Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Chatting it up for the Week...

Looks like today is a good day to post the happenings of my week... so here goes.....

I've been mulling over some ideas for Aprils Take It Further Challenge... (see theme and color there). I wrote a couple pages of "thoughts" and pulled some fabrics that go with the palette (or pretty darn close) and came up with this pile. It's hard working with the colors this time but I can honor my "South of the Equator" friends even though Spring is here and I'm itching for the color of it, just another pose of the Challenge. I can actually see these colors as a sizzling July, sun drenched, kind of day to suit this hemisphere. As in the past, I'm using paint chips to act as my color guide and this is the first time I've been short of one, the vanilla-esque color shown... I didn't have anything close so my eye will have to replicate it. No telling where this will go...


First thoughts that jumped out (and I mean way out) about how I see change was that any change has to happen with me. I can't wait or hope for anyone else to do it to make my world right. Ironically, that's been one of my personal challenges to deal with these past couple years.... learning how to let go, let live, and let God. I'm thinking that I can use this piece to cement one of the things I've made my "truth", these realizations about change that will take me to this next place in my life... pretty profound and catalytic, eh??? All I could seem to think of was this, "Man In the Mirror".... by Michael Jackson... video here.......and..... lyrics here. .... pretty well sums up my thoughts vicariously. So I'm looking at "reflection" and a "mirror" to use as my muse . Maybe a hand mirror with infinite reflections of myself to symbolize the "million" changes I've been through thus far???


I'm wanting to work on the back/construction of the Geronimo blocks too, wanting to use this kind of look which fits with this months colors... hhhmmm.... could I accomplish 2 in 1 somehow....? I best not push it for now but the idea did pass through me...

Ya never know what you'll find at St Vincents.... yesterday I stopped in after work... lo and behold.... 10 cents a piece... I'll take them.... vintage button hole twists. A couple Birds and Blooms and BHG Garden & Patio mags....$5 and some cents and I'm enthused for the week.


What 20 cents would buy back when, huh?


I've been trying to pretty up some on my days off... trying not to loose my whole "citified persona" up here in the woods. "I am what I am" and they say you should never forget where you come from.....both bad or good !!! My dear friend Mary Anne made these for me about 20 years ago. She macramed the most awesome bottles and plant hangers... a resurgence to be anticipated. If you really love something , it will come back to style again.

And this is my head... while I was photographing the earrings, I thought I would let you know that I'm GONNA DO IT..... Well at least really try and see how it goes..... GRAY or GREY.... (either way I claim it) ... I figure the sun is coming which 'll help me out with the natural highlighting, but here it is ( the best pic I could get by myself). I have a back up box of L'oreal Preference just in case I freak out, (unlike like the box of Marlboro Lights of which I am NOT ready to give up just yet).

Speaking of hair.. a few posts back I mentioned it was "Spring Do" time. I ensconced myself in the bathroom for 2 1/2 hours, towels rolled up around the base of the washer and dryer so the hair wouldn't float under and unmercifully sheared my 2 Lhasas of their winter coats. Tash and Tang are really happy about it no matter how they look.

I asked them to smile and this is the best they could do under the circumstances. Per a bad experience, I had to take them to the town vet for their nail trimming but my hair work saved a few dollars anyway.


Thank goodness Felon, the "Big Boy" doesn't need shearing.



Although we got 4" of snow this AM ,again..... Arggghhhhh, these are pics from yesterday.... The Trout ( Steelhead) are running in the Huron River. This is a view from 5 miles (as the crow flies) inland from Lake Superior. Big Eriks Bridge Campground is full of fisherman trying their luck. I thought this was the coolest campsite with the TeePee.

The snow is melting off the mountains in a big way now and heading towards their goal of filling up the largest fresh water lake in the world.

There's green peeking out in the forest...



and the Maple trees are putting out the sap that will become "sugar in a bottle".

Everythings feeling good to be getting into a schedule of sorts. I love my job but I love the time I get to dream and create,having fun with my camera and playing with fabric and threads too.

Till the next time, Jane


7 comments:

paulahewitt said...

Yah, you're going grey!! Good on you!. Not many people seemed thrilled about this months colour challenge - Ive seen a few 'but its spring!!!!' comments around the traps. good find at vinnies too. I loved all the dog and forest pics. do you collect maple syrup yourself? is it something you can just go out and collect from the wild, or do you need a permit, or grow the trees yourselves?

Allison Ann Aller said...

Ah, Jane, it does my heart good to see the north Michigan woods and rivers...makes me so homesick...

Love the fabrics your pulled for this month's challenge. What a rich pile...mmm, MMMM!

You asked on my blog if our trees are past blooming yet. Definitely not! We have been socked in under rain in the mid 40's for weeks and weeks...everything is kind of in limbo waiting for some sun and warmth...especially me!!!!

sparkle jars said...

I too am going gray with grace! :-)
I am enjoying your posts so much. Oh, and what a thrift shop find! And only 10 cents each. Thank you for your kind post.

Threadspider said...

What a treasure trove of a post you wrote-it was wonderful to read and gave me a glimpse of the real you. I love the earings-sometimes only dangly ones meet the need to be a girl. It's funny- I found an old pair of silver dangly ones in my button pot just today!.
And soon it will be time to be outside -when the April showers ease up a little.

Toni said...

Jane,

I enjoyed your post. You seem to have less snow then us..Spring will come but not just yet...I love the pics of the forest and river..I starting going gray in my 20's and colored my hair for 24 years and one day said enough..went to the hairdresser and said cut all the color off and never did it again...that was last spring...I can tell you it has been liberating...I dont love it but I dont hate it either..Cant wait to see your new block...Have a good weekend..Toni

Judy S. said...

Great photos! I'll be anxious to see your TIF block. It's fun to participate vicariously! Good find at the thrift shop....wooden spools are a thing of the past!

Susan said...

Love the river photo. Love maple syrup, too. =) Never had it pure, always some percentage. Is it really thick when the initial boiling is done?

What a great find at St. Vincent's! Thanks for sharing the start of your April challenge.