At last, she is an artist

Well maybe.

Is art all about finding your voice or vision?

Hmm. I'm pondering that question as I navigate through quilting blogs and study the limitless variety of expression among art quilters. It's challenging my concept art within the context of quilting.

I don't consider myself an artist, but more of a craftswoman. I endeavor to learn techniques and perfect them more than to create something unique.

Maybe.

These thoughts have been floating around my head lately.

Along with this:

Those ubiquitous 100 calorie treats - there's one for virtually every cookie or snack product on the market.

Today I bought the 100 calorie Oreo Cakesters because I've been trying to lose the 2-3 pounds I put on during the holidays and naturally I'm craving chocolate. My friend Carolyn keeps a stash of candy in her office to which I have a key. So I wanted something I could have which would keep me away from the Snickers, even the "fun" size ones.

The minature Cakesters are about the size of a half dollar. They come in packs of 3, 5 packs to a box for nearly $3.00. That's about $.20 per bite "cookie." They are not multi-bite, and if you do try to get two bites out of each "cookie", one bite will wind up on the floor or your desk.

If you want them to last, my advice is the spread them out over a 15 minute period, one every five minutes. Don't eat them faster than that or you will forget them, and your $.60 will have been wasted. Then you'll have to eat another 100 calorie pack just to remember what they tasted like. You will have eaten the entire box before you know it.

Better still, don't buy them at all; give up chocolate and eat a banana.

At the High Museum

Fabulousness Found on the Internet While Unable to Sleep

Morna Crites-Moore's recycled sweater art. How wonderful is this! (via Art for Housewives.

Here's another place to waste time spend productive inspiration-gathering hours looking a wonderful images and photographs(again from Art for Housewives.) What if you spent a day with your camera just recording images you see that somehow resonate with you, that set off a spark inside? I love the patched aprons and the old photographs.

Lamenting the demise of Home Ec. Did you take Home Ec in high school? I did. Every girl did (before it became politically incorrect to do so). That's where I learned to sew. Although my mother and all my aunts could sew, it was a very prissy, but wonderful, home ec teacher who taught me how to put in a zipper and also the phrase, "It'll all come out in the wash" - referring to the sash on my apron. But i took her literally. What'll come out in the wash? I believe my response was "Huh?"

Nobody mends any more. We just go buy something new. When was the last time you had a pair of shoes resoled? Darned a sock? resewed a button? Thus the proliferation and success of the thrift store! And for those of us who love a bargain and get excited over a $2.00 sweater, keep it coming. (i have a blazer I've worn for about 5 years that i bought at a thrift store for $3.00).

A few months ago I made a shower curtain and matching window curtains out of a discarded sheet set my SIL gave me. Also in the pile were dozens of old mismatched pillow cases which I see as place mats and maybe napkins. They won't match but isn't that chic these days? Thrifting is chic! I ripped one seam in a flannel moose-print pillow case and made a pad for the dog's crate with it - that and a $3.00 fleece blanket from Ikea.

And how about this fabulous felted scarf - I feel a trip to the thrift store coming on.

Not to mention my favorite, this totally charming stuffed Scottie!

Great thrifting/crafting/sewing ideas. Lots to keep us insomniacs occupied in the wee hours.