Upstatelisa

And now for something completely different!

2011-12-20T08:27:00.000-05:00

I am taking up residency...

over here!

Unplugging....

2011-12-09T08:34:00.000-05:00

for a while...

not sure when I'll be back....

My 500th post!!!!!!

2011-12-04T11:20:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe!

It all started here one fall day in October 2007...

I began blogging!

The idea was to chronicle my quilting journey as it fit into my every day life.

I named my blog with the name I had given myself on my yahoo account.

You must all know the story by now...

too many Lisa's,
settling in upstate NY
and voila!

Hey, I became so famous that I had my own bus!

(yeah right!)

The first quilt I ever blogged about was my Elvis quilt

And when I wasn't blogging about big quilts
I was blogging about smaller stuff to swap with new friends on flickr.

I blogged about my first doll quilt swap that I entered...

(and boy did those swaps become addicting!)

I introduced you to my family...

(and how they have grown since this photo was taken!)

Nature Boy

and some of his quilts...

A teenager with lots of stuff
and her quilts...

(the first bed quilt that I ever made!)

and last but not least,

Sugarbaby (the former "Sloppy")

and her quilts...

And my,

how I have grown too!!!

Well not taller

and I have been working on not getting wider too!!

But I have evolved...

I have gone from simple...

and scrappy...

to wonky...

and free pieced...

tried some solids...

and more recently,
worked on more free form...

And now,

there are all the other areas of media

that I have added to my repertoire

painting...

art journaling...

monoprinting...

hand dyeing...

and even some homeschooling on the side!

I might even be found striking a pose on my blog...

hoping to find myself on the front of a Wheaties box ...

appearing incognito as the infamous garbage bag fairy...

and often,

on the floor of my sewing room...

And even though I am constantly getting older

and older

and older...

I have managed to get faster!

Yesterday, I shaved 1 minute and 28 seconds off

my time from my last 5k run

(and this race started at the bottom of a hill, no less!)

But what makes blogging so much fun is that
blogging has opened up a whole new world of friends!

I appreciate you all!

I am grateful for the inspiration and friendship

you have brought to my life!

From my clean (ha,ha!) studio...

to yours....

Thank you for popping by!

veni vidi vici

2011-11-30T13:51:00.000-05:00

That is...
I came,
I saw,
I conquered!!!

Yes, I did!!!

It's true!!!!

I have finished one month (30 days!!!)

of NaNoJouMo

and I never missed a day!

Today, after completing the last page,

I bound my canvas pages with string...

and tied the string with a variety of fibers...

What fun!
What a challenge!
I tried to vary the kinds of techniques I used

as well as the materials...

And now....

it's time...

to pick up the pieces...

and move on...

Gotta run!

Is anyone still out there?!!!

2011-11-27T12:54:00.000-05:00

It seems that a little time has passed since I blogged last!

Readers come
and
readers go

but I always seem to return.

I just haven't had much time to post

nor much to post about lately.

But it seems that I am up to my 498th post, crazy as it seems (!)

so it was high time that I blab a bit.

Sugarbaby and I went on a little trip

to my homeland

(the great WHITE north)

to check in with my family

(Ottawa at night)

see a friend

(Michele and adorable Milo)

visit some sites

(the National Gallery of Canada)

but

I am still journaling every day this month for NaNoJouMo

(it's day #27 of 30!)

I am still piecing this pinwheel quilt

(and discovered that I need to make 11 more pinwheel blocks! ...sigh)

I am still making crumb blocks for my Crumb Along quilt

but now I am wondering
how I might celebrate my 500th post....

Got any ideas?

Gotta run...

and get back to my regularly scheduled life!

MIA

2011-11-16T13:54:00.000-05:00

It doesn't seem like I have been around much

but that probably means that I have been busy....

sewing more crumbs for my Crumb Along quilt...

(130 quilt blocks and counting...probably will make about 24 more!)

piecing (finally!) the 242 quilt blocks together

for Teen's (not really a teen anymore)

queen-sized quilt...

creating journal pages for

day #14...

day #15...

day #16

(of NaNoJouMo)

winning books!!!

(from Kelly)

and winning a zip pouch and fabric!!!

(from Brenda in my homeland! as Mr. U affectionately calls it)

And that is only when I am not

homeschooling, chauffeuring,

working out at the gym,
volunteering,

laundering/cleaning/cooking........

............

And I am sending some big hugs, extra love out
to my mom and our family today...

Gotta run...

goin' missing again!

Persevering...

2011-11-13T06:05:00.000-05:00

He conquers who endures. ~Persius

This month,
I committed myself to journaling every day
with NaNoJouMo

and so far...

I have kept up...

I have also continued to add to my piles of crumbs...

(I now have 123 and counting!)

and while I have taken a couple days off...

I am almost finished piecing the rows for the queen-sized

pinwheel quilt!

This project might take more than just your

regular ol' run of the mill dedication

to finish!

And talking about persevering...

this is my 497th post!!!

Gotta run!

I have some more mountains to conquer!

When the going gets tough...

2011-11-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

(yeah, there isn't much room on my sewing table-
must be those 116 Crumb Along blocks!)

the tough move

elsewhere...

I am, yet again, operating on the floor!
Hey! I like to spread out!

And I am having so much fun with NaNoJouMo!

A great diversion from the banality of piecing a queen sized pinwheel quilt!

Only 22 more days!

Gotta run!

Must make art!

Numerically speaking...

2011-11-05T16:22:00.000-04:00

It's all about the numbers these days!!!

little fly hanging onto 1withered flower (post extremely early minimal snowfall)

days of NaNoJouMo so far
and I am keeping up!
Creating my journal pages on canvas
which I hope to make into a book after the month is over.

rows of blocks are assembled in loooooong rows of quilt blocks!

100

my place in the race I ran last Saturday,
but better yet...
I was 6 out of 18 women in my age class!
(I am already signed up for the Reindeer Run December 3rd)

114

quilt blocks for the Crumb Along

Gotta run!

(there is plenty more tallying of numbers to do this weekend!)

it's Crumb-ing Along...

2011-10-31T19:48:00.000-04:00

I am having so much fun making blocks for Jo's Crumb Along..

that there are too many for my 'design door'!

102 and creating!

Gotta run...

I've got a whole bunch more blocks to make!

Starting a frosty day...

2011-10-29T11:46:00.000-04:00

with a 5 k race...

(to benefit Friederich's Ataxia Research).

Coming...

going...

gone...

