Jumpstarts

Studio Work - Working in a series

2012-02-13T07:10:00.000-05:00

I'm in the midst of a Lisa Call's workshop "Working in a Series" and was in danger of passing another workshop entirely inside my head, without producing anything at all. Lisa talks a lot about the value of closing doors--narrowing your focus. That information has really struck a chord with me. The process of closing doors--even temporarily--is a bit of a stretch for me. So Sunday, I experimented. I played with a single image, a single process, a single composition. I did a series of pieces, and within each piece, I used only a single color. It was a refreshingly wonderful experience.

Martha Stewart

2012-01-08T07:45:00.000-05:00

Over on Rhymes With Magic, Heather Eddy mentions the book The Martha Rules (Martha Stewart's book about business). Heather's paper foldings are amazing, and it's worth taking a look, as well, for the great Neil Gaiman quote on a recent post. But, back to the business at hand. From time to time there are lists of influential women/influential men and women, etc.--you know the type. I've always wondered why Martha Stewart isn't on these lists. (Perhaps she is, and I've missed it.), although the burgeoning DIY business of today--all the books, blogs, and cable channels--really owe their success in a way to Martha. She was the one who took "arts and crafts" out of the "macaroni necklace for mom" realm and made it universally appealing, giving people of both genders the confidence that they could do just about anything if they just figured out (or were shown) how. She asked the question we all ask, "I wonder how that's done," found the answer (yes, with lots of help), and shared that answer. Whatever anyone thinks of her personally, I think it's a shame that this has not been acknowledged. (And isn't it interesting, likewise, that she went to federal prison when there are so many huge, obvious, blatant good ole boy securities law violators who did real harm who have never even been given a slap on the wrist.) Okay, stepping off the soapbox. And drifting back over 20 years--I remember sitting with my dark-haired child watching a young Martha fix three different kinds of Thanksgiving Day dinners and decorate three different ways. We were both enthralled. (I mean, she even took the wheelbarrow out to the garden and harvested the pumpkins for the pies, for pete's sake!) That year (and that year only!), I made the turkey in pastry crust (which looked just like Martha's), and I still slip herbs and butter up under the skin of a turkey before I roast it all these years later--just like Martha. I bought the book on sale at a used bookstore years later, and it still was amazing.

And if you really want to try living the Martha life, here's the January Calendar. Whew! Okay, I'm over Martha. But thanks for the memories (and, Martha, I still get rave reviews about my moist, flavorful turkey, girlfrend).

No Stress Art

2012-01-07T07:18:00.002-05:00

Found via Fiber Art Now. :

This video about artist Peter Kiss

Art of Craft | Peter Kiss from Resolve Design on Vimeo.

2012 - Art goals

2012-01-06T09:20:00.003-05:00

Okay, the blogs are full of discussions on goal-setting for the new year (and I can tell that lots of folks resolved to blog more often, because the first three days of 2012 were sizzling with new posts from folks who generally post only sporadically). For 2012:

1. Complete one year of public collaboration on the "Looking for Lake Ella" living library project.

By September 2012 (National Literacy Month) have 4 bookhouses installed at the Lake, and coordinate at least one public park event to celebrate the bookhouse pilot project
Join with others in collecting at least 25 oral histories related to Lake Ella memories
Talk to the organic growers who come to the Lake once a week about becoming "living books" for the library project
Develop and conduct at least two interactive artmaking adventures at the Lake, including an artist bookmaking workshop to encourage written memories of Lake Ella
Contact food merchants for possible discounts to increase their business during events
Contact the American Legion Hall for use of their great space for public projects
Finalize plans for a collaborative community art project to be initiated and completed in 2013 with the goal of adding a permanent art project in the environs of the lake

2. Work 20 hours a week in the studio (thank you Lisa Call for motivating me to put a specific number of hours on this goal instead of the usual "put in more studio time")

3. Complete 4 additional icon pieces for the leaper series

4. Develop 3 letterpress projects for the leaper series

5. Complete 3 large wallpieces for the leaper series

6. Find a venue for exhibiting the leaper pieces in 2013

7. Research and find a better way to keep track of all the stuff running through my head

8. Dedicate work and attention to Lisa Call's "Series" workshop.

9. Participate in Sharon Boggon's TAST challenge to expand hand embroidery "vocabulary"

10. Launch AFCs project collaborative project

11. Complete a wrapping cloth for mom's 2012 gift, working with Karen Ruane

12. Complete 3 artist books

Letterpress

2012-01-06T05:22:00.001-05:00

Pamphlet printed at Bookworks in Asheville, NC. Part of "Leap" series dealing with transitions in the lives of girls and women.

Out and About in the Rest of the World - My kind of fabric shop!

2011-12-29T14:11:00.000-05:00

Cafe Ray-Stitch in London (a bit of a commute, but tempting!).

Happy Holidays

2011-12-24T06:55:00.001-05:00

Just some lightheartedness silliness.

Inspirational quote and more Pre-New Year's Frenzy

2011-12-21T05:27:00.003-05:00

This from the amazing artist Chuck Close, but found via this really interesting fiber artist Susan Lenz (who apparently had a pre-New Year's Frenzy of her own):

"The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself. Things occur to you. If you're sitting around trying to dream up a great art idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction. Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive. You feel like you need this great idea before you can get down to work, and I find that's almost never the case."
-Chuck Close.

Still fighting the housecleaning battle. I really want to be done before 2012.

In the New Year, do you want to end clutter? Lots of people on the web think it can be done in ten easy step: http://www.tinyrevolution.us/2010/09/29/end-clutter-in-10-steps/ (come on y'all--really? If this person is decluttering, how come there are multiple identical articles on those lovely shelves?) http://www.hodu.com/clutter.shtml (I particularly like the step that requires that you make a list of all areas of your life that need organization--guaranteed to spiral you into a deep depression curable only by a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, and a good steamy bit of pulp fiction.) http://www.oprah.com/home/Peter-Walshs-10-Tips-to-De-Clutter-Your-Home ("create a hanger system for the clothes you wear most" - shortcut version: wear jeans and dark tee-shirts everywhere--have two hangers for the two no-iron man-tailored long sleeve shirts that go over the dark tees to make them look grown-up and respectable). Anyway, you get it - google ten ways to de-clutter, and the universe is at your service. Ain't it grand?

Pre-New Year's Frenzy

2011-12-19T05:58:00.000-05:00

I hate to start another year with my house and brain full of clutter, so I decided to attack the house (and it's fighting back big time)! Moving the home office from its cramped quarters to a larger room, and resolved not to transfer chaos. Here's the before picture. I'll post an after picture if I survive.

In the meantime, maybe in the new year you'd like to:

Write every day: Try 750words.com

Sketch every day: Be inspired by Elizabeth Perry. Back in 2007, she had already reached 1000 daily sketches, and she is still sketching today.

Run, walk, exercise, eat right every day: Be coached for free at SparkPeople.com

More Interesting People Doing Interesting Things

2011-12-14T08:34:00.002-05:00

Maybe by the week-end, I'll actually have some work of my own to post, but I've been on a run of chaos since early October. In the meantine, Deirdre Adams has a posted a four-part description of how she conceived and executed a public art commission. She described the project as being a "new public art project to be installed at Anythink Bennett, a library serving residents of Bennett, Strasburg, and Watkins, a group of small towns on the eastern plains of Colorado. The project, whose theme is “Life on the Eastern Plains,” is the first in a planned series of collaborative, community-inspired artworks for the library district, under the umbrella theme of ”This is Who We Are.” This press release has full details." I'm hoping to embark on a multi-media community-based art project in 2012, so the information so generously provided is timely and helpful.

