Simple Still Life #2 (one and a shadow)

I am not overly fond of Halloween, when I saw this votive pumpkin in the sunshine... with the mouth making a shadow that looks like it's uvula... how could I not use it? (Hey!! Uvula is not a dirty word... it's that hangy-down thing in the back of your throat. Really.)

Now what to do ? what to do? The easy thing would be make up some Halloween fabric cards. And how to represent the shininess of the pumpkin?

Why Pets are Important...

Got this (and more) in an email. But I had to share it with everyone.

WHY PETS ARE IMPORTANT.

They have great expectations.


They help when you're down.


They know who's boss.


They protect the little ones.


They love their teddies.


They make great holiday accessories.


They communicate well.


They can teach us how to relax.


They know when we need a laugh.


And they can teach us how smile.

and smile.


And Laugh


and laugh...

What makes an artist, the discussion continues.

There is this fabulous discussion going on in Gabrielle's comments. It needs to be brought out into the public, so instead of writing a tome as a comment, I'm blogging some of my reactions here for the world to see.

This all started when Gabrielle, responding to Nicky's comments on creating for the market vs. our vision, posted her partial list of an artist's responsibilities. One item was:

-To evoke some response from the viewer whether good or bad

And Pat commented that she did not believe that art needed to be seen to be art. Which leads to the whole... when is it art question. Gabrielle responded, and Pat said:

My first reaction is this: there are plants the world over producing beautiful flowers that are never seen. That is just what is so. Why is it art must be seen? It has value by virtue of beingness. It has value because the artist moved something from the inside to the outside reality. The artist sees the work. Sometimes that is what is most important - to see one's truth mirrored back in one's work...

First, those flowers that are never seen are not art. The plants creativing those flowers do not think of their flowering as art (well, they don't think at all), nor do they call it art.

Secondly, Pat's statement needs to be qualified that they are never seen by humans. But they do not flower for the benefit of humans. They flower to attract the birds/insects/animals that will help pollinate them. If those pollinators do not see them, the species will cease to exist. And those pollinators are the ONLY IMPORTANT "viewers" of the flowers. We humans are totally inconsequential.

Art, created by humans, exists purely for humans.

And while the creative spirit may be fed and satisfied by the work, the work does not become art until it creates a reaction in someone. Until that point, it is personal creative expression and potentially art.

Jenny G. commented that: Well.....I agree that not everyone lives up to their creative potential, and in THAT way "not everyone is an artist". I DO think the capacity for creativity is universal and very much a part of what it means to be human.

I think we need to distinguish between creative potential, artistic ability and being an artist.

While I have a small talent for writing, I do not possess all the skills necessary to be a writer. Nor do I call myself one. In the same way.. one may have creative potential, but that does not make one an artist. And using that creative potential may satisfy something inside us, but that still doesn't make us an artist. It makes us creative.

The public display of art... the sharing of the artist's vision with the world and the worlds' reaction to that vision is the differentiating factor between "creative potential" and "artistic ability".

It strikes me that much of this discussion centers around what we mean by the words: creative, artistic and ARTIST. So what is needed here? Do we need a clearer definition of terms? Fuller understanding? Published lexicon (would anyone consult it or would they argue whether the words meant what they said they meant?). I'm not sure. But this sure was interesting to contemplate.

THEY HEARD US!!

(Or they herd us...)

Flipped over th HGTV thinking it was time for Simply Quilts... nope, too early. However, instead of the dreadful Typical Mary Ellen that has been preceeding SQ... it was Matt and Shari and Room by Room.

They recognized how truly dreadful the TME show was and either cancelled or moved it!!

Speaking of RbR... I really want to know if Shari is related to Suzie Hiller. You may have seen Suzie on PBS cooking fund raisers... She's a Cleveland area caterer... and used to run a book search business, too. (she helped me suprise Steve one year with a book he'd lost and really wanted). I can just SO see these two as being related.

A total timewaster...

Ok, I am feeling better this week... and even better than that... I am inspired by last weeks works to follow that into a new direction.

So I will spending time this week at the sewing machine!! Hopefully in a few days I will have photos to share of my experiments...

In the meanwhile, to entertain you while I'm working... I am going to share a fabulous timewaster of a website:

ZeFrank. ZeFrank has lots of fun stuff on it... from the flower maker (seen on Croque -Choux's blog a few days ago... ) to poems from neutered dogs...to communication #1 (which teaches us about alternative punctuation). Infact you will waste time at this site that the average 47 seconds that you spend reading this blog.

I envy Ze Frank...

Let's just say, DebR made me do this... ( and Gabrielle will follow I'm sure...)

