron and colored it in with my Albrecht Durer pencils. It was a good way to start the day.
When I finished the drawing, I went to exercise and then I went out for a while. I had to just get out of the house for a while, since next week is my treatment again. In addition, I have a volunteer commitment next week. I figured it was a good time to do some window shopping and a short trip out of the house. It was good to get out of the house and just have a change of scenery.
That’s the update from here! Now to do some more of the CreativeTherapy catalysts for when I’m away!
June 13th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
art, drawing, fabric, friends, pouches, sewing, watercolor |
2 comments
I’ve been quiet the past few days, but not because of my health. I’ve been focused on sewing and painting for a gift I created for my mother-in-law as a Mother’s Day gift. I’ve had to keep it under wraps, because my MIL reads my blog regularly (*waves to mom*)! It’s to the left. It’s a purse and a matching pouch with hand-painted images of apples. My MIL collects apples and even wrote a children’s book about the importance of apples in the Jewish holidays. I’m helping her to edit and we’re hoping to self-publish before summer is out.
Today, we picked up PF Chang’s and brought it to their house for a family lunch. I spent time with my MIL editing her book and going over the images she has and needs. This week, I’ll start laying it out to be sure we have all the pictures we need and to make sure it’s going to fit within
the parameters of the self-publishing company we’re going with. It was a nice way to spend the day.
This weekend, I also continued to practice drawing. I did a lot with my mannequin. I wanted to get better at proportions and body gestures.
I photographed only a few pages, but I’ll photograph more tomorrow and post them here. It’s much harder than I thought it would be, but it’s good practice, for sure.
And some of you may have noticed that it’s Sunday! Sunday means the new CreativeTherapy catalyst is up with the responses from our design team. Please stop by and see what we’ve all come up with in response to this week’s catalyst #9, “Something you’re pessimistic about”. It was a tough one for each of us, but I believe we got some great art from all the participants!
In the past, I haven’t really posted mine here. However, this was a really difficult one for me. I spent more than a full day on it - unusual for me. To the left is the picture of what I’m pessimistic about. You’ll have to read the journaling here. 
And, don’t forget: If you participate, respond in the comments at CreativeTherapy and you’ll be entered in a random drawing for a prize from one of our sponsors!
May 11th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, Creative Therapy, art, drawing, fabric, family, journaling, life, pouches, sewing |
4 comments
Today I didn’t have much time for drawing. I went to meet Angie for coffee this morning. She’s getting ready to leave on vacation for a week and we were both in need of a visit! Then I had a meeting with a woman who was interested in seeing the Baha. We met at 10:30 and I didn’t leave until 12:30. It was a long chat, a lovely one, too. We, of course, talked about
more things than just the Baha! One of my favorite parts of meeting people about the Baha is learning about them and their lives. During our conversation, I realized that there was a lot that the woman I was meeting with had in common with my MIL and FIL. So, I asked if I could connect them. I’m happy to say that they have connected and will meet for dinner and dessert Saturday evening! What a lovely way to spend a few hours!
After that, I stopped at a quilt shop I’ve been eying for a long time! I haven’t taken the time to visit in a while, but it’s also been a while since I have bought fabric… So, I went ahead and treated myself to some fun fabrics I couldn’t live without! They’re to the right! YUMMY!
And today’s drawing is an EDM Challenge. It’s Challenge #2 - Draw a lamp. It’s the lamp from my art desk. Monochromatic, because the lamp is a brown and white antique-looking Ott Lite. I like it and it’s my constant companion on my table.
That’s all for now. Back to doing some other projects I can’t share until after Mother’s Day!
May 8th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Baha Implant, Creative Every Day, EDM, art, drawing, fabric, shopping |
2 comments
I’ve spent the past few days doing some sewing. It’s so nice to just play with fabric, fiber, and to hear the soothing sound of my sewing machine! I’ve been working, particularly, on a project for a friend. I made her a tote bag (right). I created the base with free motion stitching and then created a fabric collage out of vintage kimono fabric. I then constructed the whole thing. I’m really happy with how it turned out.
