What is this? A pin cozy??!
Actually it's my studio's coaster. I had just gotten into working with felt, and experimenting with how much stitching to put on it. This is the very first coaster I made. What's funny, is how much I love it. I often come into my studio with a cup of tea and can't set it on the cardboard cutting table and don't want to leave a wet mark anywhere else. It's lovely to have a regular destination for the cup. Wool felt is naturally water proof so I don't need to worry about moisture. Wool felt is wonderful to work with, is all from recycled sweaters (ye haw!), and it turns out to be a GREAT place to temporarily stick my pins as I'm working along. I've heard that the natural lanolin in the wool is good for pins and needles, helping them glide through fabric easier. I like to think that's true.

And the bottom line is this: I love my coffee, love my afternoon tea (two o'clock- time to put the jug on!), having nice accessories, sharing with friends, and the ritual of it all.

Wear your coffee cozy!

I love making coffee cozies. They are a reusable cloth accessory that literally does save trees. They are joyful to look at. (Yes, I have an inner need to decorate and beautify the world). Tacitly, they are a little addicting. (Feedback given from friends). They make your cup unique so no one else picks it up by accident. And they are fun, thus giving you an extra ritual to enjoy with your daily cup. I've been making and selling them for almost two years now, and love it. One of my best coffee cozy moments was the discovery that I could make them dual functioning as coffee accessory and wrist art. Thus the launch of my "Wrist AND Coffee Cuff" line of cozies. They are lined with fleece, so soft and comfortable to wear. You can always have your cuff at the ready. I am fascinated with art objects that have more than one use.

I consider what I"m doing, when I make the coffee cozies, is designing and quilting an art quilt, then cutting it up to become functional art. This is what makes them special and different from other cozies. (And I'm a big fan of other coffee cozy makers, but the way). That said, I'll tell you my inner secret........What I want to do "when I grow up" is be a gallery represented Art Quilt artist. (Somehow, I just can't call myself art quilter- perhaps I should shorten it to Quilt artist, but people just hear "quilt" and think traditional). I do make art quilts, but my love of functional art has taken precedence. The philosophical question is: does this define me as a crafter instead?

Myshkin's Ruby Warblers

Last night, I went out with friends to see Myshkin perform. I'd seen her once several years back, and have been listening to her CDs ever since. We are lucky to have her living and performing in Oregon. A poet, a treasure, a passionate gypsie of a singer. Her vocals make the hairs on my neck tingle, and I love the wild characters dancing through her song/stories. She often travels with a band, tho' performed solo last night-beautifully.
Her website offers this description:

Myshkin's Ruby Warblers is an ever-evolving crew of genius gamblers whose fort? range from tango to electronica, old time to modern classical to jazz, and each leave an imprint of their unique talents on the music. Myshkin plays an 80 year old martin tenor guitar, a vintage gibson six string, and a jumbo lowden acoustic. Her voice is her finest instrument though, and she wields it like a fortune teller, an acrobat, a hunter, a gift.

To get a sense of her style and range, click on Myshkin's free songs here.

Cloud busting

I've gotten addicted to cloud photography this spring. It's some funny reaction to watching the sky, all the crazy changing weather, sun and cold dips, nutty HAIL every other day...... When the sun comes out, the kids and I grab our great and dash out for some outdoor action. Not that Oregonians DON"T go outside in the rain. We don't actually melt, but if we are going to choose a time to hike it's nice to at least start during a sun break.

Here is my collection of dragon cloud photos.

See the two dragons chasing a wee sky snake about to be gobbled up on the left? The dragon on the right has a uni-horn, and wings outstretched behind, and a long tail. The dragon on the left is outstretched, going in for the bite.

This is my favorite. A gigantic cloud serpent dragon with it's tongue out!

Birthday Surprise

Today, for my birthday, Im donating 10" of my red hair to Locks of Love. It's a group that makes wigs for children whose medical issues caused them to loose their own hair. I thought some dear red head out there might really appreciate it. I'm so excited! These are self portraits of me in front of Bliss Monkey Studio.




No one knew I was getting a hair cut, let alone going for something so much shorter. Surprise! I just love it. My hair was so HEAVY!! I'm looking forward to light spring and summer doo. It's fun to pin back, wear down, tuck back, and put into pony tails (x2). Yey for short hair!!!

I want you to know: if you would like to donate your hair to Locks of Love, it's a good idea to first look at their website to see the guidelines. You must cut off a minimum 10" of healthy hair, which is why I went so short! Yeee haw!

Monster Mitt -itis and Letterboxing

After almost a week out of the studio, I'm so happy to be sewing, creating, designing, and posting new fun things for my etsy shop. A sold monster mitt, plus a special mitt order has got me in a monster mitt sewing frenzy. (Just so you know, that means fun, not stress!) I've got a few posted, and a few to finish, like Loch Ness Monster mitts. I am currently in love with Nessy themed things, so watch out for my upcoming gocco print Nessy coffee cozies.

I am really happy with the wrist warmer pattern I developed while driving courier in the wee early hours of the morning. The wrist warmers were essential for my hand happiness, and left my finger tips free to grip the steering wheel, write, etc. They are carefully designed and trimmed inside to be most comfortable, with a good and flexible fit.


Yesterday, after school, the kids came into the studio to design their own monster mitts. Mudslide made some dino mitts, in orange and yellow. Long Legs made a set in red and black, so fine, he didn't even take them off for bed! They trundled off to school wearing their new monster mitts, and I look forward to hearing the report when I pick them up. It's sunny and lovely and we'll be on a Letterboxing quest! Letterboxing, is so much fun. You get to go on a walk/hike, follow clues, find a secret hidden box, and collect the ART you find there, via stamping the hand cut stamp into your book. Click the link to see how to get started, and to look for letterboxes in your area. If I've managed to turn you on to letterboxing, please write and tell me. xoxoxoxoxo

Ah-Ha! Caught him on Film!

Ha! Finally caught the squirrel on film! We bought our house a year and a half ago, and every single day, this little guy visits this spot on the old fence, rubs himself on it, takes a BITE of it then leaves. No one else has seen him but me- until now....... world expose!
(Looks like I need to wash the office window, sorry). I suppose he's marking territory, but why does he eat the fence? Does anyone know?