Meanwhile I'm a Calendar Girl

~ January 2014 ~

Yep, Susan finished her calendar with 12 pages of her watercolor paintings featuring yours truly in full ensemble.

January is titled Chicago Connection and places the infamous Yellow Traveling Skirt amongst Chicago landmarks such as (left to right) the Tower formerly called Sears, the Hancock Center, the Bean (see reflection of me in yellow skirt!), the Picasso, the face water fountain (with my younger face), the CTA el train, and Lake Michigan (which I am apparently walking on!)

Mom

b. November 15, 1926

d. January 18, 2014

Making Fingerless Gloves

Inspired by Jean's armlets (Dross into Gold), E's gift (see here), and the book my True Love gave me for Christmas (Alabama Chanin's Studio Sewing & Design), I'm now sewing up fingerless gloves from my fabric stash.

most recent pair using thin burnt out T with couching embellishment

over the elbow using single layer of deep purple cotton T & random ruffle embellishment

fail! - first try using Chanin's pattern and 2 layers of stretch cotton

I'll show you how easy it's done after the break...

Fabric Scraps to Fiber Jewels

After making fabric-based necklace sets as gifts for friends,  I made similar ones to keep for myself:

striped knit fabric cut in narrow strips

and tied in multiple knots

matching bracelet with rolled fabric bead

Plus...

fabric scraps from my favorite elephant print dress

rolled into beads and strung onto a strip of black chiffon

bracelet made with black knit strip knotted on either side of bead

I continued experimenting with the forms.  To see what I came up with and also for a quick showing of how-to, continue after the break.

Snow Day(s) in Chicago

~ From My Window ~

~ And Me Not Out in the Snow ~

Yes, it's been snowing here since New Year's Day, I believe.  Or at least it seems like it.  8-10 inches today, on top of 6-8 inches yesterday.  Tomorrow 10 below zero is predicted with 40 below zero windchill.  (you know that 32 is considered freezing here...) 

Ahh, I see I've resorted to blogging about the weather.  full stop.

How about Cat in the Box pictures?

That's my darlin' Albertine in the smallest box she can find

with a painting by my True Love in the background

Is that mundane enough: the weather and kitty pictures?  So much for my first post of the new year.  Now that the pressure's off I can tell you about all the creative stuff I've been up to...next time.