Interesting People Doing Interesting Things -

2011-12-08T06:33:00.001-05:00

Stumbled upon the blog of Judy Martin of Ontario Canada. Lovely, touching work. This quote struck a chord: “Immensity is within ourselves. It is attached to a sort of expansion of being that life curbs and caution arrests, but which starts again when we are alone.” Gaston Bachelard . Be sure to scroll down through Ms. Martin's blog. It's worth spending some time there.

And this lovely Thanksgiving Day post from artist Christine Mauersberger.

Linocut Monogram

2011-12-02T04:07:00.001-05:00

One of the exercises in Dijanne Cevaal's in linocut workshop is to develop a monogram print block. I like this idea a lot--the idea of having a personalized mark of some sort that could be stamped or printed on a piece of work. Anyway, the results were not too bad--not spectacular, but the seed of an idea. For the one on the left, the block was charged by dragging fabric paint across the surface using a credit card. The one on the right was charged using a damp sponge roller. Same print block. Interesting. These prints are on paper. There's an interesting discussion about the "rules of monogramming" and how they are shifting to accommodate societal changes here.

Linocuts - continued

2011-11-30T06:58:00.001-05:00

A new type of lino surface - carved like butter, but didn't like to take the paint. Definitely need to practice my "inking" technique.

J. fabric paint on cotton

Jacquard fabric paint on paper

Take One Wire Hanger

2011-11-29T04:46:00.001-05:00

and $10 worth of Christmas balls from the dollar store. Thirty minutes later--voila! Found by my daughter-in-law on pinterest which is--fair warning--a very mixed bag of interesting DIY projects and other "stuff" submitted by random individuals. Quick and dirty: buy a bunch of cheap balls (there were 80-100 in this wreath, 10 for a $1 at the Dollar Tree--get a variety of sizes). If necessary, hot glue the loop end to the ball (the loop end on the balls from the DT were permanently attached to the ball, so no need to glue) (By "loop," I mean the place where you would normally insert a hook if you were hanging the ball on a tree.). String the balls onto the hanger, twist together the hanger ends, and add bow. (Daughters and daughter-in-law made the wreaths while kids did their own crafting at the kids' table. A great post-Thanksgiving Day tradition!)

And if you're in the mood to munch while you snack, Kathleen Turner has some wonderful recipes on her blog (and some interesting quilt projects).

Skillbuilding - More Linocuts

2011-11-22T05:39:00.001-05:00

Continuing--slowly--to work through Dijanne Cervaal's linocut exercises. This time, a small block for background patterns. No time to print, but I did do a shiva rubbing. I believe I'll switch from using a block form to using unmounted lino. That would enable me to use the baren effectively to get a better print and probably give added flexibility. I'm finding that doing lino print plates can be a nice "kitchen counter" kind of activity--something to keep handy at the kitchen counter and do some cutting in the odd moment. I used the kitchen counter method to get pieced quilt tops done when I had a house full of kids. Get the pieces cut, put each block into individual baggies, keep the sewing machine set up on the end of the breakfast bar, and stitch away in those bits of time that lurk in the cracks between school, sports, work. Yike. No substitute for those luxurious times when you could sit down and get lost in a project, but better than nothing!

Take a Stitch Tuesday Embroidery Challenge

2011-11-21T07:02:00.001-05:00

One of the best deals on the web is Sharon Boggon's Take A Stitch Tuesdsay stitch challenge. Each week for 52 weeks, Sharon offers instruction on a hand embroidery stitch, and folks participating in the challenge learn the basic stitch (if they do not already know it) and then see how far they can push the stitch creatively. The TAST challenge offers two wonderful benefits. First, you become familiar with a variety of stitches, some of which may be new even to experienced embroiderers. Secondly, you have access to flickr sites and other sites where your fellow embroiderers post an amazing array of work. You can't help but be inspired.

The best part: it's all FREE! Register on the pintangle website, and prepare to add a lovely skill to your creative toolkit. Whether you participate in all 52 weeks of the challenge, or just come and go as time permits, TAST is something you won't want to miss.

Miscellaneous Musings - Down Memory Lane

2011-11-19T07:29:00.001-05:00

A passing question from my older son yesterday, which happened to be my 61st birthday, took me down memory lane on a trip that harmonically converged with a link provided by Dijanne Cervaal in her traveller's blanket workshop. Most people my age will remember the originals. Generations since then will remember them and their songs in all their variations. I was 12 or 13 when the Fab Four hit the U.S., and in LUV for sure.

Interesting People doing Interesting Things

2011-11-15T09:43:00.001-05:00

Some interesting things happening over on Maureen O'Doogan's blog (Maureenie Makes Things). A recent visit and workshop with Jane Sassaman. And a great idea for a holiday gift for the dog lover(s) (or cat lovers) in your life!

If you're ever lucky enough to take a peek at Maureen's studio, you'll find yourself surrounded by joyous color and high-energy creativity. Maybe she'll post some photos on her blog. (hint hint).

Skillbuilding (more linocuts)

2011-11-14T05:28:00.001-05:00

Reversing the positive/negative spaces on the palmetto cut. Still a lot to learn about printing. That will have to wait until December. Only 3 housekeeping days left before houseguests arrive!

Jacquard fabric paint on cotton

Border area - had difficulty
with lino chipping in this area

Regular printer paper

Sketchbook - watercolor paper

Fabric paint, regular printer paper

Fabric laid on top of block and burnished
with baren

Here in the Big Bend (more linocuts)

2011-11-10T05:25:00.000-05:00

The cabbage palmetto is pretty much a constant part of the landscape here in the Big Bend and in much of Florida. As a teenager, I had a love-hate relationship with Florida--loved the beach, hated pretty much all the rest. I categorized it as sand, scrub oaks, and palmetto and pretty much lived for the day I could leave. Here in the Big Bend, we have rolling hills, roads canopied by overarching oaks, and--yes, sand, palmetto, and scrub oaks. I've come to appreciate it all. (I really saw palmetto in a new light when my son's talented mother-in-law did an elegant decorating job for their wedding reception using large vases filled with palmetto fronds and white gladiolas.)

Anyway - linocuts continues. This is one block in a two-block exercise. In the second block, I'll reverse the negative and positive space to attain an outline design. I worked on fabric, paper, and in a sketchbook. I was fascinated to see what I perceive as a human connection when reading of the palmetto's "Immediate Effect of Fire." There's some depth to be plumbed here later on. Responses to fire (to crises)--definitely something to be explored.

Immediate Effect of Fire

Standard printer paper

Linocut block

Cotton fabric, Jacquard fabric paint, stamp

Skillbuilding - Printmaking

2011-11-01T07:10:00.000-04:00

Sampler block

On fabric; Jacquard fabric paint, no water on roller

On paper; J. fabric paint, no water

Fabric; J. fabric paint; water on roller-ghostly

More paint - definitely need to practice inking up the plate

What is it about lack of time that makes a person sign up for too many online workshops? I'm currently involved with Dijanne Cervaal's online linocut workshop, trying to add some printmaking skills to the repetoire. I love the carving process. Having a bit of difficulty with the printing process which I expect to resolve once I have time to experiment more.

