artwhispers

Sand and catchup

This was taken last week in Cannon Beach and thought it could be translated into a small quilt. I scored big time at Goodwill this week finding silk samples in coordinating colors in groups of 4-6. Won't mention how many I bought or how long it took to iron them after a wash.

Think it's been almost a year since I visited here. It's been a busy and fulfilling year in many ways. Recovered well from the shoulder replacement. Have been doing classes with Jude Hill and although I have a quilt top pinned with samples made from the classes haven't sewn it all together yet. I think doing the small pieces is the most fun and am putting off doing the hand piecing until I can figure it out and doing it without aggravating the arthritis in hand and wrist. So continue to do small projects. Had the holiday sale here as usual and sold quite a few of the small quilts and bookmarks. Interesting that mostly fiber art sold, including dolls but not the cards that usually sell.

Taking a pottery class and find it uses many of the same type of techniques as mixed media in surface design. Using some rubber stamps to embellish, having collected them just like my once a year lipstick which were never worn but a few times.

Had planned on doing a gelatin plate print everyday for a year then realized I couldn't do just one and had collected 30 in 3 days so that wasn't a good goal. I like doing them with found objects and nature on silk and can put the new material to good use.  

Also taking an online class with Glennis on indigo dyeing and again the silk can be used here. Enough excuses, I mean reasons, to go back a second day for more silk bundles. Still working on getting the vat up to speed, not wanting to use a heating pad.

Looking forward to being more active here.

samples from Jude Hill's class

Bookmarks made as samples from Jude Hill's class.

samples from shibori class

Taking an online shibori class and these are my first samples. All are done on used silk  from reclaimed kimono lining or clothes from the thrift store and dyed with colorhue dyes. Top row left: crazy folded with plastic shape resists, moon samples, one made into a bookmark(decided it looks foggy), Bottom row left: brass angel wing used as a resist, circles and folds, folded and clamped. The bookmark was inspired from Jude Hills online class. It's hard now not to have handwork to take everywhere.

nothing much

We moved back into the house 2 weeks ago and am loving the remodel. Plan to take photos once the drapes are up this weekend and will post. Liked living in the cozy studio but the house is a welcome relief. Have been quiet but busy working on hand projects after taking Jude Hill's c2c2 class. Love the feel of hand stitching. Sorry to cancel the studio sale but just couldn't pull if off with the timing. Still need to organize the studio back to it's original self before the end of the year. Having shoulder replacement surgery in January. Hard to even say it outloud, sounds like something that only happens to other people (really, really old ones) but will be glad to have it done and hopefully will give me more range of motion and less pain so can increase my activities. Miss swimming. Doc says there are only 2 choices-surgery or not. Apparently it's not unusual to have increased joint issues in your 50's and 60's. Made me laugh when he said I must have been in the wrong line when they handed out joints. No computer in house until we get a laptop so haven't been on as much. Scary when I realize how much time I sat before one and just don't automatically use it now since I have to put the heat on. Must say I like being less hooked to it.

Anybody in the Seattle reading this and needed a reliable contractor would certainly reccomend ours. They were right on with the cost and time, nice to have around and made friends with our dog. Instead of barking at them to protect he barked at the end to be petted. Was told that remodeling could be a nightmare but it really was not bad. Luckily we had the studio to live in for 3 months which made it easier. Life is good!

 

Two sisters that fly

Still needs more work. Thinking might make funky aprons with some of these that are not so delicate. They would go along with the woodburned wooden spoons the grandkids will make for presents for the holidays.

more beasties

   The beastie class by Jude Hill (www.spiritcloth.typepad.com) finished last week and I have a few more that I will post. They still need more work and might incorparate them into the projects from the cloth to cloth class I will take from Jude in September. Highly recommend her classes. We are packing up and moving out of the house next weekend for the remodel. First thing I packed was a suitcase filled with fabric and bits to work on more beasties while we live in the studio. Reality is hitting.  The bear is  hand sewn with fabrics I dyed and used shiva paint sticks. The "catfish" named Orleanna, is from New Orleans. All hand stitched and mostly silk that I dyed or rusted. The stripes on the blue and green are made by using a smocking pleater to gather the fabrics before dyeing. It was forgotten until I started organizing for the move. Nothing like cleaning to find missing supplies!  

Today's beasts

 

These are the first two samples of patchwork beasts for Jude's class. Class and members samples are very inspiring. And this could be addictive for sure. Too much fabric, too many ideas. 

Happy Camper

We are starting to get ready for a house remodel, major garage sale and today I start an online class that I'm excited about. The hardest part about all this is not being able to play while sifting and sorting. We are going to live in my studio while this is being done. Showers will be taken at the Y, cooking in the microwave or a plug in burner. Not starting until August 23, just the preparing now. Luckily we will still have access  to the basement  refrigerator, food, and washer and dryer. My class is from Spiritcloth from Jude Hill, making beasties. I have so much fabric and will only be using small pieces in this project so this won't make much of a dent. I particularly like hand sewing in the evening so this will fit right in. Grandkids 11 and almost 8 think I'm crazy taking this class, can tell they are growing up but who knows they may want to join in. Last week we did wood burning on new wooden spoons, gifts for their mom and one for each of them.  Our dog (long haired dachshund) jumped out of my husbands arms in May, landing on cement, resulting in a fractured leg, and $4000 to repair.  Had to keep him very still, was practically attached to me but good to go now. He does seem to rule the house at times and a friend just told me about a street sign being sold for 5 bucks with his name- Hubbell Pl. I'll have to "splurge" and get it. It will be a great gift for my husband who has never had a dog until now.   

 This is how I felt during the recovery! but summer is here now, garden is growing and am a happy camper. 

Tulip Time

Hope everyone has a relaxing holiday weekend. Some photos from the tulip fields on the only sunny day this week. Husband had the day off, was fun.

Good time

This is found art on the beach and how the new year is starting! Feeling very excited, upbeat, and can't wait to try out new ventures and exploring new venues, plus. Finally fired up my Kiln and won't tell you how long I've had it. Just say way too long to not have used it. Understand the programs for PMC but not for fusing glass yet. Going to Portland for 3 days, celebrating granddaughters birthday, seeing friends, gathering more art materials, and swimming at the motel. Sounds like a vacation to me! I don't make new year resolutions but am noticing I am actually making some mental lists of what I hope to do this year. Who knows, may even write them down.

Christmas 2009

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day. We went for a walk along the beach. It was an incredible sunny day and always feel it's special when we see a bald eagle watching us. This one seemed fairly young. It was windy, cold, but very sunny, made me smile. Saw my oldest daughter with grandkids last night for supper and a movie and my other daughter is here until tomorrow. John's kids are coming up from Portland so it's a nice time for all. Happy, Happy Holidays. First time I've done an email holiday greeting but thought better to do this than not at all. DH has my pj top on, just for photos, ofcourse!