home
about the artist
gallery
blog
links
contact

Archive for November, 2010

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Better

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

I had a really good night’s sleep last night. I awoke refreshed and ready to tackle a few things in my life.

It is not all sunshine and roses, however. The day brought a disappointment and a sadness.

The disappointment is that I did not get juried into Form Not Function. Like Q=A=Q, I have been in this show before so I had an expectation that I might get in again. I received a very nice rejection e-mail and a list of those who got in. It is a smallish show so I am not that surprised that I did not get in.

The sadness was hearing from a friend that her husband has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It is devastating news. My friend, Dee, is not seeing much progress with her husband and thinks he is giving up. No news from my sister except that they have met with hospice and have that in place when it is needed. These 3 women and their spouses are often on my mind during the day. One of my friends said it is the curse of growing old — these events pervade your life.

I had fun making the fiber sketch today. I wanted to try something a little more complex. I also finished cleaning and reorganizing my studio kitchen. Now, I can tackle the studio so that I can get to work on some large projects that are on my mind.

Scooter loves to hang out in my office with me. If I am there working on the computer or sitting and doing hand-sewing, he happily stays with me. If I get up and go into the studio and start working, he comes in, checks out what I am doing and runs upstairs to hang out with Mr C.

Here is where he hangs out at night and when we leave the house for any length of time. He is such a good boy. He loves the chilly weather and seems to enjoy his walks more. Of course, he has that lovely coat that he wears all the time.

I am looking forward to tomorrow. STASH at Terry’s!

Posted in Quilting Friends, Scooter, Sketchbook Project | 3 Comments »

Ugh

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

This is how I felt today. Not sure if I am getting a cold or have sinus issues. I also think that I am having sleep problems due to the time change. I just could not get moving. I had some veggies that I needed to cook so I dragged myself to the store to get some other ingredients to make a big pot of soup.

Tonight was the arts commission meeting at Trinity and I have missed the last two so I wanted to go. Fortunately, the soup revived me. I am glad that I made the effort. Our current chair is retiring and we have no one to replace her at the present time so we are going to try to keep things going as a committee.

While I was lolling on the sofa with my herbal tea, I was trying to keep up with the conversations happening on two of the lists that I subscribe to  — Quilt Art and SAQA. On Quilt Art, they were discussing what to call ourselves – fiber artists, textile artists, quilt artists. I don’t think it matters much what you call yourself or your work. I think you need to love what you do. Do it the best you can. Keep learning and growing. And occasionally throw it out in the world and see what others think about it.

On SAQA, the conversation was very heady. There were words like derivitive and context thrown around. The usual suspects were weighing in with their very educated and erudite opinions. I sometimes feel so outside the circle. That doesn’t really bother me. I just feel as if I am eavesdropping on conversations that I can never be part of.

What I know is that I love what I do and I keep working at it and sometimes it is worth throwing out there. Perhaps, tomorrow, I will get back to work.

Posted in This and that | 7 Comments »

Need Some Me Time

Monday, November 8th, 2010

I have worked most of the last 4 or 5 days  on SDA website and bulk mailing issues. I had the joy of teaching the dyeing class on Saturday morning and last night we went to Vespers and Remembrance at Trinity. The choir performed  the Requiem by Maurice Duruflé. It was beautiful and a very touching service.

This morning, early, I had a conference call to discuss the bulk mailing system for the new SDA website and then, I was off to the Guild Board meeting. I am on the board for one more year as past president. This afternoon and evening, I finished some database work for the website.

Anyway, I am feeling antsy to make some new art. I have future deadlines and lots of ideas. I think I need to make a plan so that I can get every thing done. The deadlines come fast and furious after the first of the year.

Tonight, I went to my studio and warmed up by making the simple wonky square in a wonky square fiber sketch.

Posted in Sketchbook Project, Surface Design Association, This and that | 1 Comment »

Shibori Scarf Workshop

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

I really revel in leading a workshop — watching students create and experiment and produce lovely pieces of fiber art. These are the two pieces I did to demonstrate resist dyeing on silk. On the left is a pole wrapped silk and on the right is a fold and dip piece.

Trinity Cathedral is blessed with a large building for classrooms and offices. In the basement is an art studio complete with a kiln.

It is not a huge space so 6 – 8 students is all that I can handle. Here you see them at work with the poles and the dyes. We use Colorhue dyes which need no heat setting. It is instant gratification.

Here are some photos of their beautiful results. I had two repeat participants and they did the best work.

I love that piece on the right – she used eggplant, brown and black.

The woman who made this was not happy with it, but I love it.

So, after this enjoyable morning, Mr C and I headed out to the upscale shopping center – Bridgeport Village. I picked up 3 new things from the Eileen Fisher store. I love her clothes. I have been wearing them for about 15 years. They last forever and are always in style. And they look pretty good on short fat ladies.

Tonight we had a luscious meal at a fairly new seafood restaurant in SE Portland – Fin. It has been a good day.

I do not have any thing positive regarding my BIL or my friend’s husband. Ray is failing rather quickly. And, Roger, now has an infection which has complicated his recovery. Continue to keep them all in your good thoughts and prayers.

I am looking forward to getting back that hour of sleep I lost last spring.

Posted in Dyeing, shibori, Stuff I Buy, workshop | 3 Comments »

Life Gets Messy

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

This luscious little postcard arrived in the mail today. It is a lovely thank you gift from Kristin La Flamme. She is walking for Juvenile Diabetes to support her neighbor, and I made a donation.

I have been trying to get it together to get my studio cleaned and in order after the frenzied art making during the last month. I am teaching a shibori scarf dyeing class on Saturday so I started with my dye kitchen. I needed to wash out my dye squirt bottles and mix up some new dye. It felt really good to get in there and reorganize and sort and purge.

The beautiful day was marred by my worry for my sister and my friend, Dee, who often comments on this blog. My brother-in-law is losing his battle with leukemia. He was diagnosed a year ago August, and has been a good fighter through many set-backs. However, the leukemia cells are back with a vengeance and he can no longer have chemo. Dee’s husband has been in the hospital since August with failing kidneys and all sorts of problems. She keeps us posted on her blog, and each post brings me to tears. I know that this is an emotional roller coaster for her.  I am at an age where the people I know and love are more prone to these things, but it is still difficult.

My sketchbook is almost filled to the brim. Here is my latest sketch. The pink and green appealed to me for some reason.

Posted in Postcards, Quilting Friends, Sketchbook Project | 2 Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »