Saturday, July 18, 2009

dippin'

I took the cure for (everything) a few hours this morning and then spent several more hours picking out a load of injudicious machine stitching from this piece which was buried in the slush pile of unfinished business. I've decided that Glyphs needs hand stitching. What kind and how much I have no clue as yet. There will probably be a lot of stitching, picking out and stitching again as I feel my way.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Step One

A good friend sent me this artistic lifeline in response to my sulking. "The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts." Marcus Aurelius Go on, repeat it three or four times. Have you ever been riding a good horse who suddenly shifted up into a canter without your inept urging as if to say "This is how it's done." Even the rhythm is thrilling.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

blog vacation

Continuing the break here until my Eyes, My Hands and my Art Heart remember how to get along together again. No point in throwing good raw materials in the crapper. For the moment picture three willful children standing in the corner pouting, unrepentant and perfectly willing to eat worms until they all get their way.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Moon Chasing.

When I left the office last night I realized that I have been spending too much time looking down. Putting one foot in front of the other and just barely getting there.

I need to go someplace (else) and stare into a brook or up into some trees for a while and see what else is putting one foot in front of the other trying to get by.

There was a great big leopard frog sitting on the doorstep of the office the other evening. He was working the bugs that were flocking to the lamp post. He gave me a disgusted look and scooted away when I stepped outside. Smart and handsome fellow he was. Of course my camera was at home. These are pictures taken in traffic. I really was watching the road.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Market Day

I've spent the morning photographing and posting another half dozen of my recent hand dyes to Random Acts of Dyeness. Now all I have to do is keep my hands off them for a while, you know, give other folks a chance.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

old paths, new stones

My moods revolve, never swoop, between swashbuckling exuberance and a 1000-yard stare at the state of all things. For the moment, I'm staring and savoring. Jim has gone back to work full time so no more of that coddling the artist nonsense - I will be shopping, cooking and cleaning with the rest of the working world and doing it with a joyful heart but spooked that I won't ever do it as well as he did. And now I've stumbled on yet another way of making a statement with fabric and color. In this instance, that statement is more of a hissed intimation or mumbled prayer. These are stains that fell out as a byproduct of my Sharpie & alcohol experiments. Fey and fierce at the same time, I'm giving them a new context on a new summer fling. I'll be traveling soon and want to have a heady hand project to take along. This will more than fit the bill.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Happy 4th of July

My 4th of July needed more than just red, white and blue. I'm particularly pleased with the results because I already have a plan for these pieces. No surprises, no new techniques, no serendipity. Just exactly what I needed, when I needed it. Who could ask for more? All this and family, a pool, roasted corn, fresh strawberries over pound cake and fireworks over the neighborhood (like it or not) as night falls.

Friday, July 03, 2009

"VERITAS"

...I saw that tattooed on a guy's forearm in the grocery store this morning. He caught me looking and I didn't hang around to see what was on the other arm. Has anyone actually read the entire Declaration of Independence lately? Ever? I confess, no, but this morning on NPR it was read aloud in what has become an annual tradition. I was captivated by the dense but precise language and after a long list of grievances, (there was a lot to kick about) it was the wrap up that really grabbed my attention back : "...And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." Stunning. We have got to get back to that garden

Thursday, July 02, 2009

new thinking about worth

A new approach to marketing and pricing.

little bits and barter (image updated)

File under "things you will find when shoveling out the studio". This little (10x10) grid play started with a piece of that strange, dense cotton batting that was too heavy and dense to go inside even a small piece. It took dye wonderfully and I have another half dozen in various colors. I was whining to the QA Choir yesterday (lesson learned, btw) about the time and energy that marketing ones art takes these days and wondering about the state of Barter in the fiber art world. Tell me about your experiences if you've had any, good or bad.