Creativity regeneration

2011-05-06T13:32:00.004-04:00

I recently spent the week-end with friends in a beach town during a jazz music festival. When I came back, I realized how refreshingly wonderful it was to have just languished outdoors in a lawn chair with a nice seabreeze doing nothing. It reminded me--again--of the importance of taking time off and savoring life. Two blogposts that are timely on this. One from Amanda Watson-Will and another from Michael Nobs. I particularly love Michael Nobs' reminder to take time to actually celebrate your successes.

http://amandawatson-will.blogspot.com/2011/03/6-ways-to-feed-creativity.html

and

http://www.sustainablycreative.net/

Leap Series - Girl15 Draft completed

2011-03-28T06:28:00.004-04:00

I've finally completed a draft Girl15 that satisfies me for the moment. If I can get it translated into fabric by the 31st, I'll submit it to an "Adventure" call for entries. If not, it will still be second finished piece in the "Leap" series. This has to do with that transitory moment when a young woman decides that she wants to tell her own story and breaks away from paths that others have laid out on her behalf.

My goal for 2011 was twelve completed pieces and 12 submissions. (The submissions are secondary to me--the completion is primary. I'm trying to be done with the habit of carrying all these virtual pieces inside my head and never bringing anything into fruition.)

Getting things done

2011-03-18T13:17:00.002-04:00

Spring is something Tallahassee does very well--cool evenings, comfortably warm days, blue skies, blossoms and blooms everywhere. That means a very tempting array of outdoor to-do lists (both work and play) competing with an equally compelling desire to do studio work. As I'm drifting toward the week-end, I found a pertinent post by Michael Nobbs. You'll want to read the entire post at his site (and maybe subscribe to his Micromagazine: Getting Your Important Work Done.) It won't take long (unless, of course, you can't resist putzing around the site!), but it's a nice read. Below is a quote, which really rings true:

"I believe strongly that usually it doesn't matter which direction we decide to travel in, we just have to pick one. More often than not, as soon as I make a choice about what I'm going to work on, I get a strong feeling of calm and rightness. Just the act of focusing on something, instead of trying to decide between or even juggling a couple of ideas, brings a sense of clarity. The earlier I can do that in my day, the better my day goes."

So: Resolved this beautiful spring week--end. A choice will be made (just which one will require a bit of mulling over--maybe over a glass of wine in the back courtyard --(a euphemism for a little space of patio tucked between my tiny house and even tinier workshop) as the lovely evening rolls in.

Studio Work

2011-02-17T07:09:00.005-05:00

Accepted for Volusia: Wrapped in Fiber. My first non-guild exhibition. And, it's pictured on the Wrapped in Fiber Blog! Working on the back of the frame allowed me to mentally "finish" the piece by incorporating more writing and completing the "5 minutes 'til midnight" urgency symbolism. I realize that this part of the work will be stuck against a wall somewhere, but it was a necessary part--the period (or exclamation point) at the end of the sentence, so to speak.

Studio Work

2010-12-15T07:02:00.004-05:00

Mostly done. The first in the Leap series - "Preflight." I took Lucy's advice and am giving the piece an icon-like frame - gallery frame turned upside down, textured gold with gel modeling paste and some liquitex pigments. Submitted to Volusia: Wrapped in Fiber. Now to polish it up, and move onto the next piece.

Studio Work

2010-11-15T06:11:00.004-05:00

After a workshop with Maya Schonenberger, I played in the studio all day Sunday. Just when I was getting frustrated and preparing to pack it in, Maureen sailed by with a sample she had been messing about with (beautiful, of course) and gave me a boost to keep going. By early evening, I was ready for more feedback and inspiration and headed to her place, where "we" popped the piece onto her longarm and piloted (Maureen) and co-piloted (moi) some stitching details. Still a lot of work to be done, but everything is nailed down, and some decorative work is done. I'll add some more machine work, hand embroidery, beads, paint, and see what evolves. There are parts I'm pleased with and parts that I hope will be salvaged with further work, but overall, I think the technique has promise, and the workshop was a good value. I liked Maya's teaching style, and her critical input was direct, clear, and helpful.

Out and About in the Rest of the World

2010-10-11T05:55:00.005-04:00

Sydney

I'm working on wall hangings inspired by a recent trip to Australia, which I intend to send to my daughter as a gift. I only had 2 weeks, which included travel time, but managed to explore a tiny bit of Sydney and Melbourne. A lovely country--can't wait to return. I'm at the preliminary sketch stage of the Sydney piece, which would have to include certain iconic images: the Opera House, The Rocks (lampposts and buildings), the ferry (I stayed at Manley Beach and came into Sydney via ferry and--of course, THE bridge. I like the ubiquitous "Look" signs on the streets reminding all of us non-Aussies that traffic patterns may not be what we're accustomed to.

Unfinished Objects Revisited with some Repurposing Thrown in

2010-08-29T11:37:00.006-04:00

A bit over 5 years ago, my middle daughter moved halfway around the world to Australia. I had promised myself as a parent that I would try not to stand between my children and their adventures, so off she went with my blessing. But of course, I miss her. In the early part of 2010, I was lucky to have an 8-week visit while she did some medical rotations for her Sydney schooling. I have downsized to a very cozy-sized cottage, and she was very busy studying and working. At the same time, I took an online crazy quilting class taught by Sharon Boggon. It was my first real experience with CQ, and it was an eye opener. I could understand both how people could become addicted to this form of work and how it could be used to communicate with the viewer. Anyway, there is a connection here--I kept my CQ project on the dining room table, and when I was home and Meg was studying away, I worked at it. During study breaks, we would have a glass of wine, and discuss the work in project. We would laugh about my false starts (many) and my changes-of-mind (also many), and she would offer design input. It was lovely. I've always thought of that piece as "Meg's piece." She was amazed at the number of hours the work took.

With the passage of time, she graduated from her course of studies at Sydney Med, and I made my first trip to Australia (unfortunately, too late to make the official ceremonies!). I decided to incorporate Meg's piece into a card holder. I had already repurposed some old calendar pages by using them for small water color sketches (another learning process). I created a stitched book and used the calendar sketch as a frontispiece and included a caption "Some people in Florida are Crazy about Meg," included family pictures, had the family write notes of congratulations to Meg, and used the "Meg's piece" on the front of a sleeve in which I slid the card.

The piece is far from perfect, but a major part of needlework/craft/handstitching through the ages has been that sharing spirit that permeates the work--women sitting in circles stitching, children learning from their mothers and grandmothers, the general flow of conversation that invariably accompanies women who gather together while engaged in a task. I always think these pieces, no matter how skilled the artist, carry within them an inherent blessing.

Image Editing with Gimp - Brushes

2010-08-02T19:29:00.005-04:00

Still learning with Sharon Boggon's GIMP class on joggles. This week - brushes, how to use them and how to make them. Drawing with a mouse is not an easy thing, but learned enough to know how to make some progress independently as time allows.

Image editing with GIMP - Picking out designs

2010-07-25T06:21:00.012-04:00

From this (photograph of ironwork on balcony by Sharon Boggon):

To this, using one amazingly simple tool in GIMP software.

Continuing with Sharon Boggon's online class on using GIMP, free image-editing software. Although it's always possible to learn this type software on one's own, I find I just don't have the discipline to do it. I learn just enough to do the job at hand without ever spending the time to explore the possibilities, despite the fact that I know these tools can open up a lot of design possibilities. Sometimes taking a class makes sense, and if you're are going to do an online class, this is a good one. There are pages of cleary-written PDFs for each week's lesson (40-50 pages a week, generally, sometimes more), and an easily accessible class forum. Questions are answered promptly, with input not only from the instructor, but from fellow students as well. Other class members are generous in sharing what they're learning, and ideas for taking the week's exercises further abound. A great value.