Upstanding citizen You scored 63% Do Gooder, 60% Drive, and 64% Intellectual

(My personal additions to the canned text look like this) You are a lovely person and probably one of the best human beings out there. (Can you see me blushing??) You care about people, but you also care about yourself. You are intelligent, but not over-the-top. You are resourceful and take pridein helping others, but you're not an annoying 'goody two shoes.' I admire your ability to get out there and do something with your life. You probably think that it's better to do something yourself than to ask someone else (well, can anyone else actually DO IT? AND DO IT RIGHT? I think not!) and I'm apt to agree. This is one of the best categories you can get (So THERE everyone else!!) so be proud. All human being categories are: Lazy SOB, Rebel w/out a Cause, Evil Mastermind, Henchman, Criminal, Dictator, Frat Boy, Socialite, Philosopher, Stunt Double, Upstanding Citizen, Teacher, Cheerleader, Sister Mary DoGood, Benefactor, Loyal Sidekick, Candy Striper, Goody Two-Shoes. (Jeez, I really wanted to be known as a Lazy SOB!!! Let me take this again... I can change my ways!!!)

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 20% on Do Gooder You scored higher than 40% on Drive You scored higher than 80% on Intellec

Link: The What Type of Human Are You? Test written by weeredIII on Ok Cupid

Now I want to fly outta Sacto...

They are installing this neat project at the Sacremento Airport. A carpet that shows the course of the Sacremento River. You can read about the project here.

Ya know when there are art projects that make you want to go to airport (like the light show in the tunnel at O'Hare...) it says something good about public art. I LOVE creative public art installations.

Ok, my favorites are Ruth Asawa's sculpture at the Hyatt on Union Square. A case of loving the story of it's creation as much as the piece.

The colored neon light tunnel at OHare...

Free Stamp in Cleveland... well I love the story of it more than the actual piece, though my memory is a bit different. When originally ordered from Oldenburg, the stamp had no identified text on it. It was to stand outside the BP headquarters perfectly upright. But city officials and most of the public didn't like it, so it was stored. A later BP president didn't like paying for the storage.. and Oldenburg wasn't thrilled to have a piece not visible. They "virtually" set the stamp where it was originally designed for, then pretended it was knocked away. Where the model landed is where it was installed... lying on it's side... discarded. And the text was added then.

What are some of your favorite public installations? I think I'd rather see this blogged about on your blog than just mentioned as a comment here...

Come on people... inspire me.

Isn't this Better???

See, I've taken the notes from yesterday's post and made a few changes. Got rid of both wedge shapes, and turned them into their own circles. Moved a couple lines to eliminate a few of those awkward connection spots. Who can see the 2 weird spots in this picture? (hint: it's where circles meet). I've changed it in working.








I played with painting it, too. But once again, the paint I tried as a resist didn't.

I will need to talk to Dharma about what resist I need to get that will actually work as resist if I continue to use my sloppy, wet painting technique. Each circle is it's own color: blue, yellow, red, and green?? And the paint all blends at the overlaps... which I love.

I'm actually thinking of making this a large quilt piece. I've spent a whole lot of today thinking about how to make this... and whether where I choose to try and show it may influence how I try to construct it.

Explanation of Living/medical lesson/and a sports rant...

People have asked what needs to be changed on this sketch. So I'll say what I see "wrong". This is good for me to verbalize my thoughts.

On the left hand side, there is an "archy-wedge" that starts near the center and moves toward the upper lefthand edge. That shape to me works against moving the eye over the piece. It either blocks the movement, or moves it off the page. So I may simplify it, or turn around to make it work. Also, looking at this as potential quilt...on that same left hand side... the one vertical band comes down but doesn't obscure all of the main arc... leaving a really awkward little spot. That needs to be simplified.. and it can be by moving the band a little. Lower right hand corner, if the circle is moved just a smidge, more of those "windows" will be indicated... again easier to construct. Just things like that... simplifying junctions with too many lines coming together... and adjusting shapes.

==================================
Now the medical lesson of the day... shingles typically lasts 4-6 weeks. I'm on meds to control/stop the rash part... but the itchiness/nerve pain is separate and that's what I'll be dealing with for a while. Residual nerve pain can continue for months. Shingles is the Chicken Pox virus (herpes zostrix?) that stays in the body after one has been infected (in my case.. at 7... too many days sitting in a tub of luke warm water with baking soda mixed in. And beginning a long-running affair with Calamine Lotion). In some people, stress and poor diet combine to "let" the virus come visit again... embedding itself along one nerve in the body and working it's charm.

The simple clues you have shingles: a rash, or a burning/itchy sensation that is only on one side of your body... usually your trunk but occasionally the head.

=======================================
Now I know most of you great readers are not the crazed baseball fan that I pretend to be.. and do indeed become this time of year. So please bear with me.

Each division of the American League is down a battle for first place... and a major battle for the Wild Card team. The National League is far more settled. So WHY does ESPN continue with their overweighted coverage of NL baseball to the almost total exclusion (except of course those Damnable Yankees and Hated Angels... big market teams) of the AL???