When I did the free motion quilting, I, as usual, created more quilted fabric than I needed. I knew I would figure out something to do with it, and I did. You see, I was lucky enough to participate in the Cyber Fiber Exhibit Postcard Exchange with the fabulous Susan Lenz. In February, I offered to trade out a postcard for this fabulous one Susan created out of a full-sized quilt she made a while back. Well, unfortunately, the mail being what it is, the postcard did not show up, though Susan sent it on February 3rd. I emailed Susan after a few weeks and told her I’d not received it. We were both disappointed, but we were willing to accept that these 
things happen and that we’d trade at another time.
Well, much to my surprise, Saturday’s mail brought with it the very postcard! I cannot tell you how excited I am to own this beauty! It’s even more intense and the color is SO much deeper in real life! I love it.
Anyway, back to the leftover quilted fabric! LOL
Today I took some time and created the postcard for Susan. I made it out of the base fabric left over from the tote and I added a decorative collage of vintage kimono fabrics. But it still needed something to balance it out. So, I added in the fiber from my huge (and I mean huge!) stash of fibers. I’m pretty happy with the result here, too. A lot had to do with the color of the background fabric, which I love, but I also like that it really represents my style.
Tomorrow I’m volunteering for Cochlear again, showing off my Baha implant and answering questions about it. I always enjoy helping people learn about this so it will be a tiring, but good day!
OK. Now I’m off to figure out what to do with the rest of that fabric and to pull together stuff for my trip!
April 10th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, art, collage, fabric, friends, sewing |
4 comments
It’s Monday. After a long weekend of fatigue and nausea, I was able to sit in the studio for a while today. I cleared off my desk and even did some sewing today. I finished up two small journals for Beads-n-More/SunSpirit Studio in Bisbee. Another of my journals sold there this weekend and they’re having a grand re-opening while I’m in Chicago. I promised to send some journals by Friday so she has them on hand for the opening. I sure hope things keep going well for her in Bisbee!
I did start to put together a tote for a friend. I cut the fabric, fused the fusible fleece, and pinned the fabric to prepare for free motion quilting. I hope to do that tomorrow so I can start to pull together the bag. I’m planning to put one of the portraits I painted on the bag, but a print of it. I placed an order with Staples to be delivered tomorrow, since I usually don’t drive for at least 5 days after my treatment. I hope to finish up additional journals and the tote tomorrow. If I don’t, that’s fine. I can go slowly. If I only complete one or two more of the journals, that’s fine, too.
I don’t think I mentioned that I have put some cabinet cards up for sale on this site. I love to shop for things like good photos of cabinet cards, but I have not used them. My new rule is that if it’s not being used, it’s time to pass it on. Take a look at what I have to offer. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, let me know. I do have quite a few others that just haven’t made it to the page. It’s a long process, and since they’re all one-of-a-kind, it’s a lot of work. Note, please, that you are receiving the original cabinet card!
I’ll let you know when I update with more. I hope to do some of that tomorrow. I have over 100 cabinet cards. And that’s not even looking at any of the vintage postcards I have! Fran’s cleaning out the studio, so keep watching!
April 7th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, business, fabric, health, living with chronic illness, sewing |
2 comments
I am so excited to finally share with you a project I have been working on for a while. You see, when my MIL and FIL moved to Phoenix, we helped them to unpack and get settled. While unpacking, many family heirlooms were shared. 
My MIL’s mother, Sarah, was a sewer and an embroiderer. Among the heirlooms were many of Sarah’s hand-embroidered liens. They had been well-loved and well-used. Some had stains and holes in them. But they are still incredibly precious. Some are over 75 years old!
When we uncovered these, I knew that I had to do something to honor the work in them and to allow them to be displayed. It took a while, but I finally decided that was time to work on them about six months ago. I created small hanging quilts of these hand-embroidered dish towels. They each hang individual and they have minimal but highlighting stitching and quilting on them. The goal was for them to be displayed, rather than hidden in a linen closet.
