Art Unraveled 2011 - Dye Class

I will be teaching a fabulous class at Art Unraveled in August of 2011. Registration is now open!

Go here to read all the information.

This will be my fourth year to teach at Art Unraveled and I look forward to it. It's not just about the teaching and selling my wares on vendor day, it's also about all the great friends I've made who come back year after year. It really it a community of people that I would miss were I not able to attend.

If you've ever wanted to learn dye techniques, have access to lots of different type fabrics and ribbons (primarily silks) to dye, perhaps color match to dye something a particular color, then you really should take the class. It's fun and truly magical to see white fabric transformed into a rainbow of colors, colors of your choice!

Check out the other classes being offered too!

Quiet During Rain and Foggy Mists

It's been raining a lot. I guess it's in the news, especially the rain in SoCal, but here in Central California in the Mountains we've had our share. It's dreary and keeps me inside.



My driveway was strewn with tree debris today after the storm and now another front is on it's way to dump even more rain on us. We are grateful for the rain though filling up our water tanks.

I ventured to town expecting there might be some road issues, but the trees had been cut and cleared and the roads were fine. I made it to the fabric store and the grocery store but the shopping was mayhem. Irate, horn honking drivers who switched lanes without blinkers and sometimes without looking. The wait in lines was very long and I arrived back home exhausted several hours later than I expected.

During these storms I find it's a time to do quiet work. I've been busy with some new class proposals for upcoming retreats. Here is what my desk looks like so you get an idea of what the project is. I've also been doing some nuno felting in my studio and I will take pictures of those pieces in the next day or two.






I've got a pot of ham and beans on the stove and I need to make the spinach salad and cornbread soon to go with.

Hoping everyone has wonderful holidays!

East Coast Art Retreats comes West!

I am so excited to be teaching here next year! I will post more information as it comes to me.

Art Is...Petaluma
September 22 - September 27, 2011

Sheraton Hotel Petaluma
745 Baywood Drive
Petaluma, California 94954

I'm still here

I want to thank everyone who came to the craft faire this last weekend to see me and purchase scarves from me AND to support my husband and son in their new endeavor. The wood items were a big hit and I am so happy for them.

I am working on scarves and stoles using handwoven, silk brocade, and muslin fabric strips to make more wayward threads. I've listed a few more in my Etsy shop. I plan to leave them in the shop to see what sells but if they are still listed next week I will consider taking them to local galleries so if you have your eye on something then ........ I hate to say "get it now or it'll be gone" but just so you know my intentions.





I haven't gotten in the holiday decorating spirit yet but I hope it will hit me this weekend so we can get a tree cut and decorated. Deck the Halls and all. I'll be wearing one of these scarves I made (these 2 are listed in Etsy) and perhaps that will make me feel jolly? Yes, I think so.

Loma Prieta Christmas Faire

The first weekend of December I will be joining my husband Michael and son Tony to sell our wares at the Loma Prieta Christmas Faire.


I used to help organize this show every year as the artist liaison and booth layout person. Nine years I did that when my boys were in school and I also had my own booth. It is a fundraiser for the school and I am happy to be back there. Of course this means working furiously in my studio to create enough items but it also gives me a goal to create for.

If you live in the area I hope you'll come by and see my work and say hello!!

Loma Prieta Christmas Faire ( at the Loma Prieta School/Community Center)
23800 Summit Rd., Los Gatos, CA. 95033

Saturday Dec. 4 from 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday Dec. 5 from 10:00 - 4:00

Other artist friends who will be showing:

Skyland Bay
Nancy and Larry Lopp
Bill & Jean Hackett

Big Sur

Lovers' Point in Monterey (See the mountain peak across the bay? That's where I live.)

I drove to Big Sur (again, lucky me) on Wednesday. It was a beautiful sunshiny day, the water sparkled!

While driving through Watsonville and Moss Landing to Monterey I tried to snap pictures from my car of the fields where migrant farm workers were out in the strawberry fields. Several fields had recently been tilled, ready for planting and there were rows and rows of bushy artichoke plants.






