First Becomes Last

mixed media,9 3"x3" canvas, gold leaf, wire, crystals, assorted cloth and machine stitching. This was the first image on this blog waaay back in 2008. Funny story....I had this blog up and running a short time and I became ill. Thinking I might have pneumonia, Paul and I went to the doctors and one thing led to another and 15 days later in the intensive care ward I was told I had 3weeks to 3months to live if I went home. I chose to go home and with the help of hospice....I slowly got better...better meaning hospice could pack up and leave ...friends could stop cooking dinners because now I could go on but with limits. I would  need to be  using oxygen full time...day and night. We adjusted, with oxygen canisters and concentrator and cpaps. We changed to electric kitchen and we had help with once a month heavy cleaning otherwise we returned to our normal lives, took small trips and had fun dates. My condition is not a disease but rather a serious problem with crushing torso due to osteoporosis The funny part of this is that my art making became a stronger focus. I spent time in the studio exploring and just generally playing. Having this blog was one of my delights. Comments have mostly faded but I am devoted to keeping this space open. Lately I have slowed to a stop at the work bench. I don't know what an artist block might feel like but I know I am not suffering from any angst, self-doubt yada yada yad. One day I noticed I hadn't been working or even stepping in to clean up or gather materials or write about next projects. It has been awhile and I've looked at this from many angles. My health has taken a change as well...10 years is a long time and I believe at 74 other factors have come into play...I did smoke as a young woman so that might explain my physical wearing down.

 Final thoughts I will continue this blog, adding words and photos art related and when I have a new piece, I will gladly share. I'm active on Facebook. . Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Angel Unseen

7"x8" printed cloth, silver and turquoise beads, assorted colored threads. Began this bird/angel in early August. I've picked it up, put it down countless times. It has been larger and wrapped in copper leaf. It had four circles sewn to each corner of a patchwork background now cut away. This little stitched blindfolded angel is what I have salvaged. During these August/September days, I have been dealing with a non-life threatening ailment...causing aggravation, discouragement but finally and gratefully have arrived on the other side of this physical problem.
There is a beautiful Blindfolded Angel Hasidic tale but this little one is more personal story about not seeing, not knowing....trusting in the mending. Hopefully I'll be back full steam at the work table!  

Between Stars

9"x10", beads, hand dyed cotton, freezer paper screen prints, assorted beads and silver and black trim.

This one had many lives as I struggled with a composition relating to movement. I've dreamt about floating between stars as a meditation but not so easy  in real time. I lost count with all the different ways these stars found their place and I can tell you there are plenty more still left on the work table. I'm going to thank these (lucky) stars that I am done and now to a favorite and necessary pastime...clean the studio!

Sacred Cloth lV

13"x15", black cotton and black loose weaved fabric, rusty red with copper leaf, copper beads, hand cut stamps and embroidery.
Returning to my ancient cloth series, I have started with sacred.... torn, stained and bits of copper leaf. I began with words in my journal, decorative stitching, ritual, ancient, long buried, remnants. Slow process for me following words and bits of fabric...days spent looking, asking my self questions as well as telling myself my brand of archaeological desert stories. Yesterday I realized it was close to being finished and I felt finally at ease and calm.

Spring Time

10"x17", stamped fabric, paper, embroidery, beads and free style machine stitching.
Slow going on this second piece('Catalog Green' the first)of taking a good look at spring...both in memories and observation. On observation our weather has been a mixed bag...rain, sunshine and even hail!  And on the subject of memories, I always draw upon my childhood visiting my grandmother. She had the most magical garden and introduced me to each flower, shrub and tree. I can still see her wearing her apron and yes her slippers...she would admire blooms, and occasionally bend down to pull an unwanted weed. Most mornings she would visit with neighbors over the fence, water with a long green hose and then take me in for soft boiled eggs and a cup of (milky) coffee.
.Next big project clean the studio!

Catalog Green

6"x10", tea stained cloth, assorted dyed cloth,machine free stitching, embroidery.

A study of colors of grass. Choosing cloth and using my brand of archeology to catalog orderly examples of remembered sections of lawns, grass seeds, meadows. Created as a notebook page...worn from review. I'm 73 now and I forget and remember so many precious moments. I remember seeding a lawn, laying on fresh cut lawn watching clouds, walking knee deep in warm meadow grass. This might be the beginning of a series of 'cloth notebooks'.

Rose & Olive

11"x11", "Rose & Olive", I usually start with a project and this time was to play with dye packets by Jacquard. I work small and didn't want to fill a washing machine with fabric to dye so this was to try a small application...! The dream or inspiration was of ancient olive orchards and how that might look and feel. This background fabric was a gift from fellow Facebook friend Connie Rose and I think it sets a mood of a burning desert sunrise or a flaming sunset. Added a few beads for the sparkle of the light. Now I dream of just such a harvest under the light of a rose glowing sky.

Another example of dream tree images is in the side bar...Ancient Treeline. I used my handcut stamp of a palm tree top and added more fabric for the trunk.This fabric was once again a generous gift from Connie Rose.

Judah's plea

8'x15" assorted cloth, embroidery and machine stitching, red and black trim, assorted beads.

Ancient story here about Judah and Joesph but I got 'caught up' in the making and re-making. I just plain struggled with it...beginning problem was using a light-weight silver fabric. Settled on this one and rather like it...who doesn't like an apple?