Crossing back over to the darkside

It's been thirty years since the last time I painted a canvas. I had to open some of the paint tubes with a pair of pliers. Jimmy gave me this easel for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. What did he know that I didn't. I had the alligator dream again last night. It was either paint or start looking for drugs. I made this piece while waiting for the paint to dry. It's going to be one of the book's pages I think. Some people are better at waiting than others.

Seeking Grey & Gray

After spending some time with Alligator Dream and stumbling across Tricia McKellar's new series "Flourish" I am provoked to rediscover how greygray brings harmony to my insane pallette where gang wars break out between the various factions on a regular basis. Did I ever tell you that when I was little I worried that if I didn't use each and every color each time I took them out, they got angry with me and planned evil doings like hiding under a chair and getting sucked into the vacuum cleaner.

The Alligator Dream

I've had a lot of knee grief in my life. Knock wood all is well now but if I have a rough day there is pain in the night and I dream that alligators are biting my legs and are working hard to twist them off. Or could the pain come from the dreams?

real studio time

I was going to get started last night but I was pinned down on the couch by two cats and forced to watch a re-run of the 1991 World Series 7th game between the Atlanta Braves, my team, and a buncha guys with long greasy hair. After watching John Smoltz pitch a few clean innings I was overcome with boohoo at his defection to the Boston Red Sox. I mean, just how much friggin' money does a person need? Is there no loyalty left in the world? I abandoned the game and flicked over to revisit "To Kill a Mockingbird" and so there ended my creative evening. Here are the fruits of the morning so far. These critters are "Waiting for Wings". I'm still toying with the kid's book notion but for me a book has to put the story first. I don't want to slave over illustrations for their own sake and nothing is coming to me at the moment, preoccupied as I am with finding work and speaking of which I have an interview tomorrow. Cross 'em if you got 'em. This piece is going to involve a soy-wax resist and some dyeing but the house is too cold to even think about any of that right now.

Mad Moon

I'm looking forward the influence of this big 'ole moon that they are promising for tonight. Hopefully the incoming rain and clouds won't screw the viewing up completely. Remember this piece? For a while now, it's been staring me in the face from the design wall that's opposite my sewing table and it's subtle charm has been growing on me. I started a companion piece last night by building a damask sandwich that includes that very thick, heavy cotton felt batting. It will be a bear to sew through but the stitches will really "carve" the design deeply. How it's going to take to soy wax resist and dyeing remains to be seen.

Crash Test Dummy

I kid you not. All day yesterday I was in federal court doing a $PAID$ gig as a crash test dummy. Of course, the trial dragged on and I have to come back today to do my little bit. It's totally surreal! Update - more delay, dither and diddle in court, and so I will come back as a dummy again on Monday! Thanks all for the input on the critter series especially Terry - will you be my editor? Today, instead of whiling away the hours with Steven King, I will start work on my own book. Words, pictures and my voice. God help the kiddies.

Food Chain #1

I feel this one. And then I don't. So I won't call it finished but it's the fifth I needed for a deadline later this month. Some paint is called for and maybe more. Being locked into a 12"x12" box chaps my ass something wicked. There are three or four other pieces that were supposed to be a part of this group but I accidentally on purpose let the dimensions get away from the rules. Someone said I should use these critters to illustrate a children's book. Looks like I'll have to write this one myself.

Out with the Old

I meant to post this here.

Hope Rising

"Hope Rising" is on it's way to: Location: Cafritz Art Center, 150 King St., Silver Spring, MD

Dates: February 9 - March 5, 2009

Opening Reception: Friday, February 13th

"This show, organized by Susan Walen, comes from an all-volunteer,

grass-roots, multi-ethnic group of fiber artists from all across the

United States and as far away as Australia. Our work is in tribute to our

new President, in gratitude for the hope and inspiration he

has brought us. We present these art quilts at an unforgettable

historic moment in our country's history."

Live Humans!

Hopefully this is the last of my "making frenzy" pieces for a while. Not technically focused at all but I took more time than usual cutting the blocks to size and making some sense of them before nailing them all together. Thinking back (and wondering where the hell it might be) this one is just like Picnic In Hell and the Green Monster, which I know is in the custody of my son Jake. What sort of thing do you do when the muse fails or is on vacation and you just HAVE to make something???

