Explosion!

Well, I spent some time yesterday laying out my work spaces for both of my work areas and I have to say, if they turn out the way I have envisioned they will be very satisfactory and useable!  I did get a little carried away and started moving some things around.  My plans call for a new work table in the metal/glass/clay room that will have to be built.  Other than a few easy shelves, that will be the only new purchase!  And there are some rather large pieces of storage that need to be moved.  Waiting to move everything until all the new builds and big storage is moved would probably have been wise but this will work because I have to empty some spaces before they can be refilled with other stuff.

I am thinking the sewing/paper room can be all rearranged and set up before the other room gets its final arrangement.  So I guess after I move the rest of the metal working supplies out of there that I will attempt to move the tables and storage units around to their new locations and then concentrate on that room to get it presentable.  I can't really do the new work station in the metal room by myself so it will probably have to wait for help, so I will probably just set up 2 small tables to use in place of the new work table, until it can be created and installed.  I should be able to almost finish that room, too, will just have to move the new table stuff again when it is installed.

I am very positive about how I think it will work out!  Trying to purge a little as I go, also.  After last night, moving stuff around, it looks like a bomb went off in the dungeon!  Now that it has begun, it has to be presentable by the end of the evening on July 15th (not the new work table necessarily but everything in place)!  We are having a party on the 18th and I need time to prepare for that so the deadline has been set!  The frenzy begins.

And I have decided that the base cabinets will be a soft aqua and that I am running that color through the den and into the laundry room, also painting the cabinets there the same color.  With white counter tops and white walls.  All cabinets will be aqua, walls and counter white, shelves aqua and at least one table in the family room will be aqua.  So, the whole job involves most of the basement, really.   I am hoping for a nice clean, fresh, coastal look.  Taking pics today to show the mess. Not exactly before and afters but almost, since I went wild last night and tore everything apart!

Can you tell I am excited?

Changes Are A Coming!

Not too long ago, about a year or so, I rearranged my studio space.  I actually am very fortunate to have two rooms in our finished basement that are solely used for my creative indulgences.  One of the spaces is totally finished and has a built in desk area.  The other space is about twice as big as the first and it is not a finished space, the walls and ceiling are framing studs with cut Styrofoam pieces fitted between the framing to act as insulation and the floor is concrete.

The last reorganization was very helpful.  I organized by activity and divided the activities between the rooms by relationships.  The larger room contained all the sewing supplies, three sewing machines (regular sewing, embroidery machine and a serger), the computer and printer to use with the embroidery machine and a small area for soft soldering because I was just learning to make memory jewelry.  I also had all my stained glass supplies and any other needlecraft storage like yarn and tools, a knitting machine, a dress form, quilting supplies and basketry supplies.  And anything else that didn’t go in the other room, plus two bookcases for my library of craft publications. So this room has been mostly anything related to sewing or needle crafts, my library and a little stolen space for the soldering which was stuck in after the reorganization.  The room has worked fairly well except there is a need for a clean out/give away to free up some overflow.

The smaller room, with the built-in desk is where all the paper, paint, clay related items are kept.  That includes scrapbooking supplies, a tall mechanics tool chest filled with all my paint supplies, a lawyers cabinet filled with all kinds of stuff like envelopes, staplers, pocket folders, mailing boxes or whatever.  Other things stored in that room are mat board, one wall with rubber stamp shelves, laminating equipment, punches, a specially built shelf (originally meant to hold my library) that is being used to hold many plastic drawers containing all sorts of stuff, paper gluing systems,  paper racks and drawers, rolling files, cricut and computer on a rolling cart, cigar boxes stored at ceiling level along one wall, glass containers on shelves for all sorts of paper accessories, shelves for polymer clay storage, lots of tools for cutting, etc.  And a large easel.  Also, there is a small hutch that is my seven year old granddaughter’s crafting area with her own tools for when we craft together.

I guess I should mention that all my beading supplies are stored in the living room in a secretary, I usually only bead in the living room so that was more convenient for the storage.

Also worth mentioning, we have a huge laundry room with a five door lower cabinet that contains spray paints, tools, varnish, etc. and in the area under the basement stairs there are a couple shelves that have some other supplies such as my art projector, stamp carving materials, and gourds to work on.

