pamgarrison

garden roses continue to inspire

This is the second vase of garden roses from the other day's play. They are still going mighty strong. I should change the water today to see if I can get them to last longer than usual. 

Here's the first arrangement, taken just now. Besides that one in front, these are still looking fresh too. 

I found them so inspiring, I decided to try printing out the photos I took oversized for Project Life. These were taken using the TimerCam app my iPhone. They look just fine to me at 8x12, which was impressive for camera photos. The one on the right is blurry because the camera starting falling from it's precarious position on stems and leaves when the timer went off, not due to the quality of photo blown up ;). 

Origionally, I had intended to cut up the oversize photo into the weekly pocket spread of 4x6 or 3x4 sections, but then thought I'd try leaving them as an oversized insert first. Over to the sewing machine I went. Thanks to you all and your helpful comments, I recently bought some clear thread to use on the page protectors and I like it very much. I'm not using it for the binding thread, but using even half the white thread makes a difference in the finished look. You can see above that I had started from the wrong end- when sewing page protectors, I find it's best to sew from the bottom up to avoid wrinkles/bubbles. I didn't remove that first bit, just started again from the bottom until it met up. 

It worked out fine, even though I got a little "off" on my line. Oops. But do you see how it looks so much more like the original edge there on the left, now that I'm using the clear filiment thread? I haven't decided if I'm going to cut that remaining part off now as I had intended, I might slip something else in there instead...lots of things come to mind, from paper with journaling on it to a dried rose and more. I find it fun to not know where projects are going to end up. Time will tell!! 

Happy Friday friends!!! I think Typepad is really and truly working now, comments and all, thanks for all the emails and feedback! xo

 

garden roses

Well, I sure had some fun this morning! With all the excitement (and frustration) about Typepad being down, then up, then down yesterday, I didn't think to go out front in search of Earth Day fodder for my sketchbook. Let's just say I continued the celebration for another day. Garden lovers are in the Earth Day appreciation spirit regularly anyway, right?!?

I couldn't believe all the roses that were perfect for plucking this morning. Even though I live in Southern California and our wheather really doesn't require our roses to be cut back for winter (especially this non-winter winter), I do it anyway. That means that the first round of blossoms is usually quite spectacular, and pretty much all at the same time. 

I cut them with long stems for dramatic arranging in a single abundant vase (and then proceeded to use two vases anyway). 

Quite a fun morning for me (it doesn't take much). All these roses were already planted when we bought the house. Over the years I've learned to appreciate them. Today I think appreciation turned to love. The scent alone is heavenly. I know Spring has been slow to show in some parts...hang in there, it's really on it's way!!!

 

 

happy earth day & hooray! typepad is up

Hello and Happy Earth Day! After seeing all that Mary Ann has been up to with her recent in depth exploration into sketching etc., of course I'm inspired to play at it myself a little. I thought Earth day was the perfect excuse to take my lunch outside and have a date with my little black book. 

(This is the watercolor set shown above.)

 This set, similar to this watercolor set, is about half the price, still fun.  

I fear that my excitement about Typepad being back up was a little premature. I'm hearing you still can't see my blog. Boo. I was just so excited that I was able to log in and attempt a post which hasn't been possible for days, that I assumed you'd be able to see it. If you go via pamgarrison.typepad.com you can see the post but not in it's usual format with the header, sidebars, etc. Hopefully it will be back in full today, I am just happy to be able to pop in and say hello and tell you that it's not you, your blog feed, or anything other than Typepad causing the problem in how the blog looks. In case you've been blissfully unaware, Typepad is under some sort of hacking attack. Here is where I get my information about Typepad working or not. I'm sure it will be restored in full soon, in the meantime, hope you're all getting some time outside enjoying Earth Day!

 

creative ongoings

What are you up to today? Is it starting to finally resemble spring for those of you that have had endless winters? I hope so. It's a sunny day here with a light breeze which has me itching to go to the garden center and spend time outside. Maybe a little later. For now, I'm doing a little wrap up and clean up on some ongoing creative pursuits around here. 

I've committed to a hem length on the top/dress shown in last post and am getting ready to stitch that down. Pockets next.

Once I finish stitching it I can change my thread color and stitch up the linen number that's cut and waiting. I've decided not to do sleeves, which will cut the time spent working on it in half. 

I spent some time last night re-stocking my etsy shop. Always thankful for the orders that are placed. 

I hope to catch up on my Project Life album, I've fallen behind again and don't like that one bit. Sure does point out to me how fast the weeks fly by.

 

Some general clean up of art supplies is on the list. Paper stacks everywhere. 

