Melanie Testa's Blog

I love a good day of makin' interspersed with a good cup of tea. I drink herbal teas and here are a few of my favorites: Tazo Rest, which is a very soothing and gentle but satisfying cup of tea. There are rose petals and lavender in this cup and I love the combo. Triple Leaf Relaxing is a tea I was introduced to a few years ago through Kripalu and just like the name of it says, it is quite a relaxing tea. Fox Trot is one of my favorite all-time teas, it is Rooibus based and is so earthy, rich and satisfying. I am about to stock up on it.

So these are some of my favorite teas. Do you have any tea suggestions or rituals that you too enjoy when you have a great day of making? I would love to hear about them.

This is a store cat, a cat who lives in a store. I imagine the window is very warm and inviting. This cat had a friend and they were both sunning as I walked by. Just look at that pretty, open and inviting face!

I am working on bridging my own personal gap between working in cloth and working on paper, wood, or whatever else I come up with.

So I mixed up some colors and worked with a stamp that you might remember from Hankie Havoc. I will be using traditional rose motif's for a while to come. Roses are so soft and rich, especially as they are depicted on cloth.

Having written Dreaming From the Journal Page: Transforming the Sketchbook to Art, I find that my approach to making stuff has changed. I am in a very exciting and highly creative period. Thank goodness. When I wrote Inspired to Quilt, I felt artistically drained for a long time afterward. Not so now!

Wooowho!

I have begun keeping track of my visual thoughts and meanderings. This journal is a combination between an artist's journal and a diary. I thought you might appreciate seeing it.

Yesterday my Man and I started the day early by walking up to Cafe Pedlar. I have been collecting images of coffee from them and really like this one.

Then we walked down through Red Hook to go food shopping at Fairway. On our return trip I snapped this photo. I love hearing birds pass by overhead.

It seems Hankies will be a continued affection for me (I would also say obsession). And because I wanted to see how the stencil I cut this weekend would look, I printed this hankie blank. Generally, I like it. I think the roses appear a bit too fragmented because I was hesitant to cut the 'bridges' that are necessary to maintain in the integrity of a good stencil. I am wanting to create a multicolored stencil, so I am going to cut another set and this time I will work harder to 'get' the roses right.

I have begun to start painting again. I don't know about you but when I engage in an idea, I love to research it. So I began thinking about calico, tiny florals and tone on tone fabrics. Little did I know that the term calico refers to plain woven cloth and not small floral prints, as I had thought. hmmm.

It dawned on me that I am trained in Textile/Surface Design and that I love decorative art. So that makes me think it would be great to embrace the decorative elements of textile design in my art. Why didn't this occur to me before?

So yesterday I sat and cut a small floral stencil. Now I can use this ditty again and again and in so many ways. Yippee.

When I first graduated from The Fashion Institute, I got a job working with fine artists. We started talking about decorative art and I got the impression that decorative art is frowned upon, self indulgent and has no real place in the world of art. Fooey. I love cloth, I am trained in the creation of it, I have been learning to draw and paint in light of my training at F.I.T and I love to sew. I no longer need that old, judgmental and confining idea in my mental toolbox. I dedicate these next few months to exploring decorative elements in my painting, sewing and art. I can't fight it and why should I?

Make no mistake about it, this is the year of the PJ's. I pronounce myself, Queen of Comfort.

Last week, Arrow was under the weather, a few people have asked about him and as he is so important to me, I figured I would give an update. Arrow got through whatever was bothering him and is his lovey-dove self again. They sure do know how to pull our heartstrings. I like the above photo because I see quiet in Arrow's eye. I have always wished we both spoke the same language and I could hear what he was saying. At the same time it is fabulous that we don't.

Someone asked for unadorned photos without any artistic perspectives. Someone just wants to see what I am working on. So here you go.

But really, I wanted to point out what folks have been doing with this idea over at the Rockstar Boro pool on Flickr. Like Lyric, Ilene has been reconstructing old clothing and reinvigorating it. I am impressed with her serged seams and love what she is doing. She says she has been wearing it a bunch and is eyeing other clothing in her closets!

You may also want to check out this, this and this. I can't link up to every photo but it is impressive to see what folks are doing with the idea. Head over there, check all of them out.

This is my first 'working day' of the new year. My Man was home for the week between Christmas and New Years, including yesterday. I love being able to spend extended periods of time with my guy.

I had wanted to do a post about the change of the year and all that entails but I can't. Last year is a blur. I feel as though I didn't have much of a year and I feel like I had a very full year where I learned a lot and did as much. What I can say is that last year taught me that I have more friends and acquaintances than I could have known. I am grateful and happy to know this and to have you in my life. So many people followed me through my journey with cancer, commented, followed me through facebook and commented, sent me cards, gifts, hats, good vibes and thoughts. I made it through with panache and incredible support. All I can really say is, 'Thank You'. And here is to a happier, easier and less doctor-centric New Year!

I started painting again today. I am going to put the wrap down for a few days and allow myself some creative breathing room.

I am really enjoying working on this wrap and blogging each day this month. My sense of time and my ability to apply myself to a task has changed, I love the internet, love reading blogs and checking in on facebook, but I need time to sew, to paint, to engage with myself. I need time for walks.

I have been partaking in all of these things in the last couple of days but I have also been sewing. It feels good.

I bought some new needles this weekend. I asked friends on facebook what their favorite needles are, and Deborah said, Jeana Kimbal. I am putting together an order. I have a weakness for buying hand sewing needles. I like new brands, type and uses. I bought some Clover Gold Eye Milliners, No. 3-9, and I like them. They are sturdy, long (they are milliners needles) and the eye is big enough for most of the flosses I am using right now. They are not a subtle needle. Good needles are truly good needles, these are worker bee needles.

I like how the stitches are piling up.

Think a few good thoughts for Arrow. He is a bit under the weather.

Alright, I started embroidering the lace and I like what is happening. I especially like the red on the 'tape' in the upper left. I think I will continue doing that for sure. I am not so sure about the dark green on the vines, but I am not ripping it, the velvet would not like being ripped and is too fragile.

Now, I like the rose but feel its leaves need some oomph. And perhaps the rose needs a definite stem, which it doesn't have.

Cheryl, I will sew the snaps on soon, but I do think the lace will look lovely tucked behind the ties, or straps, I don't really know what to call them.

And here is a message from the World of the City.