I'm still working on this first paper quilt I started back in Oct (yikes! time does fly doesn't it?)

The pictures are from an old incense package, some of the papers are handmade some are collected.

I'm trying to find a little creative time first thing in the morning, before work or anything else has intruded. Some days it works out sometimes not so much. Getting up early is not my favorite thing but I like the quiet at that time of day. Often I only manage 10 minutes. I admire those who can do so much more every day but right now I have to try to find a balance with other things in my life... Still I really want to try to maintain the habit of creativity even if all I have is 10 minutes, so I'm trying.

We had a really nice holiday weekend here. The Boy is visiting for two weeks from college, and Lar and I had 4 whole days off. Of course the first 3 days were spent on holiday stuff, shopping (yes we went on Christmas eve), Christmas visiting, and finally house cleaning/errands. I felt no impulse to get creative until 3:00 PM on Sunday. Once it kicked in I started another paper quilt. Its interesting to try to mix handmade papers and found objects.
So far I am liking the results.

Happy Holidays

Taking a little time to spend with the family for the next couple of days...

Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays!

In the Making

Some newer ones in process. I usually have to spend some time with them before I really know if they are finished or not. I have had difficulty photographing them. detail and color seem to get lost easily. Its probably time to set up a light box so I can get some illumination that shows them off.

Time to go wrap cookie packages!

More

More Snow, I think this qualifies as an official "Pant Load"
Just like everyone else on the eastcoast north of DC we got hit with the snow storm, and spent most of the day digging out. Happily we had gotten all of the errands done yesterday so we could take our time and take breaks when needed. I'm also grateful that it was light and fluffy otherwise I think we would still be digging.
Instead I had the time and energy to make some more cookies!

All About the Cookies

I haven't gotten into the spirit of Christmas for the past few years. I've been turned off by the sheer expense of money and time that is demanded? expected?

Decorating has seemed to be another thing to clean up come January, extensive gift giving a serious drain on the bank account, and all of it seemed to suck up time I needed to use for other things.

The past year has been about releasing old ideas, thought patterns and stuff. One thing I have been learning to let go of is old dreams whose time has passed. Doing so has let me be alot more relaxed about what to spend my time on.

Imagine my surprise when the holiday season rolled around and I suddenly remembered that I enjoy decorating the tree and I like making cookies.

I still don't want to put myself in debt for a bunch of stuff and god knows I will never be a Martha however today was dedicated to the cookies and it was fun.

Oh and the house smells awesome!

Making Dyes

As promised here are some pictures of the dye batch I made last night

I use electrical zips for the resist, they are a little easier to manipulate than rubber bands and create a nice line

I fold each shirt in half lengthwise and draw a line on it using washout pencil where I want the division between the green and the red dyes

I pleat the fabric along the line and attach the zip

The shirts are laid out in groups with the planned color areas aligned

Dyes are mixed and bottles filled, then the colors are squirted onto the appropriate areas

This is the end result