What's Up .... Pussycat?

I entered the new year with a few goals and aspirations (improve knitting skills; stretch my creative muscles; build my repertoire of technique in fiber art).  All good goals and I got a good start .... but oh my that studio garret of mine was all a-jumble after the autumn preparing for Open Studios and making gifts.  So I added, organizing, de-cluttering, and de-stashing to my list of must-do's for the new year.

I slowly progressed through the studio organizing by making 4 piles:  1, for keeping; 1, for Goodwill; 1, for my niece; 1, for ebay.  Oh what a difference that effort made to how things look and feel to me.  And then a re-organizing.  Ahhhh. I can find what I want.  I discovered things I'd forgotten about.  I recommend this activity ..... clears the brain.  I feel 5 pounds lighter (oh, I wish...).

Clearing, cleaning and organizing were good tasks while my brain has been busy thinking through an art project:  I am participating in a public art project for Art Esprit, a non-profit arts organization in Rochester whose mission is:

• Create a network of literary and visual artists in the greater Rochester area.
• Foster appreciation of and participation in the literary and visual arts through installations, exhibitions, readings and educational programs.
• Support the Rochester Poet Laureate Program.
• Promote and nurture the artist.

Projects pair artists with poets; last year's project was called the "Shoes of Rochester"  -  Rochester is an old shoe factory town and this was a way of honoring the past.  Various styles of shoes were placed around the town, with an opening ceremony and walking tours for 4 or 5 months duration.  A fun project that resulted in great community spirit  --  a way to help a town smile.

This year, the project is "If Rocks Could Talk" and I am delighted to be part of the group effort. My plan is to work in wire and I have spent a bit of time ruminating on this and how I will execute my idea.  Will keep you posted.
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I have been absent from the blog-o-sphere for nearly a week. What's with that, you ask?  Well, dental surgery for one thing.  Oh yuk.  Took the wind out of my sails for a bit but the aftermath is surprisingly uneventful.

And then the knitting. Ah yes.My KnitPicks order arrived the other day with new skinny needles (size 3 and 5) and sock yarn to make a pair for Larry and one for me.  Optimistic?  Perhaps.  .... still practising on worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles.


And then last week, I opened an ebay shop for my de-stashing  --  fabric, vintage/antique laces and linens. Visit me at "patsvintagestudio".

And then the other.  The dreaded.  Oral surgery this past Wednesday.  But, in fact, the after-math was not nearly as difficult as I'd imagined. Swelling is down; no pain -- lots of gain.

Oh this girl's been busy.