Jennifer Coyne Qudeen

The beauty of it all

2012-03-04T07:57:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks that flies by one minute only to drag on forever the next? A week that's full of ups and downs, good news and bad? That's been my week.

Creative type decisions have been made...as well as a few marks.

rust circles #28 detail

rust circles #27 detail

Long forgotten treasures were unearthed and given a chance to shine

rust circles #27 just unbundled...with a bit of my shadow

only to leave me with more what ifs.

What if I tried to rust a triple circle next? Hmm... That's when creative type decision #2 was made - more cotton is definitely needed. Time to order 20 yard bolt #3.

About this time, still reeling from the realization that bolt #3 was needed, I learned that Susan Makara, stone whisperer, painter extraordinaire and my friend, has been named the Torpedo Factory Artist of the Year for 2012. This is quite an honor and I couldn't be more thrilled. I'm also the proud owner of 3 Makaras, the cairn above being my favorite.

The weather seemed to be in a funk this week with snow, rain and fog nearly every day. I took advantage of this and set overtired gears outside to rest and develop more rust while I enjoyed the view from my desk.

rust circles #31

Then yesterday afternoon, following a very chilly, misty and extremely foggy morning, the temperatures raised, the clouds left, the sun shone and beauty arrived.

Fragile Beauty II by Fiona Dempster

What a glorious way to end the week! Now...where to hang my fragile beauties.

Thank you Fiona!!!

On the drying board

2012-03-02T06:09:00.000-05:00

A sneak peak

at what's happening in the studio this morning.

#26

2012-02-29T05:51:00.002-05:00

Still happily rusting away.

rust circles #26 detail 1

rust circles #26 detail 2

Light and shadows

2012-02-26T20:37:00.002-05:00

Sunday

morning

afternoon

What if #52

2012-02-26T06:40:00.003-05:00

There's something that I've wondering about for a bit, yet simply hadn't taken the time to try. This morning, with the house deliciously quiet after yesterday's cupcake decorating birthday party for the girls that had over 40 people in our house...which is far too many people to have in this house at one time no matter how much fun all were having, I decided to do just do it and see what it looked like.

So, without further adieu, I give you what if #52.

85

2012-02-25T08:26:00.000-05:00

85?

Yes. Give or take 1 or 2 for faulty counting.

85 pieces of cotton, organza and cheese cloth,

in sizes from ranging from 3" x 9" to 60" x 72"

have been rusted so far this rusting season.

Light and shadows

2012-02-24T05:52:00.000-05:00

rust circles #22

Thursday's afternoon light and shadows

Thursday's window

2012-02-23T12:03:00.000-05:00

Circles within circles.

Small and large.

Light and dark.

Positive and negative.

Today's arrangement to ponder over.

On the drying board

2012-02-23T06:11:00.002-05:00

I've been numbering this season's rusty circles, if only to keep track of how many are produced. Right now, the number also serves as the piece's temporary name. They'll get their real name later.

This little bundle of rust joy

just became #22.

Wednesday morning

2012-02-22T10:30:00.001-05:00

I decided to hang a piece of tea rusted cotton over the window nearest my desk this morning since it was getting the most sunlight.

As cool as I think it looks, especially with the vertical lines of the window panes showing,

it was this view from my desk that appealed the most. Not a bad combination of colors and circles. There just might be a piece in there somewhere. What do you think?

Light

2012-02-21T07:09:00.000-05:00

Seeing things

in a different light

time spent unwrapping

a bundle

discovering it's surprises

Ahhh...back to my season of rusting.

Dinosaur brainitis

2012-02-20T07:35:00.001-05:00

It's amazing what a difference a good night's sleep can make in one's views on things...such as copyright in this internet age.

It also helps to have a husband who is far more internet savvy and can explain the internet culture in a way that even my dinosaur of a brain can understand and get around.

What helps even more is to have fellow artists share their view on the subject.

Thank You!

Last night's...hmmm...temper tantrum, rant, explosion of words, insanity, naivety...pick your favorite for they all apply - was an eye opener for me. Well, not the rant, but the discussions that have followed.

While I still don't want anyone taking my photo and claiming it or the subject matter as their own and certainly do not want anyone to profit from it, I have come to the realization that my view of copyright as it applies to the internet was very outdated and unrealistic on so many levels.

As a result, I changed my copyright to one of creative commons this morning. It gives permission to copy and share my photos as long as attribution is given...which is exactly what was done with Pinterest anyway.

My most sincere apologies to everyone for my outburst last night. I really should have refrained from hitting the publish button. Then again, it is great hear how others feel on the subject.

Copyright

2012-02-19T21:13:00.003-05:00

I need your help, your advise, your wisdom...on the subject of copyright.

Let me start by saying that copyright is a serious issue to me. I have one listed in the sidebar of this blog. In fact, it's the second item in the sidebar, just below the photo of me, so it should be a bit difficult to miss.

Maybe I'm being naive, but I do expect my copyright to be honored by visitors to my blog just as I honor copyrights listed on other's blogs. If you want to post one of my photos from this blog somewhere, in this case to Pinterest, I truly do expect to be asked permission to use my photo.

While perusing the blog's stats tonight, I noticed that 7 visitors had come by way of Pinterest this week. It struck me as a bit odd considering that I do not have a Pinterest account. Tumblr and Flickr, yes. Pinterest, no.

So...how did Pinterest end up being a referral site for 7 visits? Good question. I checked out the referring url section of the blog stats and clicked on the referring url listed. Sure enough, there's one of my rusty circles photos with from jennifercoynequdeen.blogspot.com listed above it.

But wait...over to left is a box that says also from jennifercoynequdeen.blogspot.com and showing two other photos of mine. All of this done without my knowledge, without my permission.

HELP!!!

Right now I'm ready to fill out Pinterest's copyright infringement form for 3 people. One of whom is a mentor of a friend.

HELP!!!

I'm so furious that I can't think straight!!!!!!! It's taken 45 minutes to write this post because I keep making so many mistakes.

What would you do? Please. What would you do in this case?

I know that any photos I post to Tumblr are open for reblogging. If one of my Tumblr photos had made its way to someone's Pinterest page, that would be fine. The same holds for anything posted to Flickr. But not to this blog. Or am I being ridiculously naive?

HELP!!! PLEASE!!!

Folds

2012-02-18T21:56:00.002-05:00

Soaked in tea.

Tea soaked in.

Waiting to be bundled

around a rusty circle.

Reflective

2012-02-18T09:22:00.001-05:00

As I sit here in the studio this morning, I find myself reflecting on the week and realizing just how tired I was...physically, mentally, creatively.

Odd that. One would think that a week's vacation would have provided the needed rest. One would think. However, try a week's vacation with very active 5 year old twins and...well...need I say more?