 And a little art journaling.

Had a few minutes last night and was so in love with Mary Ann's post, photos, and palette's, that I found myself doodling them in my journal. Hope to wrap everything above up quickly so I can take my journal outside in the sun and play some more. Love Saturdays! 

 

sewing clothes

Hello there! Hope you've been having a good week. I very unexpectedly took a turn this past week into sewing clothes. I have not tried to follow a pattern for sewing something I'd wear since 7th grade Home Economics (I've said it before, but it bears repeating; Home Ec and Typing- yes, it was typing, not keyboard, but the same skill applies and for that I am grateful daily- were two of the most useful classes as far as life skills learned goes.) It was seeing various instagram posts of artist Jen Hewett's versions of this pattern that got me started. Seeing this one that one sealed my fate. It didn't take long before I started linking around, seeing more, and ordering a pattern for myself. 

#100actsofsewing started off as a personal project for artist Sonya Philip, a challenge to herself to make 100 dresses in a year, but now it has become something so much more, a movement that so many others are taking part in, and hashtagging 100actsof sewing on IG, Facebook, Flickr and more. You can read all about Sonya's mission statement here. 

 

Here's my first go at the pattern. I used muslin fabric to practice on, and chose not to try the sleeves for this round. I did do the pockets and changed up the neckline a little. I was trying for more of a boatneck then the scoop of the pattern, but misjudged that and when I tried it on I was choking, so had to put a slit in the center. I made it work. It's not the prettiest execution, but it's wearable and that's just plain old fun! My ability to whip it up in an evening is a testament to the friendliness (read=easy) of the pattern. A perfect re-introduction to sewing. 

After feeling that makers high, I headed to JoAnn's to pick out some fabric for another go. I usually don't find it hard to visualize something, but I sure did this time. I really struggled with picking out fabric for a dress in mind vs. a quilt say. I wondered if it was all me, or that JoAnn's might not be the best place to find the selection I was hoping for. I think it's a bit of both in hindsight. I still am not sure about how I feel about what I picked, and I've almost completed it, ha! Here it is:

It's a Denyse Schmidt cotton from her quilting collection for JoAnn's. I absolutely love all Denyse Schmidt designs, be it quilts or fabrics. My uncertainty about the fabric is not about the fabric, but the use of it for this dress/blouse. I haven't hemmed it yet, or put on the pockets because I'm not sure how long I want it to be. I did include the sleeves this time though, and am pretty pleased with them. A friend stopped by yesterday as I was wearing it to determine any altering needed, and we discussed how I might like it just because it's something I made, like "children will eat their veggies more willingly if they've helped grow them" concept, vs. a cute dress. Meaning, she wasn't a huge fan haha. I'm still not sure, but I will definitely wear it after doing all that work, (and take a picture to show you of course!)  I guess the goal would be to make something I'd want to buy if perusing the racks at a clothing store. Granted, this dress looks much better on than on the hanger above, but I'm not sure I would give it a chance in the dressing room, ya know? 

But hey, one thing I'm not is a quitter. I'm also a big believer in learning by doing, so I'm going to try another one, this time with this gorgeous puce green colored linen. It's one of my favorite colors, (sometimes I think that name works perfectly, in a juxtaposition, clashing kind of way, and sometimes I think the name sells the color short, but that's a topic for another day) and who doesn't love linen?

Ok, wish me luck, I'll report back with continued adventures in sewing my own clothes soon! 

friday, the colorful edition

Lots of color to be seen around here today:

1. Cleaning up I found a long ago started re-use project, just looking at the box of diamonds brings so many ideas of how I want to use them to mind.

2. Have you seen the new forever stamps from the USPS? Lovely.

3. I've done a few more rows on the crochet blanket in progress, it's patiently waiting for me to finish it up.

4. New items for my Project Life catch up to be done. 

5. Fabrics, in all sorts of colors, waiting to be chosen for a new project I'm dying to start. I'm not going to allow myself to yet, I have too many other things that need finishing up first, but I like looking at them and thinking aobut them as I walk by...pulling one out of the pile on occasion and putting it away. Ideas are still forming on the big picture. 

Color in every project ongoing. I love a neutral palette too, even in making, maybe tomorrow that's what I'll be noticing, who knows. Today it's crazy colorful, perhaps because it's Friday and that's a happy day? Whatever reason, I'm rolling with it. 

