Holy Crap! It is 2 months since my last entry! I swore last time I was going to post once a week. It’s not that I just haven’t written – but I have been busy!. I finished my very experimental piece. It has 2 titles. 1) “Firmament” – the space between heaven and earth where there is no focus. It is the place “between being and becoming”, where nothing is solid – all is in motion . This piece also represents “My Winter” – This the stage of my life that I am entering now – I am no longer as vibrant as I once was. However, I have much more texture, depth and dimension. And a few more wrinkles too. What I love about this piece (which photographs quite differently depending on the light) is how it honors fabric. It is composed of layers – commercial batik, hand dyed silk and organza, cheesecloth and hand stitched. The texture of fabric is the focus!
Next I took a Fabric dye class with Bonnie Bucknam and in one day I hand dyed 20 yards of fabric! It was experimental experience to say the least. (This is my favorite result –as well as all 20 yds). And it took 2 days to do rinse them –“until the water ran clear” and another day to recover. I love color so this was a real treat for me.
And week ago I took Betty Busby’s 3 day workshop through Columbia Fiber Guild. The photo shows what I made in 3 days— We painted silk, and cotton, made sun prints with leaves and funky textures, used one on my favorite supplies- Shiva paint sticks in a totally new way for me, Betty cut out my original design in her silhouette printer on a non-woven surface; we colored the fabrics with more paint, ink tense pencils and all sorts of markers. AND THE LIST GOES ON! It was a whirlwind experience and so much fun.
Finally I am making a ‘beta test’ of stitching a whole cloth graphic piece…. I need to find out about heavier thread…
Now I have all these new tools and fabric – I think I will have to continue to experiment for a while longer—so I can get a clearer vision of what I want to make.
Hopefully I will write more frequently – and I am always thrilled to be making art!
So lovely to hear about the joy you are having in your creative process! You have the perspective of an exuberant child and the soul of a true artist!
I look forward to any thing you choose to share here!
thanks so much.
Sounds like you are in your “element”!
Sorry I have been (and am still) gone so much, but we will definitely have a coffee date this summer!
Beautiful work!
thanks! Keep me posted when you are around
Wow! So beautiful, just like you!
thank you —
hope all is well with you and andy!