My husband calls our basement Hobby Lobby.  I believe I could stay home for at least six months without buying anything new and be able to create the whole time without getting bored or running out of supplies.  I know, I think it is a bit sad, also.

During the past year I have started learning metalsmithing for jewelry.  So now I have a large amount of supplies that encompass that as well and they are currently being kept in the corner with the soldering and stained glass equipment and is not a very satisfactory arrangement.  So this is prompting me to change the layout once again.  

I think I am getting close to a very good setup for myself.  My main goal is to put all the metal, glass and clay into the smaller finished room and paper and sewing (and all that includes) with the library in the larger, unfinished room.  It makes sense to me, no paper or fabric near the torches is my main concern.  My main desire is to have everything not being used out of sight, or at least nicely displayed, get rid of superfluous items and make a less cluttered looking space that will allow me more time for creating and less for moving stuff out of the way.  This is going to be quite the undertaking because it will be done without my husband’s help.  He will make anything I want from wood when he has the time but his job keeps him unavailable most of the time right now.  I would love to surprise him when it is all done.  I have a fellow crafter who has offered to give me a hand when the time comes.  I would love to finish off the unfinished area but that will not happen.  I already have some peg board above some of the areas and I think I will continue with that in the areas that don’t have any yet. That will help to hide some of the framing and make things look neater, but the rest will just stay unfinished.  I would rather spend the money on supplies!  I have been playing with layouts for both rooms and think I have come up with a plan that will fit everything in the two rooms for a comfortable work area.

The question is, how soon can I start?  I have several out of town times coming up over the next few months, through the end of the year, actually.  I have several other big home projects I need to finish. Really need to finish!  I don’t know how long I can wait, things are in a mess right now and it is starting to get on my nerves, especially since “the plan” is rolling around in my head.  And I want to blog the process, as well.

We will see how things progress!

To Change or Not To Change

Someone asked me a question yesterday about my email address.

For years, even back when we were on aol, in the dark ages, my main email address has been artistdf.  It wasn't the first thing that came into my mind when I created my first address.  The first thing was dfartist but for obvious reasons I abandoned that!  Even though we have changed providers a few times, I still use artistdf as my main address (of course the @ part has changed) and people in groups and places often recognize the name.

Recently I have been thinking about getting rid of this address because of the amount of junk that comes through it.  After so many years, signing up for so much stuff online with the same (or close) address, I probably get at least 100 spam/unwanted emails per day.  Even using cleaners.  I am kind of tired of it.  Especially since I have more than one email address to check each day, counting work and church.  But I still hesitate to change it.  I have always liked it.

Back to the question.  When I gave the person my email address, she said, "Oh, so you paint oil paintings?"  And I told her that I have done so in the past but I am not very active with painting currently.  She then asked me if I was a sculptor.  I said that I had done some of that at different times on a small scale but not currently working on anything sculptural.  She then asked me, "What kind of artist are you, then?" with a puzzled look on her face.  I started naming off all the things I create or have created in the past, the different media used, etc.  She stopped me in mid reply and said I probably should be calling myself "Crafter" and not "Artist".  Now this has been a huge discussion topic for a long time in the artsy/craftsy world, I have heard all the sides and arguments.  I didn't want a rehash.

Many people imply that a crafter is below the level of an artist.  So I pointed out that most definitions of crafter include an allusion to artistry.  Therefore a crafter is one with great skill in the manual arts, or has an occupation or trade (or hobby) requiring manual dexterity and artistic skill.  A crafter is not by definition less talented or creative than an artist but has to have a high artistic ability to be considered a craftsman.

So either way I look at it, I still think of myself as an artist, regardless of anyone else's consideration. I don't think she got it, but I did the best I could for her.

Now I still have to decide whether to keep the address because of the mail load.  Didn't really help me in that regard but there you go.  At least I blogged today!

Missmash

I am determined to keep up on my blog posts because several readers have scolded me for not blogging enough!

My baby grand girl, Olivia, recently passed her 6th birthday and starts first grade in two days.  I find that unbelievable.  Totally.  I feel like she is going away to college or something.  She will only be about a mile from home, in a private school.  Still, it just feels strange.

