Time to get busy!

I'm going to the Design Outside the Lines retreat in Taos in September. I am very excited of course, but a bit creatively intimidated.  I need to start really stretching the creative wings, so that I can take full advantage of the entire week.  In other words, it's time to stop thinking and start doing. It can be so easy to get caught up in spending the creative time I have in reading wonderful blogs, looking at interesting pins on Pinterest and dreaming of various projects, only to be tired enough at the end of the day to pick up something to knit, weave or sew that only improves my technique or skill as I follow someone else's design idea.  This is all well and good, but you only improve your technical skill, or satiate your creative need for the day by reading or viewing it on the computer.

I've really been inspired and challenged by several sewing blogs not only for the wonderful projects but the insight. Myrna Giesbrecht, I love reading this one and really look forward to a new post.  Not only does she share a variety of projects and challenges, but the books she reads are wonderful.  She shares her creative journey as she pushes herself to grow creatively.

However, today I have the house to myself, and it's pouring rain.  First up, just finishing a tank top for summer.  While that in of itself, is more just a project to get down for a summer top, I did stretch a bit and add a cut piece to the neckline, cutting against the grain of the knit for a contrast.  It's a start. The pattern is Ann's Cardigan and Tank, by the The Sewing Workshop. It's a very good fit, easy enough, and a bit interesting with the side vents and shaped hem.  The neckline in the pattern is serged and turned under, I added a 1" strip of the striped area of the fabric, stitched and turned that under.

The second piece finished for the day.  There is a particular

 vendor that I look forward to her booth at various fiber 

shows that I attend Small and Beautiful Beads. 

 She carries these wonderful metal, patina pieces in verdigris,

 I don't think she has them on her website though.  

For this necklace, I wanted to use something with

 a different texture to contrast with the metal. 

 I dyed natural wool roving a turquoise color, with a

 bit of green dye swirled in.  To create the felted beads, I first needle felt the wool into a larger round shape, and then finish them with wet felting until they are compact and the size I want (they shrink a bit when dry).  This also has two polymer clay beads that I purchased somewhere, and had in my bead stash. The leather cord is knotted between each element as it was strung.

 Back to the studio, i've got a few more hours of quiet creativity to fill!