I like my feet. Not everybody does.
Great whopping, hard to fit 10w's, my Dad told me I'd fall over if my feet weren't so big.
I spend most of the time going barefooted and, according to the podiatrist I saw yesterday, since I no longer swing from tree to tree, my feet are paying the price.
He said I have "flexible flat feet" and mentioned lemurs and seal flippers in the nicest way as he slipped HUGE needle into my right heel giving me an injection that is supposed to trick the muscles there into shutting up and doing their jobs without sending big time pain message to my brain. He said the bones in this kind of foot leave too much of the work to those muscles hence the pain.
The shot and a bandage/brace thingy, flexing exercises and ice foot baths are supposed cure this aggravation. Meanwhile my left hip, knee, leg and foot are pissed off having to work overtime. He also said that my cowboy boots would be good for my feet! Going to dig them out of the closet and see if it's true. For now I'm taking my flippers to the pool.
And to the foot pervs who have Googled this post - Have a nice day but don't bother to leave a comment. They're just feet.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
ocean homes & working art
I already have a beach well underway so I went straight to the water and the cottages but now I'm have second thought about all those red roofs, in fact this may be the only one.
I had to sit a while with the other house quilt and examine the various techniques and sequence of stitches to remember how it went. I may forget about the roofs altogether. I know they are houses.
The blue with hand painted red dots was a dye painting experiment from over a year ago that was "lost" in the studio. And I've been waiting a long time to use the batik that Terry sent me. It has the most wonderful hand and a pattern woven into that you can see unless you are holding it in your hands.
For a while I've been thinking of fiber art in terms of functional beauty. Like most fiber artists, I started by making blankets and I always seem to find my way back to that starting point - witness the Flings and this will be another in that line, three or more layers of rescued or re-purposed cotton - mostly muslin, no batting and lots of hand simple stitching on a base that was machine constructed for stability and strength.
It's a form of self comfort for me to make "something from nothing" - something beautiful & useful from something else that was cast off and deemed no longer useful. This kind of making soothes my frugal Yankee spirit both in the doing and the outcome.
I've always admired these and these.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Building my own ocean
I've started building my own ocean.
The studio help was just helping too much this morning so I've taken the whole business outside for now.
Friday, July 09, 2010
salvation & inspiration
Most days I don't pretend to work out. The Manatee wallow is my stroke of choice.
There are those who say having a pool is too much work. I do it for free and this is my reward.
There are those who say having a pool is too much work. I do it for free and this is my reward.
Chillin' as we can
The cats take advantage of the night cooled concrete and flooring and I take advantage of the first light from the east.
The heat will break later today with storms, hopefully more rain than thunder and lightning.
Time to shut the door - I can feel the heat coming in with the light.
The heat will break later today with storms, hopefully more rain than thunder and lightning.
Time to shut the door - I can feel the heat coming in with the light.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
new work, day one
I have oceans of blue fabric just waiting for the call.
designs on paper won't do this time - going straight to the cloth.
designs on paper won't do this time - going straight to the cloth.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
cloth of purpose
All of the fabrics that I overdyed this weekend turned out to be heavier cottons. A broadcloth tablecloth cut into fourths, several yards of what feels like double weight muslin and some lightweight twill.
Maybe I was looking at the pile with my hands rather than my eyes when I selected pieces for another chance at better color. That worked out well.
It is all cloth of purpose and I left the pieces large because I intend them for several large pieces I've been dreaming about making. Works that will be built with techniques and materials intended for use but designed for display. Does that make sense? I like to think that the flag bearers who carried medieval banners into battle got to sleep under them at night for warmth.
Maybe I was looking at the pile with my hands rather than my eyes when I selected pieces for another chance at better color. That worked out well.
It is all cloth of purpose and I left the pieces large because I intend them for several large pieces I've been dreaming about making. Works that will be built with techniques and materials intended for use but designed for display. Does that make sense? I like to think that the flag bearers who carried medieval banners into battle got to sleep under them at night for warmth.
Monday, July 05, 2010
sweeping up after the fireworks
Over 700 people checked in to find out more about mounting small fiber pieces to canvas! I shoulda sold tickets! But really am happy to share the info. Whether
or not it's right for other artists is up to them.
These are the winners that got to spend the 4th in a dyebath, poaching for a while before I do anything else to them. The racket in the neighborhood was incredible last night but there was nothing to see through the treeline so I skipped around the TV shows with fireworks. As I expected, nothing comes even close to Macy's Show with Boston a close second. In my opinion having fireworks accompanied by contemporary pop music is just friggin' awful! It's the classics or nothing!
