Searching for Roy G Biv II - Yellow update 1

Yellow is a color I will forever associate with spring because of the jonquils and goldenrod that seem to explode from the ground once the temperatures begin to warm. 

Yellow is present in small splashes around the house and in my studio as well. From the collage made by friend and Torpedo Factory artist Jeanne Garant, to my trusty measuring tape, to the fringe of a scarf Deb brought me from her India trip. And then there's a sight we see everyday...a simple yellow line painted against a black textured background.

Among the yellows around the house are photos taken by me in 2008 when my husband and I went to China to bring the little urchins home. Yellow, in all its variations, was as prevalent a color as red and the two were often found in combination. Alas, I never stopped to inquire why or what meaning the two had.

The middle photo gives you an idea why not and what our days were (and still are) filled with. That's Grace happily chewing on a fabric duck while Ellie stretches to reach the alphabet cube.

For more yellows, take a stroll over to see what Julie, Maya, Fiona and Deb have found this month. Do you have yellow?

Lisa and Kim answered the call for yellow. And they are delightful!

The beauty of it all

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!!!

Thanks Deb!

Don't you love receiving unexpected gifts? I do...especially when it's something as wonderful as what my friend and fellow fiber artist, Deb Jansen, sent.

Actually, Deb's gift wasn't totally unexpected. She'd let me know that she'd sent a gift for my daughters and that there was a little something for me in the box as well. Her only clue as to what it was was a comment about preferring it wrinkled.

Wrinkled, huh? Hmmm... I admit to being stumped. Considering that Deb works with silk and sometimes creates scarves after dyeing, painting and embellishing it...well...you can see which direction my thoughts took. When the box arrived Monday, I couldn't wait to open it and see what wrinkly gift it held.

Wondering why there's photo of fabric spewing out of a box? That's my wrinkly gift and I love it! As Deb explained, this is the remnant of the fabric her silk is wrapped in, or around?, when she steams it. The cotton is luscious...a very pale cream and so soft it's sinful. 

Can you believe Deb sent this expecting it to be wrapped around rusted elements and left outside for nature to play with?

She did and I'm going to, but first I just had to share its wrinkly lusciousness with you.

If you're ever in Alexandria, VA and love art, stop by the Torpedo Factory Art Center. For a real treat, venture upstairs to studio 344 and say hi to Deb. Ask her about paint markers while you're there. And Catharsis & Karma and Windows and....