To those who sent a note, whether via this blog, email or Facebook, on my wistfulness during the week and the trials the week included - having to act as a human straight jacket to hold Ellie still enough so she could get the last two vaccinations required to begin kindergarten in the fall with her crying and screaming like a banshee the whole time - I say a most heartfelt Thank you! for your caring, understanding, sharing, wisdom and humor.

Now...back to art before I get all teary eyed...yeah...I'm a softy at heart, but don't tell anyone.

If you've ever perused the list of my favorite art blogs, you'll have seen Judy's Journal listed. Continually in awe of Judy's work, I found myself reading her new biography and, well...becoming even more in awe of this amazing artist. So inspiring.

Yesterday morning while getting ready to Skype with Pam, the sun was streaming through the window nearest where I'd planned to sit and causing huge reflections on the computer screen. With visions of Elizabeth's - she of be...dream...play - gloriously covered windows dancing in my mind, I hung a piece of tea rusted cotton in hopes of softening the light.

Later, with the afternoon sun streaming in the covered window, I just couldn't resist taking a shot. The studio was bathed in a rusty tea glow.

house shaped sun catcher that was a housewarming gift from Pam when we moved to Connecticut

With shadows and reflections swirling in my creative mind, I walked back into the kitchen and looked at the refrigerator. The refrigerator? you're no doubt thinking. Yep. Our stainless steel refrigerator.

Liz Davidson - this one is for you. For Liz's stunning photos of reflections on her refrigerator, click here.

Here's to a lovely, creative weekend for us all!

Wistful

2012-02-15T20:43:00.005-05:00

The girls are asleep. My husband is traveling until Friday. The cats are curled up near my feet as I sit here at my studio desk and wistfully look around the room.

to my left

straight ahead

to my right

I need to respond to emails from friends that came in last week while we were on vacation. Need to edit more photos of the trip to update my other blog. Need to work on pieces begun and abandoned. Need to rust more cotton. Need to sit and wistfully look around the studio because it isn't going to happen today no matter how many what ifs are flitting through my mind right now. Ever have one of those days?

Rust circles #20

2012-02-13T06:51:00.001-05:00

We're back from vacation. Back to cold weather, but surprisingly no snow. The girls are disappointed. I'm okay with it.

After a very restless sleep...thanks to one of the cats being overjoyed that we've returned and who wanted me to play all night...I stumbled into the kitchen, fixed a pot of jasmine tea, grabbed a rice cake and headed back up to the studio. There was unwrapping to be done, after all.

Rust circles #20 was unbundled and hung to dry before my tea began to cool. I think that rusty circle deserves to be set outside to soak up some sun and rejuvenate a bit. What do you think?

Curious?

2012-02-11T07:46:00.002-05:00

If you're wondering just what I've been up to this week that has kept me from posting...while on vacation...check out The Adoption Chronicles.

Temptation

2012-02-03T21:15:00.001-05:00

I swore to myself...and Pam...that I wasn't going to do it. Wasn't going to leave a piece rusting while we're on vacation. Didn't want to over tax a rusty bit. They were all going to have nice little break too.

However, the temptation to do so and my own curiosity were just too strong to resist.

A 60" x 72" piece of cotton, that soaked most of the afternoon, was just bundled up around a gorgeously rusted, heavy as can be, single circle of iron.

The very same one, in fact, that produced the lovely circles on the right above. It's currently resting comfortably in a bag by the window where it can soak up some sun. Not sure if that really has any effect, but it's a good resting place. After all, that rusty circle is going to be working pretty hard until we return.

Now...back to packing!

The last 2

2012-02-03T08:21:00.001-05:00

rust circles #18

rust circles #17

...until we return from vacation, that is.

PEACE stones by Fiona Dempster

Wishing you all a peaceful and creative week.

Viewpoint

2012-02-01T11:33:00.000-05:00

The view from my desk.

A day to remember

2012-01-29T07:51:00.001-05:00

Saturday was one of those rare days that involved a trip into New York. This time to visit the Museum of Art and Design, but, most importantly, to meet Fiona and Barry...in person, that is! I've been fairly dancing in place all week trying to contain my excitement...Australia being a fair distance from Connecticut and all.

We've had kind of...well...yucky weather this past week, but Mother Nature cooperated yesterday with a sunny warm winter day. I took the train in as usual and enjoyed a brisk walk to the museum. While waiting for the light at one point, I was perusing the skyline when something in an office window caught my eye.

Can you see it?

The bat signal?

Needless to say, a Holy smoke Batman! It's the bat signal escaped my lips only seconds before a chuckle did which was followed by a big smile at childhood memories of watching Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt and others. The light soon turned and it was off to MAD to meet up with Fiona and Barry.

Fiona and me. Photo taken by Barry.

Currently at MAD is the exhibit Hanging Around, Necklaces from the MAD Collection. Two of my favorite pieces are Giorgio Vigna's glass bubbles necklace, Gorgoglio and

Choonsoon Moon's necklace of cardboard, plastic and elastic. The graphic simplicity coupled with the materials and textural aspect of this piece were fascinating. My fingers were itching to touch and try it on. Alas, the glass enclosure and ever watchful guard ensured otherwise.

staircase looking down

The other piece that held me entranced was Shihoko Fukumoto's Tea Ceremony Room.

Woven with indigo dyed linen, it was ethereal and my photos are poor representations of this magnificent work. As I studied and admired it from outside, I imagined the experience of sitting inside its quietness, watching the breeze play on the linen panels while the scent of jasmine tea teased the air. Serenity.

Junco Sato Pollack's Cascade II of folded and stitched silver, silk organza and gold leaf was another that teased the senses.

While photographing the stitching and the finished edges, the shadows caught my eye.

All too soon, it was time to exit MAD, but not before I chanced another upward glance...this time from the bottom of the staircase.

Over lunch, Fiona, Barry and I chatted and laughed, exchanging stories like old friends who haven't seen each other in a while, catching up on our lives and discussing future plans. It was...well... quite simply, wonderful. A treasured time. A day to remember.

Thank you Fiona and Barry for including me in your vacation. I hope the rest of it is as enjoyable as yesterday.

Stacks

2012-01-27T09:57:00.001-05:00

Winter has become my rusting season.

I've become a rusting fool.

Too true. Too true.

Still...

2012-01-24T07:18:00.000-05:00

...going in circles.

In the studio

2012-01-22T07:56:00.002-05:00

My rusty drop cloth.

The possibilities it offers.

Interviews

2012-01-21T08:12:00.001-05:00

Check out these interviews of Elizabeth Bunsen of be...dream...play over at Finally Me and Leslie Avon Miller of textures shapes and colors at to live poetry. Then go for a tumble to see Anca Gray's amazing work.

What if?

2012-01-21T05:16:00.001-05:00

what if?
they filled a large gallery space
us - circling your magnificent circle series

That's part of a response left by Elizabeth of Be...Dream...Play... in answer to my query of her thoughts on my idea of making a series of the large rusty circles...with pieces measuring 30" wide x 72" long...and maybe even a few 58-60" squares.