As embroidery is so tactile, I did not want to just put them in a frame where they’d be stuck behind glass. I knew quilting was the answer. However, putting them together in one quilt without major cutting was not possible and I wanted to find a way to honor the individual designs. After laying them out, I decided that the best way to display them was through individual quilts that would hang among family photos.
To create some stability, I used Warm & Natural batting inside of them and I sewed skewer inside the top fold of each of the small quilts so that they could hang up. Finally, I added a plastic-covered jump ring with to each with some hand stitching. The construction of them is simple, but it honors the hours of work that Sarah put into 
Today, I gave the gift of five of these quilts to my MIL. She was thrilled. She had known that I was doing something with them, but had no idea what I had come up with. I was so glad she liked them. It was an honor to work with some of our family’s history and to preserve it in a way that the detail can still be appreciated.
March 30th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, art, fabric, family, sewing |
3 comments
It’s been a LOVELY weekend! Dave and I saw his parents on Saturday. They are preparing for their first trip to Hawaii. They’re going to fly there and then take a cruise around the islands. They’re so excited and they’re also going with friends. It should be fun for them. We love Hawaii, so we gave them some tips on island excursions they should take.
While there, my MIL asked me if I’d make her a passport holder for her to use. I agreed, but was a bit intimidated, to be honest. I drew out something, but wasn’t completely satisfied with it. So, Saturday evening, while hubby was playing poker with some friends, I searched the Internet for patterns. (How did we ever survive before the Internet and Google?). I found several, but none that I really thought would work. Besides, they required zippers and for me to go to the store to buy the patterns. I finally stumbled upon Studio Kat Designs, who has very easy-to-follow FREE Pattern! I immediately downloaded it and printed it out, along with a few others. The others were very technical and not quite right.
But Studio Kat made it look so easy with her many diagrams and clear language.
Sunday morning, I pulled fabric (don’t you LOVE this dotted batik fabric?!), started cutting it to the template sizes on the pattern. Within an hour, I had two passport/ticket holders. They are seen to the left and right. Now, I can’t leave anything without making my mark on it. The pattern calls for bias tape wherever you see the black (except the cording!). I don’t use bias tape. So, I satin stitched the edges on my sewing machine. I also used eyelets for the cording.
I hope my mother-in-law likes this as much as I enjoyed making it.
Now off to do some more creating!
February 18th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, fabric, giveaway, pouches, sewing |
7 comments
It was so good to get back into the studio yesterday. A certain calm comes over me when I walk into the studio - even if it’s a mess! It’s really a haven for me. 
Yesterday, after I wrote about my preparations for today’s Watercolor Pencil Magic class, I pulled out the sewing machine and set it up on my main desk. It felt good to see my old friend. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, since I wasn’t sure how much energy I’d have. So, I took my scrap box and a painting I did before all this health stuff started. I just started adding some fabric to the background with stitching. Unlike some people, I don’t use fusible webbing under my small pieces. I choose to let them loose and let them lie where they will. I’m happy with where this is going. It’s not done yet, but it’s good to be creative! She’ll either end up as a wall-hanging or a pillow. I’m not sure which yet!
Dave and I are planning to go to France this summer, starting in Paris, where he has a conference. As a result, I decided I should learn to speak French. Yesterday my headset came from Rosetta Stone and I started my French lessons online. I am finding it a bit challenging with my hearing impairment to get the pronunciation right, but the program does record my voice and play it back to me, so I am getting an idea of how I’m doing. I’m not yet ready to write in French, but I’ll get there. I have six months to learn and I’m feeling fairly comfortable with that amount of time.
Now I’ve just downloaded and printed out the first lesson for my watercolor pencil class. I’m going to spend today working on that and then, if I feel up to it, I might do more work on the fabric collage.
If you haven’t left a comment for my One World One Heart drawing, please do so. One comment per person! You have until February 14th at 9 am Pacific Time to be included in the drawing.
