Circus of Js

Hello January!
I tell you that big goose egg on the head on Christmas day shook something loose and before it went away I was in fast and furious stream of thought inspiration mode. I love when that happens. 

Well it just so happens the inspiration had a deadline which was Sunday, and I have had my head down and fingers designing, drawing, stitching, painting, cutting and waxing since the eve of the Epiphany. That's actually when it all started.

First, you need one fact of the matter. Here it is. Sometime in February, I am going to be a Great Grandmother. 

Of course, I have known this for quite a long time but I have been on-again-off-again about making a baby blanket. All through the month of December I knew if I was going to make one, I should get started. Then I would think, "no I don't have time." Then shame and guilt about that. And so it goes.

I really wanted to be stitching in the chair but the dread of the cloth explosion that happens in both studios was more than I wanted to deal with.

Anyway, I now realize that I just didn't have the inspiration passion. Therefore, I didn't have the passion to make the blanket. I made Ashley an elephant blanket before she was born, and I'm ready for her to be the keeper of that one now. However, she doesn't think it is boy enough for her soon-to-be, Jordyn.

Somehow, on Tuesday the 5th, I came to realize, I needed to make a new elephant blanket. I had to stew with it a little bit and then I drug out the cloth and sure enough the explosion happened. I had twenty days. The fact that it took me 5 years to make Tim's cloth was irrelevant because I could feel the passion building. 

I couldn't start immediately as I had an appointment early morning on the 6th and so I could only do what I do. In my head. Another explosion. 

Another fact; Josh and Ashley are adding a baby Jordyn to the blended family of Joshua, Jalynn, Jazzlyn, Jaclynn, and Jasyk. 

Here I go. In my head, I started an elephant list. 
For example, 

• Jelly and Jambo the peanut butter spreaders
• Juggle and Jar the milk shakers
• Jibbber and Jabber the chatter bugs
• Jingle and Jangle the bell ringers
• Jupiter the star gazer
• Jogger the memory keeper, etc etc. 

Then while still in my head and unable to get started, I thought about how I made a book for Tim to go with his Tim's Cloth. Bingo! (never mind only 19 days and counting)

I must make a book for soon-to-be baby Jordyn. The first thing that popped into my head was an altered board book. I have a stack of them form years ago. The first one I pulled out was Circus, Circus! Do you believe on the last page was a parade of elephants? Oh gee! The elephant blanket, as well as, the book now has a name. Circus of Js.

I spent Wednesday afternoon designing my elephant and planning the cloth and getting started. The last bit of inspiration came Thursday before rising and shinning and it excited me the most. I realized the elephant trunks that I had designed looked like a "J". It all came together because in my head I could not see where to put the names of each on the cloth. 

I just love when inspiration trickles in like this.

Here is the Circus of Js cloth. Although it was not quiet finished, it was giftable. As soon as I finish the rest of the quilting stitching, I will show and share more. 

 In the meantime, here is the book, Circus of Js.

 Designing.

Before starting in the book, I made a book mock-up and planned the pages mostly to see if I could get what was in my on the book. 

Showing here the original page with my version in progress. I fully intended to paint that ball on his foot. Also, you might notice in the final version below that his red toe nails were painted out.  

I liked some of my mock-up sketches more than the ones that showed up in the book.  

Juju the adventure dreamer and Jetty the wall maker. 

Love this page.

Here they all are. Of course, Josh is the Ring leader and Ashley the spirit maker with Jordyn the magic maker. Josh the brother, Jalynn the helper, Jaz and Jaclynn the sisters and Jasyk the fun maker. 

The end. 

Changeableness

CHANGEABLENESS: Just found that word in my Thesaurus.  Here are some of the related words.  alterability, mutability, inconstancy, fickleness, inconsistency, versatility, vacillation, irresolution, fluctuation, fluidity, alternation, restlessness, unrest, etc etc.

Yes, I'm all that. And here is how I do it. Very simple. I just give myself permission to be and to do.

Earlier during this year I knew or rather planned to be painting the attic grid during the fall and winter months. At first, I thought I would try my dead level best to finish this project by early spring. 

Changeableness set in when I actually got started, a month later than planned. Then, one day while enjoying all the painting, running with the inspiration and enjoying the whole process, I realized there was no hurry. I was in charge. I'm the boss of me. I can change my own goals and rules. So, I just gave myself permission to take breaks from The Attic Grid. I had to because when I was not working on the grid, I would feel the nagging pull. 

"Get thee off my shoulder, you little nagger you!".  That's how the five singers came to be. I took a break from the attic grid. 

I seldom sketch in this much detail but the truth is I was taking a chair zone break and stretched out my time there with detail sketching.

 The first two are signed and finished. One will probably be my Christmas card which by the way, just in case you need a reminder, is at the two week away mark. 

