This site is about my life in the art studio. It includes drawings, paintings, knitting and cross stitch and fun art techniques. I will also include recipes and yoga and book reviews. This is a lifestyle blog with intentional and simple living ideas.
Winter Gathering is coming along..
I’m going to take a break from stitching, as my hand is starting to be in pain.
I have a day off tomorrow and will be stitching again. I might go to the store, but it just depends if I feel up to it.
Happy Day
Caroline
I have been stitching today. It’s been a rainy cold day. Sometimes the rain looked like snow.
This is winter gathering by Dimensions.
(I made a few mistakes, but it’s still looking ok).
I closed my Etsy shop. For several reasons, but mostly it was stressing me and I just couldn’t make art that anyone wanted to buy. Plus I don’t have time to paint daily because of my job, and my chronic fatigue and edema. I got likes on my knitting and some on my paintings. I am ok with this decision. It will allow me to not feel pressured when I want to be in my studio. And it will allow me time to get back to some of my training for my profession.
As much as I wanted to make art more and earn a profit, I don’t think it works for me.
I made a list of things I want to work on and complete for the new year.
Ok. So my list looks super long and maybe it’s impossible, but I’m going to try to get most done.
What’s on your list? It’s crazy how this year is nearly finished. It wasn’t a good year. Very stressful. My body is tired.
Happy Day
Caroline
This week I wanted to finish the headband. It is done in stockinette stitch.
I had much more yarn left over from this color.
I am working on knitting a scarf.
I stitched a few rows of purl. Then began the seed stitch.
Happy Day
Caroline
Today I sorted through my threads for cross stitching. Cleaned my shelves where I put the threads and cross stitch books and magazines.
I decided to put the DMC threads in a container. I’m uncertain if I’ll keep them in it or buy another organizer. Time will decide.
I decided that I am officially obsessed with this hobby. I love it so much, I rather stitch than paint.
That’s not a surprise to me, since it’s something I can do with my legs raised up. (I have edema in my legs from Rheumatoid Arthritis).
Here’s the start of my next cross stitch called Winter Gatherings.
I have not posted anything new on my Etsy shop.. I’m quite disappointed in it. I might close it and rethink if I want to sell my art. I will post my decision once I feel it’s concrete.
Happy Day
Caroline
This evening I found myself painting. It was not planned. Earlier in the day, I was consumed with watercoloring, cross stitching and knitting.
I wanted to do yoga tonight. The past few weeks my house was being updated in the kitchen and bathroom. Last week I finished the minor parts, painting my closet door and doing touch ups and painting my bathroom.
I not only stopped yoga and my artwork for awhile, I also had a set back in my diet.
I have to eat gluten free and dairy free and soy free. I have an autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis. I made a dish with cheese in it. Evidently I can not go back to eating dairy.
My stomach is bloated, gassy and felt nauseous. All side effects of dairy intolerance. I have not tried to eat anything with gluten in it. At this point I will not be trying any.
Yoga to the rescue. I did a yin yoga to hold the poses longer. Afterwards, I had this desire to sit at my art table again. I began
painting…
Earlier in the day I painted these fruits in watercolor.
If you follow my art, I tend to put a little abstract flare to it with some retro vibe. You can follow me on Instagram and on my Etsy shop.
I’m now laying down and need to go to sleep. I have a client early tomorrow and need to get up early.
Happy Day
Caroline
Today I had the day off from work. It felt great to sleep in and leisurely wake up.
I started out with a gluten free dairy free and soy free breakfast.
I began a few rows of a headband. Using stockinette stitch.
Fried egg, on toasted gluten free bagel with avocado and tomato on the side. Top off with everything bagel seasoning.
Then I went to my studio and used watercolor and started a new acrylic painting.
Then I are lunch which was not tasty.
Then I started a cross stitch of winter birds.
Evening with stockinette stitch headband
And I’ll end the night laying down with a weighted blanket and might stitch a few more rows of the stockinette stitch headband.
Why so many little things today? Because I want to do it all and haven’t been making art in over a month. I’m trying to get my creative intuition back!
Art is on Etsy Https://4pawsartstudio.etsy.com
Happy Day
Caroline
Last night I completed a scarf. It’s in time to wear for the windy rainy weather we are having today.
I used the waffle stitch. It’s a pretty design but also not overly heavy.
Here’s how to stitch the waffle knit stitch…
Here’s a drawing I made to keep my rows correct. I kept forgetting to use my number clicker for each row. When I set it down I had to think about which row I was on.
If the working yarn is toward your right hand and it shows little balls of design then it’s row 2 or row 4.
If it looks like waffle side, you can be on row 1 or row 3.
After my scarf was completed I used a blocking method to get the rolls on the side to lay flat. Just place your scarf or whatever you knitted on the table, and place books on top of it, you will need a few books on it. Keep it there over night and the rolls should be flat.
I might make myself ear warmers with this yarn. It will be a simple knit to take with me to the office and work on it when I have breaks in the day or when my clients don’t show for their appointment.
Happy Day
Caroline
It is official!
At 8:00pm Friday Dec 3, 2021, Derby was completed.
After tons of visits to Joann stores for DMC threads, countless times of loosing then finding my favorite needle, and endless Netflix and Hulu shows. And mostly patience, this cross stitch finally got it’s last stitch.
I’ll miss it. It has been my dear friend for 3 years and 6 months. I felt a sense of sadness but eagerness to cross the final thread.
But I am ready to work on another pattern.
I think I’ll work on winter birds. This one is extremely smaller, easier pattern to read and less amounts of DMC colors. It will be gifted to my sister when complete.
Happy Day
Caroline
I’m almost finished with Derby.
I’m thinking this evening I might stitch a block or two before I go to bed. And tomorrow I have to work until evening. So late at night tomorrow I might get to stitch more. I’m thinking by Sunday it can be finished.
Sadly I might not be able to deliver it to my brother-n-law for awhile because my sister has to quarantine.
Etsy shop is open. More paintings will be posted and for sale. Stay tuned
https://4pawsartstudio.etsy.com
Happy Day
Caroline
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