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"Let Me Show You My Boat."

Let me tell you about my day job.

I'm a secretary.

I log entries into a database. When I've added the whole pile of paperwork, I make one half of an X on two copies. On one, black, on the other, red. When the paperwork is processed, I complete the entry in the database and complete the X, only on the red copy. Then I file the paperwork. I do this all day. Occasionally, I answer the phone. I also set up "high level" meetings, once a month in the summer, once a week in the winter. I listen to Pandora. My stations are "Folked Up," "Radio Radio," "Radio Betsee" and "Jazz Hands." I usually run out of my month of free listening minutes.

I have a much cherished degree in Art Education. See how I capitalized it? It means a lot to me, but doesn't mean much in the real world. If I had the time, I could become an excellent potter. When I went to college, I wanted to be a painter. (I haven't painted in so many years.) Then I thought about majoring in English. (I'm four credits short of a minor degree in writing.) I graduated a capable art teacher. (I quit three months into my first school year.) I think I should have majored in ceramics and cared for the notion that a master's degree is valuable. I guess I could be teaching people how to throw pottery, but I don't think you need a master's degree to do that ... or to do much of anything. I'm a secretary, an assistant to people who went to school longer, make more money, and are less talented at things I consider valuable to the quality of this life.

 

I don't really get to do what I want to do, what I think I could be considerably more successful doing, what would actually expand my mind and my existence. I have some free time, but I don't have many options for changing the grand scheme of things. And while I know this is not limited to just my predicament, I sure do feel alone in it. Buried in bills, buried in responsibilities, buried in expectations, buried in wishes and wants.

Do you feel equipped to succeed in life without really trying? Did anyone ever teach you to really try?

Birthday Season

An easy trip to the Dollar Tree resulted in a full days work in the kids' room decorating for our May and June babies who will be 3 and 5 years old this year.  Our recent trip to Dinosaur World sparked a great interest and we found plenty of stuff to create a jungle in their bedroom.  I pinned felt dinosaur sillouettes to the curtain, we strung table fringe on the underside of the top bunk and stuck tropical flowers in the railing.  Vivi now has a volcano at the foot of her bed, made from a couple of stacked baskets, balloon weights, and curly ribbon.  I made palm trees from pool noodles, yarn and palm leaves.  Kale created the dinosaurs with two dinosaur hats, cardboard, spray paint and duct tape. We followed the Kentucky Derby this year with the request that we bring in stickhorses for our kids at daycare.  In an evening, we created two unique stickhorses; Lynden's is blue, Vivi's is red.  Kale drew a pattern for the head, cut the lauan and broomsticks at the kitchen table, I wove the horses' manes, Kale attached the foam ears and reins.  We have two beautiful stickhorses to keep forever.  The daycare suggested we stuff a sock and put it on a broom stick.  PFFFT!

Now We're Getting Somewhere

In the new craft room, I have room for my sewing machine, thus the curtains continue!

Modern Dining

Our small, cozy house is just the right size for us to share. Our "dining room" has served as such, but also a computer room, a junk depository, a pass-thru, a music room/sitting room, and now a craft room. We attempted to make the wet, gray basement a craft haven, but it was more a craft dungeon and when I found a spider and asked, "what kind of spider is black with red on it?," we decided it is time to face the facts and make the spare room something useful. The bushel baskets are perfect for storing everything. What is safe for the kids is within reach and accessible. I'm going to start posting their creations here. Vivi's "rocket ship" has found a new home with Aunt Cindy.

Lookey!

I don't think I cussed once.

I am so proud.

Best Bets: A Needle is a Needle

A needle is a needle, unless it’s a sharp, or a tapestry needle, intended for beading, curved for quilting, triangular, made for yarn, twin pointed, too thick or too small, too big or too thin. You may be embroidering with a milliner’s needle, which is intended for hat making, but if it’s doing the trick – a needle is a needle. So, I say, young apprentice, pick up a pack of “embroidery” needles. But, for goodness sake, LOOK at the needles in the package. First, you must peer into your sewing future: will you be able to find this needle if it slips off the thread and into the couch? Before it snags your sleeve and stabs you in the night, consider a thicker needle, a needle that may guide itself through taught linen, but not starched canvas. Or choose a needle with a larger eye that won’t require you don a monocle to thread it. Whilst scanning the needles available to you, “embroidery” might not be emblazoned on the package. It’s okay to pick up a pack of needles because they look like they’d be happy in your sewing box. My skill level will dictate the information here, thus the brevity of this tutorial. There are many different types of needles for general sewing, darning, leatherwork, beadwork, repair, quilting, milliner’s work, etc., each in a variety of sizes. The most valuable thing I learned while taking a closer look is the higher the number, the finer the needle. For basic embroidery, the kind my hands can teach you, here’s the skinny (the long and short of it, the point):

• Embroidery/Crewel Embroidery/Crewel needles have a long, lean eye which makes threading easier when using multiple strands of thread, as we ‘broiderers often do.

• Chenille Chenille needles have a large, visible eye and are used in the art of crewel embroidery and ribbon embroidery, which is of course thicker than thread or floss. Chenille needles have a heavier “weight” to them, as Tapestry/Cross Stitch needles do, but they have a sharp point. I find them easier to hold, less likely to prick, and sturdier in my clumsy hands.

• Tapestry/Cross Stitch Tapestry/Cross Stitch needles have a large, visible eye and a blunt round point designed for the use in needlepoint, petit point, counted cross stitch and plastic canvas work.

Getting Crafty This Year?

She-Ra Gets a Make-over

Angella Double Trouble Frosta

Castaspella

HeMan

Sweet Bee

Peek A Blue

Catra

Glimmer

Bow

Flutterina

SheRa

Tink

Another One.

I haven't embroidered in over eight months.

I changed my name.

I renewed.

I worked with my hands in new ways.

I celebrated another year with them.

I captured a lot of love with a lens.

be Betsy

capture more love

celebrate one more day

embroider everyday

learn to sew

love this

Coroline Jones

For my Vivi

In the Trees.

The Gaslight Bed and Breakfast, just around the corner from the Clifton Cultural Arts Center was fantastic. I felt so grown up and fancy. We had the "Swiss Family Robinson" room at the tip top of the house, which was higher than any other building on the street and we were truly in the trees. The owners are fabulous people, we spent a lot of time talking with Maria, who is so very nice and hospitable. We had a great time.

Interesting terrifying tid-bit: Jeffery Daumer's brother used to live in an apartment in the house before the ultimate remodel. From what we heard, he remained in the house for an hour while oblivious that the entire house was being utterly destroyed by fire. Sheesh.

Fabricate is a locally owned and managed store and gallery in a vintage furniture store called Red Polly. ...Talk about the perfect place for me. Our new friend, Chris, asked me about consigning my work with her store in November. Finally I got to meet her and I left several of my pieces there to be sold! Wow, what a weekend.

Chris and I have the same purse purchased from Etsy.

Isn't it cute? Makes me want to overhaul Frankfort with cute-itude. Lord knows we need it.

More tomorrow. I want to say hello and thank you to all of the incredible people and peers I met at Crafty Supermarket. I've really never felt so graciously accepted. I'm truly lucky to be involved in such an awesome movement - the handmade sweep of the nation.