Knit, Purl, ooh, ooh Weave!

Hi ladies, after finishing two small knitted baby blankets, I have officially been struck by the knitting bug! It's incredible how many hours I can while away quietly on the couch, especially while it's raining. On the way home from Seattle last weekend, Rachel gave me some scraps of yarn so I could practice my techniques. Actually I don't have any techniques, so I was anxious to get some! Up to now, it's been knit, knit. Now I can officially knit and purl! What's more I found that weaving and changing yarn every few rows is even more fun!! So below is my first personal FiberFest! I wish I could say that it actually lies flat, it's more like a tube when worn, but (hey) one technique at a time!

Oh, and back to baby blankets....Shannon has generously offered to host a Hacienda Posada Quilting Bee for baby Henney, which we just found out is a little girl!! We will figure out a date for getting together in the next 4-5 months. (Due date is Sept 23). Oh.. (she says ever so shyly...) if you want to see first pics of my precious new granddaughter visit: http://mclennanfamily.blogspot.com

Love to all, Jo

2 Down!

Finished my 2nd Artfest 2010 project, the Mosaic Shrine. On to my last project, Palatte-ability. I NEVER finish Artfest class projects. Must have taken inspiring classes.

Carla Sonheim Online Workshop

I've been taking Carla Sonheim's month long online class "The Art of Silliness". I love it! Everyday a fun, new workpage. Saturday was "Silly Saturday" and we were supposed to climb a tree (see picture of Jai and EasterGrandma in tree), and cut out eyes from our worksheet, attach them to something, and take a picture. Carla has a blog that people send examples of their homework to, and what a riot! Today's assignment is drawing a cat using only one line. As Carla says, "Think Loops". Ed misread it and thought we were supposed "to get looped". He wants to join the class.

Artfest, etc

Finished my 3 Letter Word, and then some. I used the back of the canvas as a picture frame and added photo's of (who else) Jai! And Grandpa, and Mom, and the Dogs and Grandma. Jai has them displayed on his bookshelf in his room. 1 class project down, 2 to go.

Great Little Journal that could.....

I love the idea of 'boxed sets' of smaller journals, inspired by Artfest 2010 Jill Berry. Yesterday while wandering the Oregon coast's junk stores, I found the sweetest set of "Monthly Dairies" made by the Union Pacific Railroad, 12 in a little box that measures about 4.5 x 1.5 x 2.5 inches. They apparently published them each year for their travelers. This one is from 1960, in perfect shape and it's blank!! Oh yes, it will be used and reproduced a new, but also wanted to share in case anyone feels like making their own.

Introducing my new studio space!

Hello all, I am excited to show off my new studio space and hope we can schedule some play days here soon! It's 15 x 15 feet and lots of wonderful light and 12 foot ceilings. Thought I give you a quick view of some projects I'm getting started, beginning with what I hope will be a series of funny, found object characters. I also made another journal using Jill Berry's accordian fold, and tried using some of the plastic paper Shannon gave me from Paperworks. Worked great. Also cut up Teesha's alphabet and gave it a new home. Fun, fun, fun. PLUS I ADDED THE YAHOO EMAIL ADDRESS TO THE NOTIFICATIONS on the settings, so hopefully when any of us post something, we will all be notified by the yahoo email. Hope it works. Remember we can also make COMMENTS to each other on the BLOG. Love you all......Jo