Happy Friday! Whether yours is color-filled, or color-void, Friday is a wecome sight on the calendar, right?!? It always is on mine. Have a good one!

fun with alisa burke's love scarf

More happy mail. I'm happy to have received one of Alisa Burke's Love scarves to share with you here.  Alisa is an amazingly prolific artist that is constantly providing creative inspiration, be it her blog, classes, instagram and more. She's always up to something art based, and often times it's something big like this that not only totally inspires me, but also makes me a wee bit envious (in a happy for her way of course!) of having a studio needing something so awesome. And check out this hand painted statement wall!! Seriously.

One of my favorite inspirations from her is this video she made:

2 from Alisa Burke on Vimeo.

 (And I'm also thankful that she introduced me to Melody Gardot through this video!)

So I'm sure you get the point, Alisa is super creative. And the people at Demdaco noticed too and launched a line with her art called  "Heart to Art Remix". Her line includes wearable art like scarves, cuffs, totes and more. This is the Love scarf:

My daughter and I had fun one afternoon playing with it and finding different ways it could be worn. I think my favorite is the big floppy bow, but then I see the others and can't commit to one way. 

Cute, right?!? I think so! Big congrats Alisa on your new line! 

You can shop Alisa's Demdaco line and other goods here. 

xo

 

 

progress report: crochet blanket

Checking in with a project update on the crochet blanket I'm making, previously blogged about here and here.

I thought I would be done by now, after starting out like gangbusters, but then I got that weird virus, switched mostly to the hand quilting while sick, and the crochet blanket was sort of forgotten about for a bit.

Besides the usual things of life, I think my waning interest was partially due to wishing I'd made it a little wider from the get go. I realized that this could only be a lap afgan, not one for the bottom of a bed say, which totally disappointed me, because I think it'd look so great at the bottom of my son's bed. Another "issue" I was having was that I had started looking around a little bit at yarn online and fell in love with some of the colors, and descriptions, (but not the price!). I haven't bought any new yarn for this since the previous posts, but as I crochet with all the different inexpensive wools, cottons or blends that I bought, I am learning a bit about the differences, and know that the next blanket I make (oh ya, I'm hooked) will have more carefully selected yarns. 

That said, the pattern I am following (here) clearly states it's intenion is to put those leftover yarns to use, so, really, it's as this blanket is supposed to be I think; a hodge podge of color and texture. It's got that in spades I'd say!

I'm very glad I got over all my self manufactured "issues" with the afgan and got back to work on it. Super happy to be closing in on the finish line. 

Last night while putting the project away for the night I started rolling the threads around the remaining skeins to make these little yarn flowers. They make me happy. 

One of my favorite parts of this project (probably holds true for most creative pursuits with me), is the colors. How they interact with each other. 

Now that they are in little stackable flower shapes, it's easier to make little piles of different combinations. Each time I finish a row, I am choosing the next color based on it's interaction with the color before it. I am trying not to repeat any color combinations. If I put hot pink next to burnt orange somewhere on the quilt already, then I will find another color to put next to it each time I use it. Every so often (probably about every foot or so), I make sure to have used black and the same with the whites. So that there will be somewhat equal and balanced streaks of  light and dark throughout the blanket. 

I talked about it in the previous post, but I am still surprised to see how much the quilt changes each time I add different color combinations. It's so interesting to me. 

 

Very fun to discover new color combo loves, and even some dislikes too. I'm sort of a fan of color clashing in general, and this quilt has got a whole lot of that going on!

 

I wish I could get a photo of that hot pink, hot pinks and reds are so hard for me to photograph. 

I'd say I'm 3/4's of the way there. Hope to be back with a finished report soon! 

 

project life • 2014 • march highlights

It's fun to look back on a month of documenting and find my favorite parts to share with you here. Some things are starting to seem like regular elements in my approach. 

I've mentioned before that I love Daiso, (which I call the Japanese dollar fifty store) and find lots of art supplies there. I tried a white correction pen and found it to be a little too goopy for this project. Not so much that I would re-print the photo, but I probably won't be using it again in my PL, but I will use it in my art journals. 

I bought these printables and cut one of the 4x6's for the 3x4 slot. I love everything Liz Tamanaha designs, her Project Life core kit is no exception to that. 

I want to be sure to include the regular things of life, like a grocery list, at least as much as I use the cute embellishments. In years to come, that's what I'll value the most, I'm sure. 

I received some fun snail mail this week, so wanted to include bits of it here too. (And it makes me think I need to make an effort and send more snail mail.)

Love  my friend Jenni Bowlin's rub on stars. Love. Unlike some rub-ons, with these you only see the star, there aren't any surrounding clear edges. (This photo is of the high school baseball family night where all the teams are introduced player by player. That's my son in the center. I love how the bottom left boy and front right boy are looking at him. It's the moment his name was called and he had to step up and tip his hat. Something I'm sure he felt slightly awkward doing. These sweet, little moments feel great to be getting documented.) 