Who cares about Pittsburgh? And if I wanted to watch the Braves.. they have their own friggin cable!! How about showing the White Sox/Indians game.. that, gosh, actually means something!!

(takes a deep breath)...
Just wait until October...

Wednesday's Work

This is the second experiment painting on fabric. (initially I'm calling this The Jury is Out... cause the sketch came from my day on jury dury). This is the one with the potato-starch resist, that didn't work as well as I had hoped. But I hadn't posted a photo of it yet. After taking this picture, I cut the piece up into 3 sections, they are small but the composition on each seems to be better. Still don't know if I will do anything with them, except maybe making postcards from them. I'm not terribly with their look.



And this is a doodle that I painted up a several weeks ago. It needed re-doing; there are major flaws with the design. So this morning I started working on this just before I took part in a conversation about the parts of ourselves we show publicly online/ hide from strangers online.



I sketched throughout the conversation... letting the ideas of the conversation influence what I added and took away from the sketch (is this like a living rorshach test?). The result of that hour is started here: Living at the Intersection of "US" and "THEM". This isn't the final sketch, though, as I see several lines that still need to be changed in this. Then deciding how to color it.


I've noticed that I usually name my work based on what I was thinking/doing/seeing at the time that I worked on the piece. Doesn't effect anything in the work.. doesn't give it meaning to anyone except myself. But it's kind of a shorthand to help me remember. Like documenting what's going on in my head.

And to document what's going on ON my head... (and no, I haven't joined the Self-Portrait Tuesday stuff)... here's a photo of my shingles. Fuzzy to protect the easily nauseous. They DO look like chicken pox, though, don't they?


Went out to supper tonight... spicy Thai eggplant that made my nose run (in a good way)... and coconut milk icecream to cool that heat. Then an evening of season premiere tv...

Things are getting better...

Am I glad I was aware of what was happening to me (ie, the shingles). I knew on Saturday what was probably happening... but couldn't get in to a doctor until Monday. Still I got there early and on the meds early. While the meds only mean that I shouldn't have a whole lot of rash to deal with, when the nerve involved effects your eye, that's a good thing.

I think all those horoscopes telling me to worry less and eat better were right on. So folks listen to those horoscopes!! (Can you believe I'm writing that???). I also believe it's not coincidence that it struck when I knew I'd be home alone for 10 days. So I have no requirements except to relax and

So I'm taking things easier. I really don't feel too bad. I'm not too sick (you can get good flu-like symptoms), and the pain/itch thing seems to come and go. So I guess I have a light case. Thank Goodness.

Not very creative this week, though.

***********************************
I am trying to enjoy the start of the new tv season. Watched How I Met Your Mother...cute but nothing special. My Name Is Earl: not as impressed as I wanted to be. Caught a couple of the new alien/mystery/long arc shows and was unimpressed so far. So at the moment, I guess I'm unimpressed.

Don't watch Survivor, and won't watch this round of Amazing Race... I liked the show at the beginning, but didn't particularly care about the people last year.. and families?? Nope. Not interested at all. But some of the old standby's are starting soon... hope they pick it up.

************************************
Now my final RockStar comments. Yeah, I wanted Marty to win, but after watching the show, JD will be a good fit. Mig wasn't every going to be their front man. And they only promise one record and one tour (something like a 1-2 year committment). I'm guessing the guys can knock some maturity into JD in that time. Wonder what the contract will say in the way of his compensation?

Didn't everyone really want to hear what the band was saying when they were deliberating?

But asking for people to send in their tapes already for a show next summer?? who will that singer be working with?

So people along the gulf lose their roofs..

and I get shingles!!

Ya know how I've been writing lately that I'm feeling a bit stressed?? (Have I actually written this??) Guess I was underestimating how stressed I felt. I've come down with a case of Shingles. And... even better... it's on my head/face!!

Now everyone repeat: DON'T SCRATCH, DON'T RUB, DON'T TOUCH. Not that doing those things will do anything significant.. but it just makes it hurt worse. And I suppose I could get another scar. Alrighty then...

I'm feeling a bit under the weather.. this is like a mild flu ... and my left eye is a bit swollen. So i won't be doing anything very energetic for the next couple days. Steve is in Europe (bringing me home Belgian chocolates).. so it's just me and the dogs. As long as they get fed and let out, they won't complain.

So I'll take it easy, and veg out...

Ok.. Diane's question..and other things...

Diane over at Going to Pieces asked what magazines we subscribe to. Like Liz, it's only one at the moment: Quilting Arts. I let my subscription to QNM lapse about 10 years ago. There just wasn't enough useful content in it for me at the time. I used to subscribe to THREADS, but I don't do enough "real" sewing. And too many magazines regurgitate the same stuff for me to want to keep it.

I guess I don't subscribe to many magazines because if I didn't want to keep a lot of the content, I can find some of the useful content online.. without wasting the paper.

Now onto other things...