Since reading Elizabeth's lovely answer, I've been seeing it...the gallery space filled with my circles. The funny part...to me...is that normally I can't do this with my own work. Can't see the exhibition. Not really. Not with any clarity. With others' work, yes. My own, no.

Ask Pam. One glance at her work and full blown stories spew forth. She's seen and heard me in action. I look at one of her visually and texturally exquisite works and can see the light playing on a section, can see the movement caused by the stirring of the air as people stroll by or stop to look or simply breathe nearby...can see exactly how it would hang. Can see...

I can do this with a few others' work as well. But never with my own. Not in the same way. Until Elizabeth's comment. By the time Pam and Fiona concurred, my creative mind was on overdrive and the muses were whispering furiously. Nearly everything was sorted out - except the actual location of the exhibit. Two local galleries come to mind and one has distinct possibilities.

Of course, I'm getting way ahead of myself. First, enough work has to be completed and photographed to even be able to apply for a solo show. I'm working on that part. As for the rest, I can see it. Can you?

Just maybe...

2012-01-17T06:02:00.000-05:00

...I found the solution to yesterday's question. Maybe. Then again, it could be a fluke.

circles #9 wet, just unwrapped

drying board yesterday

dry

Yesterday's quandary was how to keep the saturation of color and hard (-ish) lines that a newly unbundled and still wet piece has once dry.

Given that winter has set in with morning temps in the 20's - and not wanting to freeze another length of rusted fabric - I've been hanging everything in the studio to fan dry. I'd also been rusting very wet fabric until recently so the fan was necessary to keep from making a mess.

It was almost as if with the forced drying, the "wind" forced the colors to bleed. Once sharpish lines when wet became...well...no where near sharp when dry. Saturated colors lightened tremendously when dry also...possibly from the amount of bleeding?

Yesterday's piece was pleasantly damp rather than dripping wet so I decided to let it air dry. No fan. The black still dried to gray, but a more defined gray. The edges stayed instead bleeding into unidentifiable blobs. Hmmm...lesson learned or just a fluke? I'll find out in a bit when circles #10 is unbundled and left to air dry.

Is it possible?

2012-01-15T10:56:00.002-05:00

Today's question of the day is

is it possible to keep the saturation of color the fabric has when wet

once it has dried?

Of course, this is the question that I ask pretty much every time a piece of rusted fabric is drying. Most of the photos on this blog are taken while the fabric is still wet, having just been unwrapped, unfolded and spread on my work table. I do edit the photos in Photoshop so that they look nice via cyberspace, but still...

How to keep the lovely strength of the colors once dry? Not that the dried version of circles #8 is horrible, but the wet version was scrumptious. Such is my dilemma.

If you'd care to a few more artsy type shots of circles #8, come tumble with me.

Another Saturday night

2012-01-14T21:50:00.001-05:00

The girls are asleep.

The husband is downstairs watching football.

Me?

I'm in the studio


stitching

on discharged cotton

while watching the last Harry Potter.

Just hanging around

2012-01-14T05:36:00.003-05:00

Thought I'd give you a peak at what's hanging on the drying wall this morning.

2 rusted for a day. 2 longer. I know my favorite. Which is yours?

PS After unwrapping a rusty bundle containing a large, heavy gear, it's best to make note of where you set the gear on the floor. Be careful not to walk into it and, possibly, break a toe. Ouch! Expletive deleted!!!!!!

Breathless

2012-01-13T14:15:00.001-05:00

This terrifyingly magnificent video was posted over at Colossal. After watching it - not daring to breathe, full body goosebumps, in total awe of the surfers and, ultimately, the water - well...it needed to be shared. Best viewed full screen if possible.

More Surfing Videos

Sometimes...

2012-01-13T05:08:00.003-05:00

...soaking the whole piece of cotton turns out just fine.

In the studio

2012-01-12T11:47:00.000-05:00

xxxxxxxx

patch 3 hand stitched to the rust boro piece

keeping it simple

Grace

2012-01-10T05:22:00.000-05:00

Listen to your life...See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moment and life itself is grace. Frederick Beuchner

I found this most exquisite quote on Bridgette Guerzon Mill's blog, Contemplating the Moon, this morning and just had to share it.

Not so much

2012-01-09T07:04:00.001-05:00

From circles

to squares

to rectangles

and now lines.

All to be used in good time. And, as usual, rusting one piece sparked an idea. When the line above was unfolded, it looked like this.

Folded in thirds and wrapped so the cotton circled the gear once, this piece rusted over 5 days. In places, I managed to match the lines perfectly. In places, not so much. It's the not so much areas that had me seeing a finished piece made of numerous sections of lines sewn together boro style. Can you see it? I can.

2 years

2012-01-08T07:55:00.003-05:00

Sunday, January 10, 2010, found me just where I am right now - at my favorite Starbucks, enjoying the early morning quiet, sipping my chai and pondering how to start. My laptop had accompanied me, as usual, and after blog surfing for a bit, I sat with my hands poised over the keyboard for what felt like hours, but in truth was more like 10 or 15 minutes. My mind was blank and overflowing at the same time.

How to start? What to say? Will anyone read it? Why am I doing this? Do I really want to do this? How long will I do this? What am I doing? How to start? How to start?!? Just write something! Anything! But what? Just write!!!

And so I did.

It's funny. That first post was an introduction. The second a confession...of my love affair with rust. The third was about experimentation, storytelling and my friendship with Pam Sullivan. Two years later finds me writing about the same topics, but on a whole different level...I think...I hope.

Curiosity got the better me this morning and I checked the stats for a few things that you might find interesting:

According to Blogger stats, the 2 posts with the most all time pageviews are Sketchbook Project - Liz Davidson and Washington, DC, both from April 2011.

While my home country tops the audience list, there seems to be a following in Australia. No doubt this is due to Fiona Dempster of Paper Ponderings as she was kind enough to include my blog in her inspirational people and places list. Actually, Paper Ponderings tops the all time lists for referring URL as well as site. Judy's Journal and Facebook, respectively, are close seconds.

It's the aspects of the blogging world that Blogger stats doesn't and can't track that really count. It's the connections made with kindred spirits, the friendships forged, the exchange of ideas, the comraderie, the sharing and caring of the creative community.

From me to you, a most heart felt thank you for visiting my blog, for sharing your thoughts and insights, for expanding my world.

Guerilla rusting

2012-01-07T21:09:00.001-05:00

I've been eyeing this sign on my street for a month or so now, wondering just how it would rust. Today was the day - with temps in the low 60's - to wrap it in vinegar-soaked cotton wrapped with waxed linen thread and, finally, wrapped in plastic wrap (a whole of wrapping going on here...) for protection from the elements.

Just do it

2012-01-05T11:50:00.002-05:00

Since finally arriving at the correct arrangement of the story squares, I've been wondering how they'd look once sewn together. What changes would connecting them bring? Would they still flow as well with just a bit missing...tucked behind in the seam? Would I sew them together and immediately regret it?

