Starting the Year with Commissions

It seems that every year, January begins with new commissions.  I have three commissions to get the jump on right now.  One is for a yarn embroidery of the Aspen grove (thanks K. !!), one is for a large view of the drive to a lake for a friend of mine (thanks G.!) and the third just came in this week that I'm also excited about.  A couple who live 2 hours north of here came to my studio with images of their fields for me to work from.  They are corn farmers!  I've never stitched out a corn field before.  They brought me fantastic images and beautifully lit too!  I can't wait to start.  I keep gazing into these photographs and seeing silk ribbon, french knots, and lots of machine work.  It'll be great!

I took this image of their images in black and white so you can see the texture.

When this is done, I'll be preparing my booth for the 2nd Annual Modern Quilt Guild showcase.  Then I'll head into production for Gardenscape which is early April this year.  For all of May and early June I have continuous travel around Alberta and Saskatchewan to teach workshops.  I was hoping to get into public schools a little more this semester but now I'm booked solid.  Oh well.  My stitch mentor often says, 'one cannot dance at every wedding'.  : )  She's right.

my 'tool box' in black and white

Oh it's hard though!  I want to create more garments.  I want to weave.  I want to apply to some call for entries.  I want to...  I want to.  There's more ideas stewing around that drive me crazy.  It's like my muse is having a party.  All I can to is one day at a time, and keep adding to my bucket list so I don't forget all these ideas swimming in my head.

: )

Happy New Year - The Sun is Shining

Now that the dust of 2014 has settled, I'm completely shocked to face the fact that it is already January!  What on earth happened to 2014?  Last I knew, I was building my new dream studio with the pleasure of knowing i would be creating in it all through the winter.  I would have the WHOLE entire winter!  Then I spent October to Christmas trying to sell my home.  The dust indeed is settling.  I have been wrapping my head around the notion that I am staying.  I am staying!  It's mine - and now where did I stash everything to make way for all those open houses and last minute showings?  !

Dusting things off, putting things back, rooting back where I began to uproot...  it's hard to trust the process.  It's a but like waking from a good dream, and then trying to relax enough to pick up where that dream left off.  I hope if I can let down my guard and settle back in.  I want that dream back!  Do you know what I mean?

So after much rearranging and setting up again, I began a new batch of Prairie Postcards.  They are all pretty pinks and white and blue watercolour washes of winter landscapes with bits of twinkle.  They are the softest, gentlest landscape postcards I've ever made.  I hope to show you them soon.  The still need a bit of tweaking before they are complete.

And in other news...  we woke up to a beautiful sunny day.  It's clear as a bell and colder than ever!  MINUS 50 Celcius with the windchill!  Some of my windows have been painted over night by good ol' Jack Frost.

Have a sunshiny Sunday everyone.