Looking at the time clock as I finished,

I ran about a 26:53 run...

One minute and about 7 seconds faster than I had set my goal

for a December run.

What now?

Sugarbaby and I are going trick or treating downtown this afternoon

hoping to dodge the incoming snowstorm

(3-5 inches predicted! this is crazy!)

before I hunker down in my studio for the rest of the weekend.

Gotta run!!!

The "S" Word

2011-10-27T21:04:00.000-04:00

Scrappy?!

(I now have 87 blocks!)

but no!

Sloppy?!

(My scraps are getting even messier!)

but no!

Snowy?!

Huh?!!!!

and I thought it was still October!

Sigh.

(I'm not ready to hibernate yet!)

Slooooow and Steady...

2011-10-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

eventually finishes the race, right?!

At least, that is my version!

As I left the house this morning and the sky was lightening up,

I picked my running route, a long one,

but decided to take my time.

This is the longest run (though, not the fastest)

I have ever done in my almost 50 years of life!

(for my metric family and friends 7.65 mi = 12.3 km)

I am gearing up for a 5k run this Saturday (anyone care to join me?).

I had set a personal goal to run a 5k in December in less than 28 minutes

so we will see how I fare on Saturday.

I will probably try to increase my pace a bit or I might not finish.

And this project is moving along pretty slooooowly too!

I haven't quite pieced half of the rows, averaging about one row a day...

I run faster than that on a sloooow day!

Actually I am trying to read through a book that will expire today on my kindle-

a download from our library - highly recommend it!- so sewing has taken a back seat for the moment.

And then there are other tasks that I accomplish even slooooower than most...

Cleaning is not my favorite past time!

but it will eventually get done!

Sloooooow and steady.

Please sir, may I have some.....more???? (or... anatomy of my studio)

2011-10-23T13:24:00.000-04:00

(figure 1 or side 1, whichever you choose to call it)

French doors now being used as a design wall to hold

my Crumb Along blocks

(wish I had more fleece to hang!).

On either side of the doors,

I have built-in shelves housing a variety of knick knacks.

(figure 2/side 2)

A window which looks out onto a cloudy morning

I embellished the curtains some time ago.

Good thing you can't see the ironing board too clearly

(clearly, it needs to be cleaned off!)
You also can't see the bins housing some of my
art journaling and textile art tools....sigh.

(figure 3/side 3)

My sewing table looks onto a wall of stuff!

I have an inspiration board (hard to see... there is so much inspiration!),
two holders for spools of thread,
and
quilties that I received as gifts, in swaps, or I made.

(figure 4/side 4)

Built-in shelves

filled to the brim with fabric, books, magazines,

notions and assorted stuff.

(figure 5/and there are no more sides to the studio!!!)

One long table

holding a Bernina sewing machine,

more spools of thread,

several portable drawer units filled to the top,

and a spot on the table housing my latest obsession,

art journaling.

(figure 6)

The floor and cutting table.

Need I say more?!!!

And in case you think that I have utilized all the space there is...

(figure 7)

I have moved into the next room

on the other side of the French doors!!!

It may not be long before Mr. U and I are sleeping
among bottles of paint and quilt blocks!

Perhaps...

I should rethink this whole multitasking thing.

2011-10-21T16:02:00.000-04:00

Do you remember this commercial?

Well....

this is a thread sketched brain in a frying pan...

Why did I make a thread sketched brain?!!!!

Find out over here
because today is reveal day at Tangled Textiles.

I have been known to do weird things!

No drugs needed!

Like having teeth pulled!!!

2011-10-19T18:30:00.001-04:00

Growing up,

I had THE meanest pediatric dentist around!!!

Unfortunately for me,

my teeth needed some attention...

and that meant teeth extractions by the dentist
13 in total!!!!

And that doesn't include the 4 wisdom teeth I had removed under general anesthesia!

Anyway, I will never forget the time

I whimpered (okay, probably cried out)

when I got a shot of numbing novocaine in my gums

in preparation for teeth pulling.

The guy told me that I would scare the kids in the waiting room

if I kept crying!!!! Really!

Another time, he told us that I would probably have a couple teeth removed

at my next visit...

and when the procedure was done

he had taken out SIX baby teeth, 3 on each side of my lower gums!!!

So, why do I tell you this?!

Cuz the past 18 hours was one of those awful days that reminded me of

having my teeth pulled!

Yesterday afternoon,
I went to update my iPhone
and when I was done,
it looked like this....

Definitely not a good sign.

Even worse,

when I tried to follow some troubleshooting directions,

I inadvertently disabled many (I mean many)

of our computer applications!!!

So, after some attempts last night to resolve the problem,
I was a mess
and

I figured I would give it some time to fester and

work on this...

laying out two hundred and forty-three (243!!!) 5 1/2-inch squares!!!

I don't know which is worse?!!!

It's like having your teeth pulled!!!!!!!!

This is a queen size quilt for Teen with Lots of Stuff

(it's a birthday present for her birthday which happened to be

July 27th- of 2011!!! Yeah, so I am little behind).

I thought she would go for that modern quilt look

or the wonky piecing

but she went for the billion little pieces traditional quilt!

Good thing is...

after speaking to Fuad from Dell Computers for about 1 1/2 hours

followed by a pleasant 2 hour conversation with Andrew in Arizona of Apple

the computer is working
and so is my iPhone!!!

But this is still on my floor....

Some tortures are physical

And some are mental,

But the one that is both

Is dental.~Ogden Nash

(possibly followed by piecing a billion little pieces of fabric together)

Yooooohoooooo!

2011-10-16T08:59:00.002-04:00

Are you looking for me?

I know, I know, I haven't posted much this week!!!

Well, I might be over here, digging through my boxes of scraps to make blocks....

or... I could be hanging the finished blocks on my improvised design wall...
I am following the Crumb Along!

(I use a piece of fleece that I hang over my french doors, as needed)

or... I might be trying to find an empty spot on my cutting table to trim some seams...

(ha! like there is any where to cut!)

or... I might be trying to find a cleared spot at my sewing/art table....

(double ha! Didn't I just clean this the other day?!)

or...I might be at a play date with Marilyn and Kerri

(fun! fun!)

or.... you just might even find me here as the guest artist for 3 Creative Studios

As the Beach Boys say...
"Round, round, get around, I get around...."

Nothing could be finer

2011-10-12T15:23:00.000-04:00

than to be on an ocean liner... in the mooooooorning!

