Creativity – Morning Glory Studio

tgif | 8.16.19 …

Published on August 16, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

thinking: I’ve run out of steam; made a list of 8 things to do today ~ so far I’m batting 50%. I’ve been taking it slow n’ easy…

grateful: I’ve nowhere to be or anyplace to go today, tomorrow, Sunday …

inspiration: since Tuesday, I’ve been participating in a mini LOAD (layout a day);* the theme is Yearbook/School Memories and it’s been lots of fun. Yesterday’s (Thursday) topic: school lunches. Perfect ~ for this was also the day my Thursday stitching group met at Hilary’s – the brunch spread was phenomenal. Seasonal produce; quiche; and homemade peach ice cream! Yum!

fun: for this mini-LOAD, I am using a Traveler’s Notebook – it is the perfect size. I plan to use this size more often; I can feel my creative juices beginning to flow ~ who knows what adventures lie ahead?

Enjoy your weekend. And now, I’m back to creating today’s LOAD : Recess/Breaks is the topic.

Cheers~

*just 7 days compared to the month long events held February, May and October.

unraveled wednesday | 8.7.19 …

Published on August 7, 2019 by Honoré5 Comments

~gingko leaves~

Not much on the horizon this week. I was looking over photos taken over the past several days and rather surprised that the pickins were rather slim. I did so enjoy seeing these gingko leaves against the afternoon sky this past Saturday…as I wended my way home…

…and this is another look at the journal. I went with an elastic band, found a small lock and keys in my stash (who knew?) and just for fun, added them.

I also added two bands on the inside front/back covers to help hold a journal in place…the fabric in the middle of the band is stretchy; hopefully, that will allow the cover to expand as my friend fills in her journal…she does a lot of tipping in of pages she’s culled from magazines, ephemera, etc… all which contribute to the journal’s growth.

Educated, the book and podcasts remain my faithful walking companions. I’m dipping into a lot of different nonfiction titles on habits and “unplugging” from the digital world. I’ll do a roundup soon.

Off to run a few errands before a 1pm hair appt…Joining Kat and friends for another round of unraveled wednesdays.

Cheers~

uraveled wednesday | 7.24.19 …

Published on July 24, 2019 by Honoré15 Comments

I’m making a fabric cover for a journal and have hit a small, yet solvable, puzzle: how to create a closure. Could it be:

an elastic band, e.g., the type used on a Traveler’s Notebook? Do I have any grommets?
a ribbon that can be tied? Probably the easiest;
an elastic “frog” that fastens around a button? Can I find such an item? I can clearly see one in my mind’s eye.

I’m sure I’ll come up with the best solution. Moving right along…

On my daily walks, I’m reading (listening to) Educated by Tara Westover. It’s an interesting memoir and well narrated. I’m struck by the author’s ability to translate her vivid childhood memories into very readable descriptive prose. I don’t normally give stars to books but if I were, I’d easily give this one 3.8 stars.

Time to take a walk and enjoy this absolutely beautiful cooler day!

Joining Kat and friends for another installment of unraveled wednesday..

Cheers~

friendstitchin sunday | 7.21.19…

Published on July 22, 2019 by Honoré8 Comments

We had a delightful Sunday afternoon gathering, a tasty lunch: salads, fruit, sun chips, desserts, punctuated by delicious orange mimosas. The day was H-O-T, not fit for man or beast , but we were cool, calm and collected (despite the delicious orange mimosas. I know we each had more than one refill!)

Margaret – center photo – stitched the binding on a table runner and proudly displayed the finished piece; it is lovely. Michelle stitched on a Santa cross stitch – hey, it’s almost Christmas in July ( the 25th is just days away). Pat was cutting out pieces for a small quilt she’s hand stitching and I played with my weaving: the circular loom and the fabric weave. Nor sure what I’ll do with them but I do enjoy the process… very mindful .

Too soon it was time to go.

Friendstitchin’ Sundays: So grateful for good friends, good food, good time. We missed friend Theresa, who is on holiday in Ireland.

unraveled wednesday|someday maybe…

Published on May 15, 2019 by Honoré8 Comments

I love gardens. Especially the English garden kind. I am not a gardener… at least not yet. I am at best, a wanna-be gardener…and every year, I think, perhaps this year? Spring has been especially lush this year. The gardens – both kept and unkept- spectacular. I suppose in many ways, quilting might be considered a form of gardening…and that’s probably a big stretch…

Right before the quilt show, the above book arrived on my doorstep: I’d ordered it; I don’t recall how it came to my attention. Perhaps a siren call. I’m not even sure I’d ever heard of the author. She is one of America’s best known garden writers, has a blog/garden weekly podcast, away to garden.com

I am delighted the book is in my possession: I’m not only learning but also enjoying reading about gardening year round…and the photos are superb. I’ve toyed with the idea of garden as my word for the year. Perhaps 2020. In the meantime, I will continue to savor the book , listen to the podcast and contemplate future options.

