Friday, February 27, 2009

This week at ROotie - Clean!

At the beginning of every year, I like to take the time to clean and re-organize my studio. It is a lot of work but I feel that it pays off in the long run. Fortunately, I am so busy that by the end of the year- I have just stuffed things anywhere just to make room for a new project.

I start off with clearing everything off the shelves and go through each item...I know it sounds nuts- but it is worth it!

My Workspace- clean and ready...

First off, it creates a feeling of space...room to think...to create! Clearing out things that just do not need to be there. Getting rid of dead weight.

Second off, it saves me time because now things are back in there place and once again like-things are together. I don't have to hunt for things.

Thirdly, it is motivating. Now that everything is shiny and organized, I am ready to get back to work!

Finally, I love my studio and it is nice to take care of it. And it is wonderful to have those pretty things you love in sight!


Before and After
My shelves with paints and pencils etc...


Before and After
My shelves with my fabrics...


Just After
I had all my ribbons in an over flowing drawer...everything was so smashed in there I could not find anything. I bought 24 quart-sized canning jars and put my ribbons, trims, and special items in them. Now they are handy and so fun to look at!

Friday, February 20, 2009

My Little Japanese Doll

I bought this little charming 9-inch doll several years ago and just came across her in one of my doll storage boxes. I opened the box and there she was looking up at me with her shy smile. I picked up her delicate little body and tucked her in my pocket and took her home.

She sat on a self in my living room for a few weeks. One day I walked by her and thought - What is she about? What is her history? She needs a little loving touch...a little loving care...

Off she came with me to my studio. I wrote a woman by the name of Rosalie, who knows a lot about Japanese Dolls. She was kind enough to answer my questions of who was this little doll.

Rosalie's reply was...
My (poor) little Japanese Doll was one of many made in the style of the FD- she is called Ichimatsu, because of her movable limbs. Her hand-sewn kimono seems to be made from the 1940's. Her skin is made of ground shells and glue called gofun.


My sweet little Ichimatsu needed a bit of tender loving care. I usually do not repair vintage dolls to new. I find their true beauty is in their wear and "patina". But she needed just a bit of care and another arm!
So I made her a new arm from Stone-clay, stabilized and flipped her obi around a bit, and added small pieces of fabric to her hair bun. (I used the back side of the fabric for an aged look). Since I could not wash her little face because of the gofun, I used an eraser and gently "scrubbed" her face, hand, and feet. I added just the slightest bit of lip color.
Her name is now...Ichimatsu Kanmi...meaning A Touch of Sweetness! ...and she is back at home on my living room shelf!

I just love her and isn't that what dolls are all about?

This Week at ROotie - Paper Doll


This week at ROotie was about "paper-work" but in a creative way! I have a Artful Paper Doll Class coming in a few weeks and just finished the sample doll. "Queen Bee".
I am definitely a three-dimensional person and I admire artists who work in two-dimensions.
So to make this more my style- I designed "Queen Bee" as a three-dimensional paper doll!


More photos will be in my monthly ROotie E-News! ~see www.rootie.com

Friday, February 13, 2009

Be my Valentine!

"One sees clearly only with the Heart.
Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."
The Little Prince
Valentine's Day is my favorite Holiday of the year...and why not...it is all about Love!
Love for your husband, for your family, for your friends...even for your little black cat!

My Cat- Issy

Love can be shown by the simplest of things. Smiling at a stranger- try it- it works guaranteed they will smile back!
Taking a few seconds longer and holding the door for someone. Sticking a secret Valentine into someones office space...just bringing a little happiness to someone else through love.
The 'Luv Muffin" I made for my husband, Mark, last year. I used some of Issy's fur and felted it together with merino wool to make the fabric from which the kitty is made.

What a great Holiday...oh yes and I definitely cannot let this go with out mentioning- chocolate...what more would you need in a Holiday!

Love is the basis of my blog- to share with you the simple things that bring happiness and love into your life.

Here's a little Valentine History...
The most popular candidate for Saint Valentine was a 3rd century Roman priest. During this time, Emperor Claduis II beleived single men made better soilders and decreed all young men could not marry. St. Valentine realized the injusticed of this and secretly married young lovers.

He was captured and imprisoned, awaiting death. During this time he fell in love with the a young girl, possibly the jailer's daughter. Before his death, he wrote her a love letter and signed it 'From your Valentine'! He was executed on February 14th, 270 A.D.