Well, we aren't on the ocean and it isn't quite a ship,

(in fact, it isn't even close to being a ship)

but it was a fine day on Lake George!!!

Besides you wouldn't really want me to sing either!
(I think my dad used to sing the original version
and his rendition wasn't necessarily sung any better- sorry Dad!)

Yesterday, Nature Boy, Sugarbaby, and I
joined a bunch of other homeschoolers and their moms
for a day of science...

on the Floating Classroom and we had such a fine day!!!

The Lake George Association received a grant
to educate the public. We are truly fortunate to
have such a healthy lake!

The views of the mountains surrounding the lake, speckled with fall colors, were spectacular.

and the hands-on learning was loads of fun

After lunch, the moms and kids met at a stream,
and learned about the Lake George watershed.

We all got good and muddy
searching for macro invertebrates in the stream

which are sensitive to pollutants.

There were plenty which is a further indicator of healthy water!

But as my mother always said,

"All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy..."

(right, Mom?)

and have no worry,

I have been playing in my studio too!

I have my arms right up to my elbows (and probably beyond)

in fabric

working on challenge #3 which is over here.

Stay tuned for the big reveal next week!

And as Lt. Gen. Douglas MacArthur,

"I shall return!"

(somewhere in between schooling and sewing!!)

Is it Midnight Already???

2011-10-07T18:27:00.001-04:00

I think this "change of life" stuff is for the birds!!!

I mean, I was awake waaaaay before the birds this morning...

like 1:00 AM!!!!!

Crazy, huh?!

So what is a person supposed to do when you wake up that early?

Well you read....

and then you read some more....

you plan some homeschool lessons.

When attempts to doze off on the couch appear fruitless,
you sign up for an online doodle class and download all the lessons...

you color...

you have a cup of coffee

and a ginger raisin bran muffin (recipe by one of my fave vegan cooks)

and by then, it is...

6:00 AM your time (but for me, it is already noon!!!!!)

So you go for a long run!

What a great way to really wake up!
I have decided that I really looooove running in the cool autumn air!

(I know... I am really scary after a run!

just ask the rabbit that hopped away quickly)

When I arrived home,

I realized that I had about 20 minutes to shower,

dress and get Sugarbaby to the orthodontist

to clip a wire

and she wasn't even awake yet!

But we made it!

Back at home for breakfast and

off to the library where Sugarbaby volunteers for an hour.

Home for lunch (or is it really dinnertime????)

some work,
and I even managed to make some wonky stars for Lynn
as part of our BeeFF swap

And now, all of a sudden, it strangely feels like midnight....

cuz for me,
it really is midnight!!!!

Would someone please tuck me in????

zzzzzzzzzzz.......

Life in the Fast Lane..

2011-10-03T21:37:00.000-04:00

About 2 1/2+ years ago, I embarked on a new journey,
that of a homeschooling mom.
But as I have discovered
homeschooling doesn't necessarily mean that you are learning at home.
For example...

Today started early (as always) with a cup of coffee.
This is my "me" time.

I checked my email and read a few blogs...

and then I headed out for a run....

back at home it is time to really get my day going...

After my shower
I have breakfast
and wake up Nature Boy and Sugarbaby so they can start their days too.

By 9:30, Sugarbaby and I are on the highway
headed to our first destination of the day...
art class with French
and today, nous avons fait des poupees de mais

(today we made cornhusk dolls)

On our way home,
we stop at the library to drop off some books,
shop at the health food store,
stop at Joann's, the post office, and the grocery store.

At home, the kids do some book work
while I prepare dinner for later.

Normally, Nature Boy needs a ride to band practice
but, it is cancelled today

Curried butternut squash soup...

and vegan chocolate cake...

(actually two cakes!
one for us

and one to share
at our cooking get together tomorrow-
hey homescooling is fun!)

Then off to ballet lessons for Sugarbaby

home for dinner,

drop off Nature Boy at the Y for some recreation

and on to Sugarbaby's violin lesson...

Eventually, I have to pick up Nature Boy at the Y

before I collapse in bed.

No time for working on my Crumb Along blocks today

I think it is high time that someone invented a sewing machine

I can operate in the car

though I suppose, a hand sewing project would be easier.

Life is full!

Crumb along with me...

2011-09-27T14:44:00.000-04:00

sleep has escaped me the past week or so....

sew....

I joined Jo's Crumb Along...

If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying.
It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep. ~Dale Carnegie

Okay, Dale. I did something

but now I could use some sleep!

Life...

2011-09-25T11:44:00.000-04:00

Taking

a 5 mile run

early

in the day

can help

clear

the mind

all

that

ails you.

Life is simple, it's just not easy. ~Author Unknown

You know Autumn is almost here in upstate NY when...

2011-09-21T13:38:00.000-04:00

you see mushrooms on the hiking path....

you go apple picking....

you are no longer sweating while attired in a tank top, shorts and bare feet ...

(soon we will have to get out our woolies!)

Now I just sweat during hot flashes alone!

and all of a sudden,
the deadlines for all of those challenges you signed up for are almost here!!!

(sneak peek at my Four Seasons challenge
for Waterwheel House Quilt Shop due October 1st!)

You know where to find me!

Sometimes....

2011-09-13T15:04:00.000-04:00

you just have to stop what you are doing

(like at mile 3.57 in your early morning run
along the bike path with the tunes blaring in your ears)

and look...

at the beauty in nature...

Did I mention that I am easily distracted?

Sew easily distracted...

2011-09-12T19:43:00.000-04:00

Recently,

I updated my blog look a bit.

I changed my banner... does it look a bit more professional?

And, I added a list to my sidebar, "Projects to Do," to keep me focused!

I have some deadlines to meet and some projects that really need to be completed yesterday already!

Sew, what am I doing making bags???

Well, Sugarbaby carries a bag everywhere she goes with all her diabetes supplies,

a cell phone, wallet, and oh so much more.

But last Wednesday,
the handle of the last bag I made (2 months ago) ripped off (sigh!)

sew....Thursday, I made new bag with a built-in handle...

Gosh, it is sew easy to make,

I think I need one too...

and you know, when you wake up at 3:00 AM and your head is spinning with ideas...

Hmmm..... where did I put that....?

well, let's just try this out....

and what if I do this....

And yes,

nothing on the list got done yet again today!!!!

Sew....

before I get distracted,

I did promise to announce the winner of one of my sun prints

(and yes, Blogless Laura, I added your name to the end, hence the 15 "max" number)

it's.....