The same goes for my daughter's everyday life at school right now. I love getting to see into her life more, and also, I know I would love to see a photo of me, at that age, walking on my campus, the everyday routine, not just the typical posed photos, so I know she will too someday.  I wonder how she explained to the picture taker what the heck she needed it for, ha! 

I also connected two 3x4 photos with some washi tape from the Target dollar spot to make one 4x6 for the slot, vs. my usual methods of either taping to photo on back, connecting in photoshop, or sewing the pocket with my machine. 

(The stamp is by Elise Blaha, but her stamp shop is closed now.) 

Writing on photos is becoming a usual. (Totally influenced by seeing this, I am sure.)  I find that I like these pens the best, using mostly the .05 and .08 sizes. When I can't locate those, I'll grab these, which are pretty similar. 

I'm not sure why sometimes I choose to completely re-write over what's already written...I guess I like messy and imperfect? Not sure really. 

This was the first time I used a Copic Sketch Marker to color on my photos, I liked it a lot, will definitely be doing more of that. 

Of course, more Studio Calico PLkit stuff. Love this March card and finally found a use for those little enamel dots I've not really "gotten" how to use. 

I think this is the first time that I cut up a 3x4 journal cards to use just a part of it. Just seemed appropriate for this photo ;).

Of course, a little machine stitching always makes it to my favorite's list. 

I learned that you can't stitch through those little wooden letters...in case your tempted. I ran a bit of glue using an adhesive roller on the back and then carefully stiched with the machine, hand cranking it and  nudging the letters when I needed to, to get out of the needle's path. 

Lots of cutting off corners of pictures and sewing on replacement papers to write on this week. Surely inspired by this. I am crazy about the way she used that triangle stamp, sewing it onto the photo and using for date stamp!

An added bonus to this is that you get to crop out something that is annoying or unecessary, even though it's within the 3x4 or 4x6 crop to print. 

These cut corners were all in one week. I'm liking repeating elements over the week more this year than I did last. 

And that's pretty much it for my March PL highlights as I see them.

You can see my full spreads here.

I find this PL very inspiring, as well as this one, and this one too which totally makes me want to buy this...ah, but digital, that's a beast I'll begin to learn a different day, my brain just isn't ready to go there yet!

 

it's still saturday here

It's still Saturday where I live, which means that it's still the start of the weekend and there's still lots of time to get all those things I want to, done. (Of course, it will not happen, but the possibility is still there.) What are you up to this weekend? Something fun? I'm here trying to tie up the week, still finishing up a few things. In other words, nothing too terribly exciting. I've wrapped up my contribution for this class which involved things like the photo above and supplies like these:

Which means making stuff, so that's always a good thing on my list! I met Céline (one of the two instructors of the class) what feels like a hundred years ago, somewhere, maybe ArtFest? and every once in awhile our paths cross (once in Paris even!) and I am always happy to see her, she's super cute and it goes without saying, talented. She's co-teaching with Anna-Maria Wolniak. I've never had the pleasure of meeting her. The course is a mixed media class as applied to scrapbooking, but of course, so much could be applied to art journaling. It was a bit of a stretch for me to apply my typical tools in a different format (scrapbook) than my usual (art journal), and I always think getting out of my comfort zone and stretching is a good thing. 

What else this Saturday? Well, this mic for my DSLR arrived, which means...filming can resume for the e-course! I told you I'm a wee bit of a perfectionist and the whirrring of the camera noise was really annoying, and frankly, unacceptable. Finally, problem solved. My older brother said that I'm trying to use the wrong equipment for my goal; that I need to find a video camera, not my DSLR to film for my class, and I do believe he was probably right, would have been a more direct route and probably cost the same with what I've spent on tripod extenders, microphones, adapters etc. to make my camera's output as good. But hey, I'm not going to tell him that! (I just received this photo from him, showing what his family is up to today:)

Fun, right?!?  He does know quite a lot, especially about flying and cameras, but you know, I'm his sister ;), I have to ignore his advice sometimes just because it's part of my job description!

I also picked up the crochet blanket project and started working on a blog update for you...it's kind of been neglected of late...

It's just the right size to be a skirt at this point, haha. But no, it's going to be a lap afgan, and sooner than later, too! 

