waterwork

just going with the flow

Seven Moons

on the edge today,

working with some of my indigo shibori

to create reverse appliqué moons,

inspired by Judy's work...

playing around with confining the edges...

ready to dive back into the water this evening...

swirling waters

 the recent rains and snows have the waters swirling

rushing over the stones

creating white water areas

satin stitched

with couched threads under the surface turmoil

they will flow and swirl

across the bottom of the

indigo dragon cloth



working on the moon

my best half worked this weekend

clearing the roads for those

who just have to be out and about in all sorts of weather

I stayed in and worked on the moon

making lots of running stitches lined up across the face

perfectly imperfect

setting the moon apart from the sky

I realized the appeal of the slow cloth

is the meditative state of the stitching

that lets the mind wonder at will

yet pulls it back to the task at hand

when the wandering becomes less than pleasurable

(the wonderful little box was gifted by my daughter and her woodworking husband)

indigo dragon also got a little attention

working on integrating his breath into the rest of the fabric

still needs more stitching but it's getting there

used the recycled jeans thread on these knots

I tried some running stitches with it as well

but it kept kinking and tangling

so I put it aside

will figure out what to do with it later

Jude suggests weaving with it

that might be a possibility

As predicted

Yesterdays weather omens proved correct. It is bitter today. Blowing snow, icy winds and we saw our high for the day in the wee hours with the temps slowly falling all morning. I'm hibernating with "Catching Fire", the sequel to "Hunger Game" and the indigo dragon. Maybe he can breath some fire to warm me up.

dragon moon

There's a full moon just beginning to wane in preparation for darker nights. Heavy frost crunched under footfalls this morning as snow clouds gathered overhead. As it became lighter the rising sun cast a crimson glow on the low dome of the heavens. The old folks say it's a harbinger; bad weather is on the way. Maybe some snow, but definitely colder. Tomorrow may be bitter. A blanket of snow and breath that steams.

As recycled denim legs were torn into strips, threads frayed from the edges. Upon closer inspection I found they were patterned with alternating white and blue. Incindental ikat. To wonderful to waste.

Gathering Stash

gathering blues this morning

some a bit intense for the indigo dragon

also a few whites

all from the stash

most recycled/gifted/thrifted

some a bit too intense

may need to refresh the vat

to make them more dragon worthy

may need to go into the vat

Book Arts--Like I Need Another Craft!

Last evening I attended a workshop

at Swain Center for the Arts.

The instructor was a wonderful

multitalented artist--

Phyllis Jarvinen.

Phyllis taught us the construction of

hardbound journals using

long stitch binding.

We used recycled fabrics

(thrifted by Phyllis)

for our covers.

Long stitch binding is exposed on

the spine of the book.

I had taken some heavy  threads to the class,

and this two strand cotton

perfectly matched the fabric I used for my cover.

Phyllis also brought a selection

of paste papers for

our endsheets.

Phyllis is an excellent instructor.

She gave clear concise instructions

and demonstrated each phase of the project.
I brought home a kit with sufficient materials

to make a second book.

I hope to later take another

workshop with her

to learn Coptic Binding.

Check out Phyllis's website. She also does photography--including pinhole camera photography, drawing, painting and printmaking. Like I said, she is a multi-talented lady.

Indigo Dragon

a piece from the indigo vat

folded and tied

gives birth to

indigo dragon

talons flexed

wings spread

another piece yields

misty swirls

indigo smoke and steam

the edges are softened

ready for stitching

blues to blend

indigo dragon

and his snowy world

thinking about

who & what will coexist with him?

Year of the Dragon

year of the dragon

has me thinking about

section of mural I painted on hallway wall outside my classroom

detail of mural outside my classroom

mythical winged creatures

roaming the countryside

(or the hallways and filing cabinets)

have they all disappeared

 or did they leave progeny

wings and talons

breathing fire and smoke

villainous marauders

or benevolent protectors

this fellow has been living on my filing cabinet for several years

he was brought to life

in marker and gel pen

 on a napkin

when the napkin is opened

you can see ghost images

emerging in the remaining corners

I'm thinking it may be time

for a transformation

maybe from paper to fabric

perhaps as a ghost of himself

with only traces of his original color

 emerging from the fibers...

Here & Now

spontaneous

serendipitous

ephemeral

creativity

Art II

fun

with collage

The Woman Who Called Quail

The subject of this piece is my great aunt, Virgie Crisp (now deceased). It is based on one of the few photos I have of her. She was what we call here in the mountains "a real character". Growing up, I spent almost every weekend (and as many weekdays as I could manage) with her and my Uncle Bart. They had no children, and I had no grandparents nearby, so we became surrogate grandchild/grandparents. She was very old fashioned and extremely interesting to be around. A day with them was filled with ballads, pranks, tom-foolery, riddles, laughter, and just plain fun. She had a wonderful singing voice and could mimic all sorts of sounds. On one occassion, she, Uncle Bart, and I were sitting on her front porch when Uncle Bart heard a quail call on the mountain in front of the house. When he remarked that he would love to have some quail for supper, she began whistling quail calls. Uncle Bart went inside and came out with his gun and waited as the answering calls got closer and closer. After a bit, here came a quail sneaking out of the underbrush in the fence row in front of the house. Without any gross details, he had quail for supper. I thought it was really interesting at the time, but thinking back, I realize this must not have been the first time this had happened. I have TONS of "Virgie and Bart" stories, as do my children. My daughter and I have both begun writing them down because they are just too precious to lose.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Dividing a circle

Judy has me thinking about dividing a circle

Judy Martin's Manitoulin Circle Project
photo from
http://judys-journal.blogspot.com/2012/01/lower-half.html
beautiful and inspiring work

...two halves of the infinite...begining and end inseparable

i need some time
with this inspiration
for
thoughts and images
to coalesce

resonate

evolve

quoting Judy "when a horizontal line divides a circle, the lower half is like the ark and represents water, while the upper half is like the rainbow or heaven or sometimes called the upper water"

I had never considered this concept, but I find it resonating in my mind

 conjuring images and symbolism

in which the ark stands for redemption/absolution but ultimately for LOVE;

the rainbow being a covenant represents COMMITMENT.

Without one the other is somehow incomplete?

 Like the way the bottom of the circle would rock/teeter

and the top always wants to pour out its contents?

Am I making any sense at all? I feel as if I am rambling!

All these whirling thoughts and images need some time to settle and coalesce in my mind.

Thanks Judy for the mental nudge.

 I needed it today as I have been in a bit of a brain fog!

Little Wren-Hidden from View

I always love to peak at the back side of a piece of handwork...

to see the underpinning of the part presented to the world...

to examine the frayed ends, knots, and snarly bits hidden from view...

sometimes those are important to the story...

they help make the seen visible...

kinda like our lives...

the parts no one sees make us who we are...

often they are more important than the facade...

the front (multiple connotations here) we present to others...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Little Wren is finished

seems like forever

since this piece

was started

but it's finally

finished

oops

looking at the detail

it seems

there are not feet

back to the thread bag

for a few more stitches

oh well

such is life

: D