Organic Doilies (But in Search of a Better Name!)

These "Organic Doilies" are my current obsession. (Click on the pictures to see the detail up close!) For now, this is just a working title, as I am not sure what to call them! I think they look a bit organic in nature, as if they simply grew and evolved on their own, like a beautiful coral reef. I am open to suggestions for other names if anyone has any ideas.

The way that they were born is that I had been thinking of making a scarf, and when I closed my eyes to visualize how I would create it, and what it would look like, (which is what I always do to become inspired and clarify how to go about creating something new... I spend a lot of time looking like I am asleep!) well, I was only ever able to see the first 6 inches or so. I was getting frustrated as to why I was unable to see the scarf in my minds eye, in it's entirety. Finally it dawned on me that I really didn't want to make a scarf, seeing as I get the most pleasure from working on a fairly small scale, (I have a short attention span and a scarf is just too long in length to hold my interest through to the finish!)

It was then that I saw what I was suppose to be making. Doilies! And I was to make them out of ....? Other doilies! Along with bits of lace, bark cloth, dupioni silk, bits of embroidery, and whatever else caught my fancy! So out came the boxes of vintage tatted and crocheted doilies that I have been collecting for, well, suffice to say most of my life. Then came the fun part of cutting out bits and pieces, layering, stitching, layering and stitching some more, and more... until I was satisfied.

I debuted them last night at a wonderful outdoor show, featuring other great DIY indie artists. I was overjoyed at the positive response that they received and am itching to make more, experiment more, play more.

Huh.

Today I had a lovely time skating with Rachel and Ali up in NH, up until their friend Mike broke his leg. Poor guy - I hope he heals up quickly and inexpensively!

I also realized that I do better when semi-distracted. When I'm concentrating and focusing like crazy on whatever we're doing, I waaaaay overthink things and screw up royally. However, when I was explaining things and cracking jokes, I was completely fine.

I failed crossovers during my assessment because I wasn't pushing off with both feet. I did them perfectly today, and I could do them on command (so I know this wasn't a fluke). I also did a few decent 180 degree single knee falls, which have been the bane of my goddamned existance for some time.

The most significant thing for me today was this: Rachel asked me to show her what single-knee falls looked like, and I said that I could show her only on one leg because of my tendonitis. I showed her a bunch of times, getting up fairly easily each time. As I was explaining how to position my feet, I suddenly realized that I had been using the wrong leg the whole time! I wanted to do a backflip I was so happy. I hope this means I can do them in practice - granted, I need to check with my doctor first, but this gives me a lot of hope.

I really want to find a way to go and do that again. I really liked skating with them, and I'd love to skate with the other girls who are trying to start the league. I need all the practice I can get, and this was such a nice way to spend my last day off before school starts.

Vintage Paper Posies

Here are a couple of pictures showing my "Vintage Paper Posies". I made these last winter while dreaming of warmer days. They are made from vintage children's book illustrations which were printed on a great, heavy-weight linen paper. The books are usually coloring book size, and feature these really bright colorful illustrations depicting nursery rhymes, and the ABC's. For the stems I used vintage paper drinking straws. I want to do another set, but this time use the pictures found in the old souvenir postcard books, which also have great colors and are often printed on linen paper, too. If interested you can read about how to make your own version in an article that I wrote, (pages 65-66) for the new Somerset Holidays and Celebrations, pictured below. This special publication from Somerset Studio is packed full of wonderful art and craft projects to help you creatively celebrate the whole year round!