Reflections

Quilts in Color Opening

2012-01-20T09:28:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,

I am part of an exhibit at the Anderson Arts Center called Quilts in Color. I will have one room with about ten of my "Water Colors" - part of my series of water reflection quilts. The reception is from 1-4 pm on Sunday, January 29. I also have a piece called 100 Long Lives in the Women's Journeys In Fiber, Aprons exhibit that will be there at the same time.

There are 5 artists exhibitng in the Quilts in Color exhibit and there are about 30 artists represented in the Aprons exhibit so there is lots to see and make the trip worthwhile!

New Year's Eve! Again!

2010-12-31T12:00:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year! I can't believe that a whole year has flown by again. It all goes so fast. My Grandmother use to say that time traveled on square wheels as a kid and then on very fast wheels as an old lady. I didn't understand what she was talking about when I was 8 but I do now.

My daughter is doing fine after bypass and I hope that 2011 brings her renewed good helath and happiness.

Have a great 2011!

Coming to a close

2010-12-30T05:00:00.003-06:00

As the year is drawing to a close I think about the path I have followed. It seems very much like this labyrinth - lots of twists and turns. I feel good about the work I have done this year and the life changes that are in process. I feel that I have gone deeper inside as I do my artwork. I made a commitment a year ago to do this blog as a daily practice and I did pretty well - 286 days. I gave myself time off for hip surgery and travel! Now I am thinking about what next year's daily practice will be and still have not decided on a direction. I think I will continue to blog - but more occasionally!

Christmas bouquet

2010-12-29T15:00:00.001-06:00

The Christmas bouquet that I have had around for the past week or so has these interesting flowers in it. They started out all closed up and gradually have opened out and the center has become more pronounced. I don't know what they are but I like the coloration and the way they have transformed over time.

Think good thoughts

2010-12-28T05:00:00.001-06:00

These two special people need good thoughts today. My Mom, will be 88 today. She is a remarkable person - has 5 children, 13 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren. She has seen a lot in her life and is still positive and loving. My daughter, Rachel, is going to have by-pass heart surgery today. Her heart is damaged from a heart attack and she needs her heart to function better so that she can move on to a kidney trnasplant as soon as possible. Send positive energy her way today and for the upcoming recovery period. Thank you.

Grace

2010-12-27T05:00:00.001-06:00

Even with snow bending them toward the ground these grasses are graceful.

Reaching Out

2010-12-26T05:00:00.003-06:00

I like the strength and hardiness of this pine tree as the branches reach out to each side.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T05:00:00.003-06:00

Wishing everyone a peaceful, memorable day.

A long wait for summer

2010-12-24T05:00:00.000-06:00

The snow on these lawn chairs is a reminder that we have a long wait for summer- 6 months minus 2 days - way too long.

Bits and Pieces

2010-12-23T21:57:00.000-06:00

Bits and pieces of pods, leaves and pebbles. Each time I look a this I think there are buttons scattered among the other things but they are pods.

Yesterday's interview was a lot of fun! It went faster and better then I would have thought. Getting "made up" was also an experience. Not something I wnat to do everyday.

Sewing With Nancy

2010-12-22T05:00:00.001-06:00

I am off today to Madison to film an interview on the Sewing With Nancy PBS program. We are going to talk about my inspiration and process in developing the Leaf series. And then I am delivering a large piece of artwork to a buyer near Madison. It ought to be an interesting day!

Another Frosty Morning

2010-12-21T05:00:00.001-06:00

Today's frosty door photo looks like silk damask. I especially like the change in color from top to bottom and left to right.

Frosty Morning

2010-12-20T09:55:00.000-06:00

For whatever reason, my storm door always seems to be frosted over in the winter. Sometimes it is quite beautiful - I like the way it glows with the early morning sun hitting it just right.

100 Long Lives

2010-12-18T05:00:00.000-06:00

I have been dyeing samples for the upcoming Women's Journeys in Fiber project on Aprons: Myth, Memory and Fantasy. I am working on an apron based on the Chinese concept of 100 Long Lives. I am trying out calligraphy with vat dyes. The fabric samples are silk charmeuse, silk dupioni and rayon challis. More to come.

Saki sacks

2010-12-17T05:00:00.003-06:00

Another example of Japanese Boro are these three Saki sacks. The patches are stitched with a very heavy twine so they stand up from the surface.

