Keep It Simple Spring

Luving my word/motto for the year.  It keeps pulling me back to basics.

I get three balls in the air and then I think okay, here is another and...  Balls start dropping.  We really do arrive to the level of our incompetence!  Mine seems to be only those few balls and then problems arise.

So...

Unplanner-  I have tried about 3 times and all have short term success.  Time to quit daily/weekly journals.

Classes are okay as long as I'm not expected to actually do anything.  Are they worth the info???

Hopping

Spring rushed in all green and early.  Then it hopped back out and hasn't settled down yet.  That's okay.  We aren't quite ready to start up the lawnmowers! 

 

The Rooster and I were all set to make real progress on the kitchen sink wall last weekend.  Then the grand kiddie's mother got sick so I brought home two kids.   Turns out they weren't too perky and we never got  a lot done.   Mind you man handling that farm sink about did us in!  lol

The easiest thing was to keep adjusting the cupboard on top of the sink and I think we got it.  But we were pooped!

We did take the kiddies back but forgot to send the germs with them.  :(  So putting everything right side up and lining up the two side cupboards will wait till the energy level rises.  I'm kinda glad to see March marching/hopping and I'm hoping for showers of good stuff in April.  :^)

Spring upstairs

It is a little difficult to get a decent picture in this tall and angled stairwell.  But I do like having an art gallery wall!

before

The windows face south and the stairs aren't dark at all.   The outside wall has about four coats of paint on and the sponging technique works well at disguising hand prints.  I did not touch any of the stairway walls with anything other than soap and water.  But I had matched the solid paint colour for the two hallways to it.

 I did make new art for the railings.  They are from Ikea and are shallow enough for the stairs but wide enough to add canvases and some accessories.

before

after

 

I intended to put back the short  sheer white valences on the windows but decided that I'd rather be a minimalist.  I can't pass up an opportunity to make vignettes though!  LOL

I also decided a wee chair serves the landing better than a full size one.  I put my antique printers tray on the sponged wall and  perhaps a fibre art will go on the freshly painted wall across from it.

before

 I emptied the hallway and covered the shelves in that old closet.  I taped everything but that short stair wall on the left.  I primed everything and then I mixed the rest of the primer and the rest of the downstairs hallway paint together.  I just wanted to be done painting.

after

The colour is a bit darker than it looks but works well.  I am reluctant to fill it up with stuff so we'll see how all the computer stuff fits on that small desk.  :(  That hallway waited a long time for its final coat of paint as I'd stripped the country wallpaper a looong time ago.  ;-{

I'm trying to remember the KISS principle for this Spring!  :)

Embracing spring cleaning

The hiatus from blogging has caused me to do some spring cleaning.  There is the inevitable washing, dusting, etc. and  I am in full declutter and downsize mode.  There has also been some swiping at cobwebs around the computer.  It went to the spa.  It has a new screen and it also has a new work station.  The down time has given me reason to pause and consider how I am spending my time. 

I like blogging.  I appreciate how it motivates me.  But it should not be driving me.  So this spring I think I shall try some of those roads that are less traveled and curtail some of that high speed highway  holidaying.  No promises but perhaps some springing into new habits.

so what...

 I did have great plans for all the 'free' time while the computer was away.   But 'free' turned out to be my downfall as I had managed to download a slew of free ebooks.  And if that wasn't enough I even had some lovely hard copies lent by a friend!  :(    I have never felt to include reading as a hobby.  Seems hobbies should involve more doing than sitting. That doesn't make sense, does it.  Hello knitters!   But I do put books in the same categories as eating and drinking- necessary.   But definitely it is my 'go to' happy place!!!  Lets just say I've been happy.  :)

Now it turns out the computer is fine but looks like the monitor is the problem.  vbsigh

A snow day today.  School was canceled.  My art 101  grand kiddies didn't get as much snow but there are no buses running in my area.  And my bus supervisor said my bus wouldn't be running!   Now maybe I can make up for some good intentions that were set aside.

The weather had actually been rainy. The snow was pretty much gone and shirt sleeves were rolled up!  We were all thinking- early spring.  So when the snow began to come down it had lots of places to stick.  Now that the snow has stopped and the sun has come out things sure look pretty.

So now what...

Which way to spring???

It has been an interesting couple of weeks.  And I'm still thinking about it all.  I thought I'd keep up on the new cell phone but...

Monday I was using my new rubber boots, taking photos with the cell phone and looking for my spring wish list.

Today I am trying to remember where I flinged (?),  flanged (?), flung my winter boots!

I am also looking for the cell phone photos that I vainly collected for mobile blogging!  :(    That particular learning curve ended up being a very slippery slope!  lol

There are a few things messing me up besides the weather.  The spring ahead time change has me somewhat bemused. Losing an hour now is a serious senior moment and leaves me peering out the window with my cup of coffee and feeling kinda lost.

And speaking of lost, I can't find my password list.  Whenever the 'puter comes back it seems I need them all!  :(

Hopefully I'll be springing into action whatever the whether!  ;^)

off to see the techy guy

I'm taking the 'puter in for some TLC.  I shall be busy catching up on my classes and hope to have lots to show when the discharge takes place.  ;^) 

Summing up the scenery

The scene this week was a busy one.  We followed the pencil trail to practice our stitching.