"Pardon me while I have a strange interlude..."

and roll, howling, in the 24 pounds pounds of BOOTY that the FedEx man delivered to my doorstep today!!!! They say that the Good get what they deserve. I was never this good but I will try hard to be worthy. If you look hard you will see the source of all this treasure, my own personal Angel. That's Valdani thread there, and silk yarn and ultrasuede and imported Japanese prints and batiks and woven goods and, and....I'm foaming at the mouth and have to go upstairs now. Upon extensive examination, there is much more here than meets the camera's eye. The soft hand and terrific quality of the yardage has inspired me to imagine myself some new duds. I will be browsing patterns this afternoon at HoAnn's and taking the measurements of the adjustable ( heifer-sized) mannequin that's been set up in that department. There will be pictures!

New Year's Intentions

I've never been much for New Years resolutions. Generally speaking, they have a bad reputation for failure. Who wants to start the new wheel of the year wearing that yoke? As the day goes by I will be having more to say about it. Until then, I had a great post about the matter two years ago. Funny how little things change.

Happy New Year!

2008 was the year that Jim's life was saved. Nothing else matters.

Studio Day!

Hopefully, by this evening I'll have something creative to post about. For now, her Cranky Highness Madam Karma presides over kitchen chores on this rainy Georgia day - (I am very grateful to not be having real winter weather like much of the rest of the country) . One thing that I did get accomplished early this morning was to list my fiber and art books that have been languishing at Amazon. Here's the list. Most are new, some are quite esoteric. All were rescued from a private library that was forced to downsize. If you see anything that you are interested in, drop me a line and we'll work out the details.

Merry Christmas

Unlike much of the country we are having mild Christmas weather, in fact, there was a thunderstorm last night to compete with the fireworks up and down the next street. I have the most wonderful gift this morning -the knowledge that all my family and friends, near and distant, are safe in their homes and will feast later today as they share good company. Wishing the same for all of you.

The Making Mode

I've made all the gifts that I was giving but I've been casting about for something functional to put the Art Mojo onto and have come up with a few one-of-a kind pen rolls, or pretzel rolls if that's how you roll. This is preliminary to, (really a procrastination technique) to putting my stash back in order. It's really, really bad. I won't make you suffer pictures of the chaos, just imagine Santa's workshop the day after Christmas, wood shavings and paint everywhere, elves draped over kegs and hanging from light fixtures - you get the picture. What I really want to be doing is baking but my oven is broken. The truth is what I want to be doing is eating some baking. Not to be undone by mere technology, I made a terrific apple/blackberry pie last week on the gas grill. I wonder how it will work for oatmeal cookies? PS -Thank you Leslie - I wish I could have had this particular brainstorm in time for the holidays, but then again, a nice affordable, functional piece of art is timeless. I'll be moving these over to the Hotcakes site for sale as soon as #3 & #4 are finished. A series is spawned!

Spooky Stories Travels

What do you give the man who says he has everything? Art of Course! "Spooky Stories" is on it's way to spend an open ended exhibition as part of the esteemed Charles & Rosalie Useted Collection that includes pieces stretching back to the beginning of my career - 3rd grade: a glued paper & felt tracing of my very small foot with the inscription "Upon my sole I love you Daddy". I can post this because my Dad doesn't use a computer and thinks the internet is "50% voodoo bullshit and 49% nonsense". He'll only credit the other 1% because I do. Here( 1,2,3) are some detail shots of this gen-u-wine machine pieced and appliqued, hand quilted and beaded utility quilt approximately 6 feet square. Can you tell it's one of my favorite and most personal pieces?

Perpetual Motion

When it gets cold out, I get the crochet hook cranking and I've finally settled on a stitch/sequence that I plan to see through to the end of this piece. I am fully fed up with making beanies, mittens and plain scarves. This is a boa built from chained loops covered with single stitches and intertwined together like so many cotton worms..well, they look like worms to me and since I make it up as I go I guess I'm entitled to name it. I'm also in the middle of constructing a garment from a pattern and things have changed quite a bit since my last garment making attempt back in 8th grade. The tissue is much finer and somehow, I managed to select a pattern that only has instructions in French. I keep telling myself "This is NOT brain surgery". Also - I'm still giggling over an ad I just read in the Jobs section of Atlanta's Craigslist. 6 On line Criminal Researchers needed ASAP (Duluth GA)!! ".....Knowledge/Skills: Bachelors degree or commiserate experience required...." I think I may have found my true calling.

Production

Lots materialized this weekend. I hope I haven't gone too far on this one with the paint. I look back on earlier images and now I miss those big white cottonball looking areas. It's a path/technique I want to explore in more detail once the demands of the holiday have relaxed. I spent all of today bringing these pieces together to be "of service". Taking my time and auditioning the talent was worth every minute. I can't reveal the finished product because it's a gift in the making but I like it so well, it will be hard to part with.

