Pretty Yarn is Awesome for Macro Sunday

Back before Christmas, my mom gave me a great book to read:  The Beach Street Knitting and Yarn Society, by Gil McNeil.  It was a fun, quick read and featured a neat little yarn shop.  The visual of pretty textures and colors and the overall comfort of a place like that made it some great fiction.  Lo' and behold, I stumbled on a store just like it in Williamsburg!  When I walked into Knitting Sisters I immediately realized that I was going to have a serious problem with yarn...it was all beautiful and I wanted a little bit of everything.  I had a slight problem, though:  I didn't know how to knit.  I've been a crocheter, before, but was scared of the whole two-needle concept.  So, I signed up for a class and ended up teaching myself to knit.  Now I can't stop.

I adore being able to sit on the couch and make what's essentially fabric out of a single thread.  Plus, the counting and counting and counting and repetitive actions keep my brain perfectly engaged so I really don't have to think about anything else going on around me.  It's a great little bit of escapism.  

This is a scarf project that I got from the shop because the yarn was in a sale bin and I couldn't resist the colors.  It's called "Synchronicity Seafoam Scarf" but I think of it more like a surfing phoenix.  haaaaaaaaaa 

I've got about 10 more inches to finish this off, so we'll see if I can do it this week.  In the meantime, I'm happy to share these close-up shots of the gorgeous yarn.  There's more to be seen as part of "I heart Macro" so here's the button....

I Heart Macro: Stones

I'm on Day Two of big agenda-free weekend and ready to rock my Sunday!  I can't wait to share more about my adventures yesterday.  I spent a few hours Skyping with my new bud, Bette, working on her new blog:  Art Pages Etc.  Her paper and journals are completely awesome so I can't wait to see more!   I have lots more to say about learning new blogger "stuff" and figuring out how to make things look just like I want but that's for a whole other post.  Today is just for pretty shots...like this one of some special tourmaline that I splurged on for my birthday back in July.  (If you really believe it's just masquerading flourite and garnet, please don't burst my bubble!  haaaaaaaaaaaaa)

I've had them out on my table for months just waiting for the perfect project.  My goal today is to use them--at least a few of them--in something awesome.  Now that I laid them all out in those gradient rows I think I may actually try to stitch something!  Hmmmmm.  Ooooh, or maybe work them onto a thick brass cuff...oooh, or maybe sew them on a leather cuff!  Uh oh, I need another cup of coffee before I delve into that one.

Here's a little bit of a start on a memory wire bangle using some of them.  Since it's getting close to Christmas I end up with people asking if they can buy things who are then shocked by what I want them to pay for them.  Alas, it's the crisis of handmade artisan goods.  Instead of devaluing my work overall, I'm trying to mix the pricier pieces like artisan beads or super-pretty semi-precious stones with less expensive construction methods that are still high quality and in my own creative style--hence, the memory wire.  

Dozens of other creative souls are out there today "sharing the love - up close" thanks to Studio Waterstone's inspiration.  Click on the button below to see others.  :)

Hipstamonday: Sunshine in Pennsylvania

Curtis and I had a fantastic weekend up in Pennsylvania.  It was the second weekend of the huge Fall Foliage Festival, so I got to spend some time with my friends serving up some walking tacos to the masses.  That was only after we celebrated my sweet nephew Liam's 4th birthday.  How do these boys get so big so fast!?


We stopped at the rest stop just over the border in PA and there were some huge sunflowers planted around the building.  Nerds that we are, we were up in looking at them trying to figure out how the seeds are up in there.  I didn't have my "big" camera so I busted out the Hipstamatic and took a shot...love this yellow!

I have to get back to laundry and get ready for this short week.  Only four days until the next weekend...that means I need to get to work on projects featuring my very own enameled beads for the Painting with Fire book tour.

Macro Sunday

Curt and I went to the Newport News Fall Folklife Festival yesterday.  In the midst of craft booths, funnel cakes, and muddy walkways Curt saw this really cool fungus among us.  It's kind of gross and kind of beautiful all at the same time, so that's my close-up shot for this week's I Heart Macro Sunday post.

The follow-on activity from any fall festival is the cozy couch nap...my boys have perfected their napping skills.... 

And this photo was an accident from yesterday when my friend, Jeff, was trying to explain white balance and I got tired of listening...cracks me up because I apparently look like this most of the time. 

Hop on over to Studio Waterstone to see the latest up-close interpretations of life...

I Heart Macro: Seattle Sidewalk

These little purple squares are actually windows into the underground tunnels below the sidewalks in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood.

I initially thought they were some kind of shell by the way they were layered and the tone of the purples, but finally got down close and figured out they're glass.


