knit night

After a lovely day at home yesterday feeling a sense of accomplishment and anticipating new things on the horizon, I was able to join some friends at knit night.  My friend, Madeline, who owns a lovely yarn shop in Edwardsville, IL, hosts an after hours knit night every Thursday night.  I rarely get to go, but yesterday was one of my rare appearances -- it was so nice to be there.

We all just sit around and chat and laugh and knit.  It's a wonderful way to spend an evening.  I continued to work on my sweater still in progress and enjoyed watching other people show off and tell about their projects.  One of my friends dyes and sells her own yarn and will soon be selling it on etsy under the name Skeined Alive.  Her tag line is Dyed and Gone to Heaven.  Isn't that cool? 

Of course, it's difficult not to be charmed by new and colorful yarn.  Madeline started a really neat monthly yarn club for us.  Each month we receive one mystery skein of Dream in Color yarn.  This month's yarn is Smooshy sock yarn.  It's 20% cashmere, so it's feels lovely.  They named the color Irish Sprout, how appropriate as we're waiting for any sign of spring to start sprouting around here. 

Next post, I think I'd like share what it is exactly that has me so excited and why I'm really looking forward to bright things on the horizon.  I don't want to keep it a secret.  Plus I could probably use your advise, suggestions and encouragement as well.  In the mean time, I wish you a peaceful, relaxing weekend filled with signs of spring.

blessings and happiness,

Athena

something big

Today I feel like I am standing on the ridge line of a beautiful mountain with a panoramic view before me and that something big and something special is brewing inside me and it's about to come out.  I feel like this little life of mine is about to go down a very new and exciting path.  I think good things are going to be given birth and I'm hopeful that God will help me and continue to strengthen and inspire me along the way. 

New roads always hold new adventures and sights and discoveries.  I'm really looking forward to that part.  It's like the anticipation you feel when you're getting ready to go on a trip to a place you've never been.  I felt that giddy excitement last summer, when Rob and I took a wonderful trip to the Pacific Northwest.  Such a beautiful place -- I can't wait to go again some day.

As always, thanks for going with me on this artful journey.  I can't wait to share more of it with you. 

blessings and happiness,

Athena

sew looking forward to

This is a lovely book of sewing projects that caught my eye one day at my local art supply store.  I resisted the urge to buy it straight away and opted instead (difficult though it was) to ask for it for Christmas.  And my wonderful hubby blessed me it.  I've really been looking forward to making a couple of things from it and just haven't taken the plunge yet.

The patterns are all included and it is very well written with plenty of detailed instructions and suggestions for each design.  There are skirts, dresses, tops, and even jackets.

I only have two problems:  1)  I can't decide which one to do first, and   

2)  almost all of the patterns require the use of a zipper or button holes.  I know this may sound like heresy to those experienced seamstresses among you, but in my entire sewing career (which is not impressive), I have managed to never make anything that required the knowledge and skills for either of these.  So...

my fear of the unknown, may be overcome by my desire to have something cute to wear when it finally gets warmer.  Enter a sewing class at my local sewing shop.  I have a very excellent fabric and all-things-sewing shop nearby, so I may in the near future (at my Mom's suggestion) take a class to finally learn the skills I so sew desperately need. 

I guess this is a good example of how as an artist, a mom, a writer, a seamstress or whatever, I will always need to stretch myself and overcome some sort of fear or obstacle in order to continue to grow and become a better artist, mom, writer, and seamstress.

What are you stretching yourself to overcome or learn to be a better you?

blessings and happiness,

Athena

good news!

Hip, hip, hooray!  My computer is fixed!  And the best part is we didn't have to take it back to Geek Squad and pay more money. 

All I had to do was wait for Rob to come home from being on the other side of the planet and fix it for me.  And you'll never believe what he had to do to fix it.  Unplug it and plug it back in again!  I know, isn't that ridiculous?!  Because of course, I tried that while he was gone and of course, when I did it, it didn't fix anything.  But, you know, I don't care.  I'm just glad it works and I can finally post again.

I guess sometimes God just wants to teach me a little patience or cause me to slow down and appreciate the every day things I might take for granted or humility or something like that.  But any way, hopefully, tomorrow I can write about something more worthwhile or more entertaining when I'm not so tired.

blessings and happiness,

Athena

technical difficulties

I feel so frustrated!  It's been a week and I'm just now getting to post again.  My computer is sick and I'm trying to figure out what to do to make it better.  Let's just say, we recently gave Geek Squad a great deal of money to fix said computer, but alas, some computer buggie is still lurking inside.  How frustrating. 

So, it's back to Geek Squad for that temporarily useless paper weight.  For now, I'm logging on using my daughter's computer.  Unfortunately, it doesn't have my normal photo editing software, so my post is pictureless today.  Until the computer geeks can figure out what's wrong, I'm sorry to say, I won't be able to post for a while -- at least not with pictures.  And what good is a gypsyticks post with no pictures?  Ugghh...

Well, hopefully my trusty computer will be back in good health soon.  Until then, I wish you sunny spring days, healthy computers, happy blogging and ...

blessings and happiness,

Athena

playtime

We have been so blessed this week with warm spring weather.  I can not begin to tell you how thankful for that we are.  So since today was Friday and it was so beautiful outside, I took the children to the park for a little playtime on the way home from school.

It was so nice to enjoy some time outside together.

After we played, we walked around the pond and waterfalls where a few geese and ducks were enjoying the spring weather, too. 

After a stroll along the path, my attention was drawn to a group of train cars at rest on a nearby switch track.  I thought Sean might like to go over and take a closer look since he likes trains.  As we got closer this is what we saw.

I never can tell what graffiti says (which is probably a good thing), but I like the bright colors and think in its own way, it's art. 

I hope no matter where you are, you have some spring weather to enjoy and maybe some unexpected art to discover, too.  Enjoy your weekend!

blessings and happiness,

Athena

getting to work

I finally got to work on a project that's been waiting for me.  I am making a pair of curtain panels for a window in the master bath.  It's one of those big 46 x 46 windows right over the tub that builders are using these days.  Who wants a giant window right over the tub?  Any way, since it's a custom size, and I can't buy store-bought curtains the right size, I'm making my own.

This is a cream colored light weight upholstery/home decor fabric with beautiful embroidery in silver and a very pale lavender.  You can barely tell the difference, but the leaves are silver and the stems are lavender.

I'm definitely not an advanced seamstress, so I'm keeping it simple and making two panels that will hang from curtain rod clips.  Basically two lined rectangles.  Simple right?

measuring and pinning for the hems

I was doing great until (after it was too late), I discovered I didn't allow enough seam allowance of the liner fabric.  Basic sewing mistake #1!  I was so intent on measuring and doing math and adding seam allowances for the actual panel fabric, that I didn't take the same precaution for the liner.  Uggh.  I'm sure all you expert seamstresses (and my Mom) are just mortified.  Sorry.

Fortunately, it's a mistake that won't show and only I (and you) will know.  Tomorrow it's on to panel number 2 and then hopefully the installation so I can show you how they look hanging up.  :)

blessings and happiness,

Athena