These are the winners that got to spend the 4th in a dyebath, poaching for a while before I do anything else to them. The racket in the neighborhood was incredible last night but there was nothing to see through the treeline so I skipped around the TV shows with fireworks. As I expected, nothing comes even close to Macy's Show with Boston a close second. In my opinion having fireworks accompanied by contemporary pop music is just friggin' awful! It's the classics or nothing!
Nobody does it like NY!!
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Happy 4th!
It's just us this year. Colin is at work and Jake & Missy just left for the lake.
We are celebrating the 4th quietly. A little swimming pool, some grilling, roast corn on the cob, watermelon and a little overdyeing.
What? You mean not everyone overdyes on the 4th of July??
There's a Braves game on TV at 5 and by the time it gets dark there will be fireworks all over the neighborhood with the patter of lead shot falling on the roof from errant shotgun blasts. Ah, living in the south!
Friday, July 02, 2010
rain
It's drizzly day for the first time in ages which means it's a stitching, quiet contemplation day. Breezes are slamming open doors. Sleeping cats draped everywhere.
I continue to sort/fold/iron my way through the two big baskets of dyed fabrics - three for me, one for you...
As I go along, I find pieces that relate to one another, color and texture, and fold them together into project bundles for some future time. I have a lot of projects on the back burner.
Large, hand stitched pieces, take a lot of commitment to the outcome so you want to be really sure of your path before you take that stitch. I find myself taking extra care with each stitch so there will be no false moves to take away from my satisfaction with the finished quilt. For now, building my own beach is taking the place of being on one somewhere.
It's been a long time since I have submitted my work to any kind of venue. The crapshoot of funding an entry has become an extravagance and I'm just not in any kind of mood to be judged. I'd rather play poker if I had money to piss away!
My time for art has become so precious that I can only please myself and I've been plenty happy about it all lately. Of course, the White Whale of Quilt National is looming and what (fiber) artist can resist that challenge, so I won't be putting up any more pictures of the big things in progress (jeez, that sucks so much!). Then there's one of my favorites coming up too, Art Quilts XV: Needleplay where they don't yet care about pre-publication complications, amen.
back to the studio.....
I continue to sort/fold/iron my way through the two big baskets of dyed fabrics - three for me, one for you...
As I go along, I find pieces that relate to one another, color and texture, and fold them together into project bundles for some future time. I have a lot of projects on the back burner.
Large, hand stitched pieces, take a lot of commitment to the outcome so you want to be really sure of your path before you take that stitch. I find myself taking extra care with each stitch so there will be no false moves to take away from my satisfaction with the finished quilt. For now, building my own beach is taking the place of being on one somewhere.
It's been a long time since I have submitted my work to any kind of venue. The crapshoot of funding an entry has become an extravagance and I'm just not in any kind of mood to be judged. I'd rather play poker if I had money to piss away!
My time for art has become so precious that I can only please myself and I've been plenty happy about it all lately. Of course, the White Whale of Quilt National is looming and what (fiber) artist can resist that challenge, so I won't be putting up any more pictures of the big things in progress (jeez, that sucks so much!). Then there's one of my favorites coming up too, Art Quilts XV: Needleplay where they don't yet care about pre-publication complications, amen.
back to the studio.....
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
the days were packed
Despite all the frenetic and exuberant color you been seeing these past few days, I've made time to sit quiet and start the long delayed satisfaction of the handwork on Beach. I'm already feeling the pangs of the last stitch although this piece is very large.
Thanks to everyone who had advice about the pain in my heel. All the recommended treatments and exercises are already making a difference. This too shall pass.
now I MUST go upstairs and sort, iron and fold all that exuberance!
As promised
I was trying to embed the video of Sweetie in the swimming pool but I seems to have gone web stupid this morning so here's the link instead.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
thunder rolls
The skies went dark and green and thunder rolled just as the Braves finished off the Detroit Tigers so I thought I'd dash out and get a few of the bigger pieces of damask out of the jars for a natural rinse in the storm that's bearing down on us.
These pieces have been stewing in the soda ash for almost two weeks. I hope I haven't hurt the cloth by putting things off so long. They feel like wet hides, all thick and slimy.
These pieces have been stewing in the soda ash for almost two weeks. I hope I haven't hurt the cloth by putting things off so long. They feel like wet hides, all thick and slimy.
BRAVES WIN!
Jan & I made our annual pilgrimage to a Braves game last night - my first friday night with fireworks game. The Braves won, and we enjoyed the game in swank comfort thanks to her neighbors unused season tickets.