As much as I hated Joan Rivers doing the Red Carpet thing... Star Jones is so much worse!! Sycophantic and self-absorbed at the same time! I couldn't watch.. and dishing Red Carpet fashion is usually so much fun.

But I liked the Emmy's last night... Felicity Huffman, James Spader, and S. Ephata Merkison (I'm sure I have her name wrong) gave charming acceptance speeches... But Patricia Arquette's stylist should be SHOT.

And I woke up Sunday singing Marty Casey's song... TREES... and still can't get it out of the head. Guess I will have be doing some downloading soon...

I Would Have Guessed SF, but...

You Belong in London A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well. What City Do You Belong in? Take This Quiz :-)

Songs from '70.

OK. Saw this over at BeanCounters.. though I'm not sure what I'm supposed to DO with this list...but LORD this gets harder when it's been so long ago. I'm don't even remember some of these song!! And can you believe it?? Bobby Sherman had songs in the Top 100?? Bobby Sherman???

Ok, I'll BOLD my favorites, and color the ones I don't recall. And FYI: if is says Jackson 5.. I didn't like it. To find your own list, go to this site and enter your graduation year in their search box.


1. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
2. (They Long To Be) Close To You, Carpenters
3. American Woman / No Sugar Tonight, The Guess Who
4. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head, B.J. Thomas
5. War, Edwin Starr
6. Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Diana Ross
7. I'll Be There, Jackson 5
8. Get Ready, Rare Earth
9. Let It Be, The Beatles
10. Band Of Gold, Freda Payne
11. Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Three Dog Night
12. Everything Is Beautiful, Ray Stevens
13. Make It With You, Bread
14. Hitchin' A Ride, Vanity Fair
15. ABC, Jackson 5
16. The Love You Save / I Found That Girl, Jackson 5
17. Cracklin' Rose, Neil Diamond
18. Candida, Dawn
19. Thank You (Fallettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) / Everybody Is A Star, Sly and The Family Stone
20. Spill The Wine, Eric Burdon and War
21. O-o-h Child / Dear Prudence, Five Stairsteps and Cubie
22. Spirit In The Sky, Norman Greenbaum
23. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain), Melanie and The Edwin Hawkins Singers
24. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today), Temptations
25. Love On A Two Way Street, Moments
27. Which Way You Goin' Billy?, Poppy Family
28. All Right Now, Free
29. Julie, Do Ya Love Me, Bobby Sherman
30. Green-eyed Lady, Sugarloaf
31. Signed Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours), Stevie Wonder
32. Ride Captain Ride, Blues Image
33. Venus, Shocking Blue
34. Instant Karma (We All Shine On), John Ono Lennon
35. Patches, Clarence Carter
36. Lookin' Out My Back Door / Long As I Can See The Light, Creedence Clearwater Revival
37. Rainy Night In Georgia, Brook Benton
38. Something's Burning, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
39. Give Me Just A Little More Time, Chairmen Of The Board
40. Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes), Edison Lighthouse
41. The Long And Winding Road / For You Blue, The Beatles
42. Snowbird, Anne Murray
43. Reflections Of My Life, Marmalade
44. Hey There Lonely Girl, Eddie Holman
45. The Rapper, Jaggerz
46. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, Hollies
47. Tighter, Tighter, Alive and Kicking
48. Come And Get It, Badfinger
49. Cecelia, Simon and Garfunkel
50. Love Land, Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
51. Turn Back The Hands Of Time, Tyrone Davis
52. Lola, Kinks
53. In The Summertime, Mungo Jerry
54. Indiana Wants Me, R. Dean Taylor
55. (I Know) I'm Losing You, Rare Earth
56. Easy Come, Easy Go, Bobby Sherman
57. Express Yourself, Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
58. Still Water (Love), Four Tops
59. Make Me Smile, Chicago
60. House Of The Rising Sun , Frijid Pink
61. 25 Or 6 To 4, Chicago
62. My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains
63. Love Or Let Me Be Lonely, Friends Of Distinction
64. United We Stand, Brotherhood Of Man
65. We've Only Just Begun, Carpenters
66. Arizona, Mark Lindsay
67. Fire And Rain, James Taylor
68. Groovy Situation, Gene Chandler
69. Evil Ways, Santana
70. No Time, The Guess Who
71. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time), Delfonics
72. The Wonder Of You / Mama Liked The Roses, Elvis Presley
73. Up Around The Bend / Run Through The Jungle, Creedence Clearwater Revival
74. (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You, Ronnie Dyson
75. I Just Can't Help Believing, B.J. Thomas
76. It's A Shame, Spinners
77. For The Love Of Him, Bobbi Martin
78. Mississippi Queen, Mountain
79. I Want To Take You Higher, Ike and Tina Turner
80. The Letter, Joe Cocker
81. Ma Belle Amie, Tee Set
82. The Bells, Originals
83. Yellow River, Christie
84. Somebody's Been Sleeping, 100 Proof and Aged In Soul
85. Vehicle, Ides Of March
86. Gimme Dat Ding, Pipkins
87. Lay A Little Lovin' On Me, Robin Mcnamara
88. Up The Ladder To The Roof, Supremes
89. Travelin' Band / Who'll Stop The Rain, Creedence Clearwater Revival
90. Come Saturday Morning, Sandpipers
91. Psychedelic Shack, Temptations
92. Without Love (There Is Nothing), Tom Jones
93. Are You Ready?, Pacific Gas and Electric
94. Woodstock, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
95. I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Dionne Warwick
96. Look What They've Done To My Song Ma, New Seekers
97. Walk A Mile In My Shoes, Joe South
98. The Thrill Is Gone, B.B. King
99. It's Only Make Believe, Glen Campbell
100. Call Me, Aretha Franklin

