What's What (Vol. 3 - May 4-17)

It's been two weeks since my last post, but we had our staycation during the first week. Then, I spent all of last week trying to get caught up. (Not that I EVER feel caught up.) 

What's finished

Since it has been two weeks, and it rained for about half of our vacation, I did get a few things done.

This assemblage work has been in process for several weeks. It's the first in what I hope will be a series that highlights the little details of some of the ephemera in my stash. As such, this piece (available at Hello Gallery) is titled Ephemeral Treasures 1. 

Likewise, I took a bit of time last week to turn my ICADs (Index Card a Day) into greeting cards for the gallery. 

And, the May Finding the Words art journal spread for YouTube was completed. 

Those are just the bigger tasks I accomplished. There were loads of smaller ones too. 

What's in Progress

Speaking of cards, I've been working on restocking my supply of cards that get included with purchases from the Etsy Shop. That meant making masterboards and watercoloring some flowers for them. 

I can't share what's actually on my desk at the moment, though, as it's my Inspiration Trove assemblage project for the month. I should hopefully have that available to watch within the week.

What's Next?

In addition to the Inspiration Trove video, I'm hoping to have another Thrifty Thursday video up this week, list a few pieces on Etsy, work on a NEW WEBSITE, and get into my Spicy art journal. 

What's Caught My Eye?

Since we were on vacation...it's been a lot of things!

This note written in the sidewalk outside a thrift store in Milton, FL is just one of them.

I also found this abandoned birds' nest in the brambles of our property while I was doing yardwork yesterday.

What's Had My Attention?

I just started listening to/reading The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick and am really enjoying it. In fact, it's this month's book for a book club that I'm likely joining. So, that's exciting too. 

What's Inspired Me?

Our staycation was full of inspiring activities. We went to the Walter Anderson Museum in Ocean Springs, MS. It was full of so much colorful inspiration!

We spent an afternoon at the beach (Orange Beach, AL). It's my favorite place to restore my soul, and I am so thankful that we live so close to the coast.

A whole day was enjoyed in Milton, Florida. First, we rode 16 miles of the Blackwater Trail on our bikes. Then we did some dining, antiquing, walking along the Blackwater River, and sampling the local brews. 

What was the Best Part of my Week(s)?

See the section above! 😜

What's New?

It's not especially new-new, but I did recently get my PaperArtsy Infusions into little organizers that I've had hanging around. I even made a whole Reel about it on YouTube. 

What's New with You?

What's What (volume 2 - April 27-May 3, 2026)

 Look at me sliding in with another week's roundup!! 

What's finished

Honestly, the biggest tasks I accomplished this past week were getting the last blog post up, updating my space at Hello Gallery, and cleaning the house.

I did get these two photos altered as part of my StitchABit100 for the 100 Day Project.

What's in progress

Here's where so much time has been spent. I've got other photos still in the process of being altered. (I'm really just trying to decide if they're done for now.)

Other stitching has been done on this scrap of fabric, to which I'm adding white buttons and additional stitches. 

I've also been keeping my hands busy with some neurographic doodling. It's been a while since I dabbled with these. But, I was absolutely pulled back in.

What's up next?

We're doing a staycation this week and started strong yesterday with grilling by the pool. Though the water is still pretty chilly. We're hoping to take the bikes out, go for a paddle on the kayaks, and maybe even spend a day on the beach. However, we may be overambitious with our time. 

What's caught my eye?

After a ton of rain this past week, I looked out my office window and spotted this beauty of a mushroom. It's as tall as my hand!

What's had my attention

Pat had several band practices and a gig this week, so I was left to my own devices (hence the doodling). I watched Practical Magic for the first time ever and rewatched Dead Poets Society (for probably the hundredth time. It's a longtime favorite that I've avoided since Robin passed away.) As well, I picked up watching Outlander from where I left off several years ago (the end of season 2).

Also, the Mastering Mixed Media Expo 2026 has started, and I've been picking my way through those videos. (Today, the Making Zen Online Retreat also starts. I'm hoping to be able to watch some of those too!!

What's Been the Best Part(s) of My Week

~We did go see Cake, though we didn't take any pictures or video (as requested by the band). It was an awesome show!

~I thrifted some buttons.

~A couple of assemblages sold at the gallery

~We celebrated Pat's birthday with a few friends while exploring Pensacola on Saturday. (It was also Kentucky Derby Day, and a mint julep was in order. And, more celebrating was done poolside on Sunday.

What's new

Can you call thrifted bits "new"? If so, I picked up a few new items that will be in an upcoming Thrifty Thursday (though, not the one  I've got scheduled for this week.)

My pressed flowers came out beautifully! I was just off to pick more yesterday when I realized that I had plenty to do before our guests arrived. Hopefully, I can make it happen this week. 

New videos on YouTube -

~Art Journal Page (Keeping it Spicy challenge)

~Create with me Handmade Bracelets

So, what's new with you?

What's What (the first)

I've been planning for WEEKS to get back to blogging and/or send out more newsletters. But, I want to try to keep it simple in more of a roundup of what's-going-on-with-me-in-the-moment style, similar to the "Currently" blogs I've done in the past. As you can see by the title above, I'm calling this "What's What."

Without further ado, let's get started.

What's finished

I framed up two of my completed assemblages (April's Inspiration Trove and Week 2 Seek Gather Create February 2026) and made a couple of bracelets for May's Create with me Handmade Jewelry (upcoming!)

What's in progress 

There's an assemblage piece that needs to be backed and framed, an embroidery pattern that I'm working on for my 100-day project, and a thank-you assemblage piece for the watchmaker who donated a bunch of parts to me. 