Ghosts of Christmas Past

On a Roll

Uninspired for anything new, I've been tackling the river grass basket full of UFOs and this piece got soy waxed and overdyed yesterday. Today I started in on it with textile paints and something interesting is coming around. I had forgotten how much I like working close in with textile paint on wet fabric.

This top was not quite big enough for a working quilt so I rummaged about in the stash and came up with a bizarre piece of hand dye that seems just about right. The flannel back on this one had been waiting for this job for about 25 years.

And finally, maybe best of all, the rain stopped and the sun came out just long enough to get a shot of these prayer flags that I finished early this morning. Here's a modern interpretation of Tibetan Prayer Flags - the images are contemporary, the language unwritten except in the heart. This set, $SOLD. More when I can.

Putting Art to Work

I loved Kim LaPolla's description on the QA list of how her daughter favors their old, raggedy dog quilt because of the memories associated with it. I daresay I won't want to see the same Art (any Art!) hanging on the wall for twenty-five years. But to snuggle under a warm if worn blanket with all that family history is another good thing. Time to rethink what I am doing and why I am doing it. This discussion about Quilts & the Economy (read 'sales and lack thereof') and functional quilts has me wishing I worked even larger than I already do. I'm seriously contemplating taking three or four of my dye-painted, finished pieces and whacking them up and then "Frankensteining" them into something functiona along the lines of this digital example with three pieces from my gallery. What a challenge - first, the letting go of the "Art" and then rebuilding something both useful and lasting. Taking some 3x4 footers and going Queensized! I'm happy that I haven't wandered too far from traditional quiltmaking when it comes to construction techniques. It will make the transition easier. And pursuant to sending folks off the QA list to blogs to read all about it, I like the idea of having some discussion out there in public if it's relevant to the group in general and posting it with eye candy here the the blog.

Creature Series

Here's the roundup so far. I've been doing this kind of doodling for as long as I can remember. Giving life to circles, lines and squiggles. Having them congregate, interact, work, war, dance, love - all the things that beings do but these are my beings doing my bidding. Many of my larger pieces depict similar beings in action. Think there's a power tripper lurking or do I merely observe closely that which others cannot see?

Later, I found this other pair tip-toeing about.

fresh starts...

...can come from a combination of things for me but usually a confluence of fabrics is the first spark. (day's end update: I struggled to no avail at the design wall most of the morning with this gang of unruly thugs and gave up around lunch. Later on, the cartoon fiend got loose in the studio and the fifth 12"x12" that I needed for the APW show materialized.)

I feel like an Elf in Santa's workshop

I've got four large *things* to get accomplished in time to be shipped elsewhere as holiday gifts and numerous smaller ones in varying stages of completion. Looks like coffee will be my best friend in the coming days. In keeping with the Handmade and Buy Art movements (I know there are official names and linkages I could hook to but I don't have time to root them out) I've broken out some vintage pieces and am putting them up for sale at prices guaranteed to start or grow someone's art collection!

From 2005

"Needleturning at Sunrise"

16"x 12.5" unmounted

Machine pieced and hand appliqued cottons that have been hand dyed and painted with metallic acrylic paint. This piece was exhibited at 2006 - Considering Quilts '06" at the Atlantic Center for the Arts.

$140

please email me for availability

Two other pieces "Stigmata" and "Blues Bound" are now up on the Like Hotcakes site also at gift giving prices!

Fiber Potato Chips

Yep, bring on the dip, the potato chips are coming fast and furious. I knew this was going to happen. Does anyone know of a rehab/spa joint for fiber art postcard fiends? Please, only facilities that have well equipped craft centers, heated pools and five star chefs 24/7. These are all 4"x6", perfectly mailable naked (be bold!) and 15$ each. I've moved them all over to my crass commercialism site, Like Hotcakes, complete with wicked PayPal buttons but since each of these are one of a kind, please email me for availability before you PUSH THE BUTTON! Substitutions are a sad, refunds are worse!

I owe you more than Eye Candy

How about some Eye Champagne? This graces a full sized poster in my local Post Office and I have decided that I like it better than any of the Christmas Stamps this year. The religious one is just banal and the secular ones are downright scary. I've finished a fistful of holiday themed postcards and have abandoned the red and green for some take-offs on my Creature series using scraps from those same works. Here's the first with bits of damask, linen and a commercial cotton print, the reverse is a cream colored and lightly rusted cotton. 4"x6" and ready to mail. This one is for sale. $15.00 US plus postage depending on where you are in the world. Email me (deborah@lacativa.com) and I'll let you know the total. There will be a handful more over the coming days.

