Back to the blues: It has absolutely nothing to do with my mood. I'm feeling more like a rainbow these days. It has everything to do with the fact that blue was my first most favourite colour. When encountered with the proposition of doing my next creation for the journal quilt group to which I belong, I chose this blue fabric. The page to go with it explains more about it.




When I started looking for more tea cups and pots for all the tea swaps Mary Ann organizes, I came across more blue.



And for this week's Friday finds I couldn't help myself but buy this beautiful trunk which I found three houses away at their garage sale for only 50 cents.



I love the inside of it and when I sent Greg to pick it up I mentioned all the nails in the greatest hope that the wooden containers came with the nails. YES! They did.



My dream will be to empty out the nails right quickly and clean those containers, then decorate with ribbons and tins and odds and ends to look remotely like this idea I found in the book Designing with Fabric which I was fortunate to receive from Mary Ann also.














We're off to the farm again for a couple of days. Angels be with you.

Friday Finds: This week - well, I tried to flow through the challenges. It was a little bit tough. I'm glad I decided to reward myself with not just one, but two inspirational magazines this week.
I get apprehensive about going to see the eye specialist after 46 years with diabetes. Then I wait for about an hour to actually have the appointment.
"Look straight ahead.
Look to the right.
Look to the left.
Look down at my necktie."
Moves to the left eye,
"Look straight ahead.
Look to the right.
Look to the left.
Look down at my necktie."
"Everything looks not too bad. Come back in two years."
I breathe.
And then there are the meetings - much clenching of jaws with those.
I made it through the most difficult parts - of the week. The phone rings. It's the school principal. We need a letter from Cat's psychiatrist if she is to continue with the same school program next year. We saw the psychiatrist four years ago. She barely had time to write anything for the school then. We were fortunate to see her after a few months of waiting. Some people waited a couple of years.
"You have till the end of the summer", says the principal.
"Flow through the challenges Wendy".

Have a great weekend and angels be with you.

Friday: Though today is Saturday and actually already Sunday in many locations, I need to tell you about my visit with Naomi yesterday and also show you these Friday's finds.

For anyone familiar with Julia Cameron's books, "The Artist's Way" and "Finding Water" you will know what I am talking of when I say Naomi and I have been doing some "time travel". We've been trying to determine some reasons why I go so frequently and quickly into activation, what I would describe as panic attacks. Because I've been having self regulation therapy for a few years already my body is somewhat accustomed to this reaction and I can often deal with it. The more I am able to tread gently around the edges of the activation the more I will be able to "flow through the challenges". Naomi believes there is probably not anything specific causing the concerns for me but instead a number of areas all in combination. Probably the most significant would be my childhood health issues, a general anesthetic, and more recently our daughter's health issues. So as we tread softly around all these issues I become exhausted.

Today was a day for recuperating. It was also a day for working more in that basement room. It's getting closer. I'll try to let you know as soon as it's more ready. I'm certain I'll feel more relaxed, and free, once I have our home more organized and ready to play, play, play.

When we were in Saskatoon yesterday I rewarded myself with some new fabric, angelina fibers,

some papers and heavy body acrylic paints, as well as a few postcards and paper items I got in an antique store just off Broadway, for anyone familiar with Saskatoon. I also got more wool roving and needle felting tools.

Over the next few days I'll be completing my journal quilt for March, getting ready for a swap, and hopefully sharing more about the needle felting. Until then I'll leave you with these first two pictures of the main level from the Avenue Building (built in 1913) where I go to see Naomi. It's a fabulous place.

Angels be with you.

Colour as promised:
Friday's Finds - these are mostly for working with fabric, though not all - sponges, stencils, beads, stickers, board books.
Soon I'll show some actual finished work, I hope. lol

Friday's Finds: When I was in Saskatoon yesterday I had a bit of time to do some shopping at Michael's and also at a place called art placement. They have a gallery and a shop. I've been noticing the warmer colours more in other people's creations and I also want to get more into journaling and books - making and altering. I was pleased to find the awl at art placement. I also got the hemp string there. The greens and mauve were the only colours they had. I got warmer colours in fabric paint, some collage papers, water colour crayons and yarn. Planning for when the postcards are complete, soon.

Packages received and Friday Finds: On Wednesday I was so happy to receive the beautiful little handmade book from Diane at soonerorlater. I'd gone on her blog to say that I would participate in having an item of art sent to me if I promised to send to five people one of my art items if they responded to my request. And so this item arrived. I was very pleased. It came at a good time. The week had been "crazy". Dear Greg said certainly I would be able to make one too. So besides the actual little book to journal in I have received inspiration. Thanks Diane.

Then on Friday I received all my Sakura items from artsy Fran where I was so fortunate to have my name drawn to receive the prize. I especially love the gellyroll moonlight pens. I'll have to try gold shadow on different paper. It says to use white fibrous paper. The sticklers are also fun. I think I'll have a hard time trying to keep them from our daughter. She wants the fish for her cell phone. We'll see. Fran also very kindly included some of her collage papers. They are wonderful. People here in the art blog world are extremely kind. It almost feels like my birthday. I must get my own packages, and especially the items for in them, ready to send very soon. I've entered a postcard valentine swap. I have until the 14th to get ten postcards completed. Hopefully they can be ready sooner. We'll see.

Friday's finds is about more fabric. I continue to be inspired by all the beautiful pieces of art that my friend Jude makes. I love the bright and cheery colours. I've only purchased in small amounts. I already have quite a lot of fabric. Cat already started cutting some of the orange fabric for postcards. I'll help her make valentines for some of her helpers and friends.

Angels be with you.

TIRED but - Friday's finds AND Valentine Inspiration:
I'm having much difficulty focusing today. It's been kind of a tough week. There've been appointments in Saskatoon. At one we learned that our daughter did not have a seizure. Her EEG was totally normal and she fainted instead of having a seizure. Huge relief sigh. I was reminded by two important people that as a large part of a teen's developmental tasks involves establishing identity, I should not be alarmed by her low self esteem but just to be encouraging and supportive, as much as one can to a teen, especially when they have issues. I have been challenged with trying not to get overburdened by other people's challenges but again to be supportive. I have realized that I have been quite strong the past few weeks even though this has typically been one of my most difficult months, for many years. I also finished a project started month's ago.

Today I feel tired. I think I should. I'm allowing myself to feel OK that I didn't do art today, other than taking a few pictures. I didn't even feel like having fun with doodling or stamping.

Yesterday I used part of some Christmas gift certificates at Fabricland. I got some taffeta, chiffon, lace, and lots of buttons. They were 50% off. I'm planning to do some experimenting with cling wrap. I happened to have some red cling wrap stashed away in the room I will eventually have cleaned to put a studio in. I'm finding numerous treasures there.

The other picture is of some of the fabric and treats I have in store for Valentine's day.

Tomorrow is another day.