Painting Bliss

American NeedleWorks

 

 

 

A perfect friday goes like this... wake - coffee - shower - sunshine  - - -  antique shop - puerto rican food lunch - more antiqueing - finish with a sneak peek of a not yet open yarn shop. Can anything top that?

Not for me! Well one thing, the whole family by my side!

 

American NeedleWorks is setting up shop in the most delicious location.  Head to toe exposed brick and tall ceilings greet you as you enter. It's like stepping out of the ghetto and into heaven itself.  The owner is a little slice of heaven too - with his short stature, big smile, and mild southern drawl, Jim and his partner are fixing up, decorating, and designing what they call a "work in progress".  Everything placed just so, you can tell that it's a labor of true love.  All dreams are.  Scrumptious yarns - hand dyed, locally made, and soft for the petting are piled in old baskets and shelving that's as busy as a nest of bees. I wanted to lounge there,  hang there,  and just chat with Jim all afternoon.  I love people.  They inspire me with their stories, their dreams, and their common bond of creativity.

Jim was exuberant...  telling of arms stretched surfboard balance of trying to ride the waves of emotion that comes with opening a new business brings.  "I'm nervous, I'm excited, I'm overwhelmed, and I'm optimistic he said"...  I told him all great things are tough and nerve racking in the beginning, that it wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't.  He liked that, called me a philosopher...  and I smiled.

Thursday nights starting June 27th right in the heart of downtown Middletown N.Y. all are welcome to "sit and knit"  where you can enjoy a threaded evening of yarn, tea, and nom noms. Not to mention only for $12, and not to double mention the great company of other yarn lovers you will socialize with.  Jim has taken on some talented teachers and hopes that his shop will catch on locally - hard and fast.  I have a strong feeling it will!

Jim was humble and shy when I asked to take his picture, afterwards he commented on the messy shirt he was wearing - his paint shirt, and I said "Oh no bother on that shirt, its perfect attire for someone working on their dream!".

So, my yarn friends of Orange County New York, get ready and get excited cause this shop is the answer we have been waiting for! No longer will we have to settle for Lionbrand or Redheart! American NeedleWorks is located at 10 North Street in Middletown New York.

Say hi to Jim, and ell him Ashlie sent you!

 

 

 

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It's been a long while since I crocheted.... like months! Which is so unlike me, because when I'm not holding a paintbrush... I'm holding a crochet hook. These hands are never idle!

Picnic time is just around the corner and there's nothing I love more than taking a blanket anywhere on a nice day, fanning it out in the breeze, and laying upon it. I have done many a crochet project, but never a blanket. It's time consuming and since my hands are never idle I also tend to jump from project to project. I fear I will start a blanket, have good intentions, but never finish it.

 

 

 

 

I'm determined though. I have a whole lot of granny sqaures to go and have only whipped up a 1/3 of the inner circles that will get another row or two, making them squares. The colors I chose remind me of summer and sunshine. They give me thoughts of pina coloda's and steaks on the grill. I plan on letting the inner circles be all the color, the border a stark white.

If I keep focused and strive towards my goal of sunshine and cocktails I think I will get there! I'll just keep chugging like the little train that could...

" I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!"

 

 

Love thy Home in a Thrifted Way

 

All this newly found happiness has me putting energy into all sorts of places I didn't realize I had checked out of. Like decorating our home! It has been so long since I took pride in decorating our love nest, and I missed it so much! The other day I did some antique/vintage shopping, found some lovely things I wanted to share with you today!

 

(Bright yellow Pineapple motif crocheted doily in a large size, now a front door curtain - Thrifted  $6)

 

(Hand embroidered pillow cover $1!!! All ready to slip a pillow in)

 

I think some folks (not all of course), hold back on how they want to decorate. Perhaps they feel that homes are supposed to be decorated a "certain way", or that they must be nice, neat, and presentable. Well... yes, and no! If you want to hang something from the ceiling or put twinkle lights across the bookcase, then why not!? Right? Right! And that's how I'm decorating. If I think something makes me happy, then I'm going to do it. Like... for instance... the top of our book case is a place where I keep candles and our incense... it's also where I let vintage dinosaurs roam! They have to be kept up high because when they get down they chase people and try and bite their ankles! Naughty reptiles!

 

 

 

 

Trippin' at the thrift shop (cue the song) found me with an armful of vintage scarves. A little hum hum on  my sewing machine and suddenly I have a curtain that would make Peir 1 Imports wet their pants! A pleasant reward was when I hung it up, the heat ran, and the curtain undulated in beautiful and flowing ways.

