I don't know . . . .

. . . what she is, but her name is Celeste

She just appeared from my stash - I asked what she was - she relpied "What are you?". I asked why her name was Celeste - she replied "Why is your name Lyn?"

Perhaps she'll sprout wings, or a mermaid tail. She is definitely not earthbound. But is she aerial or aquatic? Maybe both.

Back view:

Strange Art, etc

A couple of weavings:

"Stranger Than Fiction"

Small - tapestry started in a class at Florida Tropical Weaver's Guild.

"Beach Walk" - Also small. It is attached to a piece of driftwood and has seashell dangles.
I have no idea why I felt compelled to finish the one and make the other. They were fun to do - tactile and relatively mindless, at least not requiring a lot of pre-planning.

And, I'm not sure why I wanted to take up s new meduium. But I have a friend who is an excellent stained glass artist. She is patiently teaching me the basics. My first two projects:

The first one - a "beginner" heart

Then a really cool dreamcatcher - its frame is a 9" metal ring,

A little creativity

As you can see, I haven't kept up with my blogging - nor with my resolutions from last year.

But - I do have two new eyes! Cataracts removed & new "crystal lenses" implanted . "I can see clearly now. . . . " or at least I will be able to when the swelling goes down & my eyes learn to focus again!.

Here are a few things I have made in recent days - so maybe I'm back on track:

Felted flax paper made in a weaver's guild workshop

A freeform crocheted lampshade.

And another pair of socks - crocheted this time! I love them!

"I FEEL ABOUT FORTY . . . .. .

. . . . with something bad wrong with me." Rubimae Torrance on her seventieth birthday.

That's a quote by my mom - twenty seven plus years ago. And now I know exactly how she felt! See my daughters blog for some neat pictures of "the early years".

Birthday dinner at Lobster Shanty.

My kids gave me an early birthday present - spending a week end with me - just walking the beach, eating too much and reminiscing.

Beach walking and eating fish tacos at the Sandbar - and listening to live music.

Lots of fun! And a rare occasion - thanks kids!

Hanging out with hookers . . .

. . . rug hookers that is!

A friend invited me to join two more gals to dye some wool. They will use theirs in hooking rugs - I have no idea what I'll do with mine - but is sure is cool!

The fabric started a camel tan - you can see it on the right in the background. We layered the fabric in a crockpot, adding a color to each layer.

Knice Knew Knees!

Here's my something new, for May - July! Knees. Both were replaced, one in May and one in July. The ugly compression stockings got so boring, I just had to draw lizards & flowers on them.

SCRUMBLING not GRUMBLING

My daughter sent this quote:

"...The sickest people in my medical practice were artists who were notpracticing their art. Actively resuming their artwork/creative outlet was aprescription that always improved the situation."

So - I realized I could cure my own bad mood and ease my impatience with the healing process after my knee surgery by getting to work!

Here's the result! A Jumble of Scrumbles

Then I assembled two squares for an online swap in a freeform crochet swap:

This was FUN - it got me going again! So, back to my yarn stash to see what happens next.

Not yet on track!

OK - where did I leave off? I keep working on odds and ends - but completeing nothing!

I have another incomplete project - an Instant Art Quilt started in Ellen's online class. First find an amazing fabric:

Not bad - but not it.

Another reject. This is it!

Then it is torn & reassembled - and that's where I left off - does it need acents or is it ready to stitch?

And for something else new - I'm waiting for scheduling, etc for knee replacement surgery! Hopefull I'll be new & younger by my 70th birthday.

Back on track?

It's been over a month since I last posted. And I finally feel like I'm back on track - tax season is almost over. No more "daily grind". More time to play.

Last weekend I had a great time at the Florida Tropical Weaver's Guild Conference. We had an informal gathering this time, with members teaching workshops. I taught two and took three.

My one completed project is a Market basket. I guess it's my "something new" for March. I make baskets, but I learned to work with traditional materials - reed. It was fun and I have a basket that can actually be used!

The classes I taught were a miniature burden basket and a bead set cabochon. It was so much fun to work with creative people! Makes the teacher look good!

Burden Basket in progress.

My Mother

RUBIMAE TORRANCE

March 5, 1911 - February 24, 2008

She passed away Sunday - Feb 24th. As I prepare for the trip to Fort Worth, Texas, my feelings are mixed. Her last few years were not the Mother we grew up knowing. So the fact that her suffering was short term is a blessing. But it is always painful to look back and perhaps think, " I wish I had done, said more".

She was a strong woman, widowed in her mid-forties with two teens and a seven-year old daughter - I'm afraid I didn't fully appreciate her.

So, Mother - rest peacefully.

For some great pictures follow the link to Deb's Blog.

Time Flies!

YIKES - it's the 21st of Feb - I need a new techniqu to try, quick! And - another UFO to finish - what shall it be? Any ideas?

Another month - - another new trick!

The posting is late, but I did my January new project and finished an "old" one.

First the new. I took a fabric collage class with Ellen Linder.
Here is the picture I used for inspiration

And here is the finished picture. It was fun! We cut and glued - just like kids! Ellen's web site is Adventurequilter.com. And she offers online classes

My "something old" was a basket for a wedding gift. It just needed a handle - but I couldn't find the right thing. Finally - a glasss button caught my attention, perfect! Inside the lid are a mother of pearl heart and two seahorse charms. The couple have seahorses in their aquarium.

How'd this happen?

My daughter - Deb - turned fifty today. See the link to her blog. What an amazing ever changing woman she has become.

she certainly kept this young Mom busy - she never slept! She was Sooo very active - a climber at a very young age. Just a foreshadowing of her approach to life with WILD ABNADON.

Something old, something new

Thought I'd share , not a traditional New Year's Resolution, but a personal goal for my 70th year. I will turn seventy in October 2008. SO I plan to learn or try something new each month. And also - the hard part - finish something old. Yes, I do have at least twelve unfinished projects .

So - in October - November, I completed an ankle bracelet for my sister - all it needed was a clasp. Now to get it in the mail! And I took a class from Nansea Mehlert on stained glass mosaics. It was fun.!

In Nov. - Dec I finished several beaded rings and a few little pincushions. And I taught myself to knit socks. I now own the most expensive socks ever! First attempt - I purchased yarn & needles, received a free pattern. At least seven attempts later - no socks! Then I went back to the yarn shop - bought a book, more yarn & more needles! After a few false starts, I have socks!

Knit on two circular needles, both at the same time.

In January I will take a fabric collage class for something new. Not sure what the "old" will be yet.

New year & old dogs!

OK - here goes! First day of 2008 and I'm going to try to learn how to create a blog! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks - if the old dog wants to learn the trick!