a return to stitching stones

I've been missing my daily stitching. A lot. I'm eager to come back to this work that I find so meditative. If you would like a stone of your own, I would be happy to put one in your hands. You can decide approximate color and let me know of any particular stitches you'd like, or if you'd like beads included. I will add my own creativity and send a sweet parcel off to you.

Each stone has been hand-gathered and felted with wool I've dyed myself. The wool cocoons the stone and becomes a canvas for stitches and beads. The act of creating these stones is soothing, almost healing for me. The finished object becomes something that has a pleasing heft in the hand, and reminds the viewer of patterns and textures found in nature.

Each of these stones will be 2.5" - 3" long and fit nicely in the hand.

The process of stone-making takes several days - I must felt and dry the stone before I stitch, and stitching may take a week. Because of that, your stone may take several weeks to arrive. I will fill orders on a first come, first served basis beginning in January 2018.

I've limited the number of stones I'll make for now, but hope to open up more orders in the future if there is interest.

I'm on Instagram now

I'm a little late to the game, but I've finally joined Instagram. 

I'm looking forward to figuring out my way around there. I've already run into some old friends I don't see on other social networks, so, so far so good.

If you're there, you can find me HERE.

stones on the go

Stitched, packed, and on their new adventures.

Thanks to everyone who gave one a home.

a blue stone

A blue stone as repayment to a friend for kindness rendered.

Deep, strong, beautiful blue for someone who shares those attributes.

shop update Feb 14 2016 at 10am

I'll have a shop update on Sunday morning, Valentine's morning in fact.

I'm planning to push the go button at 10am Central time (that's Chicago time)

If you are interested, you can find the shop HERE.

Thank you!

a plotting plodder

I've been immersed in work projects as of late, and burning the midnight oil on a project of my own, which has left me little time to do much of anything else. Add on top of that connectivity problems and a head cold. I feel like I'm plodding along.

Something I have managed to do is do a little stitching each day. I have plans, you see.

I may be plodding, but I'm also plotting.

I'm a plotting plodder.

If I owe you an email, I apologize. It looks like I'll be back in email today and will sneak a little time tonight to get to them.

Have a great day, everyone.

first, some stitching

Last day of vacation for me, back to work tomorrow.

But first, some stitching.

November grey

I had the most glorious day off of work.

I dyed some wool, ate a colossal omelet, and stitched on this stone.

I find this shade of grey not at all sad and dreary, like November can sometimes be.

In fact, the sparkly red and slate grey is a combo I think I'll explore for a little bit.

Or at least until these four grey stones in front of me are stitched.

After that, who knows.

week one completed

Week one's stones finished...

...and soon to be on their way to their new homes.

And now on to week two.

Hugs for the weekend, friends.

stitching has begun

Thank you to those of you that have agreed to help me keep my stone-stitching underway. I've got a few stones in my bowl already.

I was on the road back "home" to Illinois just after posting about the stones last week. My uncle had passed and I needed to be with family. The long drive was an opportunity for quiet reflection and I've returned feeling...quiet. And in need of my stone-stitching "therapy", so thank you sincerely for helping me along.

hugs,

Lisa

Day 3 stone

Day 3's stone, full of moss.

Started this morning after the kids got on the bus. Finished tonight before dinner.

Instead of launching into emails and getting sucked in by pinterest, I went directly to my stitching. It was a good choice.

day 2 stone

My day 2 stone. A messy, wild version of lilacs. Their scent is thick in the air right now and I love it.

It joins my day 1 stones. (I was so eager to begin, I ended up making 2 stones in one day)

back in therapy

It has been over 2 months since I've stitched a stone.

I find that totally unacceptable, especially since I consider the act of stitching these little meditations a form of therapy. It's little wonder I've been so off-kilter.

Life is very busy... busier than I'd like. Things get moved off the to-do list, shoved to the back of the line, to make room for the most pressing and noisiest of tasks. Regardless, stitching is going to have to be one of those things that is always on the list. It just has to.

In late 2013 I was poised and ready to make the leap into full-time art. My youngest would soon be in school and I had a plan in place to make a real financial impact by working in my chosen craft. Then life laughed and winked, and threw us some curves which necessitated my going to work outside the home. I ended up in a job as an arts administrator, one I'm proud of and often humbled by. 

It's worthy work, but work that often drains me, physically and creatively.

So it becomes even more important that I keep up with the practice of self-care which for me includes time in the woods, stitching, family, and working towards that goal of being a full time artist, even if it's years away.

I'm starting by committing to 10 days of stone-stitching. No matter how busy or tired I am, I will stitch at least 1 stone every day for the next 10 days. At the end I'll have a shop update and a giveaway. I hope you'll be here to celebrate with me.

Day 1's stone seems to have taken its theme from my dandelion-covered yard.

Wish me luck, friends. 

a big batch o' stones

All set for this Sunday's shop update. I hope to get them loaded into the shop for a preview on Saturday night and then they'll "go live" Sunday at noon, central time.

Hope you have a great weekend, all.  Happy Friday!

storm stone

A storm's a brewin.

Will it pour purple rain?

Unrest and ridiculous.

Sort of sums of my mood.