Monday, June 22, 2009

Getting ready



The top picture is Willie and his/our neighbor friend. (Her dad was sitting right next to me on the porch as I took this picture.) Willie and she have been good friends forever. Tonight they aregued about who "dumped" who (isn't that ridiculous?), then tried shooting an aluminum can with the slingshot. (We all tried and missed.) Then we had popsicles.
Meanwhile Katie was in my studio looking for cool stuff for me to pack to ArtFiberFest. There's a ton of great junk in here. When Katie is bored she explores my studio; tonight she had a purpose for looking, so I think she had even more fun.
I'm feeling a strong push/pull in energy these days. I think for my house project I am going to make a house in shadow and the other half in light. For the topsy turvy doll I am going to make a red hot devil and a pretty-in-pink angel. That should do it.
If you believe in the power of prayer, I know a family who needs yours tonight. I put forth a special intention -- and thanks!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Invisible Cities




This book by Italian writer Italo Calvino is always fun to open and read at any page, which I did last night while sitting on the front porch at dusk. Willie was riding his scooter, and the birds were darting around just like in Esmerelda, one of the cities (all named after women) that Calvino describes. Each of Calvino's cities is --I stopped writing for over a minute here becuase there's not one adjective that comes to mind...So you'll just have to read it yourself.


Above is an illustration by Mikhail Veisel of Esmerelda and one by "Rod" from his Rodcorp blog of Ersilia...just some interesting things I found related to this book. It's a rich source of inspiration for artists because of the poetic descriptions of each city. I think there may be a quilt or two in there.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

It came!

The cover and binding -- blue velvet and buttons.

Barbie shoes and Dancing feet
The flapper flaps open to reveal Laurie's bare feet, stitched -- toes and all, actual size.

New Shoes -- women and little girls both love them!
The flaps on the left page have little shoe surprises behind them.
The picture on the right is great because there is a doll next to that cute bobbed-head baby, and the shadow of the photographer's head on the steps in front of her...sweet.

My babies' bronzed shoes on the left and a Donald Pliner (I think) beauty on the right...and a little man rowing it across a glacial lake...Dream Big, whatever it means to you!

The masquerading ladies on the left below which is a pocket with a vintage shoe horn and carded shoe button from a well-known-at-one-time socialite. Laurie bought it from a guy who collected shoe memorabilia and documented it all, then sold the collection on ebay. (You think I have a fetish?)
The right page is a delish juxtoposition of county/disco -- and a sparkly vintage silver button.

Home and Away, both pages with hand drawn bird buttons.
The left page is a copy of an actual photo I took in the garage one spring. A silly bird built her nest in my work boot. The left is a picture taken in a Nazi concentration camp -- a pile of shoes.
Quote beneath says "Of all the shoes that you have at home, which pair would you choose to wear if given only a few minutes to gather all of your possessions?"
Six of one; Half dozen of the other.
Edwardian lovelies, embroidery, vintage lace and glass buttons - and ceramic bobby soxers!

The back cover, and a collection of fabric swatches and ephemera Laurie collected for me.
I've actually hugged my new book a couple of times today, I love it so. Laurie read my mind today, I guess, becuase my walk to the mailbox was rewarded with the usual bills and pitches...then, lo...Treasure. Laurie bound it perfectly and included a few extra special things for me to stitch on if I want to. What a satisfying end to our collaboration!
I hope I meet some willing person next week in Portland who'd like to start another book with me, or maybe some other project. This sure was fun.
The excitement of getting away to play for a few days next week is finally beginning to build! I've kept it out of my mind becuase I've been so busy with other things, but this shoe book really delighted me today. UPS shipped all my stuff out yesterday, so all I have to do is pack my stash for my workshops and I'm there! Can't wait to be with my fiber family.
In the midst of this, there is the tax assessor's informal hearing tomorrow, which I am NOT looking forward to. Oh well, to everything there is a season.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A little diversion







Between writing emails, I'm opening email of my own from shoebuy.com ...and there they were.