I've made a bloggy discovery...

A couple months ago, totally fed up with BlogRoll, and looking for an RSS aggregator, I subscribed to BLOGLINES.

The blogroll that shows up on my blog comes from BlogLines. And I've found a really new feature.

Now for those who don't know... an aggregator keeps a list of blogs, groups and such that you want to follow (like BlogRoll does). I have a website that shows all items I've subscribed to and when they are new, so I don't have to keep going back to my blog. I click on an updated blog, and it shows up on the same page that my roll is on. (is this all too confusing for you?)..wish I could get a screenprint to work...

Anyway, the cool thing I just learned how to play with?...

When I am reading a blog, sometimes I want to remember a particular article to think more about... or to consider more.

And with Bloglines there is a CLIP option... that saves the blog to a file for me...

So I KNOW that today's LAYER OF MEANING is something that I want to keep, to remember, to thing about. So while I was reading, I clicked on CLIP THIS, and I have the link saved for later this weekend, when I can consider it more, and maybe write my reaction to what she writes as blog on my site.

Cool, huh??

Nobody Likes Me..

Let's all sing...

Nobody likes me,
Everybody hates me,
Guess I'll eat some worms...

Two comments in a week??

Thursday Done.. and The hardest battle...

First... the GREAT news: Eucalyptus I has been accepted into PIQF.

Today, I visited the Member's Only show at the RAC today. (heck, I had to check out my piece and the others)...

My piece was nicely hung... but even I was more drawn to other works in the gallery.

One was a creative quilt called "Quilt for the Birds". A grid of twigs held the whole things together.. and pockets of home-made paper held small bundles of seedheads, fruits and fluffy nesting matter. Between each of the pockets were small bundles of other goodies. This could be hung outside in a protected area and really feed the birds. It was artistically beautiful.

There were also these beautifully lacquered twigs ... real twigs... with sayings wrapped around them (under the lacquer). The creator was inspired by art she'd seen elsewhere... of "walking sticks for life". Imagine that these small twigs are similar to fortune cookies... small things you can stick in your pocket, hang from your desk..etc. and each one has saying to inspire you. I LOVED these.

There were wonderfully organic shapes that made me want to come home and sketch (which I've started...)... and wonderful fiber piece where she used a sheer fabric as a roll-up "curtain' to show/hide the view behind...

And the exhibit in one of the main halls is an interactive show DRESS: CLOTHING AS ART. NOT what you're thinking...

And finally, a fabulous quote:

“To be nobody but yourself — in a world that is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — is to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight and never stop fighting.” E.E. Cummings

working away... (and INXS)

So Wednesday afternoon I took some of the freshly painted fabrics I have and placed them up on the wall... looking for inspiration. They are still hanging there in rectangles about fat quarter size or larger. The sketch I thought I wanted to do isn't doing it for me. Back into the sketch book.

However, I also painted up my second experimental piece. (photo to follow). The potato resist didn't work/didn't work completely with the wet sloppy paint I like to use. So I'm reading through the Dharma catalog for a more "uumphy" resist. Maybe even gutta. First I've got to let this one cure a bit, and quilt these two projects up. Actually, the oil pastel one is ready to go.

When I'm comfortable with the bobbin play, I think I'll use that as a method to put in the sketch lines. (or maybe not... there may be odd stops and starts).

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Obligatory INXS comments ... won't you all be happy when this madness ends next week?

First, although everyone is talking about this being a long term deal... the winner actually only wins: a contract for one record and one world tour. That is... in about a year they can cut the cord. (could we see another INXS next year? Rotating lead singers? Who knows...) I'm seriously considering downloading Marty's more acoustic version of Trees...

I'm over JD even though he has been performing well lately. But he STILL makes me think of an Elvis impersonator whenever I see him. Suzie just ROCKS, and I hope she finds something worthwhile on her own. Mig is talented but he's just not right for INXS. At this point, I think Marty will be the new lead singer of INXS. Ofcourse, that's probably the kiss of death for him.

Why???

