...it's time

to stop and smell the Primroses...fini!

Movement...

Just listed in my ArtFire Studio and also my shop on Etsy. Took me long enough...kept thinking I would add more color but decided I really like it just like this!
akimberlydesign.ArtFire.com
akimberlydesign.Etsy.com

Working weekend...

I'm just back from a needlework market in Dallas. It was wonderful to see so many old friends. The show was a smaller form of the larger shows held twice a year by The National Needlework Association...it was cash n carry. They hold these in suite hotels...you display your product in the front of your room and have all the product available for customers to 'carry' home. It can be a rush...for many years I was on the display and sell end...this weekend I was with the shop I work for. It was great to be able to tour the rooms and visit. At the end of the day we went back to our room and relaxed, I stitched a little and worked on my Primroses ...still have some work ahead of me on this piece but much further along than I was. I'll update again soon.

Freeform...

This was a blast to stitch...no rules...for some this would send shivers down the spine. The word random can send some stitchers into therapy. For me, it's a free pass to play. I love to gather a pile of fibers in different mediums...hand painted and solid silks, beads, buttons, real metal...found some silk chenille for the above piece and chipped some smooth metal to use as beads. Like I wrote above...I had a blast. I'll be adding this piece and some similar to my studio soon. (click on the picture to zoom on details)

Peace....

It's so quiet here this a.m. except for my tapping on this computer....I had an ahhh moment last night...I finished a project! I love to 'paint' with thread, develop stitches and see colors come together on a canvas as I design a piece but sometimes...I actually 'paint' the canvas and proceed to stitch over it. This Peace sign was originally a custom piece...two years later I decided I needed one for myself. I'm hoping to make it into a tote bag for myself. The scan above doesn't do it justice...there are little peace signs all over it! You can zoom in...you might be able to see them better. Have a great week! Peace, Kimberly

...filling my time

There is always something I want to do...always...I never seem to have a moment where there just isn't anything on my mind. I tried yesterday, spent a lovely day at a spa with my daughter. It was fabulous but I heard her remind me a few times..."mom...we have no where we have to be today"...dadumdum. She was so right and we had a great time...just doing nothing. I even laid still long enough to get some sun....just a little crisp today, ouch. That's what I get for not being outside more often.
Today, I delivered some tassels I'd made for my accountant. Long overdue but have to brag...she had asked for red and green...all I could see was Christmas which meant not having them out year round. So I did them up a little different and then worried they wouldn't work in her new home. Well....after I handed them over, expressed my concern about them...she says, come look at my living room. I could not have made them match better if I'd known in advance. I was more surprised than she! Wish I'd had my camera but my battery was charging!
(click on image to see detail)

some feedback...

....I'm curious. The above is called "Peggy"....truly a doodle turned into art. I may have been sitting on the bus actually...can't remember for sure. Started with pencil, then pen and ink, then my magic colored pencils. I named it Peggy for a friend whom the colors reminded me of. What I'm curious about is it's popularity...she is consistently at the top of the hit list in my studio. I know why I like it but would love to hear others opinions.

Having Tea...

I love having tea...it can calm me down or wake me up! This past Saturday a friend and I stopped into our local Tea Shop, called The Tea Embassy. It's an amazing shop with all sorts of tea 'stuff' to explore.
While sitting there tasting the brew of the day, I saw that they sold a variety of cards...yes, it did dawn on me before I left to ask if they'd be interested in any cards I came up with. The owner said yes, brave soul not knowing me very well at all. I'm hoping he likes what I've come up with so far. The two shown here are just the first of several 'brewing' in my head.
Let me know what you think and do go check out their website.
www.teaembassy.com

...quick note

Before I head off to work...I've added a gadget at the bottom of this page...check it out! Some of my favorites, I'll change this up periodically...maybe theme it if time allows. Click on the thumbnails to go to each artists shop. Have a great weekend!

It's raining in Texas!

And my Primroses grew! It's been ever so dry here, depressingly dry. So everyone is thrilled with the rain. I didn't really even notice anyone stressing going into work this a.m. in the traffic that was not moving. There was this quiet calm that overtook me...everything looks so much better in the rain. Colors are richer, deeper...full of life. Spring is my all time favorite season, I love seeing the Redbuds pop open, the Bradford Pears are also coming to life along with the Wisteria trees. It's just gorgeous. So while I sat in the traffic, that was not moving....I was looking at everything turning that wonderful spring green I so love.

beginnings...

...of a new piece. It's really hard sometimes to make yourself sit down and work. After running several errands yesterday and enjoying a lunch that was lousy foodwise but great companywise. I came home to sit in my favorite chair and sketch. I'm not sure where this will take me yet but so far I'm liking it. I have a new box of watercolor pencils I'm itching to play with....

...people I find fascinating

artists I'm meeting along the way....
I feel very fortunate to have bumped into them via this amazing internet. Some have been so kind to feature my work on their blogs. One just announced that she has taken the plunge into being an artist full time. Oh how I wish I could do this also. Another just posted some wonderful links on how we could all improve our sales. One has a site totally dedicated to showcasing artists work. I hope you can take the time to visit these very talented/generous women and help me to pay back their kindnesses.
Here it is the weekend again...the weeks just fly by. Maybe with two days off, you can visit each of the links below. Have fun exploring, Kimberly

Kathleen Coy
ArtFire Artisans
Liberty Doll
Art Dolls by Nat
Jessica Doyle
Ninja Jenn

...a sheepy morning to you

Good Morning....another day in paradise. I can dream, can't I?! I'm thinking a beach, waves splashing on the sand....a good book. Of course, I'm just as happy to be off and running. I'll be delivering son and cake he baked for German class to school, then off to work.
I write stitch guides for hand painted needlepoint canvases...we are switching from hand written to computerized. Yesterday my eyes were crossed by the end of the day. I'm a Mac user, shop has all PC's....it's a whole different ballgame. Same program but nothing is where it is on mine at home! So this oldish dog, is learning some new tricks. Patience is indeed a virtue! Hope all of you have a great day in paradise too.
(Sheep is available in both ArtFire/Etsy as an ACEO, click in side windows to visit both)

....never a dull moment

This used to be my mantra but I've changed and try to take each day one moment at a time. Today was wonderful, gorgeous weather....had a dental appointment...no cavities! Stopped by my local yarn shop...which just happens to be in the same plaza as the dentist....and I bumped into two friends. What a happy coincidence. We were able to visit, which is a rare occasion for me.
I also do finishing for knitted garments...in my spare time. I was there to pick up a couple of jobs and she sweetly took me up on an offer to sell some of my cards in her shop. So it's been a great day.
On a different note... This morning in a forum someone was asking about where all her followers disappeared to and I just found out! When Blogger started this new follow/friend option...they switched everyone you follow to anonymously. For those of you who've not seen this...go to manage who you follow. Get a cuppa something because you have to do each one individually.
Anyway, just thought I'd pass that little piece of info on to those who follow me and might read this post. I didn't drop you, honest!