a bird in flight

GRRRL Pirates!

2011-11-25T14:00:00.001-06:00

Will you look at this gorgeous picture of my niece in her middle school play (in Minnesota) called Capt. Bree! Caroline is the standing pirate on the right -- looking very threatening I must say.

And for all my fabric and fiber friends, check out the costumes!! My very own sister Liz creates these fabulous concoctions for her schools and community theatre. She is amazing!

These productions are massive creative projects, but Liz has been studying theatre from the wings her whole life and really knows her stuff. She is starting a business now using her skills and talents and expert eye.

I can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!

Should I Give up the Ribbons?

2011-10-16T17:44:00.006-05:00

You would not believe how many ribbons I have. Lucky me.

I'm going through a serious review of stuff. Not just the weekend time-killer of sorting fabric or shuffling pretty paper around. I mean this is an internal calculation involving absolutely no lifting of any kind and boy, it's taking MONTHS! I race through my craft/art room as if it's haunted, on my way to the dark back office where I use my computer and work on email business: MyTeamConnects marketing and customer copy, template design, etc.

This business is what I love to do, and what drives me to do better -- both for myself in creating a successful business and for my customers because they use email marketing to help their businesses succeed too. When others are depending on me, I take that very seriously. When it's just a hobby I enjoy, well, I can let it fall off my radar. That's just how I'm wired. This business is just a natural progression of doing freelance copywriting/emails for other people, so I'm thrilled that I can serve others and connect with other small businesses like mine.

Although email is what I consider my "real" work these days, I'm tempted by some hands-on "play" from time to time, and so I simply cannot dismantle my art room, as much as I know i could beenefit from having a nicer room to do my marketing stuff in.

As long as you own it, your house is there for you to change as you grow and live. When Katie was tired of her pink painted flowery bedroom, we overhauled her room into an elegant teen-aged spa-like retreat, complete with brown walls and bamboo accents and a grown-up looking art print she chose. It's the most peaceful room in the house -- and room to dance, too!

When the kids started using the great room to spread out and play video games, we moved the TV into the smaller and cozier traditional dining room and brought the family dining table into the room off the kitchen so we could lounge and eat meals around the fireplace. Now the TV room is just that: a TV room -- you really don't spend time there unless the TV is on. (Love that.)

I'm a big believer that your house should reflect the way you live and work. That's why I made this room back here into a craft room when I started getting into doll-making, scrapbooking, fiber arts and art-journaling; and all the other fun stuff I used to do. USED TO DO...key point.

This idea of taking apart my art room and spreading my wings with my email business has been pacing around in the corner of my mind for awhile, but I simply cannot make a decision to make the big haul. See, I actually like sewing, and getting paint under my fingernails, and making funny little stuffed things and embroidering words on things, etc. Feeds my soul; always has. But I'm driven to extremes, clean sweeps, new beginnings; and so I'm flirting with having a huge bonfire. Or a van-sized Goodwill dump.

I am beginning to expose this idea to people I care about. I ask, "Should I prove my commitment to my email marketing business by cleaning house and making over my art room into a lovely office? Or will I regret the color, whimsical materials and creative stuff all strewn about; ready for play at any given moment (although those moments are so few and far between anymore...)

Here's a smattering of responses on whether I should dismantle the art room:

Sister: ..."No. Keep it. You never need to go to the store when your kids have to recreate the lost city of Atlantis or build a 1:100 scaled Eiffel Tower for a school project. At least until the kids fly the coop, keep the art supplies and the place to do projects." (Wise mom.)

Husband: Shrug..."If you get rid of it you'll just start buying it all over again." (He knows me so well.)

Biz Partner Sam: "...but I love your creative side. I love art!" (I take that as a no, but then he offers to help re-do the whole room, so you can never tell.)

Kids: ..."if you sell it on Ebay or Etsy, can we help you and then split the profits?"

See? Ambivalence left and right.

The recent fires in Texas started me thinking about all of this in earnest. What if it all went up in flames? Would I even try to save some of my favorite things, or would I grab the kids and the dog, my papers and some pictures; and be out the door?

If given the choice I guess I would like the stuff to go to loving homes. Here are some possibilites:

There is a group called Austin Creative Reuse which takes art supplies off your hands when you no longer need them.
I could put the things up on Etsy and have a barn-burner of a sale.
Photograph stuff I made and keep them in a space-saving digital scrapbook -- then give away or sell most of it.
Keep one wall of a new office for craft/art supplies and another wall for handmade art -- but only my favorite things. Make the rest of the space into a functional office.

I am coming closer to making a decision on this; and I realize it's a natural progression from hobby to a business I love that takes increasingly more of my time and energy. It's all good. Maybe if I got rid of just a little bit of stuff I know I'll never use, then I'll be able to concentrate on the projects that I'm certain I want to keep dabbling on...flaxseed neck pillows, soft houses, small quilts, pillows, etc. I could narrow the playing field and still feel like I had some creative options open.

Just yesterday, Katie and her friend Lizzie spent some time at my craft table making pretty ribbon hair clips with my three boxes of ribbons, buttons and silk flowers. I was so happy to see them spend a pleasant hour crafting, talking and giggling about stuff that 13-year-old girls giggle over. They left a delightful mess (and remembered to turn off the glue gun) when they were done.

Not every house can provide that experience -- a place for teenagers to create and play as if they are little kids again...after all, that's why I like my craft room, too! A predictable home office is just what everyone is expecting. Even though an organized and well-lit desk space is what I need right now, a small part of me needs the creative play too. Maybe if I just tidied up I could have both?

What do you think? Should I make a clean sweep? Start all over? Keep some stuff, but not all of it?

America Saw Evil: My Washington Post contribution, 9/11/2011

2011-09-11T08:49:00.000-05:00

When I saw the call for responses to the question, "How has 9/11 changed you?' I dashed off my opinion. It's included in today's Washington Post coverage of 9/11 under the "Age of 9/11" section, separated by ages. I'm in the 32 - 44 section. Here it is: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/age-of-9-11/

Before 9/11 I was many things. After 9/11 I am fewer things, but better things.

On 9/11 America saw evil. Unabashed, unapologetic evil. This was a first for me at the time; a housewife, aged 34, pregnant, with a 2-year-old daughter.

I remembered, as a child, seeing a television film about the Holocaust (from which I still remember scenes, though not the title) and I began to understand that the world had witnessed evil in Nazi Germany in WWII and in other times throughout history. I harbored that knowledge, but it was over 20 years later before I felt it viscerally on 9/11.

Later that evening we watched on TV with our neighbors scenes of Palestinian women dancing in the streets over America's blow; the shock and sorrow of our American brothers and sisters; the early desperate hopes for rescue amidst the sinking realization that so much was lost forever -- including the innocence of a generation.

I will never be the same. This evil had names and faces, and a searing image that I now knew personally. To be attacked not for our wrongdoing, but because of who we are (the Jews understood this in Nazi Germany), required newfound strength -- personally and as a nation -- and justified retaliation. Seeing evil demands mighty and resolute goodness of heart and mind; and the fortitude to stand up for what you believe, and for who you are.

I grew up that day. In one day I understood true evil. 9/11 choked away any waffling and untested opinions about relative evils.

Adulthood (and paying taxes, having children, etc.), regardless of history, tends to move a person towards defining one's life, actions, opinions, and beliefs. And 9/11 tinged all those things with the reality of evil. When I was a child I looked away from the television and imagined evil. Now, how perilous it would be to look away, when I KNOW that evil exists and is powerful!

Since 9/11 my husband and I had two more children (that makes 3) and I started a business, which is growing. My identity is incomplete without describing myself as an American.

In spite of evil in all its many forms, the biggest lesson after 10 years: goodness and love always win in the end. And it's not the end yet.

Water Inspires Art

2011-08-13T22:31:00.000-05:00

I just spent some time at the gorgeous website of a talented and prolific artist, Mary Edna Fraser, who creates batiks from a aerial photographs she takes from the window of her family's plane. Most of the subjects are rivers and waterways in outrageous colors.

My friend Martha League-Calhoun also makes paintings featuring water, especially the creeks and streams around West Austin that feed Lake Travis.

So what is it about water? As we were driving south from Omaha to Kansas City, before we were forced to take a detour from Interstate 29 because of the flooding, we saw evidence of the heavy rains in the midwest. Even though you couldn't see much from the road, every glimpse through trees and grass glinted with the reflection of sun on water. Although the crops were ruined, the water attracted wildlife and waterfowl where before there were none. Nature, ever abundantly opportunistic, moved into farm territory with sudden vitality.

Floods, tsunamis, heavy rainfall, rivers, deltas,and oceans all have a mesmerizing and impressive energy. Even when water's effects are damaging to human life and property, it's impossible not to be awestruck by water's power and life.

Some say someday humans will wage wars over water. I hope we can do better than that. Humanity sure does have enough on its plate already these days. But if it ever happens, imagine the art we will make.

The drought in Texas is severe. I'm not sure if the scarcity of water here makes it more achingly beautiful in my eyes, but the thought of having to fight for the right to water tinges that beauty with something a little sinister.

Sending up a prayer for water...

"Tall Painting" Appeal is Hypnotic Precision and Unpredictability

2011-07-31T04:29:00.000-05:00

You're getting sleepy...very, very sleepy. I wish. At 2:54 I cannot sleep.

Just a couple of months ago I was boasting to a friend about how I slept like the dead, now here I am these days (nights) up in the dark, reading, surfing the Internet, or sketching. Serves me right, but at least I was correct to appreciate a good night's sleep while it was mine.

How I found this mesmerizing video: Reading The Comeback by Emma Gilbey Keller, about women who set down their careers for a while to raise children, then pick up again later. (A la "You really CAN have it all; just not all at once.") One of the women interviewed for the book was Maxine Snider, a furniture designer, whose life (at least as described in the book) seems quite perfect. From the descriptions of her childhood, her home office in the late 70's, her successful daughters, art-savvy lawyer/photographer husband and their travels together; who wouldn't want to peek at her furniture line and website to see the public material results? For sale to the trade.

That's what I love about design, all of it: furniture, architecture, graphic design. I even delight in those fat reference books on color, filled with endless chiplets of it, arranged in tables of cascading shades and hues; and all sorts of delicious combinations. Everything about the design world -- and the people who inhabit it -- seems just, well, too perfect. Coincidentally I'm also reading a book about small dwellings in which the author refers to shelter magazines as "housewife porn," which shames me into admitting my guilt in that regard.

But art is a little different, isn't it? It's messy, for one thing. Enter the Maxine Snider blog for the insomniac's delectation.

Holton Rower's Tall Painting video is a little bit of both art and design. Organized, unpredictably precise messiness.

We all know that when you pour paint over a box it will flow down; that old gravity thing. We know, after some experimentation, when the paint is "set" enough to hold another color without mixing and becoming muddy. So we know in a sense what to expect.

And yet to watch the painting being made -- the succession of color and the lines the paint forms as it flows -- is a surprise possibly more pleasing than the finished result.

Somehow I guess that's the point. I knew if I wrote it down I would find the end of this thread so I could sleep again...

It's the process.

Perhaps Ms. Snider would not have become a furniture designer if she hadn't stopped working to raise her kids. Perhaps she might not have begun painting and drawing in that lull women feel when the kids grow up and begin to not need Mom quite so much. Perhaps she'd have stayed in her first career (commercial interior design) forever if not for those years at home.

Although I'd have preferred eight straight hours of z's, I probably would have missed this video, and possibly a tiny moment in my evolution. (Don't think for a moment it doesn't embarrass me to say "my evolution," but it is almost 4:00 am.) Maybe this indulgence was a fair trade for sleep.

From the Roadside to the Table

2011-07-24T13:29:00.004-05:00

This is Roger -- well known purveyor of tomatoes and peaches on Highway 71 just west of Bee Cave. He's usually there every day between around 9 and 4 or 5 (I guess whenever he runs out of produce, or gets bored or hot.)

I can get 7 nice tomatoes or peaches for 5 dollars. Let me tell you, it's a bargain compared to the grocery store!

If you've never eaten a tomato or peach still warm from the heat of summer and never exposed to air conditioning, then you haven't lived, I'm sorry to say.

I photographed the gorgeous fuzzy oranges and yellows and that tomato-y sheen on my shady back porch and then proceeded to make lunch.

As I was chowing down on the tasty salad and reading a library book, it occurred to me to stop and enjoy every blessed bite.

I put the book aside and delighted in the taste of SUMMER.

An interesting Hill Country Rock

2011-07-18T16:07:00.007-05:00

If you're always looking down when you're outside, it might not mean you're depressed; it could just mean that you are a rock hound like me. I runs in the family. In the ten years we've lived here our pile of interesting rocks, fossils, arrowheads and other finds has grown into an impressive cache of natural history. Now that we have the new hill in Kingsland to explore, I'm sure we'll be adding to it in future years.

The kids found this rock last weekend and they are sure it's a dinosaur egg (dino do?) fossil. The cracks are unusual. While it is a gray boring rock color, its cracks make it unlike any rock we've ever found around here..."Here" being the Hill Country of Texas.

I told them that I'd take them over to the Natural History Museum on the UT campus to have someone looks at it and tell us more. We've done that before with interesting stuff we've found outdoors and the woman we spoke to in the basement level was very agreeable to explaining what she thought our find was (and what it wasn't). Usually stuff turns out to be way more mundane than we imagined.

The color is wrong, by the way. I played with the picture in photoshop and illustrator before posting it here. If you have any ideas about this rock, I'd sure like to know what it is. I'll tell you when we know.

Big Changes

2011-07-17T18:38:00.006-05:00

A couple of days ago I finished a small quilted thing that I started in 2005.

Six years ago at my first art retreat I had signed up for a class with a noted calligrapher who painted/wrote on fabric and incorporated it into her art...Lisa Engelbrecht. I was new to creating (anything) and wanted to say so much with this little calligraphic piece.

Do you ever have the same high hopes for a course you want to take?

I read the outline of the day-long class, decided on a theme, found materials and fabrics that supported my vision (I think mine had to do with gardening) and I anticipated this class with great expectations.

While I really enjoyed the day, learned a lot about paint and fabric, was enchanted with Lisa's sweet nature...the work I meant to produce that day never took shape. I still have a few really lovely pieces of muslin with gorgeous swoops of paint and writing on them, but in six years I never did a thing with them.

