Kleas

Paper bag swag-final round

I wasn't kidding in my last post.  It's just been busy, busy, busy.  Sunday morning I packed up Julen and we headed off to Milwaukee where I'm finishing my Lifeways training.  We had our first day of classes today and it felt great to see my classmates again.  We will graduate after this two week session, so I'm a little sad thinking I may not see some of them again. 

Before leaving town I managed to finish the last of my Paper-bag round robin.  Amy's theme was "balance".

 

I went with my now typical style and started with a quote I love.  This one by Patti Smith.

It reads "In art and dream may you proceed with abandon.  In life may you proceed with balance and stealth."  I love that.  And it fits Amy so well.  She is a talented artist.  One who has explored many creative avenues and always has amazing work to show for it.

 

Beginning with page two, and the second half of the quote, I went with three trees to symbolize her three children.  My idea was this was a very calm and balanced image...representing her calm and balanced home and family life.

This first page is supposed to appear more dreamlike and wild in imagination. I used felt, embroidery, needle felt, cotton fabric and vintage pearls.  This is the entire spread.

This was such a great experience working on this project.  I am thrilled to have been a part of it.  And I can't wait to show off my book once I get back home. 

I'm signing off for a while and chances are I won't get one line again until I get home.  I'm using the hotel's computer and it is just too, too slow.  I look forward to catching up with you all later this month when I get home.  For now, I need to concentrate on finishing my studies here.  Hope you are all well!! 

Crazy busy

Doesn't it seem like the busier you are the faster time flies by?  I have so many projects going on that the minute I finish with one, it's time to move on to the next.  A week goes by in a blink.  At least we were able to cross a big one off our list last week.  With the help of five friends, a re-purposed squash court was installed in our second floor.  It went from this...

 

to this...

to this.

Funny how the red lines in the squash court made little squares once it was installed.  I love the way it looks, but it will be sanded and sealed in the next couple of weeks.  It was a bit hectic in our house the past four days with all the extra bodies here, but we sure enjoyed the company and now that they are gone, they are all terribly missed.

With so much going on, I've completely neglected the garden  Looks like a dandelion farm in my front yard.

Yikes!  Right?  Any suggestions on how to organically control these?  I haven't tried corn gluten yet, but have heard some good things about it.  At least there is some proof of my past dedication to my garden, after five years, my coveted lady slipper has finally bloomed.

So beautiful!  And since I'm lucky enough to have a friend who has a flower farm and brings me these gorgeous blooms...I can forget about my garden for now.

Next up...remember this frustrating situation?  I've been waiting to share the news, but my friend and I decided to move forward with the preschool and we found the perfect house just eight blocks from where I live.  The closing is at three this afternoon.  Wish me luck!