A Different Direction for a While

I've discovered Zentalgles. This one, above, is a Zentangle. They're fun to do, you just doodle, then fill in the spaces around the doodles in black.
These are some of the artist trading cards I make from time to time. The ATCs,as they are called, measure 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, playing card size.



This larger one is called a "chunky" and measures 4inches square. Its also a Zentangle. There are several sited dedicated to the art of the Zentangle, check them out for more info on Zentangles.
I'm recovering from a bout of hypertension. The BP is back down into high normal ranges but for a time it was pretty high. I treated it with potassium & it came back down. It doesn't surprise me with all the stress I've had over the summer. Gotta go & check the turkey in the over. I'm getting a jump on Thanksgiving & cooking some of it today, the day before, instead of having it all to do tomorrow.

This Past Week's Stuff.

Now, I realize that's not much of a title, but I simply didn't know what else to call it. Anyway, this past week has given me a headache, literally. I developed a headache of unknown origin late Sunday & I can't get rid of it. I've tried everything I can think of short of chopping my head off (that wouldn't solve anything). Also I can't seem to sleep. Only one night this past week have I been able to sleep over 4 hours. I don't know what's going on, but its wearing me down quickly. I'm blaming the headache on the weather. Its been very dry & sunny here & sometimes that combination will cause headaches for me. Its supposed to rain over the weekend & maybe that will provide some relief.

I finished a quilt top for my son, who moved into his own tiny place recently. I have to get it quilted & finished yet, which shouldn't take too long. I also purchased a Bamboo digital tablet for my computer. I'm going to learn to digitize my own drawings for embroidery if it kills me. I got a local copy shop to print out the manual for my software which helped tremendously in learning to operate it. The dealer where I bought the software owes me a class on it, but hasn't yet come through. I'll get it eventually.

I'm also diving back into the art, drawing & painting again. I'm getting back into doing artist trading cards. I've even toyed with the idea of setting up an Etsy store & am now seriously considering doing it. I'll post some of them once I get some new ones finished. I went to Hobby Lobby today for supplies & spent way too much -again (bad habit I need to break . . . nah, I'd miss it too much. Anyway, I'm hoping to set up the Etsy store soon & I'll let you know when that happens. Anyway,

have a good one & stay tuned to see what happens next . . .

Embroidery Times are . . .

Always longer than stated on the design (machine estimated) I found. If the design says it takes 20 minutes, add at least 20 to 30 more minutes for changing thread colors, re-threading the machine, running out of bobbin threads & changing bobbins, and assorted other interruptions. Last night I embroidered a design that said it took 21 minutes. Okay, fine, I'll have it done by the time supper comes out of the oven. WRONG. The whole thing took an hour, supper was late & over done too. I love doing machine embroidery, but I dislike the amount of time it actually takes to complete it. If I only had all day to sit in front of the machine . . . but I don't. Better planning for embroidery projects is a must from now on.

Finally, a Diagnosis

I've been battling a growth on the rim of my ear for a few months now. Wednesday I went to a dermatologist, had it removed & sent to pathology. Got the report this morning. My guess was right, its basal cell skin cancer, a non lethal form of skin cancer that results form too much sun in my teen years. This news is something I can handle pretty well. At least I know I won't die from it. I'm relieved to know what it actually is. Since I'm a Naturopathic doctor anyway, I'm opting to treat is naturally for the time being, then, if it doesn't respond to my treatment, I might have further surgery to remove it completely. We'll just see what happens. At least I know what it is & what to do about it.

This is my kind of quilt.

Here is the type of quilt I like to do. The design is original, the size is 18 x 24 and there is decorative stitching on also. The other photos show some of the detail of this piece.

HAlloween in Nicholasville

Here's a look at the wall in my stair well, a la Martha Stewart wall clings. There's the witch on her broom , surrounded by bats,and . . .
mice scattering toward the hole from. . .
the high backed black cat at the top of the stairs (look between the rungs of the banister) chasing the mice down the stairs.

This whole scene is Martha Stewart wall clings & takes up the whole wall. We also have a witch (actually a dress form with a head, a mask, a witches hat and a black cape, some more bats, and a fake graveyard in the front yard. Photos of that later.

The 5 Am Quilt

Why is this titled the 5 am quilt? Because I woke up at 4am on Monday, couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up & made this little quilt. I wanted to make it anyway, just hadn't planned to do it so early in the morning. Anyway, I finished it while waiting to get my car worked on. This little quilt (14 x 20) hangs right next to my back door for the fall season.

Did I mention that I have a 'new to me" car? I traded in the Tarus for a PT Cruiser/ The Tarus was just too low to the ground & becoming more difficult by the day to get out of with my bad knees. The PT Cruiser is a bit taller & easier to get out of, besides its fun to drive.