Category: Me and My Studio

Me and where I paint, and sew, and create things

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My new sewing machine is here!

Big goings-on around here…I was so nervous waiting for my new sewing machine. I even got a stomach ache while waiting for the UPS man to bring it to the door! I checked the box over before signing for it. The kitty inspectors checked it out too. Okay so far.

The box had never been opened. Everything was pristine.

It started to attract more kitties…

So, I took it into the kitty-free zone of my workroom. My fleece “Hug Me! Slugs” gathered around, while my sock kitty prepared to lounge. It looks perfect.

I read both manuals before I found the nerve to plug it in and turn it on. So far so good. I tried a few stitches. I took some deep breaths. I felt thoroughly traumatized! My mom assured me that is exactly how she felt when we first got a computer back in December 2004, when neither one of us even knew how to turn one on. She felt the same way with the digital camera. Okay, that means we can learn…More deep breaths.

My little Sarah, my first Viking, is still in use, as you can see. I’ll be using her for fleece and fuzzy things, I think. The presser feet are interchangeable for the two machines, and so I will probably invest in some more specialty feet.

I will be going over every stitch function soon, to make sure there are no problems, and to learn my way around. First I have to calm down!
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I put my new shoes on

I finally replaced my poor broken-in-half shoes. Everyone seemed to be having very good sales this weekend. I picked up some tights too. I was in the store, completely stumped over what color tights to get. I honestly could not remember what colors my “dress-up” clothes were! I realized that I hadn’t gotten dressed up for anything in such a long time, that I couldn’t even remember what I had in my closet. That’s just sad.

So…I got dressed up 🙂 I had to, right? Well, I had to at least look in my closet. I asked my mom to take a few photos of the rare occasion.

I’ll have to make sure it isn’t quite as rare from now on. I used to get dressed up at least once a week. I’ll have to do better. My clothes must miss me!

The funny thing is that I used to make my own clothes, and I had lots and lots of clothes. My dad erected a long closet that took up an entire wall of my old bedroom when I was in high school, and it was there through college. I used to sketch out whole wardrobes. I even had subscriptions to Vogue ,Vogue Pattern Magazine, W, as well as other clothing magazines. That just cracks me up now. What happened?

Ah well, I’ll just have to get someone to take me somewhere nice now! 😉
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My latest attempt at movie stardom

Here it is…my “Elenora Kitten” video. I think I goofed up the intro about seven times before I got this one. In the first couple of versions I sounded like I was saying, “Thanks for shopping by.” How’s that for subtle advertising? This version is over on my YouTube channel. I enjoy the dismissive gesture I make after I try to explain what a flat and a round are. That makes me laugh.

Elenora is available in print form in my Etsy shop, and on this Ruffing’s site page. So, um, thanks for shopping by 😉

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Elenora, New Original Watercolor Kitten Painting on Claybord

“Elenora” is all painted and I have a print of her on Ruffing’s our website and in my Etsy shop. She is a companion piece to my “Henry the Owl” who is also in the shop and on our website.

Henry and Elenora are also available as a print set, as “The Owl and the Pussycat“, a childhood poem that I love. I think I even had a record of that poem being sung or read aloud, when I was little.

I also love the grainy way the paint settled. It formed a beautifully soft and interesting texture on the Claybord I used.

I still have to film a short intro for a video to put at the beginning of my time-lapse photos of me painting Elenora. You may notice in the video, once it is completed, that the color of the original painting is slightly different than the color in my print. I wanted her to go well with Henry, and so the print (shown in this post) is more to gold and purple, while the painting is more champagne and blue. Both were very pleasing to my eye. (Update: the video is now here.)

I’m a little behind putting things in my Etsy shop, etc. Our computer has been attacked by viruses four times in the past two weeks or so. We got our computer cleaned up by Norton. Malawarebytes Anti-malware also helped a lot. We had been using Windows Live OneCare, and obviously it wasn’t catching the viruses. It’s also a good idea to back up all your files externally, have copies of your programs on discs with their key numbers, and make sure your security system is up to date. It’s not the most fun you can have, certainly, but I’m so glad it all turned out okay.