Rhesus Col Buteo
PLATE COLLAGES (5" square, ea.)
Spent the better part of the day just cleaning up and detailing the stuff I've been working on for days now. And, oh yeah, picking glue off my skin. The experiment worked great by printing images onto pattern paper (after 2 days of my very slow photoshopping at 'em). So now I have a new technique under my belt. Then I did some drawing on pattern paper and just adhered that on top too. I just used the pattern lines as framework. Now I have to figure out where to put some stitchery- maybe another figure in the background between the Yukon ladies. I think this will be called "Drapers"- at least a working title for now.
Stupid camera ran out of battery again, must see about getting another one for reserve, also must lower the resolution so I can get more than a few images on one card. It's been charging while we went out to the South End for a fabulous dinner, lovely being able to park in front of a restaurant and walk right in- must make a mental note that Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend is perfect for sity dining. Drove around and looked at some pretty spectacular loft buildings going up and am feeling romantic about living in the city again. Won't happen- jsut mention "tandem parking" and I get real very fast.
OK, gotta go take pictures of the 5 little plates now that I've added spoons, then pictures of the 3-series of landscapes- today I added stitchery to 2 of them but am holding off the Water piece because of all the texture that's already on it, you'll see when I get them posted. And of course, the "Drapers" piece which I am loving. I can see the Yukon Ladies appearing in a few more pieces! Love them- will be looking for more!
May 28, 2004
Gargantuan Fun Simplex
BUM ROLL and SNOOD (24" square ea.)
PLATE COLLAGE in progress (5" square, series of 5)
(Oops, bad light on the collage series, but two are done.)
Whoa, this is getting away from me. Spent the weekend in Buffalo after the long drive yet again. The OC is willing to move to Boston, and we found a lovely place across the street (!) except for the fact that it will cost him 25% more a month. We are trying to get a respite visit in so he can decide if he likes it or not before getting involved in a year lease. I am dreading this. Already he isn't happy even to look at a place on the 4th floor- the man has never lived even on 2 floors so he is very concerned on how he will get up to his apartment- duh, he doesn't even 'get' the concept of elevators. Anyway I left him today with instructions on finding out how to get out of the place he's in.
On the Art Front, which is supposed to be what this is about, I am cookin'. Finished up both of the collage pieces using old pattern pieces and have sent to the Fuller for info on their Trashformations show coming up. I've added some more to the Bum Roll piece, some abalone chunks and threads on the left side, it needed a little something more and now I'm happy with it. It met with great acclaim at Crit Group the other night so I am jazzed to keep it happening.
Also, made some broken dishes collages from the little plate pictures I brough back from London. I used some gold leafing underneath the pieces and then added a few extra tesseri on the surface to make it less regular. There are 5 of these, all 5" square. Today I am experimenting on printing on top of silver paint and also on top of silver leaf to see if I can get a reasonable facimile of sterling- I want to put some little spoons on the plates. I have real little demitasse spoons which I don't use but somehow I cannot justify using real antique silver on these, afterall they were my grandmother's spoons! So, today I got a good scan of them, and it prints well on white paper so even if printing on silver doesn't work I've got a good alternative.
Had a ball at The Art Store yesterday- got 3 more big canvasses for the pattern series, which at this point is stretching endlessly ahead- can't imagine I will get bored until I run out of patterns, and since I just got about 6 more I am pretty well set. These new ones don't have the more authentic pieces in them like the old one did- am not sure what the next piece will be, maybe bodices or corsets.
Also got some 12" canvas already stretched- guess this is one of the perks of no longer being a starving art student, I can buy stretched canvas. And I found the heavy acetate I've been looking for and will try printing on that too- hmmm, ion fact I wonder what would happen if I silver leafed the back of a piece of acetate and printed on the front... another experiment for later.