Gina!!!!

(Gina, give me a shout with your snail mail address!)

And now back to my regularly scheduled (cough) agenda...

I. Must. Stay. Focused.

Redefining...

2011-09-11T19:10:00.000-04:00

nour·ish (nûrsh, nr-)

tr.v. nour·ished, nour·ish·ing, nour·ish·es

1. To provide with food or other substances necessary for life and growth; feed.

2. To foster the development of; promote: "Athens was an imperial city, nourished by the tribute of subjects" (V. Gordon Childe).

3. To keep alive; maintain: nourish a hope.

(from Free Dictionary)

4. To indulge in a full day of mixed media with new friends

Through the wonderful world of blogging,

I met Marilyn online

and discovered that she lived nearby

(okay, about an hour from here but that is nearby around here!).

I then discovered that she holds workshops at a scrapbooking store

and you will never guess where I was today?!!!!

Yes!!!!

Marilyn and friend, Kerri, held a workshop,

"Altered Egos"

and

so I spent today nourishing my soul
with

handmade journals...

(oh so much fun to make!)

stamps, paper, gesso...

(messy!)

paint, rub-ons, and so much more!

What could be better????!!!!

How about homework?!!!

and another play date next Sunday!!!!

Life is Good!!!

P.S. Did you see my sun prints? Well, I am giving away one of my prints to one lucky reader,

so leave a comment here!

What do you have for us, Johnny?!!!!

2011-09-09T14:19:00.000-04:00

When the going

gets

tough...

the tough get going....

OUTSIDE!!!!

I was about to call up Noah and hitch a ride with him,

taking my two sewing machines, two rotary cutters, two rulers,

~~two~~ projects..hahaha...

Upstate NY was very soggy this week

but alas, the sun came out
and

just in the nick of time, too!

My studio was out of control, huh?

And where there is sun,
there is bound to be suntanning!!!!

Yes, I painted some fabrics and laid them out

plopped some goodies on top
and left them to bake!

Now...

I have

some fun fabrics

to play with

on those rainy days!!!

(That is, if I ever find a place to sit in my studio!)

And Bob....

this piece of sun dyed fabric can be YOURS....

~~If the Price is Right!!!!~~

if you leave me a comment

before Monday, September 12th at 6 PM EST!!!!

In the meantime,

I'll start digging out!

Heaven.... I'm in Heaven....

2011-09-03T18:00:00.000-04:00

And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.

(well not really... I mean, ME not be able to speak?!!! really!!!!)

Anyway,

Mr. U asked me to accompany him on a trip to the 'big city' so he could buy some tools...

Now

we live in a small community made up of mostly small towns

(though ours- the biggest- is about 28,000)

and villages and a 'city' of about 14,000

we are fortunate to have 3 brick and mortar quilt shops, a Joann store,

and even an art supply store,

but today...

down in the 'big city'

I found my dream shop...

(okay, these were at the tool store but they look kinda cool!)

Swoon!

New month...

2011-09-02T18:13:00.000-04:00

New day....

(some of the inspiration I found on the bike path this am)

New goals...

I had a lazy summer

but NO more!!!

Routine is good for me

including running/exercising regularly!!!

Today...

My first 5+ mile run all summer!

I am hoping to run a 5k in early December with a time less than 28 minutes!!!

New art...

(my coffee cup sitting on the ironing board beside the arm chair where I am preparing Nature Boy's lessons for that day...my homeschoolers embarked on this year's studies a month ago already!)

New obsession...

As long as the sun cooperated this week,

I painted some muslin with my fabric paints (Jacquard Lumiere and Pebeo Setacolor)

and laid out some objects atop the wet fabric...

and

new fabric...

but
Same old feet, same old pajamas....

(some times I don't get dressed when I do art!)

Maybe I need a new photo too....

(I'll work on that!)

(BTW, I posted a tutorial on how to create photo mosaics here, just in case you are interested )
Have a good weekend!

Sunday, Floody Sunday...

2011-08-29T09:24:00.000-04:00

or...

The ~~Night~~ Day the Lights Went Out in ~~Georgia~~ Upstate NY

Bet you didn't know that U2 and Bobby Russell wrote songs just for me!!!!

(my version is from here)

So Sunday went like this...

7:00 AM... woke up (yes, I slept in!) to driving rain and wind
Hurricane Irene had arrived here...

enjoyed a cup of coffee, checked my email

7:30 AM... read the newspaper

8:00 AM... worked on the crossword puzzle

answered inquiries regarding our vacant apt advertised in the local paper

8:45... took a shower

while shampooing my hair, it suddenly became dark

(as in the power went out!)
ARGH

10:15 AM... go out to show vacant apartment to prospective tenants

12:00 PM... took a nap!

2:45 PM... woke up in the dark (still!)

3:00 PM... read

3:30 PM...wished that the power hadn't gone off before

I had my second cup of coffee (yaaaawwwn)

4:30 PM...iPhone told me it has a low battery

4:40 PM...electrical noise heard twice

(sounds oddly like a transformer turning off, or perhaps on?)

iPhone battery is dangerously low!

getting windier

4:47 PM... another, similar electrical noise

6:00 PM... kids cooked dinner on the one burner camp stove

6:15 PM...our neighbor started his generator

there are breaks in the clouds, no rain but still windy

7:30 PM...read by candlelight

7:43 PM... I tell Sugarbaby that it would be nice if the power would

come back on before we head to bed,

Sugarbaby dreamily says, "yeah"

and miraculously the power turned on!!!

I washed the day's dishes,

we straightened up,

had a snack,

Nature Boy prepared a pizza and turned on the oven

the lights began to flicker.....

and

8:48 PM... the power went back out!!!

Double ARGH!!!!

Just Another Day in Paradise...

Hope your Sunday was uneventful too!

Batten Down the Hatches...

2011-08-27T14:47:00.000-04:00

Fig. to prepare for difficult times. (From a nautical expression meaning, literally, to seal the hatches against the arrival of a storm. The word order is fixed.) Here comes that contentious Mrs. Jones. Batten down the hatches! Batten down the hatches, Congress is in session again.

Groceries...... check!

(more milk hiding behind the almost-empty gallon, for our milk drinkers)

Batteries......check!

Movie........check!

Lawn mowed...sigh..... check!

we could have an ~~earthquake~~

(wait! we had one! though we didn't feel it in our home)

we could have a hurricane!

before Nature Boy gets the lawn mowed!!!

