Traveller's Altar

12"x18", tea stained cloth, assorted printed cloth, stamped cloth, paper, machine and hand stitching, ribbon and beads.
I believe this is my beginning of some new approaches and yet with my usual subject matter...still interested in the desert journey, antiquities of forgotten tribes and the forever love of cloth, beads and stitching. This piece represents (to me) a time when travel was measured with light weight burdens and that even altars and important documents needed to be rolled up and tied for safekeeping. I'd like to think of this cloth altar as a touchstone for the wayfarer: unrolling and saying prayers at the days end. Many rolled parchments have been found in clay jugs in caves as they were put there until the traveler would return.

Caravan Dreams

                                                         5"x11", "Caravan Dreams", walls are made of foam core & tape, Each wall carries a collaged circle form dismantled from an abandoned mixed media piece. Added assorted fabrics, machine & hand stitching and beads. The top dome has a Styrofoam base. the bottom legs (not seen) consists of three wooden spools from my grandmothers sewing tin. Inside is filled with red cloth and silver and black trim.
                                                     My inspiration started in fourth grade when our teacher read to us from a book about the adventures of Marco Polo. I was entranced! It became a favorite day dream...traveling ancient roads, trading silk, precious stones, beads, meeting Kublai Khan and later I continued these dreams to include camel caravans carrying incense through the desert.  None of these daydreams included robbers, dirt, heat, bad smells, etc...!
                                                        Each wall of this caravan box was a project in itself and then the connection to one another was also important. So it was like creating six pieces. I'm stopping the box series for now and going to pick up a project slower with less color, less demands...we shall see how long that will last?!

                                                                                       

First Light

This cloth piece measures 15"x18" and was made especially for Roxanne Evans
Stout's new book "Storytelling With Collage".  Yes, there is a story that goes with this piece as well as lots of beads, embroidery, rust treated cloth, stamping and bits of gold. I have yet to receive my copy of the book so I'm pretty excited and I'm reading great comments on Facebook.
Somewhere around late 2008-2009 I discovered River Garden Studio and the connection began. I especially liked Roxanne's blog because it reflected on her art as well as her garden and her natural surroundings. We have left comments for one another over the years and I have found her words thoughtful, fun and encouraging. It doesn't surprise me that she is a well respected teacher of all things about art....skills and heart and I'm so pleased to be included in this book! To order your copy click here:  Storytelling With Collage