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?  

Winter Prayers

11"x18", assorted embroidery stitches, machine stitching, newsprint, silver/gold trim, gold leaf, beads.
 I began with the circles...each one demanding its own combinations of cloth, stitching and beads. Four created a square and then I began seeing a square box appearing. I usually make three dimensional boxes but not this one. The top piece had many lives and shapes...I think I was looking for magical or mystical. The trim became the glitzy silver and gold trim I have been saving for years. The scraps of Hebrew print speak of my attempt at prayer...the ancient beautiful prayers. Surprised myself with the pale blue and tea soaked lavender trim. Look closely and the circles continue in gold thread on the pale blue. This is the last of the year and the second of this winter. I might have a few more efforts on behalf of winter...

Winter Blue

12"x13", assorted cloth, stamped cloth, silver leaf and silver beads...embroidery and machine stitching, painted paper bird.
Began as a winter globe, planets, stars all frosted with silver leaf. Added the little brown bird for a perfect vantage point of oncoming winter storms. Winter here is usually mild with many shades of blue/gray skies...some rain and wind. Most overcast days I drive by the beach to see the waves stirred up and frothy.

Lucius Fabius

10"x11", sun printed leaves, acrylic painted leaves, embroidery and machine stitching, beads, assorted cloths and stamped cloth.
Title is of a Roman Senator and I've gifted this wreath in his name...just because? I had fun sun printing this summer even though I danced with the fog rolling in in late afternoons. I used the free motion quilting attachment on my sewing machine and created leaf veins...!

Autumn Sky

11"x19", assorted fabric, rust and tea stained, embroidery and sun prints.
My reaction to these last autumn sunsets. I look into my dense wooded shrubs full of leaves, nests, birds in and around sunset and wait for it all to Glow in pinks, rusts and browns. My commitment to creating from each season has begun. I plan on one more for autumn using sun print leaves.

Autumn Shadows

12"x10" and growing! assorted cloth, stamped bleached fabric, embroidery and tea stained cloth.\
Slow going on this one...my last look at Autumn...autumn on my deck. Sunsets, branches, shadows, shapes and nests and birds....I'm expecting about 20" in length. I plan on starting some bead work next.

The Story

8"X8", printed cloth, scraps of old failed work, beads and clock hand and embroidery.

The Story:   An amulet found in the desert sands. Designed after the great Pillar of Lost Directions. An ancient pillar that stood on the bank of the River Yarmuk...now forever crumbled to sand and stone. One of the features of this amulet besides the moveable arrow is the abundance of X's all reminding one to the wise words "Here I Am".

My little story finishes this piece and the online class. Still writing sessions and thoughtful conclusions but for the most part...complete.I might add a few ribbon covered eyelets for hanging. I came away with some new/old reminders of what is important in my art making as well as a few clear directions.

Mandala lll

8" around, assorted printed cloth, random scraps, embroidery, two layers of rope trim.
I'm on lesson 3 of my online class. I opted to create a mandala expressing my personal traits. Funny, curious, kind and intelligent with the addition of guarded and reclusive. The rope trim seems best to signify the last two traits! This and the other lessons have been great, very insightful and a good group to connect with along the way ... there are two more with a sixth to wrap up!

Equinox 2017

4"x4" each piece, tea stained cloth, rust stained cloth, printed fabric both stamps and sun printing, embroidery, pearl beads and assorted papers.
Part of my online class. I think I worked too fast and will try to slow down on the next assignment as this is truly about finding meaning in ones work. If I work too fast (being a good student) I will miss some of the depth of the lessons. First one is upper left piece,second to the right, bottom also left (3rd) and right is fourth with the center being the last...fifth. I'm enjoying the online class and especially like seeing others work and their take on assignments.
 Autumn is really here and my garden is changing.  I'm feeling all the ramifications of the changes both physical and spiritual...accepting this early darkness and morning chill.

'Last of Four'

12"x6", assorted tea stained cloth, beads and glass mosaic tile, entirely hand stitched or glued.
So many questions get asked while art making. This one is my ongoing look back, the rediscovery, the digging up of lost memories, treasured old loves. Current events and ancient history get mixed together with my own vision...I so love the worn tattered artifacts...a promise that we have always been the same.

"Very Blue"

61/2"x7", assorted stained and dyed cloth, straight stitch and free wheeling machine stitching.
This is the first little one in answer to my handwritten questions. I'm using these questions as meditative prompts and hope to spend August in this pursuit. I intend on using mostly my remnants box and mostly hand stitching. Also this month I will try to do some dyeing and staining and other fun methods such as flour paste application and maybe some sun printing.
In September I am taking my first online class and truly looking forward to the connection. I work alone and I think I might like to change things up for myself. It is with Roxanne Lasky and she says the class includes people from all over the planet so I'm jazzed. Happy August!

Manuscript of Stars

10"x12", assorted embroidery, photo transfer, lace trim and variety of cloth...tea stained.

In another time I think I might have enjoyed creating elaborate manuscript pages and covers. The center square is of a section of an ancient mosaic floor depicting astrological imagery. These archaeological discoveries leave more questions than answers? How important was astrology? Magic and amulets also played important roles? Dreaming and stitching.

Moon Entrance

9"x14" tea stained fabric, crochet piece, silver leaf, embroidery and machine stitching, digital photo on cloth.
Time in the studio has been limited and there have been so many stops and starts. This small piece has had many directions and several 'lost days'. I used a digital transfer of a loved sketch of phases of the moon. Last resort was taking this to my sewing machine and let some free stitching create these precious views. I'm loving the variations of mottled stain on these different fabrics...very little control and plenty of surprises. The rest of July and into August will be slow paced which I think is good for an artist of my age...a gathering of myself and unfolding ideas and looking for tattered beauty.