notes from elinor

One Person's Junk Is Another's Art

I was looking thru my pictures and found this. I don't even remember where I took this but isn't it wonderful?

I mean I ask you.....Did you ever? Look at all the terrific shapes and objects. You could even say this is a large size journal......maybe? It just doesn't have any writing. But can you see the possibilities?

I think this is what journaling is.......seeing possibilities with colors, paper, buttons, ribbon, paint.....anything that speaks to you. Have you begun your gathering? Are you feeling inspired? You go GALS!!!!

Gathering

Collecting is fun and I love to collect. I have all sorts of collections. This is an obvious one for any sewer. You have to have ribbons and lace and such. You never know when it will come in handy. And the great thing about it is you can use it in journaling too. There is something about the texture that lends itself to making a statement.

It also comes in handy when you are making clothes. This is a picture of my closet. I know....I wear such drab things nowadays. You can see I really don't like color at all. Lets face it......If you want to be noticed, you have got to stand out.  I love using ribbon and lace for trimming my coats and pants. If your work space is lacking in ribbons, start collecting now. It is fun.

 

Be Prepared

The fun thing about journaling is that you can begin at anytime. All you really need is a pad or book but with art journaling, you need a few more things like papers, buttons, post cards, paints, crayons, and anything else that appeals to your imagination. I am constantly collecting STUFF. It is all over the house, in every knook and cranny. It is like butter melting in an english muffin and it more fun.

 

My New Workshop

This is an old picture of my new workshop. I swear....everyone should have a neighbor like mine. Todd Dixon is a master craftsman and he loves projects which is great with me because I always have one.

This past fall, Todd made over the left side of my garage into a really fantastic work space where I can paint(without caring if I spill so much), dye(see my great new sink? Now my bathroom sink doesn't have a coat of many colors.), glue, and think.  

Look at these shelves. Aren't they just great? The red door is the fuse box but I sure can find it. Todd has added a table by the sink so I can let things dry when wet. He installed a light over the table which is to die for. I ask you....is this not heaven on earth? Well, it is certainly a start in the right direction. 

Journaling With A New Friend

It is just fun when a new name pops up on your e-mail and invites you to get in touch with an eye to doing a project.  So it was with Elaine Frenett http://elainefrenett.com/.  Turns out she is a fine illustrator and a avid art journalist and thought we would make a good tandom teaching team.  I told her about my own journals and she wished to see some samples and so I threw caution to the winds and sent them to her in Ashland where she kept them for one of her retreats and then returned them unscathed.  I was delighted with her response  and now we have decided on a date, starting on Wednesday evening July 11th-Saturaday July 14th.  We will be presenting an all day watercolor trip up the Columbia, a gathering fieldtrip to an antique shop, The Goodwill, and Cargo in the Pearl.  We will develope studies and journal pages from both experiences and then spend a day messing around in studio with first  Ms Frenett and  then myself.  The workshop will include lunch each day, plenty of show and tell, boat loads of ideas, techniques and tools, and good fellowship at the meager cost of 50.00 a day or 150.00. 

Take note that next to my own journal is a wonderful tree of joy painted by my grandaughter Maggie Coleman. What an inspiration she is.  You can look forward to seeing a page that Elaine and I have done together on a watercolor pad which is 10"x14".  This pad will be required for the class.  See Elaine postings for more details.

Two Courageous Old Women

We do not like snow so when we received a call from my daughter, Evalyn, telling me to expect a major snow storm, I was not happy. My sister, Muff, was also dreading it. Old ladies are not real steady on their feet and we do tend to lean alot when we walk. Leaning and slush do not mix. However, we didn't let that hold us back. We boldly ventured forth to go to Curves no less. Now that is courageous. It does not matter that Curves was not as brave. They were closed. TUT TUT TUT.

Anyway.....HOORAY for us!!!!!!!!!!   

PS. You can't see her real well but that is Muff behind the steering wheel.

These Boots Are Made For Walking But I Prefer Something Else

What can I say? I took one look at these size 14 workboots and fell in love. I had to have them.  So I got  their owner, Rich Ohare from Nebraska, to send them home to me and the creative juices started flowing. I was into pin cushions so I thought what fun.....I'll make one of them into a pin cushion. I painted the boots and decorated them with crows( my favorite birds next to chickens) and a little village because homes are cool too. I then designed a pin cushion for one complete with knick knacks so that it looked like a crow's  nest, Buttons are always a big help in this as well as beads and ribbon.

Well, one giant pin cushion was enough so I made the other into a container to hold paint brushes, etc.

You gotta admit.......THEY ARE A HOOT! A little imagingation can go a little crazy sometimes but it is worth it.

Bag Thing

It seems that bags are in.... at least at my place. I made six bags for my sister, Muff, to give to her friends for Christmas (I will try and put the pictures in later). Then I made four more bags for my friends down in the Bay Area and now here is my newest. It is a tote for my wonderful neighbor, Kathie. Kathie is a teacher of grades 1-4. She lives with her master fix-it-up husband, Todd and their dog, Cooper. 

I love using a variety of fabrics as well as buttons and beads. Textures also gives the bag a richer flair.

The bag takes about a day and 1/2 to do.

Books and projects

For those of you who love to be challenged by a great book and feel thre need to change the world for the better I can reccomend Half the Sky by Nicholas D.Christof and Sherly WuDone.  This powerful treatise touches on the oppression of women through out the world, through slavery, lack of education, poverty, and death and mutilation in childbirth and cutting.  All of these things are at our door step.  The book overwhelmed me with statistics and then brought be face to face with individual stories that moved me to tears.  But in addition to all this it reccomends things that individuals have and can do to save one girl or woman at a time.  My daughter Evalyn is my book adviser and she is never wrong.                                

NEXT TOPIC - THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENT OF A MARVELOUS WOMAN with the help of a dear good man.  The woman is my daughter-in-law Wendy Lane Bailey and the man is her husband Ross.  She also received a leg up from her brother-in-law Isaac Bailey who was her photographer.  After months of labor Wendy has her very first CD which just thrills me every time I listen to it.  If you choose to purchase it, it will thrill you too.  Wendy's Website is connected to this blog spot.  Here's the cover.  A CD costs 10.00 per copy plus shipping.

 

Now just because I'm here I need to tell you about The Cosmic Cow in Lincoln Nebraska.  Roxanne and Richard O'Hare are about to open their second store in Seward about 30 miles from their shop in Hevelock.  It will be called The Udder Store.  Do you love it?  It will feature a mixed media area full or alternative stuff to include on your quilts, dolls and garments.  I shall be in Seward for the opening in June and over the forth of July.  I am thrilled.  You all know how I love Nebraska and this is why.  Here are the tassels waving for the Forth of July.  Seward is known for it's celebration of the Forth.

 

Magnolia Lane fabric Collection by our very own Laura Gunn

Here is a peak into elinor's very talented daughter Laura's latest line of fabric by Michael Miller Fabrics.    Check out her BLOG doesn't it make you dream of spring?!?!?

Anyhow, we are getting ready to reorder this line for the 3rd time!!! So, make sure you get some into your stash! Click HERE to be taken to our website link with Laura's entire collection. 

Elinor is working on some new creations with this fabric for Quilt Market...I will post as soon as they are done!! But until then...

Below is a new KIT we have available, the kit includes all the fabric for the quilt top and binding.  The Quilt measures 67" X 93".  ( We call this pattern the 5 hour Quilt top...It took Michelle a little over 4 hours from starting to cut the fabric to a finished quilt top....Perfect gift for someone special!!)