Decisions, decisions

I am literally snowed-in to my home/studio.  Not bad unless you have shopping to do in preparation for our annual Chinese New Year celebration…then the cooking.  AND yesterday we got SAQA/CT's traveling exhibit Local Color hung at the Guilford Art Center (thankfully we didn't need today also as planned).  Friday is the Opening and Sisters in Cloth is hosting.  More on that later.

So.  Decision to be made.  First, at the left is another of my Dijanne Cevaal Sentinelle pieces.  I had hand stitched the center linocut some weeks ago, and today chose it to work on.  I've been thinking more about twin needle free-motion quilting again.  I think you can see the metallic and sliver threads that I used on the black border.  I don't use this technique very often…and after I return to playing with it, I wonder why I don't.  It's very interesting.

Now the Decision.  Do I mount it on the mustard print?  I always over-think things.  Yes.  No.  Maybe.  Darn.   Maybe you have an opinion.  Love to hear it.







The other thing this snowy day provided was a chance to download some of my more recent snap shots from my little point-and-shoot camera.

Aside from over-thinking things (see above), I also forget a lot.  I've begun to blame it on aging grey cells.  But, truth be told, I've ALWAYS had to write things down so that I would have a visual memory that I could call up at some later point.  The problem is remembering to write things down in the first place ;^)

My step-daughter in Florida has always enjoyed having my work in her house.  One of the first pieces I gave her was this Ruth McDowell-esque "Leslie's Hurricane-proof Orchids".  It hangs on Leslie's living room wall.  I felt she needed some cheering after loosing her collection of orchids in the first hurricane they endured when they moved into their new home.

Long ago gift

So here's where the grey cells' loss was revealed to me.  Diaspora below, with detail:  well, I thought it had been lost.  I looked EVERY WHERE for it this spring and summer.  When we walked into her dining room, you could have knocked me over with that proverbial feather.  Get this:  She had admired it Thanksgiving before last and I had GIVEN it to her!  

Diaspora

She told me that she has it in her living room because that's where family eats together when they visit…and it reminds her that we are all spread across the US and Japan and yet we are still a close family.  Now, I will NEVER forget that!

Long ago play with convergence…Steven's room

Woodblock rubbing from Maine coast

 So…back to the task at hand.  Border or not to Border.  Maybe I'll think of it another day…back at Tara.

Double Take

Our group, Sisters in Cloth, collaborated with photographer Rose Delucco Alpert over three years ago to create Double Take:  Photo & Fiber.  Our first installation was at Haskins Labs at Yale University in New Haven CT.  We were thrilled!

Our art quilts, inspired by Rose's flower photographs, were all framed the same size as her images.  Then we each created an 8" detail to accompany the grouping.  It was fabulous…and it had the flexibility to adapt to other venues.

Which brings me to the real point of this posting:  The whole (with some individual pieces added) is now installed at the Bruce S. Kershner Gallery in Fairfield CT. (Until Feb 23rd)  It really makes my heart sing to see it there.  I knew Bruce from years ago when he was head librarian at the Fairfield Public Library on the Old Post Road and I was an over-worked real estate broker and single mom of three children making our home  there in town.

The artists who serve on the curatorial committee for the Gallery were terrific to work with.  AND they hung the show, AND hosted a lovely reception, AND printed gorgeous postcards. Such support!

This installation has so much meaning for me…it's a bit sad to see this exhibit on it's final journey before being broken up and sent home to all of our participants…but really happy too.  Darn, these conflicted feelings are hard to describe.

Doran Doran!

And I'm not talking about a Second British Invasion of Rock and Roll!  That's Duran Duran, silly.  Rather I'm referring to another, much more IT savvy Diane.  Diane Rusin Doran.

I have just finished watching her newest DVD from beginning to end.  I have my head FULL!  There is SO much information here, you will want to play your copy over and over to digest it all.

I 'made' my in-house IT guy (better know as DH David) watch this with me today.  I figured that I'm so non-techy that I would have to have him there to interpret.  But, no, I did get it….it's just that there is an incredible amount of information to get.

My personal favorites expanded on drip dyeing and screen  printing. Doran's way (digital) is superior to mine (dyes and inks and mess) in that there is nothing for me to be allergic to…and there is no ink dribbled all over my studio and no dye in strange places, hence no mess to clean.

Granted I'm going to have to watch it completely at least one more time and still will probably have to refer to it.  So, I'd suggest buying a copy instead of borrowing one from a friend….you really will want to refer to it.

I want to try drip dyeing!  You can't believe what you can do.  I am imagining using some of my colorful photographs from our trip West this last spring full of colors that make my heart sing…and I will know, deep inside, that there is another layer of meaning embedded in my printed fabric.

