This and That---

I've had a lovely extra-long weekend, despite the weather.  I managed to get most of the grocery shopping done Friday morning, braving the storm that left our back patio looking like this when I woke up:

By afternoon, our street looked like this--

It snowed fairly steadily all day Friday and most of Saturday; we finally got a break Sunday, then today was sunny and cold.

All that white stuff made it the perfect weekend to spend time in the studio.  I got my second small Walk in the Woods piece quilted, embroidered (machine and hand), and bound.  I am really happy with how it turned out!  I learned a number of lessons- or, better yet, had some things that I'd 'known' before from all my reading reinforced with this 'doing.'  

While working on the last bits of embroidery, I started thinking about the next Tangled Textiles piece, due in January.  The theme is 'Blue'- a word that I chose because it can be interpreted as a simple color study, or by referencing one of the many expressions or meanings the word has.  I'm leaning towards one of the expressions, but who knows, that could change.  As I sorted my embroidery floss after finishing Walk in the Woods 2, what color am I most lacking in?

The color is lousy in the photo, and I can't seem to get it right with PSE- but it was pretty obvious to me that I need lots more blues in this stash!

I will have photos of this latest piece posted later in the week.  In the meantime, I will be trying to stay warm!

Spring Fever

That's my excuse for not having more fiber content.  After a week or more of cool, wet weather, we finally saw the sun again.  I've been out walking two of the last three days- oh my, does that sun feel good!

We walked the new (to me, anyway) trail close to our home.  The wildlife must be feeling spring fever, too, because we saw plenty of them.  I saw deer on the trail,

and probably half dozen or more of this critter along the trail.  

 I had no idea what they are- my first glimpse, I thought they were raccoons, but the coloring is all wrong.  Today, however, I saw a sign along the trail that identified them as marmots.  I will have to do more research, I know absolutely nothing about them except they live in holes along the rocky riverbank.  I also saw and heard lots of birds, all too quick for my camera, and a snake or too- stayed away from those.

I did, however, get my tee fabric screen printed, washed, and dried.  I also started picking out fabrics for my next Tangled Textiles challenge.  So far I have this--

and this on the 'maybe' list.

Love the fabrics, just can't decide if they blend well with the others.  Obviously I'm going for the obvious with a theme like 'Green!'

So that's my world this lovely spring day.  Next weekend we are going to Moab for the car show, so no sewing then either.  I will probably be scrambling to get it done by the reveal day from the looks of it!

Hope your week is a creative one!

From Under the Smog---

That's what it feels like here.  According to the news, we have the worst air quality in the country right now.  I believe it- this California native knows smog when she sees it.  Yuck.  It is the perpetual dilemma of winter here- no snow (no storms), and look at the ugly brown inversion, the Utah name for this stuff.  If you want clean air, you better hope for successions of storms- which means dealing with all the other stuff that goes with snow.  What a choice!!

You'd never know it from this blog, but I have been working on some art.  I hope to have the last piece for the Interpret This! challenge done in a few days.  I have been working on some hand embroidery- as long as my hands cooperate, I enjoy the slower pace.  Can't show the whole piece, but here's a really close up look at what I've been doing.

 

I just love the texture that seed stitch can add to a piece.

And I reached another goal- the weight I was aiming for.  We'll see if it's still that way on Monday, since that's when I 'officially' weigh in.  But I am happy, it has been so much fun finding clothes I like that fit.  I even hit our local Saver's (a thrift shop) and found several tops I like. 

I'm debating going for another five pounds.  Tracking my calorie intake has become such a habit that I plan to stick with it.  It should make maintenance easier!  I've gotten some comments at work, but not a lot.  I suspect that the layers of clothes we wear in winter contributes to that.  We'll see if it changes with warmer weather.  Yes, I'm vain enough to like some comments and compliments about the skinnier me!

Christmas

is officially here at our household.  The tree is up, the decorations are on the fireplace and walls- I think I just have to dig out the Christmas music CD's.  Best of all, it was a gorgeous weekend- warm enough that I could be outside cleaning my car without a coat.  We'll see how long that lasts!!

I am starting to make plans for my fiber work next year.  Fewer pieces, more focused and cohesive.  I'm thinking I will start with one design strategy and stick with it through the year.  I'm hoping to sprinkle some UFO's and pieces requested by family in there too- that should help the brain cells recuperate!  And, I'm taking a weeklong dyeing workshop from Carol Soderlund in August.

Probably the best bit going on in my life right now is the weight loss- it continues, and I feel like I've made changes in my eating that I can stick with.  I'm down a pant size, and those aren't tight.  It feels really good, and it's nice to have clothes shopping be fun again!