Until last week.

(Oh, I know I should be working! I've started a new business that needs all of my spare time and then some.)

But I have been feeling the call of creativity that my email business isn't quite fulfilling. So last week I tidied up my craft room and found a project to finish; since I have so many of those!

I've always said it's the projects that are half-finished that will quickly get your creative juices going again. But now I've proved that there is a shelf life to every project. Sometimes you have to move on.

This is one of those projects. While I like certain pieces of this little quilt, it's not who I am. Anymore. If ever. Weird.

The original quote stated something like "[Nature still does the same old thing it always did], it is only I who have changed." A common theme, right? in nature poetry. I'm reading the poems of Mary Oliver these days; that must be why I wanted to resurrect this thing. And so it goes.

But my foray back into art fell flat, I think. I don't like the colors, the layout, etc. It seems so studied and strained. It doesn't sing. Well, why should it? That's where I am, too -- not singing.

Last night I had that old urge to create again. (Two times in one week makes me think something's a-brewin'.) Then I went to my craft room and picked and pulled at a few painted journal pages (from long ago) and made myself frustrated all over again. How can I want this so much and yet feel that there is nothing there? So I went to bed, grabbing a few art-zines from my ancient stash as I went. I snuggled in and read.

Some of the zines were published by Teesha Moore, a woman who lives her art if I've ever met one. The first issue of Art and Life (yeah, in fact that's the name of her series from oh, 2007/08 or so) is full of inspiration about being true to your creative instinct. I re-read it and felt like I could do anything I set my mind (instinct, rather) on.

Well, maybe I'm going to create something here soon. Maybe I'm going to write. I don't know.

All I know is I am a completely different person from 6 years ago. So much has changed. My kids, my country, my marriage, my prayer life, my friendships, my schools, my neighborhood... and me.

Maybe the person inside this skin wants to create in a different way from the way I wanted to create 6 years ago. It wouldn't surprise me.

Life: bring it on. I'm ready for anything.

Incidentally, if you need an email service with your own personalized artistic template for your newsletters -- visit www.MyTeamConnects.com. You can sign up for a weekly newsletter about small biz email marketing and learn about what you can do to promote your art business. (Furthermore, I'm a sympathetic artist; can you tell?) I'd love to work with you.

Stuffed Pepperdews

2011-07-01T09:23:00.004-05:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Last night one of my new dance mom/friends hosted a cocktail hour with both moms and daughters from Katie's dance team. We spent last weekend getting to know each other at Starbound Nationals Competition and we were all missing our new friends, so we got together for appetizers and a swim.

Walking around HEB earlier yesterday afternoon, I spotted these pretty red/orange pepperdews at the olive bar. They were marinating in some sort of sweet pickling juice and the little sign said they'd be good stuffed with cream cheese. So I came up with this recipe:

Cheese Stuffed Pepperdews
Ingredients
24 pepperdews, hollowed out
24 toothpicks
1 brick of lowfat cream cheese
3 golf ball-sized balls of fresh mozzarella cheese
chopped green onions

Using a hand blender, blend the cheeses together.
Scoop whipped cheese into a plastic zip lock bag and cut a corner to pipe out the cheese.
Fill hollow pepperdews with cheese.
Skewer each pepperdew with one toothpick and place on baking sheet.
Broil for about 2 minutes, watching carefully.
Place on serving plate and sprinkle onions over the tops.

Serve with baguette crackers if you want to:
Slice baguette into half-inch slices and place on baking sheet.
Spray bread slices with olive oil cooking spray or brush with olive oil; sprinkle with a little salt.
Broil for about 30 seconds, watching carefully.

If you serve them on a blue plate you will have a red, white and blue appetizer to bring to a party. These were delish; I came home with an empty plate. Having plenty of cheese left, today I bought jalapenos and will stuff them with the leftover cheese and wrap with bacon. Can't wait.

New Construction Inspires A New Wool House

2010-11-28T15:36:00.005-06:00

We have a new neighbor building a house across the street from us. After one or two false starts over the years by previous owners of this challenging lot, Tom finally got it right. Our neighborhood has building guidelines which include a 100-ft easement from the street because our lots are large and everyone likes the country feel (even if we are 30 minutes from downtown). The lot across the street is tough; approximately level from the street to about 75 feet back, then a good drop-off. That's "hill country" for you. My hat is off to our good new neighbor Tom, who designed a lovely home happily nestled into the hillside, while amicably facing our direction. I'm delighted with the new addition to our little hood. It is even an improvement over the cedar-clogged view we used to have!

Maybe that's why I was inspired over Thanksgiving break to finish this little wool house that I've had constructed but unadorned in my sewing room for months. If I thought it were Tom's style I'd give it to him in a heartbeat. But clearly it's not! I think I'll put it over at Martha's League Studio Gallery and see if she can sell it at her open house this weekend.

Now we need to think about decking our own halls for Christmas!

Another Bird in Flight

2010-11-06T12:38:00.007-05:00

Long ago, I signed up for an inkjet transfer group with Yahoo Groups. At the time I believe it was moderated by Lesley Riley who has used transfers a lot in her fibert art and whose class I took many years ago. Every now and then I get an email from Yahoo with some new pics. This is one I like by someone who frequently posts pics in an album called Marianne K's transfers. A bird in flight; get it? This artist's work is beautiful...even the thumbnails I receive in emails are usually enticing enough for me to open them. I don't know who she or he is because her profile is private, but I always enjoy looking!

On that note, I think about all the stuff I have here on the internet. At some point I just decided, heck, if I tell the truth and use some discretion, then I don't mind sharing online. Since then, I've shared a lot of thoughts and opinions, some of it conflicting, but that's how it is! An open book many times, I still keep a lot to myself. I do understand why someone would like to post pictures of art, but no personal info, like that Yahoo gal/guy. The art, which seems personal, stands on its own. No identifier needed.

Room Dividers Could Rescue this Office

2010-08-23T21:39:00.011-05:00

I'll admit I am lucky. I have a space of about 20 x 10 feet to work and play. Divided into two equal rooms by a door, I use the bright side for fiber art. (The picture doesn't look bright because it's night.) The dark side is truly dark; it was designed to be a dark room, fitted with pipes for a sink and everything. I use that for my office/writing space and more art supply storage. Not very inspiring, I can tell you.

Aside from the frequent visitor of the feline sort, practically everyone else in the family stays far away. This could be because when the children were younger, I came in here to be alone, to listen to music, or just get some quiet time, but mainly to play and make something. The kids are trained to stay out, and really, not much interests them in here anyway. Bill has no interest whatsoever what I do in here, so I've never even been asked to share it. Realistically, this space is so unwelcoming, who'd want to be here?

Trying to make this a better place to spend time is important because my other (non-art) writing business is beginning to keep me busy and there's really no reason not to enjoy where I'm working since I have the room. I have 200 square feet of office/creative space and I tend to bring my computer out to the dining room or kitchen to work; how silly is that?

These lovely closet doors and room dividers are from The Sliding Door Company (top pic) Closing off one end of the room for closet space would allow me to hide the craft and sewing supplies. Keep it all going or cut way back; that is the question.

I've been thinking of scaling back my art&craft hobbies anyway. Lately I find I want to just get rid of stuff and lighten up. That includes art supplies and fabric (what is this new feeling?), for my eyes are not what they used to be and I just don't have the bug to create,create,create every day like I used to.

Weird thing is, my appreciation of the fiber arts is as alive as ever; I just don't have the burning desire to sit down and make something. I can read about others' creations and collect craft supplies and fabric all day long, though. The fire didn't totally burn out, it just moved over or something.

Sometimes I hope it comes back. If not, it's okay. Life moves on (like the shadow of a bird in flight), right?

Meanwhile I'm cleaning up and out. I'm thinking of making Sweetboo.com (my old website) into a craft supply site. That could be fun if I only had some extra time. Wonder if all my craft supplies are really just me wishing for more time...This thought just occurred to me. Shazam! Must be something I need to pray on/contemplate. What a silly and indulgent little life I lead...sheesh..."Mortality" just took a second look my way. It probably is time to move on.

Any Idiot Can Make a Log Cabin Quilt....

2010-08-14T20:24:00.007-05:00

Them's fightin' words.

Mark Lipinski's blog from Pickle Road is a hoot. I found him from a local quilt store's review of a new thread called Aurifil, which I Googled. I guess I'm a curious enough crafter to want to know why a thread is so special; I mean, how can you improve on thread? Well, this Mark Lipinski did a video from a quilt show raving about this thread in such an entertaining manner, that I just had to check out his website.

If you watch the review of the book above, you'll hear the challenge, "Any idiot can make a Log Cabin quilt..."

Oh, really? This idiot just may try it one day.

A Great Trade!

2010-07-25T19:54:00.006-05:00

Check out the trade I made last week! A sculptor of faces [Diane Briegleb] commented on one of my box dolls and I offered to send it to her. She agreed to send me a face or two in return. And look what she sent me!

Here's what she wrote:

"I am an old woman of 75 years and I have done my faces for at least 30 years...I have been inspired by all the wonderful things people have done with her. Your piece really touched me as over the years there have been times when I have felt like I was in a room with no dorrs or no windows. And so your lovely doll really struck a note with me. I hope my pieces will bring inspiration. I am happy to be part of such creativity that I have seen over the years, and I am bonded to each thing that others do."

So now I will need to step up my efforts and make a doll or two that are worthy of such fine craftsmanship as Diane's faces. What an honor!

Patience or Mania?

2010-07-01T18:21:00.005-05:00

What does it take to stitch a photo like this?

Jill Draper, whose photo-realistic stitched tapestries I viewed with awe on telegraph.co.uk, says that she stitches on her machine at such a manic pace that she gets headaches. She works on a few square inches at a time, carefully following a photograph. Then she hand stitches final details.

I believe that it takes a great reserve of patience to even undertake such a project, but I can understand the crazy manic type of work required to make headway with such small details. It's a mind-boggling process, to work on something so large in scale compared to the infinitesimal gestures needed to complete even a small portion of it. A few years ago I hand stitched a self portrait with DMC embroidery threads and was astonished at the speed required to keep my mind in the game. On top of that there is the mental concentration involved in keeping track of the slight variations in color needed to shade and add contours to the image.

That type of work, I imagine (I have never done work like that on a machine) has to be something like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time -- times one hundred. While you furiously stitch with eyes focused and bright light shining on such a tiny section of the embroidered painting, you are trying to fly over the whole scene from high above with a part of your mind that can envision the end result. That has to be a mind bender!

Kudos to this Jill Draper. She is 62 years old. I hope my brain is as able to round up the intricacies required by my craft in 20 years!

The Aesthetics of Joy Blog

2010-06-30T18:18:00.000-05:00

I read a blog called the Aesthetics of Joy, by Ingrid Fetell. Great stuff. Here is a video she talks about in one of her recent blog posts. It will eventually be a book, which I hope to buy, but for now I enjoy reading her ongoing revelations. She's kind of brainy, and uses BIG WORDS, in an art historian kind of way, and she is delightful.

Do you ever see something that just makes your heart sing? She is studying the common, quirky, unexpected things that for whatever rhyme or reason make us smile (or gasp, or blink, or gape in a good way). Think dancing, wildflowers, toys, bright pink dyed hair...

She also looks at the large sweeping artistic monuments and gestures which transport us, as the artist or architect (or God) intends them to. Think cathedrals, the Grand Canyon...

Fetell asks tough questions, too. I remember one blog post (featuring a picture of Charles Manson) pondering if evil-doers feel joy when they commit their atrocities, and if that could rightly be called "joy?" Ick.

I like to read about art, but sometimes art history seems a little pedantic. That's why I like this take on design and "joy." The subject matter itself is light-hearted, but down-to-earth, even while the discussion of it is at times challenging. Anyway, Aesthetics of Joy is worth checking out.

By the way, I like Sr. Wendy, too, but I've never read any discussions about street art from her...only classical art. Contrasting Ingrid Fetell to Sr. Wendy automatically comes to mind because while Sr. Wendy exudes her appreciation and love of the art she describes, the joy Ms. Fetell writes about seems to be somehow missing from her poin of view. An academic approach to what makes humans feel joyful is a very interesting topic indeed when written in an objective and discerning voice, which is how Aesthetics reads. She is certainly passionate about her subject, though; that comes through. When you think about it, it's a tough subject.

Most of the other art/design blogs I read are all breathless with love, love, love for their artistic discoveries; a whole lotta sugar, which I don't seem to naturally possess. That is why I read them, probably. I am a voyeur of "pretty" things, but the stuff that really brings me joy are tinged with something a bit wry at the end of the day. I laugh at the wrong places in movies, too, a personal characteristic which is only now at this late age beginning to embarrass me.

Historians and students who love art, design, or craft -- and can write well about it -- are precious.

Be-Dazzling the Piano (and other serious concerns)

2010-06-29T14:02:00.000-05:00

The piano, this morning...No, I didn't do it (husband would put me in an institution), but I wanted to!

While watching Twilight with the kids last night I started an article for a scrapbooking website I periodically work for. In the midst of hunting around online for creative fodder, I found myself inside some great websites I haven't visited in awhile: Flickr, some paper arts sites, art blogs, etc. The process of writing the article while watching the movie got me thinking about a few issues closer to home:

Would my favorite opaque white gel pen ink take to the piano's glossy finish? How many barrels of plastic red monkeys would it take to cover the piano? Has my favorite gel pen dried out since I last used it?
Wonder when I'll be getting my next art quilt block for the round robin I'm involved with? (It's the only creative project I have going, and it seems to be slow-going, unfortunately.)
When the movie's over I'm going to have to put in my two cents worth with my kids regarding not only Team Jacob/Team Edward (gotta go with Jacob), but also on the soul belonging, finally, to God -- not theirs or anyone else's for the selling and/or trading. I know, I'm the one who agreed to the PG-13 movie, and now I will pay.

Of course at least the two older kids will roll their eyes and say how it's just a movie, and it's not real, and "Mom, why can't you just have fun and not be so serious about stuff," etc. My response being, "Who me? I'm the mom who would glue monkeys to the piano, if the family would let me...Who's serious?" But by then, I'll have already put the stick in the mud.