I have a busy week going on with sewing and other activities for friends.  A wedding dress to alter is the priority right now and my girls and I (Grammy, Mommy, and BabyGirl) went fabric store shopping yesterday trying to match some bridal fabric with NO success.  So, on to plan 2, fortunately the bride is agreeable to the change.  The wedding is in three weeks so got to get it finished!  I feel like I haven't sewn in so long on anything other than emergency repairs or the like.  I miss sewing, I find it very satisfying to take a flat piece of fabric and make it into something very useful.

I have so many things in my mind today that it is all a mishmash of information.  I want to finish my bathroom redo, finish making a slip cover for a couch, move the pictures and things around in my kitchen and livingroom, work on jewelry, bead, make some clothes for myself, etc., plus all the necessary stuff like laundry, cleaning, destashing, etc.  Plus items at work.  My mind is often on overload.

I happened to look at the Verse of the Day on my Bible Gateway app.  It is:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 ESV

That just sort of calmed my mind down.  I know all the stuff is still there to do and the desire to do it is still there but the verse reminded me of what most of it really is, just stuff.  Sometimes I have to be reminded to get my priorities straight!

That is all for now.  Thanks for stopping by!

Olivia

Digging for Pain

I am absolutely astonished to see that it has been over a year since my last blog!  Time is passing more quickly than ever.  Baby granddaughter is now 6 years old and starting school, her grandfather has retired and is into a new career of driving a touring coach.  Maggie dog stays home and I still work part time.  I also have developed arthritic knees and that is what made me want to blog this morning.

It is early morning, about 5:30 a.m., and just got hubby on his way to Memphis for an overnight trip with a lovely group of people going to Graceland.  I am sitting in a soft chair, it is quiet, and I was wondering whether to make a cup of coffee or go back to bed for an hour when it dawned on me that I was feeling no pain.  Anywhere.  As I thought about it, not daring to move for fear something would kick in and the moment would be gone, I started going over all the pain points I usually feel, wondering if it could be true that there was NO PAIN.  You know, neck, back, arms, wrists, ankles, feet, knees, hips, etc.  Finally, I realized there was a slight twinge in my neck, if I moved it just right.  Darn.  There went that moment.  I knew it wouldn't last very long.

Then I realized what I had done.

I missed an excellent moment to praise God for no pain.  Instead, I dug around until I found some pain to concentrate on.

While thinking about this, I began to correlate it to things in regular everyday life.  We go along, busy, concentrating on the things we have to do everyday of our lives.  We forget the things that God gives us, such as having a job, our families being basically healthy, having transportation, a place to live, food on the table.  Those types of things.  Instead, we dig around and find the "pain" in each situation to concentrate on.  That irritating person at work, that temporary but awful head cold going around, car needs a new battery, sink is stopped up, hamburger instead of steak, etc.

What a negative life I sometimes lead!  Where is my joy, my rejoicing?  Lord, help me to stop digging around and instead be joyful for the wonderful life you have given me!

The sun is rising, it is a little foggy this morning.  I think I will have a cup of coffee and just relax and enjoy the quiet before getting ready to leave for work.  Going to be a busy week!

Wow - Time is Like a Stealth Bomber

After my last post I realized it has been ages since I have posted anything. Here are some of the things that have happened in the past year.

Car accident which totaled my Chrysler Sebring, hydroplaining.
Finding a replacement vehicle - Chrysler Town & Country.
Trip to South Dakota with friends and family.

Major surgery.
Recouping from major surgery.
Trip to Mississippi to visit with dear friends.
Doing some redecorating!
Car accident which totaled the Town & Country van, totally not my fault.
Doctor visits as a result of the accident.
Finding a replacement vehicle - new Sonata! Totally unexpected choice!
Getting roof replaced on our house - happening right now.

Included in all that, work, church activities, usual sewing and such, everyday life (being a Grammy) and trying to go to the YMCA (without much luck because of the sore muscles from the wreck)!

Now I see why everything takes me so long to accomplish. Better get busy and finish something.

Something That Touched My Heart

I was following some Pinterest links this morning and got caught up in a reading the posts on A Contented, Common Life's blog. She has some wonderful examples of being frugal along with sharing other simple things about life.