Here in the Big Bend - Lake Ella

2010-07-12T19:34:00.010-04:00

Sketching, reportage, and GIMP cropping. Today on Pintangle, there was a link to a nice article on the use of the sketchbook as a core art skill. After taking Sharon Boggon's sketchbook class, I have really tried to use the sketchbook as a tool for project planning (and for dumping stuff out of the brain so that there's room for more...well, stuff). But, the thing that struck home with this article was the section on "Reportage" because it really resonates with a project I have perking along. I've been trying to sketch regularly at a local small lake that is also a sort of small community gathering place. In addition to the scene itself, I've tried to practice gestural sketching to catch the walkers and other personalities around the lake. It's a multimedia project in its infancy, but regardless of whether it goes anywhere, sketching by the lake is a lovely meditative activity. Above are some working pages (can you spot the zentangle?), cropped using GIMP. I practiced making a print with a GOCCO printmaker that friend Maureen and I uncovered when we were unpiling the workshop. I just rough sketched something to play about with (had I checked the price of the supplies I mightn't have been so casual) and then printed on paper and on unbleached muslin. The printers' ink that came with the GOCCO did ok on the muslin - no smearing, no oily smell (after airdrying for a few days). The technique has possibilities for creating some Lake Ella "icons" to use in the project, whether on paper, fabric, or elsewhere. Think I would use thickened dye next time - screen could be reused whereas it was pretty much shot after I used the printer's inks on it. (Next step, finding the tool to cut the grocery list off the sketch page before posting!)

Image Editing with GIMP

2010-07-09T05:06:00.008-04:00

To reach a goal of getting a more in-depth working relationship with image-editing software, I'm taking an online class with Sharon Boggon (through Joggles.com) using GIMP software, which is free. I've taken classes with Sharon before, and her material is always well-presented, thorough, and interesting. This week was a basic introduction to the program, and I am already seeing its usefulness. I played around just a bit with a photo of some metal cats that stood guard in Freeport, Maine. (Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the wonderfaul metal artist who did these cats.) Finding the shadows is always interesting from a design point of view, and just playing about with some of the color adjustment and image adjustment tools is handy for doing just that. I can see where I might use the "Sharpen" feature (used in the extreme in the righthand photograph) with my grandson to create a comic book using family photos.

Encrusted Crazy Quilts

2009-04-13T06:17:00.001-04:00

Still not finished, but more progress made. This has been an interesting process. I'm not likely to do crazy quilt patches for the sole purpose of displaying my embroidery skills. (The little girl who could never stitch a sampler without causing a tangled mess and whose school papers always looked untidy is still alive and well these many years later--my embroidery will improve as I work on it, but will never be a "showcase" skill. Still, it's a positive addition to the toolbox, and the idea of crazy quilting as a method of communicating a message is an appealing one that could use some exploring. If nothing more, the handstitching process is a very meditatitve one, and that alone is sufficient.

Encrusted Crazy Quilts

2009-04-07T06:21:00.002-04:00

Some more small progress. Many people in this class have not only finished beautifully done, heavily stitched blocks, but have done multiple blocks. For every stitch I've left behind, I've torn out dozens. I should have followed Sharon's layering instructions--I can see the logic behind them now that I've worked with this block for a while. I used trellis stitch to raise a "wall" around the lime, buttonhole stitch in perle cotton on most of the other citrus shapes. I'm not at all sure where I will go from here, but the journey is fun, and it's been nice to slow down and sink into a project.

Encrusted Crazy Quilts

2009-03-31T05:59:00.002-04:00

Continuing with Sharon B's Encrusted Crazy Quilt class, I've been through the "yapping puppy" stage where ideas about a project's direction are coming fast and furiously. The lesson I have to learn over and over is not to become so wedded to one of those pups that the natural development of the project gets stifled right at the beginning. (Note to self: Not a good idea to post pictures for all the world to see during the yapping-puppy stage.)

Anyway, I've traveled a different path, with a nod to Magritte, which came about as I was obsessing about my lack of any thread that was just the right green for the "lime." There's still much be done, but I'm beginning to get a glimmer of an idea about how to proceed. I've always admired crazy quilters (and also quilters/embroiderers who work on crazy quilt blocks!), but I have an increased respect for the men and women who put together these beautiful works of art. Sharon's class--a wealth of information, well presented--is a good introduction, and the number of online resources available, both through http://www.pintangle.com/ and other generous people about the web, is amazing.

Encrusted Crazy Quilt Continues

2009-03-19T05:30:00.001-04:00

So, here's one seam treatment sketched out. I thought I would continue with the buttonhole stitch wheels, only flip them to create mini-beach umbrellas. You can see that the reality is not as tidy as the sketch, and I'm a little doubtful, but my motto is "when in doubt, plow ahead." I began the word "Summertime" with a huge "S," which may turn out to be a mistake--oops, I mean "an encrusting opportunity." Things are not showing up so well. Here's where I pay for the mistake of not changing my fabric choices early on. I'm hoping that once I put a hot summer sun in the upper left quandrant, some balance will start magically appearing!

Encrusted Crazy Quilt

2009-03-13T05:25:00.001-04:00

So, as proof that I'm crazy, I signed up for another of Sharon Boggon's classes (her classes are wonderful, but I never seem to keep up and actually finish--that's the crazy part of it). Still it's another year with the resolution not to procrastinate (let's see, exactly when did I last post here...?) I took this particular class to try to overcome my habit of always stopping short when working on embellished projects. I never do quite enough. I'm hoping that these projects will teach me to loosen up a bit.

Anyway, the block's assembled, one little seam finish is started, some possible embellishment areas are blocked out (with some wonky scanning). Im not thrilled with the block itself, but I've putzed about long enough and decided to just move forward.

So, here's "Ain't Got time for the Summertime Blues" in very rough draft form.

New Year - Making Lists

2009-01-08T06:52:00.000-05:00

My 2009 goal of updating the blog regularly is slipping away, so here's the first post of the new year. Today, I'm thinking about lists, because inevitably a new year brings with it the temptation to make lists. From childhood up until I was in my forties, I was an obsessive list-maker. Then, in cleaning out a pile of clutter, I discovered a 5-year-old to-do list, and it was nearly identical to my most recent list. At that point, I quit, and during the subsequent years, the mere thought of making a list--even a simple one--evoked a major adverse psychological response.

I will say here that one of the most useful lists I ever made was "Ten Things That Make Me as Mad as Hell and What I can do About Them." For 2 or 3 things, it turned out there was nothing to be done, so I just turned loose of the Mad-as-Hell part. As for the remainder, I did something about a few of them, and decided that for one or two, the solution was not acceptable and, again, let go of the MAH.

For 2008, I actually made a virtual, relatively unscary list: make a start on growing an edible landscape (information gathered, but no food planted), transform my couch potato self into something new (took up off-road biking and kayaking), travel someplace interesting (Wyoming, and the South Carolina low country).

I'll probably keep those three for 2009 and add "more community service." And--for once--I'd like to actually complete an entire year's worth of Sharon Boggon's challenge.

For those into lifelists: http://www.43things.com/

Happy New Year (just a tad bit late).

pdc

Studio Sketchbooks and Journals - July 30

2008-07-30T09:39:00.000-04:00

I've been working in the studio sketchbook, but haven't anything to post at present (translation: I'm really far behind, as usual, but at least this time it's not because I've been unproductive.)

Still, if I don't do anything else today, I'll be pasting this in a prominent place, both in the sketchbook and on the wall! From Maggie Stiefvater's blog (be sure to scroll down and take a look at her other 5 steps for success):

6. Who Are You?
What do you tell people? What do you want to be able to tell people? "I'm an artist." "I'm a writer." "I'm a five foot tall basketball player." Now let's pretend that these people can drop into your life randomly seven different times over seven different days. What will they find you doing? Will they find you, the artist, creating art or developing marketing plans for it? The writer writing? The basketball player shooting hoops? Or will they find you procrastinating . . . watching TV, folding laundry that could wait until after your dreams get tended to, reading my blog, running unnecessary errands. The fact of the matter is that you need to make your dreams your identity. Long before I was a published author, I told people I was a writer and an artist, and if you dropped in at my house randomly at any given time, that's what you'd find me doing.