Gabrielle queried:

why are you working in fiber? What drives you to create....to make art...to show your inner self or just play?

I've been thinking about this for almost a full day now... not enough to give a complete and reasoned answered, but enough to come up with something.

Why work with fiber? First, it's the tactile nature of the medium. The slide of silk, the crispness of a great cotton... and sometimes trying to determine fiber content from touch alone ... (oh wait, this is why I shop at thrift stores!! well, same thing...).

but it's also a medium with specific demands. Knowing about weft and warp and bias, then determining how to manipulate these elements to my advantage. (or atleast keep things from being screwed up by these).

And it's about texture. The illusion of texture in hand painted fabric that dries with a crinkled appearance... the actual texture of the stitching...

Why do I create art?

It's about using color to convey meaning. (like Noise), or create a sense of place (Eucalyptus).

It's taking real world objects and simplifying them. Then combining them to make something new.

It's seeing the world my unique way.. and sharing that with the world.

ToDo Tuesday

Last night we watched Ricky Tim's DVD on machine quilting... it is a VERY GOOD DVD. It inspired several of us to work on stitching today. And I got lucky. My friend Karen received duplicate Creative Bobbins from Pfaff, so she gave me one!! These are for bobbin work; the only difference between this and my regular bobbin case is that it has gold on it to easily distinguish this case from the every day one.

So today:

Get some errands and phonecalls done early, then set up the machine and practice some fun bobbin work for a while. Now to remember where I wanted to finally use this.

Bundle-dipped fabrics

More EyeCandy. The weather lately has been gray, though the sun finally came out this weekend. I waited as long as I could.. but they still aren't as exciting as they could be. Still, eye candy is eye candy.
This is a gorgeous triple bundle-dipped piece. Rich and yummy. First I folded it into a tight square package and dipped one edge in blue and one in orange. After it was dry to the touch, folded the opposite way and dipped into the pink and purple. Lastly, folded it back originally and redipped it in the orange/blue (because the first time was too tight to get much absorption).






Even the back of the bundle dipped piece looks cool.. but I'm not sure why it's missing all the lines of the front.











This bundle-dipped piece was first tied in a spiral and dipped into orange. After this dried, it was folded and bundle-dipped into the purple. Then hung on the line to dry, forcing the colors to run and blend. This will be a great member of the supporting cast. Sorry for the wierd perspective in this piece.

Which Classic Leading Lady Are You???

Time for Sunday's frivilous quiz...

I knew it! But.. I am too gritty!! (just look in my bathtub). Oh.. that's part of my witty charm...

Katharine Hepburn You scored 16% grit, 23% wit, 47% flair, and 23% class!

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 0% on grit You scored higher than 57% on wit You scored higher than 14% on flair You scored higher than 42% on class

More Pictures...

This half yard piece was painted with Golden acrylics.. It feels very southwesty to me.. the swirly shapes are coppery. It's a bit stiff, but will be a "star" in a piece.
And this fat quarter piece was stamped with potato resist before being painted.. the stamps were the spirals.. I think this will end in a supporting role.

Want to know your helping?

KatrinaBlog
This is a grass-roots movement to get supplies DIRECTLY to the shelters in Mississippi. And its simple: load 1 type of item only in a box. Mail it directly to a shelter. This blog has lists of shelter needs, lists of helper needs, and lists of shelters. It will be updated frequently.

Use this and spread the word.

A moment of levity...

There are days when I think I need to scan some of the patterns I have and send them off to weirdbabe...

When you want a laugh/trip down memory lane, visit the TreadBared blog.

Pictures!! Of work, even!!

I know.. It's been ages since I posted any photos.. so I will try to be better...



This is that oil pastel experiment I mentioned the other day. It smelled strongly like crayons for atleast a day. Then I heatset it (it still smelled), and finally washed it. It didn't smell anymore, but some of the color washed out.

This might be an OK technique to add to a piece, but I don't think I would use it for an entire piece like this. Now to decide if I should quilt it up or just let it go...

For a warm fuzzy feeling...

Check out Will Reed's comment on the Technology For All blog..

They Have Beads... We Have CowBells.

And, another warm fuzzy story... Will Reed mentioned a couple days ago that many of the people in the AstroDome lost (and needed) reading glasses. I posted that information on the QuiltArt mailing list so people could add reading glasses to packages they were assemblying for shelters.

One member contacted the manufacturer of Peepers, and they are shipping glasses to theTechnology For All peeps.

community_building
technology for all

A silly quiz, a horoscope and RockStar

Blame this on Valeri and Gabrielle...


Congratulations, you're an old soul! You've lived
so many times, that you have experienced much
more than the rest of us. It's not certain what
you were in your last life, but you have
probably lived a life of them all. In your
present life, you are wise and knowledgeable,
very creative, and attract people to your
shining soul. Enjoy this life, who knows what
wonderous place you'll go to when it's ended.

