Keep Going

The Itinerant Printer said it well, & with style! 

There was lots that kept me going this winter. No trip to a warmer climate. 

Making sure THAT doesn't happen again. 

Lots of cross country skiing was a big focus. Our VASSA trail near by 

is just the ticket for us. Part of the larger TART system. Been skiing the 10K loop 

for the first time in over a decade.

 After some new metal parts and other issues fixed for both of us

 hubby & I feel stronger than we have in years. 

Don't sit still people! Get out there & MOVE!

My journal class at Crooked Tree Art Center in January was so much fun. 

One of my students has come to my home for a private lesson in canvas surface design. 

What she did with her journal since the class is amazing! 

 

I've been in production mode for a few reasons. 

One, to fill the long dark winter days. 

Two, I will be in the Peninsula Library Art Fair August 15th. 

I will keep you informed on that when time draws near. 

That's 9 different vessels in the works above. 

I just completed a month long class at NMC, our local community college.

with the wonderful Glenn Wolff. A local artist of renown.

 There were only 3 of us in the class so we had free rein of the entire print studio. 

Next up will be the details with lots of pictures of the fun we had. Some thoughts on diet, 

a trip to the Muskegon Museum of Art & more. 

What do you do during the long winter to stay sane?

 Or do you live somewhere warm with more light.

Trillium Time & Basket Bonnet

In a word...WOW!  On Memorial Day we flew to N Fox Island. 

Uninhabited gem close to home with a 3000 ft grass runway.  

The Trillium were in full glory. 

We had the place to ourselves. How fortunate are we?

On the creative endeavor topic.

I recently decided a large basket that sits in a spare bedroom needed a lid.
 After scratching my head I came up with a plan. Birth of the basket bonnet.

I love bubble wrap as a way to create texture in the first layer.

 Round top with 2 inch edge attached with a zigzag stsitch like all my fabric boxes.
The inside of the lid. It is 17" across.Here sewn to the Pelon for stability.

 I had to pull out this bad boy to make the large circle.
The Alvin 302 VJ speed bow compass.

It can expand to make a 23" circle. Handy.
Beats the string and pencil approach.

I'm pleased with the result. 

My husband came up with a tab to make lifting the bonnet easier.

Great idea!

Contain Yourself

I am delighted to be one of the 22 vendors at the Merry Makers Marketplace at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City on November 17th & 18th.  I will also be one of three artists doing a talk next Tuesday for "Coffee @ 10" as part of the promotion for the event. 

I have been in creation mode to get many fabric boxes done in preparation. 

I  refer to them as Functional Self Art, with the prompt to "Contain Yourself" 

on my tags & cards for the fair. 

 

  

 The process has multiple phases. From the first layer of paint on the canvas, then three or more layers of texture & stencils, covering the sturdy Pelon with a fabric for the liner, to the pieces being sewn to create the final structure. I truly enjoy the entire endeavor as well as coming up with my own patterns for each size & shape of container. 

Stay tuned for how this goes. It's my market research for the containers I've been obsessed with. 

I'm a Bag Lady

I can't help myself. Paint on fabric that becomes little bags. It's my thing right now.

 

Background layer.

The thought process of what colors, imagery, & in what order is what sucks me in. 

Then the decision of when to stop has to be made. 

Titan Buff ovals were the final layer. 

 This card from a friend was my inspiration.

 

  This little book is so helpful in mixing acrylics to get the color I have in my head. 

Although this book is for watercolor, it points me in the right direction. This is a 2007 edition. 

The link above is for a more current & inclusive edition for oil & acrylic. 

Then this happened.

 A new set of decisions to be made. 

I could have stopped here but couldn't resist the spiral I added seen in the finished bag. 

Photo Contests & Some Fabric Painting

The deck upgrade we did earlier this summer has been a joy! We spend so much more time there now that we can see the woods while sitting. The air movement is better, it just feels very different.  It was a great project. The company, Feeney,  who makes the "Rail System" we used has a photo contest, as does the company where we got new planters for the deck.  Of course I took the bait & entered both. We should be getting a kick back from Feeney as there are several folks in our Condo Assoc who want to do the same upgrade.

 

Now it feels like fall will arrive soon  & more time will be spent in the studio. 

A sneak peak at my current fabric project. Details to follow.  

Have a great Holiday weekend!

Stencil Mania

Here's one thing of what I've been up to, as well as company, concerts, visiting Chicago to say good bye to older son as he & wife head to London for 2 years. Guess where I'll be visiting. It's been a great summer. With Fall approaching more time in the studio is bound to happen.

Stencils!  Love making my own with card stock. Then embellish journal pages as well use them 

 on painted fabric. There has been quite a bit of that activity. 

The first image as a riff on this line drawing on the left. 

 

In progress

Finished product.

Then used on studio apron that needed some help covering up an awful graphic.

Plant motif I can use multiple times in one image. Flip, shorten, use a different angle.

These two frames correspond to a quarter page in my journal and an Artist Trading Card size. 

Containing ideas within boxes & frames works well for me.

More on things that make me ponder, inspirational stuff I've run across on the web in the days to come. parting shots of summer things I love. 

 

 

 

Does anyone know what the little black speck in the middle of the Queen Anne's lace is? Is it a male female thing. I've noticed some flowers have it & others don't.

Spring In & Out of the Studio

My husband has made a big improvement to our deck. It's been expanded and a new railing almost done that opens it up to the swath of woods out back. Sigh. Love it!

 

All that's left is to mount the wood top rail & run horizontal wires through the posts. 

We wait so long for Spring in Northern Michigan. You want to soak up every ray of sun you can when the weather warms. 

On to the studio. More fabric painting & boxes. 

First step getting layers of color & design on the canvas. 

Cutting the painted fabric for sewing.

 

This is my approach now with these boxes.

 Sew  a contrasting fabric around the stiff Pelon so the edges are fully covered.

Then sew the cover fabric to the covered Pelon.

I'm off on a short trip with girlfriends to Denver. 

Hoping to post inspiration I find in my travels.