And - right in line with the emotion I want to pack into a Girl15 piece I've perpetually working on, the following:

It's a question of wanting it, people. It's why I like writing for teens. Do you remember being a teen? When you had dreams so big they actually hurt to think you wouldn't get them? You need to sweep away the years of cynicism and putting your dreams aside and really harness that wanting again. In the end, watching So You Think You Can Dance won't change your life. But finishing that drawing, writing that paragraph, planting that garden -- whatever your dream is -- that will.

Onward!

Studio Sketchbooks and Journals - July 15

2008-07-15T05:27:00.000-04:00

This is the first post for Sharon Boggon's online Studio Journals class. I'm only 3 weeks behind, which isn't bad for me. My opening page is pretty ugly, but served as an ice breaker, nonetheless. The Rumi poem (translated by Coleman Barks) is a favorite:

"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field-- I'll meet you there."

A reminder that ugly pages are ok - just get busy. I dated, included name, address, and telephone number, thereby giving the journal legitimacy as something not to be lost.

I've added some pertinent quotes from this class. Several reminded me of the individual responsibility each of us has for developing our own creativity and skills. I thought Sharon's point about the journal serving as a catalyst to moving from the passive to the active was a good one. I loved her comparison of the journal to a compost heap. Since I am reading up and preparing to develop an edible landscaping plan for my yard, this one struck me as pretty apt.
Thinking along the lines of my edible landscape led, inevitably to thoughts about how to capture garden plans, dooryards, gardens in general in textile and stitch.

Take It Further Challenge - May 2008

2008-05-27T07:19:00.001-04:00

The Take it Further Challenge for May 2008 asks us to define ourselves as an artist. I would define myself as a listener. The universe has spent a lot of time and effort over the decades teaching me to listen, and now that I'm finally--well--actually listening, I find that being a listener is a wonderful conduit for creativity. The added bonus is that listening, while seemingly a passive activity, is actually a great springboard for positive, productive activity and interactivity with people around me and the community at large.

The piece I'm envisioning (still "virtual, of course) is a monochromatic blue field with a single vessel or vase stitched in a very simple outline stitch of some sort. I think this might convey both the calmness of truly listening and the idea of waiting to be filled with whatever the "speaker" (whether a real speaker or a muse of some sort) has to offer.

In the meantime, I'm off to kindergarten graduation (Next there'll be a graduation ceremony when our newborns leave the hospital nursery. Still, as a grandparent, its a joyous thing to experience all the rituals without having to worry about finding that right outfit and hairbow and the missing prop that absolutely was right there in plain sight until you're hurriedly trying to get to the school auditorium on time!)

pdc

Take it Further Challenge - April

2008-04-06T20:39:00.000-04:00

Sharon B has posted the Take it Further Challenge for April. The question of the month: "How do you see change?" (The above, I am told, is a Chinese symbol for change.) I love this topic, because I'm fascinated with the changes that occur within our individual lives, changes that occur in family and friends, changes of season, changes in attitutudes (and--of course, changes in latitudes), changes in weather....I could go on. I love this poem by American poet David Wagoner. I began developing a series on changes called "Girl15/Woman50" sometime ago, but it's not much beyond the sketchbook change. I did draft out an embroidery piece in Sharon B's sumptious surfaces class, but this is only in its infancy stage. I like the image of the door used by David Wagoner in his poem. I may do something with this image. On the other hand, I am changing myself (at age 57!) from a couch potato to a more active person, which is a very big change indeed. A fantastic local personal trainer agreed to work with me on developing a bicycling course for adult beginners (well, we DO know how to balance on the bike and steer--but not much else). Take a look here at our Sunday morning ride. I'm also taking an online journalmaking class. This might be a good project: a bicycling journal that could be a gift for the trainer who has been so encouraging to me as I venture forth on this new phase of my life.

We'll see what emerges.

pdc

2008 - Create, Celebrate, Rejuvenate

2008-04-02T13:31:00.000-04:00

For some reason, the title phrase just struck me in early January, and I'm finding that 2008 is, indeed, shaping into one of those great years. I'm not the only one feeling it. My former neighbor and forever-walking partner feels it, small children in my circle are excited and enthusiastic (more than ordinarily so), great projects seem to take on lives of their own, and I've actually---gasp--been cooking again on a regular basis, eating healthily, and following a regular cardio routine. One of my informal goals for the last couple of years has been to begin bicycling. I wasn't all that great on a bike even when I was a kid, and I don't expect that to have miraculously changed over the last few decades. Still, I e-mailed my former trainer extraordinare Diane Arnold, and she agreed to work with me on forming up a 6-week adult beginner bicycling class that would take place on a half dozen different community trails around and about Tallahassee. She (being the perpetual nag--oops, I mean trainer--also decided to throw in some upper body resistance training. So, we're on. It was as simple as beginning. Who knew. Take a look here for more. Sounds like a great topic for a journal for Sue B's journal making class. And I've got just the fabric (don't ask me why I acquired this fabric, but I'm sure I had a reason at the time. And, anyway, who needs a reason? (Although I do think I have a funkier graphic bicycle print somewhere in the depths of the stash pile(s).)

Craft

2008-03-18T07:20:00.000-04:00

I'm always interested in the great debate between "art" and "craft," and feel that the terms "craft" and "craftsman" have taken an unfair beating in recent years--somehow becoming confused with the arts and crafts that we learned at camp and in primary school. (Who can forget macaroni necklaces, and twenty ways to decorate coffee cans?)There have been some interesting discussions of the subject on the BBC recently. Here's one podcast. Sharon B. has a link to an interesting downloadable lecture on the topic here. And there's a nice discussion with Richard Sennet on a BBC podcast here. Of course, the web is full of great resources on the topic. I think I'll download a podcast or two and take to the backyard with my glass of wine and enjoy the lovely spring weather we're having at present.

Take It Further Challenge - February - Midmonth

2008-02-13T04:51:00.000-05:00

February is halfway gone, and I haven't made much progress with my "what do you remember" February challenge. I had plans to begin an altered book project, but have tabled that temporarily. In spite of all the events of the last half of the 20th century and the beginning of this century, the memories that are truly imprinted are those of the women in my family working together--whether sewing, cooking, cleaning the kitchen. One memory that sums this up best is that of shelling peas. The hampers of peas would be picked in the spring, and we'd all sit around (I was still a child) shelling peas. Popping the shells, stripping out the peas into a galvanized tub, and--periodically running your hands through the shelled peas. From the field through the hands of the women into Mason jars and onto the pantry shelf. Slowly as the season progressed and the tomatos, peas, beans, corn came into season--each at their own time--the shelves would fill, and before long, there would be orderly rows of glass jars and an array of color: yellow squash, orange-red tomatoes, pale lima beans, black-eyed peas with snaps. Busy years have intervened, but I can still feel the rhythm of those days and hear the soft voices of the women of my family around me--grandma, Aunt Eloise, my own mother--only my mother left now except in my memory and in my heart.

Take it Further Challenge - Feburary 2008 - Format

2008-02-02T13:37:00.001-05:00

I've decided the form that my February project will take. I've been collecting materials on and doing some writing for a couple of artbook projects. I just got my copy of Volume 2 of the Thr3foldJournal, which showcases the work of from Linda and Laura Kemshall and Catherine Nicholls. The journal is a lovely piece of inspiration. Although altered books (as opposed to completely "from scratch" ones) haven't been all that appealing before, I think that's the track I'll go down. I believe I'll use tabs to divide people, places, events, and things. I'll just plug away at writing and messing about this month, and the project will remain open-ended for the future, providing a background for experimentation with writing, stitch, fabric work, and paint.