This isn't my picture, but it's a view of the lights from below in the tunnels:

That's about all I can muster on this lazy Sunday morning.  haaaaaaaaa 

Weekend Crafting: Creative Block & Inhalants

Since it's Sunday, I'm starting out with a macro shot of my paper beads.  I spent Friday and Saturday evenings spread out on the kitchen counter with some paper I painted up last week along with a yardstick and paper cutter.  I cut dozens and dozens of skinny triangles and then set out with fingers full of glue to come up with these.  I'm really tickled with how they came out but I want to actually use some and see how they work before I try selling them or giving them away.  Is it bad that I'm admitting that I spent most of my weekend by myself at home playing with glue and paper and sticks?

The paper I used has a white core so the winded edges of white show up fairly prominently and I have to decide how to exploit that look.  They have a sort of optical illusion to them when viewed from the side. I may try some sort of tea-dye ink to "age" them and take some of that fresh white look away.  

One of my goals this weekend was to get some of these babies sealed.  I decided to use some spray sealant because that's what I had handy.  I spread out some newspaper on the kitchen counter and took each mandrel (uh, bamboo skewer, actually, by "mandrel" sounds so much more official) and gave the beads a few sprays.  This is where the "inhalant" part of the weekend comes in...I live in a small apartment and after standing there spraying in the kitchen for about five minutes the cat started to meow really loudly--which is not normal.  I walked over to look at him and in that movement took a big breath and realized that I am standing in the middle of a closed up room spraying hugely flammable and dangerous spray that is so smelly that it has started to freak out my cat.  Nice.  I immediately turned on the stove vent and then opened up a window and lined up a fan to blow some of the noxious air out of the apartment. It never even crossed my mind to go outside.  Once I got everything opened up, I made sure that cats were still running around just fine and left the apartment for a while so it could clear up.  Even when I got home three hours later it was still like walking into a paint shop.  But, I think we're good to go now.  The cats are still fine and I haven't had any issues either.  I probably still won't light any candles tonight.

The paper bead frenzy--not the inadvertent inhalant abuse--started out of a need to break my creative block.  I have an Artisan Clay piece that I'm working with as part of Kristie's design team and the reveal is next Friday.  Last month almost all of us were caught by surprise because the last Friday in June came earlier than we thought it would.  I find it shocking that now the end of July is just around the corner.  How can it be that summer is halfway done and I feel like I have nothing to show for it?  Alas, in trying to have something to show off for next Friday, I am working with a gorgeous pineapple yellow donut.  My first instinct was to go monochromatic with tons of lemon and pineapple quartz because I have a ton of different shapes and textures.  But, when I sat down on Saturday morning to work, there were too many things jumping out as perfect...I starting thinking pink and yellow and it went downhill from there. I had everything going on--chain, ribbon, leather, stone, wire--and felt like I had too many ideas and not enough focus.

It was like a festival of too many ideas and I just started to get angry.  I'm used to sitting down and things just happening naturally and they come out right.  The process of editing down this collect of stuff was too overwhelming.  So, I left it.  I was totally blocked so I got dressed and went shopping.  A few new bits from Chico's had me all sorted out...oh, and some Ben & Jerry's helped, too.  I sat down and finished it up this morning.  I'm pleased with the results and you'll see them next Friday.  :)

Macro Sunday: Orange Flowers at the Smithsonian

Mom and I spent Thursday afternoon walking around a few Smithsonian museums, including the garden near the castle.  These orangeish-pink flowers caught my eye.

I guess I take a lot of pictures of orangish-pink flowers.   

I just made some paper beads that pull in these colors and I didn't even mean to do that!  I'm going to make something with them this week...at least that's the plan.

And, finally, here's a really cool orange flower that's apparently a special exhibit there in the garden...it's from India and I just googled for about five minutes and can't find the name of it.

Click here to see more great macro photos:

Thai Lunch Macro

I know it's not "Macro Sunday" but I took a couple of shots over the weekend when Curt and I went out for a Thai lunch...orange creamy icy goodness.

And my favorite soup, Tom Ka Gai with a this pretty green cilantro on top.  Cilantro always makes me think of my mom because she hates it--says it tastes like dirt.

I love the mix of colors and textures in these fresh rolls...

And that's the last picture because I got all caught up in my panang curry and forgot about taking any other shots.  I'm hungry.  Shocking.

It's almost my 400th post and my 40th birthday...I've gotta come up with a good way to mark these occasions.  :)  Maybe watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding will give me ideas.  haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa  I can't turn it off!  The tulle is unbelievable!!

I Heart Macro - Ocean & Etymology

I'm still working on beach/summer-themed projects so I busted out some of my bezel hoard stockpile and decided to work with old dictionary text and teenie, tinie seashells.  It's fun to flip through these vintage dictionaries...I love words.  It must be part of the etymology interest that comes from my Dad, the Latin teacher.  Isn't it appropriate that it's Father's Day?  :)  Hi, Daddy!!!  Love you!

It could be just the words, but the little tiny pictures are the best!   

I didn't use the peccary pig picture in these pendants because he didn't really go with the shells...

My little ocean words, though, worked wonderfully!

