100 Days of Stitch Meditations-#61-68

This weeks stitch meditations #61-68

#61-The base and the bee are from my old blouse, a scrap of newspaper print cotton, a scrap from another project, perle cotton thread

#62-The base is a cotton scrap from my mom's stash, which I inherited, scripted text from my old shirt, newspaper print and text print scraps from other projects, large pearl button, perle cotton thread

#63-linen base from a pant suit that I never wore, newsprint cotton scrap, flower applique from some lingerie that I never wore, pink bamboo crochet thread

#64-Rust dyed cheesecloth base, newsprint cotton scrap, feather scrap from another project, perle cotton thread

#65-Linen from an old pants suit that I never wore, scraps and text scrap from other projects, perle cotton threads

#66-Base from a pair of hubby's old pajamas, deer flannel scrap from hubby's old pajama pants, rust dyed cheesecloth scrap, tea dyed scrap, old buttons, perle cotton thread

#67-Background from one of my old shirts, scraps from other projects, perle cotton and pink bamboo crochet threads

#68-Base is a scrap from another project, black scrap from my old shirt, hand made bead from newspaper text cotton, copper angel charm that says, "Angels Watching Over Me", gold perle cotton thread

I stitched another one for yesterday, but didn't have it when I scanned these, so it will be in the next post. Before I can stitch todays I have to get into my scrap box and put one together. Fun stuff!

Only 31 more to go! I love it! But right now I have to do my physical therapy exercises. We've missed the last two days, due to company and a death in hubby's family. I try not to miss over two days at a time, because I can tell a difference, plus hubby says it helps his shoulder and back too. The hardest part is getting up and down off the floor! We're old...

Have a great weekend! Try something new creatively!

Random Sketches & Stuff

 So, my 100 day sketching is over, but I"m still trying to sketch something every day. Here are sketches I've done this week, pretty random! And I added color to some of them!

A page where I tried out some new supplies I had ordered. I ordered a large black Posca paint pen, which lets too much paint out at a time, 3 white Posca pens, different sizes, which also let out too much paint, 2 gold Aristro gold markers, which are ok so far, a box of 6 Zig Writer marker pens, my favorite to sketch with right now, 3 rolls of painters tape, which tear off the top layer of paper if I don't take most of the sticky off before I use it, a pair of tiny scissors for snipping collage paper pieces, which I haven't tried yet, and 2 larger wooden discs to replace the ones on my two cage dolls. So I tried the pens/markers out on this page and added a bit of Kuretake watercolor for fun! Kind of messy, but I found out how they work!

The first one is a sketch of that days stitch meditation with a bit of watercolor. The second and fourth ones are squiggle girls with a bit of watercolor, trying light and shadows, and the third one is a sketch inspired by one I saw on Instagram, only mine is a squiggle girl where hers was a profile in white on black paper with metallic gold streaks in her hair. Hers was very pretty. Mine not so much, but I have the idea down in case I ever want to do a good one!

Another squiggle girl with watercolor added, just practicing!

This one is a failed painting inspired by our big pond, which has gotten overgrown, and the beavers have killed/cut down most of the trees around it. I took the photo a while back when we could still ride the side by side through the field. Places grow up fast when you're not able to keep them up. So sad. Anyway, I sketched it off with my Zig pen, then used a flat water brush pen and Kuretake pan watercolors to paint it. 

So many things went wrong, starting with the sketchbook paper, which was not meant for much water, and it buckled, causing the paint to settle in the dips. I also added in too many back trees/branches, then tried to push them back with dark front trees. I couldn't make that work, so I used my Zig pen to make black branches in front, which looks awful. This morning I took some of the black paint off the foreground branches. It looks a little better. (I didn't re-scan the painting, so it's not showing in this photo.)

 I also messed up sketching the reflections in like I did with the Zig, but I didn't intend to paint it when I sketched it in. Oh, well. I learned from it! Next time I will use watercolor paper that won't buckle, will hold heavier washes, and withstand lifting off paint. Kuretake watercolors are thicker and more opaque than regular watercolors and have a slicker feel and look to them. I've only used them in my sketchbooks, so I need to try them on heavy watercolor paper soon.

I looked up Primrose on Amazon, because I'm wanting some to plant, and wound up sketching some. My maternal grandmother had a large area of these, also called night shade, when I was growing up, and they always remind me of her. I also want to plant some flowering moss, because they remind me of my other grandmother, who always had them in the summer. Not that I need anything to remind me of them. They were both a very big part of my growing up, and I still miss them every day, along with my grandpa

.