Then, right in the middle of Singer number 3, changeableness set in again. Permission granted to take advantage of several days of unseasonably warm pleasant weather. I dropped all my brushes, went outside, jumped on my think tank and went around and around for three hours. I really needed a good think session and the reward is a nice mowed yard and leaves mulched.  The next day, I grabbed matches and burned many of the fallen branches from the wind storms. While my little fire was going, I managed to pick up a lot of the shreadded leaves.

Unfortunately, today I'm feeling like some little creepy devil is slithering its way down my throat to rest a while in my chest. Hopefully, I have put a stop to it. "Get thee out of my chest, you creepy little devil." 

In my opinion, having the changeableness trait is necessary to being able to keep all the balls in the air. Now, instead of going back out to the gardens, I'm going to change from this chair to the chair zone chair and battle that slithering devil. 

It Keeps Getting Better

Project No. 137: Make shelf from table cut-off and Paint. √ 10-15-15

Project No. 138: Hang shelf above parlor desk. √ 10-16-15

Project No. 132: Apply screw eyes and hang 100 faces. √ 10-10-15

Project No. 139:  Repaint frame for painting from Hill workshop. √ 10-07-15

Project No. 141:  Hang painting above shelf. √ 10-16-15

I did it. You may remember from this post, I cut eight inches off the table top and reserved it for an above desk shelf.

I have been enjoying the pleasant weather we are having and spending time at the Garden Palace. Therefore, this project finally moved up on the project list. 

I am thrilled with the result. I was so anxious to get it installed that I rigged up a way to set a chair on the desk to hold the heavy shelf up in order for me to screw it to the wall. It was a bit more involved than that. You should have been there. I could have waited for help but I could not wait. Needless to say, having found a few new muscles, I spent the next day (yesterday) in the chair zone. 

Before taking photos, I stepped over to the red bookcase that holds stuff-in-waiting. I love this set of antique birdie wall pockets. I think they are perfect here!

The turquoise blue vase is also perfect. And just so you know, I'm using dried basil flowers in the vase and pockets.

Also, just so you know, the vase is strategically placed to hide her way too skinny leg. 

If you want to see the way too skinny leg and the painting without the reflecting glass, pop on over to the post where I attended the Hill workshop.

It is impossible to get a photo without reflections but in my opinion, reflections and shadows give life. 

Did you notice how my brush holding teapot and the lime green desk organizer echo in the painting? As does the vase and wall pockets. It just keeps getting better.  

What do you think of this nine year old

Art Camp

Day One

We started each day watering the gardens. 

It was great to have help!

This is Avery and she came for a visit this week.

We had a 4 day/night all inclusive Art Camp.

Following is my documentation of our projects. 

On the first morning while I was getting set up, Avery watched my video demonstration of the making of this piece of mixed media art.

This fun video titled, Collage Layers with Napkins, was inclued in most of my online classes.

You can watch it now on my Vimeo site.

Since Avery watched the video, I did not make a demonstration piece.

I just watched, answered questions and gave instruction.

first layer of papers

second layer of butterflies

painting edges

adding layers of paper napkins

stamping the word "and" to layer onto her collage

Day one project.

Wish and Dream

Day Two

early morning sunshine

paper layer and transfer of house fragment

we're gonna paint a face

That face!

a self portrait in progress

She Looked and Smiled by Avery Thomas

a self portrait

She Wondered by Sharon Tomlinson

a portrait demonstration

After lunch when I needed to retire to the chair zone, I gave Avery an 8 x 10 canvas board and told her she could paint anything she wanted to while I rested.

She had one question, "What does a dolphin look like?'

Me, "whaaaaaat?"

I quickly thought to suggest she google 'dolphin'. 

And that's all I heard from her until my rest period was over and she ask me to join her.

Neither of us had much of a clue how to paint waves so I taped her brush onto the end of a bamboo stick to force her to get looser with the paint.

She was such a good sport about it and it was kinda fun.

The Dolphin by Avery Thomas

Day Three

we sculpt with Sculpey clay

Avery made a red bird and a blue bird that she gifted her parents with.

I played with Sculpey clay too and this is my bird.

She is a Garden Palace bird.

the beginning of an art journal

Avery's first time to use a needle and thread.

She discovered that she loves sewing and we are planning a sewing camp in the future.

We used a yellow file-folder (cut down) for the cover but then decided to cover it with fabric.

This is the front and she stamped her initials on it.

Day Four

On day four Avery worked in her new art journal.

This is the drawing she did of the dolphin reference she found on her Google search.

She used carbon paper to transfer the drawing to the canvas and saved the drawing for her journal. 

Before stamping the cover, she practiced on a little scrape and then stitched it into her journal.

While Avery worked in her new journal, I made a folder for her to keep the extra papers and things she will use in her journal when she goes home. 

I used an old hanging folder.

After cutting off the hanging bars, I closed the sides and decorated it a bit. 

And sometimes she gave me this look.

I meant to tell you in the beginning that she is a bright, happy, smart, fun, freckled, precious little nine year old with the most brilliant mind I have witnessed in a nine year old. 

But I'm thinking you have figured that out too. 

Ever since Avery went home, I've been at Chair Camp.

Do you know what I mean?