The First Domino

Ever notice how all the projects are piled up on one another like Pick Up Sticks? Or Dominoes all set end-up in a huge pattern?
Yeah, sometimes you tip the right one and it triggers a chain reaction, kind of a rush if you let it carry you along.
Not so long ago I found a good home for an old washer and dryer that had been living in my garage since I gave up on the outside studio and started working from home. Doing that had felt like a failure and I guess I just sort of shut down about the whole business. I set up a temporary studio when I needed one and took it down when it was in the way. I never committed to setting up a proper table with the washer and dryer there I never had the space.
The temporary tables were too low and working at them gave me a backache, the lighting sucked everything felt wobbly and frustrating.
I was passive about seeking a solution.
Having one drop in my lap and acting on it sort of knocked over
Domino 1.
Suddenly there was space and a possibility of a studio...
Well, there was if I could get rid of a few things like; the donations piled there, and the mountain bike I don't ride, and the golf clubs I discovered I hate golf with; and if I cleaned up the whole place.
So I did.
Domino 2-8.

In the clean garage I set up the temporary tables and thought: if I clean up the cellar I can break down the old shelves and use them as a base to raise the table tops to the right height, and then it wouldn't be much bother to add some shelves for storage, and some back splashes to protect the walls.
So I did.
Domino 9-16.

While I was cleaning the cellar I found some old stained curtains, perfect candidates for a makeover.
So I did.
Domino17-26.

and so on...

Shaking Out The Petticoats

As predicted, the Daffs have bloomed and are enjoying some extraordinary weather. Today we hit nearly 80 degrees, last year at this time we still had snow. This year my best guess is we are running at least a month ahead of the usual cycle.
Tonight I am trying an infinity scarf designed from a tiedyed t-shirt.

I am considering shredding my ETSY inventory and turning it into something else... maybe scarves. 

Renewal in three parts

Part 1
The Daffs are looking in the direction of spring, they plan to celebrate its arrival by shaking out their petticoats, saucy bunch that they are.

Peepers have been heard for the first time this evening.
There is an owl in the neighborhood, we hear him on our twilight walks.
The geese have gathered on the pond in a raucous crowd.
Robins arrived a week and a half ago, and the blackbirds are singing their boundaries.

Part 2
The first 5K of the year has been successfully, completed with a time of 32:03.
I'm pleased  to have been able to run the whole thing and even more pleased that the course was delightfully flat.
Part 3
I gathered all the studio's unfinished business in a giant heap and resorted the whole bunch, leading to some interesting new ideas and some new directions to explore...

Re-Collecting my Thoughts pt 3

I have been developing a tea stain design for a client who is interested in a very loose looking dye on natural t-shirt/eco totes, the plan then is to print them with a logo for his bakery/classroom.
A fun project...
This is a mock up of the look

I'm thinking I will try something similar on the stained curtains...

Re-Collecting My Thoughts pt 2

Spending some time re-organizing the cellar and garage for a better workspace for myself and to prepare for the eventual finishing of the cellar. A small step forward toward larger goals.
Tonight I went through the pantry cabinets and found some living room curtains that are tired and stained. 2 of white and 2 of a wheat gold sort of color. Good candidates for something funky for the summer months, off to be pre-washed they go.

Re-Collecting My Thoughts

A large stone retaining wall runs along the back edge of our yard. There are all manner of nooks and crannies in it.

 From the right veiwpoint, for example if you make yourself really small, it can look like a map.

In one of the larger nooks at the base live a small clan of iris. I don't remember their latin name...
Not sure we were ever properly introduced.
I know them as the Early Iris. Every year they are the first to bloom. They lead the parade.

They seem brave in their little purple uniforms, velvety and sort of grand...