Sunday, December 8, 2024

creativity a bit of sewing, a bit of paint

 

Even when going through grief, one wants to make art. I am slowly working on my Moravian star in fabric

the little star units are lying on my portable design surface. (cardboard / batting/ felt ) with a sand paper bottom. This tutorial said to make 12 star units of 5 petals. See the little diamonds on the bottom right. 
moving anticlockwise up here are the 5 sewn together.  
moving anticlockwise to the left top the five are sewn into a cupped star shape
and the bottom left is two sewn together (wrong sides tog) with a third to be sewn in

I'm not sure of the tutorial, it doesn't show where they are all joined into a big shape so I'm stuck

I painted a wee house, and that's about it this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UowBhx-IeqY

4X 6" or so, a mix of pencil watercolor-pencils (prismacolor) and water color paint with ink on top

 


Maybe I'll feel like making more next week in between doctor's appts. Not sleeping well at all. 
hope all reading this are finding more creative time than I did, but we know it comes and goes even when the artist shows up in studio to do the work. 

Thursday, December 5, 2024

I Like Thursday # 429 trees, quilts, yummy food

 

table runner made with cute Christmas scraps


Prompt this week is: Real Christmas tree or artificial

we went to an artificial tree years ago when Cole, Dh and I all had allergy attacks after bringing in a real tree. Now in Colorado we have a tall one that just lives in the family room all year, decorated for the seasons sometimes. I love how real it looks. 

And, after all it's a "real artificial" tree, you can touch it, heehee. 


Milo used to roam around the presents as they were added to the base but too polite to open them til time. He was often overwhelmed by too many choices so we learned to give him one a day. Being a loyal poodle, he tried to divide his time up among the new and old toys, God Bless him. 




One like is in Milo's honor

One of my likes this week is a squirrel. I can't believe it but on our last walk around the back yard, this squirrel came out to say hi to Milo and I. I said shoo! but it came 5 steps closer, stood up and had the most earnest look on it's little face, hands held in front, looking me in the eyes, and then at Milo too ill to chase it. I waved my arms and it reluctantly went back to the one big tree in our yard, 

Well this week miss squirrel came right up on the back porch and looked in. She seemed to think there was a tasty snack for her, and came closer and closer to the back door as I cooed at her. When she bit into the towels we cover mums with at night, I said NO! She stopped and turned to me, moving to the next one waiting to see if that one too was off limits. NO! She stopped, and sort of squirrel shrugged and came back to the door standing up, holding her wee hands in front and looking up at the two of us. 

We do put parings and peels under that big tree for bunnies or squirrels now and then but it's in the back of the yard. maybe they watch us do that and know us as the "givers of good food" 

 Then we looked out and another young squirrel was with her! Two too much! 

I liked the connection we seemed to share, the eye contact and lack of fear. 

art project



I'm trying something new. An english paper pieced (EPP) moravian star in fabric, the tutorial is 

HERE

a bit tedious and small.... perfect for me needing to just see fabric stitched to fabric right now

Fine dining

We roasted a butternut squash, and this time tried roasting the seeds. I coated them in cinnamon sugar.

Well, they got carmalyzed and came out just a little burnt tasting but we ate them of course. 

we love spaghetti meat (turkey) sauce and lots of veggies. We like to make a lasagna with half the sauce to enjoy later in the week
dinner plate with side plate on top, bowl, small bowl and smaller bowl

Tradition

I got out my Christmas dishes again, my favorite ritual. I love them and love using them. I've looked to see if I can find a set like them to use all the time as they are the right size, weight, and I just love the cutlery shape and size/weight too. Nope, nada. 

It feels odd and somehow wrong to decorate as if nothing happened when I'm grieving Milo so much. 

We are not joyful but we're doing what one can do, keep moving, one foot in front of the other, and trying to distract ourselves. We know better than to think it will be a joyful Christmas  this year but time is relentless and demands that we fill it. I think I now understand cancer hits all ages, and is devastating to all creatures. 

if you ever want to make a difference, consider donations to research. Researchers in canine cancer just discovered the floride in drinking water is causing bladder cancer in dogs. We had just a year ago started giving Milo filtered water, too little too late. 

mommy loves you my beautiful boy, forever

a friend wrote this in response to my grief... it's a lovely gift to give me (thank you Helen)
I hear you.
I'm listening.
I'm sad with you.
I can't "do" anything, but I hear you.

please visit these folks to see what they liked this week, and let me know to add you in if you write a post too