What if #459

Or there abouts. Haven't actually numbered my what ifs. 459 just seemed like a good number this cool, wet and still misty Saturday morning.

Returning back to my own studio after being at Pam's for a week and working alongside her in her glorious studio always includes a bit of adjustment time on my part...as my absence no doubt does in hers. Once the boxes had been unpacked and my studio semi-organized, I slowly got back to work.

One of Pam's what ifs kept nudging at me to try it too.

She'd experimented by sewing a few tucks into her mono printed fabric.

I loved the results, especially for the sculptural possibilities it offers. 

This is definitely one of my favorite shots from the week...the light, Pam's hands, the work.

On Thursday, I sat down at the sewing machine and started stitching

various sized tucks in a long piece of green tea rusted cotton.

Something a juror once said of how I approached my weavings has stayed with me through the years and it was this thought that kept whispering to me.

Foon Sham, artist and professor at the University of Maryland, was one of 3 jurors for The Art League's call for entry for solo exhibitions the year I decided to be brave enough to apply. To be honest, getting my work in front of Foon Sham was the reason I applied.

In his notes about my work, he commented that I liked to create a pattern and then break it. And he was right. I did it intuitively as a point of interest, yet had never recognized it as such.
 

This week, I did it on purpose.

London - Day 5 Portobello Road

Feels a bit funny to write the title of this post while sitting in my studio at home. We've been back in the States since very late last Wednesday night and I think...written with fingers crossed...that I've finally overcome the jet lag enough to write a coherent post so here goes...

Aware of our search for a tea set for the urchins, someone recommended Portobello Market to my husband. Being a fan of the movie Notting Hill and being aware that part of it was filmed along Portobello Road, I decided to that it might be fun to stroll along the street where Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts had also strolled.

What a delightful and interesting street to wander! The shops were filled with all sorts of bits - my favorite being a home decorating shop that sold door knobs, crystals, wooden letterpress, etc. 

Where Brick Lane had been ethnically diverse, Portobello Road was simply diverse. Tattoos + the shortest mini skirts ever + multiple piercings live alongside the obviously well educated and monied. As with Brick Lane, something caught my attention and just wouldn't let go until it had been explored. Portobello Road's something was AllSaints Spitalfields.

I had just crossed the street and was walking by a clothing store when several people in front of me stepped into the store's doorway to take photos of something inside.

 Row upon

 row upon

 row of 

 the most magnificent

 

 antique sewing machines lined the walls just inside the door.

And that wasn't the best part...oh no, not by half.

The best part was the fixtures that the clothing was displayed on. I don't know what the original use of half of the things were, but they were lovely and

rusted in places

 or just aged 

 and nicked from use.

 Shadows were cast by parts of printing or cutting tables

 while worn stools had stories to share.

 Shapes

 and sizes varied.

 There was a 25

 nearby 2 wonderful gears

 and 1 intriguing...butterfly?

Nearly 30 minutes later, I emerged onto the sidewalk still marveling over the fixtures in AllSaints and the fact that not once had an employee spoken to me, asked if I could be helped or inquired why I was taking photos or even if I had permission to do so. Perhaps they are accustomed to such actions/reactions from passersby...or perhaps they thought it best to leave the crazy lady photographing all the fixtures alone.

In the studio

 I've been busy

squaring and measuring twice

[especially after the first mistake...arg!!!]

 in order to cut and sew once...per side, that is...

 while trying not to panic at the thought of what all this work is in preparation for.

In early June, I'm going to apply for a 2013 solo exhibit at a local art guild with 5 of my large rust beauties. They need to be completed by May 27 when I'll be donning my ruby slippers, closing my eyes, tapping my heels together and whispering Take me Pam's for our 3rd annual artist retreat. Take me Pam's...

Number 4 is finished with the first round of stitching. Number 5 is ready and waiting. Once #5 is stitched, they'll all need to be trimmed and measured again for wood to be cut to size. After playing with the circular saw, I'll reacquaint myself with the drill press and drill holes for the nails or screws that will help my rusties hang upon a wall.

Back upstairs in the studio, the really fun part will begin [read that with a bit of a shaky voice for this is where the panic really sets in]  when velcro gets sewn on the top edge of each piece. 

Half of my brain is staying calm and saying soothing things like You can do this. You're ready. Just go with it. Just do it. Remember to breath...in...out...in...out...

The other half of my brain is screaming You freaking idiot!!! Just what do you think you're doing?!? You've got to be delusional!! And by the way, shut up calm half, it's time to break out in a cold sweat and panic and yell!!!

Stay tuned to see which half of my brain wins.