Now it seems that Hurricane Irene is coming up the east coast

and while we are inland and 3 1/2 hrs north of New York City,

heavy rains are possible.

so most importantly....

art supplies/projects..................

check!

and....

check!

Mr. U, Teenager with lots of stuff, Nature Boy and I
survived the microburst in Pittsburgh in July,1998,
when we were without power for 4 days
but
nowadays...
all I need is my art,
and perhaps, a good book
while we wait out the weather!!!

Nothing difficult about that!

Weeeeeeeee're off to see the .....

2011-08-25T20:34:00.000-04:00

W....................

No!

there ain't no Wizard here!!!

We're off to see the

Washington County Fair!!!

That's right!
Animal, Food, and Rides...

OH MY!!!!

Animals...

Food....

and Rides...

OH MY!!!

Sugarbaby and I had a great day...

Oh my!

Stick a needle in my eye or how to edit the purple violin (odd title, isn't it?)

2011-08-23T15:30:00.000-04:00

It has been one of those days...

(1) I dropped and broke a bottle of nailpolish (luckily it was clear)

on the bathroom tiled floor this morning...

(2) spilled a mug of smelly paint water on the table and floor of my studio...

and yes,

(3) while picking 7 lbs of blueberries this morning with Sugarbaby...

a stick appears to have poked right into the corner of my eye
(that is, penetrated)...

I even saw it myself and eye stuff totally grosses me out!!!

I have taken out my contact lenses

but other than some mild discomfort and some redness, I am able to see just fine!

Anyway, after Renate asked me how I add text and lines to my photos,

I decided that I would take today's post to describe the process

Let's face it...
it is a lot easier than breaking, spilling or poking something else!!!

A disclaimer...
most of the following photos are dark as they are taken of my computer monitor
in our poorly lit computer room
And
this is a process that I figured out by trial and error,
so there is probably many other ways to arrive at the same result.

Here it goes..

How I edit the purple violin:

We start with a photo that I have downloaded to flickr

(although I believe that you can do this right from your Picasa album too)

and while I do often take some creative license in my artwork,

Sugarbaby does indeed have a purple violin

(which looks much better in real life!!!)

Hope YOU have your glasses on...

In the "action" menu above your photo in flickr,

click on "edit photo in Picknik"

After a minute,

your photo will appear in Picknik...

To start, click on "Create" at the top...

then click on "Effects"

Now scroll waaaaaay down (anyone ever watch The Friendly Giant?)
to "Doodle" under "Misc" and click on that too!

The Doodle menu will open up like this...

I know!
So many choices!!!
I start with brush color
and size
(not sure exactly what hardness does, but play around to find out!)

The smaller the brush size number,

the thinner the line (which is what I want today)...

Once you have made your choices,

you will find your mouse cursor over on your photo...

and I begin drawing...

until I have all the lines (or drawings/doodles) I need

(today I discovered that if I need to erase a doodle,

click on eraser in the doodle menu, rub out what you want

and then click on eraser again to go back to doodling)

and click on 'Apply" when you are done.

Now I am ready to add text,
so click on it!!!

and then scroll down on the left side of the screen
to choose the font ...

(hint: the white backgrounded fonts are free!!!)

Today, I am in the mood for King Cool KC

(Austin says: "groovy baby!")

Just above the font names is a text box...

(yup, you got it... that is where you type!)

like the word.... scroll!

then click on "Add"

Hmmmm... more choices!!!

(the word, scroll, is waiting for me in the middle of the photo!)

I start by moving my mouse over the size (trial and error, personal preference)

and select the font color next...

and you can now see that scroll is bigger and green!

(It's not easy being green!)

Now I stick my mouse cursor over the word

and drag it into the position I want

move the cursor off the word
(I usually click somewhere else on the photo)

et voila!
I have text to go with my doodles...

Now you need to save your edited photo
(save is at the top right hand corner)...

(Hey, I edited this photo!!!)

and you can make any changes to the title, description,
tags, permission, etc now...

and you can save a new copy of the photo
(in addition to the original photo on flickr)
or you can replace the old photo
(and this deletes the original photo on flickr)

Your choice....

and then you sit and wait...

and wait a little bit more...

until your edited photo appears on your flickr account!!!

As my father, the physicist says, QED

which I always thought meant quite easily done!

Clearly,

I am not a physicist!

And luckily, I can still see clearly!!!

YIKES! I seem to be going every which way!!!!

2011-08-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

This week,

I tried a whole bunch of different ways to.....

Monday, I stamped and painted...

Tuesday, I got downright messy with gelatin printing ....

Wednesday, I tried sketching and painting...

Thursday, I revealed this...

read more here and see the rest of the group reveals are here

and Friday, I tried a hodge podge of techniques...

Now...

where do I go from here?!

Check list.....

2011-08-18T08:44:00.000-04:00

Up at 5 AM.... check!

Typing for Mr. U... check!

Running at 6 AM... check!

Prepping today's lesson for Nature Boy... check!

Breakfast and reading the newspaper....check!

Revealing my Tangled Textiles project

that I let you peak at here....check!

Check it out here!!!

I'm all checked out and it isn't even 9 AM!!!

For recreation purposes only...

2011-08-16T17:04:00.000-04:00

noun, plural -bies.

an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

As if I didn't have enough hobbies...

I have been following Rayna's blog for a couple of years
and have taken her book out of the library a number of times

but this time when I brought it home...

I got the goods
(that is...the tin pans, fabric paint, unflavored gelatin, and time)
and I decided to try out gelatin printing..

and I am hooked!!!

I started with a 12x8 inch (approximately) tin pan
and dumped in 6 packs of unflavored gelatin,
stirred in 1 1/2 cups of cold water to dissolve,
added 1 1/2 cups of hot water
and left it in the fridge overnight...

This is what the gelatin plate looks like when you pop it out
and put it on the bottom of a well used (nasty looking) cookie sheet!

I used my Pebeo Setacolor transparent fabric paints
and later, I tried my Jacquard Lumiere fabric paints
(oh... I know! I sound so official, like I know what I'm doing!)...

plopped a blob on the gelatin,

and rolled it around with a brayer

(sorry I forgot to take a photo of that part of the process... I just got so excited!)

I used a variety of objects to texturize the painted gelatin
such as this stamp...

and I stamped the entire gelatin plate...

placed a piece of muslin over top

and pressed it into the paint..

et voila!!!

painted fabric love!!!!

Here, I used a newfangled potato masher that I bought at Walmart...

and got this....