I wonder if anyone can relate? We moms think we're pretty fun, don't we? I know for a fact that kids broaden my sense of humor, which must mean necessarily that I have lost some sort of edge. Any world sophistication drops way off when I listen to middle schoolers talking away in the back seat of the van, oblivious to mom ears. It amazes me, by the way, that they don't realize that the chauffeur is listening (at least some of the time). And sometimes, it's actually entertaining. When I jump in with a bit of my own, the car goes silent for a beat. Then one of them says, "yeah, mom." and like a switch, the conversation magicaly enlivens again.

I watch movies like Twilight and make jokes about Jacob's chronic shirtlessness (kids go "sshhh!") and I realize that mom-funny is a lonely kind of funny, because the regular audience is always 30 years younger and they don't appreciate the jokes. They also take these types of movies very seriously. In any case, while I'm cracking fun at vampires (no one says "cracking fun;" I do realize this), I'm also mourning the loss of my creative outlets, which is my own fault completely, and thinking about how and when I'm going to volunteer my parental obligatory comments about some of the behaviors and themes in this silly movie.

There are the easy ones, interjected briefly: "You DO know never to get on a motorcycle with a stranger. In fact, don't get on a motorcycle, period." Then there are the ones that hopefully cause a little healthy mental interruption: " Maybe Bella should volunteer at an old folks' home or something."

Still, at the end of the movie, there are those remaining open-ended ideas that take more time, gentle revisiting over the course of a few days, like the soul stuff. One more thing to squeeze into a busy day, but crucial. I make a mental note: Don't make a huge discussion out of it, just turn the idea over a time or two.

My kids are coming into the age where I can't shelter them from stuff I disagree with. Nor the stuff I don't believe in. I don't want to, either. I'm not anti-supernatural, or prudish about monsters and magic and but Whew, pop culture keeps me on my toes!

And all I wanted to do last night was kick back, watch a teen movie, look at art blogs online, and imagine monkeys and crystals encrusting the piano...

Bali 1977

2010-06-11T18:47:00.001-05:00

Bali 1977, originally uploaded by Mistifarang - el primero Unico de l'Escala.

I found this picture on Flickr. From Mistifarang - el primero Unico de l'Escala. Imagine.

My "Chops"

2010-06-11T18:35:00.001-05:00

Ok, they're called Tjaps.

I don't even know if mine are from Indonesia, as the copper ones are. I got them in an antique store, but I don't know how old these are. I'm guessing people still use and design with these overseas. Not everything is made in a factory, of course.

These wooden handheld implements are wonderful and artistic in themselves. When I use them (which I will later on tonight), I pray for the hands that made and used them originally.

What a connection we have on this small planet!

Copper Tjaps are Hot Hot Hot.

2010-06-11T12:06:00.000-05:00

A shipment came and went again.

I watch these things with curiosity and always take a look when they come up for sale at Dharma Trading Company. They send me an email whenever they get a shipment of these beautiful design tools and, just as they promise, these Tjaps from Indonesia do go fast -- within 24 hours the entire shipment of 300 have flown out the door. Vamoose.

One of these years I will jump in there and get myself a couple. In the meantime, I do have some wooden ones that I purchased at an antique store. I've used them on paper and fabric, sometimes with very nice effects. But the disadvantage of wood is, of course, that wood gets broken, so some of mine have irregularities that might drive the fiber art perfectionista a little crazy. I don't really mind since I use them for texture more than anything else. A couple of my wood ones also have a felted material sort of squished up between the actual wood carvings; I suppose to soak up excess dye (?).

These copper ones would be wonderful to play with. Batik artists seem to have the corner of these for their craft, but you could use them for all sorts of things. If you want to try them out you have to get on the Dharma email list or their Facebook page and have them alert you when they get their next shipment.

As usual, summer gets my creative juices flowing; I don't know why that is...more free time, more ideas for things to do. Lately (sadly) I'm more inspired to look at art than to actually try to create anything. A whole 'nother thing entirely, but just as satisfying in some ways.

The Red House Quilt

2010-05-16T19:48:00.001-05:00

I've had the red house picture hanging in my studio for over a year now. I love it; something about the strange colors juxtaposed with the red house. It seemed so "quilt-like", and I was waiting for an opportunity to use this idea in a fiber project.

I got my chance last night. I needed to make an 8 x 8-inch "quiltlet" for a round robin I am doing with some ladies from Art Fiber Fest last year. The theme for this one is "inspirational quotes."

As I was puttering around my studio last night I came across the Emily Dickinson line, "I dwell in Possibility- a fairer House than Prose. More numerous for Windows -- Superior -- for Doors." (I can't remember her exact capitalization and dash use, but this is close.) I've always loved this line and it seemed to go with the red house by Russian painter Kazimir Severinovich Malevich, whom I have never heard of, but whose primitive little image made in 1932 I adore. The fact that it is nearly a perfect square helped me make my decision to use it for my contribution to the quilt project. The colors I found from my scrap stash are not perfectly matched, but they are pretty close.

My favorite part of the composition is the pink strip at the bottom.

League Studio

2010-05-12T22:59:00.000-05:00

My friend and neighbor Martha League Calhoun is a working artist in Spicewood, TX. Her work includes very large water scenes and abstracts like the one above. Recently, she kindly asked me to display some of my dolls at her place. I brought over a ton of stuff and she managed to find space in her tiny studio at the corner of Bee creek and Highway 71 west of Austin, TX.

I have been long away from the days when I made dolls; it's been almost two years! Some days I almost hope for a small disaster to take them all from me because I can't seem to get rid of them in an elegant way. Art that strangles and haunts is not good anymore.

I can learn a lot from Martha. Here is Martha's style: she has a deep discount sale that says "This is the way it is; if I can't move this stuff I can't make more art...and art is all I do. Please take it off my hands so I can create." I'm paraphrasing; if you want to see what she says about it, visit Martha's website.

I love Martha's style. She is not afraid to abandon what she has done before and try new things. And more importantly she is easy-going about letting go of her work and forge ahead into a new creative stage in her life.

So long, Frank McCourt

2009-07-20T08:05:00.000-05:00

I know there are millions of people who love this guy, so this little post doesn't say anything new or profound. Just that I like this writer because his beautiful book Angela's Ashes put him in the spotlight at age 66, after he retired, and then we got to discover his other gift of teaching, and his humor, and his gentle nature, and the edgy side of a man who bloomed late in life.

Good literature validates the smallest corner of the reader's soul, and McCourt's writing found many of those corners and hung a little lamp there. He seemed brave and kind, and somehow comforting like a stormy summer afternoon. His writing on poverty/alcoholism when he was a child felt like a big quilt being pulled over the terrible resilience, fierceness, and open-ness of childhood. Readers felt safe in his hands, even when he was describing horrible things. At least that's the way I see it.

I have a book in which I write out in longhand favorite passages from books I read. I assure you there are several passages of Frank McCourt's.

I'm going back and re-reading some of his work today, I think. Rest his soul.

Family Trip to Nebraska (Please indulge me.)

2009-07-17T14:26:00.000-05:00

The corn was 10 feet tall, due to record rainfall this summer. I've never seen anything like it.

NE by car. I have a thing about taking pictures from car windows. It's even easier to do this when I'm not driving, which means I usually only get to do it on family vacations.

Me and brother Rob had lunch in Lincoln. I love my sibs. (Ryan wasn't in NE at the time.)

The kids and me, a rare photo of my usual gang.

Sister Liz, Mom Ginger, and moi.

Jo Lynne and Dad

My family...Katie, Me, Willie, Henry, Bill.

A departure from the art; I just have to introduce my family now and then.

As much as I use my camera, I don't get family photos very often (too bad). So this summer I made a point of it. So happy to share...

A New Fabric Store!

2009-07-17T11:53:00.000-05:00

Oh, happy day! My life changed today; FINALLY!... a place to pick up a spool of Mettler thread without driving 25 miles into Austin!

Boy, have we needed (well, okay, I needed) a fabric store out here in west Austin area... and now it's here -- The Cotton Cupboard just opened in Lakeway right near my gym. I'm delighted with the place already! Gorgeous fabrics (that you can't get at Joannes and Hancock), lots of natural light, and a huge work/classroom in the back.

I checked their website and they will be selling long arm machines and holding quilt classes for kids and adults. The owner Jessica gave me two free fat quarters with the purchase of seven today. I don't know if that's the regular deal or just a grand opening sale, but if you're anywhere nearby -- and passionate about yummy fabrics -- you gotta stop.

The pics don't do my new little stack of fat quarters justice, but Flickr toys helped me create my picture quilt. I'm going to make a new doll. Maybe I'll make one for the owner of my new favorite shop...just to show my gratitude! And I know I'm not the only one!

Woof.

2009-07-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

Red Rover in my weedy garden

The first day of Art Fiber Fest I taught some other artists how to make a quilted creature. Everyone brought in a picture of their favorite animal and I showed them how to soft sculpt muslin and poly-fil with string into a form. Then the long task of quilting began.

Four of the six women finished the patchwork (after hours), but they all seemed to have fun. In any case, their animals were amazing and like nothing I expected!

I made "Red Rover" with the intention of a German Shepherd. But instead it looks like a mutt of some sort. He's a good dog.

The topsy turvy doll is all mine.

2009-07-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

Katie's making her own doll!

My doll.

Sorry Katie, I know you wanted this one. But "Little Wink/OMG" ended up belonging only to me.

Daughter Katie was miffed when I told her she couldn't have this doll, which I love. So she made her own! I need to emial Roxanne Padgett the pictures of Katie making one of her own topsy turvy dolls from the instructor packet Roxanne gave us. Katie had fun making hers too (top pic.)

See, the old adage is true: "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime."

Same with topsy turvy dolls.

My own enchanted cottage...

2009-07-09T20:51:00.000-05:00

Pained dolls at Gallery 9...Not thrilled with these...I've moved on.

Mom and cool Corgi dog at Gallery 9, Lincoln, NE

(a painting I covet in the background.)

Ceramic dolls at Gallery 9. These rock. She also made a Leda and the Swan, which my Aunt Sharon and I both liked a lot. Think I'll make a Leda doll someday.

This is where I'd live if I felt pretty all the time:

my own enchanted cottage.

I made this cottage at Art Fiber Fest. The next few posts are going to be about my trip to Portland, and what I made there. Also about our family vacation to NE last week.

Here's a story about "art camp." I met a wonderful girl at ArtFiberFest, Leslie, whom I really enjoyed. I related to her immediately because she said two things that often occur to me when I'm making art:

The first was something about the act of creating being a God-given act, as in "the creator creates...et voila! so do we!"

I used to feel humbled when I made something because I thought making (can I even claim it?) "art" was just an over-the-top, too-big-for-my-britches kind of pasttime. At the end of the day, I possessed a fully satisfied, but humbled disposition, as well as a small nagging voice in my head saying, "Who do you think you are, making that thing?" (Probably a common sentiment among young mothers who have plenty of other chores they could be doing.) And oddly, in spite of everything, I truly wasn't sure who I was. Call it hormones.

Now, thankfully, I'm beginning to know who is this person making (sure, say it!) art, and also -- this is big -- I know God approves, or at least I don't seem to need His/Her approval...for in making art/music/dance/whatever, we honor the Creator. BIG TIME. At least I think so. Making stuff is NO collossal waste of time!

The second thing Leslie said was something along these lines: "Whenever I try to make something "pretty" it just never turns out pretty. I'm not there yet."

Oy, do I know that; I know I do not have a pretty girl inside me! I went to Gallery9 in Lincoln, NE last week with my mom and my Aunt who invited me. I got to see a couple of dolls I sent as a guest exhibitor, as well as some really wonderful art like the ceramic dolls above. (And darn it; I didn't write down the artist's name!) I really did cringe a little bit, because having just returned from art camp in Portland, those dolls I made last year (to my eyes) seemed so pained and contrived. Ironically, just days before, I had felt so free. What I saw in those dolls I sent: Pretty -- with cramps. Ok, so what do I expect with a doll that has torn out her heart and extends it in front of her? And another dressed in a super-hero costume? I do realize there is something a little tart in all that. But still, I did try for "pretty" in a way...and failed.

But the cottage; ah, now there's something pretty! And yet, the broken woman's torso is stitched on as a chimney...after all, every woman has to let off a little steam now and then!

Getting ready

2009-06-22T20:50:00.000-05:00

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!

Invisible Cities

2009-06-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

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.

It came!

2009-06-17T16:40:00.000-05:00

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.

A little diversion

2009-06-16T23:34:00.000-05:00

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!

2009-06-16T11:46:00.000-05:00

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!

The Enchanted Felt Cottage

2009-06-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

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.

I don't even know these people.

2009-06-14T16:39:00.000-05:00

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?

Wicked

2009-06-11T19:29:00.000-05:00

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."

String Balls

2009-06-07T08:14:00.000-05:00

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!

Memorial Day 09

2009-05-25T22:00:00.000-05:00

Grateful.

This tree must go

2009-05-25T21:14:00.000-05:00

Ten years ago it was alive; this mighty elder in the front yard. Since then, it's drawn back and now its tips still sprout an excruciating green, shriveled and unconvincing...but only at the top. It is dying.

We sawed some hefty strong limbs from its lower shady realm, when it was obvious they would never photosynthesize again, hoping to spur a new flourishing at the higher levels. But now, the tops are languishing. The architecture is still there; the bones. But the tree's life is drawn down, leaving peeling bark in its descent.

We will take it down in the fall, after the plants beneath it are dormant. We hope the falling limbs spare the beauties below, somehow. But we are willing to sacfrifice some smaller plants and shrubs to facilitate an efficient removal of this massive cedar. We can always replant.

The birds this evening seem to choke out a song of homage. The tree will be gone by this time next year. No bird that sings has warmed to the lofty pledge of protection for a new nest this spring. They, too, know its promise it gone.

The Year of the Snake

2009-05-23T15:03:00.000-05:00

Just because I have a little time today (it being Memorial Weekend and all) I'm posting TWO things today, with a renewed vow to do better. This blog takes absolutely no time to update; but my heart has to be in it, you know? Summer always brings creativity and the time to pursue it. An interesting correlation -- I also drink more wine and stay up later in the summer. Could that be related to creativity? Or just late-night tipsy hours in front of the computer?

In any case, for those of you who don't have the great privilege of living in the country, I'll let you in on a strange secret. When you look through a field guide, or a regional handbook on flora and fauna, you see the whole gamut of species that thrive in a certain area. And it's true. If you search, they do all exist, however not always in the same proportions (size and population) from year to year.