My alternate responses (I couldn't decide between answers on a couple) said I had been a person in power. Just like DebR. (is it a name thing?)

And thanks to DebR... my HorroScope for September:

I like to rhyme with little Cancers, but all they want are some straight answers. Here's a hint, you fellow crabs.... don't mix your stripes with your plaids. Eat your fruits and grains and greens and don't get mad, just get mean. Toughen up that little shell and sometimes say "What the hell..." Take a chance, a risk, a wager and start living now instead of later. My last advice for you to take is to give yourself a worry-break. Oh-- and I promise I'm all through with silly, stinky rhymes for you. Heh. No, really, I am! (Green eggs and ham.) Whoops.

Gotta love someone who rhymes crabs and plaids!!

OK.. RockStar.

JD: I'm just tired of him. Or was just tired of the exercises I doing while he sang? My arms and shoulders should be firming up nicely. JD's position with the band shouldn't be.

Suzie: Had a couple small mistakes during "I Can't Make YOu Love Me..."but is still a strong vocalist. (sigh I am so old)... I liked her original and the fact that she dedicated it to my guy, Ty.

Mig: Lots of energy, but his voice sounded thin.

Jordis: Queen...Flaws in her voice, but good overall. And an original song that might be INXS. I liked her performance, but she's losing her fire.

Marty: Best performance of the night. Yeah.. his original was cool.

I only knew the songs that Suzie and Jordis sang.. so this was like a nearly original week for me.

The Menu Exchange...

This is NOT a recipe exchange (I hope).. just ideas for fast suppers. In my case, it's primarily aimed at the two adult house.. but it might be occasionally adaptable for other kinds of houses.

So this week:

Monday: Romaine salad with raspberries and Newman's raspberry/walnut dressing(yum) Whole wheat pasta, Prego spaghetti sauce and 6 frozen meatballs each cooked in the sauce. Total cooking time: about 25 minutes.

Tuesday: Fresh garden greens with Orange/poppyseed dressing and slivered almonds. A grilled polish sausage (steve's with mustard) with green veggies (brussel sprouts for me, lima beans for steve) and fresh fruit for dessert. Total cooking time: about 20 minutes.

Wednesday will be grilled chicken (with extra pieces to be used for luncheon salads later this week)...a salad and some kind of veggie.

(are we sensing a trend here?? Yep. I cook most of my suppers in less than a half hour. And most of them are grilled meat, a salad and a veggie with some fruit for dessert).

Back to normal...

Tuesday... Steve is back to work and so am I. After running a couple errands this morning and walking the dogs, I'm getting back down to work.

I'm doing some experimenting with surface design work.. and I've sketched out a couple designs for quilts I want to start. First I need to do some organizing in the sewing room... sorting through fabrics for charity quilts has created a mess... and I still haven't found backs!!

Found this quote from my very blog almost a year ago. Now that a couple people actually read it, thought I'd share it again.

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.
Cecil Beaton

Blogger-Aid for Katrina...

Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Day

Now is the time to remember the lost and lonely pets.


Now we know I'm all about my dogs. And there are so many pets who will need rescuing and kennelling in the next few months (if your owner is in a shelter.. where is doggy/kitty sleeping?). So I'm suggesting the charities for animals below.

Humane Society of the United States
Donation Link: Click here.
Relief focus: Dispatching Disaster Animal Response Teams (DARTs) to rescue animals and assist their caregivers.

ASPCA
Donation Link: Click here and choose the type of giving you prefer.
Relief focus: Although they do not yet have anything specific to Katrina up on their site, the ASPCA sends emergency relief to animal shelters when natural disasters occur.

hurricane katrina
flood aid

I am renewed.

I am renewed.

--I spent Friday evening with some friends... sitting around the table noshing and visiting.. laughing and sharing.

--I made a small piece for Laura's fundraiser.. and found a few journal quilt pieces that I will enter, too. If they sell, all good... if they don't they go back on the shelf where they were. Others that I don't feel are quite worthy of her prices will be put up for sale on my alternate blogsite this week for $30 each, with proceeds going to the Humane Society.

--The piece I envisioned the other night needs more mental construction before I can get it out into the world... It will be a before/after piece.. but I want it more abstract than that sounds.

--I'm getting obsessive about the American League Wild Card race. If you don't have an emotional attachment here, please pull my Indians.

--Made breakfast one morning. I mean.. not just eat cereal or leftovers... I made French Toast, bacon and sprinkled some fresh raspberries over it. Even brought out the real Maple Syrup. Pretty. Later, I made vanilla pudding with soymilk to enjoy with more of those raspberries.

--Watched a few mindless movies.

--Did some work in the garden.

--Walked the dogs. Or they walked me. Accurately we walked together.

--Napped.

--Watched TV, yes. US Open Tennis.

I'm Sorry..

but ROBERTS FOR CHIEF JUSTICE???!!!

