Janet of All Trades

There are many tones and values of red, believe me I work with color and everyday I hear people explain color in different ways. So I find it funny that this Color Pantone 19-1664 color of 2002 to be called True Red. Is there something that really True Red? It's a wonderful color that is vibrant and eye catching and can be used in many ways. It can be an accent in home interiors..... Or in home consumer products... To Fashionable handbags.. The color is everywhere if you just look... Even on my fingertips! Enjoy!

Spring is slowly starting to show it's face here in the Northeast. It has been a long winter and part of me thinks that is not over yet since we had snow again yesterday! But before it snowed I was able to snap a few photos of a Pussy willow bush that always reminds me of Spring and Easter. Not much contrast on this gray day but they look like little bunny ears. The tree was loaded with buds I wanted to cut a few, but this tree was growing in a pool of spring mud. Fuzzy little spring coats fighting off the cold. Surround by a few dozen friends! Enjoy!

I recently rescued two interesting toner packages from the garbage can at work. The first caught my eye since they were bright orange and plastic. Sitting right on the top of the garbage I snapped them up in a second since I knew that they would have a better life with me rather in some landfill or recycle center. They are not identical but they both have interesting shapes that made me think of Modern Art Sculptures or Modular Furniture. I knew I could use them some how as an accent in my home. First I outlined the angles with a black Sharpie. I liked the way it looked at with the black lines so I placed them on display. To me they look like a combination of Color Block Art, Tron and a Modular Robot all in one. I then thought they needed a little something and proceeded to ruin them. I added my own color block with green paper. Now I must say that it now looks like it belongs back in the garbage can and proceed to remove the paper.  Ah now that is better. I guess they just needed...

A few weeks back this Cowl Neck vest was on my Weekend list. I don't sew clothes very often but thought I would try again. I had purchased the pattern Dan.a on Etsy . It was simple to read and only four pattern pieces. I decided to use a Chartreuse knit since I thought it looked like a good spring color. I was concerned about sewing with a knit since it can move and bunch if you are not careful. It took me about 3 hours to complete (cutting pattern,cutting fabric and sewing) since you have to pin this fabric a lot so it does not move while sewing. I was completely impressed at how easy it was to sew and the instructions were simple to follow. Now it looks like a big lump of fabric on the floor since I could not get a good photo of myself in it. But I got one of the cowl and how it drapes. It is quite nice and would be lovely under a spring jacket or in the fall or winter with a turtleneck. One note about the pattern although, It fit me okay,but because I am tall it was a bit short...

Now I am not fooling that it is April 1st or that it that time of the week for my weekend list. But I might be fooling on the projects I have planned for the weekend? Not sure if they are really or fake? You can be the judge and see if I complete the project in the way I have planned. So let's get to the list.. (1) Ring Blanks. I have the urge to make some really funky junky rings for the spring!Might be flowers or recycled junk or maybe both! I think I have some good ideas blooming for this one! (2) Bunny Art Easter is coming and wanted to make this a couple week ago, so I better get going on it. This is not the art but the inspiration for the possible project. (3) Button Jewelry I bought a lot of silver and pewter buttons on Etsy this week and I can't wait to make some interesting jewelry out of them since you can never have enough jewelry (or shoes)! (4) Leather Now this has been on the list before but I now have pinned down an idea for it since trying a few different thing...

I often wonder where other people get there ideas from. Is it a connection with an object that leads from one idea to another? or is it a specific place like a vortex in which ideas flow freely and the mind can explore all corners of the universe?  Recently I have noticed that I get great ideas in one of two places, not very exciting places but good for mind wandering. First is the shower.. I am not sure why, it might the water hitting the back of my head and stimulating some dark area of my feeble brain or it is just the calming sound of the water. No matter what it is it has been a very good place for me to think and be alone with my brain. Only drawback is I can't write anything down, which means I need to remember it when I get out. Not so easy since once I am out, the ideas disappear like the water down the drain. I guess I need a notebook right there when I get out.  Second place is in bed and the time between sleep and awake. So many times I have had the idea of the ce...

Some years ago I was introduced to a craft that held my attention for many years. While visiting my sister at college I came across a tiny cross stitch kit in a store not far from the campus. I think it was basket of flowers and I finished it about an hour. It started a whole new obsession that lasted for about 10 years during my teens and twenties. Most of what I made I gave away as gifts and did not keep for myself, but I always took photos. Baby Basket Shower gift with Noah's Ark Cross Stitched ribbon. Cross Stitch Initial on a Sweatshirt for my college roommate Wendy. It's so 80's! Hearts in Quilt Patterns samples. This I think I made in to a pillow and gave to a friend's mother.  It is so funny how colors and crafts have changed over the last 25 years (when all of the above was made). The sophistication of ideas and patterns are more precise but simpler. I look at these as works of art and tests of dedication to complete a project. And luckily I have proof that I ...