Dying to be home again

Goodness. It has been so long since I checked in here that I can't even think of anything to say. 

While I wait for something brilliant to cross my mind ... I'll add a photo or two of the latest experiment to come off the work table.

It all happened when I decided to make a home version of Portillo's chopped salad. As I was opening the composter to add all the veggie scraps, I noticed the stiff outer leaves of the red cabbage. So ... in the same noble way I rescue books from a dumpster, I pulled the purple leaves back from the composter. Fifteen minutes later they were ripped into pieces and immersed in boiling water.

Red cabbage = blue water ... a lovely gray blue that is soft, beautiful. I strained the water into a glass peanut butter jar (I love Smucker's). While the liquid cooled, I ran through the house looking for paper that might look better with a blue bath.

I am sad that I couldn't get the true blue that came from this dye. It truly is beautiful and I can't wait to find a way to use it on a card ... or a collage ... or a book! Hopefully that will happen soon!

So nice to be here again. I've missed you, little blog.

...be content with such things as ye have: for God hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Life marches on

It happens, while life is zipping along, that death knocks at the door and stops all regular activities. By legal arrangement, I have been the life-detail-overseer for an elderly friend. It seemed like the days were going well, but in the midst of my sense of well-being, she gave up.

And that was the end of that story.

So I have been away from this quiet little corner of my world. Although the details of last year still hang over my head, before it becomes a fact that I have missed 4 months of blogging, here I am.

A bit more than 4 months ago, I was working my way through the Image Transfer Workshop. As I looked ahead at the untried transfers, and back at the transfers completed, I decided to stop where I was. The rest of the book required the purchase of pricey materials that were too experimental for me to invest any more money - or time - to complete.

This was a great adventure for me. There are a number of transfer methods that I love to do and I will use again. It is rewarding to know that the books I own are actually expanding my how-to knowledge.

Until I decide which book will be next, I am doing what I love - painting paper and making ... sometimes just a mess. But my heart is happy and that's good.

So I'll post a picture of the latest little painting. It was a mess no matter how many layers I added to bring some order, to find something to like about it. And then it happened... one more layer, one more color. Today it is a card - already doing it's best to add to birthday joy. I love it.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
 Psalm 107:8