Spirit dolls with Tie-Dye Judy

I just got back from a trip to Flagstaff to visit my friend Judy and have her show me how she makes her spirit dolls. It was a four-hour drive, but well worth it to see her and to escape the 100-degree temps here in Tucson. Flagstaff is about 20 degrees cooler!

In the first photo, she's showing how she binds sticks together for the body and arms. In the next photo (where I'm wearing one of the cool dresses that she dyed for me), I'm starting to dress her with earthy green scraps of fabric and yarn that I brought up.

And here she is! I used a big button for the face with beads as eyes. I'll probably embellish her a little more with a necklace and maybe something on the dress. She's an Earth Spirit.

Judy started a Facebook group called "Spirit Dolls and Guides" in case you're looking for inspiration or have questions about making them.

She sells her dolls at a gallery in Sedona. Here are a few that she still had in her studio:

I love the wispy, airy feeling of her dolls.

She orders some of her clay faces online and also makes her own, like this one:

She uses Sculpey clay and a push mold,

then paints them.

Then we went to Arts Connection, the artists coop gallery at the Flagstaff Mall where she has more of her art.

She has fabric bowls, boho bags, wall hangings, tie-dye clothing, cards and more. She also sells her work at www.judysalloriginals.com.

We topped off the day with a fabulous enchilada dinner at Salsa Brava!

To see what other fiber artists have been up to this week, hop over to: things-i-wished-i-knew-on-off-wall.html

Have a colorful day

Piercing the Mundane

I love this quote about "piercing the mundane" by Daniel Moynihan. It got me thinking about how we can find the marvelous in so many everyday experiences, if we just open our eyes and ears to it.

I was stopped in my tracks this morning on a walk in the desert when I looked up from the path and realized that the whole earth was glowing -- from the sand to the leaves to the sun rays piercing the vivid blue sky. Sometimes we miss these things if we're busy talking or absorbed in our thoughts.

Looking up from close to the base of a giant saguaro makes it look impossibly tall, but there it is. 

Silence becomes magical when you listen for it.

The tiniest flower is often overlooked, but focusing in on it can make it seem like a miracle ...

... no less than the majesty of a sunset or the moon, which are with us every day of our lives.

This post is sort of disjointed and I don't know if it actually addresses creativity, but I love the quote so much that I had to do something with it.

Have a marvelous day

Retiring the old pack

I've had this orange Coleman knapsack for 40 years. I bought it when I was in my 20s and needed something to take when I was exploring the desert around my new town of El Paso, Texas. It went on many day trips and vacations and has served me and two kids really well over the decades! 

My son used it when he went to preschool summer camp and it still has his name written inside. Then my daughter carried her books in it all through high school and it continued holding up with just a few reinforcing stitches around one strap. Here she is with it on her last day of high school 15 years ago.

But I finally gave in to the need for a hydration pack with a water bladder and drinking tube. So last week I bought a new Osprey pack, although I don't like the navy blue as much as the orange. It made its maiden voyage into the desert today.

It's very comfortable and holds 2.5 liters of water. I filled it about half full with ice cubes and that kept my back cool as the temperature climbed into the 80s by 9 a.m. I hope the orange pack understands!

Happy Trails!

My little art for sale on the blog

I decided to start selling my work from my blog, and I'm introducing my small more affordable pieces today! 

I added a tab on the right side of the blog that says "My little art for under $100." There's also a tab at the top of the blog right below the header. I couldn't figure out how to make the text larger or a different color, so it is what it is.

Here are the 10 pieces that I'm starting with, all for under $100 with shipping included. Hope you enjoy them! Click on the tab for descriptions, detail photos, and instructions for purchasing.

Later on I'll add big quilts.

BEAUTY - $20 does not include frame

(Just sold! Thank you, Judy!)

PINK DOOR - $35

(Sold! Thank you, Christine!)

CHOCOLATE KISSES II - $45

HAVE A SUNSHINE DAY! - $45

(Just sold! Thank you, Carol!)

MANDALA ON BLUE SKY - $50

MANDALA - $55

SEDONA SPRING MANDALA - $75

GATEWAYS ON THE JOURNEY - $65

(Just sold! Thank you, Vickie!)

GATEWAY TO GROWTH - $55

REVERSIBLE TABLE RUNNER - $40

(Sold! Thanks, Lil!)

Have a colorful day

Outdoor and indoor stitching

I didn't hike yesterday or today, so I stitched instead. Yesterday morning I took my hand stitching outside, with a big glass of iced tea and my music.

The view of my yucca bloom from under the awning:

The morning temperature:

The music:

The project:

 Today I stayed inside and finished quilting 

my big desert curves quilt!

Last night's sunset from the front courtyard:

Last night's moon from the back yard:

And my gently swaying acacia tree 

this morning in the front courtyard:

Have a colorful day

Magical light

Whether I'm taking a picture of a quilt or clouds, everything always looks better when the light hits just right. And you know how I love light! So today I've dug up some of my photos that came alive because of the sun.

There's just nothing as exciting to me (almost) as rich color saturation from the glow of the sun. It makes the veins in leaves and the lines of quilting pop.

It adds a richness to rocks and to silk.

It draws your eyes to details that might otherwise be overlooked.

It creates awesome sunsets

and sets orange fabric on fire!

It's playful ...

... and dramatic.

It makes an everyday day exciting.

It's pure heaven.

Have a colorful day