More Ten of Hearts hearts

Working away in the studio today. Here is part of what I got done, both  groups are from sets of hearts for the class at Art Unraveled where we will swap hearts and attach them to fabric pages, making a book called The Ten of Hearts. I have 4 sets done now, so I am done with this part of getting ready for this class. Some are backups, just in case they are needed last minute.
The top set is made out of gessoed canvas that I tried out some tangles on.  I quilted some fabric and sewed the canvas hearts down and then added a rhinestone heart. The rhinestones look better live.
The second set is pattern tissue that I stitched multiple layers of onto some sturdy paper. The base is a Hambly transparency sewed down to a piece of lettered canvas. After stitching all that together, I sewed on a little pair of Tibetan silver scissors. The scissors move around still since they are just sewn with a loop stitch.

Zentangles: I'm Hooked!

I have a confession. In the midst of everything else, I now have another love: tangling, making zentangles, hitting paper with pen, two of my very favorite things. Long story short: The first zentangles I made I wasn't very happy with. I put them away with the idea that I MIGHT get back to them. They kept calling, but I didn't answer. I just decided it was something I wasn't so great at. Then one day, they called louder, and I looked at them again. They looked better than I remembered, and I picked up my pen again, and then things got a little crazy. I started carrying them with me to work to do on breaks and at lunch. The kids saw them and asked about them. So did adults, and then at request, I found myself showing them how to get started. Making zentangles saved my life the day I was stuck in 7th grade and "plan A" fell through. They L.O.V.E.D. them, and I figured out a way to teach more kids. If you ever want peace and quiet and are surrounded by 30 people your height who can quickly make plans on their own that you might not approve of, if you have nothing structured for them to do, I highly recommend them. The mandala is one I was able to do while the 7th graders were doing the same. The colored ones and the first two frames below are ones I did with 5th graders.

Review item for anyone who doesn't already know;  I am the product of an artist/musician father and a librarian mother, so you know what happened next. I had to find a way to organize all my favorites, and last night, a plan all came together. First of all, I am now keeping a rolodex card for each design I know, which makes a handy way to find them all quicker than digging through other things. I had the cards started a few weeks ago, but they are rightfully organized now. In true librarian style, they are alphabetized by name with a reference on back to where I can look should I need a refresher later.  Then I put the big ones in a 7X10 book I bought with paper as close to true Zentangle paper as I could find in an appropriate size. I tabbed sections for frames, mandalas, and more standard zentangles. My mother would approve, I know.

I have plans for other ones floating in my head. Ones that don't have to be as kid friendly. Paper in my Zentangle journal and news pens await.

There is one more confession. While taking a few days during the week for myself this week, I booked a trip back east to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher. I thought the certification might come in handy should I ever decide to step outside of the kid zone to teach. I am almost giddy about it.

The 100+ Scarves Update, Finally

Someday I swear I am going to figure out how my brain works and how I prioritize. I have been really busy on a million things, but I think everyone else has as well and yet they post on their blogs. A number of people asked me about seeing the scarves, so I took a few photos. Here are some. I sold enough to pay for all the yarn, but I still have scarves for next season as well since the ice skaters didn't need them all.
The first photo is at home when I was sorting them all out by style and price. The rest is at the skating competition. There are scarves with traditional ends, some with different fancy crocheted fringes and some without since I didn't think the guys and non girlie girls would like that sort of fringe. I also made infinity scarves that are a continuous loop like the Style E one in the photo, in different lengths and widths. I also made some button up ones for people that just like one around their neck and not hanging out or bunched up in their coats. I was hoping to see what the most popular was, but I seemed to sell a pretty equal number of each. I guess that's a good thing.
Warning: this is going to make me sound like a grandma, but I am. I am now making dishcloths to wash dishes with, by popular demand. It started with my niece telling me about them and wanting more, then it was one of my daughters. I was told they work better than anything you can buy, and they do. 100% cotton and all that texture makes washing things off a breeze! I haven't counted, but the pile is growing and I have already given them away to so many people!
I am also busy at work making my item that will be a donation for the Art Unraveled raffle, the item that will be given away at a drawing during the shopping extravaganza, more inchies and more hearts for the 10 of hearts class.  They are all in the works. I work and let things simmer and then go back. Sometimes I wish I could start and finish before picking up a new project but I also think things turn out better when they simmer most of the time.