I finally took the time and money to order some new business cards. Graphic design is not like riding a bicycle. If the analogy was true, I'd be dead in the street
about now.
I decided I wanted more art and less information and this snip from "Up on Wheels" and all of "Hopped Up"
remind me what I like best about what I do with fabric
dye and paint.
Can't you just hear him complaining about my dirty, empty birdbath?
( A word of warning about the sound link above - two of my cats rushed the monitor and speakers!)
This charming fellow is one of Nellie Durand's fabulous creations.
And for a little more delight for your day, try here:
http://www.adobecards.com/ Thank you, Tristan!
What a great combination -
the Ace of Cups and a nearly full moon. After what seems like weeks in the deep freeze, the house is open to a blazing sunny day that may see 65 degrees.
Eastern Bluebirds are everywhere here, on their way to someplace else but chowing down on whatever they can find while they are here.
I stitched on this through the first four new episodes of LOST yesterday. Finally I've starting to cast about for a new direction for some large work. Makes you wonder if being able to stand up straight without shivering figures into creative output.
Supplies are low and I'll have to scrounge for stuff but what else is new in the life of an artist? I'll bet batting is 50% off in JoAnns any minute now.
And Jinx know what to do with a scrap of batting in a sunny patch on the sewing table.
A little hand music maybe but I doubt there will be time tonight.
We suddenly busy and I'm in the
middle of two good books.
Reviews when I get a minute.
Hail Friday!
Last night I found out that I can sign up for Weeks off from work
(without pay of course) but still...
how civilized!
For lack of anything artistic to report this morning, I'm going with News of the Weird. Some time ago I posted this photo-shopped image of a shoe. I bought them online and sadly, the fit was wrong for me to the point of pain but it wasn't quite this bad.
It's sixteen whole degrees outside and not a whole lot warmer in the house. Even the furred folk are happier under the covers.
To provoke Spring, I've started the handwork on my latest garden quilt. At the new job we don't have assigned seats so, gypsy style, you squat where you can when you get there.
Yesterday I had a bad chair, a flicker-y monitor and bad lighting so hand work was out of the question. Pray for a window seat today.
My photography is not getting crappier. My camera is starting to have issues.
I'm going to leave this on the design wall and stay my hand for a while. Less is more. The hole in the center
where nothing lives provokes me eye.
I had all kinds of snide and entertaining notions to share about the new job but, right now, I'm not feeling the comedy of things but I am feeling deep gratitude for the generosity and kindness of (almost) strangers.
The Card of the Day is Strength and there I abide.
The time I have to do artwork is so precious all of a sudden.
I spent most of this morning in the studio working on Flourish. they have an orchid feel to them although I've never given a real orchid a good hard look. They look more like creatures of some kind than plants.
They sell orchids in the grocery stores down here, the most expensive things in the produce department.
I'm going leave off with this now cause I've stopped feeling joyful about it - got a cold brewing I think - don't want to run off the rails the way I tend to when working past inspiration.
Stabbing myself with pins while laughing at "Two & Half Men" has become part of my routine.
I'd like to say I'm going up to the studio to spend some time with this but truth is, the job got to me today and I am just plain tired and I don't want to make any commitments with needle and thread that I'll regret come Saturday.
Instead of nattering about the job, I will tip my reading list to the late John Updike, rave about Slum Dog Millionaire (OH! the Textiles!) and the latest issue of American Style Magazine (featuring one of my favorite artists, Eleanor McCain) - in my mailbox 'cause I'm a 9/10ths member of SAQA.
Long story for another time.
I've been fascinated with Tricia McKellar's
"Flourish" series and noticed akinship shapewise with a new piece I started last month. Tricia has generously granted permission for me to interpret her work in my medium.
Yesterday, I isolated the stitched shapes with soy wax and got it into a dyebath. I wanted a neutral gray but, as any attempt at black in whatever concentration, you get what you get.
In this case a rather nice dusty lavender that will work well in the long run. From here there will be much applique and dimensional work, both hand and machine stitching.
Given my new schedule, some real slow cloth in the works.
And finally, I finished the last of this set for another summer garden quilt. I think the border/edge on this one will be a series of overlapping leaves. That should take me through April or May.