Here is the link to the post I read last: http://acontentedcommonlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/fresh-joy-grammas-passing.html

It is a beautiful picture of the passing of a saint. Beware, it might bring tears to your eyes, it did mine.

I'm smelling good and looking clean.....

I just had a wonderful experience with a great soap maker, Juanita Barr, of a Barr of Soap Gift Shop that can be found on etsy. I had been looking for some cranberry/orange soap and she made some special, and now has some available in her shop. Believe me, it is really yummy. What a generous shop owner Juanita turned out to be.

Take a look at her shop when you have a chance. You can find some really nice soap there, even vegan for those so inclined! Oh, and be sure to look at here sold items, the soaps and displays are lovely.

Here are two items Juanita liked from my shop, Rosevine Design.

Beautiful Stuff!

Simple, clean, shiny and fun. That describes the fine jewelry made by Amy Taylor out of Illinois. I came across her etsy shop because she had favored an item on my etsy shop, a bracelet named Garden Path.

Here are a few pics of her beautiful work!

Miss Olivia, of course!

Thanks, Amanda, for taking this sweet picture of my sweetie pie!

Things have been busy around here (like when are they not???) Thanksgiving was very nice with the family and extended family. Lots of parties and dinners coming up and trying to figure out new things to bake and take. Also working on Christmas items like baby girl's dress and other gifts. Trying to make tons of jewelry, bags and other appropriate items to sell at a Christian motorcycle rally in May. Do you know how difficult it is to find decent, small, low cost motorcycle charms??

Anyway, life is good and I am a happy person. Hope the same for you, especially during this busy season. Take time to relax a little, have a nice cup of hot chocolate, read a book, put your feet up.

Cricut Search

This is pretty neat! Search for designs and find out which cartridges they are on. Go here for more info:

http://cricutsearch.com/

Or click on the button further down the page here on the left!

It just gets sweeter and sweeter!

What grammy could resist sharing these pics? Olivia is 3 years old.

Just Hello

Well, it has been a busy summer. I am ready for things to slow down a little!

We had a wonderful visit with friends we haven't had contact with for over 30 years. Why over 30 years? Mainly because I am such a bad letter writer!

We were in Key West, Florida for 5 years during the 70's, made friends with lots of Navy couples but 2 very special couples. The six of us went to church together, shared meals and were family for each other while so far away from home. One of the gals lived with me for 10 months while our husbands were gone to sea together in the West Pacific during Vietnam. We were all pretty close. We all left the Key West at different times and left the Navy at different times, moving to various states. Some of us kept in touch for a long time and there were a couple of actual visits at the beginning. I am very bad about writing but quick to pick up the phone and call. We moved a lot after getting out of the Navy, same area but we moved about every 9 months for the first few years. Long story short, life gets busy, I always had good intentions but finally lost track and they couldn't find us because our phone number was always unlisted. Long time later I started looking online for my friends ever so often without much success.

One day when cleaning out an old box of stuff while looking for a lost chocolate pie recipe, I came across an old rolodex (remember those??) from the 80's. On a whim, I flipped through it to see who was in there and found my friend's name and phone number. I thought, "It has been ages, they couldn't possibly have the same phone number" but I tried it and guess what? It is still their number!!

So, in a round about way, both couples were able to come to our location and we visited for several days, catching up with our lives and talking as if it was just yesterday that we saw each other last. It was so wonderful! And this time we won't lose each other.

So, keep track of those good old friends, you will be glad you did.

Finally Done!

It seems like I have been working on this painting for a very long time but it has just sit a lot waiting for me to find time to paint! But, it is finally done and I couldn't be more relieved. It has been delivered to the powers that be with the National Veterans Wheelchair Games so they can frame and get it ready for display in Denver, Colorado where the games will be held this year. I haven't updated my website yet with the newest canvas, but here is a peek for those interested.


We did have a little trouble with getting a good picture, for some reason so if you see some blurry areas that is why. Anyway, now it is done and I can concentrate on other things that have been waiting unpatiently to be accomplished!

Oh My Word!