Had to also stop at A Good Yarn to get pointier needles for the shawl- the bamboo aren't sharp enough for such fine yarn and I am dropping stitches. Turned out I gotr the wrong size though so that project is still on hold until I can get yet another needle. Somehow the needle cost me over $100 by the time I got out of there- found a wee stash of Koigu buried in the corner abd stocked up on a few of the more appealing colors. The other Yarn News is that I got the big industrial zipper installed in the polkadot sweater so it is officially DONE.
Now if my hand would only improve so I could get the Himalayan recycled shell off the list.
May 21, 2004
Shrugging Reclamation Birthplace
Boy you'd never know I pull these spam headers at random because this one is so apt! I am leaving for Buffalo tomorrow morning for this month's visit to Lazarus in his assisted living place. This time TY is coming with me and we'll be back on Monday. It kinda screws up my idea to stop in North Adams and MassMoCA thjis trip, but maybe next time. It will be very nice to have someone to eat dinner with while I'm there, though it also means I can't spend hours walking up and down the aisles of JoAnns to kill time.
But I digress- the reason I am back on here tonight is to show my sweater that I finished last night and took off the blocking board thie morning. I have a zipper to install but seem to have lost it completely in the pattern mess in the studio. It won't change the look of the sweater at all anyway. But I have to say I like the fit and feel of this one, knit all in one piece too. Next time I will not use such heavy yarn- I got this Lite Lopi on eBay and had a mess of different colors that really didn't work together, but I think this turned out OK- will be good for shoveling next winter, AND I have enough leftover yarn to make a blanket and a hood and a slipcover for my car.
OK, I'm out of here, see you Monday night. I have to go pack up my projects and electronics to take with me.
May 21, 2004
Barfly Enquiry Blood
BUM ROLL, almost completed, 24" square
Finished the collage today, here is the photo. IT got a little messy nad I would love to explore it further- I need to restrain myself with the gel medium, fewer layers are better. The pattern pieces seem to get more wrinkly as I build up layers, so I need to be judicious in it's use. Just tonight I added the embroidered edge and then filled in the hair areas with more embroidery. May still add the little pearl chunks if I get to it- I'll save that for a detail shot if I do.
I have 5 small, I think they are 5" square, canvases ready to go so I think I'll make some small pieces and add in some old advertising I am lifting from a 1936 and a 1944 magazine. The other direction is to use some of the old photos I have collected and print those on top of pattern paper- gold leaf would really work well on that too. And I can't neglect the painted canvas I have ready to go- but I need really light colored pattern pieces for that one. I think I am having fun again, though I had forgotten how!
And now I am itching to get to the fabric store to see about new costume patterns.
Picked up the Japanese print I had reframed after I brought it back from OP and it looks spectacular- a gold reveal and a dark frame really set it off more than the light wood so it's hanging happily over the piano in place of all my botanical pine cone prints. Loved them for years, but they don't go well here.
And speaking of that I am on a serious quest for metal mosaic tiles for the backsplash. Went to two more places today and they don't have a clue what I am talking about so I came home and found them on the internet- have to e-mail the places tonight to see if I can lock in 27 square feet of the stuff.
May 19, 2004
Mitigate Mace Evolution
A real Bum Roll (top)
Pattern Instructions for the Bum Roll
Betcha don't know what a bum roll is for- I started out today messing with the pattern pieces for the Gauntlet collage but came across a Bum Roll pattern- see the link above.
Got so excited that I made one out of some plaid moire with gold ties for the surface of the next piece- guess I am stretching 'collage' a bit here. I tried arranging bodice pieces but they didn't seem to fall into place the way I wanted, then I hit this little number that fits exactly across the canvas. So now I am off on that tact.
Also pulled out the canvas I stenciled with the elaborate damask pattern and I'm hoping the pattern pieces don't obscure the paint design, maybe a lighter weight paper would work on that- I see large pattern pieces on that anyway, little detail and maybe some black machine stitching over the surface following along the pattern lines. maybe I will use the Farthingale patterns for this one, keep it simple.
