Recovery

Recovery, originally uploaded by jckirner.

I have emerged from my funk over the "shoulds"! A little at home effort and some glorious time out in the park at a company picnic worked wonders.

I closed my eyes to the feelings on Friday, and yes, a nap did help.
Over the weekend I did some rearranging in the workroom - shuffling out a bookcase and twisting the office side of the room around. Now I face the light and the center of the room from all working stations in here.

I have always felt more comfortable when seated with a wall to my back - whether in classrooms or at home. Anyone else have this feeling, too? I prefer to have all activity facing me or to my sides - when surrounded by input I get overwhelmed. Facing into the corner with my computer was not the best position for me over time.



Tucked near the door is a spot for the "kid station". I can have 3-4 kids creating in here and needed a spot for them to stage their work and tools between efforts so I can have my work areas back!!!

Should

Should
Originally uploaded by jckirner

I'm feeling mired in a crisis of "should".

From the subtle societal 'should' of homemaking/cleaning/organization - the perpetual doing that's implied should be the filling of the day.

There's the self-imposed 'should' of getting the most out of the weekday moments alone. When I am less on call as Mom/wife and more independent adult.

The 'should' of the creative habit, exercise habit, reading habit and a myriad other habits.

And the should of getting out of the home to get away from the shoulds!

Mostly, today, I feel weary and fragmented with clutter and chaos about - some self-made, some made for me.

Sounds like I need a nap! I'll go shove the naughty dog off the bed and catch some rest and enthusiasm!!

Doodling in the dentist's chair

Doodling in the dentist's chair, originally uploaded by jckirner.

Keeping my hands active focuses my mind - helps keep the panic at bay! Knitting works too - but not so compatible with the dentists' office.

I'll be back in the chair in a few weeks - I'm sure I'll finish this then.

Meanwhile, back on the home front I've a new online addiction - www.Paperbackswap.com. You post your tradable books - which are then requested by other members. You mail books to them at media rate and earn a book credit once your book is received. Then it's your turn to request a book. (After you list your first 10 books you do receive 2 credits to get started.)

I've mailed out over 25 books in the last 3 weeks and have received 8 so far, and have credits waiting for me to use. I'm waiting for some of my wish list books to turn up, then I'll use those credits. The system is simple and costs nothing to list your books. Hooked me in, I tell ya'!! there's 2 sister sites you can trade your credits to - swapaCD.com and swapaDVD.com.

Natural Dye Workshop Bonus

Natural Dye Workshop Bonus, originally uploaded by jckirner.

At the end of the workshop day, there was a chance to try the dyes on items we brought.

My choices: Lutradur, tyvek, bamboo batting and used color catcher.

Natural Dye Workshop 2

Natural Dye Workshop 2, originally uploaded by jckirner.

I feel lucky to have this opportunity nearby. Yesterday I took an all day workshop at the Jaffe Center for Book Arts at FAU's Waverly Library. Natural Dyeing for the Book Arts included dyeing 13 swatches with 10 different natural dyes and constructing this swatch book.

(Click the picture above to take you to my Flickr pics including more from the workshop)

The opportunity to see some of the amazing artist books on display has piqued my interest to return with more time to browse!!

color catcher play

Thought I'd show how I played to create the fringe on my latest project!

I save the Color Catchers I use in my laundry. Each load I wash gives a subtly different result and that's interesting.

After a paint session I rolled up a sheet...

...and dunked the end in my dirty brush wash water.

Then a daub in the leftoever paint pallette. Quickly though - 'coz those acrylic paints dry fast.

The paint draws up into the wet fibers - sometimes another dunk in the water and paint is needed to get the flow going.






Lay flat on a plastic covered surface to dry and it's ready to cut, stitch and apply to the project!

Stamped and overdyed

Stamped and overdyed, originally uploaded by jckirner.

The previous version of this became insipid after washing. Prime candidate for more play then!

First some stamping with Jacquared Lumiere and DynaFlow paints. Then a gradation wash with mixed Dynaflows.

Certainly more interesting.

I washed over another piece too.

Now to battle the tantruming sewing machine. ... After a good jam it's refusing to play nice.

E A J

E A J, originally uploaded by jckirner.

Jude at Spirit Cloth talked in her entry about old embroidery books. I also have Lewis F. Day's "Art in Needlework", bought back in my Embroiderer's Guild days when I needed to know more and the 'right' way to do things. Or perhaps I was looking for justification for the ways I wanted to do things.

At any rate - part of the appeal of old books beyond paper, typeface and content is the wondering about previous owners. Did they use the book? Was it just a dust-gatherer?

Falling out of my copy was this paper with pricked embroidery intials and traces of pounce powder.

Great thrifty find

I was trolling for cheap books at the thrift shops yesterday.

Great thrifty find, originally uploaded by jckirner.

I put it back 3 times before admitting I'd enjoy having this. The price was a bit steep -- $5.99!

I love the color and graphics and chromed metal hardware.

Sure, it has condition problems - the plastic has cracked, yellowed and gone brittle in places. I'm pleased the metal exterior is in great shape. The latches, clasp and handles are indestructible!

I'll use it as a storage bin for art supplies. Perfect for paints/dyes.

(I'm getting organized for term 5 classes starting soon. See video in link )

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flpdumpsterpnmar29,0,2830140.story

Oh - and the other side

little home piece, originally uploaded by jckirner.

Double sided doodle shown in previous post.

Time to play

Reverse side - another doodle, originally uploaded by jckirner.

Busy with kid activities due to Spring Break. And a little trip away.

Yet I've made a point to play for myself today.

Continuing on with the little ATC sized doodles, now combined with Color Catchers saved from the laundry.