We got a Tennessee magazine a couple of days ago that had a photo of an alpaca on the inside cover. The moment I saw it I knew I had to try to sketch it! So I tried...Zig Writer pen/marker

There is another one that is blonde in the article that I meant to sketch before I posted, but haven't gotten it done yet. I'm going to try it though!

That's it for now! I still have to post this weeks stitch meditations, plus do my physical therapy, todays stitch meditation, and a sketch. It's pouring rain here, so it's a good day for it!

Have a great weekend!

Sketches of Stitches-After Challenge

 I am continuing my sketching despite the challenge being completed, and I've been wanting to sketch some more of my stitch meditations, so yesterday morning I did so. Despite being interrupted by company, I sketched four of them from this week. You can look on the previous post of 100 Days of Stitch Meditations to see them in fabric and color if you want. #57-60

Zig Writer marker/pen in sketchbook-Fun stuff!

On to today's sketch and stitch meditation! I wonder what it will be!

100 Days of Stitch Meditations-#57,58,59,60/100

 Trying to keep up two 100 day challenges and get them posted is not easy, but I've managed! I just finished the sketching challenge, by the way, and I'm over half way through this one! Yay, me! I'm proud of myself for sticking with them this far! I usually get bored half way through a project and move on to something else. Maybe my next challenge should be 100 days of finishing a project already started! 😀

Anyway, here are #57-60 for this week! I finished yesterday's after I scanned these into the computer, so it will be in the next batch, and I have today's pinned and ready to stitch...

#57-eggshell colored cotton base from an old shirt, faux suede scrap from one of hubby's old shirts, a scrap from an Asian inspired cloth, a gold mesh ribbon with the wire removed, a copper angel charm, which says "Angels watching over me", perle cotton thread

#58-gray cotton base from hubby's old pajamas, gold patterned strip also from his old pajamas (he was in the hospital for several days), an orange-red rayon strip from my old blouse, and a feather from a cotton fat quarter, perle cotton thread-blue dash on red is a stray thread clipping that managed to find its way onto the scanner bed!

#59-blue striped cotton base from an old exercise shirt purchased from Richard Simmons many moons ago (his program worked for me!), a piece of cheese cloth that escaped the rusting process, a vintage piece of thick lace from an expensive high quality bed skirt with very wide cotton lace that I found at Goodwill for $5.00 and have used in many cloth projects, a mini gingham cotton scrap from hubby's old shirt, a butterfly cut from a scrap of a fat quarter piece, red buttons cut off something old, perle cotton thread

#60-cotton scrap base, cotton scrap strip, tiny scrap of Asian inspired fabric, a vintage applique daisy left over from my garment factory days in the seventies (the center was brown, but I fixed it), piece of navy ribbon from a box of brand new wedding invitations, thank you cards, ribbons, etc., also found at Goodwill for $5.00 (the theme was navy and cream and I felt bad for the couple, but it was great for me and my paper crafting!), perle cotton thread-I love the purple, turquoise, and navy together! 

That's it, so far, this week, except for the one I did yesterday! Now I'm going to finish my cup of coffee and play with the new Posca paint pens, Artista gold paint pens, tiny scissors, and 3 sizes of painters tape. 

I have two larger wooden disc bases coming to fix my two cage dolls, because one is all disassembled because her skirt strips didn't stay stuck, and both of their bases are too small as they are. Hopefully the larger size will work better. Either way, I can't enjoy her all apart in a cookie tin! 

Have a great weekend y'all!

Days #20, 21, 22, 23 Sketches-April-100 Day Project Sketching Complete!

 I did it! I completed the 100 day project of sketching every day for 100 days! These are the last four sketches. The goats are the last one on the last day, the 23rd of April. I have actually done 136 sketches during January 1, 2025 through April 23, 2025, because some days I sketched 2-3.

Because I missed twelve days during the actual 100 day period, I added twelve days to the hundred days to make up for it, plus I thought March only had thirty days, but it has thirty-one. So I actually went over one day, making it 101 days that I sketched out of 113.

Sketched 101/113 days and did 136 sketches from Jan 1-April 23 (for my benefit, not yours! :D)

So proud of me! 😊

Day 20-Easter Sunday-I just relaxed and sketched intuitively, wherever my thoughts and hand went on the paper making marks, inspired by the sketchbooks of Helen Wells. India ink in a water brush pen, Zig Writer and Posca markers

Day 21-Also inspired by the sketchbooks of Helen Wells and another intuitive sketch of chaotic thoughts and marks using the India ink in a water brush pen, Zig Writer and Posca markers-Fun stuff! These are hard to find a stopping place on!