Each year, depending on the weather, and other natural conditions, certain species do better than others. For example, 9 years ago when we first moved in, we saw hundreds of the largest walking sticks you've ever seen. They were plentiful and gargantuan. "We must be in Texas now," was what we said. Having never seen a walking stick bigger than a matchstick before, we were thrilled and creeped out that these were the thickness and length of a magic marker!

The next year it was Praying Mantises, and not many walking sticks at all. Huge, bright green bugs (5 inches at least, all of them) congregated on the back porch and dropped from doorways (!) every time you went in or out. They set me on edge quite a bit more than those walking sticks because their hopping/flying capabilities lofted them face high, and there was no predictable pattern to their erratic leaps. And then there are those hateful waves of sound they make in chorus, rolling in crescendoes from the insides of trees in the darkness, while one or two (or seven) spring here and there on the path, looking you in the eye as they arc past where you intend to walk. Truly unnerving.

A few years later, the year of albino geckos. Seriously. Almost see-through, with pink eyes.

This year it's snakes. I wouldn't say they're EVERYWHERE, exactly, although the summer has only just begun. So far this spring we've seen 5 of them: slender green ones like this one above, which I adore; fat short gray bull snakes; and those gravel-colored gray/white/black ones. Over the nearly 10 years we've lived here, we've only seen two -- a rattlesnake (which promptly lost its head to a shovel blade) and another one like the one Willie's holding in the picture above.

I know women are supposed to naturally hate snakes (the Genesis story holds water, in my experience; I've known women, and some men, who practically fall apart when they encounter a snake). But they don't bother me so much. I've never seen one look like it wanted anything from me but to leave it alone, except for one time when I must have nicked a large garter snake with a lawn mower. Judging by the way it reared up and hissed, that one was angry, and I quit mowing for the day. Usually I regard snakes in the yard and garden with no more intense feeling than surprise and curiosity. Don't let me find one in the house, though!

Here's the first snake of spring, the color of green filtered sunshine. Love love love.

A Happy Memorial Day to all. Bless the fallen heroes (and their families). May we never forget them or their sacrifices, and the honor they preserved for this great country.

Life is Sweet...

2009-05-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

...even when there are axes to grind.

I can hardly believe no one would want this lovely quilt hanging on his wall. It's called "Easy Money: Love, the Federal Reserve" one of 5 quilts I had in a show at Copper Shade Tree Gallery in February of this year. And here's what the gallery owner wrote in his note when he returned them: "Thank you for participating in the show. We are sending all five quilts back to you."

Ah, the life of an artist. Actually I'm grinning as I write this. The truth is I don't mind that none of my quilts sold (I admit they're a little edgy); I'm just glad to have an outlet to play. I know there are some of you out there who can appreciate that pretty soon our money will be worth more sewn into blankets.

Since receiving my quilts back from the show, and with the upcoming ArtFiberFest in Portland, I'm actually beginning to feel my creative juices swirling around again. Whew. For a few months there, I thought they were gone forever.

Making a Patchwork Pig

2009-01-11T17:00:00.000-06:00

Does a day go by when I don't have to learn some sort of lesson? NO -- God keeps me humble. I needed to finish up another patchwork animal for the workshop I'm doing at ArtFiberFest in Portland this summer. Teesha Moore, the organizer, wanted 4 good pictures of the project so I hurried and made this one last week.

I just put the ears on today. I didn't copy a pig from a picture as I made it and so I forgot the ears completely. I kept thinking it looked like a pacybara or a guinea pig, and couldn't figure out why. Then it dawned on me. It's amazing I would forget the ears...but I did. (Funny, I don't like making ears for my dolls either.)

This is a problem which is probably a deeper reflection on my ability to listen. It seems to be a theme this week, in fact, but I won't go into it now. Let's just say I could stand to open my mind, ears, and heart more and things would go better. I photographed and printed many shots of the ear-less pig before I realized the problem. Now, photographing artwork is not really one of my favorite things to do because I have to set up a background, get the light just right, use a tri-pod, etc. (it's a pain in the ass when you don't have a studio set up for it). So realizing that I would have to do that all over again after I corrected my deaf pig didn't thrill me. Anyway, it's done. And, as usual, I learned a lesson.

As I quilted Mr. (ear less) Pig last week, my mind kept turning to a show I'm doing next month at Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top, TX (more about that another time). I'm excited to be in the show because it's an art quilt show, and I haven't delved into art quilts much until the last year or so. But I submitted a couple of quilts and got in (Yea!). Now I'm pressed to get two more quilts done in the next couple of weeks. I was thinking, as I hand stitched the patches onto the pig, "wouldn't it be nice if this were a quilt, then I could kill two birds with one shot." And it occurred to me: the theme of the quilt show is "It's not a quilt...Or is it?" So I think I'll take Mr. Pig down with my other quilts and see if it will go into the show! Gerald said to go ahead and be creative -- maybe this 3D quilted animal constitutes a "quilt of sorts. We'll see what the gallery-owner thinks of that.

Putting the stockings away

2008-12-29T11:14:00.000-06:00

The day after Christmas this year I had some time to play a little, so I finally embellished my boring salmon colored Christmas stocking with odds and ends I had lying around my studio. Now it's one I'm proud to show Santa.

The post Christmas days have been relaxing and fun. Our family plays well together, so we've been trying out our new games (Rockband and electronic darts in the garage) and getting in some reading and movies, too.

We enjoyed having grandparents visit us and opening our house to friends and neighbors. I really can't imagine being anywhere else than home for the holidays.

Hope yours were happy, too.

Gingerbread Cookies

2008-12-21T16:00:00.001-06:00

There were 92 Gingerbread People at the end of the day. These were the ones that made it through tasting, icing, and coffee breaks. Plenty to box up and bring around to the neighbors.

The kids helped a little bit. They were especially interested in the icing, but didn't like the drippy texture, so they quit pretty quickly. I agree, the icing is not much fun to work with, but it's the only stuff that hardens so you can freeze or stack the cookies.

Besides these, I've made:

a few batches of peanut brittle
chocolate biscotti
fantasy fudge
snickerdoodles
a couple of pans of cornflake candy
almond cutout cookies

The goose isn't the only one getting fat! I just realized that I seem to always be wearing pajamas when I bake, come to think of it. Baking days are the days when you don't need to get dressed or made up. (And you can taste and nibble as much as you want in PJs and it doesn't count!)

Royal Lazy Cats

2008-11-30T16:42:00.000-06:00

These are our cats, Princess and Pinto (I think you can tell which is which). Since adopting these two poor homeless animals and getting them all fixed up for cushy indoor living, we've noticed that they have assumed a very unproductive lifestyle. It's disgraceful how lazy and fat Pinto is getting -- not to mention mean. You'd never know it from this picture, but he torments little Princess something awful. We all hope she gets him back someday, but she doesn't seem to mind the abuse and keeps coming back for more. See what a life of leisure does to cats' characters?

In any case, my friend Emily, who has helped many other families and cats find each other, is having a little party this week. We're all bringing pictures of our cats, and I'm certain mine will win for most drastic change of lifestyle.

Last week's AFA Meeting

2008-11-23T21:25:00.000-06:00

Top pic: Guest speaker Cheryl Elms's braided and woven garments enthralled us in their intricacy and general fabulousness!

Bottom pic: Susan Storey is a new and talented member. She used digital images in her art quilts.

Burial of Grandma McGahan

2008-11-23T20:52:00.000-06:00

Can you imagine the stout heart of the pioneers who made homes in a place as desolate as this? The picture above is the cemetery outside of Elsie, NE in the Nebraska panhandle. And this is 160 years after this place was settled! What a different world it was when bravery and toil were the qualities which rewarded men and women with a small amount of success.

Grandma McGahan, Bill's father's mother, was laid to rest here last Saturday Nov. 22. In some respects, no one knows of her successes, for they were probably the inner personal achievements of a strong farm wife and mother of 5, who lived a life of sacrifiece and hard work, taking joy in the simplest of things. Her second boy was born severely autistic, though that word was unknown back then. Refusing to put him in an institution, as recommended by the doctors, she and the family cared for Uncle John, who remained a grown-up toddler his whole life. I guess I mention that first because that was what struck me the most about her simply faithful life...just her unwavering care for her son in spite of his great disability. She seemed always to be the most patient person.

But she was also one of those people who asked a lot of questions, always listening carefully for your answer and coming forth with a most sensible response, always. She was an avid gardner, who could keep alive even plants which were even unsuited for her garden zone, if she had a mind to help them survive and appreciated their beauty enough. She once brought a tender agapanthas plant from California where she visited us once, and transplanted it next to her house, in a garden blooming with rosebushes and irises, and it was thriving ever after. Who knows how she did that?

Bill also tells how she killed a badger with a fencepost. And he saw her kill a rattle snake with a shovel one summer when he and his siblings were staying out there at the farm. One tough cookie, Grandma Mildred.

A good woman through and through, she ended up with 20 great grandchildren (I think that's right), 10 grandchildren and always had a story to tell them about life on the farm in western NE. She's lived through epic blizzards in a house with no heat or indoor plumbing, in fact she raised her kids there. She taught grade school in town (North Platte) so that her kids could attend Catholic School there. Education was always important to her and her husband Bill, who passed before her in 1997. He was a good man, too. salt of the earth, with a story for everyone, and a sureshot with a shotgun. He was called Pop, after his favorite drink, farmed the homestead as his father before him out in Elsie, where the dirt isn't much better than sand (this was dustbowl territory in the 30s). What a matriarch! Mildred McGahan was buried in the cemetary pictured above, next to her husband William, and son John.

May she enjoy the face of God!

Israel

2008-11-09T19:15:00.000-06:00

Folks, I have no idea how I found this. I know this hasn't much to do with art and the usual things I blog about, but hey, it's my blog and I just feel like posting this passage I found tonight. I was looking up words for a small fire engine business my dad is thinking of starting, and I came across this post. In fact the year it is written, 1991, shows that it has been transcribed to the internet, since the first blogs didn't even show up until 1994 or so. But I have been thinking a lot from a Christian American point of view about God's chosen people and somehow found this diary passage on the web ( you know how it goes). It is amazing to read this passage written by an Israeli American in Jerusalem almost 20 years ago, when we were engaged in the war with Iraq (the first time) and I am reminded of the fascinating and disturbing parallels that nature thrusts into our lives through political force: See what you think of this, in light of the short history written since 1991:

"...by writing the previous paragraph of my daughter-
in-law's anger at me; she had looked at some of my reports and, when
she came with her family to dinner on Friday night, she told me that
I was picturing our situation as if we were misfortunates and objects
of pity. She resented that, was convinced it was not true; but she
had been born here in Israel, had only spent a few years in the
States. This was normal for her; not the actual SCUD attacks and
the procedures we follow with each attack - they were new. But
the idea of being under attack, of having to defend herself - that
was part of the turf for her.

Of course she is right. It is just that my background is so
very different; I have spent more than half my life abroad, in the
bosom of decency and democracy. [Not that I do not feel that I now
live in a decent society where democracy prevails; indeed they do,
but their geographic limits are so very narrow. Size really makes
a difference, not only from the point of view of security, but also
psychologically.]

I even left the States before the cities became dangerous at
night. [Other than SCUDDs, which I hope are temporary, the cities
are still quite safe at night here.] I don't feel that I am one of
the downtrodden of the world and I do not want to give that impres-
sion. It is just that as an American [originally, and it seems ir-
revocably] I am always surprised by evil. My initial response is
to deny it; to say it is just not there. I need time to regain my
equilibrium in the face of Evil. I lived through 2 1/2 wars as an
American and this is my fifth here in Israel. I have had enough
experience of the world to ought to have learned; but as an American,
I fear, there are some things I can never really learn.

For Americans the distinction between degrees of bad is a very
difficult one to make. One bad is perceived as just as bad as any
another bad. That appears to be a consequence of the ultimate
optimism of the American. The American can and does still believe
in a perfect or perfectable world. [To that extent, I am no longer
an American.] It was to the Americans that Santayana spoke when he
said that one who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat
the same mistakes.

When I speak to Americans about Evil they do not understand;
they think that bad is the same as Evil. Until they learn - Will
they ever? Can they ever? - they will be trapped by this confusion.
Bush, some of them tell me [I really do not know], is bad. I say to
them, "Maybe or even Yes. But Saddam Hussein is Evil." And they do
not understand me.

There is a world out here that has different guiding principles.
You have to listen; some people are not sportsman and do not play by
the rules.

__Bob Werman
rwerman@hujivms
Jerusalem

Prayers for my country

2008-11-04T14:09:00.000-06:00

Freedom, the most precious gift I ever received from my country; and I never had to do anything special to acquire it! I pray that my children will not have tasted freedom just to lose it. I would almost rather they had never known it than to have to answer to them someday why we let it slip away from us.

Regardless of how this election day ends, I can't help feeling deeply sad that the next generation will have to fight (like I never had to) for their liberty.

God has His arms around us, though. I am certain that He only wants us to come to know Him and His creation. From the beginning, God gave us freedom...and we don't need anyone else to either prove or disprove this fact. In the end, politics are not important, except in the way they reveal our character and our choices. No matter who we vote for, we are all on the hook for the outcome.

God Bless the USA.

How I wish this guy was on the ballot!

2008-10-25T13:18:00.000-05:00

Minus the antlers. I saw this creation at Maker Faire last weekend. Hope from Austin's Hot Pink Pistol made this dress, one of several "dead presidents" dresses, she said. When I asked, she said her favorite president was Abe Lincoln, in case you were wondering.

Now, my kids run from the room when I get started telling them (again) what a great man George Washington was, so I'd better not start preaching here, but these days we would be wise to learn something from his life -- the difficult days he had, and his strong leadership. Read the book by David McCoullough, 1776. It is the book that got me interested in US history for the first time. Better late than never!

Austin Fiber Artists' Felting Table at MakerFaire '08

2008-10-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

A very successful weekend at Maker Faire in Austin last weekend! Our table had long lines all day -- so many people, young and old, were interested in the felting process. It was a great experience and we all had a lot of fun. These events remind me why I love Austin!