So, that much is decided. Now on to the fun!
pdc

Take it Further Challenge - February

2008-02-01T06:59:00.000-05:00

Well, Sharon B has posted the concept and palette for the February TIF. This month's challenge: Stop and think what are you old enough to remember. You do not have to declare your age - but simply what you are old enough to remember.

January's challenge was wonderful, and I am still exploring the beautiful work produced by participants and--what I love even more--the participants' blogs.

The palette can be seen here--not a group of colors I would normally work with, but it may be time to expand.

Preliminarily, I think it would be fun to explore this topic with an artbook. I have ideas for two artbooks percolating, so maybe this challenge will be just the "jumpstart" needed to get me moving on those as well.

pdc

Take It Further Challenge - January 2008 -

2008-01-30T21:52:00.000-05:00

January's challenge was to design a project based upon someone you admire. In my case, I chose my mother. (See what the group has done by going here. and more about the challenge here. As I worked through the project, I realized that the qualities that make her admirable are also those that I treasure in my closest friends and family members: courage, steadfastness, loyalty, honesty, peace, compassion, tolerance. In my mother's case, these are a reflection of a religious faith that has been a part of her make-up for all her life. Separate from that, I believe that these traits are some of the best we humans have to offer, regardless of nationality, culture, gender, ethnicity, or religious belief. I chose a rural scene with mountains in the distance--a scene my mom would love, but also a symbolic one, I think. ("I will look to the hills from whence cometh my strength.") I placed bright yellow circular sun in a clear blue sky. I imprinted the traits I admire on an organza overlay and cut this fabric in a traditional steepled church shape. I wanted the church to overlay the natural environment, because a belief system that limits itself to the four walls of a brick and mortar structure is not worth very much (in my humble opinion). Instead, I feel that the principles which guide a life should be fully intergrated into the everyday trappings of our existence (a big goal, but one worth striving for).
I did make a design choice which I may regret--I decided to quilt over the organza overlay and incorporate it into the underlying piece. I think I may change that.
I embroidered a very crooked line of coral stitch ) thank you Sharon B's stitch encyclopedia: along the base of the mountains to give them some bottom weight and tie them into the environment. (I suspect that the "crookedness" of the stitch might make it something other than the coral stitch, but I am genetically unequipped to do the beautiful embroidery work that I admire so much.
The fabrics for the landscape are hand-dyed leftovers from a Melody Johnson fusing workshop. (Melody generously shares her lazy dyer's dying method here.)
Taking this further: I know I'll continue to explore the theme of the organized church and its influence (both positive and negative) on society in the southeastern part of the U.S. in future pieces.
pdc

Take it Further Challenge - January, Week 2 progress

2008-01-08T03:56:00.000-05:00

I've finally decided on a general design. The effect--both positive and negative--of the church as an institution and of religious faith on individuals and society is a theme I've explored before and will again. The church is an appropriate symbol here because my mother's faith is as much a part of her as skin, blood and bone. It is from her religious study and belief system that she has gathered the principles that have guided her life over the years - love, peace, compassion, steadfastness, loyalty, honesty, patience, courage, tolerance. These are not qualities that she puts on and off like a Sunday best dress. They inform her every decision and are the benchmarks against which she measures herself. The church will be set beneath an oak tree--a symbol of strength and a big part of the natural landscape of the southeastern part of the USA where she has spent much of her life. In the distance will be mountains ("Look to the hills from whence cometh your strenth). The piece will be small - no larger than 5x7, and aiming for around 4x6.
pdc

Take it Further Challenge - January, Week 2

2008-01-07T06:41:00.001-05:00

My January project is still very much a "virtual" one, existing only in my cluttered mind, so the goal this week is to get something concrete done. I have been turning over the usual words that come to mind when you think of "a life"--patchwork, sampler, tapestry, woven threads. This morning Sharon B's blog included a link to some Constance Howard samplers via the Visual Arts Data Service site. The sampler at pictured at the left was really interesting to me. My mother is the person whom I chose for this project, and both patchwork and needlework of various type have always been a big part of her life. She is also a lover of nature, weather, the sea. I think incorporating a stitch sampler that perhaps spells out--literally--the qualities I find so admirable in her--might be incorporated into this project. I also like the idea of incorporating charms or talismans into the project. Because her religious faith is so much a part of her, I think some "prayer bead" or prayer fringing might be worked in. If I'm going to get anything accomplished, however, I have got to stop playing mind games and get to work!

Take It Further Challenge - January - Mindmapping

2008-01-02T04:50:00.000-05:00

I'm glad Sharon re-introduced me to mindmapping in her class. It's a nice jumpstart tool. One thought leads to another, and the whole process is a very contemplative one. I've decided to use my mother as my most admired person. She's 83, and one of my 2008 goals is to spend more quality time with her. My map includes experiences that shaped her (she grew up during the depression years, which in the U.S. spanned from late 1929 through the early 1940's), was a telegraph and switchboard operator during WWII, was raised, in part, in a rural background on a tenant farm), the various important roles she played in other's lives, and the traits which I admire so much. So, I'll spend the month of January with mom very much on my mind. It will be an interesting month. I can't yet see what form this project will take, but since fabric, handwork, and quilting were (and still are) a very big part of her life, I suspect it we're headed for a small art quilt project with some poetry, writing and embellishment.

Sharon B's Take it Further - January

2008-01-01T06:37:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year. Sharon B has posted the January Take it Further challenge. For January, we're to consider who we look up to and admire, and why. There's also a color palette posted which can be used as an alternative challenge or combined with the first concept. I'm definitely going to work on the "person" challenge, and have several people in mind. I'm going to start by exploring two areas: mindmapping the traits I find admirable in my mother and one of my daughters, and exploring the symbolism of color to see if these traits can be reflected by the palette I choose for this piece. Mindmapping is a concept I was first introduced to by my neighbor and walking partner, but I really didn't use it much until I took Sharon B's Sumptuous Surfaces class. It's a great tool to use at the beginning of a project. If you google mindmap, you'll find lots of sites that offer free trials for software, but you can take off "wirelessly" by sitting down with your journal and pen and having at it. So, for this first week, I'll mindmap the concept, explore the symbolism of color, and begin to think about what medium I'll work in. Can't wait to see what this very creative group turns out this month!

Mapping Communities and Resources

2007-12-14T13:11:00.000-05:00

You now how you become really aware of an idea or concept for the first time and then, suddenly, you find you are surrounded by related information? It's a very human experience. I was taken with a recent article on the mapping of natural resources by certain South American tribes and was discussing this with my neighbor/walking partner/confessor/priestess who also happens to be a practicing anthropolgist (yes, there really is a way to make a living with anthropolgy!), and behold--she presented me with the Fall 2007 issue of Practicing Anthropolgy dedicated to mapping communities through participatory GIS (PGIS) and applied perspectives on poverty and wealth. The cover example shows a map of a city's water availability: newer, perimeter barrios - never have water; elders wtih no indoor faaucet, "Mayor's street: always has water" "Hospital: rarely has water" "PanAmerican highway: always has water." The issue contains many examples of participatory GIS: community health assessment; accessible space; literacy; elder well-being. It's amazing how much more effective these maps are in explaining the realities of a community than, say, a set of statistics, pie charts, or bar graphs. (By the way, here's a link to a participatory map of quilt artists)

Many artists (see some links below) are drawn to map themes. Artists working in all media are inspired by what's going on around them. Participitory GPS mapping seems to be one more way of perceiving our individual "universes." We may be surprised at what we see, and what better way to communicate these new perceptions than through the creative process? Quoting Wendy Osterweil: "Art allows us to imagine the lives and struggles of others, people that we are not able otherwise to contact. In the tradition of quilters as storytellers, I am trying to piece together a story, trying to make some kind of imaginative sense. Much remains to be told."

