New Look

April 12, 2010

It seems every time I went to post this weekend, I got distracted.  Bloggers are posting every day!  And their work and Spring is my downfall.  I love looking at other peoples workand it always gives me a boost.  I live in a fairly rural area and have nature to inspire most of my work.  I love spending time outside...rain or snow or sun....but Spring is always so nice...but so is the first snow...or a deep snow...or the patter of rain on the windows...or the colors of autumn....or.....  I guess what I'm saying is I seem to enjoy all of it. And not just the weather....I find lots of lovelies....like this little nest of a mallard by the swamp.
It makes me think of the wonder of life...beginning...ending...starting out.  The little miracles that sometimes I take for granted.
But I digress.  I have done a little felting.  And my first project was almost a direct copy.
I fell in love with another felter's slippers.  She has pictures on her blog and it is called Jurga Jurdita.  You can find it here and the slippers on her Fliker page here.   She is from Lithuania.  I fell in love with a brown pair with roses at the toe.  I tried to buy them.....but she had none left.  Sigh.  About a week later my daughter called and asked if I could make some slippers for a very special friend.  She wanted something made out of natural fibers in a natural color.  So here is my version of Jurga's wonderful slippers. 
A bit girlish....but my daughter said they were just right.  They are made from the natural colored Icelandic wool I bought while visiting a local sheep farm.  The roses are silk dyed ever so lightly with walnut stain.  Just enough color to take away the optic white.
I did work on the quilt a little.  I'm finished with two more squares.  I worked a lot in the garden this weekend and had very little time 'left over'.  
First Cyclamen or Shooting Stars.  These may or may not make the final cut for several reasons.  The square is an odd size and botonically they are not correct.  


 
I also did the Indian Paintbrush which made me happier even though I favor Shooting Stars over them
 
 
I also have been dreaming and thinking about my new studio.  Right now I share my studio with *everything* in the basement.  You know...the paint cans, gardening tools, washer, dryer, stuff you no long use.  But a while back I made a deal with the DH and traded for the upstairs of our new garage.  


 This will be MINE...all MINE!!  
The floor will be made water proof and floor cushions for moving around.  The wall are to be painted and full spectrum lights will go up.  It is getting close and I am starting to get very excited.  It was postponed for a while because of some 'technical' difficulties but now I'm ready.  Any suggestions from you there about what makes up your dream studio....let me know.  There are times when I am sooo overwhelmed at the thought I can't believe it is real.  I never thought this would ever be possible.
Now I'm off to get ready for my Other Work....the one that will pay for my studio. 





7 comments:

Jurga Judita said...

Beautiful pair of slippers! They don't look like a copy at all :) It's a new original design! Thank you for mentioning about me in your blog! Have a nice spring and felting time...

Jasmine said...

I am so pleased you are getting a good studio space. it is so important. i still make felt on the coffee tale and dining room floor and am so glad the weather is warming up so i can do ig pieces in our tiny garden.

Your friends blog is beautiful. I am now following it. Beautiful slippers, oth of you xJ

Doreen G said...

A studio all to yourself--how great is that.

Red (aka Puddleduck!) said...

Gorgeous new studio space, Joei! You won't know yourself! Think of all the worktables and shelves you could fit in there! The only thing I haven't got a lot of is clear wall space for a design wall- but you've got heaps!
Wonderful slippers; and I love both the new quilt squares too...
Sandi xo

Tammie Lee said...

how exciting, a studio that makes you happy! Those slippers! Fantastic and gorgeous too, not too girlish for me. Your quilt will be amazing!

gerfiles said...

The slippers are great... that clash of the "girlish" + the "grandmaish"... you should make more...!!

t said...

beautiiful slippers Joei. love them...and I think your flowers are perfect, you are such a perfectionist with the botanical stuff. You must be getting quite a collection of these flowers now. This studio space will be great for putting them all together.

xt