The Austin Fiber Artists, along with the Deborah Sharp from Texas Fiber Mill, sponsored a table to show folks how to felt fibers. There were bags and bags of beautiful neutral fibers from sheep, goats, and even dogs, for people to choose from for a felt base. Mary (above) teaches this young woman how to lay out the fibers into a pile, with the fibers in a criss-cross pattern so that they would create a nice dense piece of felt. Then the participant chose some pretty colored bieces and some "bling" (gold threads, pretty yards, nibby bits of loose fibers in all sorts of colors) to top off the creation and make a pretty design.

Sliding the Fibers into the Bag

2008-10-25T12:47:00.000-05:00

Mary helps the felter put her finished layered fibers into a bag, carefully laying it out with the pretty stuff on top. The bag will allow for a flattened felted piece. The next step is to wet the fibers with the pre-mixed mixture of shredded dove soap and water -- a gooey, but clean, binder. So what happens next? The water and soap release all the tiney barbs in the natural fibers and cause them to migrate around and re connect with other fibers in a new matted form -- that's felting, in a nutshell (or a baggie), the way I understand it.

Ready to Agitate

2008-10-25T12:39:00.000-05:00

All done -- well, almost. The only thing left to do is agitate the fibers inside the bag. Mary McCauly, our felting guru, came up with this ingenious make-and-take idea. After a few minutes of play at our booth table, the newbie felter can walk away with her bag of fibers, all soaked down and soapy and ready to agitate. So we recommended everyone who left our table to walk around Maker Faire and squeeze, knead, roll, twist, slap, or pound her baggie of squishiness until her new piece of felt came together. All that was left to do when she got home was to rinse it and let it air dry. Viola -- Felt!

At the end of the weekend, the AFA table won the Editor's Choice Award! Mary noted, "The project created a lot of excitement: People saw others walking around massaging their bags and wanted one. It became infectious that way. Out of every bag came something wondrous."

Super Power Within

2008-09-29T11:34:00.000-05:00

It's been crazy lately! Too busy with work and school, etc. But I managed to finish my Gypsy Challenge Doll last night. It's due in Houston by Oct. 7th. I'll mail it today and hope I don't have to pay a fortune to get it there in time.

We will all need our power within to get us through the next couple of years (or more), I fear. A serious depression? A HUGE government protecting us from ourselves? Bring it on.

A good week

2008-08-15T14:30:00.000-05:00

And did I mention that it's the last full week of summer vacation, too? School starts the middle of next week. I'm thinking ahead to the first full week of school (about 10 days from now) and the possibilities are endless. Oh, what I can accomplish in 6 hours! But I digress.

This was a banner week for little Henry, my youngest. In love with a tiny remnant of a scrap of a blanket which is in actuality a twist of threads and knots, he will soon be without the one great love of his short life -- his "blankie". There's something bittersweet about finding clumps and tatters of his once soft and beautiful blanket around the house these days, let me tell you. Henry's my baby, so this loss is just as much a rite of passage for me as for him. Just when this scrappy old thing is starting to really break down, Grandma Ginger (my mother) up and finishes the quilt she started for him when he was born. G.G lives 800 miles away so she sent it through the mail. Last spring when she talked to him on the phone she told Henry she was piecing it together. In June she told him that she had given it to a friend to embroider his name on it, then late last week she told us that it would be coming in the mail, insured, so we had to be home to sign for it, etc. And truly, you never saw a kid so happy with a new quilted blanket than Henry.

I'd have to read up on it, but our Montessori teacher always told us there were three stages to childhood, each 6 years long. So Henry is just finishing up the first third of his childhood. I think it's fitting that he should graduate to a new blanket. Indeed, that's what I'm going to tell my mother, who has felt that nagging personal guilt we all feel when we do so much for the first kid, then slack off for the ones who come later on. This was Mom's 6th "baby" quilt, and it remained merely a good intention until recently when she had some big epiphany about her mortality. I guess she thought she should wrap up some loose ends just in case. By the way, if you could see my beautiful, youthful mother you'd think it was ridiculous perhaps that she sensed decrepitude rapidly approaching but alas, none of us knows the day or the hour, isn't that what they say? In any case, that she would consider her quilt-less grandchild first as she saw her number coming up, truly says something about the kind of woman she is. So in a way, her timing was perfect. It's a milestone for a few of us, here: Henry receives a blanket just as he embarks on a new phase in life (did I mention he starts Kindergarten next week?); Grandma finally can close the door on a project which has been looming large for years; and I can retire what's left of that stringy wad of smelly fibers my son loves so much.

Maybe Henry will willingly help me put it away in his baby box. Now that he's a big guy, you know.

Pretty in Pink

2008-08-13T16:29:00.000-05:00

Looks like a cross between Carmen Miranda and Marie Antoinette, she's pretty at least. And she looks sweet on a vanity with perfume bottles and other uber feminine things. OK, there's a little old fashioned lady in me somewhere, I'll admit.

New Doll Close Up

2008-08-13T11:53:00.000-05:00

I paid some attention to getting the eyes even after those last couple of doll heads.

I like the light as it falls gently on my messy table here. I still appreciate a well lit workroom. Always will, after working in the dark. The computer's set up now in the room where I used to sew; a windowless room targeted for a darkroom by the previous owners. The "office"/computer room is just one project awaiting our attention (after new floors, after new plumbing fixtures upstairs, after a new roof, etc). And even working in this awful little hovel on my computer reminds me too much of being in a cubicle (I lasted 16 months in that work environment). But at least I don't have to make art here anymore. Luuuuuuuv that.

Paper Detour

2008-08-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

I don't scrapbook any more, but I certainly can't help picking up pretty papers when I see them. I have a lot of papers, preprinted, painted, saved from old books, mail, etc. Scrapbooking is what first cracked open my creative side after I had Katie, so I'm fond of the hobby, even if I don't have the time to do it anymore. Actually I could have the time; it's just that once the door was cracked, I pretty much kicked it open and have never looked back. I'd rather try new things than go back and do what I've already done before. So long to scrapbooks.

BUT.

I've been derailed these last few days by a little project in Teesha Moore's Art and Life Zine. I think I mentioned this before, but I've been making these little paper accordion books for journaling in, just to get some different creative juices flowing. Well, several books later I had to go to the store for some different papers and double stick tape. (I was on a roll and couldn't stop myself...I get that way.) I came upon one of those little stacks of pretty card stock with designs on both sides in a small size (for easy matting of a 4x6 photo). It was on sale, so I took it home to play with. Since I can't bear to have to choose one side of the paper I decided to use come fabrics to bind it. Who would have guessed? From there, I couldn't resist adding ribbon, other papers, and more fabrics. I love my beautiful yummy mess of a book. Can't wait to draw/write/paint in it, but I wanted to show it off first. Since these are so much fun to make I may put a few on Etsy soon. There's no way I can use them all.

I'm also putting up some shots of one of the paper books. My studio is an absolute disaster zone, and spreading into the kitchen. Must retreat and re evaluate. Incidentally, the bookmaking did the trick. Heck, yeah, the juices are flowing now! Maybe I can move into a pretty doll in these colors.

Miss Know It All Is Speechless For Once

2008-08-07T10:37:00.000-05:00

The new creepy doll here. Someday I'm going to try to make a pretty doll. I promise.

Photographing art is a pain in the butt, quite frankly, but there's nothing to be done about it. Look how bad this doll looks standing in front of stone the same color as her pasty white face. Ick. I'm going to wait till I have a few more dolls made before I drag out the gray background and tape it up on the porch in early morning light. It's a bit of work and doesn't seem practical for just a couple of shots.

Agate Collage

2008-08-06T17:50:00.002-05:00

Ever play with Flickr Toys? Sure you can do this with photoshop too but bighugelabs is quick and easy if you've already uploaded to Flickr. Love you, "fd", whoever you are. (Am I the only one who thinks there's some geek out there with the initials fd? Maybe it stands for some acronym I'm supposed to know. If you know, let me know.)

These shots come from the picture of one agate slice, about 7 by 9 inches. I cropped the one shot 9 times in 300x300 pixel increments at various points around the picture. I rotated one of those crops 90 degrees, too. (A dollar if you can tell me which one.) Really, who needs drugs?

What comes to mind when I see a rock like this, broken open to reveal its innards? I think, where did mother nature learn her color theory? I think, how long has this been here, hidden away like this? I think, how long does this take to make? I think, of course, the inside is the best part. And, maybe I should start going around with a hammer.

I bought the kids each their choice of rocks in the gift shop at the TX Natural History Museum today. Here's what they chose:

Katie -- an agate "healing" necklace
Willie -- a minuscule red agate hippopotamus
Henry -- three uncut rock specimens

If your town has a natural hsitory museum I highly recommend a field trip (with or without kids). I brought my sketch book but didn't really have time and the quiet to sketch as I like, but maybe I'll go back one day. I fondly remember sketching at the University of Nebraska's Morrill Hall when I was a student there. That was when they still had laser light shows at night on the weekends ((dark side of the moon, etc.), but I digress. I'm delighted with our museum experience today. We came home and had blueberry snow cones and everyone's tongue turned blue, like witches. A memorable day.

2008-08-06T17:50:00.001-05:00

In my studio

2008-08-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty much consumed by my headless doll. Scratch that. She has a head, just not attached. Although she's very attached to her head, in a way. You'll see. Soon.

A friend from Jazzercise said this today: "You know all those fancy women who accomplish so much? They say no [to lots of volunteer projects]. Family is more important." I believe in angels (and people who say angels' words) , did I mention that?

Today I'm taking the kids to the natural history museum on the UT campus. They love that place --especially the dark room with all the weird things in jars. Myself, I like the mineral and crystal displays. There must be a rock hound in me somewhere.

I'm posting some pictures of two pretty pink gals from my studio. They're sweet.

Headless Doll in progress

2008-08-05T07:18:00.000-05:00

I'm trying something different. This doll took me along for a fun ride. I didn't really plan her, just started needle sculpting the head in a screwey way to see what happened. She's definitely not going to be any kind of pretty, but she's a great experiment because I followed the lead of the head more than ever. I need to costume her as I'm putting her limbs together, which means I had to dye her before she was put together. This doll is teaching me to loosen up a bit. Can't wait to see her finished. It should be soon, since I'm obsessed now. Love it when that happens.

I have my treasure of the Gypsy fabrics and trims hanging in my studio waiting for inspiration. They havn't spoken to me yet. I'm not so keen on the girl-at-the-window idea anymore. I'll just have to wait and see. I hate to just dive in without a plan for that project. Sometimes that's great, but I only have so much fabric to use for the challenge. When it's gone it's gone. I did find a gorgeous broken bracelet whose beads complement the orange and purples beautifully. That's a plus.

I'm off to Jazzercise this morning and have a few things to get to today, including a press release for school. It's already composed in my head, which helps a lot. The kids need school shoes, too. That's an easy one, just a hassle, and not the kind of errand they love to do.

"Unframed" Exhibit

2008-08-04T09:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was 106 degrees and quite a bit humid. TX is not for wimps. Ruthie and I shook it off and went down to New Braunfels for an exhibit of fiber art by some San Antonio fiber artists/friends.

Let me say something about going to an opening where you know some of the artists. It's a little weird because walking into the gallery is like entering a fabulous candy store/shoe boutique/cathedral/takeyourpick,(whatever really moves you). Here was a collection of beautiful handmade works of art/craft beckoning closer inspection. Dolls hung from walls and stood on pedestals, quilted 3D house-shaped boxes flaunted bright hot colors, silks, dyed and painted, floated down from the ceiling, and garments clothed manikins here and there. My heart literally beat faster and my eyes couldn't stop moving around the room. At the same time here are folks I haven't seen in awhile, so there are hugs and handshakes first. I have to admit, I forget myself and want to dive into the art, but the people and the art go hand in hand. It's so much fun. Next to making stuff myself and with others, I love going to galleries!

I'm posting two pictures, a couple of my favorite things yesterday. Maybe it was the heat, but everything seemed to vibrate with color for me yesterday. The golden doll was made by Linda Rael, just about the sweetest person I've ever met. We met a few years ago at ArtFiberFest in Washington and hit it right off. I feel so lucky that our circles have crossed again. I'm definitely going to get down to SA and play at her studio sometime soon. Her dolls have a tribal feel to them, and she plays with color so happily. I feel I could really learn something about expressing joy in dolls through her. The other picture is a quilt by Susie Monday, whose work has a true TexMex feel to it. There are religious themes and cactus blooms, Mexican and central American vintage textiles, and riotous color throughout her work. It moves me and lifts my spirits when I see it. She is also doing some wonderful 3-D stand alone quilted pieces which satisfy my bent for sculpture and fiber together. I'm a new fan of her work and will follow her with interest. She does workshops at her studio just about monthly, so I anticipate a day of inspiration one of these months in the future.

Ruthie's Sunset

2008-08-01T07:59:00.000-05:00

As I was checking the Austin Fiber Artists Yahoo site this morning I came across a thumbnail pic which I thought was a sunset at first. But no, it's my friend Ruthie Powers' dyed fabric. The flash brightened up a little corner of it and shone like the sun. I just love that. You can see more of her work and musings at her blog. It's HOT HOT HOT here in Austin now, so this fits!

By the way, I'm done feeling sorry for myself now. Just give it a day and, well, it's a new day. Morning's are beautiful and full of possibility. Also, I got to talk with an old college friend and my sister last night on the phone. Amazing what a little conversation with some of my girls will do to flip my mood.

I decided to make the most of the rest of summer. In the case of the volunteer work beckoning, I'm going to take the bull by the horns with this current press realease and just finish it quickly. The trick this year will be incorporating the writing into my weeks, if I'm going to be involved, as well as finding the other writer (who I know is out there) in the school community to pick up slack. My husband gave me the "just say no" talk last night and it sort of sunk in, as I thought of others around me who do it so well. I definitely need to establish some boundaries. And there are awful tasks like organizing my desk area which will also increase my efficiency. So here I go.