I even tried layering...

first just plain pink,

and then some silver with a stamp...

purple on a small mesh,

then pink stamped...

red on a mesh onion bag,

then black on the mesh onion bag...

(love this one!)

and this is just one layer of green

stamped with one of my homemade stamps.

Yes, I am
feeling pretty pleased and relaxed now...

so....it must be a hobby!!!

P.S. In two days, we will be revealing our second challenge on Tangled Textiles...

(one last sneak peek) ....stay tuned!!!

I dabble

2011-08-13T15:16:00.000-04:00

verb (used without object)

to work at anything in an irregular or superficial manner: to dabble in literature.

or say, in watercolor...

my first attempts...

this week...

yielded these dabs...

As my mother says,

a little dab will do you!

Here's a story...

2011-08-12T19:39:00.000-04:00

Once Upon A Time...

in a land not so very far away,

there was a papa pig...

a mama pig....

and a baby pig (born almost 3 months ago!).

On a fine spring day, the family decided to take a walk around the family room

and then snuggle up for the evening (ahem)..

and soon, the mama was eating all the porridge

and getting quite big!

So she lay in bed waiting...

and waiting...

and soon Papa and Baby Pig said, "let us in, let us in!"

And Mama Pig said, "my patience is wearing thin, very thin."

And then, in the early hours of the morning (yesterday, to be precise),

she huffed, and she puffed...

and then, she gave a big grin...

And that's the way they all became the PIGGY Bunch...

(yes, I used to watch Carol, Mike and the Brady kids!)

the piggy bunch...

That's the way they all became the Piggy Bunch!!!

Who has time for crafting with all this excitement?!!!

THWUMP!!!!!

2011-08-09T18:43:00.000-04:00

Did you hear that?!!!!

That is the sound of me hitting a wall!!!

THWUMP!!!

Between the muggy weather, the evils of perimenopause

and a brief proverbial crash into the creative wall....

it has been a little quiet in the studio lately.

Still, somehow, over the past few days,

in between sleeplessness, a stint of moodiness,

and even

reading through the kids' homeschool books (yes! school is back in session!)

I have managed to carve a new stamp...

play with my new calligraphy pen...

(oh how I want to write beautifully!!!)

and dabble

with my new Koi watercolor field set

inspired by Lori...

Did you hear that?!

Neither did I...

but it should be the sound of my butt lifting off the floor

so I can create again!!!

Today, I paid attention...

2011-08-06T18:30:00.000-04:00

"For lack of attention a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day."
- Evelyn Underhill

It's just a phrase...

2011-08-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

get old

verb

to be annoying due to repetition....I'm sick of him making plans with me and then not following through. It's getting old.
from this dictionary

But sometimes

my patience wears thin!

Like this new sleep schedule...

(the beginning of this 'change of life' thing is already very old!!!)

but

honestly, I am exhausted!

Everywhere I go now,

be it at home or around town,

when something flits by

I instinctively duck!

Having a bat in the house at night is unnerving,

though lucky for Nature Boy,

I was able to dismiss our last visitor all by myself!!!!

And then,

once again, I spotted another ground hog
(that makes 3!)

in our backyard...

so close to our relocation crate too!

They seem to be growing in number like rabbits around here!

And I think Phyllis, Nature Boy's beloved guinea pig,

is probably thinking the same thing too!!

"I'm tired of being pregnant...

look at my large belly, my double chin...

am I going to have stretch marks after this one... or is more than one?"

Maybe..

I really am just getting old!

sigh....

The fire in the belly....

2011-08-03T16:08:00.000-04:00

I know not all my readers are fond of rock music,
but
I am a product of the age of rock and roll...
born in the early 1960s,
teenager in the 70s,
college kid in the early 80s.

Mr. U is a heavy (heavy!) metal guy, Nature Boy loves old rock too,
and Teenager with lots of stuff likes that nasty rap/hip hop stuff
so I have heard a lot of music in my time on earth.

As I thought about all the forms of art that I still want to try,

somehow, this song started playing in my head...

Yes, friends....

I want it all!!!!

In the past couple of years,

I have really spread out my wings

from my early days of sewing clothes and quilting.

I have dabbled in a few new art forms including...

hand dyeing

fabric painting

image transfer

rubber stamp making

art journaling

But I have a list in my head...

a list of sooooo many forms of expression, of art,

that I still want to learn....

Yes, friends....

the more I see... the more I want to do!!!!

I want it all!!!!!

My preliminary list:

*screen printing
*calligraphy, funky hand lettering
*gelatin printing
*fabric art journaling
*fabric designing
*watercolor painting
(and maybe someone to clean my house?)

Is that too much to ask?!!!!

My hero....

2011-08-01T13:53:00.000-04:00

From a young age...

my "Nature Boy" has been un-inhibited by dirt..

and touching "things"...

that I would never

ever

touch...

or dare to go near live animals

that don't belong near us...

(don't even ask about the skunk who visited a couple of weeks ago!)

So it is not surprising that when bats fly

through our home in the early hours of the morning,

who you gonna call??!!!!

Bat Busters!!!

(and when they aren't available,

you rouse Nature Boy from a deep sleep!!!)

Everyone needs a Nature Boy in their home!!!

PS If you think that I didn't do art on my first day

after "30 Days of Get Your Art On" was over,

you are mistaken!!!

I made this postcard...

and finished my challenge #2!

I'm upstatelisa, yes I am...

2011-07-30T22:07:00.000-04:00

I do art every day...

in the Catskills, while at play...

I do art when it is hot...

I do art
that you see.... not!!!

I do art in disarray...

I do art in a tidy way....

I do art with needle and thread...

I do art right out of bed...

I do so like art every day!

And I blog

cuz I've got a lot to say!!!

I am upstatelisa
yes I am
and I will never eat green eggs and ham!

(well, I am vegan!!!)

Thanks so much to Traci for inspiring me to make art a part of every day!!!

(Woohoo...it is day #30 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On")

The bottom line.....

2011-07-29T17:40:00.000-04:00

Today...

early in the morning,

but not too early....

I spent about 4 hours (yes, four!!!)
gluing small pieces of fabric together

for my secret challenge #2...

which will remain secret until reveal day (August 15th).

All of this work is done standing up

since the background to which I glue the fabric is hanging

over my french doors-turned-design wall...

So, every so often, it's nice to be able to dump my derriere

into this wonderful new throne

that Mr. U surprised me with yesterday....