We practiced staying in our own lane on the highway.  Unfortunately I didn't see the dear thing that caused the mishap but  we are in need of some repairs for a bent rim.  :[

We considered different country colours for a proposed trip around the world!

We got involved in a few traffic circles as we sought a good direction for an excursion.

We did some serious climbing to get up high.

And we breathed in the fresh air as the Canadian Shield whizzed by!  Another unfortunate experience  occurred when Eliana's tummy revolted at something or other 3 (three) times.  The 'soft' flu her sibblings had had I think.  :{   The Rooster recovered wonderfully, lol, as did Eliana who said the whole thing was disgusting!  And we did have a very nice weekend!

Definitely some good R&R!

up, up and away!

UP

UP

My helper wasn't 'really' into washing walls so we concentrated on making some art for this gallery wall.

And I am also AWAY today!  A little  R&R for us and the ballerina.    Part two of the gallery wall reveal will be next week which will also be a short busy week as the Rooster is taking a few days off.  ;^)   Then it will the upstairs rooms and nose to the grindstone.  Gee, I hope I can get rid of my dust bunnies before the Easter bunnies arrive.  :^)

Art 101 favourite tool

tool

 (to͞ol)

n.

1. A device, such as a saw, shovel, or drill, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work.

2.

a. A machine, such as a lathe, used to cut and shape machine parts or other objects.

b. The cutting part of such a machine.

3. Something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession: Words are the tools of our trade.

4. Something used in the performance of an operation; an instrument: "Modern democracies have the fiscal and monetary tools ... to end chronic slumps and galloping inflations" (Paul A. Samuelson).

5. Vulgar Slang 

6. A person used to carry out the designs of another; a dupe.

7.

a. A bookbinder's hand stamp.

b. A design impressed on a book cover by such a stamp.

8. Computers A utility program.

After thinking about this for a bit I have come to the conclusion that I have lots of favourite tools that I use quite a bit.  The one that I would like to use more and make my 'mostest' favourite  tool is a dip pen and the various inks.   I want text to be a big part of my style and it also is useful just for mark making.  I find that it rarely lets me down.

 I learned in elementary school after I had mastered a pencil.  Our  wooden desks had an inkwell and the teacher had a big bottle of black ink from which she filled the glass jars that sat in the inkwell.  We had black dip pens and later we could graduate to our own fountain pens.  I can't remember that there was a whole lot of technique.  We just did it.  When I saw one at an art store I brought one home and I found that it was kinda like riding a bike- I never forgot!  :)  And actually the dip pens are better than fountain pens but not quite as portable.   I prefer them to the pens and markers for ease of use as they don't dry out if left uncapped , etc.    The regular nib and holder meet my needs.  I also discovered all kinds of inks!  

Thinking this would be a pretty short one picture post I gave google a click.  Gosh, there are all kinds of things to know.  New nibs have a coating that can give a scratchy start until it is removed or wore off.  There are all kinds of fancy holders but generally two styles, straight or shaped  and different lengths.   Different nibs give different results as do varieties of inks and papers.  It is good to experiment. They are not expensive.   The pens lend themselves to a versatile and flexible line.  It is best to flex the nib rather than lead with the side edge.   A 30 minute tutorial but really, just dip and write!  
  

Eliana is six and she had not much instruction and just started doodling.    Easy peasy!

Interested in learning more:  I found this video quite interesting and helpful.  Lots of info but frankly I just use a regular nib, a plain holder and  cheap India ink!   It is definitely an important part of my tool box!

A wonderful mixed up Wednesday

We have certainly been mixing up a variety of creative opportunities.  Some more so than others.

My daughters are better suited to teach hand sewing than I am.  We are both learning.   There is a lot of thread licking going on!  lol

No thread for some sewing machine practice but we still managed to mess up the wee machine.  Nina and Mini are VERY hopeful that the Grand Dad can fix things.  eek!

We did try out a few colour combos for new lap quilts for the sisters.  Color preferences have changed since the first mock ups!  eek!

We did have to fit in some school work and she got quite creative with forming the answers. I'm not sure what the 'principal' is gonna have to say!  ;^)

Getting really messy is the favourite thing and we had the decorating scheme in mind as we splashed stuff around. 

I worked on these four while Eliana worked on her own 'frame'.

This was turning out so well I insisted on wiping off her last few dabs!   Less was definitely more!  :)

I'm not sure how I feel about giving young kids electronic gadgets but it works for a long and quiet coffee break!  LOL

A dancing treasure

Treasure blossoms

A quick photo before any petals fell!  :) 

This was a challenge issued by the Costume Museum of Canada in Winnipeg sometime in the nineties, I think.  We were to make a quilt from old clothes.  I chose a taffeta cocktail dress from the sixties and one cotton dress.  I also had some 36 inch wide fabric for a few blocks and the border.   I threw in a bit of a leftover Hoffman floral fabric and sashed it with a modern tone on tone fabric.

I don't think of myself as a floral person but I do like this quilt and enjoyed the process of working in an improvisational way.

The backing is a poly cotton with tiny dots.  Machine quilting roses is a wonderfully easy introduction to spontaneous free motion quilting.  A treasure indeed!

Linking to Throwback Thursday-  

Monday's second helper

A colourful week

Eliana is visiting for this week and we do have a plan all ready to implement!