Escape Route Blog

Quote of the Day

2011-05-13T14:58:00Z

An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth
--Bonnie Friedman

So It’s a Little Quirky

2011-05-08T18:08:00Z

Anyone that knows me knows I might, just might, have a couple quirks. That is if you consider not being able to wear gold and silver jewelry at the same time (unless its on the same piece) quirky?Things have to either match or be at least even. This is why I struggle so much with scrapbooking. I see beautiful designs in magazines or fantastic pages friends have done with flowers only on one side or photos off center on the page. Anyone else breaking out in a sweat besides me? And yet I believe I can do it--I know I can do it!

Out comes the paper, embellishments, the photos, and every scissor, ruler and rubber stamp known to mankind. Oh man, the yellows in the paper don’t completely match the yellow in the picture! The paper punch isn’t quite what is in my head. Palms are sweaty again! Self doubt just pulled up a chair at my table and yet I keep going. Once everything is in place, changed and replaced again, I stop in my tracks. Wow, it looks good! It has colors that don’t 100% matchy matchy and I’m still standing!

That page is my free pass to go on and do more. It’s my validation that the planets will remain in orbit if something edgy (at least for me) emerges. It’s liberating, in a way. Consider this your free pass to let go of that perfection quirk and move on to ones that matter! Plaid and horizontal stripes here I come. Ok....small steps.

Take a Hike!

2011-03-15T00:29:00Z

Weekends are my time to completely focus on crafting. This weekend was no exception with the focus on beading. A bracelet to be specific. Wire...check. Tools...check. Beads...good grief, yes. My table looks like a bead factory blew up on my table! Creativity...now where did I put that? More specifically, its my ability to decide on color combinations. There are at least 3 or 4 design ideas floating around in my head so that part is good to go. I feel really challenged picking out colors, Since it only took me 8 years to find the perfect paint color for my living room, should I be surprised?

Depending upon the project, there are times I want to step out of the safe zone of blue, brown and black and get into interesting combos...just not ones that will have people suggesting I get my eyes checked! Given that, where to go for ideas. Some friends who truly do have an artistic gift were willing to share some of their inspiration motivators.

* Take a hike! (I prefer to think the suggestion was to talk around my neighborhood rather than it be a hint!) Pay attention to the palette Nature provides. The varieties of greens in the leaves with the hint of yellow on the edges. Maybe the darker shade of green in the veins. Even the shading of the dirt in the snowbanks hanging on to the last bits of winter.
* Pay attention to layouts in magazines or websites. Maybe photos in a food magazine, a living room in a design website, a commercial for “you pick the product"--whatever holds your attention. It is amazing the ideas that will pop in your head just pausing to look and accepting an idea trying to creep in.
* Something as portable as a color wheel is perfectly fine. Safe. And fine. Hmm, maybe there’s an app for that?
* Just play. Tuck away the preconceived notions about what works and what doesn’t. Give yourself permission to put stripes and plaid together and see what happens!

At the worst, you can have a good laugh, wonder what you were thinking, and go back to the safe and sound. That’s the beauty of crafting. Enjoy!

Let’s Get Packing!

2011-02-15T21:19:01Z

I am so excited to begin this “Escape” with you. Crafting has been a part of my life since childhood. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t have a needle in my hand or a piece of fabric catches my eye and my mind is off to the races. I’m not a pro by any means but someone with a love and talent for all things cross stitch, needlepoint, fabric. As this site grows, it will be full of a variety of crafting ideas, “how-to’s” and links to helpful tips. I hope you will stay on the journey with me, I’d enjoy your company!