This morning I decided that there was only one way to find out and that was to just do it. So I did.

4 stories

2012-01-04T20:53:00.000-05:00

It's been quiet in my studio lately. No whispering. No barely stifled giggles. Just a bunch of rusty squares hanging around, being lazy, watching me experiment with other rusty stuff.

Since December 15, all has been well. I thought the arrangement was right...until this morning. Still no whispers or giggles at my expense. Instead, it was a glance that did it. Mine. Not their's.

I was sitting at my desk doing a bit of computer type work, but my eye kept being drawn to the story squares. Something just wasn't quite right so I set about rearranging the bottom two rows. Much better, don't you think?

Sneak peak

2012-01-03T06:54:00.001-05:00

Seems I've been going in circles lately.

newly unbundled and still damp

detail

dry and in dire need of ironing

The shape of things

2012-01-02T06:59:00.001-05:00

2012 promises to be filled with more

circles, rectangles and a few odds and ends.

2012

2012-01-01T07:56:00.000-05:00

What is it about the turning of the calendar to January 1 that holds such promise, that whispers of hope and a fresh start, that hints at exciting times ahead? It really is just another day. But oh! What a day!

For myself, 2011 was a good year. Creatively, I adopted the mantras of keep it simple and just do it. And they worked...especially just do it. Both were repeated often enough to have become good friends who helped me move past my fears of failure, of creating something ugly, of not knowing what it is I'm doing. I'm keeping those mantras close in 2012 and adding a third.

You see, during my December visit with Pam, we made a list of goals for 2012 as well as a list of what ifs. At some point, I commented that I feel like I need to focus...to decide just what it is I'm doing - discharging, rusting or printing on fabric. Or...maybe...finding a way to combine the three, but mostly, I need to focus. It was a little comment in the midst of everything we discussed those days, yet Pam remembered. FOCUS and

are my Christmas presents from her. Thank you Pam! As always, you've sent the perfect gift.

Here's to 2012. May we all have a magically creative year. May we all have the chance to focus on our dreams. And may you all have a friend like Pam in your life.

Painting

2011-12-29T06:38:00.000-05:00

I've been painting a bit lately. No, no, not with oils or acrylic or watercolors even, rather with a tea/vinegar mixture. Any painters who happen to stumble upon this post are probably thinking that I've gone totally bonkers...and that may just be true. Still...

The hard line on the left above resulted from painting a line of tea/vinegar on dry cotton in an attempt to rust a bold line down the piece. The hard line is actually where the mixture/rust bled and was totally unplanned, but very welcome.

Fast forward to a few days after this happened and you'd have found me standing in the studio looking at relic and experiencing an aha! moment. A what if moment.

What if I rusted a piece solely by painting the area that I wanted to rust rather than soaking the whole piece of cotton? After searching in my treasure box for just the right bit, I decided to rust a rectangular grid pattern.

The cotton twill was folded to nearly the size of the rectangle (sorry, but I don't know what the piece really is in construction terms...hence calling it the rectangle) and the tea/vinegar was painted on the top layer only.

Oddly enough, some of the mixture still managed to soak through to the other layers, yet only the very top rusted.

On round two, more of the cotton was painted and the rectangle was folded inside.

As with the circle grid, this bundle is being opened, repositioned and rebundled each morning, with the exception of over Christmas when we were visiting family.

Five days of undisturbed rusting left quite an impression on the fabric. The heavy rust will wear away through handling...unless I figure out how to keep it there.

This morning's results.

My plan is to continue until the whole piece is covered. How long that will take depends several things - how big an area is painted, how it is refolded, how wet the fabric becomes from being painted with such a thin mixture, how long it is left to rust each time, what effect the vinegar and continued rusting has on the rectangle....

Stay tuned for...weekly?...updates on this piece.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Screen printing

2011-12-21T12:18:00.001-05:00

Been doing a bit of screen printing this week...

of the rusty variety, of course.

Monday through Friday - printing screens, building layers and color.

In case you want a better look at the fabric along the way, the full shots from the mosaic are below.

Stacks

2011-12-20T07:01:00.001-05:00

Back in September, Seth Apter over at The Altered Page decided to embrace his fondness for stacks in the studio and asked others not only to do so, but to share them in a post entitled...what else?...Stackoholics Anonymous. I considered participating, but just never quite seemed to get around to photographing mine.

This morning, midst needing to make room on my work table to open bundles, it occurred to me that there's a nice little stack of fabrics that have been accumulating since Thanksgiving and the adage of better late than never came to mind. So, without further adieu, here's my guilty pleasure stack.

This is actually a good record of what has transpired in the studio since the semi-disastrous experiment with the cranberries. As I seem to be on a roll rusting right now, it's tempting to just keep adding to the stack and see how high and varied it gets before the 2012 artist retreat.

Sneak peak

2011-12-19T06:52:00.000-05:00

Thought you might enjoy a quick peak at one of the experiments rusting in the studio.

Circles

2011-12-18T08:02:00.000-05:00

I semi-jokingly commented a few posts ago that winter seems to be my rusting season. After mulling the thought over, I decided to really embrace it and experiment like mad.

This past week found me waking early...4:30 am-ish early...brewing a pot of tea - to drink, not rust with - and getting to work in the studio opening bundles, taking photos, repositioning rusted elements, rebundling and rebagging, setting aside and then beginning my real day job.

Layers, repeated patterns, both. That's what I'm playing with. I kept looking at the rusty bits and my creative mind was seeing this piece

which was discharged during the summer using wine corks dipped in bleach. The repetition of pattern and uniqueness of each circle resonates with me. So...you know what's next. Yep. Rusted circles.

At various stages during the week.

Opened Friday morning. Still wet.

No hanging outside to dry this time.

Dry. Needs ironing.

Working on this piece generated plenty of what ifs to experiment with along the way. Using circles, of course! I really should write them down while they're fresh in my mind.

Pam - I need to start a rusty what if list, don't you think? Be on the lookout and feel free to add to it.

Tea time

2011-12-17T08:02:00.000-05:00

It probably seems like all I've been doing in the studio this week is shuffling around rusted squares, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together correctly so that they'll stop laughing at me and finally share their stories with me. That assumption is right...and then not.

Do you remember tea time? I've had to start naming the fabrics so that I can keep them straight.

The last post on this piece ended with me deciding to go back in and add more lines/stripes.

And that was done. Monday morning (above left) it was opened and looked pretty good. Then I decided to hang it outside to dry...in 20-something degree weather. Obviously my brain was experiencing a freeze of its own because that is exactly what had happened to the fabric when I went out later to see if it was dry. (above right)

Yes. It was frozen. In one big sheet of cotton...to the line even. Oh! The laughter can be heard, even via cyber space. I know who's laughing...and who's wondering if she should try this rusting method to see what results she gets. Or perhaps she's already tried?