Or perhaps their is a ghost in the house and it's trying to put on the curtain as a dress?

 

 

(These two scarves - Thrifted - $5)

 

 

I have always admired crochet buntings, knew I could make them, but never did. Why? Laziness... hectic day to day living... I don't know... but I made one last weekend and it is one of the newest additions to our home that brings me the most joy. It brings me the most joy because it's something I didn't allow myself to make... or rather depression didn't. Well screw you depression, I have an army of pills and a good therapist now that trump your efforts ten fold!

 

 

 

 

Some of my left over silk scarves became pillow covers. With just turning them around into the diamond shape position, laying the pillow on top, and meeting the corners together in a knot... it's a no sew improvement that needs little effort for achievement! Not to mention they are silky soft and extremely lush to lay with.

 

 

 

(Thrifted scarf $3 - Pillow form $10 - Final Cost $13 for custom pillow! Plus it only took 2 minutes to make)

 

Next I'm thinking about hanging things from the ceiling in spots that just seem to scream for it. Like above our bookcase... it's caddy corner and so space is a lost. When I look at it I see that it needs pretty things on string I think... Here is an idea that I found on Pinterest. You can click on the picture and make some for yourself if you like. They are made of post it notes!

 

 

 

 

Love yourself, love the things that make you happy, love the space you live in!

 

 

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My Week Through The Eyes of Instagram 12/17-12/25

 

Due to Christmas being on the day that I usually post my "Week Through the Eyes of Instagram" Posts, I'm posting it today. A little late, but no biggie, right?

This past week was well... rough! So much stress, last minutes Christmas things, and all 5 of us sicker than sick. Thankfully we are past that now and can start a brand new week. Any week that starts with Christmas has to be a good one, right? Right!

 

 

 

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Let's Go For a Spin and Cop a Feel!

 

 

So all this yarn and sheep talk either has you bored this week, or your jiving right along enjoying having a listen of my passionate adventures into the world of protein fibers, color, and going for a spin. I had a go on my drop spindle and quickly realized the spindle I bought wasn't a great one... at least not for me. Reading my new book "Respect the Spindle" I'm discovering it's all about preference and this spindle just didn't feel right. Good practice material, but not anything I would want to create a finished product on.

First of all it was too light, the whorl (or round thingy on top) didn't have enough weight. Another issue was the hook where I lace my yarn through before drafting (spinning)... {look at me learning the lingo!}

The hook would lose the yarn instantly and I had to have the husband bend and curve it a bit. I played for hours with the roving I was gifted at the Artisan fair for practice and experimentation.There's so much coordination involved!

 

 

I went for a spin! I learned how I like to hold it, how gently to pull at the wool to get my desired yarn width size. I learned what I liked and what I didn't like... it was great to just play around. When I was done, it wasn't perfect in athe least, as most new things you learn aren't... and I'm not used to it. In my world of crafting and I'm not toot tooting my own horn,  I'm used to getting it first time out of the hand basket... and I think that's why I am enjoying learning to hand spin so much... because I'm not getting it right first time. Because I'm clueless! Because I need to consume myself with knowledge.

 

 

 

I feel like a college student sitting with book and pen underlining terms and tips.

There are questions I have, that I don't know the answers to... like when I'm done spinning and I take the cop off of the spindle and it's all twisty... how do you crochet or knit something so twisty? Does washing it take away that twist up on itselfness? Do I wash in cold water? Do I put it in a pillow case to protect it while washing? If anyone has answers to this (blue eyed night owl wink wink nudge nudge), please help!

This is my first little crochet from yarn I spun myself. It's a mess! HA HA HA! But I love it. It will be a piece that I treasure because when I do reach perfection I will be happy to look at my little bowl and see how far I have come.

If at first you don't succeed... try and try again!!

White Barn Sheep and Wool

 

 

This past Sunday after an amazing and well needed hot stone massage at the Mohonk Mountain House and a delicious lunch at the Village Tea Room in New Paltz N.Y. I died and went to heaven. Heaven consisted of 4 small walls line from floor to ceiling with natural fiber yarns. Hand dyed, wool, merino, alpaca, silks, etc. Every inch of that White Barn Sheep and Wool was a delicious banquet for the yarn lovers soul.

 

 

Located in an old white barn with the sign "Knit Local" placed against the antique weathered barn wood, it was the after life indeed. For weeks I have been dreaming of a drop spindle, roving, and knowledgeable company. Everything I was craving came true in a few short hours.I could of stayed all day just doing rounds to make sure I hadn't missed anything.