This agricultural area supports farm workers, many from Mexico. How many are illegal? I don't know but it has become an issue in our state of many illegals from Mexico coming to work these fields. If we can't figure out how to make them citizens and instead send them home then who is left to toil in the fields? Do we have citizens willing, able, and prepared to do this work? Just a thought.

Here are some staggering statistics of the percentage of food produced in California:

Food Facts
California has been the number one food and agricultural producer in the United States for more than 50 consecutive years.

More than half the nation's fruit, nuts, and vegetables come from here.
California is the nation's number one dairy state.
California's leading commodity is milk and cream. Grapes are second.
California's leading export crop is almonds.
Nationally, products exclusively grown (99% or more) in California include almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwifruit, olives, persimmons, pistachios, prunes, raisins, clovers, and walnuts.
From 70 to 80% of all ripe olives are grown in California.
California is the nation's leading producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production. Approximately 12% of the crop is exported to Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan primarily. The value of the California strawberry crop is approximately $700 million with related employment of more than 48,000 people.
California produces 25% of the nation's onions and 43% of the nation's green onions.
Gilroy, California, "Garlic Capitol of the World," has hosted 2 million at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.


I passed through Monterey, Carmel and after driving through Carmel Highlands I came around a bend and there is the beginning of the Big Sur coastline. See how the water sparkles?







I arrived at the Local Color gallery where I met with the owner Ondine and Francesca to leave more scarves for them and then drove to Nepenthe. Approaching I could see the fog bank rolling in and the temperature had dropped enough I put my jacket on. A definite line of sun and fog.




After leaving Nepenthe I started back home with a stop at Andrew Molera for a short walk but it had become breezy and the fog rolled in so I headed home.






It is a rugged and awe inspiring bit of coast everyone should experience if given the chance.

Etsy Shops

I have reopened my "wayward threads" Etsy shop listing reborn vintage garments and some new scarves sewn from hand dyed silk ribbons and torn, stamped muslin strips. I'll be listing more ribbons on my lasfibers Etsy next week.

I want to encourage everyone to consider purchasing artists made items for upcoming holiday gifts from Etsy shops. I recently purchased a lovely "ornament" from Nina Bagley's shop. I purchased a sweet pottery bird vase for my mother on her birthday from Whitney Smith. You can find a variety of wonderful artist made items so I hope you keep Etsy in mind!

Thanks for looking.

”Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” -- Picasso.

Two Days in the Studio and Four new Scarves

Yesterday I dye painted silk ribbons to use in making some new wayward threads scarves. I also had lengths of torn muslin fabric strips that I purchased with stamped images that I added dye to with a paint brush to make them look aged. I like the look of tea dyed fabrics but tea doesn't always last through wearing and washing. I used dye to insure the color will last and randomly painted the dye so the fabrics look vintage. I was able to lay four scarves out, ready to be sewn.



This morning I woke to a blustery and rainy day that never let up. Cool, damp, and dreary, the perfect weather to be inside creating. I sewed the scarves today and painted some more ribbons.

I'm showing a few photographs here and in the next day or two plan to photo more ribbons and begin listing them in my Etsy shop. I'll be back to post when I do that.

New Dawn

When I arose this morning and walked into the kitchen to start the coffee I looked out at this view, tiers of clouds in various pink tinged grays and pale blue sky over the Monterey Bay. I stepped outside and took in the view and thought "this is a new dawn". It is a new dawn for me. After traveling so much going here and there, teaching, and vending I realized I needed some down time. Time in my studio to create things I want to and not rushing into the next project to create for an upcoming show.