He said that it was for my "delicate butt" that often aches

(along with my hips) at the end of the day

when I get into bed...

(I've been using a 45+ year old colonial style kitchen chair

for about 12+ years)

Even Phyllis (our once-again pregnant guinea pig)

tried it out...

(we all know how pregnancy can be hard on your back

and buttocks!)

Bottom line:

All posteriors need a pleasant place to plant!!!

Thank you, dear sweet hubby!!!

(Day#29 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On"!)

Reality Check....

2011-07-28T20:51:00.000-04:00

That was then....

This is NOW.....

Ummm.... yeah...

creativity is not pretty!!!!

I am still working on my secret challenge #2 ...

and it takes a few (okay! many) fabric scraps....

and no surface is immune to my "spread"....

(yes! that is a used bowl and fork on my ironing board!!!)

and just so you don't think I mess exclusively in fabric...

my journaling area can get a little (hehe) disorderly!
Luckily, it is confined to a small area of the left end of my sewing table!

In the wise words of "Unknown"...

A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.

(Day #28 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On"!)

This day...

2011-07-27T16:20:00.000-04:00

started very early this morning...

But the ironic thing is...

this day started very early (about an hour earlier)
18 years ago today...

Of course, I spent a good part of that day at home in labor

before heading to the hospital at 4:30 PM...

and welcoming our first born at 9:26 PM

(2 weeks early, 8lb 4oz, no medication!)

And why should this early morning be any less exciting???

I started the day with some art...

and...

a brief 4 AM visit from this fellow...

(yes, later Mr. U got it between the window and screen,

Nature Boy was able to get it into a plastic animal carrier

and we escorted it off the U family premises!)

and woohoo!
My first run in about 2 weeks...

(can you say vacation? heat wave? lazy?)

No...
this day was not just an ordinary day!

Happy 18th Birthday to my sweet girl!!!

(and it is Day #27 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On" too!)

Squeeeeezin' it in...

2011-07-26T20:46:00.000-04:00

Some days

when I am running in all directions,

I have to steal away for just a few minutes to find time for art...

The feel of the pen on paper

or fabric moving through the sewing machine

is all I need.

It's my therapy!
(and some days... I reeeeeally need it!)

(Hey! Its Day #26 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On"!)

I made art!!!!

2011-07-25T20:27:00.000-04:00

and I baked

and I typed on the computer

and I vacuumed

and I chauffeured

Cuz it's 20 degrees cooler (at least!) today and I can!!!!!

I feel positively human!!!!

(Day #25 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On"!)

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!!!

2011-07-24T15:14:00.000-04:00

No!!!

I haven't been suffering from heart burn!!!

I have been suffering from heat wave!!!!

But it is a little cooler today

(what a relief!)

which means....

I have been in my "studio" (aka sewing room) for some journaling...

(the last page of my first art journal!)

and a new project...

(for my eyes only!)

which means....

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz...

Oh what a mess it is!

(Day #24 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On!"

Diving in Head First!!!

2011-07-23T10:23:00.000-04:00

As you all know,

I am an early riser

and today was no exception.

It started out on our screened-in porch

in my improvised studio

where it felt comfortably warm...

and I worked more on yesterday's journal spread...

but, as always,

I took a break when the newspaper arrived to read it

and do the crytoquote puzzle, as I do every day.

And today's deciphered quote made me jump for joy!!!

Ten or eleven months ago,

after many, many months (even years) of ogling at people's art journals

and wanting to try my hand at journaling,

I took the plunge...

and this is what my first journal page looked like....

and this is what today's....
coincidentally (???)

the last journal spread in my very first art journal

looks like....

(hmmm... is it fate???)

when I finally overcame my fear of journaling

and started...

I haven't looked back.

This year, I have tried so many new techniques/skills/crafts

and I have a list of sooooo many more

I want to try....

The World is My Oyster

and

I plan to Dive in Head First!!!!

Are you coming?????

(Day #23 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On)

When it's like

2011-07-22T20:47:00.000-04:00

this...

my art can only...

reflect my mood....

What dreadful hot weather we have!

It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance. ~Jane Austen

Stay cool, Jane!

(Day #22 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On")

Right now...

2011-07-21T15:41:00.000-04:00

hot!!!

But I am smiling?!!!

(Day #21 of "30 Days of Get Your Art On")

I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah!

2011-07-20T16:43:00.000-04:00

at least that is what Elton John says...

Believe it or not,

I took this photo with my iPhone today

(and yes, it says 2:44 AM!!!

I couldn't fall back to sleep after a crazy dream

so I got up!)

and it's now late afternoon

and

I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah!

It is sooooo hot here

that I can't turn on the lights in my sewing room...

which limits my ability to detect differences in color

but I did this exercise for my online class...

and

I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Mostly because it is too hot to sit!!!

I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah!

(it just looks like I'm not
cuz it was alot colder when this photo was taken!!!)

(Day #20 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On!)

Was I really complaining about the bitter cold 4 months ago?!!!

If you are looking for me..

2011-07-19T19:58:00.000-04:00

you might find me in the sewing room at 5 AM

cuz it is the only time that it is cool enough to create...

and then you might find me in my bedroom,
on the floor (of course), for the rest of the day....

cuz it is the only place cool enough to work...

(pssst: we have an window a/c unit there

and

I'm trying to plan the homeschool year!)

Summer has set in with its usual severity. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(but it's already Day #19 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On!)

Reality bites....

2011-07-18T21:03:00.000-04:00

As much as I loved my vacation

and all the inspiration that I brought home...

it's back to chauffeuring kids,

planning the new homeschool year,

running errands,

folding laundry,

and trying to squeeze in a little playtime too....

How reluctantly the mind consents to reality! ~Norman Douglas

(Day #18 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On)

On a very warm summer day...

2011-07-17T17:38:00.001-04:00

between loads of laundry in a very, very warm laundry room...

and

downloading all those vacation photos...

in a very, very, very, warm computer room

I managed to clean my very, very, very, very, warm sewing room (aka my craft room)...

and sewed up the first of two blocks for Sarah...

for our BeeFF group

before I lay my very, very, very, very, very warm self down...

for a rest!

(It is now Day#17 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On!)

I admit it...

2011-07-16T18:57:00.000-04:00

Day #16 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On was a bust!

Instead, I am trying to put the pieces together...

clean out the cobwebs of my mind...

(all that R & R!)

sort through the freshly picked wild blueberries....