Although the truth behind the legend is somewhat murky, his story emphasize him as a sympathetic, heroic and most importlanly, a romantic figure. It is no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in France and England!
May all of you find and share
the Love of the Holiday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

All "Luv Muffins" are $65.oo


Friday, February 6, 2009

Acorns

"The strongest Oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun."
-Napoleon Hill

For sometime now, I have been taken by the Little Acorn. What a sweet package with the little nut and the fuzzy cap topping it off! It just shows you what nature is capable of doing so perfectly. Acorns come in many varieties!
Here in Colorado, I have not been able to find these sweet little pieces of art. I have a dear friend who went out and collected some and then mailed then to me! What a wonderful moment it was to open my box to find a bag that when opened had the smell of earth and wet wood coming from these little prizes!. I spread them out of a paper dowel overnight to let them dry. The next morning I arrived at my studio and set out to make the nut part of the acorn using wool roving.
Simple to do!
  • Start with a small bit of wool roving
  • Roll it into a log shape. Needle felt as you are rolling to secure the wool.
  • When the log shape is completed, needle felt the end and all around to form an egg shape for the nut.
  • Add a dab of glue to the interior of an acorn cap.
  • Insert the nut into the cap.
  • Place in a small bowl and enjoy!


Here is a Pincushion I made for a friend...

Notice the two tiny acorns nestled in the center!
Here are some other Acorn items I have...
Silver & Gold Earring my husband gave me for my birthday!
Wood carved Acorns that sit in a bowl next to the felted Acorns!
I love to research things and here is what I have found about Acorns- love the bit about preserving youthfulness!
  • The acorn is the youth of the mighty oak. It represents the pursuit and growth of wisdom, as from it grows the oak tree.
  • The acorn, like most seeds, also represents transition as in big things come from small. It also represents potential and strength.
  • The acorn was a sacred seed. It holds significance in Scandinavian and Celtic life for the symbols of fertility and immortality. For this reason Thor, ruler of fire and fertility held it scared as it was his Tree of Life.
  • Many Druids consumed acorns believing them to have prophetic qualities. When carried on your person, it can preserve youthfulness!
Tiny acorns & pine cones(next to a regular sized cone)
I found on the grounds at John C Campbell Folk School!




This Week at ROotie

Every so often someone with stars in their eyes tells me how wonderful it would be to be a doll maker...to go into your studio whenever and to just make a doll! ...Oh if life were so!

You know the grass is always greener!!
But life as doll maker is still magical!!

This week at ROotie was paper work paper work paper work. I am preparing for 5 classes. One here at ROotie, two at Piecemakers in CA and two for the AFIC! I am dying fabrics, putting together patterns, writing and printing things to do before class-

I like everything to be done just right!
So my students will have no worries and we all will have a fun time together.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

A Sewing Box

When I think about what is important to me…those little things in life that may go unnoticed but really are so significant …hand-sewing.
I have found that it is good for you…good for your soul. It brings you away from life’s demands and into a peaceful moment to focus on the task at hand…from these hands.

Many years ago when I moved my studio from my home and into its own space, I found that I didn’t have a needle or thread to be found at home! This was quite a strange feeling since sewing has been so much a part of my life…so along came my little sewing box that I keep at home.

I would like to share with you my sewing box...

My (Mary Englebreit) sturdy hinged box.


Opened- with all my little treasures…



My silk velvet tomato pincushion
and my case for my needles- extra buttons…


My vintage scissor pouch…


This pouch could stand on it’s own for a sewing kit…
in it I have more needles, straight pins,
thread heaven (like bees wax),
my special little pin cushion a gift
from a friend- it was her Mother’s!
And the greatest find-
The Rainbow Threads-a woven group of threads…
it is such a nice way to have any thread
you need by simply pulling out the color you need!


Last but not least,
my special treasure,
a gift from a friend…
my vintage little black cat tape measure!!



Here is a list of things for your sewing box.
You may choose to have all or just what you need…

  • A cool sturdy hinged box
  • Hand-sewing needles: With assorted sizes, you'll be prepared to work on different fabrics. My favorites are Piecemakers brands needles and I love the Sharps which I find are best for most stitching and mending.
  • Needle threader: To use, slip the flexible wire loop through the eye of a hand needle, feed the thread through it, and pull the wire back out, bringing the thread with it.
  • Thimble: I didn’t grow up learning to use a thimble but I know many people who cannot sew with out one!
  • Beeswax or Thread Heaven: A wax coating keeps thread from tangling during hand sewing.
  • Tape measure: I like the soft kind- it rolls up nicely into my box.
  • Assorted color threads
  • Spool of black & white thread
  • Pin cushion: Any one will do- but making it special makes your sewing more special. It is a nice way to splurge without spending a lot of money!
  • Straight pins
  • 1 pair of quality scissor, I usually have two small pairs since this is my at home box, but you may want to have a pair of fabric scissors in your.
  • White buttons: a small supply in various sizes.
  • Seam ripper: I didn’t grow up using this either, I used very small scissors…I think the seam ripper is so easy to use.
  • Safety pins: Store them on one pin so they don't scatter throughout your box.

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