And while I do a little work and home chores this weekend, I'm looking for some recommendations. You see, recently, I listened to these podcasts and loved the whole experience of podcast listening. Of course, I loved Elise's specifically, I can't wait for more. In the meantime, do you know of any podcast "channels" is that what they are called? Stations? that are similar? I'm interested in the same type content as Elise's podcast, described by her as: "blogging, business, creativity, inspiration and motivation." I don't have any like that to recommend, podcasts really are new to me, but I've heard I should check out: This American Life, After the Jump, Here's the thing, Ted talks, Pop Culture Happy hour, and Paperclipping Round Table, just in case you are looking too...

Do you have any others to recommend? Thanks for sharing with us if you do.

And hey, have a great weekend, whatever day it is where you live! 

etsy re-stocking & happy mail

Just wanted to let you know that tonight I'll be re-stocking the samplers in my etsy shop, as well as re-opening the stamp section (for a few days). Thankful to all of you that have been patiently waiting for the re-prints! You can find them here. 

While talking shops, thought I'd mention Katherine Jalaty's cute shop. I am crazy for all things letterpress, and am super happy with all I purchased. In case you want more info:

And one more thing you might like...I recently bought this to-do list notepad and love it. You can see it's currently at my feet with a journal and some pens, challenging me to make a new list. It's full of illustrated pages by Mary Kate McDevitt. And while I was finding you the link, I saw this...sure looks tempting! 

I love good mail days, don't you? 

working on march project life & do and don't recommendation

 

I've been working on finishing up March in my pocket page album (which I call Project Life because I think Becky Higgins really invented, or made popular, the simplified documenting-the-everyday-in-pocket-protectors concept, and because a large number of the supplies I use are official Project Life items or Studio Calico with Project Life. It's all so confusing though, and surely boring to read about, so I'm just going to call it Project Life or PL.) 

I'm nearly done and every time I work on this family album, I am reminded of how fun it is. I don't know why, it just is. I love that the little bits of playing with photos and paper add up to such a tangible result for the family. I do wish I had it out and kept up with it regularly though, I don't like the feeling of being behind. Although I tossed around the idea of monthly, not weekly, documenting like many others are doing this year, in the end, I just felt like weekly was easier for me; it's what I did last year, and doesn't involve too much thinking. I'm not trying to forge any new paths here, I'm really just trying to see our lives differently, and get photos and words about it documented in a way that is pleasing enough to my eye. I say enough, because I still feel I haven't totally found my voice yet, (and I am fine discovering it, enjoying the journey actually ). I don't put a lot of my PL here, on the blog, because I feel like most that visit, aren't really "into" that. It seems like quite a departure from my normal arts and crafts to me, and likely not too creatively interesting to those coming for a diy or art journaling etc. But, if you are interested, I post my weekly spreads over in my gallery here. 

Anyway... back to wrapping up March. I had a photo of our kitchen "island" that I thought would make a good weekly date card, with a perfect spot for the date on the three drawers on the bottom:

I thought it would be fun to use little wooden alpha pieces (seen above- I colored them with a Copic sketch marker) for the date vs. other things like alpha stamps, stickers or even handwriting. So then the challenge became how to keep them in place. I thought a see through pocket made from a page protector that I would then slip in place would be good. 

Wrong. 

Sometimes, the result is not worth the effort, and that's how I feel with this one. It's fine, I'll use it, but it was a pain to keep those letters in place while sewing and the result is messy looking. also, clear protector under clear protector just bugs. See:

It's hard to get a photo without glare. Another thing I don't like is the thread- messy and showing too much. Which leads me to ask you; is there such a thing as clear thread for machine stitching? (I feel like I should know this answer already, lover of crafting supplies that I am.)

Trying to get you a clearer photo...pretty much gonna look like this, with the reflection to the naked eye too- it's the page protector under the page protector effect. Live and learn. You gotta try ideas right? I am a huge believer in trying, following whims...they can't all work out, and that's all part of the fun really. 

I guess this post is about what I don't recommend in crafting experiments,ha! It might be useful to save someone those 30 minutes of dealing with itty bitty letters moving inside itty bitty pockets, all while under your sewing machine foot. ;)

Oh, but an idea I DO recommend? This one, that I found via someone I follow on instagram (who I think found it on pinterest):

Have two keys the same and find yourself guessing the wrong one often enough to drive you crazy when standing at the lock? Paint one with nail polish! I can't believe I've never thought of that! Of course, there are those plastic covers for keys, and other solutions, but this is so much more pleasing to the eye, and I didn't have to leave my house to do it. 

That's a result I love! 

(I'll have a March "favorite PL parts" post on the blog soon.)

As always, thanks for visiting!