So:  A shout out to Vivika Denegre who knew I would connect with Diane Rusin Doran's DVD!

These comments from DH:  He would recommend that you watch it with your computer and try to play along with what Doran is doing (Next on my agenda).  And, some familiarity with Photoshop Elements is very helpful, particularly with layers.

Xiao Blue and Haru: The end of 2013

Haru and Xiao Blue

The last piece I completed in 2013.

We are a family (2 kids, 2 parents, 2 grandparents) that loves dogs and, at the same time, has various allergies to animals.  The solution for us was 'designer dogs'.  We first adopted Xiao Blue, an Australian Shepherd and Standard Poodle mix.  At the time of our search my daughter asked her then 3 year old daughter what kind of dog she wanted.  Reply:  BLUE.  So mom searched for blue merl and found our first dog, bred on a Mennonite farm near Hamilton, Ontario Canada.  When he returned to his new home, he was named Xiao (little in Chinese...as was the daughter) Blue.

Years pass and some one...still don't know how it was decided...drove back to the Mennonite farm for a dog companion for Mr. Blue.  His sister Haru (Japanese for spring when she was born) shares the same Poodle father.  Haru's mother is a Golden Retriever.  The two dogs could not be more different.

Mr Blue is incredibly smart.  Understands 100's of words...even in conversation.  While Ms. Haru is a delightful DOG.  Wacky and wonderful.  

This year I decided to gift the parents and kids with the dogs' portrait for Christmas.  The background is a piece of blue fabric that is aptly printed with very faint Chinese characters.

I matted and framed the piece and it now hangs in the family office/study.

Ms. Haru

Mr. Blue

Viewpoints9-2 Reveals Today

Today is the second reveal of the new iteration for Viewpoints9.  The challenge posed by Kate Themel was to imagine a risk that you would take if there were no complications.  Would you skydive?  Free dive?  Dog-sled to the North Pole?  Caving, anyone?

My risk would be much more mundane.  Check out the Reveal.  Viewpoints 9-2

Mr Socks 9"x18"

Mr. Socks detail

One of his toys

If you want to know more about my worry about this Challenge check out my earlier response. 

Too busy to blog !?

Yes, Oh my!  Aside from helping to mount Local Color at the Slater Museum (last post), I also helped install "Inspired by the Library:  Food for Thought" at the Guilford Library where Sisters in Cloth is invited annually to exhibit.  Then there are the preparations surrounding Sisters' traveling exhibit Double Take at its next venue, The Kershner Gallery at the Fairfield Library the first part of Jan.  

(Don't let the 'library' destination fool you.  The Kershner is a dedicated gallery space run by local artists…very nice location!)  There is a very nice bit of publicity provided by the Kershner in their local newspaper.

Southern Stars

Then there's the time I've been able to spend on my personal projects.  First, I bought myself a Christmas present!  I purchased this gorgeous piece "Southern Stars" by Australian artist Dijanne Cevaal.  It is in good company with my earlier purchase of "Eucalyptus Leaves".  I bought this piece when we visited with her in Geelong, Vic AU a couple of years ago.

Eucalyptus Leaves

Spring Time for Crow

On top of this I have actually had some productive time in my studio…surprise..being this time of year.  Pictured here is "Spring Time for Crow", my contribution to SAQA's 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show:  'This is a Quilt".  I cut a lino-block and printed the crow on commercial cotton, then stitched it to death.

I do like corvids…especially the American Crow and the Australian Magpie.  They are social creatures and very clever problem solvers.  Now, if only the Crow had a melodious carol like the Maggie.

I have also completed my Viewpoints9-2 challenge about taking risks (Yeah!)  I was worried, I can tell you.  But that is a subject that will have to wait until Dec. 27, the official reveal day.

Another Opening...another Show

Just in case you weren't around, we installed our SAQA/CT regional traveling exhibit Local Color exhibit at the Slater Museum in Norwich CT.

Exhibit Dates:  Thru Jan 14, 2014

Opening Reception: Dec 8, 2-4pm

It is a gorgeous venue, as you will see.  And requires a dedicated team for installation.  Thanks to Director Vivian Zoe and her volunteer Barry, along with the Local Color team:  Barb McKie, Kate Themel, Barb Adams, Rita Hannifan, Cathy Smith,  Norma Schlager and moi...oh, and our photographer David Wright.

This was two weeks ago.  Then there was my Open Studios Weekend (see last blog post).  Now this weekend we installed ANOTHER exhibit.  This time for Sisters in Cloth.  Check those out here.

Slater Photos: