Disappearing Act

Hi All!
It is hard to believe that it is December already, and even harder to believe that I have not been sharing all that I have been up to since September. It has been hard at times over this period because I had injured my back and am only know getting relief.

It has also been a pretty creative time for me, too. Since last May I have been taking a few workshops relating to metal and resin work, and taking a college sculpture class at Paducah Art & Design.

The biggest change brought about by all this infusion of 'metal stuff' has been the building of a metals studio in my basement. There is plenty of room down there so back in July I had my trusted handyman Bob begin the transformation process by installing new lighting and separate circuits to handle my kiln.... yes, folks my kiln. The first thing discovered on putting up the lighting was just how much the floors needed to be swept.

With lighting up, clean up done the space was fitted out with an exhaust system and a new sink installed. Purchases made of enamels and equipment -- (a new close bond with the UPS guy) and the play began.

This is what the space looks like -- one side for enameling -- the other for metal working.

and, the pictures below are some of first pieces that I have made.

When I began this newest journey I had wanted to mix these in with my textiles. Tomorrow I will share a bit of what steps I have taking to mix it up with these 'little metal' pieces.

The Bomb hit the streets in Paducah

As the busy month of September rolled around for everyone in Paducah, Valerie Pollard and I along with a great group of official bombers hit the streets. The last Monday in August dawned lovely - felt like a beautiful fall morning - the perfect day to get all the trees surrounding Market House Square downtown get dressed up for all the events in September.

16 trees are now dressed in finery for the month.

Valerie and I have been planning and preparing since last December and we had sooooo many people that helped us pull this off!

Hats off to you all!!

Kitten vs Yarn - Paducah Fiber Bombing

Summer is here and we're stitching, knitting, crocheting and pompom making like crazy. The only thing we need now is YOU!

We're planning to cover the trees in Market Square, downtown Paducah for the month of September and we could sure use your help.

Details here:

for more details on what to make and send check out our page on Facebook --
Paducah Fiber Bombing

do . good

I am excited to be part of my friend Natalie Barnes rollout of her new fabric. Appearing this week for all to see at Quilt Market.

This is her second line of fabric though
Windam Fabrics and is called
"Makers Home".
Leave it to Natalie to come up with a way to make my sample and the samples of the other 8 quilt artists designing for her/ using her new line be part of something BIGGER that will help 'LOTS'.

After the quilt unveiling at Quilt Market, all will be up for auction on-line with ALL proceeds going to charity.

I chose our local (no kill)
Project Hope Humane Society.
After all, a house without a pet
is just not a home to me.

Here are all the details!!!

 these are all the quilters.

This is my quilt...

the others can be seen over on the ebay-auction site.

click . over
join . in
do  .  good

All Day Everyday-Everyday All Day

Healing comes to each of us in many ways.

Mine began as I began making a quilt to honor the memory of 'my' Edgar. You all have heard or seen my many posts on him, now I wanted to share his quilt and some of the photos I took along the way as I was stitching.

It started with photos --
Photos that I printed in black & white, then I took a china white pencil to begin identifying various parts.
Being a black cat there was always a hard time capturing his highlights, but I think I was able to pull these out of the photos.

Next came the piecing -- using Fast-Piece Applique of course, but I felt just because he was a black cat did not mean that it all had to be black fabric.

I created Edgar on his own then selected a background fabric where I could write all his stories-journal style. Below I show a couple of detail shots showing how this was done.

Here he is -- all Edgar -- all 4.5feet of him.

 

It is called--
All Day Everyday - Everyday All Day

Healing and Stitching

When great loss strikes I have found that the most important thing I can do to come out from under the covers is to use my art to take the first step towards beginning to heal. Under those covers I feel immobilized… unable to breathe at times, but once I start to create something… anything… to capture those feelings in a creative, loving way that letting go starts. It may start with notes I start writing, or little sketches of seemingly overwhelming memories, then for me comes the fabric and the stitching.

As the process continues, a piece of art begins to emerge. The art is the outward sign of the healing, but the breathing in and out becomes easier with each stitch.

Back in 2000 when I lost my fur-buddy Vincent, I found myself in this space and it took a long time but what emerged was a memorial quilt to my blue-eyed boy. I am posting these here, possibly the idea may help someone else take a first step after loss to finding a way back. Then again, these pictures are acting as a placeholder for another memorial quilt that is underway for Edgar… making me feel better stitch-by-stitch.  

 

Art & Healing

I have been floundering since loosing Edgar and have been trying to find something to get me moving again. It made me think about the loss of another beloved little soul - Vincent. Vinnie, like Edgar is one of those fur babies that always will be with me and when he passed there was a long suffering in my personal work, but I remembered what really pulled me through was making a memorial quilt for him.

This thought immediately made me feel like I had a purpose...making an Edgar quilt. Like Edgar himself the quilt will be larger than life. Then while chatting with my sister she asked me if I was going to use velveteen -- soft like the boy himself. 

Well, I think you can see where this is going. I haven't been in my velveteen bin for quite a while... such a perfect place to begin... thinking and developing ideas on just how to create a proper memorial quilt for Edgar.

Out came the bin and I couldn't believe what I found as I pulled, sorted and remembered the history of all this fabric. A considerable amount of the velveteen had been manipulated while in my Tuesday art group. There were pieces that were: Dyed, painted, waxed, stamped, indigo dyed, and bleached.

All of this fabric and leftover bits and pieces held memories of so many projects created over the years & also hold the promise of all infinite possibilities of things to come. Just what I needed.

Who knew what memories, wisdom and experience was in a tub of fabric?