Japanese Boro

2010-12-16T05:00:00.003-06:00

I have several Japnaese Boro pieces in my textile collection. This is a detail of one of them. The Boro textiles are wonderful examples of the wabi-sabi concept. These peices are made up of patched and over stitiched indigo remnants. Some beautiful shadings and secondary patterns develop.

Textile collection

2010-12-15T05:00:00.002-06:00

I have been photographing all the textiles that I have collected over the years. It has been a laborious process - to unpack, iron, hang, photograph and then refold and put away again. But I feel that I am gaining on it and now will have a record of what I have. Next I will get things organized and documented on the computer. I am thinking of selling some of my pieces. I love them but it may be time to move some of them along!

Long shadow

2010-12-14T05:00:00.003-06:00

Late afternoon sun throws my shadow far across the field running down to the stream.

Blown ice

2010-12-13T05:00:00.001-06:00

The icicles hanging off of the building r all look like they are being blown by the wind. And I like the blue building against the lighter blue sky.

Leaf Sales

2010-12-12T05:00:00.001-06:00

It has been the week for selling artwork! I have had several people interested in buying pieces from my Leaves series. It has been great to talk with people about the work and to see how they want to display it in their homes. I feel very honored.

Circles within circles

2010-12-11T05:00:00.001-06:00

I would love to have this fountain in my yard. Wet or dry it would always be itnersting to look at. The sahdows would change throughout the day. Maybe next year?

Ice Flow

2010-12-10T05:00:00.001-06:00

This photo of a frozen fountain was taken when I was in Santa Fe during the winter but the heated birdbath on my railing looks like it right now!

What is this?

2010-12-09T05:00:00.002-06:00

Can you figure it out?

Every which way

2010-12-08T05:00:00.003-06:00

The snow has caused the ornamental grasses to fall down every which way. It is interesting to see how the snow builds up over the grass heads and then the whole thing zig zags down to the ground.

Hieroglyphics

2010-12-07T05:00:00.002-06:00

These bird tracks in the snow look like hieroglyphics!

Hydrangea lace

2010-12-06T09:21:00.000-06:00

The first snow of the season has made my hydrangea bush look like lace against the white snow.

Looking back

2010-12-05T05:00:00.003-06:00

I had some inquries this week about buying some of my work. Yea! But that lead to having to find and then, in some cases, reshoot the piece because I couldn't find a photo of it to send. The good part of all this is that I revisited some older work and find that for the most part I still like what I did. This is a detail l of one of the pieces that I reshot.

Silver reflections

2010-12-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

These old silvery ornaments are lying in a bed of red berry garland on the mantel. There are about 15 of them and I like how they nestle into the berries and reflect images all around them.

Feathers under glass

2010-12-03T05:00:00.003-06:00

I found these wonderful feather in glass ornaments for Christmas. This is the first year I am not putting up my tree. So I have hung the 7 feather ornaments on my Chinese cabinet. Each one has a feather that is shaped like the glass or vice versa. I think the feathers got inserted through a tiny hole in each ornament.

Bright, bright red

2010-12-02T05:00:00.003-06:00

The crab trees are covered in bright, bright red berries. Several years ago I took a photo of a crabtree covered in an early snowfall - it was so striking with the white snow against the berries. These will be shriveled and gone soon so time to enjoy them is now!

White Elephants

2010-12-01T05:00:00.004-06:00

I went to the Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI this weekend for the exhibit on Animal Magnetism. It was wonderful and disturbing and beautiful. One fo the exhibits was of 4 white full size fabric elephants inflated with air. They moved ever so slghtly with the air and where ghostly and wonderful. In the Education area children were painting one of the same kind of elephants with all kinds of patterns and colors.

Winter canvas

2010-11-30T05:00:00.003-06:00

It feels like this is a painting on canvas but it is the wonderful winter afternoon light coming thorugh a window shade.

Glass Wall reflections

2010-11-29T05:00:00.004-06:00

I may add another art quilt to my Glass Wall Reflection series. I took this photo in the city this weekend and like it very much. It like how dynamic the shapes are against the grid.

Watery window

2010-11-28T18:28:00.000-06:00

Looking out through the condo window on a damp, cold morning. The condensation adds a wonderful texture amd pattern to the scene outside.

Pattern play again!

2010-11-25T07:36:00.003-06:00

More metal walls - this is at the DeYoung Musuem in San Francisco. This area is about 4 x 5 feet so you get some idea of the scale of it. Just imagine it over a much bigger expanse. Walking along the walll it is a constatnly changing play of light.