(okay, not really, but it sounds better than sorting through all the dirty laundry!)

after 4 days and 3 nights on a family vacation in the Catskill Mountains...

I have 371+ photos to sort through too!!!!!

(but I think many of them will certainly inspire some future art!)

Halfway there!

2011-07-15T20:05:00.000-04:00

I am trying to...

keep posting...

daily...

and stay inspired!

Cuz it is already day #15 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On!

The Hills are Alive

2011-07-14T17:14:00.000-04:00

With the sound...

Of beauty...

And birds...

and flowers...

and quilt blocks....

and pages...

I love the Sound of Music!

(day #14 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On)

Yessss!!!!!

2011-07-13T16:00:00.002-04:00

rub·ber-stamp
[ruhb-er-stamp]
–verb (used with object)
1.to imprint with a rubber stamp.
2.to give approval automatically or without consideration: to rubber-stamp the president's proposals.
–adjective
3.tending to give approval automatically or without due consideration: a rubber-stamp Congress that passed all the president's bills.
Origin:
1915–20; v. use of rubber stamp

I approve!

(Day #13 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On!)

I do try to stay....

2011-07-12T16:10:00.000-04:00

All in a very, very hot day's work!

The floor may be the coolest place to be!

(Day #12 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On!)

I'm meeeeellltttinnnnngggg...

2011-07-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

Not feeling exactly wicked

but it is pretty warm (and muggy too!)

in upstate NY...

And with no air conditioning in my play room...

I could only muster up enough energy...

(have a favorite?)

to fold my new collection of hand dyed fabrics

and try to neaten up some of my shelves of stash.

I've mmmmmmeeeeelllllttttted!

(Day #10 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On)

Silent Sunday

2011-07-10T18:59:00.000-04:00

Shhhh....

(Day #10 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On)

It's Saturday... Sew What?!!!

2011-07-09T20:33:00.000-04:00

love

create!!!

That's what!!!!

(Day #9 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On)

Whole lotta makin' goin' on!!!

2011-07-08T19:55:00.000-04:00

Today,
I was as busy as a bee on a new flower in our front yard...

as busy as a bunny munching on the grass in our backyard..

I painted some Lutradur today...

(which I am thinking I will use for a postcard swap that I am participating in).

And then.
I tried a new craft (like I don't have enough to keep me busy!)

Carving....

rubber stamps...

and I love it!!!

My name is upstatelisa ...

and I am a craftaholic!!!!

(Day #8 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On!)

This was not your ordinary run-of-the-mill kind of summer day!

2011-07-07T21:23:00.000-04:00

Nope it wasn't!

Some of us headed to Vermont this morning...

Some of us did not quite make it....

Splat!!!
(sorry about that!)

Road trips to nearby Vermont are always breathtaking...

and today was no exception...

For my long-time blog readers,

you will know of my great, great fondness for old houses....

and today,

my heart was pounding with excitement
and my brain was filling with inspiration!!!

My travel companion,

the ever faithful, 12 year old Sugarbaby, and I

snapped photo after photo after photo (!) as we traversed the countryside!

But alas...
we did have a purpose for our travels today!

A visit to Waterwheel House Quilt Shop in Londonderry VT...

Well, friends, I think I have died and gone to heaven!!!

This shop is just gorgeous!!!

Eye candy everywhere!!!

Something in every nook and cranny!

Shelley (sorry I missed you!) and her staff have a beautiful shop!!!

And naturally,

I did not leave empty-handed!

On the way home,

we stopped at Bob's Diner...

for a little grub...

and entertainment...

And then...

Sugarbaby asked to stop in Manchester..

to snap some more photos...

by the Grist Mill.

Back at home...
when the delirium of the day dwindled,

I tried my hand at watercolors.
Not really watercolors but watercolor crayons....

Then, I created a stencil from a big square punch

and dabbed ink with a make up sponge

into the squares...

to create a calendar in my new sketchbook!

You can never be sure what the day will bring!!!

(day #7 of 30 Days of Getting Your Art On)

2011-07-06T21:12:00.000-04:00

I did think about getting my art on when I ran early this morning....

I really did think about getting my art on when I went shopping today...

and I really, really did (cough, cough) think about getting my art on...

while I sat at the lake enjoying the sun...

It's day #7 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On

but alas, I did not get my art on today!!

Lost and Found...

2011-07-05T20:12:00.000-04:00

Lost: my groove

Found: an hour at the gym doing body pump....

an ant on a wildflower in our front yard...

and some time at the sewing machine to doodle-quilt for my class...

These long weekends kill me!!!!
I think it takes me almost an entire week to get back into a routine!

I am just a creature of habit, I guess

(Day#5 of 30 Days of Get Your Art On)

Upstatelisa

And now for something completely different!

Unplugging....

My 500th post!!!!!!

veni vidi vici

Is anyone still out there?!!!

MIA

Persevering...

When the going gets tough...

Numerically speaking...

it's Crumb-ing Along...

Starting a frosty day...

The "S" Word

Slooooow and Steady...

Please sir, may I have some.....more???? (or... anatomy of my studio)

Like having teeth pulled!!!

Yooooohoooooo!

Nothing could be finer

Is it Midnight Already???

Life in the Fast Lane..

Crumb along with me...

Life...

You know Autumn is almost here in upstate NY when...

Sometimes....

Sew easily distracted...

Redefining...

What do you have for us, Johnny?!!!!

Heaven.... I'm in Heaven....

New month...

Sunday, Floody Sunday...

Batten Down the Hatches...

Weeeeeeeee're off to see the .....

Stick a needle in my eye or how to edit the purple violin (odd title, isn't it?)

YIKES! I seem to be going every which way!!!!

Check list.....

For recreation purposes only...

hob·by

I dabble

dab·ble

Here's a story...

THWUMP!!!!!

Today, I paid attention...

It's just a phrase...

get old

verb

The fire in the belly....

My hero....

I'm upstatelisa, yes I am...

The bottom line.....

Reality Check....

This day...

Squeeeeezin' it in...

I made art!!!!

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!!!

Diving in Head First!!!

When it's like

Right now...

I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah!

If you are looking for me..

Reality bites....

On a very warm summer day...

I admit it...

Halfway there!

The Hills are Alive

Yessss!!!!!

I do try to stay....

I'm meeeeellltttinnnnngggg...

Silent Sunday

It's Saturday... Sew What?!!!

Whole lotta makin' goin' on!!!

This was not your ordinary run-of-the-mill kind of summer day!

Lost and Found...