Last night my sister Liz recommended a book to me for the kids called "100 things to do before you're 12" and "100 places to see before you're 12". She promised that it would inspire kids and adults to appreciate sights and activities close to home, something which I almost feel we do too much of. I've been admittedly lazy about planning a vacation. We don't get out as much as I wish we did. And yet, the kids have taken the lead of Bill and me and made the most of their hobbies around the house. Not many of Katie's friends, for example, get to paint canvases with acrylics in the great room, or have a huge fabric stash to resort to when she needs to make doll dresses. And my boys dream of going to Legoland in CA because they envision a huge park where you never run out of Lego pieces as you're making something (I almost hate to take them there and disappoint them with theme park rides and nasty food)! I know their creativity will serve them well. I'd hate for them to be the kind of person who has to be entertained all the time. Still, I'm going to make an effort to get them out once or twice before the end of the summer. I'll have plenty of time to work and play with my own projects around here when school starts back up.

I'm in a new space, thank goodness. All it takes is a little time with a girlfriends/sister on the phone and I have some perspective.

Leo (Zodiac stick doll series)

2008-07-30T18:32:00.000-05:00

This one reminds me of several Leos I have known. Funny I never notice how crooked the facial features are until I photograph them. It's okay, I still wouldn't change them once they're made. Can't wait to dig in to the new technique for straight eyes, though. It will help a lot.

Is it possible to have too much inspiration, though? Today I pulled out an old watercolor I made to use as a guide for an art quilt I want to make for the Quilting Arts calendar challenge. Also, I feel after last weekend's play day that I want to teach. I never really knew this about myself, but I really loved teaching about dolls last week and something tells me I simply have to pursue that some more. That means finding venues and people to teach, of course, so I'm ready to do some legwork in that area. Finally, I just received Teesha Moore's Art and Life Zine (it's really wonderful --check it out) and got some really yummy ideas for embellishing my next doll. That's three major creative pursuits in one day. Yikes. The ideas are just percolating up from the bottom and I'm so excited that I'm distracted from my "regular" life. The Art and Life theme is definitely something I need to work on blending. Art and Life, making art and having a life, placing art into the life I've already made for myself, etc. There are many ways to think about this theme.

Excuse me while I indulge in something I'm fretting over right now. And this comes from always reading blogs which make me feel like I'm missing something when it comes to incorporating an "artful" life and my regular ol' life as mom/chauffer/school volunteer, etc. In my corner of the world, there seem to be some pretty hefty seams running through all of it, and it's uncomfortable when I can't even think about anything but finishing a doll I'm working on (or whatever it happens to be at the moment). This is an area I truly struggle to work through; how to fulfill all my other roles and still get my art made, or my blog written, or whatever. Not that there's a huge audience waiting with baited breath for the next installment. It's really just me with this HUGE desire to create all this stuff. It's truly difficult to reconcile some days.

On top of this pressing feeling of reality dragging me down, there comes an email from the school asking me to get started on another year of writing/marketing, etc. The volunteer work was bordering on oppressive toward the end of last school year and I'm just sick about starting in on another year of it. I feel like I have too much other important work to do. But alas, it's just another doll waiting to be made, or an idea for a workshop I want to teach, right? In my life here in mom-ville/good citizen-ville it's difficult to explain to the people who ask or need my time, the importance of backing down from all these responsibilities to make this art thing happen.

This is a crucial point in time for me. I'm feeling the need to get my priorities straight. Funny thing is I'm realizing I get no peace or happiness from praying about all this stuff. Nothing but silence and doubt. I'm in a funk.

Would love some kind of breakthrough.

Book Club Lady

2008-07-30T07:27:00.000-05:00

I thought this one would be a boy doll, but as soon as I started painting the face I realized I was mistaken. Must be the eyelashes!

In the post below, mine is the second from the right, in the front.

Stick Doll Play Day

2008-07-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

Some members of the Austin Fiber Artists got together yesterday to play with fabric. We try to do this every other month or so. Yesterday I got to plan our play day, so of course I chose to make a stick doll. Yesterday was interesting because I've always wondered if it would be fun to teach doll making. Turns out it was! And the results were fabulous, as you can see!

I posted more play day pictures on flicker under stick dolls. Check them out here, if you like.

I learned a lot, too:

About teaching:
1. People really appreciate a supply list so that they can bring their own stuff.
2. Needle sculpting is not as "intuitive" as I thought. I need to come up with an established formula for sculpting and/or provide a stuffed ball to practice on.
3. Everyone comes to a project with different expectations and ideas. (You'd think that would have been obvious to me!)
4. Some people want to buy supplies they use and are introduced to in a class, especially supplies they haven't used in the past, or those commonly used in their particular area of expertise. For example some fabric dyers wanted hemostats, and one doll maker wanted practically every tool I had brought.
5. If we'd have had 8 hours we could have done all the embellishing we needed to finish our dolls.

About doll making:
1. Eyes:
a. Close-set eyes make the nose bunchy when you needle sculpt it. Allow for extra space between the eyes.
b. To lessen the bulgy effect of the eyes, do not run the same thread through the eye and the eye socket. This will also help with directing the eye placement so the doll is not cross-eyed or wall-eyed.
c. Painted eyelashes look great with my eye beads (thanks, Diane!)
2. I'm inspired to try some different noses that the ones I usually make. A lot of people didn't like their noses, but I loved all the new shapes I saw!
3. Mary brought a pre-dyed green piece of Rayon and Jean brought a pre-dyed orange piece of bamboo to use. Their dolls turned out wonderful...I must try different materials and colors!

Anyway, the above stuff is meaningless to most people, so sorry, but I'm just really excited to try some new things. I thought I was tired when I left the play day, but I ended up going home and playing some more with my doll. I repositioned the eyelids and finished embellishing her. I thought it was going to be a guy doll, but no! As soon as I started painting the face I saw this very cute bookish lady peering out. I'll post her picture later on.

The ladies who came out to play were wonderful, all. Helpful with ideas, friendly, focused, and eager to make something new. They were all cool with the doll they made. I think they are all fabulous -- and their dolls, too.

It's all good. We increased the doll population on the planet in six short hours.

Dolly's out there somewhere...

2008-07-23T16:54:00.000-05:00

...pushing some awesome looking clouds into the Austin area. This has been the summer for breathtaking skies in the Hill Country. The last time I remember clouds like this was 7 years ago, the summer after Willie was born. It was hot of course and we had lots of visitors that summer in to see the new baby. My Aunt Sharon in particular (visiting from Nebraska) oohed and aahed over the Texas skies, and at the time I didn't think much of it, being only a couple of years new to the area and still in love with the newness of its beauty, the hills and flowers and creeks and lakes, not to mention my three babies who took much of my visual attention those years. But ever since, I keep my eyes on the skies to see if I can see what she saw on her visit.

This summer I see it. Not much rain here, but the most amazing unreal clouds passing through the sunshine. They don't even provide any shade as they pass by. The sun beats down through them. And they scoot and curl and move, too, offering a different view each time I peer out the back door. I have a file just for cloud photos now.

These are Hurricane Dolly clouds today. I hope we get some rain from the storm, since our little Bee Creek has been dry since spring and the lake is too low for much fun from the shore (fishing, swimming). But we can be thankful the damage at the coast is relatively minimal.

Summer Breakfast

2008-07-22T12:11:00.000-05:00

I wish I could say I had this (and only this) lovely bowl of fruit for breakfast. I'm afraid there were a few bites of chocolate chip pancakes in there, too. The mornings have been gorgeous, in spite of afternoons of 100+ degrees. Thank goodness for the heat, though. What would Texas be without hot summers?

These days a typical day is either sitting by the pool or just staying in somewhere with the air conditioning blasting -- home, movie theaters, Chuck-E-Cheese's (kids' pick). I try to stagger our indoor activities with outdoor activities. The golf and tennis, if sports are on the radar, need to take place in the mornings. Sometimes the kids ride their scooters around the driveway. In the evenings we've been playing a lot of ping pong in the garage. (I know I could be good at ping pong if I didn't love white wine on summer evenings) Luckily we all enjoy arts and crafts, so we can always pull out paints and glue. We have a couple of friends over each week, sometimes ending in sleepovers, and late nights watching movies. Sometimes we don't even get a movie started until 9:30/10:00 at night -- definitely on a summer schedule! Of course then there are always video games and computer games. One of the better ones is "Crazy Machines", where you have to complete certain tasks using an assortment of objects the professor chooses for you, like rope, pulleys, weights, ramps, explosives. My boys get into some heated exchanges over how to go about accomplishing each job. Luckily I can usually manage to ignore all that, although sometimes it's necessary to just kick all the kids out and turn on the sprinklers and drag out buckets. I love summer.

I just got off the phone with a friend who told me we have only 33 days left until school starts. Now there's a sad thought.

Fallen Astronaut

2008-07-15T22:22:00.000-05:00

Now this is an image that has captured my attention since the first time I saw it in a book at my friend's place. I'm not surprised that a doll is the art form designated to represent the fallen astronauts from the various space missions in our history. My friend sent me a link about this controversial little 3" figure, which was left on the moon without NASA's permission. The artist Paul Von Hoeydonck made several hundred replicas to sell, but after negative publicity he decided not to. The top image is an ad from July 1972 issue of Art in America, advertising the sale, which never took place. (Wonder where they all are.)

I'm excited to give a short talk about doll making to the Austin Fiber Artists tomorrow evening, and I want to include a short history of the human need to leave its mark in the representation of a doll, as on the moon. This doll is supposed to represent all the fallen astronauts in the history of space exploration. A faceless genderless doll such as this shows the range of fallen astronauts, but also the human populace which calls earth its home. Just like the clay fertility goddess figures found in excavated sites of the earliest human civilizations, this doll lying on the surface of the moon commemorates a particular group of people for whomever might find it there. Dolls exemplify our humanity. We utilize them to call forth "who we are".

Gypsy Doll Challenge

2008-06-24T19:38:00.000-05:00

These purple, orange and gold trimmings arrived last week in the mail. I requested these so that I could participate in the gypsy doll challenge at the Quilt Show in Houston this November. My inspiration is this portrait by Nicolai Yaroshenko; the colors seem just right. I'm hoping for some further inspiration now, since I don't know how to pose the doll or how to create the light, which is so much of what I love about this painting. The casual spirit will be my main challenge. Every time I try to make something with a relaxed air, it never turns out right. It'll be fun in any case.

Banksy -- love this.

2008-06-24T18:48:00.000-05:00

I wholeheartedly agree with Banksy who says, "Graffiti doesn't always spoil buildings. In fact it's the only way to improve a lot of them." Regarding the CANS Festival this year in London in an abandoned tunnel, he said "In the space of a few hours with a couple of hundred cans of paint I'm hoping we can transform a dark forgotten filth pit into an oasis of beautiful art."

This event on May 4th, 2008 was blogged and photographed by Pinewood Design, someone in the UK interested in art, politics, computer stuff. Anyway, half the time I don't know how I even find this stuff, but I'm glad I did.

I'm a fan of graffiti some of the time. I hate it when it's just a tacky little tag on someone's mortgaged property. I love it when it's artistically rendered on a building so dilapidated and unnoticed it has become part of the public domain from sheer neglect. There's some soul out there who's willing to invest a hundred dollars in paint and a few nights to make it his/hers and love it to life.

Let me tell you, you never see it here I live (chi chi west Austin) but I go gaga when I happen on a small beauty painted on some electrical box in town. The chanciness of the act, the cruel and beautiful impermanence of the act, the possibility of nothingness makes me giddy.

A Sewing Structure for Fashion Design Wannabes

2008-06-23T18:43:00.000-05:00

Today I played with an idea which started brewing as my daughter and her friends began getting excited for Season Five of Project Runway. I created a simple little softie puzzle so that she could play with some curvy shapes and piece them together. There is only one way these pieces go together, so the challenge is to make an enclosed structure -- a box of sorts, though not your typical box.

I'm so not a fashion designer (not even a good clothing sewer) but I'm presenting a challenge to the newbie fashion designer. I'm not a master at this but I do know that your mind does a little mechanical bending when you create and sew a sleeve to a shoulder, for example. The seam curves; a simple fact. You must sew with the curve, from outside or within the curve, your choice. How do you decide? How long is the curve? Is is the same on both edges? See what happens when you stitch from the outside of the box and the inside. See how curves match up to straight edges and opposite curves (convex to concave).

Since I have learned almost every thing I know by making mistakes, I though it would be fun to make a simple sewing structure challenge so that my daughter could explore these challenges on her own. All she'll need is a bit of embroidery thread or pearl cotton and an embroidery needle. The pieces are made from fabric formed around shapes of soft but firm craft foam. I added a bell to the finished structure just for fun -- the finished structure will jingle when you pick it up! --but I think this project will be delightful for her to make and embellish on her own.

I'm going to let her choose a color scheme for her room and decorate it as she likes. It will be fun to stitch it up and form it in her small hands as she goes. The foam will provide more structure than simple fabric so it will be easy to handle. Furthermore, she will have to use an actual needle and thread (the reality of making stuff from fabric!) and not just a pen to make sketches of cute clothes she dreams up.

I hope she likes this! If she does I'll put a few on etsy and see what other kids think of this sewing structure puzzle.

A Gesture Transformed

2008-06-21T15:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Red White and Blue!

The gesture doll from a few posts back is finally complete. The image which kept coming to mind was from an old painting of Liberty on a battlefield (I can't remember who painted it, but I will find out.) She was ultimately my inspiration. I painted the doll and costumed her in a red white and blue ensemble. The hair is blues and whites, the bustier is blue crochet adorned with a sheriff star and a sea star. The big blooming skirt is made from red fabrics and white silk printed with pages from the constitution. In her outstretched hand is a star spangled baby.

An early Fourth of July gift celebrating US, THE PEOPLE.

More Stick Dolls

2008-06-16T07:06:00.000-05:00

Stick Doll Project

2008-06-16T06:32:00.000-05:00

This is one of the stick dolls I've been making these last two weeks. The Austin Fiber Artists asked me to put together a one-day doll class for July. I'd been thinking on this for a while -- how to offer a class which would allow a beginner to discover the joy in creating a doll in one day.

If I teach my style a doll probably cannot be made in one day. It would be too time consuming and tedious. Plus, you never know what you're going to get. You might see the head and decide on a costume or surface design which you never considered before (which would require going back home and getting new materials). So a full doll in one day was out.