I got so bummed out when I got the letter yesterday that I didn't get into the Ayer Loft show. Cannot believe how fast my so-called career has careened off the road. As of ight now I am just a memory in about ten people's minds, most of them I have to jog every time I see 'em. Anyway, being a has-been is tough.
Had a long talk with Sylvia today over lunch about taking some direction to feel productive and necessary- and I will call DeCordova to see if I can part-time docent again. I doubt it because they need a better committment, but it would be great to do it spring through fall. The Other Idea was to push my way into the collage community, but I am through pushing. Hard for the middle-sized fish in a small pond to jump into a bigger UNKNOWN pond full of mean fish. Oh sure there may be a few nice fish in there but to start out I doubt that I would be welcomed with open arms- or fins.
Will go finish up the Bum Roll now- have to cut fiberfill strips since I don't have any stuffing material available and I want it done now! I am anxious to do some decorative stuff on it and then see how to arrange it with the pattern and other items as the design.
Gotta go check for Diana Krull tickets before they are gone too.
May 17, 2004
Cameraman Cockroach Dough
SNOOD (24" square)
Hoohaa, finished the collage I started on Friday, this was a fun thing. I am calling it "Snood" because I found the directions for making a Medieval snood in the pattern pieces I was using, so stuck that in the center and embroidered it down through the layers and the canvas- my fingers are numb. It's 24" square and I have a whole other canvas all painted gold and ready for the next collage- along the same lines, I found pattern pieces for a gauntlet. I always thought a gauntlet was a glove but it seems to be more of a sleeve- picture Seinfeld's episode about the puffy shirt. So, maybe I can get to that tonight or tomorrow.
Had a gyn appt today and took my knitting since she is notoriously late for appointments. Well, knitting is better than a baby for getting a conversation happening. Seems everybody knits these days so from now on I am going to take some more identifiable project to show around. Today I had the shawl I started out of the hand painted thread-like wool and I am actually going great guns on it, did an inch in the waiting room, but it's so fine that it takes a whole lotta knitting to get anywhere- I maybe have 10" done, would keep one shoulder covered so far. I've added an intarsia block of black and need to get another one going along the opposite side, maybe a triangle next.
I sent the pictures of Snood off to the Coven but so far no discussion has erupted, I seem to have fallen from their good graces with my lack of political interest. Oh well, several of them have been annoying lately and I just don't care. I am in communication with my favorites still, amazing to think how long we have been at it and it certainly has been a great support system for me through some bad times. AND some good times too!
Today I get fed up with the rug in the foyer and rolled it up and flopped the rug pad down myself, then rolled the rug back out. Finally. It wasn't a big deal, took 10 minutes and the neighbor downstairs wanted to hire someone to do it. Geesh. Then I ran back up to the condo and got the Crappy Scissors and trimmed off the edges hanging out- afterall it is a round rug! I am very happy that it's done once and for all and now she will be off my back about that. Wonder what's next...
May 13, 2004
confess dinosaur luxury
Changed the look of this today and actually paid up for a year so I am officially a blogger now. Also, the long headings are unweildy and as much as I like to follow my own rules, I think i will go back to just three SPAM words as headings.
Today is an art day, yesterday was a knitting day. I got the shawl started and maybe progressed about 8", but this is more than it soulds like, the needles are #3s and the yarn is more like wool thread. I'm using thrree different red hand painted sock yarns from three different they all look knit up. I put an intarsia block of black in the beginning and like the contrast so will continue that as I go up- I really have to find a sharp pointed round needle, it's outgrowing the straight ones fast.
Talked to The Old Coot last night and he's still unhappy and lonely. I don't have a clue how to solve this problem since he never made friends when he was younger and won't go out of his room to socialize now. he sits and waits for the women who take care of him to arrive, just seems to like having a body in the room with him rather than actual company. hmm, maybe a blow-up doll would be the answer, sure would be cheaper than the $12 an hour we're now paying for his company. I've got to consider this month's trip pretty soon, amazing how fast that time rolls around- probably because I dread it so. I do have to say that he now says he loves me at the end of our phone conversations, for the first time in my life. Very weird, I don't quite understand how to deal with that.
