Needle felting and studio ready for supplies: My room is nearly ready. The photos show part of the humungous table on which I will mostly try to organize many of my supplies for doing mixed media and all the other play I do and intend to do. There is still a bed which has supplies on and some shelves that are not really organized. However, it is a huge difference. The floor is totally cleared off. Previously you could hardly move in this space. It was so full of stuff. Now I can hardly believe the transformation. The table is a bit rough as it's been stored in the garage for many years. I don't remember if it has ever been inside the house. It will be perfect for my play space. Sometime I might sand it and paint it or put something on to cover it but that will be down the road. The floor - I would really like to tear out the old musty carpet but I know that the best is for it to stay now as it is a cement floor and I don't have the resources to redo it - now. It will get a good cleaning, probably next week.
The whole idea of my very own space has not really sunk in yet. I need to start clearing out all the supplies from the living room and hallway and the larger room downstairs. Once they've a spot in "my space" and the rest of the house is more back to normal I'll be able to do my little dance.
The walls were all brown paneling when we first bought the house but I'm pleased that we painted and papered. The room is bright and cheery. I'll share more as I start to really feel what the space is about. Until then I'll share this first felted piece which I punched out Friday night after returning from Saskatoon. It is not actually attached to the pink paper background. I'm not certain what I will do with it. I'll let you know sometime down the road.
Angels be with you.

Where I am. I am fine, absolutely fine. For some reason I thought of "March", which I wrote three years ago - possibly because there is a cold norwester blowing on an already cold April day, and because we have begun Holy week and because I saw Naomi a few days ago. It is difficult afterwards for a few days after self-regulatory therapy.

Please accept my apologies for my lack of e-mails, comments and replies to your comments the last few days. I am thinking of you and will be in touch as soon as I am able.

See March here but please know that I am fine, absolutely fine.

"There will always be dreams grander or humbler than your own, but there will never be a dream exactly like your own... for you are unique and more wondrous than you know!"

Linda Staten

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.

Found - treasure chest: After the meeting was finished yesterday I told Greg I needed to go downtown a bit. He commented that there'd be time to pick up the mail yet - 4:50 p.m. allowed ten minutes. Surprise, surprise - there was a great huge parcel for me. Though it was expected, it was not. Pauline, "sweet memories", had sent me a package for the CaC swap for March. My goodness - what a treasure box I found. Pauline, you are such a sweetheart. There were vintage pieces, so many papers, pictures, embroidery cottons, threads, buttons, the beautiful vintage postcard, one of my favourites from the package, a wonderful journal, the box everything was found in, fabrics, pom-pom trim, dangly bead trim. And the list goes on and on.
A connection has certainly been created. I have received many items that are very appropriate for altered books. Hmm, too bad I have so many WIPs, including the disastrous cleaning of that space for a studio. However, when I think about it, I am acquiring so many lovely presents - I NEED A SETTING IN WHICH TO DISPLAY THEM. Onward and upward.
To view the individual photos and to get a larger view please go to my flickr site.

Angels be with you.