Detail and color that is so lovely and vivid when wet gets lost in the drying, I know, but lines had totally disappeared as had the purple/black from the tea. Still wanting at least one strong stripe, I painted in a line of tea/vinegar, placed two rusted rectangles, re-bundled it, let it set for 24 hours, then repeated the process the next morning.

An unexpected...certainly unthought of...thing resulted from painting the line with such a thin mixture. It bled. And in a most wonderful way. See the hard edged wavy line above...to the left? That's it.

The lines and stripes that I'd wanted are there. Different, unplanned and much better. A bit of rusty serendipity, if you please.

Hanging tea time and viewing it this way immediately brought to mind cave paintings. From tea time to the relic in one stroke of serendipity. What do you see in this piece? What stories is it telling you?

1...23...7...4

2011-12-15T11:37:00.000-05:00

Whispering can be heard in my studio. And, no, it isn't me talking to myself. This time.

The previously 16 foot rusted piece is promising to share it's...well, their stories with me just as soon as I fit the puzzle pieces together correctly. There's been a lot of muffled snickering from them as I move the squares about, trying to find the right place for each.

However, it's been very quiet since the latest arrangement happened at about 5:30 this morning. I must be getting close...

1...23...7

2011-12-13T22:19:00.000-05:00

One

became 23

and is now 7.

Reassembled to keep the linear feel. No matching edges.

Still separate, yet together. Need to live with them a bit.

Breathless

2011-12-13T21:07:00.000-05:00

An unexpected gift arrived today that has left me fairly breathless and in total awe of its creator.

Many thanks eb!

The shape of things...

2011-12-12T06:45:00.000-05:00

...in the studio this morning - circles, stripes and stars.

Saturday

2011-12-11T07:31:00.001-05:00

Saturday was the perfect day to play outside. And play I did in a charming little Connecticut town nearer the coast which hosts a bevy of artists and one very fine eating establishment.

While I enjoyed the company of a good friend, strolling along the street, chatting and buying gifts for the season, a bundle of cotton and rusty bits was playing its own game at home.

Once again, in the quiet of the morning, I danced in the studio to another rusty tune...a sea shanty sort of tune about discovering buried or bundled treasures.

As I sit here at my desk, viewing the yesterday's results, the lines...or stripes made by masonry nails is catching my eye and asking for more...more lines, more stripes.

The stripeys agree, of course.

In the studio

2011-12-10T07:25:00.001-05:00

In the quiet of the morning, while it was still dark outside and all in the house were sleeping,

except me and the cats, I danced in the studio to a rusty little tune.

And 1 became 23.

In the studio

2011-12-08T11:40:00.001-05:00

Made a bit of progress on the rusted boro piece today.

Tea time, part 2

2011-12-08T09:50:00.000-05:00

Does art have seasons? If so, winter is definitely my season to rust. It's so easy. Soak something in vinegar or water. Put it in a baggie with a bit of rust. Leave it to work its magic...in my case, go to Kansas for a few days. Come back and open up the bundle.

This piece was in the baggie for about a week. I opened once before leaving for Kansas, liked what was happening and repositioned a few of the washers. Just took it out yesterday.

You can't tell from the mosaic, but the fabric - more of Deb's wonderful gift - measures approximately 8.5 inches high by 16 feet long.

Part of me yearns to leave it as is. Part of me sees cutting it into 8.5 inch squares. Hmmm...that would be...22 squares. What do you think? Which should it be? Long and lean or a bit square?

Tea time

2011-12-07T11:54:00.000-05:00

In May of last year, a mysterious box arrived from Deb, a friend and fellow fiber artist.

Opening the box was like finding an unexpected treasure

for inside was lengths of cotton that Deb had used

in making her shibori scarves.

The steam set folds and pleats were sensual.

Not daring to risk destroying the beauty of the gift,

I put the cotton away and waited for the muse to whisper.

And whisper she did, just before I left for Pam's.

Remember this?

After soaking in a tea and vinegar mixture for a week,

I wrapped the rusted ring with Deb's cotton

and left it to transform while I was gone.

And transform it did. Seems tannins + rust = gray.

And if left long enough, the rust becomes...well...rust.

That kind of day

2011-12-04T08:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a rare day. It was a day in the studio...Pam's studio.

A just do it kind of day.

A day for stitching.

A day for admiring work.

A day for what ifs.

What if I paint on the back?

What if I dip it?

What if I let it soak?

Will it run?

It was that kind of day.

A day for taking photos of friends.

Patterns

2011-12-03T08:09:00.000-05:00

As I sat on the airplane Thursday morning, waiting for take off,

the patterns on the tarmac caught my eye

and saw it as stitching on black cloth.

Hmmm....I may just have to try this.

Kansas bound

2011-11-30T10:52:00.000-05:00

This time tomorrow morning I'll be at the airport waiting to catch a couple of planes that will, ultimately, take me to Kansas for short visit with Pam. We're both in need of some time to stop and breathe, relax a bit, create a bit, stitch a bit. Oh heck! Maybe even bitch a bit. Well, probably not the last, but we'll definitely chat a bit...or not. Yep. It's that kind of friendship.

Some of the rusted boro pieces

as well as the latest stitching on black cotton

will find their way into my carry on bag

for those times when we decide to just sit and be.

And back home, the rusting will continue in my absence.

Cranberry dreaming part 3

2011-11-29T12:13:00.000-05:00

2 bundles of cotton + a cranberry sauce concoction + a hot plate left on high for too long = ???

One could propose that the correct answer is a bloody mess. And, I suppose, one would be correct. Me...well...I rather like the results...burn holes and all.

Can anyone recommend a good way to remove burnt cranberries from the bottom of a dye pot...exact metal unknown, but I think it's aluminum?

Cranberry dreaming part 2

2011-11-29T08:49:00.000-05:00

Inspiration + an idea + cranberries and blueberries + dye pot + hot plate + cotton + organza + linen + time = cranberry hued laundry

I awoke way too early yesterday...like 4:15 am too early...stumbled downstairs and unwrapped the cranberry bundles before my first cup of coffee. Maybe my curiosity over the transpirings in the dye pot were what had me up before the crack of dawn...

The dye pot, hot plate and I are no strangers. We spent many an hour mixing up various Jacquard dyes to color the reeds and sisals used in weaving my baskets in the beginning and my vibrant, abstract studies in color at the end (of my basketry career, that is). Yet this brewing and bubbling of cranberries and blueberries was an entirely new experience for us. It's a delicate dance that we need to learn because now we're hooked.

The bundle was wrapped with the linen in the middle covered by organza which was covered by cotton. As light as the cotton appeared, I assumed that the linen was going to be unchanged. Boy! Was I wrong. It took the cranberry coloring the best of the three. These pictures were taken while the fabric was still wet.

The lovely red dried to a pale mauvey-brown-grey...still with bits of cranberries attached. The girls and I were out all day yesterday and didn't arrive home until the sun was setting so a photo will be taken today. And I'm going to wait until I return from a jaunt to Pam's before washing the pieces. Let the color settle in a bit, you know.