In and Out

2010-11-24T07:29:00.000-06:00

This metal wall is embossed/debossed and thus catches the light in this interesting way. I took a lot of pictures of this - more to come!

Heads up

2010-11-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

In contrast to yesterday's photos of sculptural heads these look unsettled and abandoned. But I love the photo both for the heads and also for the many textures, patterns and shapes that are part of it.

One thing leads to another revisited

2010-11-22T05:00:00.005-06:00

Pulling out the angel head the other day made me think about all the sculptural head photos I have taken. This is another favorite. There is a peacefulness and caring in the both the look and positioning of these two heads.

Birch Forest revisited

2010-11-21T05:00:00.001-06:00

I have been working on my Birch Forest installation piece (8.5 x 8.5 feet) - enhancing the stitiching, nedlefelting, finding a way to bend and undulate the surface even more then the original. Here is a detail view from the side of how it is starting to "shape up".

One thing leads to another

2010-11-20T07:13:00.002-06:00

I am having my carpets cleaned today which has meant moving a lot of stuff out of the way, especially in my sewing room. I was putting things into the storage area and that lead to seeing the boxes of Christmas decorations and seeing this angel which I have not had out in some time. I think it has a beautiful face and wings. The shadow on the face gives it more power then I would have thought.

Toucht feely labyrinth

2010-11-19T07:07:00.001-06:00

Another project underway is for the next Women's Journeys in Fiber exhibtion. Our theme this time is Aprons: Myths and Memories. I have in mind a meditation labyrinth that you could touch. It started with the idea of contemplating your navel which is what it felt like i was doing thinking about apron ideas! So here is a sample of velvet with a labyrinth fiber etched out of it. I think this idea might go somewhere.

Summer Flight

2010-11-18T05:00:00.002-06:00

Here is the full size Summer Flight piece that I posted a detail of couple of weeks ago. I had a comment asking to see the full piece. It is 24' x 72", silk charmeuse. My client was happy with the results!

Barry's Birthday

2010-11-17T05:00:00.000-06:00

Today would have been Barry's 66th birthday. It's hard for me to believe at times that he has been gone for 5 years and that I am in another phase of my life. This photo was taken on our last trip together to San Francisco.

Hand with leaves

2010-11-16T05:00:00.005-06:00

This hand makes me think about endings. The hand without the leaves evokes would not have the same impact.

Hand Imprints

2010-11-16T05:00:00.001-06:00

Another favorite hand photo is this one of hand imprints in my frosted garbage can. Not the most elegant venue but you work with what you find!

Buddha Hands

2010-11-15T05:00:00.003-06:00

I have been collecting hand photos for some time - this is one I took a few years ago in New Jersey. I have a print of it that I look at from time to time and it always calms me.

Squiggly pods

2010-11-14T05:00:00.004-06:00

I came across these Paloverde pods that I picked up a few years ago - I think these might become a new shaped piece. I can see makinga large a pile of them intertwined.

Tracy McCabe Stewart interview

2010-11-13T06:24:00.002-06:00

Today seems to be the day that ly friends and fellow artists are getting interviewed. Go check out Tracy through this link to Asian Art and Quilts.
http://asianartandquilts.com/2010/11/07/tracy-mccabe-stewart/

Susan Ettl Blog

2010-11-13T06:18:00.000-06:00

My fellow artist and friend, Susan Ettl, has had her blog chosen to be on the Quilting Arts site. There is a great interview with her and some samples of her artwork. Go take a look!
herhttp://www.quiltingarts.com/blogs/lindsey/archive/2010/11/12/announcing-the-first-facebook-blogger-of-the-week-susan-ettl.aspx

Spray away

2010-11-13T05:00:00.003-06:00

I am compiling imagery for some new ideas - this image was created with spray paint through a grid. I think it is pretty neat - I want to see how it will convert with a thermofax - I will probably lose some of the gradations which is what makes it interesting to me.

Cup Plant Sculpture

2010-11-12T05:00:00.001-06:00

I have been drying leaves from the garden to have for work I want to do this winter. These very large cup plant leaves have turned into wonderful sculptural objects.

Henry Lauder's Walkingstick plant

2010-11-11T05:00:00.001-06:00

I trimmed up bushes and trees at my daughter's home. One of them is sthe contorted filbert known as Henry Lauder's Walkingstick. It is fabulously contored and I brought some of the pruings home to see what can be done with them! This photo is a detial of 3 of the branches. They curl around and around themselves and one another.

Grass seed

2010-11-10T05:00:00.001-06:00

The seed leads on my Japanese grasses are fuzzy and full of litle seed heads. The pattern looks like a yellow stitched line.

