Garage Sales in Preparation for Moving West...

Lady is truly at rest in the partial sun.  I wish I could take a nap like this....  I'm getting my house ready to sell so I can make my move west...  I've had 2 garage sales, 2 weeks apart (because I kept discovering new stuff to sell...).  And now I'm trying to recover...  I was diagnosed with RA early in my twenties and have been very happy to be in remission through  the years, because I learned to take care of myself.  But, with all the exertion and planning, I have had a set back.  I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to have this show up again...  The pain, swelling and stiffness are no picnic.  At first, I thought, "What is this???"...and then I remembered.  It had been a long time since I'd had a setback...  And so now I know that it will just take some time and rest.  I just have to take care of myself... 

 

And now she stirs in her sleep...perhaps dreaming of some other time... 

I hope all is well with you all, and take care.

Keep creating,

Val

 

Recipes to Enjoy!!

Have you discovered the Mennonite Girls Can Cook site?  You can find it Here  It is a wonderful place to receive tried and tested recipes....every day a new one...  The photographs are so enticing, and their inventory of recipes is always fun to peruse...  I so enjoy cooking...I find it to be a big part of the creative life...  Spring has so many new opportunities, and the promise of summer vegetables to come...  What do you enjoy making in the kitchen?
Keep Creating,
Val  :-)

March Snowfall...

Today?  More snow!

I hope this finds you warm and cozy!  Last night, as the snow was falling, it was so beautiful!  I always appreciate my house as I watch it from the window...  I am in the beginning preparations of a move...  There is so much to consider...  I have things from my past that belong in other people's families, and I surely do not want to sell anything that someone else would want.  So, I have been going through everything, a daunting task, and notifying people to give them the option to have those things, that they may want.  I am unsure of where I will land, so I am purging it all and taking only what is necessary...  This is an exciting time for me...  A long held dream...  I ran across a sign on Pinterist that read, "You better follow your dream, or you will end up working for someone else that is following theirs..."  This resonated with me, and I am stepping forward...  Keep a good thought for me...  I certainly welcome it!
Keep Creating,
Val

Winter Wonderland....

     This is what I woke up to today....  What a beautiful snowfall!  It truly feels like winter when there is snow on the ground.  It is not terribly cold out, so it is rather refreshing to be out in it.  I grew up in South Dakota, where I can remember some snowfalls measured at 100"!  It was great fun to be a child... I would bundle up and be gone for hours, making snow forts, acutally snow fort villages, with all my friends...  Such nice memories...  It was our parents that had to deal with the logistics of navigating that much snow, but for us children, it was all fun!
     I have some organizing in my sewing studio to do, and I think this is the day to do it!  I hope you are cozy and comfortable wherever you are...
Keep Creating,
Val

Beautiful Scarf Made of Decorative Yarns...

 



    The snow has come and still remains, although with a few warm days, it will be gone.... I've been busy making these scarves... I have been buying up skeins of yarns with all kinds of decorative properties for the last, oh, 10 years or so... Not quite knowing what they would find their way into, I bought them because they caught my eye, and I had the faith they would be used for something wonderful.  My thought is, when you find it, and it speaks to you, buy it, because you may go back to get it and it will be gone---I've had that happen before...

     So, a friend of mine gave me some royal blue organza type fabric and I cut a long strip of it, laid a water soluble stabilizer upon it, and stitched these individual strands of yarn the entire length, leaving a "hanging" tassel on each end. When I was satisfied with the amount of yarns that I had sewn down to the base layer, I soaked the entire piece in water to eliminate the stabilizer.  When dry, I sewed it right sides together the entire length, creating a tube with all the decorative yarns on the inside. I then turned it right side out, and there it was!

 

     This is a closeup of the decorative yarns that I used.  I know that I will be making more of these, and I will have to see what I can find for other colors of base fabrics...  The sky's the limit on possibilities!! 
     I hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Keep creating,
Val 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone...  I have been busy and can't quite believe that we are halfway through February...  How fast the time goes by!  My wish for you all is to have a lovely day!  I have big changes coming in my life that I am very excited about.  A long held dream is in the process of coming to fruition!  As everything solidifies, I will post then...  Until then, please keep a good thought and prayer for me! 
Smiles to you all,
Val in Kansas

Gratitude....

OK, so it has been far too long since I posted...  Lately, I am grateful....grateful for new days, fresh perspectives, inspiration downloads from above, happy to be reconnecting with old friends (you know who you are!!)...I am grateful....for the creative life...for the ability to dream...to step forward toward them...  That spring is coming, with summer following on her heels...  For the smell of dinner in the oven, and the prospects of leftovers that provide easy preparation for the next day...  For friends who are supportive,... and their support causes me to look for ways to be supportive of others...  I love gratitude...it all comes back to you to fill you up again!
--Next post I'll have some pictures...
Keep Creating,
Val

Grieving for the Innocents...

Words cannot convey the sadness I have for the fathers, mothers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, relatives, friends and acquaintances that are grieving in Connecticut and Portland today...  All are in my prayers these sad days...

Abstract Beaded Brooch

I have been busy!   I just completed this Abstract Beaded Brooch.  I started with my hand painted fabric, and then embellished it with decorative stitching.  Then the beading begins!  This process is improvisational, so I never know what the final outcome will be...it is truly a creative adventure.  I backed it with felted blue wool. I then stitched a pin and label for the back.  I am so happy with the result!   It is really beautiful!

I hope you are having a wonderful Friday and that your weekend will be restful!

Keep Creating,

Val

 

 

 

Cross Stitched Sheep

I have finished the cross stitching on my Sheep Design.  I'm thinking that I will use the stripe, which is a Jo Morton fabric, to border the design and use the blue/black minicheck for cording.  I will include a zipper on the back for easy removal.  I'll keep you posted!  Today is still mild outside, but the weather people tell us that cooler weather is to arrive on Sunday...we'll see...  I've been baking bread and it is ready to come out of the oven (the house smells so good!).  I have some ideas ruminating in my mind...  I would like to design a Country French Table Runner.  I'm thinking of an applique at the center, and pieced fabric on either side...  Again, I'll  keep you posted...  I apologize for the "fuzziness" of my photo...  I'm going to have to consult my camera info to finetune this...  Any suggestions?  I have a Nikon D 80....  There are so many good photographs that I see on other blogs, that it makes me envious, but in a good way....  I'll work on this...
Keep Creating,
Val in Kansas

Cross Stitching...Quiet Comfort

     I'm cross stitching again...  This is my latest project.  I designed it the other day, bought some 28 count linen, overdyed it to gve it an older look and now I can say that "I'm gaining on it...".  I'm using Simply Shaker Sampler Threads.  This particular black thread is named "Raven".  It has a dark green undertone, that I really like.  The design has a primitive aspect...   Unpretentious...  When it is completely finished, I will post it.  There is such quiet comfort in this process for me. 
    I have started making some bread this morning and it is beginning it's first rise...I love to have bread baking in the oven.  Even seeing it cooling on the rack is visually pleasing..  There is quiet comfort in breadmaking also...  I hope you have something that brings you comfort today...
Keep Creating,
Val

A most Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I have so much to be thankful for and it seems like a very good thing to set aside a day just for that...  One of my most favorite things is the wafting aroma of a turkey in the oven, along with all the necessary side dishes... and family and friends to enjoy it with.   Again, God's Blessings to you, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Enjoy,
Val