Stay tuned for part 3.

Cranberry dreaming

2011-11-27T16:36:00.001-05:00

Ever since Elizabeth over at be...dream...play... wrote about cranberry gratitude and mashing cranberry sauce into her journal - which resulted in the most scrumptious shade of...well...cranberry - I've been dreaming about experimenting with my own leftover cranberries.

So today, with all the Thanksgiving company back in their own homes, I dug out the dye pot and hot plate, plugged them in on the deck and set about concocting a home brew of cranberries, blueberries and even a bit of the sauce...cranberry, that is.

The plan is to let the pot simmer until bedtime, then turn it off and let everything cool overnight. I'll unwrap the bundles tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed!

Giving thanks

2011-11-24T08:29:00.000-05:00

Fiona Dempster over at Paper Ponderings has a lovely Thursday Thought, a quote by Jorge Luis Borges, today that deals with the idea of parallel universes, the intersection/interaction of individuals. She muses about what ifs and decisions made or not made.

This blog of mine was a what if. One that was thought of, dreamed of, considered, mulled over, discarded, feared and finally started nearly 2 years ago. It was a way to keep my name out there in the art world. And a way to insure that I actually worked in the studio rather than just dreaming of doing so. Can't very well have an art blog and not have new work to show, right?

What if? What if I chosen to not start an art blog? The answer to that is simple. I would have missed out on making friendships with some wonderful artists. Some live fairly close by. Some live on the other side of the world. Seems distance is no hinderance in the blogging world.

Today is Thanksgiving Day here in the States. It seems appropriate to ponder a few what ifs, but even more appropriate to say Thank You for discovering this little blog of mine. Thank You for your comments, your encouragement, your sharing spirit. May your day be filled with lots of love and laughter...and art!

Starry night

2011-11-23T22:21:00.000-05:00

Tea and vinegar soaked organza

wrapped with purple waxed linen,

now rusting snugly in a bag.

Star - a happy accident,

a pleasant surprise.

Good night all.

Rusted boro

2011-11-23T14:45:00.000-05:00

The title of this post really should be Over thinking it, but rusted boro was more appealing...I think. Midst all the preparations for turkey day, working on the Christmas cards and life as usual in a household with 4 year olds, I managed to squeeze in a bit of time to crop the rusted cottons and sew them together.

They went from this to this

and now they're hanging like this.

In my own defense, it was viewing photos of indigo boro online that got me here what with all the wonderful contrasts in hues of indigo, patterns, stitches, etc. Well, that and I'd already decided that a bit of contrast was needed. So out came the box of rusted cottons et voila! Here we are.

One could put forth the suggestion that I am procrastinating a bit longer before starting the patching process. One would probably be right too. Hmmm...what were those mantras I adopted this year? Oh yeah...keep it simple and just do it. Ha! Obviously, I have work to do.

Firsts

2011-11-17T13:38:00.000-05:00

I'm a bit excited this morning. You see, Leslie Merola of hunt + gather studio, is featuring some of my discharged fabrics and photographs on her blogs, merola + moya and hunt + gather blog. It's my first time being featured on another artist's blog. It's slightly surreal, actually, to see my work somewhere other than here, but it also feels really nice.

Thank you Leslie!

On the studio side of things, I was rolling along last night, making progress on my Christmas cards, had even decided what the text would say and was ready to print. Only then did I realize that there were 10 blank cards left. Yikes! Placed an order and now it's a waiting game.

Guess I have no excuses left for finally getting to work on the rusted boro piece...

Magic

2011-11-13T10:42:00.000-05:00

Those of you who follow the blog have heard me mention my friend Pam. It's to her house that I escape for the artist retreats. And it's her that I Skype with on Fridays as often as life allows.

Life, however, has been throwing curve balls at both of us lately. Mine came in the form of the snow storm and power outages that plagued Connecticut for a week...or more in some towns. At some point, our curve balls have been family related. My charming little urchins have a way of frying my brain to the point where I wonder if senility is setting in early...when I can think coherently enough to wonder, that is. 52 is too early for senility, isn't it? Please say yes.

Back to the art stuff. Two lengths of discharged fabric hang on one display board while rusted cottons hang on another - both waiting for inspiration and/or genius to strike. During our most recent Skype session, I mentioned to Pam that I've recently become intrigued with the Japanese boro method of patching and thought it could be interesting to attempt a simple version of it with the discharged fabric.

I'm not quite sure at what point...or even why now...that I moved the computer over to show Pam the current arrangement of these rusted cottons, but she took one look at them and said,

Crop it.

So I did. And that became this

Can you see it? A piece? It's there. And to think that Pam looked at it for...oh...maybe 3 seconds before saying the magic words which took rusted cottons that have just been hanging around in the studio and transformed them into an actual piece of rusted boro cloth. There's work to be done, sure, but now there's a story to be told.

Pam worked her magic with the discharged fabric, and possibly even my Christmas cards, in the space of...hmmm...5 minutes tops. My snow storm and twin fried brain was amazed by it all. Hopefully the amazement will lift soon. After all, there's work to be done by Friday.

A little good news

2011-11-05T10:10:00.001-04:00

Woooooooohoooooooo!!!!!!!!!! We have power back! Life can return to as normal as it ever gets with 4 year twins in the house and my studio need not sit there looking so lonely.

Arg!

2011-11-04T10:25:00.001-04:00

We've entered day 7 of no power. May I say that this is really getting old?

Thankfully, the girl's preschool had their power restored Wednesday so the little urchins are warm and happy. I'm hopping between Starbucks, the library and other warm places. My husband has offered his office as a refuge, but I just can't see sitting there all day.

My studio is lonely, but it's just too cold in there to work. Maybe I'll take some cotton and threads outside to stitch a bit. After all, it is warmer outside than inside these days.

Sorry for whining a bit. Thank you for listening.

Snow days

2011-10-31T06:22:00.001-04:00

Who doesn't like a snow day every now and then? A day to play, to be a kid again? Make snow angels, go sledding, build a snowman, have a snowball fight? I enjoy all those activities, even more so now that I have children.

However...yes there is a monster of a however...not when Mother Nature decides to dump 15 or so inches of the white stuff on us not only two days before Halloween, but, to add insult to injury as the saying goes, on my birthday. If She had deigned to ask what type of weather I would have preferred, snow would not have been on the list, let alone in the top three.

Those along the northern east coast reading this know what's coming next. Reports of trees and tree limbs down, some falling on power lines. For the second time in two months, we are without power. In September, we were lucky and our power outage was for two days only. The temps outside were much warmer then too. Not sure we're going to be so lucky this time. Seems most of the state is in the same boat we are.

This is the long way of saying that it doesn't look like much art is going to be made at my house this week. I may post a few photos of the snow. Got one of my husband fixing breakfast on the grill yesterday midst the white stuff.

