Where Have I Been?

Where have I been? I've been working in the studio. For 9 days, my darling husband has watched my two daughters all day, all night, including meals and tantrums, so I could work in the studio. What a fantastic Christmas present.

I have been working on two pieces for She Made Her Mark, a juried exhibit being curated by Thelma Smith. I'm glad to say they are both finished, although I am not allowed to post pictures on my blog -- but if you want to see, you can email me and I'll send you a picture.

Happy New Year! I wish for all of us the same opportunity I had -- to work creatively in a supportive environment.

Surface Design

When I moved in with my husband (before we married, shhhh don't tell anyone) I promised I would not batik. Now why would I make such a promise? It was his house. He saw my house full of wax pots, vats of dye and mess everywhere. No thanks. So I painted, did assemblage art, made traditional quilts and remodeled a room in his (our) house every time he went on the road. (Really, remodeled. Once I took a sledge hammer and knocked out a ceiling, a wall and pulled up a floor.)

Last month our fiberart bee batiked and I brought a waxpot home. Joel sighed and said "Okay, I'll set you up." And he proceeded to set me up a wax studio in the garage. I have a really nice kitchen counter, cabinets, light and a radio. "Please, no dyeing. It's too messy," was his only request.

This month, our fiberart bee dyed fabric. I forgot my batik piece so I just dyed plain old PFD. I tried to imitate Laura Wazilowski's ArtFabrik which is beautiful. Laura Wazilowski I am not, but I am pleased with this attempt and will try again. The good news. . .
Joel saw the fabric and said. . .

"Okay, where do you want a sink."

Gotta love that husband!

Now I'm off to begin quilting Dolores.

Young Artists-in-training

Last week we had a passel full of girls playing at our house. I had asked my eldest daughter (6 1/2 years) to play with Barbies, Groovy Girls, Polly Pocket or any of the millions of toys they have -- and NO ART. I just couldn't face a huge cleanup with 4 girls making art and the associated mess.

A while later my daughter came in search of scissors. I asked what she needed them for and she said: "For my art project." I scolded her and reminded her of the request to play with anything, but not to make art.

She replied: "But Mom, all I like to do is art."

That statement blew me away. In the fraction of a second it took my mind to comprehend what she had said, I realized she was right. That is what she likes to do.

So I handed her the scissors and told her to have fun. The mess was huge, but "feeding" that budding artist is important.

Today my daughter asked me about my current piece and how I made it. I showed her, and then she asked if she could make one. Out came my box of fabric scraps (I save everything, as evidenced by the condition of my studio) and she selected a picture as her pattern. She and Sophia worked on their pieces for about an hour and then went outside to play.

Why do I write about this? To remind you to feed your kids art. It is as important as vegetables, fruit and protein.

Now back to the studio.

Here we are looking at Dolores and counting the number of fabrics I used.

Here is Sophia with her Christmas Egg.

Getting Reaquainted with My Janome

Two More Sweatshirts -- these for Sarah and Sophia.

No reindeer for Sarah -- she picked Santa! She loves Santa!

I realized today, as I finished two more sweatshirts, that it has been a long time since I sewed. I worked on Sally for most of the summer, and that work was done by hand. Another piece, not yet finished was also worked by hand.

As I get ready to begin quilting Dolores, it was a good thing I "wasted" two afternoons making sweatshirts for the girls and their friend. Now Janome and I are reaquainted and ready to work together to finish in time for my January 5 deadline.

Now back to the studio.

I have a Mary Akers original

"Foo Fee" by Mary Akers

I love art. I have a few original paintings by artists I admire. In November, I landed a Pamela Allen postcard from Virginia Spiegel's FiberArt for a Cause.

Tonight surpasses it all. At our "White Elephant" gift exchange, I was able to steal this from my good friend Sharon (I think she is still my friend). It is a piece by Mary Akers. Mary is an incredible artist and I am proud to have a piece of her work hang in my house!

I met Mary while taking Laura Cater-Woods workshop at Fiber on a Whim. Mary, like myself, found her art completely changed after the workshop. Powerful stuff.

The $72 Dollar Sweatshirt and how to waste an afternoon

My daughter has a standing playdate with her friend every Monday afternoon. Today, I knew I needed a craft activity to top the one they did at the friend's house last week.

Oh, I know, a little sweatshirt. I'll let them pick the picture and the fabric, I'll fuse and cut, they lay out, they can iron with supervision and I'll sew around the edges.

Only I needed a sweatshirt. And a red one since I was hoping for a Christmas theme. Off to Target, KMart, Big Lots, Kohl's, and Value City. No red sweatshirts. How can this be? It's December for goodness' sake, no red sweatshirts?

I resorted to the last resort, the place I hate most on this planet -- the dreaded Wal-Mart.

$72 later, I had three PINK sweatshirts (even WalMart didn't have red), some leggings for Sarah, a roll of parchment paper, a black turtleneck and a bottle of hand lotion.

Turns out the girls didn't really want to make sweatshirts.
Imagine that -- they just wanted to PLAY.

I can't believe I did it again! It's like being an ex-smoker (which I am). No matter how long you've been off cigarettes, just one puff and POOF you're hooked again. One step inside the doors of WalMart and POOF. . .

A good time for all!

The WLA at our best!!

Last night a group of friends got together and had a great time! We played in the studio, drank margaritas, enjoyed homemade salsa, carne asadas tacos, and delicious cheese and chocolate fondue.

Sally is going to IQF Houston in 2007

Sally is going to Houston!

This little guy is very fat and looks like he wants to bite your toe! Watch out!

I just received an email from Ann Flaherty that the Fabled Fibers Challenge quilts are going to be on display at the International Quilt Festival (Houston) in 2007. I made Sally Sells Sea Shells for that challenge, so folks. Sally's going to Houston!!

I guess that means I need to sew a 4" tucked sleeve to the back!

To read more about Sally click here, or here, or the funny story here!

P.S. Or here.