Well, looks like 2009 is gone and now 2010 is in full swing. I haven't touched a bead in at least 4 months and I really am wanting to get started on several projects but it will probably be a while yet before I can think of it. All my jewelry is still on display at the local library, since June 1, 2009, if you can believe that! Every time I go to remove the display they request that I leave it and since I am not doing any shows now, I have. I just go raid the display every time I sell one of the pieces!

I have purchases some new beads. For some reason everything seems to be yellows, golds, tans and blacks. My fingers are just itching to get with it!

One reason I am not beading right now is that I have taken on new responsibilities. My son-in-law is the director for a newly formed missions group named Psalm 67 Missions Network and I am the volunteer office assistant. That really means that I do everything to make sure the short-term mission groups get where they are going, have what they need while there and get home again. My day job is approximately 30 hours a week, my Psalm 67 job is taking approximately 25 hours per week, so, do the math! I am pretty busy these days plus I have been doing some volunteer work at the local veteran's administration office. Plus I still haven't finished painting the canvas for National Veteran's Wheelchair Games that I wanted to have done by January 1. It has been busy.

I just want to be able to do everything at once!

God has certainly been good to our family this winter, no major illnesses or struggles. I had a sinus infection which caused me to have no voice for most of December but I am sure some would not find that to be a catastrophe! Pretty hard to answer the telephone when you can barely squeak out a sound, though.


For lack of anything better to show, here is a digital scrapbook page that I made in 2008 using a picture of the outside light on my front porch. You can't really see them but there are three little baby birds in the nest!

All I can say is, "Hurry Spring, hurry back soon!"

Wow, it has been months...

I have been amazingly busy for months and months. I am going to be busy for months and months to come. I keep thinking I am going to catch up any day now but ............no, not going to happen!

The dog needs a haircut, my home needs a really good cleaning, as usual lot of laundry (which for the life of me I cannot figure out how 2 people and a dog that doesn't wear clothing can accumulate so much of), a stack of sewing for others, and the list goes on. I don't know where I got the idea that being over 50 was going to be relaxed and calm - it is like being on a rollercoaster 24/7! But at least I'm not bored!

My husband bought me a new set of cookware, red and cooper in color. It is very pretty but I hope he doesn't think it will make me cook any better. I doubt there is anything that will do that. They are so pretty I didn't want to put them in the cabinet! Maybe they are making me want to cook just a little bit. But don't worry, I think I can refrain, for the most part!

For Thanksgiving dinner I am going to try my hand at a new cornbread dressing recipe that was demonstrated by my friend from church, Sherri. It was the best I have ever tasted. And I finally found my wonderful chocolate pie recipe that has been lost for about 10 years, in a cookbook, of all places. Yeah, I know, if I used the cookbook more I would have found it sooner. Another friend from church, Darla, gave me a recipe for her yummy pumpkin pie and I think I will try it also, it was also very delicious. That will probably be the last time I do any major cooking until Christmas eve.

In the meantime, This week I start working on a 4x4 foot canvas painting for the National Veteran's Wheelchair Games. My deadline for finishing is January 1. (I work well under pressure!) This will be an addition to the previous 6 panels I painted in 2004. You can see them at http://www.rosevinedesign.com/MURALS/nvwgmurals.htm, if you are interested.

Encourage our Youth

Check here for the blog of a couple of young ladies I know who are working hard to support a good cause. Even if you aren't in the marketing vacinity for their goodies (and I know from personal experience they are goodies) go on over and leave a message about their project. Give some encouragement!

By the way, you can also make donations directly to their cause with Paypal by going to Psalm 67's website at www.psalm67missions.net, logging in and clicking on the donate button.

Where Was I???

I don't know where I was when this picture was taken but if I had been there I am sure there would have been a lot of screeching going on about babies on roofs........

Featured!

Angelica Schaaf, Editor of Handmade News published by artfire.com, has graciously included me in a feature article. Please take a look at the article here, and be sure to browse through the publication, it has lots of interesting featured artists, techniques, tips and many other fun things!

Sweet as Sugar Candy

Ok, so I guess I have to admit that grandmotheritis has really got a hold on me. Sorry, but I just can't resist, I have to show her off. Olivia Grace will be 2 years old this week and she is as sweet as sugar candy!