quilts…

Meet Twitchy…

Here, for your viewing pleasure, is a work in progress of mine. This is Twitchy.

Twitchy _face2

Twitchy is a doll that I have been working on on and off for the past two years.

She was named after my muse. My muse is a fickle wench, and she drags me hither and yon. I rarely can stay focused on one project (be it quilting, writing, photography, genealogy, gardening, housework…you get the idea, right??) long enough to complete it.

In the summer of 2007, I was deeply in the middle of writing a fan fiction story, when this line of prose came from my characters mouth. “Why so twitchy, Babe?”

Twitchy lying2

It didn’t suit the character in that particular environment; it wasn’t working in the greater scheme of things, so I abandoned it.

The sentence continued to haunt me for a week, so I wrote a little one shot, using the same characters but a different reality. Then that took on a life of its own, and that became a 15,000 word piece!

The story, Why So Twitchy Babe, is finished. As is the story that started it, Big Chill, after a long hiatus caused by Twitchy herself.

Twitchy, however, is still unfinished. She is only the second fabric doll I have ever made (the first being Eli, about 28 years ago, for my babiest brother)

Twitchy resting

I have made a lot of mistakes with her, (her head is on crooked, and she has the hands of a half-back for example) but I have been enjoying myself!

Twitchy believes that she should be somewhere on a sandy beach (cabana boys bringing her mojitos) looking for inspiration, not stuck sitting on a shelf in my studio…

I Deleted your Message…

Sorry. Had to do it. I am a member of (imagine an obscene amount, then subtract 10) groups; The topics range from Quilting, to Writing, to Altered Art and Politics. I admit I have the problem. I even JOINED more this past beginning of summer. But I can say I finally did cut the cord on over a half-dozen.

Somewhere in the past few weeks, along with the general ‘vacation-being-over blahs,’ I have found myself neglecting almost ALL of my groups. Even the ones I TRULY enjoy and get so much out of!

So, the mass email delete has begun. I can’t simply ELIMINATE you… I LOVE you! I WANT to be your friend, I WANT to get to know you!

I receive most of my groups via individual mail, as it gives me the best opportunity to actually participate in discussions …(Especially since most of my groups are YAHOO and they are sorted only via order received!!!)

I sorted my messages last night. I have my email program already set to sort by Group into folders, so I went another step and sorted by Subject. delete

ANY message with the subject line of:

  • Re:Digest number XXX?? GONE!
  • As is anything about SWAPS (if you are a quilting group) since I don’t participate.
  • Any message with NO subject? Outta here!
  • Messages requesting prayers?  Sending good thoughts to all…for every situation you are experiencing… (and I mean it; not being snarky here at all)
  • Oh, the ‘Where is everyone, this site is QUIET? ‘Deleted them too. ‘Cuz after all, I am part of the problem!
  • If it is in regards to something NEW being posted in the Files, I had to trash it…
  • Also deleted—any references to Wal-Mart, or What Are You Doing, or recipes (I will probably regret this last decision). Thanks, Congratulatory posts, and Where I am traveling *(if the post subject OFFERS where you are headed, AND I am interested, I MAY have saved it!!) are history, too.

I am somewhat embarrassed by the number I have deleted –(it’s in the HUNDREDS, people!!!) Somewhat more chagrined by the fact that there seem to be an equal number that, at least based on SUBJECT line, I still WANT to read left in my folders!!

So, what HAVE I been doing? Other than deleting emails and ignoring people??

  • I got my Hoffman Challenge quilt in the mail. Waiting to find out if I can post images.
  • I’ve been trying the organization thing again. Eventually, it HAS to take, right?
  • Working on some edits and such of photos, so I can put up some fresh, new work on ETSY.
  • I also got my husband to finally start a blog. He is quite the writer; if you like, for example–movies, cats, cars, and hate lawn work, you might find his blog entertaining!

Ok, off to do some reading!!

studio organization, take 3? 4?…


after deskW

Originally uploaded by rteest42

Yeah, well. I didn’t make it a resolution. But I DID start it before January ended. Just.

It’s a never ending battle, my desire to have all my things accessible, yet to have space to work with aforesaid items.

This time, I am trying a different way.  I consider this “after’ grouping level one. I know there is more that needs doing. Further organization, and definitely more purging. However, the first layer has been completed, in that all my fabric tools have been corralled onto the window side of the studio, and the scrapbooking/altered book/rubberstamp/floral supply/paints etc have made it to the other side.

Jewelry will for the moment stay with fabric, as it works well, fitting on one shelf. However, if when I move on to the wall side, and can tighten up/toss I could envision jewelry moving there. That would open up a bit more space. But I don’t think its important that they move. More important is making everything accessible.

I also do my creative writing here, and my photoshopping and scanning. (oh, and writing to you, from right there in that closet!)

So, step two is going to be continuing with fabric. I have a goodly supply sitting on the ironing board. That needs to be sorted and stored by either color or by project. I would like for it to all make it into one of the available containers.

Step three will be more daunting. Attacking the scrapbooking wall. I really need to edit the amounts and kinds of things that are there. I need to think about whether I can envision myself using things, no matter how cute they are.

Wish me luck!