Mosaic Stepping Stones

My daughter, granddaughter and I took a mosaic stepping stone class yesterday at Daft Crafts which is on the Independence ( Missouri) Square... just down the street from the old Independence Courthouse with its statue of President Harry Truman ( Independence's most famous  native son!)

My daughter and the "always making faces" Lili

Lili designing her stone

Lili's designed glued and ready for grouting

Lili and I cleaning off  the excess grout

All three stones grouted, cleaned and drying. After they've dried for several days, more excess grout can be removed

Moving right along...

The "studio" is just about empty...except for the industrial sewing machine  and a large drop leaf table that is folded up. It's amazing how big the room looks now and I am beginning to think about how I will arrange things when I start putting things back. I want to keep that open look.
We took a car load of "stuff" to the local Goodwill!  Hopefully there will be more as I sort again before putting things back! I must admit that it feels funny seeing my "donations" on the Goodwill store shelves!

Part of downsizing is using bits  from my stash of mohair scraps.... and  Sammy is the latest result. He is 4.75 inches tall and has been posted on BearPile.

My "studio".... or whatever you want to call it... the place where I have all my supplies, the sewing machines, my photography set up etc. is going to undergo a change. We discovered carpenter ants around the double windows. The room itself has thin ( need I say cheap) dark wood paneling without any plasterboard beneath it.
We are going to change that!!  But first I need to find homes for all the "STUFF"!

In between sorting and lugging.... I did find time to make Frisco.  I used  some vintage upholstery mohair and a vintage sewing box with some sewing accessories. Plus I "mended" him using perle cotton thread. Frisco is 7 inches tall and has been posted on BearPile.
When the room is empty.... except for the industrial machine which weighs a TON ... we will take down the paneling and see what needs to be fixed....and fix it! And add insulation.  Then we will hire ( hooray and thank goodness) a crew to put up plasterboard and tape the joints! Then  we paint!  And I move things back!!!

Missing?

I know I've been absent for awhile... but for a good reason. My sister-in-law drove from South Carolina ( we live near Kansas City, Missouri) for a nice long visit.  We toured Kansas City's The Roasterie (coffee!!),  The Country Club Plaza ( The US's first mall built in the 1920's!), the Brookside Art Fair.... and lots of other family type stuff. Plus she brought some projects along that she needed help with.

While she was here I didn't make any new bears ( boo hoo)  but she headed home yesterday and I pulled out the mohair and needle and thread. Edgar is the result!  I  just posted him on BearPile .