With these stick dolls I'm pretty sure I landed on a project which will take a full day and guarantee the participant a challenging, rewarding and fun experience. Hopefully she will want to continue the process and make more, maybe move on to bodies and hands. In any case, it's a workshop designed to teach the basic doll head, needle sculpting, eye placement and the attachment of the neck to the head which uses a stitch which is repeated often in the making of a full doll. The workshop will give exposure to doll tools, the threads and types of materials used, where to place the pattern on the grain of the fabric for different features, etc. As I was working through the workshop day I discovered just how much I'd learned about doll making, all the trial and error I'd gone through, and I realized that I had landed on a style which is my own and which I can actually share. It's been exciting.

The more sobering part of the process is that I realize I can't offer this workshop to someone who's never sewn before, since the sewing is tricky and requires curves and darts, something a beginner wouldn't enjoy. I also can't expect everyone to have the tools you need (hemostats, stuffing tools, doll needles). Finally, I can see so many gaps in this process, areas which I haven't seemed to master myself. I know how many times I really screw something up and I just have to make it work by adding some extra feature, or glue! I'm a bit worried about not truly being expert at this. I'm thinking of bringing in my box of mistakes so people know what they're in for. Hopefully, the fiber artists will understand, since it's really just a play date with friends at this point. I'm going to see how it goes and then decide if it's something I can teach others.

Quilted Portraits

2008-06-02T10:54:00.000-05:00

Pamela Allen is a Canadian art quilter/teacher whose workshop I was lucky to attend yesterday. For 6 hours we quickly worked on compostition, line, color while making 4 small art quilts. Her teaching method is friendly, quick and intuitive; I can tell she has had extensive art training because she really is not shy about editing and offering helpful criticism. Part of the workshop included time to hang all the work after each hour-long "assignment" and critique what we made. I really loved it.

This collage is composed of portrait quilts we made. Mine is the witch in the black hat.

It's so inspiring to work alongside other people on projects like this. If you can't get away for an art retreat I wholeheartedly recommend an afternoon with an artist who so graciously and enthusiastically takes her classes to you.

I thank my husband for taking over for me the second Sunday in a row so that I could play. He took the kids to a party at a huge rock-climbing/bowling/pool/arcade place and even stayed to play with the boys there. Wow.

A child's work

2008-05-31T17:50:00.000-05:00

Once again I am inspired by my kids. When you get right down to it a child's main job is to create. Of course the inspiration around here is all THEM. Here are a few scenes at my house today:

A pile of fat quarters which my ten year old gifts to her friend Lauren for her tenth birthday. Katie saw Lauren's room yesterday and decided she should have some new fabric to play with. I think she's right. This is a little girl who watches project runway and actually met Tim Gunn at a fashion show. (I saw his signature on her cast this spring with his phrase "make it work".) If Lauren can't find something to do with these pretties, I'm afraid it's "auf Wiedersehen," don't you think? Who wouldn't love a gift like that?

A little vignette left on the kitchen counter. Check out the doll. Katie cleverly added pipe cleaners to her Model Magic creation so that the doll's arms bend at the elbow. She had asked me earlier today if she could look through my scrap drawer. I will never say no to her when she asks to have some of my craft stuff. But don't tell her that.

A wee block building found on the dining table. Love it. Don't know who claims to be the architect.

The top picture is an invention for a LEGO contest asking for a "must have" gadget 50 years in the future. The boys each made one a few weeks ago. This one is Willie's -- a portable grill for cooking meat when you're on the move. There's a weapon on there somewhere, too, in case you need to blast something. (OK, not exactly the future I want to live in, but hey, the little guy's seven. God forbid we really will need something like this 50 years from now!)

Can you see why I'm letting these short people hang around for awhile? I don't know anyone more fun.

Incidentally, Willie received a nice LEGO kit for his birthday this month which was a house kit. (No I don't get a kick-back from LEGO or Amazon.) I bought it for him because I see an architect in his strong sense of order and heavy-handed persnicketiness. (No offense to the architects out there, but maybe you'll understand what I mean when I say that!) The windows and doors and roofing pieces were a happy departure from the space ship and car pieces he usually plays with. His house turned out lovely and I believe after the love affair with it wears out, he'll take it apart and get a lot of use out of those new pieces. Anyway, LEGOs rock, but wood is good, too.

While I'm going on and on about LEGOs I have to mention our school's seventh and eighth grade LEGO robotics teams headed by Mick Scallon at St. Gabriel's. A few years ago after leading a LEGO club after school he decided to make the club an authentic elective for middle school students. It's only been a few years since the decision to make LEGO robotics a bona fide class. A serious and studious approach has paid off -- this year the school team went to the World LEGO competition in MN and placed 8th overall! They competed against teams from virtually everywhere, including the Denmark, where LEGO originates. Kudos to LEGO for taking their awesome toys to the next level and helping kids learn that mechanical engineering can be FUN.

Does anyone know, will LEGO ever go public?

Crochet Coral Reef

2008-05-21T23:27:00.000-05:00

Jen Hirt, from the Museum of Ephemerata and my kids' art teacher (lucky us!) sent me this link, which I will pass on to you. Apparently, scientists discovered that the growth of coral can be reproduced through crochet stitches exactly mimicking the expanding and warping growth process. What fun. The Institute for Figuring website explains the process and shows you all kinds of crocheted coral and even invites you to make your own.

On a related note, I had an hour to kill in B&N today, where I found myself browsing the science and math aisle. There are many recently published books I didn't even know I wanted. Understanding prime numbers, mirror cells in the brain which are foundations of social interaction, or why humans are wired for music are all subjects within reach of the average jane. Well written contemporary science reads like a good story. Last year I discussed this popular genre with a brainy friend who runs a lab at Harvard. She said she couldn't enjoy these types of books because wasn't convinced the facts were "true". Probably unfortunately for me, I'm not one who needs proof on the molecular level that things are true, so I guess I can enjoy these types of books. I'm sure a couple of these will end up on my summer reading list.

The last days of school are upon us. Summer is here, but I'm feeling no inclination to relax -- scary. Just when I think I have plenty to do, I go and find more. Today my Jazzercise friends met for lunch at Johnny Fins, a floating restaurant on Lake Travis. I indulged (since there's no telling when I might be going out to lunch with the ladies any time soon) and met a new friend among them who makes gourd art, so we're planning a get together sometime this summer. A Fiber Arts meeting tonight inspired me (as usual) to do something different and creative with wool roving, but I'm thinking dryer lint might work almost as well.

Meanwhile, my son turned seven this week. He and his younger brother are busy with tee ball, and LEGO projects while thankfully my daughter's schedule is loosening up after a big dance recital last week. Too many hobbies around here lately. On top of it all, my Valentine doll is being exhibited at the TX Capitol this weekend and we're bringing an adopted cat into our home on Friday afternoon. What can I say; we stopped in for Guinnea Pig food and came out with adoption papers. He's a big mellow fellow named Pinto and I just know he's going to love it here!
More on the Fiber Arts exhibit tomorrow...I should probably sleep at some point tonight.

Spring in the City

2008-04-08T17:25:00.000-05:00

I took my daughter and mother to Chicago for the weekend to celebrate a very special tenth birthday. The American Girl Place was the main event (for one of us). We also took in "Wicked" and stuffed pizza, some shopping, train rides and cab rides -- something we never get to do in Austin.

It was great being in a favorite city on its first really mild weekend of spring. So many people were out walking and enjoying the weather. Nice to be among them and see the sights, Canas bursting through the soil in plots along the streets, folks carrying their coats that they left their homes wearing in the morning, the sounds of traffic, teaching my ten-year-old to walk through revolving doors without stopping midway, and looking UP at buildings and Chicago's tall trees.

Here was a sight/slogan I loved! More art to come soon. I'm inspired to create...

If a five year old boy with a broken arm can do it...

2008-04-01T14:45:00.000-05:00

My son has been bringing home the sweetest little handmade pillows from school. It's his last year at a very traditional Montessori school and his high spirits have caused him some frustration there, so next year he'll be at a "mainstream" (as some Montessori parents call it) and strongly academic Kindergarten. Since he broke his arm a few weeks ago I wasn't sure how his final months of school would go and what work he would choose. I could just imagine the havoc he'd wreak with a maddening and debilitating cast on his arm. But NO! Lo and behold he's been stitching and sewing up a storm, with perfectly tiny and even stitches, just like the most patient and clever student EVER to grace the halls of that school. I just love these things. His face is beaming like a headlight every time he emerges from the classroom with a new pillow. He is right proud of his stitchin' self. So am I.

Exploring Gesture

2008-03-31T08:24:00.000-05:00

The space a doll inhabits reveals something, but I'm not sure what. I've been staring at this figure(s) for several days now in all light and from all angles. I started this doll without consideration. I was playing with the eyes in the head and found a rather worried or merely diligent expression, didn't care for the chin or the shape of it's head, but fixed it to a body nevertheless. I realize I need to add to the bust to make it more womanly, but then what? The baby in her hand can stay or go, incidentally; it is not fixed there yet.

Does the body's gesture suggest a certain costume, personal characteristic, or some other concept? I am intrigued with the idea that a figure's space, that portion of space that a doll or any body (anybody!) occupies in the world, may relay something universal. I'm trying to decide if this pose is trying to tell me how to costume her or if I should consider some esoteric theme. Either way it's all play. This is the fun part; the speculation over Who or What this doll IS.

Sometimes a costume is what makes a doll. Other times it's an idea (patriotism, hunger, flattery) which provides a great jumping off point. In this case I sense it's the sweeping, almost affected gesture.

Recently my massage therapist (whose business card states "fairy godmother" -- in addition to being board certified -- can you do any better than that?) loaned me some articles on space and movement, written by a former dancer. While reading them, I didn't fully appreciate the concepts, being neither a professional dancer nor a massage therapist, yet they have crept into my thought process. See how a little information does a person no good? Alas, this is the story of my life. I resolve to re-read those papers. After all, she enthusiastically forced them on me after I told her I was working with armature and balance. Maybe she knew something I didn't. She claims the fairy godmother title, after all. Maybe there's an answer for me there. How to finish this doll!

Doll Eyes Awaiting Paint

2008-03-26T14:03:00.001-05:00

Eleven pairs of eyes fresh from the oven. The best way to put holes in them is to use a doll needle, which is curved (see it on the left) so that the holes don't show from the doll's eye sockets. Rather, they will be embedded in the stuffed head. I match them up by size; since they are hand rolled they are all slightly different. The trick will be to paint the irises at the exact spot in relation to the bead hole so that they pull through and are centered in each socket.

This makes me thinks that someday I'm going to make a spider woman doll with a bunch of eyes and legs and arms. She will be charming, I'm sure.

I give you my heart

2008-03-26T13:26:00.000-05:00

I finished this doll a couple of weeks ago and was delighted with her. As I've said before, these dolls take on a personality of their own, so once they're "finished" it's as if they are not mine anymore. This doll "Valentine" is much sweeter, gentler and giving than I thought she'd be. I think it's the lace and the expression on her face. Check out the whole doll on my website www.jenmcgahan.com in doll gallery 4.

I'm excited about the new eyes. Before this one I'd been painting over the needle sculpted features of the face. I decided to try making the eyes from Sculpy and painting them. As if they were beads, I strung them with strong thread and pulled the eyes through cuts I made between the eye spaces after the doll's head was stuffed. I like the effect, although some of them look a little bug-eyed. After playing around with these bead eyes I think they will just be another variable feature on the face. They do seem to add personality.

A Humble Servant

2008-03-19T12:24:00.001-05:00

The head of my children's school is one of the most amazing and inspiring people I've had the pleasure of knowing. Dr. Judith Knotts not only leads a top notch school, but also practices the kindness and service she advocates and expects of the community. This morning during school mass she told the story of Jesus personally washing the feet of his disciples before the last supper. Then she carefully and lovingly washed the feet of 12 people -- faculty, staff, kids, parents, and a few guests she'd met over the years from her association with Austin's homeless people. I can't say I've seen a more moving re-enactment of this story. To see this woman who is loved and respected not only by her school, but among leading elementary education experts in our country, perform such a humbling and symbolic act was awesome. Today I feel so honored to have witnessed her gesture of love. She is a wonderful example for school children and adults alike.

Surface Design Fabric Samples

2008-03-18T20:56:00.001-05:00

A lovely collection of probably 100 or more surface design technique samples was shown at the Feb. Austin Fiber Artists' meeting. I believe it was a traveling show sent by members of the Surface Design Guild. The variety of dyes, stitches, substrates, and techniques (shibori, batik) was almost exhausting. I took some pics of some of my favorites as they came around. The next meeting is tomorrow night; hopefully between T-ball practice, dance practice and my husband's work schedule I can make it there!

New Fabrics

2008-03-17T14:48:00.000-05:00

...and a mango. A few weeks ago I sneaked out of a birthday party my son attended and ducked out of the rain into a quilt store nearby. I fell in love with the floral print on the left and built from there. I thought I'd make Easter eggs out of it, but here it is Holy Week and I haven't started on them. I guess I'll do something else. In any case it's proof that a few quarters of fabric can turn a dreary day into something special. How I love a good fabric store.

Valentine Doll in Progress

2008-03-16T08:20:00.001-05:00

The Geek Squad had my computer for one month. I probably could have gone to a coffee house and used a computer there, but I just don't have time for that kind of thing. So I did without. It's alienating not being online for awhile. People don't use the phone anymore. I know I don't. I had to let a few people know that I was still alive, but other than paying bills and making doctor's appointments I let all online activity languish there without me. It's humbling and liberating to realize just how smoothly life goes on without my involvement. I only wasted a little bit of my internet vacation (I found I snacked a bit too much) but it coincided with some sick days with the kids last month so maybe the timing was perfect after all.

The main benefit: without the distraction of the computer and other email related obligations (I did shirk a few) I got to work on a couple of dolls finally. It had been since before Christmas that I'd worked on them and I was really missing them. The one above had been floating around in my head for a long time now and she turned out much more lovely than I expected. I'll post a picture of the finished doll as soon as I have one. I also attended my first meeting with the Austin Fiber Artists, formed last summer. My new friend Ruthie invited me to join when we met at the AMOA show in December. They are an active group of artists who meet once a month, attend shows, take classes, share skills, and even exhibit together. I knew I was home when I noticed that half the women had dye under their fingernails! Suddenly I feel more connected. Their Yahoo group is thriving with newsworthy and interesting posts every day, and the members seem motivated to share and educate each other and the community about fiber arts in Austin. Yippee!

