awol again

In spite of good intentions I have not blogged all weekend. It was the weekend of the annual McPherson Scottish Festival, however, so maybe that's a good reason. I do help some with the festival, primarily on Sunday when I host the dance exhibition tent. I've become friends with the Irish dance instructor who brings her talented and agile students each year. She and I have been talking about me designing and producing a silver brooch for her dancers based on the school's insignia below, which would be a fun thing to do. I'd be working with the bit in the middle.

Could be a challenge.

David and Dylan went to the festival, which has a lot of fun kids activities including a miniature highland games. All in all a fun weekend.

I dusted off my knitting needles and tried my hand at making narrow scarves that seem to be all the rage with young girls these days. I used a skein of recycled silk fibers in variegated colors and a skein of space dyed eyelash yarn. Because they're only 8-10 stitches wide they knit up very fast. I use fairly large needles to keep the scarves airy and loosely knit. For as long as it has been since I've knitted anything at all (I actually used to make socks at one point in my career) I didn't do too bad, although I had to be reminded how to bind off my work when I was done! I will post photos of the scarves.

Have a great Monday everyone.

here i am

photo from here

I haven't posted for awhile. Nothing's wrong, just busy and preoccupied. I'll try to do better over the next couple of days, including posting photos of the trip to the Lincoln gallery and some pics of my latest scarf and other dying projects.

Happy autumn, everyone. The photo above is of French pumpkins, my favorite. Some people call them Cinderella pumpkins, after her coach.

off to lincoln

First of all, thanks to those of you who contacted me with birthday wishes. I did have a very nice birthday, finishing up with my mother's scratch chocolate cake and homemade peach ice cream. I got to celebrate with my youngest brother whose birthday is just one day after mine. I was 9 when he was born and practiced my mothering skills on him. He's still a joy to our family. In case you're interested, I received a wonderful pumpkin spice candle and mocha chocolates from my husband and kids, an antique "brown betty" teapot (made in England!) and new kitchen towel from my parents, my oldest son Adam is making me a very cool wooden sign for my studio, saying the name of the place, Blue Moon Studio, and my workmates bought me a cute coffee mug. So I felt well feted. I'm also getting something drastic done to my hair tomorrow--photos to follow. I've said for awhile now that I don't mind so much getting older as long as I can trade my youth for wisdom. Hopefully I'm getting there.

This afternoon I am driving a van load of artists to Lincoln, Kansas to attend a reception and gallery walk in connection with the VAAM Gallery exhibit on display at the gallery there. It is a 2 hour drive one way, so we won't be back until rather late (for me). We're all looking forward to it. If you're interested in seeing the gallery's website it is here. I will take photos to post later.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

happy birthday to ME!

Yahoo! 29 and holding, for the 19th time!

another one down

Last night I delivered six pieces to the VAAM Gallery to be transported today to the gallery in Lincoln, KS for the exchange exhibit between our gallery and theirs. Of those six pieces only two hadn't been displayed before, which isn't a big deal but I always like to put newer work in a new exhibit. Several of the pieces have been pictured on this blog in the past.

This is "Dreamgirl". I really need to make more dolls, especially since Ethel & Edna have been showing off their lovely fabric cuties lately.

This piece is one I did using some painting resist techniques a la Maggie Grey, who is such an inspiration I can't even describe. I've used corrugated copper shim at the centers of the colorful fabric pieces.

This piece is called "Postcards" and was made by embellishing, painting, cutting, burning, beading, couching, and stamping (and probably a few more things I can't remember) a piece of fabric, then cutting it into roughly equal sized pieces and stitching them to a large piece of quilted black fabric. I did use quite a bit of copper shim stitched into this piece. It gets a lot of positive comments.

I really feel a sense of accomplishment at having readied these 13 total pieces for the two exhibits. Now I will be focusing on making beaucoup pieces for Artful Taste of Autumn coming up October 11. This has historically been a good moneymaker for me, so I'm concentrating on what sells at this show, namely jewelry and hand dyed silk scarves. Actually I've expanded my hand dyed repertoire (how about that--two French words in the same paragraph!) to include silk hair scrunchies and ladies' cotton undies and bamboo silk socks. We'll see how that goes. They may end up on etsy!

Thank you all for your comments on my fiber hanging at the VAAM Gallery, and for your sympathetic thoughts for my workmate and her family on the loss of their daughter. We're doing what we can here to support and love them through this terrible time.

fiber art invitational exhibit

The VAAM Gallery is currently featuring an exhibit of member and guest fiber artists. I have several pieces in the show. This one, called "Fragments of the Dream" might look familiar to those of you who follow my blog. I'm happy this looks so good actually hung up. I was a bit concerned there for awhile. It looks particularly well with the woven pieces displayed below it, made by fellow VAAM artist, weaver Ann Haritatos.


This piece, actually two separate pieces, are called "Strange Magic I & II". Don't ask where I come up with the names of my pieces. Sometimes they just occur to me while I'm working them.
This is actually a leftover bit from an earlier piece, hence its name "Remnants". Reflection off the glass is one reason I don't like to frame my art. Also, I think it feels confining.

This is as close to traditional quilting as I'm likely to get. This piece has cast water soluble paper pieces at the centers of the squares. It is called "B", because the top cast paper piece was made over a rubber stamp of the letter B. Lame, I know.

Here's a closeup showing the cast paper bit better.

This is actually a set of ATCs I made some time ago and mounted on a painted canvas for this exhibition. The piece is called "Spring Green".

This one is called "Lunar Quilt" and is made from dyed and stitched handmade paper mounted on a painted canvas.

In spite of this beautiful show I am feeling sad today because of the death of the daughter of a co-worker and former classmate of mine. The girl was just 8 years old and her passing was quite unexpected. I just don't know what to say or do for this family, except to ask for prayers and thoughts.

blogging friends forever

Debbi Baker has graciously given me this award, for which I thank her very much. The rules for passing it along are:

1) Only five people allowed.

2) Four of them have to be dedicated followers of your blog and one has to be new and live in another part of the world.

3) You have to link back to who gave you the award.

I've linked back to Debbi.

The four dedicated followers I've chosen are Jules, Kate, Julie, and Ethel/Edna. Thank you, ladies, for reading and commenting on my blog. The new blogger in another part of the world is Jane, because I've fallen in love with the photos on her blog.

I took lots of photos of the new fiber hanging at VAAM Gallery but don't have them ready to post yet. Maybe tomorrow.

Have a great Monday, everyone!