Brave Art.

I'm linking up with Liv Lane's Brave Post Blog Hop today.  This is a tough one!  The assignment is to write a post about something that you want to share but that you find difficult to share. 
Well, I can think of tons of things that would be uncomfortable for me to write about here.  But the point is not to make myself uncomfortable.  The point is to get over that hurdle of being afraid to be vulnerable - afraid to be honest, to be yourself, just as you really are. 

I think the thing that is most difficult for me to share here is my artwork.  I seem to have no problem at all writing and posting pictures of things I sew or quilt.  I belong to several swap groups on Flickr and have a great time swapping sewn creations with people across the country and around the world!  But I never really show my colorful drawings to anyone.  I go in phases with doing a lot of these at times.  Other times I'm happier sewing, but I have several sketchbooks full of these bright drawings.  I'm not sure why it's hard for me to share them.  They are very close to my heart.  I suppose I am afraid that they (I) will be judged harshly.  I feel like they are not "real" art; or are immature because of the bright colors.  And, you know, sometimes I even feel that my sewing and quilted things might be judged immature because the same bright colors are in the fabrics I choose.

I'm pretty sure that most of this judgement is coming from my own mind.  I keep myself limited.  Protected.
Is this fear of failure?  ofsuccess?  of being rejected?

Oh, I know intellectally that it is right for me to follow my creative heart/desires when I'm making something. I mean expressing myself through creative activity is the whole point of it for me. That's what art is to me - self expression. And I believe that it is good for me - good for the soul.  So I do it. And I use the colors that make me happy.

But the whole point of blogging is to share and make connection with others.

So now I'm going to show you some of the drawings!  These are just snapshots of portions of the drawings  - not the whole drawing - that my husband took awhile back.  Some of them are a bit blurry. Sorry.

OH and my blog header? 

Yeah - I drew that, too.

Little Bliss List Blog Hop

I took this photo on our trip to Grandfather Mountain last spring.

I'm linking up with Liv Lane's Little Bliss List Blog Hop today.  The point is to make note of little things that happened during the week that brought you moments of joy - bliss.

Here's my list:
1  - Lounging on the couch with my husband in the evenings after a long day at work.
2  - Seeing the elderly, stray, handicapped cat sleeping on the old bath mat we put in the carport for him.
3  - Hot chamomile tea with honey in my new, red  "Keep Calm and Carry On"  cup.
4  - Pandora internet radio - Chill down tempo.
5  - Phone call from a girlfriend I hadn't talked to in a while.

Click the link above and hop on over to read everyone's lists.  And maybe join in!  There's a button in the sidebar.

Zippers and Logs and Bees, Oh My!

Yes, I think I have developed a little addiction for making these little zippered pouches!  I whipped up another one Saturday and SO wanted to make more  -  but I had no more zippers!

Some Loulouthi love going on here!!

Love those Xs and Os on the inside.

I used a stiffer interfacing for this one and I don't like the feel of it as much as the first one.  I'd love to make one with patchwork and using quilt batting and see how that feels.

And I got my partner in the Mouthy Stitches swap!  So now I can begin to "stalk" her flickr profile and see how she has answered all the questions we have been asking in order to design a zipperd pouch I think she'll like.

In other news, my mini quilt for the STUD swap is in progress.  Here's the sneak peek I posted on flickr.

The theme is log cabins.  So I am making bright, colorful, busy, wonky log cabins!  But it's OK - I'm pretty sure my partner will like colorful and bright, too.  Can't show the whole thing until it reaches it's destination.

Oh, and I got Sara's block for the Ab Fab Free Bees free form round robin over at Around the Bend and Across the Pond.  (Man! that's a mouthful!)  I've pulled some fabrics and am thinking about what to add . . .

Zippered Pouch

A new Flickr group has formed called Mouthy Stitches.   I heard about it from Trudi who I know from Around the bend and Across the Pond and from The Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Along.  The premise of the Mouthy Stitches group is to make and swap small zippered pouches.  If you're intimidated by installing a zipper then this is a fun way to overcome that!  The group is also meant to be a "chatty" group ( hence the term "mouthy"), so the intent is to learn new skills and make new friends.

Well, I have installed a zipper before, but it's been a long time . . . I'm talking decades here!  So I decided this would be a fun group to join.  Then I set out to make a pouch for practice before the swap began.  I followed the tutorial from Flossieteacakes, which must be well done because everything went off without a hitch!

I used some Amy Butler fabric for the outside.

Look at that zipper!

A polka dot lining.

I'm pleased with how it turned out and now I'm ready to make another one!  Partners have not yet been assigned, so I'm thinking I may make another one for for me ;)

My First Little Journal

My fav online quilting group Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along has a new spin-off group - Around the Bend and Across the Pond.  It's like a round robin.  We each make a starter block, then send it off and each person in the group adds to it!  There are three different types of robins going on.  My group is a "free form'' robin.  Each person can add whatever they like where ever they like.  We're all so excited to get started! Anyway, we decided to include small journals for each person to write their thoughts about what they add to your quilt.  My friend Lynz made a cute journal and then posted a tutorial on her blog so we could all make one.  So here's my first little journal:

Scrapbooking paper and a ribbon for the cover.  Heavy drawing paper inside.  Lynz used book rings for hers, but I just used ribbon since I didn't have any rings.  I can totally see how these journals could become addicting to make!  Didn't take too long either.  And I like how you can add or remove pages at will.  I may add decoration to the cover and maybe some drawings in the margins of the pages . . .
Thanks so much Lynz!

Oh and this is my starter block for my quilt.

Who knows what will be with it when it comes back??!!



Keep Calm and Carry On.

I think this is good advice for me. I can really take things to heart and get lost in a tangle of brooding thoughts sometimes.  Stress seems to pile up on me and I find myself keyed up.  I am trying to learn to recognize when this happens.  So I can de-stress.  So I can change the self-talk in my head.  I know I add to my own stress level with the thoughts that run through my mind.  I need to keep calm and carry on with the things that really matter.