Patchwork and the Summer Sun

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What is a girl to do when it is 102 degrees out and the coolest place to hide is 3 feet in front of the cooler? She works on paper patchwork applique of course. I've made about 15 of the little hexagons and about 10 pentagons from assorted fabric from my Zakka collection. I think my first project will to be to sew some on the flap of a messenger bag. I also moved my computer desk today so I'd have a bit more workspace. I was playing bumper cars with the chair at the other desk. We were both getting annoyed, so I put more space between us. I had a much bigger desk at the old house so I'll have to see about solving that dilemma.

The view from my desk. Scrub Jay.

 

I rented a metal container so I'd have lots and lots of workspace and so I could get all of the crafts out of the house. I failed to take into account that in the winter it gets cold in that metal box and the sun goes down at 5 PM and in the summer (which seems to have started in March and is still going through August) its just too bloody hot to work out there without frying my brains. So now I mostly work in the house. Which makes sewing difficult because the sewing machine is out there in the container and there is no room for anything else in the house. Every day I try to get more stuff out of here, not put more stuff in here.

His container. Mine is next to it but looks the same.

Summer Vacation

I'm enjoying some excellent company, some fine sharing of stories, and the cutest little bedroom to sleep in. And most importantly, computer access to my online world of friends. Once I wake up a bit and my eyes focus, I brought many projects with me to work on. And since I'm getting a ride home in a car or truck at some point, I can work on more bulky things that I wouldn't be able to take on the train. Like a assemblage box I want to make. I have some of the parts but I don't have the box yet.

I got a little homesick looking at photos of my garden this morning. The snake gourds are growing like crazy. Then I realized that might not be my home for much longer and that just made me sad. So I am trying to keep my emotions under control and enjoy what is supposed to be my vacation, but hasn't quite turned out to be relaxing and trouble free.

The nature of life is change, so I just need to buckle my seatbelt and hang on for the ride.

I need to build myself up so I can survive other people tearing me down.

It's going to be hot today. I'm sipping iced tea for breakfast. I'm hungry and I'm not sure when breakfast happens around here. Everyone leaped out of bed and went to work. I'm the only one on vacation so I feel like a lay-about. Ha!

I may have to mention I'm hungry or resort to eating the M&Ms in my suitcase for breakfast. Right? Right.

Under the Oaks

The Amtrak Surfliner delivered me safely to San Luis Obispo last night. We were even about 20 minutes early. I guess the crew wanted to get home after the last run of the day. Because of the 4th of July, it is one of Amtrak's busiest travel days. Remind me not to take the train during a four day weekend next time!

Sweet little Maggie looked great in the yellow knit hat I made. I'll have to get some photos of her tomorrow. I started a new hat on the train with variegated pink/gray/and black yarn. I worked on it a bit at Bru's coffee while my daughter ran her errands.

This morning I  painted under the oaks en plein aire. I almost finished the painting. When it is light out tomorrow, I'll do the last of the detail work and hopefully start a new painting outdoors. A bird tried to land on my painting.

It's so nice to have weather that is not so oppressive that I have to plan everything I do around it.
And my daughter's new car has air conditioning, so it's a whole different world than driving around in our truck at home that is like sitting in an oven since we don't have air conditioning. Yes, we can roll the windows down, but the desert air is like a blast furnace blowing in when it's 109 out.

I'm trying to pick up some extra face painting or balloon art gigs while I'm up here. So if you need someone in SLO County, give me a holler. I'm booked on the 13, but that leaves every other day open for other gigs up until July 22. Being summer, most other entertainers will be booked up, so that leaves a chance for me to pick up some last minute parties.

Thanks for reading. Comment below if  you'd like.

Summer Travels

I hope my American friends had a happy 4th of July. I tried to get my kids and grandkids here but they didn't want to brave the triple digit temps, and I can't blame them.  It's amazing how I lose any motivation to move or be productive when it is hot out. I did manage to work on some embroidery at the library.

I'm mostly worried about getting ready for my trip. I'll be gone for 3 or 4 weeks and money is going to be super tight. There won't be any shopping sprees on this trip. I have a gig on the 13th of July, and hopefully that will keep me afloat for the 2nd leg of my trip to S. Cal. I haven't even procured my train ticket yet because of a cash flow issue. So I hope my dial up connection doesn't prevent me from getting the ticket online later today. I need to find some light weight and compactable crafts to take with me. So I'll probably take the kumihimo disk, one small crochet project, one small knitting project and some beading supplies. My back has been unhappy so there is no way I'm carrying more weight than I absolutely have to. I'm trying not to be so stressed out that I can't have fun.

Dreibergen Festival of the Rose Photos

Last Sat. we went to an SCA event called "The Festival of the Rose' in Hemet CA. I thought I'd share some of the photos. I took a class on mixing my own egg yolk tempera. I can't wait to do some more illumination with it.

I hung out with my friend at his weaving display in the morning, then I watched the bardic performances around lunchtime, and then I took the class. By the time I got out of class the archery booth was already loaded in the car thanks to our SCA friends Rino, Christos, and Joshua. I didn't have to lift anything. How nice is that?

Learn About Stick Weaving.

Here is an article I wrote on Stick Weaving. I bring it up now because it's the perfect project for summer camps, homeschooling and summer vacation days that are getting boring. Inexpensive and a good way to use up partial skeins of yarn from past projects or donated yarn that doesn't quite suit your taste.

My Summer Craftmania

I just wrote an article on my summer Craftmania.

It basically sums up what I've been doing this summer.

Stupid Heatwave

Today I wanted a project I could do while sitting at the computer so I started a little wool purse that I'm going to felt later. My fingers feel itchy and oily from the lanolin but it looks pretty.
And I added more squares to my patchwork quilt. I put some off-white into the mix.
It's just so hot in here, I feel like a slug. Can't wait until it gets dark. Our air conditioner only cools the dining room, and I'm never in the dining room, so I sit under fans.
I did update my psychic mediumship site at http://www.luckyharper.com because I'm trying to get my mind into a spot where I can write about metaphysics. I've got to stop saying I'm going to write a book and actually write a book. But if you go to the site and click on the menu bar it will take you to other articles I've written on the subject.
I thought I'd start another collage today but haven't managed to get around to it yet.
And on Sunday my friend Aimee wants to meet and do some loom beading, so I need to look for my loom beading stuff that is stashed in a bin somewhere.