Just because I can...

... don't mean I should. At the office,I have been teaching myself the basics of a nine-thousand dollar sewing/embroidery machine. In the user's manual I could find no chapter heading that says "Remember good design principals" Go figger.

nothing like a timely Repost::::

There are two apple pies in the oven tonight so there will be no mid-oven collisions tomorrow morning. While the turkey is cooking, I will try to get some studio time in and do that "mounting small works on canvas" documentary. Until then, this blast from the past:

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Thanksgiving Crack

My husband just called with the good news that he had tracked down a store that carries Bell's Seasoning, without which it just ain't Thanksgiving. I should have done this weeks ago. Once again, Jimmy saves the day. He bought five boxes and I bet I could stand out on the corner of Gloster & Highway 29 and sell it for 10 bucks a box to the rest of the Yankee slackers living in this neck of the woods but in my pity over their weeping gratitude, I would give it away.

meme resistance

I've been tagged with a meme.

You know, the one where you are supposed to reveal seven little known things about yourself.

These memes have always made me uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. Who cares and if they do, why? These questions niggle. Who wants read that I was a dancing duck in a third grade ballet? Who cares that I pick up hitchhiking turtles if the traffic will permit.

And then, there is the writer in me squealing to rise to the writer's challenge which is (in my opinion) the challenge to lie compellingly, provocatively, and spectacularly.

Hard to resist that challenge especially when the thing many people already know about me is that I am easily amused. I have told myself jokes in my sleep and woken up laughing, tears streaming from the corners of my sleepy eyes. My Goodman will attest to this.

That's three things already and two too many.

leaving well enough alone

"Jellies Matriculating" 2008 12"x12" Hand dyed silks, cotton damasks and flannels machine stitched with silk, cotton and rayon threads.

in the morning, it's all potential

The morning sun gets into my studio first thing. Everything is dazzled with potential. Strewing stuff around is enough to get things perking. As fabric and ideas fall into place, it's time to nail things down and the work starts to bristle and balk. The background for this piece started out a dark grey, then I transferred it all over to a piece of plain muslin. Still no satisfaction. More rummaging in the stash for the stage. Because the color and energy of the elements of this piece it became clear that the background was going to have to step up and have something to say also. More stitching is on the agenda but "Jellies Matriculating" is solving it's own riddle nicely as I go along for the ride.

brewing

Here I am with a pile of potential art in front of me and, for the moment, it's just too much. I should probably put 90% of it back in the bag but that leaves which 10%? When I first started to use crayons I always had to use every single color in the box every time I colored. Something about not wanting to let anyone feel left out (or they would get out of the box at night and Get me while I was sleeping. Another reason I never slept much as a child) I also got sucked back into 4"x6" postcard country yesterday thinking I could whip up some holiday cards while here at work but what normally took me 15 minutes on my machine at home took over an hour on an unfamiliar machine who did not much care for silk. update - it never fails. Set me parameters and I start grinding my gears. I made a 14 inch square design boundary to complete a fifth piece for the show and how those fences are chafing!

Gonzo Glass

Since I've gotten nothing exciting in the works at the moment, take a look at what my buddy Jan Thompson has been up to.

A while back she abandoned fiberworld for the Hot Glass Darkside and has become a total convert to glass bead making. Check out her work here.

One day soon I expect she will pull up to my house with a large dumptruck full of her fabric and make a deposit on my front lawn so she can move her glass studio out of her cold basement into her cobweb strung former sewing room!

more creature gestures

I've been researching and documenting (in my mind) gestures for years. Fancy myself pretty adept at reading body language which gets pretty interesting when there's no body. "Waltzing Asses" takes shape and when it's done I'm going to do a step-by-step of securing this one to a stretched canvas. I won't call it a tutorial because that seems to indicate I know what I am doing. That remains to be seen. When I started this piece I made the base sandwich about 15 inches square and basted a 12"x12" boundary inside to contain the design elements.

As you can see by the overlay of my trusty 12x12 studio assistant, I came pretty close to staying "in bounds" so there will be a little design dribbling off the sides of the canvas once this one gets stretched.

Charming, ain't he? He looks like my brother-in-law the Hunyak.

new presentations

I've just finished my first attempt at wrapping one of my finished pieces around a pre-made canvas and am quite pleased at the way it turned out. The best part is cropping by positioning the image to fit the canvas, in this case a 12"x12". This one and four others are destined for the "World of Imagination #2" at the APW Gallery in Queens, NYC, NY. The second best part is getting the canvases one by one with 40% off coupons at JoAnns.