The Results are In

Now that guests have returned to their own homes and the last of the Thanksgiving dishes and pans are cleaned away, I can focus on the results of this past weekend's Open Studio.

It was the best ever!  And, not just for me.  Reports from most members included exclamations marks.  And comments speculating that the public might be feeling better about the economy.  In fact, one of the members is so excited he is treating us all to a pizza party on Monday.  I'm thinking it doesn't get much better than that.

Here are the pieces that have found new homes:

Sister Rode the Stars to Heaven

Desert Skies

Renewal

Tide Pooling

Miyajima Nocturne

I also sold a couple of books: one of my own works for 2012 to the buyer of Renewal and two Local Color catalogues.  I also sold a couple of very small pieces that I don't think I ever photographed.  All in all a very satisfying experience.

Busy Week

Busy…and only getting worse…or better, depending on one's viewpoint.

First:  Viewpoint.  I responded to Kate Themel's challenge:  Okay, maybe I unwittingly DO take risks.  I just might be in denial.

Second: My art quilt group Sisters In Cloth assembled two charity quilts on Tuesday.  Followed by a fabric bin-diving event at our weekly Friday meeting thanks to the largess of fellow Sister  Vivika DeNegre. (okay, is it just me or does 'fellow Sister' sound weird?)

Third:  We are collecting 3D pieces to supplement SAQA/CT's Local Color installation at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich CT that we install next Monday and Tuesday (Yikes!)

Fourth:  I am readying for the Shoreline Arts Trail Open Studios this next weekend (MORE Yikes!)

You may not hear from me for a bit :^/

Boston Strong quilt top

Colorado Colorful quilt top

Fabric bin diving

Thanks, Vivika!

Sacred Threads: Part 3

 As I reported earlier, Sentinelle began life as a lino-cut by Australian artist, Dijanne Cevaal.  I purchased several of her printings when we met her in Geelong, Vic a couple of years ago.  I had asked her if she had any restrictions on how I used her printing.  Her response was "No".  She wanted her sentinel to circle the earth watching over us all.

This year I entered my Sentinelle into Sacred Threads for exhibit in Virginia.  During it's exhibition there, it was juried into a smaller selection of the Sacred Threads exhibit that traveled to Omaha NE.

Where.  Wait for it……..It SOLD!

Frankly my first unwitting response out of my mouth was an expletive.  Yep.  An expletive.  That surprised me too.  Not because of the coarse word (that's happened before :^/ )….but rather Sentinelle's sale produced that response instead of a big ole 'Whoopee'.

That got me to thinking.  I think I had fallen for Sentinelle.

Back to the drawing board.  Fortunately I had purchased several of Dijanne's pieces.  I am now stitching every evening…remembering Sentinelle.  Now, happy that she has found an appreciative home in Omaha.  And looking forward to her next incarnation.

You too can feel the love.  Check out Dijanne's blog.

Shoreline ArtsTrail Opening Reception

Kicking off the Shoreline ArtsTrail upcoming Open Studio Weekend was a reception yesterday by one of the Sponsors of the Trail, Friends & Co Restaurant in Madison CT.

One of the most artist-friendly restaurants along the CT shoreline, Friends & Co certainly lives up to its name.  Owners Greg Benson and Brian Gondek (also Chef) invite artists to show their work in rotating exhibits throughout the year.  In addition to providing well lit surroundings, they also ask for no fees for sales AND provide (as their calendar allows) an Opening Reception for each artist.  Really.  They support the local art community that much.

It has been my pleasure to curate exhibits for them and to lend a hand to invited artists in mounting their exhibits as needed.  Certainly a pleasure for me to work with such appreciative people…on both sides of the equation.

 Sculptor Lisa Carlin, 'Words by Jen' designer, and painter Laurie Douglas with  husband Eugene Douglas

The Douglas team, Potter Alice Chittenden with friend Diane Provo

Totally forgot name of charming woman with Painter Hannah Baldwin (r)

Laura Lyons fiber piece "Gemma"

"Fall" by Melissa Imossi who is a new member

Laura Lyons' piece "Mia" which sold :^) before the Opening and had to be replaced with another of her works.  Nice position to be in

 The large central piece is by Melissa Imossi, flanked by two watercolors by new member Steve Plaziak

Two of Jinny Goggin's watercolors are left.  Right Christine Chiocchio's painting

Open Studios Weekend is November 23-24, 10am-4pm each day.  Check the website for details.  I will be setting up my studio with Potter Alice Chittenden at the Guilford Art Center.  Drop by!

Viewpoints 9-2 Reveal Day

For our first Challenge in this new cycle of Viewpoints9, Martha Wolfe posed the question:  Where does time go?  Just up my alley...a question I ask myself every day.

Actually, I have been working on this Challenge for 13 years....the last 3 with more urgency.

"Autumn Turns to Winter:  Unraveled and Frayed"

Let me just say that a few years ago I discovered that 50 is NOT the new 40.  AND, 60 is NOT the new 50.  AND, 70 is not the new anything....anything, that is, but for me, an urgent need to create.

Thirteen years ago I thought of myself as being in my 'Autumn Years".  My visual language included fallen leaves, bare trees, autumn moons and ravens, reminding me of Nevermore.

Those images remain still, darkened perhaps, but continuing to insist that I keep creating.  Everyday.  In the hopes that I will know where my time has gone.

Check out the varied, interesting interpretations:  Viewpoints 9 !

Full disclosure re my Unraveled and Frayed:  

Details:  18"x18" vintage, reclaimed, recycled cotton dinner napkin, raw edged appliqued with hand-dyed, block printed, hand-painted and soy wax batiked cottons.  Machine and hand stitched.

A thread runs through it

Here are some photo notes from PIQF in Santa Clara CA this past Thursday where I 'booth sat' the SAQA table, chatting with whomever would  ;^)

We are visiting in CA visiting Martha Wolfe and some other friends and I was able to spend a day with Martha at the PIQF show.  Great fun!

I'm on my husband's laptop and not particularly adept...where, oh, where are my notes with quilters' names?

I do know that the second one is Hsin-Chen Lin, third is Susan Lee, fourth is a detail from one of several Betty Busbys'.  Apologizes to the others!!

I'm EMERITUS!

It was a really wonderful experience being a Studio Art Quilt Associates Connecticut Co-Rep for the last few years.  Granted it did involve commitment... but it also afforded me the pleasure of meeting and working with some truly wonderful artists, curators, museum directors, gallery owners, shop owners, university professors and the list goes on.

For those of you who are members, seriously, consider getting involved more.  For those of you who are not members, go look at the new website and think about joining.

I feel this way in spite of, not because of, retiring as Co-rep.  Heck, I almost teared up at the prospect of leaving the position when I was presented with this grand crow puppet as my 'emeritus' gift.

Frankly, I think she will be very happy in my studio. I will probably need to name her.  Suggestions?

Crows have long been an image I use in my work...actually other corvids too.  I am intrigued by these intelligent creatures.  That and they are a metaphor for my advancing age:  no bluebirds here.