dipping my toe ...

Getting back out there is going to be a slow, 

steady process.

The flying part was stressful. 

Just no two ways about it.

The teaching part, 

FELT SO GOOD!!

I had a small class of socially distanced students.

The class was a complete departure from the norm.

Why NOT? You could say I'm just rolling with it! 

I presented the idea of a 

"Choose Your Own Journey" 

class platform to the owners of 

The Needle Works

last February and I'm infinitely glad for it.

The perimeters were that each student 

choose a piece from my line available through 

Bedecked and Beadazzled.

Each student came to class with 

their own set of questions. 

I was there for three days to work 

through all of them 

with each student. 

Total immersion!

They loved it! 

They loved setting the pace! 

As a result,

the pace was casual and

they all learned from each other.

If I'd taught a project class... 

Completely different, 

I have a schedule of what needs to 

be covered during class time, 

when best to do it and

how long we'll spend on each section. 

Which is great and 

the way I am use to teaching. 

Now, I have two

ways to teach and I am 

a happy camper doing both!

The Needle Works 

is thread heaven!

Fabulous classroom, this was taken

before opening, it was so well

organized and peaceful.

I had to document it.

Any of you that have worked one of my painted

canvas guided designs... 

well, you know I love texture.

Which I often accomplish with beautiful 

BULLIONS!!

One of my students focused completely on 

this for most of the first day.

Her piece had three different bullions with 

three different threads.

Above is her practice canvas, 

this woman was determined!

By George, I think she's got it!

ALL OF IT!!

They are all smiling under those mask!!

Some of the stitches taught were,

pulled work needle weaving, sequin application, 

string art, ribbon embroidery, 

applique, copper mesh wings,

and BULLIONS!

I also showed them how I finish and frame.

Keep an eye out for a repeat of this 

class platform next year.

Back home and after taking Mum for her 

second covid shot and finally getting an

appointment for my first ...

I have resumed work on my painting

for the 

FLOWERS! Florida in Art show 

coming up.

Opening will be June 11.

[I'll post again before then]

Every line of my Passion Flower

is fine line brush work. One of my

favorite ways to ART!

Catch Me Up!

To say there is no moss growing here,

would be an understatement.

A busy bee I have been.

At the end of last year I decided to enter a local show

featuring 'Found Objects',

through Ridge Art Association.

Since I have a few, 

my brain was formulating a 

design where not only 

could I use a few of these objects but

I could also play with some new to me fibers.

A win win. 

Sadly, it did not get a mention in the 

show but the other piece I entered did.

So Yay and Yay!

Since I truly enjoyed working this design, 

it is getting

it's moment to shine here.

'Wire and Rock'

original, one of a kind

for purchase, inquire at

akimberlydesign@gmail.com

Happy Christmas to Moi!

I am blessed to have a very talented circle of friends.

Kimberly Miller being one of those, I absolutely 

love her work. Saw this sculpture and had to have it!

Check out her work here...

Kimberly Miller Studios

My long time friend and distributor, 

Ruth Schmuff is fabulous at

having my belt designs made up into wearable art.

The belt designs are great carry around projects. 

If you're needing a 

'stuff in your bag stitch and go project',

here's the link.

'Flying Jewels' belt

A couple of sweet central Florida towns away 

from me is Lake Wales. 

The Lake Wales Art Council 

is housed here in the most beautiful building

 with a rich history.

But before I get carried off in that story...

they have a beautiful gallery too 

and a fabulous director, Amanda McCallister, 

who is doing a fantastic job of scheduling 

shows and classes.

[click on the name to read all about it]

The above piece is for a show coming up in March.

The show will feature art made during the pandemic.

I chose to do a piece focused on hope.

My 'Dove of Peace' mask is wrapping our planet

with it's soft wings of healing energies.

If you are in the area, come see the show.

Quarantined Creatives:

A Pandemic Art Retrospective Exhibit

I have my brain focused on this event next.

[along with many other projects...classes and zooms]

Studio time is shortly going to be devoted to

painting this glorious Passion Flower.

I shot this at the end of 2019 while strolling

the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. I did not 

know I'd have a chance to render it and be in 

such a wonderful show.

There is a Facebook page you can follow

for peeks at what all the artists are up to.

Planning and plotting...

Above is me visiting my beginnings in the 

needlework industry. I have been asked to teach

a beginner class in needlepoint several times.

Since I'm not one for working little squares 

of different stitches, I designed the above piece.

'Beginner with a Twist'

We start in the very center with a square of Tent 

stitch and build out with decorative stitches.

At the end, we circle back to that center square

to work my favorite type of stitching.

String Art over the Tented square.

No way will you be bored learning to

needlepoint different stitches with this design.

It is simply painted to guide in direction 

on 13 count canvas.

I'll announce dates and times when they 

materialize. We are still being very careful

to socially distance. Since this has to be an

'in person' class, we'll just have to

 practice patience.

Just to expand my knowledge...

My friend and artist

Sherry Ross and I periodically 

spend a Saturday here and there 'Arting'.

One of those was spent exploring Gouache Paint.

I had read that you could draw on top of

it's velvety finish. This was a huge 

deal to Moi, as I love color and as you

know, I LOVE line!

Love the colorful sunsets 

through my 

small studio window.

Being human...

Happy Holidays! 

I just sent off a newsletter full of information 

and happy occurrences during this time of isolation.

If you wish to be included please send me your email address to

akimberlydesign@gmail.com

make the subject:  newsletter 

First order of business in this post is to bow deeply for my

typo in above newsletter. I can not believe I misspelled 

Ruth Schmuff's last name!! We've only been friends and a force together

in the industry for approximately 28 years!

She texted me laughing out loud, that's a true friend!

Next order of business...

CLASSES!!

Looking ahead to February. 

My classes have students but we are still hoping to fill 

at least one more 'socially distanced' chair at

 The Needle Works 

in Austin, Texas for my 'Choose Your Own Journey' class. 

This is a unique opportunity to stitch any piece from my line of 

painted canvases and have me at your beck and call for 

three days of fabulous stitching. 

There is still time to sign up and get your favorite design. 

The class runs February 19, 20 & 21.

The Needle Works assures me that all precautions are being 

taken for everyone's safety.

The class is small in size in their beautiful large classroom, 

plenty of space to spread out.

In other news ...

I've been exploring and learning, stretching

my creativeness with new to me techniques.

Above is this years Christmas Card.

Every year I create a new holiday card.  This year I decided

to spread my wings and try something different.

The painting is 16" x 20" rendered in a way that

colors are layered to create the shading. 

This is sooooo different than my normal approach.

When I paint needlepoint canvas, every color is mixed or

bought to use directly. There is little blending, sometimes

I may bleed two colors together but never as I did

on this painting. 

Best part of this, I had a blast and I want to do more.

I'll never give up line drawings, they sooth my brain.

I'm totally focused when working with lines, 

my meditation.

Grateful ...

 This year has been a test ...

Growing up the TV would periodically go into 'TEST' mode.

It was like the outer limits was taking over, it would buzz loudly ...

a different screen would appear and ...

the collective 'we' thought 

nothing of it!

I'm not sure what brought me to the above but

it's been that kind of year and here we are at the end 

of November.

My focus has been to be 

GRATEFUL

To focus on what I have ...

Like a new grandson!

His two amazing siblings!

My daughter and son,

who both hold my heart.

Having my Mom here!

My family, my friends,

my creativity and my wild imagination that fuels it!

I was recently honored to win an award for my work.

With all that has been going on, I've begun to enter local 

gallery shows. It gets my work out there and keeps me

motivated to do MORE.

Therefore, you could have knocked me over with a feather

when I won an 'Award of Excellence' 

for 

'Collage'

Looking forward ...

 To say it's been a different world,

understatement comes to mind.

As the title of this post implies,

I'm looking forward with hope 

for more balance.

Safe, social distance smart classes

are on the schedule.

February will see me flying non stop to 

Austin Texas to teach for 

The Needle Works

a different kind of experience we're calling

'Choose Your Own Journey'

follow the link for more information.

It's going to be great fun!

February 19, 20 & 21, 2021

https://theneedleworks.com/class/choose-your-own-journey-with-kimberly-smith/

To keep the needles flying,

Chandail

'Father and Son'

February 27, 28 & March 1, 2021

http://www.chandailneedlework.com/2021-workshop-classes.htm#Dragon

I put my heart into each piece I create.

This one is no different but WOW! Did I 

have fun and is he ever a proud dragon.

'Father and Son'

aka 'Pater and Filius'

first flying lesson

This design took on a life all it's own.

From the brocade like borders to the use of

real metal paillettes to add all kinds of shine.

You will learn gobs of technique with this design.

the journey ...

I'm only '62' but ...

over the years I've learned ...

one or two things here and there ...

one important piece of information that

was passed on to me when my two were littles ...

'you're only as good as your next piece'

This hit me as harsh but

I saw the truth in those words.

So they immediately became motivational.

This morning I watched a video clip a friend does

on artists called

'Eye for Art' by Paul O'Neill

The artist spoke of how a creative can feel a bit of a let down 

when finishing a piece.

My mind understood this and his next words

resonated as well. 

I can feel this way when I finish a piece that I've been so 

focused on. However, it doesn't last long because

I'm already turning to the next. It's usually already drawn

or painted and staring at me with a small pile of 

materials I've begun to gather. And the thoughts of 

'what crazy idea will come to life on this piece' ...

after all ... You are only as good as your next piece!!

... and that my friends is freaking exciting to Moi!

My day typically starts with a large strong cuppa Chai.