Well, I started out calling this an art dsay so I had better get busy- first project ios to get the background painted on the canvases, then get the gold size on. With luck I may get the leafing done today, we'll see. it's goot to have a plan.
May 12, 2004
matrimonial fitzgerald gauntlet chinquapin brahms
Mothers Day- Memories To Savor: woke up sick as a doggie, must have been food poisoning or perhaps just being sick of the company at dinner out last night. By noon I was feeling a bit better, able to sit up and take some coffee when N walked in with take-out french toast from Zaftigs- a miraculous recovery. He gave me a gift of a red leather desk chair so I can ditch the office depot number that's splaying from my weight! It's supposed to get here Thursday.
A took me out for lunch and a movie on Monday since she was on call on Sunday, we saw the Tim Burton film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind... Damn, I get that wrong every time, but it was excellent and I've been thinking about it for 2 days now. Afterwards we hit The Art Store, since it's doenstairs from the movie theater. I had to be dragged out, but managed to get 2 large gallery canvases and some gilders size for the next project:
I've decided to take the second half of the dyptich (What You Want",and put it in the center of a new piece so I can give it another chance at a sale. Natch I have to gold leaf around the canvas, then decoupage some pattern pieces oveer that, then add the previous piece in the center- maybe I can figure out how to embroider the words through the canvas without losing the use of my fingers for a month this time.
Knitting Knews- stopped at Wild and Wooley yesterday on the way home from seeing the puppies- I needed to buy SOMETHING furry- so I got a new Debbie Bliss pattern and yarn for a ruffle front cardigan sweater. I also found anotyer hand painted skein of sock yarn for the shawl I want to make. The idea here is that I want to use very small needles and take a long lont time making it- I figure I will save money on it that way- jury is out on that bright idea. So I started the shawl last night, I am halfweay up the front on the Himilayan silk vest, and I am on the last few rounds before I join the sleeves to the Lopi polka dot cardigan. Then this morning I found myself lusting after a pattern scarf, one I had no luck with before when I tried because I kept getting the front and back mixed up- I guess I did make a pattern, but it was surre more freeform than intended. Need to try again, might use up the mohair I've got in the bottom of a basket somewhere.
May 08, 2004
icebox masonite proxy betrayal miscegenation
Yesterday I loaded my camera to take pictures of the graveyard behind the church where the quilt show is happening, also took my clothes to change into at the gym, and food and water- almost like Lewis and Clark by the time I loaded the car (but they had an Indian woman to do that- and maybe I AM an Indian woman, we will neve know until my curiosity is stronger than the $500 DNA test!) But I digress as they say...
There was a parking spot right in front of the graveyard and I went in and found a bunch of scenes to snap- great views, very old gravestones and something I've been meaning to do for all the years I've been going to QC, 25 now I think. Well, I was crouched and stabilized, the light was perfect, the shadows deep and this appears on the little screen : Charge Batteries! Photo session over, no pictures.
A woman came up and introduced herself to em (I was wearing a big name badge) as being in Jennifer Atkinson's book with me years ago. Turns out she is the one who makes incredible collages with paste papers that has actually changed my focus to collage from quilts! I had pictures her as my age and pudgy but she was very young and slim , wrong again. We both had stories about the photographer who came to our studios when he was doing the book. Anyway, we are going to get together. I made a connection with a human! Yeaaa!
So, I was supposed to be giving tours from 12 to 2, then hang out in the members room making sure no one steals purses. Wouldn't you know I wandered around trying to get people interested, starting conversations, annoying the crap out of the old ladies, until my shift was up- and someone came looking for a tour. So, for all I know all the purses got stolen, the church food got eaten, the gingerale got spilled but I was too busy to go check. I finally finished up and was relieved of duty early.
