Hello All!  We are back up and running!  A bit has happened here while I was computerless - and I'll be sharing that soon, but today, we get to meet the lovely Andee of Bearing Fruit!

So grab a nice cuppa whatever it is you are drinking these days (Irish Breakfast Tea for me!) and enjoy the discussion with Andee!

Hello Andee - It's so good to have you here.  Let's jump right in, shall we?

Hi Daphne!  Thanks so much for having me over for a visit.

I love your collages Andee, they are so colorful and cheerful.  Could you share a little bit with us about your creative process?

Sure! I usually get inspired when I am reading my Bible or when I'm

journaling.  I have those moments sometimes where I am reading and

then a verse jumps out at me.  I might journal about it or meditate on

its meaning.  I then get to drawing. Mostly, I use little figures as

my main "characters" in the pieces.  So at this point, I draw the

little figure out in graphite pencil and then color her or him  in

with colored pencil.  Next I paint thin washes of acrylic paint mixed

with a medium over the colored pencil.  Then I cut my figure out with

an x-acto knife.  While I am doing this, I usually am thinking about

background colors.  I might have already prepped a surface or maybe

not.  If I haven't already, at this point I prep and paint my

background.  Once I have my figure cut out, I start playing with the

placement of the collaged elements and the figure on the page.  I get

to ripping up papers.  I play with text.  I print stuff out on the

computer or I paint the words by hand.  Once I get everything where I

like it, I use matte medium to affix my collaged elements to my

surface.

I actually took this superfab online class with Suzi Blu who totally

inspired me with her awesome techniques. I learned how to do the

technique of using colored pencil and then paint over the figure from

Suzi.  I highly recommend her classes.  She's a great teacher.

Wow - sometimes scripture does that same thing to me!  Your characters are so fun and your technique is so interesting - thank you for sharing!

In addition to the collages, I notice that you are sewing.  Can you tell us a little about that?  Is there anywhere we can find your sewn items?

Well, when I first started to blog, I was painting and doing a great
deal of the mixed media pieces.  But as I am sure you know, Daphne,
creativity doesn't always follow a straight path!   So here I am, I'm
painting.  And I get this bee in my bonnet to make this purse.  So I
go into the stash and there it is, my pattern and fabric that was
planning to make oh-so-long ago. I make the green purse.

What can I tell you Daphne, except I was off and running!

Once I sat in front of that sewing machine, it was like coming home.
I used to sew when I was in 8th and 9th grade in a home ec class.  But
I had long since stopped sewing.  I had been feeling a bit stuck in my
mixed media paintings.  I started to sew, and suddenly inspiration was
everywhere.

As for where you can buy the sewn pieces I am making, I haven't
officially set up shop yet.  I am taking custom orders for friends and
friends of friends.  But truth be told, I can't make things fast
enough to actually accumulate them to put them up in an online shop,
craft fair, or brick and mortar.  But stay tuned, you never know...!
I guess in the meantime if someone I wants a custom order, they can
e-mail me.

It is true that creativity seems to wind its way through our lives.  Your sewn items are just as lovely as your paintings so I think you're on the right track! ;)  Now on to somethings I'm a little curious about...

You've given us a few glances into your rockabilly history (which I LOVE!), what is one other thing we might not know about you?

Hmm...that's a really good question!  Well, here's a bunch of things
you probably didn't know about me (in no particular order)
1.  In college, I dyed my hair all the time, and one time I dyed my
bangs green.  I dyed them back to my natural color because the bangs
were clashing with a lot of my outfits!
2.  I pierced my own left ear 4 times when I was in 8th grade-the old
fashioned way: with an ice cube and one of those earrings that they
pierce your ears with at the mall that's sharp as a point on one end.
3.  I speak French and Italian.
4.  I also dyed my bangs purple!
- What is it with me and the bangs? -

What are some new techniques or crafts you're interested in but haven't tried yet?

I am fascinated with (in no particular order) quilting, crocheting and
embroidery.  Right now, I'm on a sewing jag. There's all this great
stuff to sew, so I may never stop long enough to try somethin' new.
Although, if the need comes up, I'll get busy.  That's what happened
when Mr. Handsome (my fond name for my husband) wanted a handmade
scarf.

I resurrected my knitting needles (I had made one half of a scarf once

about 5 years ago and dropped the pursuit)  But those babies were back

in my hands in no time and away I went.  Big thanks to elseffo at

YouTube for reminding me what to do once I cast on.  It was a comedy

show, really.  Me playing the same 2 minutes of the video over and

over so I could do it along with the instruction.

Are there any crafty classes/trips/pursuits coming up for you this summer?

Does September count?  If it does, then let me tell you about this
awesome event I'm going to: Blog Sugar. It's a one day event in
Southern California for faith based bloggers.  But they explain it way
better on their blog.  So I quote them here:  "Rachel  (the founder of
Blog Sugar) has realized that there was and still is a need for
bloggers to come together, talk social media and renew their passion
for WHY they blog.   And Rachel has a desire to provide an atmosphere
for each and every blog-lovin' person.  People desire to be purposeful
and intentional about what they do and Blog Sugar was created to come
along side bloggers and encourage them in the journey the Lord has
them on.  Inspire. Teach. Grow.  That is why Blog Sugar exists."