February 5th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, art, collage, fabric, sewing, watercolor |
3 comments
Thanks to all of you for your kind wishes about health. The treatments are every 4 weeks and I’m thankful that they continue to keep my vertigo at bay and to keep the hearing in my “good ear” at a very high functioning level most of the month. It’s worth it to be “grounded” in the house for a few days. The nausea, however, I could do without! But we’re getting a handle on it with medication and some good ol’ chamomile and peppermint teas.
I’ve spent the past week quietly in the studio. I’ve been working on one more gift. A doll for a friend. Usually, I wouldn’t show this image until it actually got to my friend, but since I missed the last day for delivery by Christmas, I figured she deserves a good look. This is for my friend, Tracey. This doll started out as someone completely different. When I saw what was coming out of her, I felt she needed to be angelic. I removed the legs that weren’t working for her and I added wings. I also added a halo for some rhinestones around the halo with some dry-brushed silver metallic paint for some bling. Tracey loves bling!
As I was making this, I realized that organizing my fabric stash. In particular, all the pieces of vintage kimono fabric from Katie’s Vintage Kimono fabrics and my scraps. So, I spent time sitting at my table and ironing them. It doesn’t really take a ton of energy, so that worked for me. I don’t tend to have a ton of energy to expend - even more so for the week of my treatment.
Speaking of the treatment, I’m not sure if I mentioned that the nurses loved their bags. Dave said that one actually completely changed her purse to the bag I made for her. She had told me she would, but it’s always nice to know that people appreciate things when you work so hard on them!
Yesterday, we had planned to attend the holiday party I made the wine gift bag for. Change of plans. At 7:30 am, I was pouring my first cup of coffee and I suddenly heard a yelp from my bedroom, followed by some cursing. I went in to see what was wrong. Dave had broken his left little toe. The toe was in a strange position that was clearly not natural! So, we headed over to the Banner Good Samaritan Hospital’s Emergency Room to have his toe re-set. It was a complete fracture. They really had to manipulate the toe to get it back in alignment.
As our plans had been thwarted, we had a quiet day. Dave spent the day on the couch with his New York Times, the remote, and his foot elevated. I sat nearby and we watched TV, talked, and read our newspapers. Different than planned, but not a bad way to spend the day together.
December 24th, 2007
Posted by
Fran |
art, fabric, family, friends, health, life, sewing |
3 comments
‘Tis the season, right? Well, I had my treatment on Monday. I was pretty sick during it and the IV had to be reinserted twice, so it was not my favorite day. And, though it took longer for me to get through it, I had the pleasure of Angie’s company for a couple of hours. And, at the end of the day, my DH took me home. Not a bad day, overall!
The nurses loved the bags, so that was fun. And I made the one on the left for myself, as well. I used it to bring my blanket, my iPod, and some reading material with me. It’s deeper than some of the others, but, since it has to fit in enough “stuff” to get me through the day of treatment, I figured it would work!
This bag, actually, was a great victory for me. The base was created with my new Fabric Mover, so it is all free motion quilted! I really learned how to manipulate the fabric with this project. It was a blast!
I’ve spent the past day working on two presents while relaxing and recuperating from my treatment. The first is a doll for a friend’s holiday present (Yes. It is late! She knows it will be!) and the second is a bag for a bottle of wine. See, each year, one of Dave’s partners has a holiday party. They are wine drinkers, so we go and buy them a good bottle of wine each year. Usually, we just get a tube for it or we bring it in a store-bought gift bag. And, while none of these are bad, I decided that a good bottle of wine needed a beautiful exterior. So, I made this wine gift “bag” out of a beautiful crushed velvet that had sequins on it and a raw silk inside. It was a quick and fairly easy project, but it looks like it took a lot of work. I added some copper metallic fibers from my stash. All that’s left to do is to write a short note and we’re set for this weekend’s party!
Most of today, I’ll probably sit in front of the television and try to get my energy back. I’m feeling the fatigue from the treatment today.
December 19th, 2007
Posted by
Fran |
art, collage, fabric, health, sewing |
5 comments
