May - and some Quilts

I wanted to really be productive this month so I sent off for two quilt kits from Quilts for Kids. I really enjoy doing quilts for them, it is great to not only get the kits but you can send quilts you have made as well. I wanted to do some more practicing for free motion quilting, and charity quilts are really a great way to do that. SO I do have two of those to finish in the next 4 weeks, sew and quilt them and bind them. I asked for it. :S I will post those when done! They will be super cute.

ALSO - HOW THE HECK is it already almost the end of May?

I really have been busy, so that is good, just not been busy blogging or making YouTube videos. Which I am again learning is OK. Just because it worked for me before, and I was able to do it more often before, does not mean it will be that way always. And I really have to work on letting go of the guilt with it. Sounds silly to have guilt about it, but I think since I really want to be out there sharing and I am not, that is where it comes form.  It really is OK where I am right now. :) And where ever I end up will also be OK.

So for the beauty that has been in process and if you follow me over on Instagram you have seen. But it can never be too many places. :) The lighting a bit off, but that is OK. I am absolutely in love with how this is looking. I just have to trim her up and add my borders and then figure out how to quilt her! My first y seams! Not too bad and my triangles line up so well!! I cannot wait to get to working on another one in some different colors, not sure what yet though. These fabrics have been in my stash for well over 10 years, I bought them for something, but could not remember what, so put them together in this.

Be Blessed!!!!
♥ Desiree

YouTube videos - will they ever happen again?

I have been trying to find my way back to making more YouTube videos. I so enjoyed them once and do miss it. But it seems I am still struggling to gain the energy and balance of my time outside of work to make it more. I am really struggling to believe if anything I say really matters, but I know that is fear speaking and not the truth.

I also did make a video last weekend and was so excited and went to edit it, and half of it had no sound, sigh. So no idea what happened with that. And I have not decided whether I will do a voice over or just move on or re do it. I was feeling weird when I made it and felt so disorganized. It is very possible all my videos are like that, lol.

So here we are still no more videos for February. On to March though, tomorrow I am embracing that full moon energy and working on some manifestations that will see me through the rest of the year.

Blog Thoughts

Got some thoughts brewing, really motivated to get off my creative arse! Thinking do I keep pushing through using this blog, which I do love, it needs some improvements no doubt, and it would help if I was more consistent. But should I re work a whole lot or just focus on what I got, new address new blog or just refocus and keep going. I love the history here, but I do get bored with the lay out, the colors and just need some jazz. But maybe that jazz is just decent content, what a thought!

Creamy Chicken Chili

I thought I would share my recipe for the chili I made back in October, since it was apparently good people said. I also must admit, I liked it! And I am a pretty picky eater.  ENJOY and please let me know what you think if you make it!

November - National Novel Writing Month - nanowrimo

Not sure what I was thinking, but I signed up for national writing month, November. Check out the link  if you are interested in seeing what it is about. Has anyone else signed up for November?

Monday-Wednesday

Man you guys, it has been forever since I blogged! I really miss it, but my job had really kept me so tired and stressed I could not make it work for me. I was working 50-60 hours a week from October to April. Finally I moved into a new job position which as left me not working so much and more time to devote to what I love. CREATING!

I have been slowly able to re-group my energy levels to get back to sewing, journal making, painting and digital art work. There is still farther to go though, as with all things.

I took some time this week  to update my blog look, as  you can see, still not 100 percent happy with it,but I do love galaxies! I have been working on my website and really want it to mesh with my website more, color wise etc, so at this point I am not sure if I want to spend more time redoing my website or not. I need to just get it live, because now it sees no traffic, which is not good for my overall goals. not sure it really matters if a blog looks like a website, but cohesiveness does help.

I am working on many upcoming projects that are exciting and I cannot wait to share with you! A giveaway, some new YouTube videos coming soon, the new website and more!

I would also love to hear about what you would like to see, or have missed seeing?

Art Card - back - perfectly me

I created an art card for an art deck project recently and thought I would share the back of it for you guys to see. Finished size is 3.5 x 3.5.  I used a gelli print I had and then just wrote my information on the back with some gel pens, a few simple inspiring words, added a bit of shine around the edge with  Inka Gold and voila, I love it. Nothing fancy, but perfect.

Don't be intimidated and go make something one of a kind and perfectly you today!

What to do when you do not know what to do?

Just seeking some solice from my current mind, the decisions that sometimes have to be made that are so tough and life changing, scary they can be. How do you guys weigh things and figure out how to make major decisions? Pros and Cons, or other ways, talking about them etc?

Repurposed Frame - Inkling

For 2016 I purchased an Inkwell Press planner. If you wish for more information on that please visit their website at Inkwell Press or do a search on YouTube and you will find lots of reviews and videos. The planner world is huge and full of options that I will not get into on this post. :)

So what is this post about??? When you receive your planner you also get an inkling, which is a quote for you. Packed randomly, yet they always seem to get to who they need to. Mine is "follow your arrow". Below is a picture of how I currently am keeping it. Framed in a frame I got from the reuse place for under $2.00. Not 100 percent happy with it as I think the word dreams distracts from it, but happy enough with it until I find a different frame.