What's up next (on my calendar)

Tonight, we're off to see Cake (It was a last-minute decision, and I'm beyond excited!!!!!) I've got an Art Journal video going up later this week. Pat's birthday is this weekend, so there will be some celebrations to be had. And, I'll get to check out how well the flowers did (above) in my cheap-o flower press (from Aldi).

What's caught my eye 

I've had this post from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer about crafting an artist statement open for several weeks now. I've never written one and probably should. Making it through all the info Julie shares will be my first step. 

What's held my attention 

A few things (always!) I just finished listening to Jane Austen's Persuasion and started Amor Towles' Rules of Civility. And, somehow, in writing this am I only just now seeing some of the similarities in the two. Hmmm. As well, we've been watching loads of Taskmaster (the new season and some of the old ones too), Rooster, and Margo's Got Money Troubles. We've also just started rewatching Game of Thrones.

What's been the best part(s) of my week (what am I thankful for?)

1- We saw Steve Vai and Joe Satriani at the Mobile Saenger last Monday

2- I was able to spend some quality time with my nieces (on their birthdays) and my parents. 

3- I got my craft room and office organized. It took a while and some determination, but it was done by Saturday afternoon. 

4- We kicked off pool season with a chilly float on Sunday. 

And, that was just this past week. I'm going to try to keep these fairly short and sweet for just a glimpse of what I'm up to and have planned.

Soooooo - WHAT'S new with you?

100 Days of What?

Little slips of paper with scribbled ideas litter the surface of my desk. There's a massive binder spilling over with more sketchy notes of inspiration. It's stashed nearby...along with a journal full of doodled designs. However, I never seem to have the time to work on any of these half-baked daydreams and side-projects. I fill my hours with what I think I need to do. What if I created a need to test out those plans? Every day. For 100 days (at least). 

Yup. You guessed it. It's time for The 100 Day Project. 

And, I thought I was ready. I really did. This plan was decided weeks ago. 
But, I (JUST NOW) reviewed my list of previous projects and realized two things.
One- This will be my TENTH year participating. 
Two- My project last year looks a lot like what I have been planning to do this year...On no!

I had to go look at my Instagram to find the 2025 hashtag because I just couldn't remember. My posts there about last year's project are scarce and sporadic. The way I wrote about it feels like I was unenthusiastic and losing steam. So, with only days until the 2026 project begins, I'm rethinking the idea I've had for months. Because...it's just too much like last year's unmemorable project.  And, that's not what I want for 100 days of my life.

Granted, I don't need anything groundbreaking or difficult. I want to do what all the advice out there suggests: work on something that I'm looking forward to, something that I want to show up for. I've already given myself enough challenges this year (Finding the Words, Inspiration Trove, Create with Me: Jewelry, etc. - all on YouTube). I don't need anything else to agonize over. What I need is permission to play. Just a little. Every day.

So, I think...I think I'm going to stitch. 

That can be interpreted in so many ways: slow stitching, using my sewing machine, embroidering or cross stitching, repairing or decorating my clothes, making stitched stacks or clusters, sewing a journal together, stitching in a journal...whatever. 

Just one of my many stashes of embroidery floss

While I have so very many supplies, all I really need is a needle, thread, and something to stitch. So, it's a project that can travel easily if needed. And, I'm excited to do it. 

Kits I'd forgotten I had

I just have to wait for the project to start on Sunday, February 22nd. If you're toying with the idea of joining, let me give you just a little advice:

•  It's okay to not take on too much. 
• Keep it simple, attainable. 
• Make sure you WANT to do it for 100 Days. 
• And remember, you don't have to finish something every day, just work a little on the idea. 

Now, get excited and go for it!

If you're interested in my previous projects, below are the hashtags I've used and a little about each of them. This year, I'll use #StitchABit100

2017 - #Make100Earrings: The idea is pretty self-explanatory, and I even did some serious prepping for it. 

2018 - #Altering100: I decided to alter a variety of materials for use in either mixed-media art or jewelry. I was all over the place with this project.

2019 - #SilverloxFinds was a really fun and memorable project in which I went out, explored our property, and shared the wild and wonderful bits I found there. 

2020 - #MakeArtDontFakeArt was all about using some of the art supplies I have amassed. I think I even had a list of 100 items that I was to work from. This was a bit of a dud, I think. 

2021 - #100DaysofMakingJewelry is another I don't remember well. However, looking through my posts, I think I got quite a bit of jewelry-making done. 

2022 - #Assemblage100 was really exciting for me because it allowed me to begin playing with the idea of assemblage art. Here's my post about it. 

2023 - #Making100Faces AND #MiniAssemblage100 might have been a tad overambitious. But, the faces were easy. And, I enjoyed playing with more assemblage at a smaller scale. It felt more manageable that way. 

2024 - #NotPreciousProject was glorious, but I'm still working to not make my supplies so precious. 

2025 - #HopeDaydreams was fiiiiiine. I experimented. I played. But, I did it already. 

Please note that since Instagram's use of hashtags has changed, you may or may not see my posts when you click on the hashtags above. Sorry about that. Who knew they'd mess up such a vital search function? Sigh.

Anyway

I'm ready to pull out all my floss, thread, needles, fabric, and the rest of it and get to it. I guess you can say that I'm itchin' to get stitchin'

Should I mention all the spools of thread?

As for all those scraps of ideas, they'll get used...eventually.

I'd love to hear if you're joining the party and what your project is. 

Oh, and I know I've been away from the blog for ages. Sorry about that. I do hope to be here more often. But, I don't want to make too many promises quite yet.