The rest of the macro Sunday crowd hosted by Studio Waterstone is out there in blogland...linked at this button:

White Chocolate Macro Chip

I was just having a bit of a snackity snack.  I had some white chocolate chips in the cupboard pending some baking.  Alas, I busted into them to get a little sweet fix the other night and now they're finished off.  Their creamy whiteness reminded me that it's "Macro Sunday" so I took a shot or two before they were gone.  Then, because I really don't feel like folding laundry, I spent some time, instead, on Picnik playing with some different effects:

The rest of the macro Sunday crowd hosted by Studio Waterstone is out there in blogland...linked at this button:

Mountain Laurel Macro

Last weekend in North Carolina we took a jaunt down the Blue Ridge Parkway and it was just so green and fresh and wonderful.  Curt was loving the drive and the curves while I just sat in awe of the big trees, expansive views, and yummy fresh air.  We stopped at a few overlooks to, well, look over the view and wandered off onto a couple of trails so I could try to catch some mountain laurel shots.  We were in a different state, I know, but they're the state flower of Pennsylvania so I had some fond memories of my home.  I can't remember for certain, but I think I learned about all the official Pennsylvania flora and fauna from a placemat--maybe it was at Grammy Snyder's house where I spent most of my littlest years or maybe it was at the little Landmark Restaurant downtown where we had french fries with gravy with Pappy Hine.  Either way, it's a little flower with a big nostalgic punch.

I'm not especially happy with these shots, but with the breeze and my hiking over forest roots in sandals, they came out okay....haaaaaaaaaaaaaa  I also yelled out and almost had Curt run off the road when I saw orange flowers in the woods.  That's my favorite color, so I had to see them up close.  They're apparently a type of azalea.  

The rest of the macro Sunday crowd hosted by Studio Waterstone is out there...linked at this button:

Hearting Macro in Asheville

Yes, I'm on vacation, but I also have my camera with me.  I took a stroll by the Grovewood Gallery yesterday after getting a little gym time in (so we don't feel guilty about "vacation" eating) and there's a great sculpture garden.  For my macro shot this week I'm sharing a couple of detail shots of Bea Girl by Dale Rogers.

And here's a shot of the entire piece that I got from the Grovewood Gallery Page:

I have lots more of Asheville to share but have to get back to vacation for now!

Hearting Macro

..and hearting my mom's focaccia bread.

I couldn't decide what to focus on today...pun intended.  I have a sweet kitty face, lots of new art bead earrings, some lovely woven textures from back at Art & Soul...but, in the interests of my efforts to lose weight, I'm focusing on food.  haaaaaaaaaaa  When I go home and visit, my mom is usually up before dawn baking or cooking or prepping to cook something.  That's just the way she works.  So, I get to smell this bread baking with the caramelized onions and all as I'm rolling over and wondering if I should get up yet.  Normally I do because I know she'll cut off a little corner for sampling even though it's officially a part of dinner later that day. 

Curt calls it "onion loaf" which makes me laugh every time I think of it..."focaccia" versus "loaf"...you decide. 

Thanks to Lori Waterstone and the rest of the "macro" crowd...you can see more if you click here:

Daycation in Colonial Williamsburg

Curt was here over the weekend and we had a great time together.  It's fun to just sit on the couch next to each other and chill out, eat cookies (Cooking light recipe, of course), and chat about life.  Since we spend time together so infrequently, it's always nice when we can just relax and enjoy without stressing out about things.  We both do that enough when we're not together!  haaaaaaaa  On Sunday we drove up to Williamsburg for the afternoon to find someplace new to eat and walk around the little downtown area.  We had lunch at The Blue Talon, which was wonderful, by the way.  But, more importantly for girl trying to lose weight, we walked around for about an hour.  I had my camera handy like any good tourist, so I snapped a few shots in one of the gardens (and then played around with them on Picnik)  Here are my faves:


First, the original that shows a lot of the colors in the garden (with a little saturation adjustment.)  I love the pattern inside the bellflowers of the foxglove...I'm going to have to search for some beads that are inspired by that pattern.  Let me know if you have any references of beads to honor this poisonous pretty!  (I just googled to make sure I was calling it the right thing and found out it's a poisonous plant.  I'm glad we didn't like any of them.  haaaaaaaaaa)

And after a little Picnik play, here's a close-up of the focal set with lots of adustments.  I love the energy of the color in this one!

And then there was a big bumble bee.  I spent a good five minutes chasing it around the garden trying to get a decent shot without him moving.  Curt was cracking up as I kneeled down to get a shot and the crazy thing flew right towards my camera and scared me backwards with a little scream.  Too funny...no one was injured.  :)

I went to town on this one and have lots of other versions...I honestly don't know which one I like best!  The first one I spent a lot of time painting the background out into black and white...

Then, a little color changing magic...along with a few other filters to make this purple painterly version.

And then a little skinnier peachy version.

Okay, I think the last one is probably my favorite.  It actually looks yummy to me...apparently it's time for a snack.