What is your favorite source of inspiration?

I get inspired by what's around me.  And from these, I can't pick one
favorite.  Here are a few:
1.  walking in nature
2.  walking in the hills by my house
3.  thinking about making cool 1950s dresses, or looking at cool 1950s images
4.  looking at fun things other people make.  I am really into looking
at anything someone sews, especially if the fabric is patterned.  I
also have a major crush on anything felted.
5.  i love typography, graphic design and letterpress

But most of all, I get inspired in the morning when I sit and hang
with my One and only.  He teaches me, He guides me, and He loves me.
Unconditionally.  Plus, a lot of times, I'll be journaling and I'll
get ideas to make something.

I even got the idea and all the how-tos to make a bride-to-be nightie
when I was in my quiet time!  I got inspired, and in between reading
verses, I started sketching out designs and figured out how to make it
using a store-bought bra, some ribbons and some sheer fabric.

I'm always curious about where people create, could you describe your studio/creative space for us?

The space that I am actually in is totally makeshift.  We just moved
about two months ago and are in the midst of putting the finishing
touches on everything. But, with that said, we are blessed to have a
guesthouse behind our little bungalow.  We call it the 'casita.'  It's
a small space, and it has two little rooms plus a bathroom.  Mr.
Handsome has his study in one room, and my craft room is in the other
room. Truth be told, I haven't gotten to spiffin' up my space yet.  I
have been deliberately taking my time to put it together so I can see
what I really want and what I need.  As I am continuing to work in
here, I'm just about ready to start pulling it all together.

The barebones of it is: on one wall of the room I have my computer
table with my scanner and printer and assorted officey things in bins
below the table.  I turn 180 degrees in my chair and I am facing my
do-everything table.  This is where I sew.  It's also where I cut out
papers and collage stuff.

If I look out the window, I see our gorgeous lemon tree.  We are
planning to plant a vegetable garden in front of the casita.  So the
garden is pretty lovely.  And we are working on that too.

If I had to pick one phrase to describe it all, I'd say "work-in-progress."

What is your favorite holiday, and why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas.  I love what it means.  I love what
we are celebrating.  I love the family time.  I love Christmas music,
the decorations, the lights, the festive atmosphere.  Especially now
that Mr. Handsome and I are married ( we celebrate our one year
anniversary on May 29th!)  It's a whole new adventure together. We are
starting family traditions of our own.  Yay.  Christmas rocks.

Your faith really shines through in your work, do you have any advice for those of us that would like to mesh our faith and creativity more?

That is an awesome compliment Daphne!

I was a bit torn in the beginning about just how much of myself to
share on the blog.  I mean, my main idea was to blog about my crafts.
But I blog about me.  And I'm about God.  My initial posts where I'd
mention my faith were treading lightly on the subject.  I would never
want to come off as "preachy."  Meanwhile, I'm looking at a lot of
blogs in my spare time.  And more and more I find myself being drawn
in to those where the women showed their love of their creative side
blended with their faith.  I started to be moved to share a bit more.
I prayed about it and asked God how.  He started to guide me through
it.  I'm still on the journey.

I would say to anyone who would like to do anything on your blog, be
true.  Be true to the person that God made you to be.  It's been so
much easier for me to just be me on my blog, rather than be me but
only-sorta-and-only-kinda-blog-about-my
faith-but-not-really-so-I-don't-offend-anyone.
Whew, I'm exhausted just writing that run-on sentence!

One thing I can say that I really connect with people who are
authentically real on their blogs.  I have found some blogs that just
move me deeply because they are so honest and true.  I was just
reading today about a guy who had a blog.  His wife had a baby and
then she died the next day, or maybe even the same day the baby was
born.  He was gonna close up the blog, but then it sort of became his
daughter's 'baby book' and he began blogging about his life as a
single dad, who loved his daughter and really,really missed his wife.
I can't wait to read his blog.  From what I can tell, this guy and I
may not see eye-to-eye on a lot of 'stuff', but I can really dig that
he is bein' real.

That's what it's all about.

Bein' real.

Well, it certainly shows in your work and on your blog!  Thank you so much for spending some time with us here today and answering all my goofy questions!  It's been great talking with you Andee!

Thanks again so much for having me over Daphne!  It's been really fun
catching up.

Head on over to Andee's blog and say hello!

Monday Monday (or Tuesday...)

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that I should have a computer Monday or Tuesday!

I haven't got a whole lot done, but I'll be sharing all that in a few days on e I'm back in business with a real computer!

Until then,
Blessings

Oh technology

How did we ever get along with computers, iPod, cell phones and the lot?

Our computer situation is going to get tricky for at least the next week...but hopefully at the end of it all I will have a new laptop - yay!

Just wanted to let you know that I'm not sure if I will have access to post for a week or so.  I might be able to from the iPod, not sure...I will still get e-mails for sure, so if you'd like to say "hi", drop me a note!

Just means more time to actually get stuff done....right?  