Whoa, Nellie. I want an excuse to wear these...oh please oh please!


On another note, I think my old friend Laurie is going to be sending the shoes book back home to me soon. She wrote me last week, telling me so, and I truly can't wait to see that thing again. It's a smallish quilted book -- all about shoes. We've been trading books back and forth for about 4 years now. At first it was hot and heavy, every two months or so. But we've droppped way off, and are just now finishing them up. Laurie's theme was, well...themes. So each page had some visual thing explored in fiber, ephemera, and pretty things of all sorts. Mine was "SHOES."


Change your shoes, change your life.

Look, twins!


Actually, no. Just a couple of topsy turvy dolls made by Roxanne Padgett. This is the other class I'm taking next week.

Being a gemini, I'm always on the lookout for twins. Near (but slightly off) symmetry really makes me happy. That's why I can't wait to try making a topsy turvy doll; remember those? They have a skirt that flips over each head and reveals two different heads!

Truly an excellent idea. One I've wanted to explore, and when I saw Roxanne's class listed I jumped on it. Take a look at her blog and you'll see why I think she's going to be such a fun teacher, too!

Monday, June 15, 2009

The Enchanted Felt Cottage


I'm feeling the edges smooth out a bit as I look over what I need to bring to Portland.


This beautiful soft armful of cozy hominess is the creation of Charlotte Lyons, who is a force in the art/craft and publishing world. I can't wait to take her class, and relish the thought of collecting the things I need to make my own little cottage...


I have some pretty jewelry and buttons and silks in mind. I already want to move right in.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

I don't even know these people.


And really, who am I to even want to finish these things?


They assume characters when I'm working on them. I can already see a wistfulness in a couple of their eyes that breaks my heart. Maybe a few months ago they would have seemed peaceful and charming. I'm not sure I can begin. They start speaking to me, and I feel a little crazy and consumed by the intimacy they require. I'm a little afraid of them. I don't have time for them. How sad is that? They are orphans.


Nevertheless, I should probably work on a few so I have something small and light to vend in Portland next week, in the event that I'd be taking/shipping them back home. My Aunt also wants some dolls for an invitational show at a gallery in Lincoln. I should "just do it" like the slogan says. Stop thinking about stuff and act. The way things are these days, I might leave some bad karma on them as I finished them, and then NO ONE would want them.


The kids want to leave for the pool. Can't blame them; it's 150 degrees again today. And so we'll go, becuase I love nothing more than vegging at the pool on a beautiful day when I have a gajillion things on my mind. My greatest fear (well, one of them) is a stunningly gorgeous cage.


This is drivel, and I regret it.


The church bulletin today had an ad for a "desert retreat" where you discover grace through silence. It caught my eye. Now, who could imagine that?


Thursday, June 11, 2009

Wicked


Thank goodness for a moral compass. I am wicked today...but at least I know it.


Funny I haven't found the time or desire to make a "Glinda the Good Witch" quilt. But I will someday, to satisfy my symmetrical leanings.


"...Wicked through and through."

Sunday, June 07, 2009

String Balls


Art Fiber Fest is approaching fast. At these festivals, people often make some small pretty things to trade with others. It's fun to come home with a bunch of delightful tiny things handmade by the people you meet. The organizer chose "ORBS" as the theme his year, so my trades are these little string balls. I learned how to make the traditional TEMARI, Japanese string balls, from a book a few years back and I gave them all away. They were about 4 or 5 inches in diameter and they had beautiful, embroidered geometric designs all centered around one unifying "equator" called the OBI, which is also the word for the belt you tie around your waist to hold your kimono in place.

I used ping pong balls as a base for these, and found them difficult to wind because of the smaller circumference. Knowing the traditional Japanese designs would be very labor intensive and almost impossible to stitch on such a small surface with a hard substrate, I instead beaded them and stitched them in a freeform design (very non-Temari-like). They're cute, I think!