Trotted right over across the street to the world craft place and finally found two Kuba cloth pillows, though if they would have had ten, I would have bought them all. They look great in the living room and in fact kind of calm it down a bit- TY should OK the arrangement. Today I may have to go get the sari fabric too but I hope I can hold myself back on that. Maybe the camera will be nice and charged and I won't have time! Three days in a row hauling back to Arlington is a pain- won't happen next year.
Maybe later I'll have a picture for this one.
May 06, 2004
Niggardly Astronaut Pathetic Disparage Inert
Left the manse bright and early to fight traffic to Arlington to do the quilt drop-off. I followed the directions carefully and rerolled it back-side-out, got there and they had someone stationed by the door re-rolling them so the front showed. Well, hell, I coulda told them to do that.
Saw quite a few people that I only run into once a year. Mike was there from SF- he is always such a big help, wish I knew him better. Chika was here from Japan- cannot believe she schedules a trip every year at this time to come help and then spends tireless hours hanging the show. I bet I would like her too if I could understand a word she says.
I kidnapped S and we went for coffee because I had an hour to kill- that was fun because we went over the Plaistow show and avoided several folks that probably could have used a coffee. I headed off to Wellesley then to get my hair re-reded. Bulletin: the hairdresser wants me to contact hie other store to put some quilts into his retail area. I'll go check it out next week and see if it's a good space, but it IS a good idea.
But the big news came on the cell phone just a little while ago- I have all three kids gainfully employed, oh happy day! J heard from the company that he had interviewed with last week and they are taking him on starteing after next week. They will now have insurance and money to save as well as money for A going back to school, in short, a normal life is coming! Sure hope he loves it and this is a good fit. Fittingly, here is a picture of the wedding quilt I made for A&J, the one I took to the show this morning.
May 05, 2004
Handicapped Blank Momentum Secrete Ella
Last night B gave me the comment book from the Cambridge show, and as she had said , the comments were really good. We had quite a few people hit the show- even people who aren't related to any of us!
But the one signature that stood out was Jon Voight, and my question was it "the" Jon Voight, or "a" Jon Voight! (His comment, by the way, was "Lovely") So today I was laughing about 'our friend Jon' and wondering about the validity of the signature when she told me there was a Seinfeld bit about Jon Voight. I've done some inquiries and someone remembered this:
George thought he'd bought Jon Voight's car - a bit about teeth marks in a pencil being JV's and.... finally turned out it was spelled John Voight, as I recall. Oh Yeah, and in the end JV DID appear and bit someone on the arm when they tried to get his autograph.
So far no one at the gallery reported getting bitten.
Three of us from the crit group went up to the Plasitow opening last night. It went well, many folks attended, I assume all relatives of the various indigenous poets and writers who were reading their stuff. When I saw the program I freaked- thought it would go on till the wee hours but it moved along fine. I was of course the second last speaker so had to stick around till the bitter end- and then refreshments. The theme of the exhibit and evening was "Threads: Making Connections", so what would YOU have for refreshments? Well they had bread. Yeah, BREAD. About six kinds and all braided (like threads, get it?) Someone had the foresight to provide a jar of jam but that was long gone by the time I reached the table. Bread. Geesh.
Fortunately we got up there about 5:30, early enough to get into a Longhorn Steak House. Very weird place, you have to pass a stuffed rabbit with antlers on the hostess stand, a little off-putting considering my feeling toward rabbits. There were other stuffed things around too, but mostly western memorabilia and retouched hand colored old western photos. I do have to say they make a good steak and the fat woman at the table next to ours had a Bucket-O-Margarita that I coveted. I've never seen such a big glass, and she sure seemed to love it. next time. The restaurant was completely full on a Tuesday night in Plaistow, NH. Must be the best in town, eh?
Called the hypnotist for a tune-up today, I have been bad. I should not be interested in driving back to NH for a margarita!