By the way, as I type this on my iPad, which has a long battery life, I feel the need to say thank you to Steve Jobs for his genius, creativity and ingenuity in creating such a great little device and all the other Mac products he pioneered. May he be having a snow day so he gets to play too.

Location:Connecticut 107,Redding,United States

Stripeys

2011-10-29T13:59:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite blogs is Be...Dream...Play by Elizabeth Bunsen. Her daily journal pages amuse, inspire, and instill awe in this lowly fiber artist. If you follow Elizabeth's blog, you've seen the stripeys pop up now and then...sometimes mentioned, sometimes settled quietly in the background, but present. As much as I love Elizabeth's journal pages, it's the stripeys that have captivated me.

You already know that I'm a rust junky. Well, I'm a stoner too. Yes. I like rocks of all shapes, sizes and patterns. Cairns hold me spellbound...especially these by a friend of mine.

When I realized that Elizabeth was selling her stripeys, the temptation was too great. Emails were exchanged and yesterday this arrived.

Thank you Elizabeth! The stripeys are wonderful and so are all the little surprises that you tucked in!

In the studio

2011-10-29T01:15:00.000-04:00

Remember the stitching that I did during our week at the beach?

It just became these

cards.

Dancing on the wind

2011-10-26T08:54:00.000-04:00

We had a bit of breeze here yesterday.

Formerly white t-shirt #2. More on that soon.

My Sunday afternoon

2011-10-25T08:33:00.000-04:00

Not much art type work was done over the weekend except for a little photography in the backyard.

In the studio

2011-10-22T11:19:00.000-04:00

What to do? What to do? That's the thought that runs through my mind with all of my rusted cotton fabric. I think I'm just in love with the rusting process itself...the mystery, the waiting, the surprise upon opening the bundle and finding something really cool.

My latest is this:

While hanging outside to dry, it began to rain resulting in the spotting effect.

The full piece was interesting, but two seemed more so.

And if two was interesting, three could only be better, right?

The last shot is of how it now hangs. The second piece from the top (which is the smaller of the pieces) was rusted a second time after being soaked in a vinegar/tea combination and using rusty masonry nails. The tannins in the tea added a blackish/purplish color overall which makes a nice contrast to all the rust and white.

Still, I look at it and think, What to do? What to do? There's a piece in there somewhere...but it's still rattling around in my creative mind and seems to enjoy playing hide and seek with me. I'll find it one of these days. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Fiber Futures: Japan's Textile Pioneers

2011-10-19T14:53:00.000-04:00

It's another gray, rainy day here in the semi-northeast. Every day that it rains, I say a little prayer that all this precipitation is not a sampling of what our winter will be like...except with snow instead of rain. If it is, I'm heading south! Actually, no, but I'll be dreaming about somewhere warm and sunny.

Anyway, this weather has me...well...not exactly in a funk, but kind of. I want to work, but my mind just keeps hopping from idea to idea and can't seem to settle on one. After treating myself to an hour at Starbucks, I came home to blog surf and think about doing something creative.

BrownGrotta's blog post about the current exhibit at Japan Society in New York caught my eye. After downloading the iPad app and practically drooling over the amazing fiber creations shown, I thought to share this photo, which is a screen shot from the Japan Society web site, of one of the installations.

Anyone care to join me one Saturday to see it? This one is just too good to miss.

Patterns

2011-10-18T08:56:00.000-04:00

My husband smiles and shakes his head when he sees me taking photos of the ground. He's become accustomed to it by now though and even realizes that sometimes I get some really cool images.

That said, I'm not quite sure what he would have thought had he been with me Saturday as I knelt in front of the Natick fire house to photograph the crosswalk. Thankfully, all was quiet as I knelt there, admiring the wonderfully graphic patterns created by Massachusetts weather, the weight of the fire trucks and maybe even by human feet.

Dorothy Caldwell

2011-10-14T13:14:00.000-04:00

Oh! To be in Toronto right now to see Dorothy Caldwell's exhibit at David Kaye Gallery.

screen shot from David Kaye Gallery web site

To see more of Dorothy's work, click on David Kaye Gallery link above,

then click on Dorothy's name to the right. Enjoy!

Brown vs bleach

2011-10-13T05:38:00.000-04:00

Along with the two black t-shirts and a couple yards of black cotton, the other thing to get discharged yesterday was a brown t-shirt that I'd been thinking about doing something to. It had a small stain right in the middle, like where food had been dropped...yep, I'm clumsy...which just refused to budge to any laundry chemical. Discharging it yesterday was a spur of the moment decision, but one that I am very glad to have made.

The top shot is of the front, bottom is the back. Haven't decided what color was dyed over, but there's a bit of olive green and very pale mauve/gray/lilac-ish something along with the glorious deep purple. Knowing as little as I do about the chemical make-up of commerical dyes, all those colors could go into making brown for all I know. This really is one case where ignorance is bliss because this shirt made my morning yesterday.

In case you're wondering what else has been happening in the studio, maybe this shot will give you an idea.

Bleach vs black

2011-10-12T15:16:00.000-04:00

Why is it that whenever you accidentally get even the tiniest little splash of bleach on what you're wearing, that spot immediately turns the brightest, purest white? The kind of white that can be spotted from miles away? You know what I mean. There's bound to be a law of nature that governs the whole thing and I would have liked that law of nature to have been on my side this morning.

Well...now that I think about it, maybe the problem this morning is that I wasn't wearing either of the black t-shirts that were being discharged...on purpose actually, not accidentally.

You see, I'd have loved for either of these shirts to have discharged to white so that my closet would have a bit more variation than rust/orange artsy shirts. They're currently in the washing machine having a good soak...along with a brown t-shirt that made my morning. Photos of that soon!

#2 Experiment with rust - round 2

2011-10-09T00:34:00.000-04:00

Thursday afternoon I re-opened the t-shirt bundle and hung it outside to dry. The combination of vinegar and sun turned the rusted areas more brownish than orange which I found very appealing.

Kinda wish I could have stopped there and worn the shirt, but the heavier rusted areas were a bit stiff and there was a slight aroma of vinegar still wafting from it. So into the washer it went. I wore it today when we ventured into New York city to take the girls to see dinosaur bones at the American Museum of Natural History.

Even tried to get a good shot of it tonight after the girls were in bed. This accidental photo was the best and shows just how much rusting was washed out. More orange-y rust than brown now. Not as much coverage. It's still cool, but I need to figure out how to keep more of the color in. If you have any thoughts, please pass them along.

#2 Experiment with rust - round 1

2011-10-06T13:48:00.000-04:00

I unwrapped the t-shirt this morning to see what the past 24 hours had done to it and was pleased at the results.

I repositioned the gear and re-wrapped everything for more rusting, but after looking at the photo here, I may just open it back up and let it be as is. What do you think?