Game Dice Embroidered Bag

Urban Threads designs online is  a great resource for creative, modern, funky, vintage...pretty much all kinds of embroidery designs, I love them. Not only do they have great designs and tutorials and freebies, they have awesome customer service! I recently ordered a set of cute small designs, 4x4 inch designs, here is a link to the designs I got.

I decided to make a dice bag as I did need one and they had a tutorial that I figured I would try. A few things I discovered as I went along. I suck at cutting circles and I should always measure for my liking even if it is different from what they are saying in the tutorial. The tutorial is  well laid out and fairly easy to follow. I have experience sewing though so for those who are beginners, make sure you read all the way through it once or twice before you start. The end product is OK, but I do plan to make another as there really is not enough room at the top for the cord and then to leave a nice looking top scrunched up. You will see what I mean in the pictures below. When making it I thought it might not be, but I continued to follow the measurements in the tutorial. You could also place the design lower to make up for that but next time I will just add to the top, that way there is more room for error with the design and top area.

Thread used were Sulky 40 wt rayon (light to dark) 1121, 1109, 1192 and Poly-lite 1195 in my bobbin.

St Louis Trip Goodies

Where it has been forever that I have made a video. I say "ya'll", which saddens me lol and I realize that I need to brush up greatly on video editing.

Smile Sunshine!

Just a quick share of a watercolor page I created recently. This is a off balanced scan of it. I am also not entirely sure a good representation of the colors. I used my Koi watercolor set on this one and there were not too many yellow choices. BUT I got some new watercolors this week and It has more yellows and oranges and all kinds of yummy colors I look forward to using this weekend. I love seeing all the galaxy paintings and I really want to give that a try and see how they come out. I will also be making more of the ones above for some friends to remind them to smile more! :D  

BABIES!

I have to say if you do not get excited about babies, you may have a problem. :D

Here is a baby quilt I made for a baby shower this month. I impressed myself because I started it the Saturday before the shower, which was on Friday. It took me about 4 maybe 5 hours from start to finish. Hand sewing the binding took me the longest I think.

 I am very happy with the finished result and so is the momma and daddy and baby I am sure soon too!

Happy St Patrick's Day

I had the time to make a quick check in. I have had to go out of state for a funeral. Had two deaths in the last week actually, my aunt and my husband's grandfather. Hopefully the next one will not be too close to my heart. Since they say they come in threes and all. I hope this post finds everyone else well!

School is going OK. I still have a decent GPA that I am hoping to hold on to since my math classes are coming up in about 3 months. :S But my art class has proven more difficult than I thought, ahah, but the challenge is good, makes you think. But over school, definitely! So will be glad when I am finished and can focus on more art to make and creative play. It is hard to squeeze in the time I want to. I am slowly getting back to normal I think. I am less tired and trying to manage time better.

I also have a vacation coming up again soon. I am going to the Quilt Symposium in North Carolina, so that will be super creative fun. I have class though at the same time, so gotta get on it and get stuff done early so I can be able to enjoy my vacation and classes I will be taking while down there.

Stay Safe on this St Patty's Day

Day Four

Day Four just posted! Enjoy!

Day Three - late but posted!

Day Three just posted.  Sorry issues all around tonight! I had three epic fails and finally just gave up and decided to paint a piece of 22x30 Fabriano so I could make a 16 page journal following Teesha Moore's instructions. I like this style of journaling. Fabriano Hot Press is also my favorite watercolor paper so far although I do use other kinds and I will be using different materials in the next few videos.

I will show you at the end of the month the journal I end up with. My plan is to use this for a journal for this month and see how that goes, no promises on that though, but regardless of what is done i will show you it at the end of the month. :D

Yes I misspelled Fabriano at the beginning of the video, I am tired! 

Day Two

DAY TWO just got posted to YouTube!

It did not go as planned and I am still looking for the right camera angle I can work with and make happen. This was not it, so I learned that lesson!

I did not like the crayon I used, I am not sure if it is because it was cheap or if I just needed to be more aggressive with it and use more pressure.


It is all a process and the more I paint, the more I have and the more I learn, so that is what it is all about!

Day One of 31 days of Backgrounds!

Days One just got posted over on YouTube, check it out at DAY ONE.

Thank you and Happy New Year!!!

What is to come in 2014, at least in January anyway...

So I have made a huge goal for myself for January! 31 days of backgrounds. I really wanted to do something more awesome like a book a day, haha yeh right. School work, and the probability of me needing to pick up my PRN weekend night job because my husband lost his in December, left me really thinking on what could I FEASIBLE DO!

I have been following Kiala Givehand's year journey on YouTube of 52 books-Book in a Day, you can find her channel HERE. That is really where my heart is, making books, and there are many she shared that I hope to make in the new year. But I knew that was not feasible for me, YET. I still wanted to do something creative, as well as share it, inspire, and build my skills up. Heck, as well as use up all that stuff I hoard!

SO keep an eye out, I will posting Day One's video on January 1st!