An avenue worth exploring in your own studio? Use a mindmap to mess about in your journal--how would you map your house, your yard, your community, your local political and social issues, the flora and fauna--the list could go on forever. Below are just a few of the many artists who have used maps for their inspiration:

Artists: Valerie Goodwin
Ian Hundley
Fulvia Luciano

pdc

Take It Further Challenge

2007-12-12T09:15:00.000-05:00

Yikes!! Already time to begin making resolutions to work in the studio and do online updates regularly in 2008. Sharon B has listed the challengers for her Take It Further Challenge, so the heat is on!

Here's wishing a world of peace, security, and abundance to everyone. (Why not wish big, right?)

pdc

Re-energizing with Sharon B's "Take it further Challenge"

2007-12-04T06:02:00.000-05:00

How many people around the world are preparing to "resolve" not to procrastinate any more when the calendar changes to 2008? Me, too. I'm hoping to use this Take it Further Challenge to get some concrete work done this year. Take a look. Over 120 participants so far, so plenty of inspiration and motivation available!

pdc

Sumptuous Surfaces Class - Hand embroidery class over, but I'm still at week 1

2007-08-15T21:16:00.001-04:00

Well, sometimes you get totally wedded to an idea at the beginning and when the moment comes for execution, it falls flat. So it was that I pictured Girl15 as having organza wings with metallic stitching. I had just the right hand-dyed organza--lovely variegated oranges. But once I had it stitched down, I realized that Girl15 just couldn't leap with sparkly organza wings. The "frou-frous" immediately diminished the strength of her leap. This was unexpected and interesting to me.

So--an evening's worth of stitching to be cut away and a new start tomorrow. And not only an evening's worth of work, but several days worth of "mind-time" spent figuring out just how I was going to stitch these organza wings.

I wonder if this misstep would have been avoided if I had used my sketchbook in a more detailed way. Generally, my sketching is limited to getting the rough contours of my idea on paper, and then I sort of feel my way through. Think I'll experiment for a while with actually working on paper instead of just mucking about in my mind.

So, as I was exploring change in artwork, I didn't land on anything very helpful from a philosophical standpoint, but did land on a favorite artist: Andy Goldsworthy. Enjoy.

pdc
(who is at this moment brandishing her scissors!)

Sumptuous Surfaces - Girl15 Embroidery - a "footnote"

2007-08-10T06:19:00.000-04:00

The book in which I found the diptych below says the piece is a tempera painting done on oak, and the printed image does have cracks here and there that support that description. Still, look at the background - I swear it looks like it's cross-stitched, doesn't it?

pdc

Sumptuous Surfaces-Girl15 Embroidery, Future quilt, Attitudinal angels

2007-08-10T05:38:00.001-04:00

Well, Girl 15 has paper wings, and her sun has a bit more stitching, but I've still a way to go before finishing everything up. Girl15 will make a trip to Georgia this week-end as part of a continuing campaign to tempt my 5-year-old granddaughter to enter the world of bewitching stitching!

Also plundered through the used book store yesterday and discovered my attitudinal angels which can be transferred into the background of the art quilt version of this piece. See if you don't agree that these background angels with their various hand positions and head angles look as though they would have a few--perhaps not so angelic--words to saw about Girl15's launch.

The full-sized piece is a 14th-Century piece known as the Wilton Diptych and entitled "King Richard II kneeling before the Virgin." If you really take a detailed look at these older works of art, there is much that can be translated to contemporary art.

SS - Girl 15 quick thought

2007-08-05T15:05:00.000-04:00

In a recent posting from artist Robert Genn, this quote, which so aptly describes "The Launch" into the universe of which both Girl 15 and Woman 50 dream:

"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?" (Frida Kahlo)

It's definitely worthwhile to subscribe to his free newsletter "The Painter's Keys".

pdc

SS Class Week 3 - Progress

2007-08-03T05:25:00.000-04:00

Well, progress has been made, although--predictably--I'm not finished. I am, at least finished playing design games with the concept. The row of pale orange houses with their little lazy-daisy landscaping, representing the childhood from which G15 is leaping, is the last design element. The centers are cast-on stitches. I like the fact that the lazy daisy is a member of the chain stitch family. I sketched the leaping Girl15 in using thread. She needs another wing/arm, but at least the hurdle of executing her in thread is crossed. The inner border, which is chain stitch, will be broken where she has leapt through it, and I will sort of trail some detached chain out toward her foot. There will be an outer border of heavy chain stitch. The sun is full of glittery metallics, which haven't shown up in this scan. It also has a "Suffolk Puff" which is so much more elegant-sounding that a "yoyo" (which is what these are called in the U.S. ). Still, I can say "yoyo" 5 times really fast, whereas "Suffolk Puff" is a bit of a tongue twister. Still a lot to do - making sumptuous surfaces takes a lot of time! I think my classmates are done - what stunning work they have produced.

SS - Week #2-3 - More stitch planning--I'm falling waaay behind!

2007-07-26T08:01:00.000-04:00

More verbal stitch planning: I think there are several things to think about with the sun. I want a little inviting pathway across the surface. I also am thinking to of putting sort of dangerous looking stitches in the "non-pathway" area and overlaying these stitches with organza - deceptively inviting surface, dangers beneath.

As could be noted, I actually have very few concrete stitches applied to fabric. I am going to say that it is because I am 1) awaiting a box of scrumptious orange fibers from ArtFabrick, 2) thinking about wandering over to friend Jennie's garage today, knowing that she's going to be screenprinting and will have dyes all mixed up just begging for me to dip some threads into them (and I even know where my packet of dyeable fibers is--what a miracle). On the other hand, it could be that I am still struggling to overcome the inertia of non-production!

pdc

SS Class - Week #2 - Stitch Plan/beginning to stitch

2007-07-25T05:35:00.001-04:00

Well, time to reveal my embroidery "skills" to the public. The last time I embroidered was probably in 1974 or so and before that, sometime in the 1950's (which, interestingly, would make any remnants of that childhood embroidery "mid-century modern" - ain't that a kick?!)

My stitch plan is to the left. I'm not entirely pleased with my current orange threads, so I'm going to allow myself some future wiggle room (and also save some stitching time) by darning some of the background areas so that I can weave different fibers and threads in as I acquire them later on. This is a technique I saw in Stitch magazine's free project section - which has some nice, nice stuff. Sharon B provided a way of "suggesting" angels through her Take a Stitch Tuesday. Scroll down to Tuesday, July 24 and see if you don't think the Buttonhole Wheeled Stitch, flipped side to side with a bead planted in the middle suggests winged creatures flitting about.

Okay, so I timidly began my sun - mixed a few different colors of floss together to try to achieve a hot color without using flat orange. This is a combination of chain, barred chain, and bizarre chain (the latter being my name for the stitches that fit neither of the two categories above for reasons known only to the universe). I wanted to "spike" the barred chain out a bit to indicate the eruptions coming from the hot surface. My genetic inability to stitch neatly is readily apparent, but can work for me in this sort of chaotic piece.