Please, God, stop this effort.

As I get older, I begin to think.. these lifetime appointments are not a good thing. And Roberts is just too young to be given a lifetime appointment.

Quilters in Northern California...

DATELINE: California Quilters Comfort America

Carquinez Strait Stitchers guild is helping to coordinate this effort with the Valero Refinery. Valero has agreed to PAY for the shipping costs of quilts from Northern California to those evacuees

You can have any Bay Area Friends start drop shipping or dropping off quilts, new or almost new sheets and blankets at the Refinery. PARK OUT FRONT, I repeat PARK and then go to the Receptionist during business hours 7:30-4:30 or to the Main Gate guard for the rest of the hours. We are a 24/7 operation and want to give back to our friends in need. I've promised security that we won't give them a heart attack and they have promised to help us get the quilts to shipping!

Valero Benicia Refinery

3400 East Second Street

Benicia, CA 94510

I'm taking the weekend off from blogging

I'm sad and depressed and need to work this out.

Yep, I work out stress by cleaning and sewing. Wednesday night I fell asleep with a clear idea of small quilt about katrina ... So when I'm not dusting and scrubbing, I'll be working on this and the charity quilts to ship out.

I'm torn, though. I could send a couple quilts to IQA to be distributed, but my husband works for Chevron... and they will be setting up a tent village for over 1000 employee/families who work the gulf region. Part of me really wants to support "our family" instead, but I'm not sure there is a way to do so.

And my friend Del suggested that I make a small wearable (ala the sweatshirt jackets) with some of the left over eucalyptus fabrics (including leaves) to wear to the shows at which it will be displayed. (see me? see my quilt...). We'll see...

Attention my non-quilting readers.

I know there several of you out there!!

There are over 25,000 people heading to the AstroDome to live for atleast the next 3 months. And one of the Queens in the Quilting world lives in Houston. She has volunteered to be a distribution point for quilts for these people.

Now I know, you don't quilt. But I do!

Two posts below in the blogger-aid post I recommend donations to the animal rescue societies for this disaster. (if you are living in a stadium in another state.. where is your dog/cat living? How about all the stray dogs/cats/rabbits/gerbils, etcs. they find in the coming weeks?)

So here's the deal. If you let me know that you have donated atleast $100 to one of these charities, I will make a twin sized quilt to send to the survivors being housed in the AstroDome. I will even send you a photo of your quilt (or post it on this blog). If you live in the bay area and would like to help.. I can use it. Let me know.

Update: Ok. ANY $100 donation to any hurricane relief fund from a non-quilter gets a quilt. The first 5 are going to Houston, the rest will go to Paducah where they will be distributed to individuals when they begin to rebuild their lives.

Come on people!! Make my Pfaffie work!!

Now excuse me, I am so confident in you that I must go start sewing.

hurricane katrina
flood aid

I have figured out my bad kharma...

I have figured out my bad kharma these past few days.

On Sunday last I found a brilliant blog where a guy was supporting the Kansas State Board of Education's stand on Intelligent Design. He also asked the board to support his hypothosis that the world was created by a giant space spaghetti monster. It's was his theory of Intelligent Design.. and one ID theory should be as good as another, right?? (someone please help me find his blog...)

Anyway, I sent members of the board additional notes supporting this theory. And all hell broke loose in my personal life. Either God is a Kansan... or she's for ID.

Anyway, to redeem my bad kharma, I worked on charity quilts today.

Sorry for the fuzzy picture. I took this from the top of the steps. It looked clear in the viewfinder. Bad kharma is so evil!!

This is the finished BLANKIE FOR GROWNUP quilt. It was fun... you piece large 9 patch blocks, cut them up and repiece them to make this.


Now this brings up another problem... I am occasionally a terrible piecer. Really. Ask my friends... they'll probably agree with me in the comments if they're brave.

Bad enough that if the quilt police ever located me, they would shoot my sewing machine to put it out it's misery for having to piece for me. (my god, it's a Pfaff with built in even feed! Can you imagine it's shame when it goes into the shop? "Your owner sews like you're a new Singer!")

See? I can be a horrible piecer. This spot is supposed to match up and it's off by atleast 1/4"!!

However, this quilt will be given to a woman starting chemo therapy (most likely for breast cancer). Do you think she'll complain? Will she throw it off her lap in total disgust? I think not.

So onward to the obligatory RockStar comments from Wednesday night. Interesting that they expanded it to an hour (again?). Question for those who watch this show....Who else wants to copy the images on the back wall and somehow use them in fiber? as stamps or screens or appliques?

JD is not showing well.. still singing OK, but the interpersonal dynamics are showing frayed edges. And Jordis didn't answer her "what will you bring" question very well. I just can't believe that they sent Ty home. Was the voting really racist?? I hope not.

I'm wondering if we've seen the 3 finalists (marty, mig and suzie) and the next ones to go home...