All day I slowly began reorganizing my studio. My husband and son Tony took my huge AVL loom apart. It was taking up quite a bit of room and since I have not woven anything on it for almost 3 years I decided to store it until I get the urge to weave again, if ever. I do have to consider that after 25 years of weaving and creating handwoven clothing I may be done, I may end up selling the loom in the near future. It's a difficult thing to consider giving up something that has been my livelihood for so many years, a part of who I am, but in essence I have already done that. It's coming to terms with the fact that my focus has changed but not knowing if that is a constant for the future. It's like holding a sentimental artifact dear to your heart, knowing that you've had it in a box for many years and forgotten it. Clearing it out of your life may open up room for something new. Does this make sense to you?

Now I have extra room in the studio which I desperately needed. It feels great to have more open space and room to have easy access to my wall of shelves where I store fabrics, ribbons, buttons, laces and threads. I am clearing the large work table and sorting through the stuff. My goal is to finish over the weekend and by next week I will start anew, just like the new dawn I experienced this very morning.

Friendships

I've been thinking a lot about friendships in my life. How many dear friends I have, some of them lifelong, some living miles even states away, and how much I appreciate them. Sometimes I don't stay in touch very well but I want each of you to know that doesn't mean I don't care or remember how special you are to me (and you all know who you are!).

I'm leaving in the morning to go to Dallas, to be with my family, and when I return I will focus on reopening my Etsy shops and taking time in my studio to work on some projects that have long been brewing in my head.

The Miracle of Friendship
by Anonymous


There is a Miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the heart
and you don't know how it happens
or when it even starts.


But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift
and you realize that
Friendship
is God's most precious gift.

Art & Soul - The road to and from Portland

I am home from Art & Soul. I am tired. I traveled to Phoenix, Paris, Portland (all cities that begin with P?). I am traveling to Dallas on Sat. to spend time with my sister. My parents will be there for the weekend and we will connect with my brother for a true family gathering. Something that hasn't happened for many years. I look forward to this.

I feel my traveling has been about the getting there and back as much as being there. I don't know that I'm cut out to go on so many trips all in a row. I was suppose to go to St. Louis for the Weavers' Guild show in Nov. and then onto Poplar Bluff but because of the trip to Dallas combined with all the other travels I had to cancel. I'll miss seeing all the folks I usually have such a good time with but there is next year.

I was awful at taking pictures this year. I have none of my classes or of vendor night or anything of Art and Soul. I know some students took pics and hopefully they will post on their blogs and/or send them on to me so I can post. I will say that classes went well. Wonderful things were created and several people came to show me their finished products. Shibori dyed and painted silk ribbons, wayward thread stoles, and lots of fun hand dyed fabric yoyo's! I regret not having photos. I need someone to remind me. I get so caught up in teaching and seeing what people are doing I literally forget to take any photos.

I did take pictures of my trip to and from Portland on the road. Traveling through Shasta is such a picturesque landscape it's hard not to want to photograph it. Mostly I snapped pictures from my car as I was meandering down the highway.

I had blue skies, sunshine, and perfect weather I as left to drive from my California home to Portland, Oregon.




When I left Portland it was pouring rain. I drove for hours with the windshield wipers steadily beating time and after 300 miles I had to stop. I was tired and needed rest. I slept in that motel for almost ten hours. That's a lot for me but know I needed it. When I awoke early the next day, dawn was just breaking but I knew it would be a nice sunny day to drive home.

As I approached Mount Shasta I was taken with the cloud that shrouded it so I stopped to take some pictures and as I neared it I snapped some more from my car.





Look how the streamline bank of clouds caused these two mountain tops to look doubled.



Fog

Blessed damp dense fog
Comforting compress for a
Soul seared by living

© 2009 Forrest Hainline


And when I arrived home that same evening, glad to plant my feet back on familiar soil and have my family around, I was greeted by this sliver of a moon (reminding me of this song) and the colors of a setting sun.

Art & Soul Portland Bound

I'm still not packed. My car is mostly loaded but I still have to pack my garments to sell on vendor day, a few incidentals and I haven't packed my suitcase full of my clothes but I'm tired now so I'll finish in the morning before I take off down the highway.

Here are a few samples of "wayward threads" upscaled, new born garments I'm taking for vendor day.












I'll be back home in a week then I'll be off to Dallas.