Knitting, stitching needles and sewing machine have all been quite idle ~ I’m still recuperating (from the quilt show). I am also gathering new creative toys and ideas. One new toy: a circular weaving loom. I now have three types of weaving looms to play with over the summer.

Actually, as I think about it, my creative garden list is growing by leaps and bounds…but as with a garden, one has to be vigilant and ever tending or else wind up with weeds. Guess I’d better get busy…

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday!

Cheers~

sometimes mondays| 5.13.19 …

Published on May 13, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

are for catching up…

The 2019 quilt show, May 2 -4: Our work actually began May 1 when we set everything up. The show featured a display of more than 200 member-made quilts; the infamous peddlers’ table; the raffle quilt and two raffle baskets – each filled with all sorts of quilting supplies and Sew Unique – a colorful array of quilted gifts and novelty items for sale, ranging from fabric postcards to tea wallets, matching hot pad/mitts, etc. New this year, in a room all alone: Quilts for Sale – over 30 such, ranging from early ’40s to 2018! We sold about 95% of inventory! The quilt show was a little later than usual due to Easter. Also happening that weekend: the International Sheep & Wool Festival and as we expected, some of the Festival goers also came to our event… especially since there was rain Saturday morning (the S & W Festival is an outside event). All in all, I’d say quilters, knitters, spinners, weavers had a nirvana weekend. I was plumb worn out come Saturday at 4 pm. I arrived home in time to watch the Kentucky Derby with barely enough energy to cheer the horses on! Not that I really cared. But. the Excitement. You. Know! I spent all day Sunday in a semi-vegetative state …

Monday, back to Columbia for the quilt show wrap up and awarding of Viewers’ Choice ribbons. My friend Betsy won two first place ribbons; one for this bargello quilt. It’s quite dynamic … and large!

Last week, I also documented the Week in My Life and began a long deferred project: purging excess stuff in my creative spaces. I’m really pleased with efforts thus far. And, I’ve been smitten by a new quilting technique and I’m eager to explore it plus I’ve a list of 13 -15 quilting/stitching projects I plan to finish by summer’s end …

May is also another LOAD – Layout A Day – month; each day, we have a prompt that is designed to stir our creative juices and help us get our personal memories documented. So far, I’ve been on track…so far. As I type this, I’ve not a clue about what memory I’m going to document for today; the prompt is superstition, such as throwing salt over your shoulder, crossing your index and 2nd finger, etc…If the prompt doesn’t produce a memory, not a problem – we can tell any story we choose! Works for me …

Kayla’s high school life will soon be over : Prom, May 24 and Graduation, May 29. How can that be? Seems it was just yesterday she was three years old, sitting on the arm of my chair, listening to me read “Wide Mouthed Frog …

It’s good to be back! And guess I’d best get a moveon with today’s layout!

Cheers~

my word |4.30.19 …

Published on April 30, 2019 by Honoré6 Comments

(Dogwood @ Franciscan Monastery, 4. 24.19)

Spring 2019 has been exceptionally lovely, albeit a tad cool, but colorful and delightful, nevertheless. My April was filled with lots of lovely time spent outdoors…

Habits are interesting: hard to both make and break. Habits challenge and reward. I am the sum total of my habits :

I am creating and/or refining habits, activities that contribute to a healthier and happpier ME – happier is not to say that I am unhappy ’cause I definitely am not;
I am creating a new daily groove…spending my time and energy engaged in activities and habits that spark joy, fill me up, and move me closer to reaching my creative goals;
I am creating habits that contribute to a happier/better life for me, family, friends, and those who I encounter on any given day.

I am ready to continue my journey. But now, @ 2:30 pm, I’m going to take a lovely walk outside on this 81°F day!

Joining Juliann and others for a One Little Word update.

art enables …

Published on November 29, 2018 by Honoré6 Comments

The above piece of art was created by a person with one or more disabilities. This photo is not the best representation. Unfortunately, the window in which it hung created a transparent backdrop – so one sees the reflection of the street and me.

I took this photo last Sunday afternoon, on my way to Zeke’s, my neighborhood (about 1.5 miles) coffee shop, for a caramel latte. Several doors down from Zeke’s is Art Enables, an “Art Gallery and Vocational Arts program dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market, and earn income from their original and compelling artwork.”

Art Enables is closed on Sundays.

Monday morning, as I drove past, on my way to my quilting group meeting, I thought: On my way home this afternoon, I’ll stop and inquire about the piece. I was pretty sure it was for sale. Later that afternoon, as I drove by, there was a big gap where the painting had hung. Apparently, someone else was also smitten…

I was sorry to have missed out but grateful that the work was sold. I do intend to stop in and inquire about the painting’s creator; perhaps she or he has other works for sale too!