The owner was lively and so very smart. A wealth of knowledge! I just kept thinking about how lucky she was living her happiness. A barn with a yarn shop, adjoining class room, house behind the barn, and a field of sheep. Just lots and lots of more heaven! My only wish was that the store was closer to me, but hey... it's a great reason to take a day out for yarn!

 

 

 

This happy girl left with a drop spindle, 12 ounces of roving, and two how to books. My Sunday was spent experimenting and reading... dreamy, right!?

Creative Adventures to Come

 

 

Now that I have made it past the artisan fair I can start to think about the winter ahead. What is it I want to create during the cold winter months? What do I see for me? Well... lots of course. As always I like a full plate... just like my soon to come Thanksgiving dinner plate. Turkey, mashed potatoes (small heap), sweet potatoes (large heap), cranberry from the can (hee haw), and gravy. Just like that I am starting to compile my thoughts, ideas, and creative wishes to be.

In the coming weeks I would like to photograph all of the things I have left over from the Artisan fair and put them into my Etsy shop so that when Orange Magazine hits the area, visitors to my shop will see a nice full store. Secondly I plan on painting up and getting into the shop some more nesting snowmen since that is one of the main items to be featured in the magazine :)

Through the cold days and the snow I feel passionate about learning to use a drop spindle. To become a perfectionist at the craft and learn all the lingo. I would like to stop calling a chunk of raw wool a chunk and starting referring to it as it's real name, roving. I already have my drop spindle and how to book ready to check out from The Woolery's website. With the yarn I make I would like to make my very first blanket. Yarn that I make myself I feel should be made into something special... plus I have always wanted to tackle a blanket. Let's see if I actually hold to that!

While the icicles lengthen and the red cardinals show up ever so clearly within the white lined trees I plan on starting my own children's book. I have ideas of what I want to make, but it hasn't solidified yet. Along with the children's book I would like to start designing a tarot card set.

Then there are all the things that will come along in between these projects. The unknowns that come from being inspired and moved by the season, friends, and nature. I look forward to these projects as well. These in between projects also include sending work to Somerset Studios and Cloth Paper Scissors. I just can't ever stop, you see?

What are your plans? Do you make plans for yourself day by day or do you see into your future?

Countdown is On! The Craft Fair Nears

 

I have to admit that I didn't have high hopes for the craft fair I am participating in. Being a very small village and being that it's the village's first artisan fair, I really didn't think they would publicize or do what they needed to do to get it off of the ground... but I'm starting to change my mind. Now there are 20 vendors scheduled to present their work in our beautiful community center. There are signs on the ends of street corners and it seems promising, so chin up!

 

 

Everything is falling in line now. I'm tying up loose ends, putting ribbons on ornaments, and placing things into boxes until they are unpacked and organized into my selling space. I'm starting to put lights (pink ones) onto a small Christmas tree for displaying my work, and contemplating what table cloth to use.

This is a lot more work than it seems when you actually go to a craft sale. Everything is already done and there for your viewing, it's the months before where all the hard work comes into play. It's game day, the day we sit and smile and get really excited about showing off what it is we do... nervous too! lots of nerves!

 

 

The birds are excited at possible homes, and the owls have happily jumped into the basket along with other painted nature friends in my studio.

 

 

I'm bringing everything that I have! The whole kit-n-caboodle! And there is way more than what I have shown you in the pictures today, that's for sure! I have been a busy little bee (buzz buzz).

But still plenty of work to do, jewelry needs to be placed onto decorative cards, prices added, signs made, things packed... and hopefully I can whip up some Christmas card sets with my hand carved stamps!

Can she do it?? YES she CAN!

 

 

My Week Through The Eyes of Instagram 10/28 - 11/3

 

Woah what a week that has passed, and for anyone who lives with me in the great north east I bet that you can say a big AMEN SISTAH to that! From hurricanes to Halloween it was a whirl wind

(no pun intended ha!).

This week revolved around yarn instead of the studio. With the insanity of it all, no power and entertaining the family it was impossible to get any real artwork done. So I crocheted a beautiful cowl from the yarn I shared earlier this week, dipped some of my own for the first time, and praised the blue sky when it returned... even if it was short lived.

I'm looking forward to this week. I can see in my predicting mind that it will be filled with craft fair preparation and last minute creations. With only 6 days till the big day, it's crunch time!