Other than that, my forced break from the computer includes these highlights:

The flu swept through our house with a little disruption.
I read about 6 books, including some eye-openers -- Middlesex (Eugenides), and Real Simple Food (Alice Waters). One of my new year's resolutions was to get back to reading more. My goal was two novels and one "other" book per month and after three months I already feel like my old self.
Christian, the family favorite, won Project Runway. Didn't you love seeing him win?
I treated myself to U23D at the IMAX. No one local I know (and how sad is that?) loves U2 the way I do so rather than drag someone along like a wet blanket I just took myself. I was just me and Bono, the Edge, Larry and Adam, and a few thousand fans. A real "bird in flight" experience, it was, flying around the stadium, swooping close and soaring away again. I could have touched Bono's nose with my little wing. It was heaven.

Back Porch Style

2008-02-15T11:13:00.000-06:00

I met Conni at last year's Stitch craft show in Austin, where she purchased a book from me and enthusiastically told me about her new shop in Dripping Springs. We've been keeping in touch online through the winter and her shop is finally open. I stopped by the other day and was so charmed by the bright and juicy atmosphere she and her partner Valli had created there in the old stone house on the highway. The store's called Consuela. In it are warm wood floors, a couple of large well-stocked work spaces filled with fabrics, ribbons and buttons (which they use to create oil cloth pillows and bags and other decorative things for the home), and in the back a room filled with their sunny, stylish, artsy merchandise. My favorite thing about the shop is that every turn reveals something different. They also carry work by a smattering of independent artists and designers (me included). You can't find two things alike in there -- proof of these Texas ladies' creativity and passion for enlivening a shopper's experience. You can tell that they have a lot of fun and want to share it. Prices are reasonable; you'd expect to pay a lot more for most of the delightful handmade and vintage goodies they have. I just love this place and will definitely purchase gifts and stop for a chat whenever I'm in Dripping Springs. If you can't make it check out the website Conseulastyle. It definitely captures the flavor of this delicious new shop. The grand opening is Friday, March 28. Margaritas from 5-7!

New Sketchbook Covers

2008-02-10T10:11:00.000-06:00

Just playing with fabrics and decided to make a few of these sketchbook and journal covers. I like how they look before the flaps are stitched down (like the green one at top). They're like mini quilts. One of these days I'll go ahead and make a quilt just to look at, but until then they're book covers. I've covered all my books (date books, address books, journals, sketchbooks).

What does it say about me that I have to make something functional all the time? I think it's a result of my effort to simplify/get rid of stuff I don't need/ clear out the superfluous decorative stuff around here to calm my head. I figure if we just make the stuff we use pretty then we won't need to fill up the house with all the extra stuff. If it's just hanging on the wall or sitting on my window sill then I'm breaking the rules. That doesn't sound like an artist talking, does it?

You should see my studio, full of dolls, doll parts, and all kinds of funny little arty things. My kids are all super creative and their toys and artwork are everywhere. My husband also has hobbies galore, music, electronics, etc. His studio is as full as mine (but no color -- all black and gray and chrome. I keep trying to sneak some art in).

I still maintain that I could live in a simple one room space with a bed, a desk, a window. I really don't need all this decoration and chaos and activity. I could very well be wrong about that, my little fantasy about being a contemplative nun somewhere. But I hope to find a happy medium. I'm watching my parents and older (on the verge of retiring) friends all starting to fret about their possessions and how to get rid of them. This downsizing of theirs has resulted in more than a few boxes of useless stuff pitched in my direction. We recently received an assortment of about 20 videotapes of children's movies from an aunt in another state. Very well-meaning, of course, but in these days of Netflix and DVDs I'm happy to say I don't mind the job of taking them to Goodwill for her. Sometimes you just have to make gifts of things to purge them.

Here's a little blessing to all my future grown kids and extended family -- you may toss this ratty little covered journal right into the river where it can decompose and feed the fish. May someone thousands of years from now find the treasure of green glass beads embedded in sand. I don't care. It's my gift to you.

Birds in Flight -- Lots of them!

2008-02-09T22:43:00.001-06:00

Winged Migration:
This film has been in my Netflix queue for awhile now and I finally saw it tonight. It's wonderful -- an hour and a half of birds in flight! The filmmakers must have attached tiny cameras to the birds because most of it is shot from the point of view of the airborne bird. It's really amazing to see the landscape below while among migrating geese. One time as my plane was nearing the ground I saw the shadow of a bird flying along with the plane's shadow, speeding over the land. It was weirdly breathtaking, unnatural and beautiful. I suppose I always look at birds flying and imagine being free from all the constraints of the world, our small duties and tedious days. Yet, in this film the narrator begins by saying "This is a story about a promise. A promise to return." And of course these animals repeat their flight patterns down to the smallest landmark, year after year, flying thousands of miles to mate or eat, with no lamentation that their days and years are all the same. My three children fell asleep while watching, of course. I convinced them it would be as cool as Microcosmos (a favorite nature film) but the Enya(?) music and beating wings must have done them in after a long Saturday. I loved it.

Valentines for the Troops

2008-01-25T15:55:00.000-06:00

At their last meeting, Girl Scout Troop 1953 made Valentines for Troops in Iraq. They enjoyed playing with fabrics and fibers, buttons and beads. I was helping them earn their stitching badge, but we ran out of time and ended up using quite a bit of glue. The postcards were adorable, though, and sure to be appreciated overseas.

I'm always amazed the amount of work that goes into planning just one meeting with kids. My hat is off the the three women who commit to these meetings every month.

Vest to Jacket

2008-01-24T12:11:00.000-06:00

Ok, A friend asked me (a year ago) to sew sleeves on her embroidered vest which she purchased in Saudi Arabia many years ago. She even gave me the fabric for the sleeves. Try as I might, even after many episodes of Project Runway, I could not find the inspiration to complete this simple task. I thought maybe I should add a collar with the same material so that the sleeves wouldn't seem too loud. But then again, maybe the patchwork look wasn't quite right. I finally decided to just put three-quarter length skinny bell sleeves on it so she could wear it over a turtleneck or collared shirt. The truth is, my friend is a tall, very slender, very hip chick and if anyone could pull this off it would be her! I can't wait to catch her wearing it. I'm returning it today, after looking at it on my mannequin for over a year. Yippee!

Patterns

2008-01-15T22:18:00.001-06:00

I think there is a quilt in my future. I keep coming back to the idea of making some patterns for fabric and think it would be fun not only to try to make a repeating pattern on Photoshop based on land views from the sky, but also to quilt some areal views of fields of crops. Who know if I'll ever get around to it, the way things go, but at least if I say it out loud or write it down there's a chance.

K and I are planning a trip to Chicago for a visit to the American Girl Store. I'll have to get K to take some shots from the plane window, since of course she'll get the window seat. As much as she is looking forward to this trip I think I can convince her to duck inside the Chicago Art Institute for a few hours and maybe a museum or two. I know there is a doll gallery in Chicago, the Hellman Gallery which houses dolls by some artists whose work I love. I've only seen most dolls in books and the internet.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting away with just my daughter. It's a bittersweet thing watching kids grow. On the one hand I loved them small and cuddly. On the other hand it's nice that they're getting old enough to travel. I hope soon we can take them around a bit.

Finally sitting down to my computer again!

2008-01-13T16:50:00.001-06:00

Okay, that's a bit of a stretch. But really I haven't done any more than check emails and write press releases for my volunteer organizations since about my last post. So Happy New Year! I am updating www.jenmcgahan.com, which will now be my doll website exclusively. After cleaning up all the other crafty things in it, I decided to focus on just two websites, the first being that one because I have a lot of fresh new stuff to put in its galleries and also because it's really easy to update. If you are looking for a web building site I have to recommend itsmysite. Not only is it easy to use, but it's relatively inexpensive, you have a lot of options for customization and and I think it looks pretty nice once you get the hang of designing with it.

The next job i need to tackle is getting something up on Sweetboo. The craft shows last year were a lot of fun for me, but also a lot of physical work and time away from home. I'm hoping to get this stuff onto that storefront before too long and be able at least show it in a pretty way online. I think I began that website in the first place because I wanted a site which would support Paypal and a merchant credit card account, but also so that I could learn Dreamweaver and built a more interesting site. Ha -- here it is a year later and still no working site. My web designer has laid the foundations for me and my job is to play around with her building blocks and get something together myself. At least that was my plan. Beth has been a big help in that regard. She offered to teach me web design to get me started and I did actually make a page or two. I hope I haven;t forgotten how to do it. I've already invested a bit of time and money, so I should probably make that a priority.

I won't go into all my other new year's goals, but hopefully I can cross a few from my list.

Worktable

2007-09-18T22:27:00.000-05:00

Today was a gorgeous HOT day. I spent a little time this afternoon while the kids were at school tidying up my workroom. After putting everything away I proceeded to bring things out again; old patterns, doll parts, possibly useful junk.

I discovered I had no pattern for a doll part I'd used three times before so I made a form out of aluminum foil covered with stuffing and mummy-wrapped with strips of cotton. After stitching it all down I had the base (the scraggly thing in the center) over which to drape cotton fabric so I could make a pattern from it. I pinned the fabric smooth and then cut it into pieces. I sewed them together, making sure to document and trace each piece first, and got lucky with a workable shape the first time out. I did have to widen the hole a bit. The finished mock-up (left in picture) is now documented and I have pattern pieces finally. I'd been wanting to make another open-heart doll but was not looking forward to reinventing that hole in the torso. Now it's done and the fun can begin.

I don't know why I didn't do that a long time ago. It would probably be a good idea to make patterns from the pieces I use and like. Most often what happens is I draw the pattern freehand and sew it together and stuff it to see if I like the result. If I do, I just want to keep working and I'm too lazy to take the thing apart (you have to un-stuff it first) and copy each piece. So each time I do something slightly different but similar. So efficient! I'm definitely going to change my ways.

First Art Show!!!

2007-09-17T21:34:00.001-05:00

I'm beside myself tonight. I opened up an email from the Austin Museum of Art Holiday Art Festival to find I was accepted into the show! Having never been in a real art show I'm pretty much freaking out. Of course I tried to call all my family and no one answered their phone (isn't that always the case when you really want to SHARE) so this will have to be my official announcement: please come to Laguna Gloria for the AMOA Holiday Art Festival December 1 and 2, 2007!

So here's the thing. I thought it was such a long shot that I'm not even sure which three photos I submitted. They were all dolls, but now I wonder if I need to stay on target with the style of those particular dolls or if I can play with some new ideas I have. For example, if I submitted dolls with all fiber heads, should I keep making fiber heads for the show or can I make paper heads? The fact is for the next two months I'm going to be making dolls dolls dolls. It's always what I've wanted to try: just focus on my dolls for awhile -- and now I have a reason to do just that. Dolls are a strange niche. I'm hoping I can represent myself and the art museum in the best light possible. What's really important to me is to do what I'm meant to do and reach the people I'm meant to reach with my art. Whew! I really can't wait to work through these next two months.

The usual bemusement

2007-09-06T13:05:00.000-05:00

After making a doll I often put her somewhere I can see her easily for a few days and every time I enter her room I catch myself wincing with self consciousness. I've really struggled with why I make dolls as if it mattered. I wonder if my time couldn't be better spent.

I've been working on "Monica" on and off for the past couple of weeks. I made the nest first, then I found a head in my head collection and played with that for awhile, painting, adding features with paper clay, sanding, painting over it again, adding layers of paper, etc. While the head was still being made, I made the arms and legs, alternating tasks until all the components came together at about the same time. This is my usual process and the doll (her personality) occupies a good portion of my thought while she's coming into being. While I drive, while I sew, as I make dinner, I find myself (how can I say this without seeming weird?) praying about her and just trying to listen quietly for a way to her completion. I'm often surprised by her appearance when she is finished, like a new mother might say to her baby "well that's what you look like!" The process is what's important to me, the human issues I contemplate during the making of the doll.

Incidentally St. Monica was the mother of St. Augustine, and the wife of Patritius. She was always praying for the souls of her son and husband, as they were bad-asses, both of them. They both became Christians eventually, so her prayers were answered before she died, but not without a lot of heartache. I have a friend who recently told me about Monica and she has captured my imagination for the last month or so. As I was making this doll I considered the struggle of many women who want their loved ones to be a certain way (or healthy, or on the right path, whatever), and all the mental energy which goes into fretting about them. A mom tends to entrench herself in her nest, her family life, the role of a 'good wife and mother', and yet sometimes she can do no more than pray, hope and wish for her people to find their own way and become whole human beings, just as the mother herself is on that same road.

The making of a doll can be like having kids for all the wrong reasons, or playing god. I feel a little bit guilty about that. Here sits Monica, my little nest doll with her two little worrisome eggs in her lap. I feel for her, I wish she could move on and fly away, but alas that will never happen. While the process was cathartic for me, she is forever stuck in the moment. She is a reflection of me and my thoughts during a certain period of time, but I can always go do something else and she can't. Too bad.

Back with more leather bags

2007-09-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

The computers and the router haven't been playing nicely this week. You all know how frustrating it can be to have no access to the web. A voluntary blackout can be heaven for your mind and spirit, but when you want/need to be online, say for example during the first week of school when teachers are emailing and calendars are posted and the general buzz is just starting back up, well, no-contact can be very bad. On top of all that I wanted to post pictures of these little bags I made with the leather Goodwill coat. I used Aunt Nevada's cool purple brooch on the clutch above, and some sticks I painted red on the tiny bag at the top. The white leather coat is pretty much done for now, although I may be able to squeeze out one more little thing if I cut creatively.

I love the new school year. Second only to November my favorite month is September. I find the beginning of the school year (even if I'm not the one going back to school) is a renewal of purpose for me. Getting back to the grindstone, I find I have stores of energy which were lacking throughout the summer. Some people feel that way in the spring, with the rebirth of life in nature all around them. Me, I just want to play and drink margaritas when the weather starts getting friendly in March. (Remember this is Texas.) It's when the heat starts to break and the kids go back to classes that I start feeling new again. I have a lot I want to accomplish this year so I hope this feeling lasts.

I just joined Jazzercise again after about 18 years. They still do grapevine and all the other dance moves, as well as some "new" moves from kickboxing and pilates. The high energy, loud music, and friendly ladies are what I remembered and liked best about the program and all that's just the same. I love it -- such a retro way to exercise. But now with Michael Buble and Rihanna on the ipod.