To begin a canvas, I usually see how

much I can pull from my limited stash.

Ideas are normally hand written and changed

as the piece often tells me a different story 

once I begin working. 

I still can't remember what I was thinking 

when I decided to add this little one peeking

over the top of the big guy.

...and so the story in my head started.

He soon became the son to this massive

amazing Father dragon.

The father told me his son was 

being very reluctant about

his first flying lesson.

I take a ton of pictures, I always have.

Even before camera phones!

My brain sees patterns.

I was an extreme Tetris player

at one point ... until I realized what 

a time waster it was. Many other

things to do that were so much 

more creative.

The above became the background.

... or is this my best side?

'Father and Son, first flying lesson'

This is being taught for 

Chandail Needle Work 

in Houston, Texas

June 4, 5 and 6, 2021

smiles ....

'Transformation'
[titled long before our world changed]

I know this year has qualified for many of you, 

on so many levels, as 

'the worst'

but ...

I've witnessed and continue to witness 

joy, beauty, & little miracles.

I could write a dozen blogs listing them all.

I do recognize that I've had fear, sadness ...

and a couple times felt myself plunge

into a pool of depressed feelings ...

still, there is that ...but

I have plenty to be grateful for.

First and foremost on a personal note ...

a new grandchild is due October first.

The force is strong in this one for sure!

My sweet niece had her babe arrive into

this world well ahead of schedule ...but

this one too is feisty and strong.

Every day I read of her growing and 

becoming.

My year started off with many classes, I met

with long time friends and new to me stitchers.

Had I not had this good fortune, not sure I'd have

kept my head above water these last few months.

So a huge thank you to all who made that possible.

I've sold several original pieces, started a news letter,

written on this blog! I've designed and painted 

several new pieces that will eventually 

debut when life once again becomes

'balanced'.

I'm just back from my first bit of travel to teach.

I'd like to give a shout out to Tampa International

and Southwest Airlines

for their vigilance in social distancing.

I taught for Labors of Love in Atlanta.

Mark and crew were fantastic!

I did not feel uneasy at all, tables were

arranged and students were spread out

[unless they arrived together].

Luis handed me a marvelous contraption to 

wear so all could hear me.  A shield that fit

over my glasses and covered my face completely.

I'm soft spoken, hearing me through a mask

simply wasn't working.  The shield was perfection.

Beautiful shop, beautiful people!

So...

this is more wordy than my typical blog.

Obviously I had a lot on my mind that 

needed to jump out.

I wish you all peaceful and healthy days!

xoxo

[if you'd like to be added to my newsletter for 

updates on classes and new work, 

email me at akimberlydesign@gmail.com 

....make subject 'newsletter']

developing doodles ....

... once upon a time ...

I was playing with my adorable

granddaughter. As any adult comes to learn,

the best toy is most likely the box 

it arrived in.

Decorating it can be the best fun....

and sometimes, every once in a while,

my brain takes it further.

No rules when coloring on a cardboard box!

Taking it a step further,
thinking about color and stitches
for needlepoint canvas.

Initial lines drawn before adding paint.

Doodles are important for all of us.
It helps me to think.

Tada!
'Abstract Vase'
will be added to the line this fall.
Watch for it and several other new designs.

'Abstract Vase'
Black and White high quality prints
are available.
Inquire by email to
akimberlydesign@gmail.com

my favorite job ever...

... a friend posted,

'slightly overcast, but any day at the beach is a good day'

This made my mind wander, doesn't take much ...

I was also asked this week during a Zoom meeting what

my favorite job ever was ...

mind you, caffeine had not been consumed yet ...

it is Saturday and I'm not moving fast on purpose.

Thankfully, I was last to answer and had time to ponder.

My first thought was, being a Mimi to the two pictured below.

Although, I don't even consider that a 'job', so my answer 

was, being an artist and exploring it daily throughout my life.

Then I saw a comment in my email, 'haven't heard from you in 

awhile, hope all is well'. 

This came from anonymous but I answered.

Then felt the guilt of not posting here in a bit, 

even considered not doing 

this blog any more several times of late.  BUT ...

recently views have jumped and interest seems to be renewed.

It could be the new normal we are all living 

or maybe the wonderful

group Zoom I joined out of Sarasota 

or maybe because I recently made

the leap and purchased my .com  

Who knows for sure BUT ....

Seemed I'd better sit myself down and post.

So enjoy the pictures of me living my favorite life 

with my two favorite humans ... soon to be three!

Mimi and Bird getting creative.

Little Fox and anything with wheels.

Happiness

Painting rocks with Mimi.

Accidents and magic ... Bead fall ... ugh

Magic happens in this studio.
They fell right into this dish! 

Thank goodness for sturdy drawers.

Just pretty.

Sunset through my Frangipani.
These are babies from my
original that Irma knocked over.