Jan got me into a shirt for the occasion and I picked our pitcher KAWAKAMI who had not yet won a game this year, not because he is a bad pitcher but it seemed like whenever it was his turn to pitch, everyone else forgot how to bat! Yeah, I know it's on backwards - anything to get on the JumboTron at Turner Field!
UPDATE...a few minutes ago KK got his first win in a nailbiter and thanks to our hero on the van Chipper Jones who hit a three run homer run as sweet as red velvet cake.
Jan got me into a shirt for the occasion and I picked our pitcher KAWAKAMI who had not yet won a game this year, not because he is a bad pitcher but it seemed like whenever it was his turn to pitch, everyone else forgot how to bat! Yeah, I know it's on backwards - anything to get on the JumboTron at Turner Field!
UPDATE...a few minutes ago KK got his first win in a nailbiter and thanks to our hero on the van Chipper Jones who hit a three run homer run as sweet as red velvet cake.
silk velvet
A few years back I did a booming season selling hand dyed silk/rayon velvet scarves at a few local craft fairs - no mean feat in Georgia. "The Velvet Lash" was quite successful for a while but in a years time were passed over in favor of the trixier ones that were crocheted or knitted with things like Monkey skins or copper wires and such..
I was probably selling them too cheaply but it was a learning experience and I came out ahead of the game. I had a few left over that were too garish for the crowd. They were originally dyed with Procion MX with bonds viciously to the rayon fibers. Since these were 80%rayon and 20% silk, I figured that the Colorhue dyes would not be wasted on them. I was right.
Friday, June 25, 2010
ColorHue Dyes
Where has this stuff been all my fiber life?
I can see with just a little monkeying around that many things are different here. The physics of wet in wet. How far color will and wont wander. The transparency effects and how the different colors work together or not.
I made the mistake of separating the various silks from their bags with labels so I don't have the right names for the fabric.
This silk is sturdy, shiny and shrieks when you rip it with gusto. It loves the dye.
A little goes a long way and I'm running wild this morning...
Mark making with brushes and droppers. Seeing how far and true I can make my intentions and just how much is left to the whim of the cloth, dye and water.
I feel the ladybugs watching from the treeline, nervous.
Tigers Go Swimmin Wit Bowlegged Wimmin
That title ought to drag in a new and interesting audience!
For the moment this is a picture-less post. A heads up and reminder to self to let go worries and enjoy the good stuff. This is my first Friday off from work in forever and I've packed too much into the day but while it's still coolish outside I'm going to be putting dye to some silk. Pictures will surely follow.
I'll be going to my first ever Friday night Fireworks ballgame at Turner Field tonight.Pray for a Win..I can't imagine enjoying fireworks if the home team gets their ass kicked can you??
As to that strange title - I keep having to pinch myself to believe it happened.
Yesterday Jim and I were drifting around in the pool when I noticed Sweetie leaning in to take a drink (we work hard to keep the pool clear and clean with minimal chemicals).
I drifted over to her. She didn't spook and split. I scratched her cheeks, put my arm around her and took her in both arms in a safe grip and stepped away from the edge.
She didn't freak or fight or even tense. I let her legs and body be in the water all the while singing her a little song "tigers go swimmin ...." after a minute I took her back to the deck and let her debark. She was as wet and amazed as we were and scampered off to groom and be cooler.
Next time, I'll try to get pictures. If I didn't have a witness I would think it was a dream.
For the moment this is a picture-less post. A heads up and reminder to self to let go worries and enjoy the good stuff. This is my first Friday off from work in forever and I've packed too much into the day but while it's still coolish outside I'm going to be putting dye to some silk. Pictures will surely follow.
I'll be going to my first ever Friday night Fireworks ballgame at Turner Field tonight.Pray for a Win..I can't imagine enjoying fireworks if the home team gets their ass kicked can you??
As to that strange title - I keep having to pinch myself to believe it happened.
Yesterday Jim and I were drifting around in the pool when I noticed Sweetie leaning in to take a drink (we work hard to keep the pool clear and clean with minimal chemicals).
I drifted over to her. She didn't spook and split. I scratched her cheeks, put my arm around her and took her in both arms in a safe grip and stepped away from the edge.
She didn't freak or fight or even tense. I let her legs and body be in the water all the while singing her a little song "tigers go swimmin ...." after a minute I took her back to the deck and let her debark. She was as wet and amazed as we were and scampered off to groom and be cooler.
Next time, I'll try to get pictures. If I didn't have a witness I would think it was a dream.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
rescue results
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
rag rescue continued
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)