Day 22-Large stuffed Christmas Moose decoration in burgundies, hunter greens, and camel colors-Again I didn't leave room for his feet with the exaggerated black boots. Grrrr! Fun to sketch with my Zig Writer marker/pen and a white Posca

Day 23-Last day! These two goats arrived on the cover of a farm Cooperater magazine a couple of days before, and I knew I had to try sketching them! Far from great, but I'm happy I gave them a go! The back one was brown/white and the front one black/white. Zig Writer India ink pen

I ended the challenge, but not the sketching. Doesn't feel right if I don't do one at some point during the day! The discipline and practice have helped me so much! Hopefully, it will show in future artwork...

I also want to do some work in my art journals and do some painting, which I haven't done in months. Maybe I will make those my next challenges!

I am still doing the 100 days of stitch meditations with Liz Kettle challenge and keeping up, so far. #62 for today is pinned and ready to stitch! Only 38 to go!

The end of one challenge, working on another over half done, and looking forward to the next challenge! Keeps life interesting, plus it's so good for my soul (and my nerves)!

100 Days of Stitching Meditations 2025 #51,52,53,54,55,56/100

 Stitch meditations 51-56/100. Still keeping up so far! I haven't done today's yet, but it's ready for stitching...

#51-old cloth table napkin base, a piece of an old favorite sheet, and scraps of a fat quarter piece and cotton with text on it, Perle cotton threads-This one is so calming to me.

#52-a piece of hubby's old gingham shirt, a piece of an old kitchen curtain, and a scrap of Asian inspired fabric, red cotton crochet thread

#53-script texted cotton base, hearts from an old cotton shirt that I bought from Richard Simmons many years ago when I was doing his Oldies exercises and lost 30 lbs, Perle cotton and red crochet cotton threads

#54-fat quarter scrap base, scrap from old paisley pajama pants, poppy from a vintage handkerchief, pink bamboo crochet thread and Perle cotton threads

#55-cotton scraps, embroidery thread

#56-old cloth table napkin base, paisley scrap from old pajama pants, newsprint cotton, old button, Perle cotton thread

That's the cache for this week! Now I'm off to watch American Idol and stitch one for today. #57 coming up!

Happy Easter!

Days 14,16,17,18,19 Sketches 2025 April

 I missed a day again this week, but I'm making it up! A couple of days I sketched two! 

Day 13 I posted last time

Day 15 I missed

Day 16-I sketched the sister of the one on the left. I got her a little too large, because I wasn't paying attention close enough, but I'm still proud of her. They are actually about the same size, dressed alike, in the photo, which is an original family photo of two of my gr-aunts. I didn't try for a likeness in their faces, as I'm practicing figures and clothing in these sketches. Zig Writer and Posca white markers in sketchbook

Day 14 is out of order because I needed a break from the harder sketching, plus I was feeling a bit lazy, and I was saving the space on the previous page to sketch the sister, so I sketched a squiggle girl from imagination. She was fun and relaxing! Zig Writer and Posca markers with a touch of colored pencil.

Day 17 and 18- same sisters in a different vintage family photo-I sketched the one on the left one day and the one on the right the next day. Not great lighting, so their faces are in shadow. I don't know if it was midday or cloudy, but bad light for sketching. Zig and Posca markers

Day 18 also- There were actually four sisters in the vintage family photo. Three of them are my great-aunts and one is my grandmother on my dad's side. However, I failed to leave enough room for the fourth one, again. Grrrrr! So I sketched the two on the left on the 18th (making 3 sketches that day including the one above).

Day 19-The third one, my granny, I sketched the next day. The fourth one got left off this sketch, but that's ok. She's in both the ones above! This photo was made later in their lives than the others. Zig Writer and Posca markers

Their names were Nancy, Virgie (Jeno), Laura Lue (my Granny), and Annie Mae. I was lucky to grow up around my Granny and Annie Mae, and I kind of knew Nancy from when she came home once a year to visit family. I don't remember ever seeing Jeno, but from what I've heard about her she was a character, and I would have loved her. Granny talked about her often. I adored my granny!

I lack three days of making up the ones I missed since January 1, but I'm going to keep sketching. Just not going to have a specific goal in mind, and I'm going to try to paint every day for a while. I don't think I'll try for a hundred days though. Maybe a month or two?

I also want to finish my mini junk journal, which has been staring at me forlornly ever since I started the stitching and sketching challenges.

Anyway, that's it for this week. I've done one for today, but it hasn't been scanned yet. It's inspired by Helen Wells sketchbooks of intuitive art. Very fun! Next post!

Happy Easter!