Maelstrom Monday

What a weekend! I'm afraid I didn't get much done in terms of art - or at least I don't have much to show. On Friday we had Little Miss 3 from midday on and Little Miss 7 got off the bus here. Then my son brought his Little Miss 7 out and the 3 girls helped Poppa bake cookies and then joined Nana at the table to mix up colored frosting and do some decorating. My son's Little Miss 7 had to leave just before dinner, but the other two stayed overnight and until after noon on Saturday. I took a nap Saturday afternoon!

My son had his office Christmas party on Saturday so he brought his Little Miss 7 out to stay with us around 5 pm and picked her up around 11 pm. We had lots of fun with her, but I don't have anything to show for it. We did a lot of reading, talking and snuggling - a lot of very important stuff!

I did spend a little time doing some art yesterday. I cut slits in some cover stock and threaded the ribbons through it on the small book I showed you on Friday. I am not yet happy with it - the covers feel a little flimsy, so I may be adding some endpapers for added support. I prepped the hard covers for my next coptic stitch journal and this time I am going to try the 2-needle variety. I am looking forward to getting that done today.

I have a hair cut mid-morning. All the area schools are closed due to blowing and drifting snow, but we expect the roads to be fine by then. The hubster is driving - isn't he the sweetest? I really dislike driving on roads that may be slick here and there.

I had a lovely surprise on Saturday. I received a Christmas card from Vivian Swift. She is the author of "When Wanderers Cease to Roam" and has a delightful blog. Do check it out. Here is my card:

Receiving the card was a surprise even though I had asked for one. You see, she announced on her blog that she was sending cards to the first 25 people who emailed her with a request for one. As it turns out she got 46 requests and I believe she sent one to each of them. I didn't know if I had gotten my email to her in time, but was thrilled to receive this as an early Christmas present. Thanks, Vivian!

Speaking of Christmas cards, if I am going to get the few I send each year made, I'd better get on my horse. Do you believe December is almost half over already?

It is my dear brother-in-law's birthday today. Happy, happy birthday, Tom!

So much to do, so little time.

xoxo

Fettered Friday and A Blind Contour

I really wanted to use hog-tied, not fettered, but the desire for an alliterative name took precedence.

I have so many ideas about how I might finish a handmade journal that I find myself settling for inactivity instead of making a decision. For instance, the small journal with the French Link stitch that I showed yesterday is waiting for a cover decision. I have chosen the paper and it is a perfect choice. The big decision that I am a bit iffy on is whether to just glue the tapes to the outside as they are; or to cut them to staggered lengths and then glue them; or to cut slits into the covers and pull them through and glue them on the inside; or whether to use decorative stitching to hold them to the covers with or without glue. Ack!!!!!!!

I think that a part of me is afraid to try making slits in the cover in case I mess it up. I need to remind myself that it is only paper and try it. The slitted option is what I am most interested in trying and I think I am going to grab the bull by the horns and try it later this morning.

Do you find yourself in similar circumstances when you are contemplating doing some kind of creative activity?

By the way, do you notice the new graphic over on the right? The Sketchbook Challenge begins on 1/1/2011. Read all about it here or click on the gadget on the right. I am hoping to use this as incentive to remember to draw every day next year. What about you? Are you up for the challenge? I double dog dare you!!!


I am happy to report that I have actually remembered to do a blind contour today. It is not necessarily a wonderful sketch to show you, but I really like the practice and am pleased that I remembered. I used my left hand (as it was near to hand, hah!) coiled a bit in a relaxed pose.

I think it would help a bit to put in the inside lines and such, but for now I am limiting myself to the outside contour.

I have my little girls today - Miss 3 will be brought out here by her Mom around 1:00 pm and Little Miss 7 will ride the bus to my house. I've talked to my son and he is picking up his Little Miss 7 from school around 4 pm. He is planning to come out, too. We will bake and decorate Christmas cookies tonight. I think I will also get out markers, wine corks, buttons, and glue and see what kind of decorations these crafty little ones will come up with.

I think the girls are probably staying overnight. Maybe they'll help Poppa make pancakes in the morning. They just love to get their aprons on and cook.

I really need to get some good pix of these three girls. Most of the time they are at my house, they are so wound up, all I get are blurs. Here is one of my favorites from summer of this year.

My girl tribe.

Of course, it is already almost 4 months later. Where does the time go?

I'm going to get another mug of coffee and then am hoping to get on the treadmill and still get the cover of the French Link book done today.

xoxo