Summer Flight

2010-11-09T05:00:00.002-06:00

I have just completed a commission for someone who saw my exhibit, Summer's End, in Madison. I created a piece that is long and narrow, gradates from yellow to orange and uses dragonflies in flight to create an upward movement. Below is a detail.

Vintage tablecloths

2010-11-08T05:00:00.002-06:00

I have have been dyeing and printing vintage cotton damask tablecloths and napkins for Thanksgiving presents. I like what happens with the damask flowers, curlicues and leaves that are part of the orginal tablecloth. It adds one more layer of complexity to the overall design.

Intense orange

2010-11-07T15:19:00.000-06:00

So few trees around here still have there leaves but this one is still intensely orange. It just glows!

Screen image

2010-11-04T05:00:00.001-05:00

I was trying to take a photo of the birds at the feeder but the window screen became the more interesting image.

Sumac flags

2010-11-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

The last of the sumac leaves blow like flags in the wind.

Leaf Walk

2010-11-02T05:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday turned into a beautiful day for a walk through the last of the fall leaves.

Leaf Glow

2010-11-01T05:00:00.003-05:00

The early morning sun is throwing light and shadows over the Japanese screen creating another layer of leafy shapes.

Amber

2010-10-31T22:29:00.003-05:00

Amber ale catches and concentrates the sun.

Reflections

2010-10-30T05:00:00.001-05:00

I think there are at least 3 layers of reflection going on in this photo. Through the bus window, agisnt the building window and back aginst the bus window again.

Line dance

2010-10-29T16:28:00.001-05:00

Study in Blue

2010-10-29T16:24:00.000-05:00

I was in an old industrial building yesterday that had layers and layers of paint and plaster on the walls. I love that the part that was painted was this vibrant blue against all the whites and ochres of the rest of the wall.

Sunset

2010-10-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

The sunset a few nights ago was extraordinary. The clouds glowed against the darkening sky and then the wispy dark clouds came drifitng by.

Red gold leaves

2010-10-27T05:00:00.001-05:00

I got all the leaves scanned in quickly, before they start to lose the tones and markings. I think these are going to be great once I get them blown up and look at them closely. I scanned about 20 of these so I will have lots to choose from for future pieces.

Leaf Pick Up

2010-10-26T09:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a great day for picking up fall leaves for future projects!

Art in Embassies Program

2010-10-24T05:00:00.003-05:00

I had a nice surprise this week! I had applied to the Art In Embassies program sometime back and hadn't heard anything. But this week I was contacted by the curator of the program to include Reflections, Burano, Italy, var. 2 in the 2.5 year exhibition for the official U. S. Embassy residence in Vientiane, Laos. She wrote:

" We are interested in focusing on fiber works as there is a strong textile tradition in Laos, as well as on water imagery, as the Mekong River is the life blood of the country. Your work, and particular your Reflections series, seems to be a perfect fit for the project."

After thinking about it for a nanosecond I said yes. I am thrilled and honored to be included and am reminded that getting your work out there may take time but good things can happen in unexpected times and ways!

Linden Leaf Rag

2010-10-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

The full photo of the Linden Leaf Rag.

Linden Leaf Rag, detail 2

2010-10-22T05:00:00.003-05:00

Each of these leaves is about 18-20 inches in height and the entire peice (see tomorrow) is about 6 feet across.

Linden Leaf Rag

2010-10-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

This is a detail from my piece - Linden Leaf Rag that is currently on display at my solo exhibit, Summer's End, at the Arboretum in Madison. I have been picking up various leaves this week to press and save for future projects and it reminded me that I had not put this work up yet on the blog.

Double take

2010-10-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Larry's bifocals were laying on the counter with the west sun coming thorugh the window and it created this wonderful shaodw picture. I love what the bifocal lens does creating a little window area. The whole photo makes you do a double take!

Shape Shifitng

2010-10-19T13:31:00.002-05:00

This spinning lightbulb has shape shifted in it's shadow. I tried to take sevral shots as it spun around and made myself dizzy. Seems to be the theme of the day - I have been sewing miles of satin stich on my Birch Forest peice and I need to go outside and look into the distance awhile to recuperate!

Exclamation point

2010-10-18T05:00:00.008-05:00

I could not plan photos like these - it is just luck to happen upon them and recognize that they make me see the world with new eyes.

Hourglass

2010-10-17T05:00:00.001-05:00

Another construction fencing photo looks like a buttoned sweater and /or an hourglass to me!

