Finished Things!

After talking to my mother yesterday, I realized that she was right and I truly didn't get many things finished. Like she's never said this before? Like I didn't know this?

So, inspired by the new quilter I met, I finished up things. All postcards right now, though "Year of the Dog III" has been put back on the top of the pile. It needs something but I don't know what...picture to follow.


This first postcard is an experiment with painted fusible. I think the green stripes are metallic fabric paint, then the fusible is torn into strips. The purple stripes are Shiva paintstiks rubbed directly onto fusible, then fusible torn. The cool thing is that enough fusible is still exposed that, after stitching the feather onto the card (layered with fine net on top), the whole thing pressed down flat when ironed. The feather isn't loose at all - which actually makes it less iridescent, but oh well.


These next two cards are made of hand-dyed fabric also. The trees are (obviously) part of my 'through trees' series. The blue and orange one just tickled me.











Anna drew the snail shape for the 'snail with flower'

I was given the marbled fabric for the butterfly by Marge Hurst in New Zealand, years ago, and finally cut it up.








I think the butterfly needs a few rhinestones, but then it wouldn't mail as well.

Back to school !

The girls started school yesterday - the first time back to public school for Anna in 4 years, the first time for school outside the home for Bekah and Liz in 4 years. Lemme tell ya, I am so glad! I learned a lot of stuff home schooling, and I think I learned enough...grin...though it's a terrific thing, and I wouldn't trade my time home schooling for anything under the sun. It's just that that phase is over and it's time to move on. Perhaps like how one feels when the youngest child is potty-trained?

Bekah and Lizbeth started 10th grade. Lizbeth is taking Geometry, Chemistry, English, Latin II, Dance, and World Geography. Bekah is taking Algebra I, Introduction to Physics and Chemistry, English, Latin II, Art, and World Geography. For the first time ever, they have absolutely no classes together!

Anna is in 7th grade and is taking Texas History, Math, English, Science, Drama (!), Photography (!!), and has a study period on the "Focus" room . Those of you who know Tim will be on the edges of your seats, as I am, to see if she can do the same things with a camera that her Papa does.

Me? I'm going to volunteer in both schools as a way to meet people, join a bible study at church, and look to meet local quilters/artists. And work on making yet more stuff.

News Flash!

I've moved.

I've moved west of the Mississippi. This is big.

I'm now in Austin, Texas, courtesy of my very generous in-laws. Tim is job-hunting.
My girls are all starting back in school tomorrow - I will actually have time without children for the first time in YEARS! And the last year they were in public school I ended up working at the school - so that makes 5 years since I've had kid-free days.

I'm making lots of stuff. Unfinished stuff, but stuff. Here are a couple of pictures:

I only brought my fused fabrics and silk paper, so I am limited in my color schemes and styles of fabric. I think that's a good thing - I think. So far, it's fine. I have very little space to work, and since at the moment I'm sharing a bedroom with Anna, I have to clean up my whole workspace every day. New concept.

In fact, I am keeping the whole house clean. And tidy. And I have to check the girls' rooms as well, since tidiness is very important to my in-laws. And you know what? I like it! I am so glad to be able to practice being neat - and I hope to gosh that I can do this in my own house when Tim gets here. I think it will require much tossing of stuff.