Today was J's 65th birthday and I took hre my present- the rusted out muffler I found on Church St. the other day. I found 40" balloons in a "6" and a "5" last night in Woburn and had them heliumed up and stuffed them into the car- fortunately they fir nicely underneath the roll-out shade that keeps prying eyes off all my valuable stuff in the cargo area. So today I delivered the muffler with the balloons tied to it and it was VERY impressive. J laughed and I know she loved it. We went to Shogun for sushi with her old friend E who I havea always liked, and E, a psychologist/artist that I hope I see more of.
And then TY decided he wants to go out for dinner too- no wonder I need the hypnotist again. We went with the C's to Teatro in Boston, an all time favorite with great food. I had lamb meatballs on sheets of pasta, only the appetizer size, and a huge tricolore salad. No dessert. I did fine, and only one hypno session
May 02, 2004
Flautist Castanet Bounty Cadenza Forbade
Here are A and her friends from work about halfway on their Walk for Hunger. Actually was surprised that they weren't 'hungry' when they stopped at my house to pee and grab some juice. Nice bunch of yourn women, all highly motivated and helping the system with all it's faults. It looked to me like some of the walkers were part of the hungry- some very thin and needy looking folks as well as some pretty puffy looking girls, the kind that look like they survive on fried onion rings and Coke. (I can say that because I've been there!) Hopefully the sun and exercise will do all good.
Tonight I'm off to the Armenian Jazz night- a spectacle when they bring out the food and they all turn into seals skidding along the floor to get to the tables first. It's embarrassing, because it means that I can't get to the food without joining in the slide. Sometimes being the cynical observer has it's drawbacks.
Category: Life As I Know It
May 01, 2004
Conflagrate Paz Backboard Loophole Banister
and here's the sleeve- if you've seen one, you've seen them all. I have finished the striped ribbing for the body too, it's all in one piece on circular needles- 191 sts, so it's slow going. I'm starting the stripe sequence at the olive green and hoping that the measurements work out OK to meet under the arm. From there on it's all knit in one piece. This has a zipper up the front, don't know what I'll do about that yet
Oh damn, I see 2 mistakes in the picture.
May 01, 2004
Prophetic Paint Cachalot Debility Ahmadabad
So I have tried on all the clothes in the closet and thrown out a great percentage of them- have decided to simply keep the sizes ‘in the middle’ and gift Goodwill with the upper and lower reaches. Have them in the lawn and leaf bags, the big ones, ready to haul out Monday morning. This is killing me, all the stuff that I loved but outgrew or can’t get into any more, some pretty nice stuff ion fact. But for now I am left with a few pairs of Banana Republic pants, mostly cropped. And I took off yesterday looking for a pair of khaki pants in some sort of nice material to wear to the Armenian thing tomorrow night- can’t get away with cropped pants for that, but alas and alak, nice khaki-colored pants apparently aren’t in vogue this season.
Looked again at a few boutique places today and found nothing even in the nice-pants category. I may be forced to wear a…stop me here…skirt… Luckily enough the sardine skirt is available although not quite glitzy enough for the Armenians. What I need are jeans with rhinestones up the legs with cute little heels. And jewelry. Somehow my necklace made from river rocks doesn’t cut it.
I have discovered something cool that I have had all along, DVD on demand. Whoopie, I just watched Intolerable Cruelty and loved it- a Coen Bros movie so I figured I probably would. It was so much like the old Cary Grant movies, great dialogue, good camera work and lots of stars to recognize. Thoroughly enjoyable for a Saturday afternoon.
But you say, this is supposed to be about art- so I’ll tell you that yesterday and the day before I spent hours, simply hours, appliquéing little Dresden plate pieces onto an old Irish chain quilt top. I have no clue where I am going with this, but idle hands are the tools of the Devil, doncha know. I have missed another deadline, one I really wanted to hit except for the niggling fact that I have no work to submit. I gotta get on this and get some things done over the summer. The name of this new piece is Loves Me, Loves Me Not, and it just may have some inner-hidden-deeper-secret meaning, guess that all comes out as I work on it. Meanwhile I will take an ‘in progress’ picture for the archives.
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