Like these flower rings.

Thanks and Blessings to you -

Crafty goings-on and their inspirations...

Just a few of the things I've found my crafty-self engrossed in these last few weeks:

Alabama Stitch Book and Alabama Studio Style.

To say that Natalie Chanin is an inspiration to me is a gross understatement.   These books and her work are all about hand stitching, using local products and workmanship, slowing life down....serious wonderfulness here folks.  If you've never seen her work, check out the website here.  

This is a spin on one of the projects from the Alabama Stitch Book.  A notebook cover!  My friend Brian was cleaning out his closets and was kind enough to let me pick through what he was going to take to the thrift store so I could get first dibs!!!  I used parts of two knit jersey shirts to make this super easy cover.

I apologize for the lighting...night photos are not the best option, but sometimes they are THE option, if you know what I mean...

Anywho - this shirt had awesome pockets that I was able to use, so now my cover has a handy dandy pocket to hold my phone or pens or whatever!

Obviously this one was for me to keep as I don't have the kinks quite worked out...and it would have helped if I had followed the directions, of course, but who has time for directions when you want to get started now?!  

I do love Natalie's style of imperfection and unfinished edges and will most likely be incorporating some of that 'feel' into my work.

This guide to crazy quilting along with a few blogs have been what I have spent quite a bit of my time on the last few days.  (this blog, and this one, in particular!) 

All this crazy quilting excitement got started when I finally figured out what to do with some very special scraps of fabric. 

When my Grandmother passed away, I got some of her clothing, some of the things I remember her wearing.  I wanted to make something special with them, something for her children (my Dad and Aunt) and the grandkids (myself and two cousins) (it's a small family!).  It has been several years now that these have been patiently waiting in a project bag, and the other week it hit me - crazy quilt pillows!  Which was great, except I'd never done a crazy quilt in my life!  Thank goodness for crafty blogs and helpful books!

Here is the first "naked" block (see, I'm already learning the terminology!) - it's naked because it doesn't have any embroidery/embellishment yet.  I have seen some beautiful examples of heavily embellished crazy quilts.  For these pillows though, since they are the first adventure of this sane girl into crazy quilting and because I want them to be used and loved, I think we'll keep it simple as far as embellishing goes.  More soon!

-Blessings-

Statement of Faith: Bus Stories - Part 3

On the bus the other day, I sat across from a gentleman.  (That's a pretty good opener, huh?).  So, this gentleman... was around my age (mid-late twenties), he had a buzz cut, mustache and looked like some sketchiness could be in his past and/or his future.  That image is where my "judging a book by it's cover" self might have left things, if the bus wasn't warm that morning, and he hadn't taken off his hoodie.  (*note, I am not usually a judge a book by its cover person, just so you know.  Maybe it would have been better if I had phrased it, "first impression".  Hmmm.)

The second impression surprised me, and I'm quite glad it did.  On his left forearm the word Mercy was tattooed in simple lettering.  On his right, Grace.  I was studying these words (discretely, of course.  I mean, I've been known to make an awkward sandwich or two, but I try not to do that with strangers...in public) - so anyway, as I was pondering what surprising choices "Mercy" and "Grace" were to have tattooed on your arms, he reached into his bag to pull out a hardcover book (another surprise).  When he did, I saw another tattoo, a bit further up his right arm that said "To Live is Christ".

To live is Christ.  I kept turning it over in my head.  To live is Christ....to die is...something.  I couldn't remember what that last bit was.  I knew Paul wrote it and that it was somewhere in the back of the Book, but I couldn't put my finger on it.  So when I got to work, the first thing I did was look it up.  To live is Christ to die is gain.  Philippians 1:21

A complete stranger, with whom I shared no (verbal) words, got me to look in my Bible and made my day.  Thank you tattooed Sir.  Mercy and Grace.  Very fitting words for thought this Lenten season, no?

-Blessings-

Happy Mardi Gras!

It was Mardi Gras here in New Orleans today.

That's right, it's a holiday.  No school.  No work.  Yippee!

In fact, I wouldn't have even been able to get to work if I had wanted to.  This was the view from our living room this afternoon:

And from our kitchen:

Parades parades!

So Les le bon temps roule ya'll!

(or "Let the good times roll" for those of you who don't speak Cajun)

-Blessings

Craft Hope project 11 is on its way!

The title pretty much says it all, but here are some pictures:

The outside...

And the inside with a very soft and snuggly flannel receiving blanket.

It turned out a little smaller than I would have liked, but I think it will be big enough.

I used this tutorial by Skip To My Lou as a guide, but a chunk of it was just seat of the pants sewing.

This softie was all seat of the pants sewing...if you couldn't tell.

It did not work out the way I had envisioned it in my head, but he has his own charm and my son lit up when I showed it to him, so I think that's a good sign.

It was not my intention to have the seams on the outside, but when I tried to turn it I just could not get the loop part to turn.  Any ideas?  Or is it not doable?

I might put together a tutorial for this little guy...we'll see.  He might need another test run.

Andee has sent hers off too - and you can see pictures of it (and her adorable monkey softie here).

Blessings!