A Visit With An Artist Friend

Last week I had a wonderful visit with my friend Elaine. Her cat, Honeybee gave me a friendly greeting!

Elaine is an artist who creates very realistic and detailed works with cut paper. She made the daffodil card which I showed last week, and this piece hangs in her studio. (I took the photo through glass which explains the slight glare.)
On the wall in Elaine's kitchen there is a cabinet which houses a wonderful miniature dollhouse. The cabinet was built years ago by her husband Alan, and carefully furnished by Elaine. Since the first time I saw this house I have felt like a small child, peering into a little world, every time I visit. Many items in the house were purchased and many details made by Elaine herself.

Here's a view of the entire interior.

And, of course, there must be a sewing room...

and an artist's studio!

A little clothespin doll, made by Elaine, which hangs from a shelf in her studio.

Every wall in Elaine's home showcases the varied artworks of the talented members of her family - paintings, serigraphs, pastels, art quilts... too many to name. We shared our recent work, talked about common interests in paper and fabric art, laughed and ate out!

 All in all, a creative visit with a dear friend!

Coach Irma

This is Irma, my creativity coach, telling me to get going on some of the projects I've been putting off. She came from The Dollar Store a few years ago and I just love her saucy stance. I feel like she should be shaking one of her fingers at me, urging me to finish up my fused fabric bouquet or the quilted and beaded flower picture that is stuck in a pile in my studio.

My problem is that I procrastinate when I'm afraid a project won't turn out as well as I want it to. I get stuck  and, instead of just working it out, I spend time just looking at the components and waiting for a push - be it a deadline or a sudden impulse to finish - to get the ball rolling again. 

Does anyone else have this problem?

Anyway, I love to change Irma's location once in a while, because the sight of her on a different table or windowsill makes me smile, and reminds me that it's time to get going and accomplish something!

Andrea's Studio

Every week I get together with creative friends at my friend Andrea's studio. She has a lovely open space in her house, with plenty of windows and stimulating color all around. We meet to sew, design, talk, complain, laugh....it's a lot of fun and something I look forward to every week!

Last week, up on the design wall was Andrea's beautiful aqua print pieced design, which she is adding to each week and which will end up being a shower curtain in her home near the shore.

At the same time, Barbara was working on designing a quilt incorporating hand embroidered flowers in circles, arranged in rows. This will be spectacular when done, since Barbara is a professional machine quilter and does beautiful work!

What was I working on? Probably one of the "faces" from my 5 day challenge last week! I hope to have more of Andrea's, Barbara's and perhaps other friends' work to share with you in some weeks to come, and this could include jewelry, painting, or sewing, because there is a lot of creativity going on there!