Serendipity

2010-10-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

I took a whole series of photos of this fencing around a construction site because the holes where it had split or peeled back were interesting as shapes, as a view into another world and as an abstract design. More photos tomorrow!

Fall Decorating

2010-10-15T05:00:00.004-05:00

Time for fall foliage, gourds, pumpkins to be out. The colors are rich and vibrant this year.

Birch Bark

2010-10-14T05:00:00.002-05:00

I am embellishing my latest art cloth piece (tentatively titled Birch Forest) with a needle felter through the silk/hemp fabric. I like that it is creating the look of holes or breaks in the birch bark pattern. I have 7 panels to do so this will be a project!

Shadow patterns

2010-10-13T05:00:00.001-05:00

I love the color of this building - the late afternoon sunllight just made it glow and how could I resist "B" shaped shadows?

Life lines

2010-10-12T16:03:00.000-05:00

I am back from a good week at Art Cloth Studios in San Antonio, TX. OUr Mastery Program group met and worked for 6 days. We will be having an exhibit in San Antonio next spring so there is lots to be done. While there I got to take photos of things I don't see here. This was a very large elelphant ear leaf ( I think!). I like that the large veins are in red - reminded me of our own blood system!

Fall color is arriving

2010-10-02T05:00:00.002-05:00

Today as I work on fall cleanup of the garden I stop to take photos of the various plants. This Tiger Eye sumac has every shade of fall color imaginable from orange to red to chartreuse.

Grass light

2010-10-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

The fountain grasses in my back yard are at their very best right now. Thye glow inn the suna gainst the dark green grass and foliage.

Black, white and gray

2010-10-01T05:00:00.001-05:00

I think the bands of monchromatic color in this photo are beautiful and it could lend itself to a wonderful art quilt interpretation.

The Art Quilt Collection

2010-09-30T05:00:00.003-05:00

I just received a copy of this brand new book of art quilts from around the world. I have a couple of pieces from my Reflections, Glass Walls series in it. I think the publisher did a really great job on this book - the images are very clear and large and the book is well designed.

BIrch bark fragments

2010-09-28T05:00:00.001-05:00

Fragments of brich bark have been used to cover an old door - I like the differnet colroations and patterns in the fragments and the overall design of this very wabi-sabi door.

Criss Cross

2010-09-27T05:00:00.001-05:00

Going through this bridge was a dizzying experience! ( I wasn''t driving!)

MIrror Lake, var. 2

2010-09-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken the moring after yesterday's shot.

MIrror Lake

2010-09-25T05:00:00.001-05:00

The title says it all. Taken in the Adirondacks. Each day the lake had a different look to it.

Dark Water

2010-09-24T05:00:00.002-05:00

I like the peacefulness of this water photo, taken a a grey day.

Pattern in depth

2010-09-23T05:00:00.001-05:00

I can't resist - back to patterns!

Exhibit in Quebec City

2010-09-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

An interesting interpretation of the St. Lawrence River at an outdoor exhibit in a park in Quebec City.

View of the St. Lawrence River

2010-09-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

View through the windshield in the driving rain while looking at the river.

2010-09-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

More black and white patterns - old paint!

Black and white patterns

2010-09-19T13:21:00.000-05:00

Back from a great trip out East and will be putting up images that I saw along the way! Starting with this one of stacked chairs creatign a wonderfully busy pattern!

Off to Lake Placid, Quebec City and who knows where else!

2010-09-10T05:00:00.001-05:00

I am off on a fall trip until September 18. I may post along the way but am more likely to be out capturing new images!

Slatted Blinds 2

2010-09-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Slatted Blinds

2010-09-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

These slatted blinds are moving just enough in a breeze to create their own pattern.

X Marks the Spot

2010-09-07T05:00:00.001-05:00

This wonderful line of X's was created by light bouncing off the hangar windows across the tarmac. You could not plan for this to happen.

Sand Hill crane ballet

2010-09-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

This crane was so beautiful to watch as it folded and unfolded itself to do some grooming. It was like watching a dancer move.

Feathers

2010-09-05T05:00:00.003-05:00

While hanging my exhibit up at the Univeristy of Wisconsin Arboretum, two sandlhill cranes made a stop by the window to hang out for awhile. What interesting birds! I was able to get get a close-up of the feathers. A naturalist told me that the brown color is from mud that they put on their feathers. The mud works as camouflage, letting the cranes match the ground color of the area they are living in.