New Year's Eve! Again!

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

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

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

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

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

Reaching Out

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

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a peaceful, memorable day.

A long wait for summer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blown ice

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

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

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

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?

Can you figure it out?

Every which way

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

These bird tracks in the snow look like hieroglyphics!

Hydrangea lace

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

Looking back

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hand Imprints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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