#2 Experiment with rust

2011-10-05T15:06:00.000-04:00

After rusting the white tunic last week, the temptation to do it again was just too strong to ignore.

Experimenting with rust - part 4

2011-10-02T13:58:00.000-04:00

Friday afternoon my curiosity won the battle over being patient and letting the tunic continue to rust. In fact, I wore it yesterday with leggings and boots. Threw it on over jeans this morning to get this shot.

I love the tunic now! My daughters like it too. Ellie has already asked to wear it so I may just have to rust a few shirts or dresses for them as well.

Experimenting with rust - part 3

2011-09-30T12:59:00.000-04:00

My curiosity got the better of me yesterday afternoon. Since the vinegar speeds the rusting process, I knew the masonry nails and washers would have left their marks in no time. And they had. Still, more interest was needed so all was wrapped and tied back up until this morning.

It's no longer just a big white tunic. The photo (left side) is of the front yet the back is just as interesting. In fact, the middle shot on the right is a detail from the back that shows the marks left from the waxed linen when the pieces were originally wrapped.

Part of me wanted to stop the process here and hang the tunic outside to dry and cure a bit before soaking it in baking soda to stop the process and, ultimately, laundering it. However, for experimentation's sake, I removed the rusted elements and bundled it back up on itself to see if more of the color and/or rust would continue to transfer. Being that it's our first non-rainy day all week, the temptation to air it is very strong so...well...who knows? Stay tuned for round 4.

Experimenting with rust - part 2

2011-09-29T13:41:00.000-04:00

Before going to bed last night, I checked on the rusting white tunic and was pleased to see the process working. This morning, very curious yet showing restraint, I waited until my daughters were at school before opening the bundle which showed far more rust than white.

Since this is an experiment, I decided to add a few smaller elements to the mix and wrap it all back up, until tonight or maybe even tomorrow morning, depending on how patient I can be.

Experimenting with rust

2011-09-28T14:37:00.000-04:00

Back at the beginning of spring, I bought a white tunic to wear with leggings. Thinking that I'd look all chic and modern and possibly a bit artsy when wearing it, I actually felt just the opposite the one time it was donned. To say that I felt like a huge white blob is an understatement, but gets the point across. It has hung in my closet ever since. Until today, that is.

Inspired by India Flint and Jude Hill, I decided to experiment and rust the tunic.

I have to admit while that copies of India Flint's Eco Colour and Second Skin are present in my studio, I have yet to truly set down and read every word. That's my way of saying that I'm sure the process used this morning is probably all wrong, but as this is an experiment using the materials/supplies at hand (read rarely worn cotton shirt, vinegar and huge rusted gear), then I figure it's okay.

The bundle is currently in the studio, resting on one of my work tables by a window to soak up whatever sun it can in this rainy weather. Stay tuned for the unveiling in a few days.

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

2011-09-22T13:36:00.000-04:00

Silvermine Arts Center will be holding its annual fundraiser, Signed, Sealed & Delivered, at the end October. The pieces above (4" x 6") are my donations. I really like the little dudes. May have to do a few more to keep.

Studio time

2011-09-21T03:09:00.000-04:00

After organizing the studio and procrastinating for a while,

I managed to get in a wee bit of stitching today.

Another Saturday night

2011-09-18T01:15:00.000-04:00

After a two week hiatus due to Hurricane Irene and vacation, it's nice to spend a few hours in the studio actually doing something creative.

Rain

2011-09-07T18:04:00.000-04:00

Feathers

2011-09-07T12:02:00.000-04:00

As I wrote my last post on August 27, Hurricane Irene was moving up the east coast of the US leaving various levels of destruction in her wake. In fact, about 5 seconds after sending a note to Fiona of Paper Ponderings saying that we were all ok and still had power...well...the power went out...for 2 days. How's that for timing?

Once power was restored, I spent a day cleaning out the refrigerator and the next day packing for our vacation to Ann Arbor, Michigan. More on the art scene around here soon...probably after we return home because the girls keep confiscating my computer to watch movies.

Yesterday we ended up on the grounds of Cranbrook, where my husband went to school and also home of the Cranbrook Academy of Art. We wondered the grounds enjoying the trails, lawns, ponds, gardens, etc. It was on one of the trails that I happened to look down just in time to keep from stepping on a bluejay feather.

This lovely one will be added to my feather collection.

Wonder what treasure will be found on today's stroll?

Visitors

2011-08-27T10:53:00.000-04:00

Hurrican Irene is battering the east coast of the US this weekend. She's currently hanging out around the Carolina's, but is on her way in our direction. She's predicted to arrive tonight, stay all day tomorrow and move out tomorrow night sometime. Personally, I'm hoping Irene gets tired well before she reaches us.

Wanting to enjoy a bit of fresh air this morning, I opened a studio window and heard a now familiar sound coming from below it.

The neighborhood wild turkey family was out for its morning stroll. The proud mom and dad have 9 little ones...which actually aren't so little anymore. They venture through the yard a couple times a day searching for food and leaving me gifts of feathers in return for birdseed.

Speaking of feathers, Jude Hill, cloth whisperer and author of the Spirit Cloth blog, has a wonderful project called The Magic Feather Project. In her own words,

The magic feather Project. What is it?

The Magic Feather Project is a collective stitching project focused on creative sharing and giving. The magic feather has been my personal symbol for almost forever. With the idea of making it a symbol of something bigger than just myself, I thought I would share it with you and you in turn might stitch one (at least) and send it to me so I might, in turn, sew a bunch together and put the larger cloth to some charitable use.

Like with the Sketchbook Project last year, I've been following Jude's blog, oohing and aahing over the feathers others have sent in, viewing blog posts about creating them and all the while thinking what a great project to be part of. Sometime soon...maybe after Irene rolls through...my own feather will be stitched and sent off to Jude.

Wherever you find yourself this weekend, be safe. Enjoy.

Art equation #3

2011-08-24T14:59:00.000-04:00

It is possible

for 2

to become 3.

Art equation #2

2011-08-23T23:41:00.000-04:00

When does

1 divided

= 2?

It did today around 11:45 am eastern standard time. I've been looking at this piece for nearly a week and debating whether to leave it whole or divide it. In keeping with my mantra of Just Do It, I decided that there really was only one way to find out how it would look and that was to just do it. So, I did. And I may do it again.

What do you think? Should the top piece, after division, be divided again? Bottom piece is staying as is.

Art equations

2011-08-21T21:52:00.000-04:00

Black cotton + rubber bands + wrapping or

twisting or folding

+ imagination

+ experimentation and creativity

+ a wine cork or two

+ foam brushes

+ bleach and sun = 20 yards of newly discharged cotton.

These are my favorite bits from the latest rounds

of discharging black cotton.

Landing gear engaged

2011-08-17T03:48:00.000-04:00

Whew! Yesterday's malaise seems have fled with the re-appearance of the sun.

I've been outside all morning discharging again. Just came in for a brief lunch break. Time to get back to work.