giant reactionary evergreen

My Mum brought me up to believe that if you look after the pennies then the pounds look after themselves, and I could never do it. Damien Hirst

Up and at 'em real early-  thought I'd walk the dogs, make my coffee and sit down to start sewing on the 2 pieces I brought home with me, freeing myself up for a break and some fun later.  Well, ha.  I got all set up and ready and realized I didn't bring home a needle.  Sometimes my own lack of oversight really gets to me.  Meanwhile I brought about 67 different threads, an earring I have been looking for for months that I found in a bag of yarn, a Kind bar (emergency food stash), scissors and thimble, and even an assortment of embroidery threads JUST IN CASE I feel like adding some of that.  But no needle.  Thwarted.  First thing I will head back to the studio and scamper in between the murderous lot that trolls the parking lots other than the undisturbed raccoons rampaging in the dumpsters.  Frankly I have never seen a questionable soul there but it's awfully isolated and lonely on weekends after the bustle of an industrial complex on weekdays.  I'll be fine.  Damn.  

Michael Marten’s gorgeous images capture a natural cycle that often takes hours to complete, seen side by side in one instant. Because of this warped sense of time, we see the changes of tides with a new eye – and one that can appreciate their extreme rise and fall. In one location we see a cargo ship motoring past, and in the next instant the land is dry for miles into the distance. In another we see people heading into the water for a swim, and in the next image the whole beach is flooded.  See more of the series Sea Change at his site.

 Andrew Hayes combines his passion for metal work with a musty lust for pulp– book pages chopped, twisted, bent, and pressed in bulk. What I admire most about each piece is not just the clean, firm edges, but more so, the understatement of this being a distant relative to book art. In fact, the reverence for printed matter and its conceptual demise is not even a driving force; instead, its emphasis is on material and how paper not only lines our shelves, but also collects as a form of sculpture . . . but with a little more grace and curve.

Hysterical video by the Ylvis (!) gang, a bunch of Norwegians with a lot of time on their hands. 

With me approving!  Did you know that it's teeming with crows?  I loved it.

Another dress pattern collage, 'Corn Dyptich' done with many of the techniques that are discussed in the book Fabric Surface Design that I recommended yesterday.  But no fabric other than the canvas it's mounted on.  There is block printing, stenciling, bubble wrap, and embroidery.  I really like this piece, but I've never shown it other than in my bathroom.  

And finally, a sewing machine made entirely out of dress patterns and cardboard.  How cool is that!  Unfortunately it was sent to me without a name, so I did a search and came up with Jennifer Collier and GUESS WHAT!  It's available at Anthropologie for a mere $1498.00!  I have always liked her work so maybe tomorrow I'll feature some since I plan to start a new thread.  Stay tuned.  Squirrels may be put on hold for a time.