SS-Week #2 - Stitch plan

2007-07-23T09:51:00.000-04:00

Given my limited knowledge of embroidery stitches, I'm really relying on Sharon B's online stitch dictionary - a fantastic resource. I was immediately distracted at the very beginning her alphabetic listing with the Barred Chain Stitch. Chain stitches seem appropriate to a piece about freedom, taking flight, "loosening the chains" that bind us to a former path, whether the childhood-to-adolescence-to-adulthood path or the path leading from the householding/career-building years to a more outwardly directed life. When I explored the family of chain stitches, I decided that it would be a good beginning exercise to explore this stitch further. So--whatever else gets added, the chain stitch family will be making an appearance in this piece.

pdc

SS Week 1& 2 - Narrowing the design

2007-07-22T15:42:00.001-04:00

This (or some version of this determined after input from the experts) is the winner. I'm picturing a fairly wide border, with the wings/arms of the leaper emerging over the border since this concept is about escaping boundaries. Portuguese stem stitch around both the inner and outer borders. I think pulled stitches in the border areas would look nice--but would they convey the concept? The leaper will be problematic, but luckily she's the last layer, so I can procrastinate on how to stitch her.

This is better than the first try (below), but still not there.

This is definitely too full of everything. I was taken with a Chinese design of a bird with a decorative tie around its beak--a perfect symbol for woman50 who understands that at this moment words are useless. I also like the spirals--but in this small piece? I think if I want to get this one out of my system elsewhere, I'll have to sling some fabric on the design wall and do a real Rube Goldberg-ish fused piece full of astonished angels and hot suns and worried birds, long-jump judges, rules and mother's advice. In the meantime, I'll take Thoreau's advice and "Simplify!"

SS-Week1&2 girl15/woman50 - Reality Strikes

2007-07-20T07:24:00.001-04:00

Okay, so as usual, my ideas are outpacing my ability to execute. I'm scaling back. The week-end will be spent at my son's house sitting for the granddogs, editing film, and sketching. Maybe by Sunday I will have this monster reigned in somewhat and save the over-the-top gathering of attitudinal angels for another day.

pdc

SS Class - Weeks #1-2 -girl15/woman50

2007-07-19T15:37:00.000-04:00

So, I'm still mucking about with this concept and am going to actually have to figure out how to translate it into stitch. (Week 2 sets the task of actually applying needle and fiber to fabric! Oops. (Or, as Dorothy might say, "Oh, my!")

Luckily, I had lunch downtown with good friend Maureen today, and she helped me talk some ideas through. I had decided that it's something of a miracle when a girl15 actually takes flight (and equally so when woman50 does so, but it's not her turn yet). So, I felt like there ought to be a gathering of astonished angel-witnesses (angels with an attitude, as Maureen so aptly put it) just barely suggested in the background. The medievalists and renaissance-ists bring forth the angels for every little occasion, so I'm believe calling forth a gathering to monitor the birth of the independent-spirit-girl15's flight is appropriate.

However, it's going to be just a bit tricky to translate this all into stitch. Maureen suggested a frame of barely suggested angel wings as a kind of outer border, and I like this idea because this could also suggest the caring presence of woman50. And, I'm still considering the juxtaposition of matter-of-fact, objective "how to" instructions and the subjective "leave me alone, I just wanna fly attitude." [which in turn leads me to the fact that there are always so many people gathered about giving advice--to girl15 on how to behave and to woman50 on how to make her behave--I think my mindmap just grew again!] So, back to the sketchbook tonight.

The Medeival church link below seems a bit random,

2007-07-19T15:20:00.001-04:00

but if you scroll all the way down, there is a nice "arched doorway" perspective.

pdc

Medieval Paintings of Christ in Majesty (in the chancel) at Kempley, Gloucestershire

2007-07-19T14:50:00.000-04:00

Medieval Paintings of Christ in Majesty (in the chancel) at Kempley, Gloucestershire

SS-Week 1 - girl15/woman50 - More sketchbook

2007-07-18T07:56:00.001-04:00

SS Class - Week 1 - girl15/woman50 - Sketchbook (I love the Internet!)

2007-07-18T07:47:00.000-04:00

Mindmap - a messy mind is a terrible thing. I think i need an entire design wall for this!

SS Class #1 - girl15/woman50 - concentricity

2007-07-17T06:09:00.001-04:00

Concentricity - woman50 has layers of lives within, including her own personal girl15. Her inner girl15 is still very much alive and well. She can be evoked by a song from a particular era, the smell of English Leather or Jade East. The particular combination of the susurration of surf, palm fronds rattling in a warm evening breeze, and the smell of sun tan lotion can still stir the memory of sweet, sweaty summer kisses. "Innergirl15" still rocks out in front of the mirror from time to time and sings loud out-of-key harmonies. Just as you can read the story of rain and drought, of growth and stagnation, from the concentric rings of a tree trunk, a cross-section of woman50's heart would be very revealing, containing as it would the complete picture of the ebb and flow of a lived life.

Still, woman50 and girl15 (I'm back to the separate girl15 here) could not be considered "concentric," because at this point, they do not share the same center point - not by a long shot. I'm sure there is a mathematical or scientific word for their shared connection, but I haven't found it yet.

Sumptuous Surfaces Class - Week 1 - cont.

2007-07-16T21:19:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking a Van Gogh Sky - lots of motion and activity, with a hot orange sun set somewhere in it. An aura about the sun - French Knots? (Sketches are coming--neither scanner nor camera are currently available.)

I'm also intrigued with the technical advice for the standing long jump - how to get your speed up, how to launch and stay airborne, how to land. This might be an interesting verbal/objective backdrop to the more subjective graphic image. (or it might be more excessive mental meandering - we'll have to see)

Finally, I think it would be an interesting effect to have the "flier" be partially silhouetted against the sun.

More and more I'm thinking this will be girl15's solo piece. That means a series is in the making so that woman50 can have her say. Hmmm....wonder if I can quit my day job.

pdc

Sumptuous Surfaces Class - Week 1

2007-07-16T15:25:00.001-04:00

Sketches to follow. Posts relate to an online class titled Sumptuous Surfaces taught by Sharon Boggon for Joggles.

Week 1: The task is to "work out a suitable design for a monotone project" to begin stitching next week. Class materials included a great discussion of concept/form/content.

I've narrowed my concept down to "Girl15/Woman50." I want to explore the similarities and differences between an adolescent girl and middle-to-older age woman. At the same time, I want to explore the personal relationship between a daughter 15-20 and a mother 50-55. (As you can see, I use the term "narrowed" very loosely.) The concept is full of possibilities, but the postings classmates have made to the class forum regarding their design processes have been fantastic and have helped me narrow the focus for this first piece.

As I mentioned the piece is to be monotone, and I'm going to be using shades of orange (of which I presently have none, of course.)

For this first piece, I've decided to concentrate on flight/freedom with reference to Icarus

Flight: The flight in this piece will not be the graceful flight of an adult bird. Instead, picture crouching down, preparing to leap, and ultimately springing into air at cliff's edge. You would be startled to have achieved flight and be caught unaware of how to proceed (after all, all of your energies--every fiber of your being--has been concentrated on launching, not on actual flight). Woman50 is aware of risks that girl15 cannot possibly be aware of. W50 will have have conflicting purposes at this point, realizing that she cannot/should not bind girl15 too tightly to the earth, but nonetheless fearing that G15 will fly too close to the sun. Consider, also, woman50's own desire for flight. After spending decades dealing with earthbound practicalities of home, family, career, launching will be difficult. Woman50 might not appear in this first piece. This piece might belong solely to girl15. I'll have to work that out in the sketching process.

So, enough writing. Time to move on to the step dreaded by this word-bound person: The Sketchbook.