Thursday I had another episode with my eye. I know I sound like a broken record, hey I feel like a broken record! So yesterday I spent most of it seeing doctors and having tests run. The good news is that my retinal tears have healed and it didn't appear I had any new ones. The bad news is my eye had hemorrhaged again and filled with blood. WHY? No one knows and that is the mystery. So ........ I can't keep harping about this here on my blog. It's frustrating and I hate having to go through the hoops but it's the only way I can hopefully get to the bottom of this whole issue.

I also wanted to thank everyone who left a comment about the webiste/blog questions. I have a lot of information to process and when I have time to formulate my decision I'll be back to post about it. Thanks again to all.

That said here are the items I forwarded to be juried for the Weavers' Guild of St. Louis annual show. I sent four items but unfortunately didn't take a picture of the shirt with a velvet flounce because I thought I had already taken pics of it. Obviously I didn't. I hope these new eco dye print pieces are accepted and if you live in the St. Louis area please come see the show. I plan to be there and always look forward to seeing the members I've become such good friend with and catching up but mostly to see all the wonderful items these very talented members create!

silk crepe tee top, eco dye printed





silk chiffon cape, eco dye printed and a dye printed habotai silk piece (cut from a print I bought from Arlee Barr) appliqued and stitched on the back.








silk noil eco dye print scarf with embroidery stitching and gemstones

Website and Blog question

I have a website but it has not been updated for years. I keep the website because I feel it gives a visual of my work for people who want to see that BUT if I'm not updating because I have to pay someone to do that for me OR I would have to change it to another service and pay someone to do that too it doesn't get done. I do not have the time or inclination to learn how to do that myself. My question to you readers is this: Is it necessary for me to have both a website and a blog? Renewal for my website is coming up to keep my domaine name and I know it needs updating so I'm wondering if it's worth it to spring the money for. Would really appreciate your input on this subject. Is a blog enough? I could start uploading more images of my wares to my Flickr account and have a link to that from the blog. Would that be sufficient and make the website not necessary?

Today I'm packing up a few items to send to St. Louis to be juried for the Weavers' Guild annual sale and to be entered in the fashion show if they're accepted. I will post some pics of those later this afternoon or evening.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

September the month of Fall

We have had an unusual summer in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Summer arrived late on the tails of cool and very rainy weather. My garden got planted late and seemed to be reluctant to grow to fruition. But finally the tomatoes are starting to ripen, the green beans are overproducing and the lemon cucumbers are the best! I've frozen the jalapenos and chilies that are waiting to get added to the salsa I hope I can make this weekend.




I am so happy to see that we have honey bees!




I've also been busy gathering leaves, flowers, and plants to experiment with more eco print dyeing. I'm totally hooked on this but there is so much to learn! Just a few pics of the small pieces I've been trying out.

update on eco dyeing and works in progress

The short periods of time I am able to work in the studio I am. My eye doctor says I can do focus work for 30 minutes at a time then take at least an hour break. I can work up to 5 hours a day. You know how hard it is to be focused on creating something and have to stop at 30 minutes? Very hard. The creative juices get flowing and then I have to cut them short and it's very frustrating but I know it's important so I'm doing it.

Slowly, slowly I am getting things done ............. eco dye samples unbundled and colored, embellishing scarf lengths with embroidery and beads, class samples for applications to art retreats, and garments I'm upscaling.

ceanothus on silk



cotton shirt and eucalyptus





Yerba Santa on silk - The leaves gave nice prints but the purple flower not so much



manzanita bath yielded a soft pinkish tan color






eucalyptus on silk noil



ripe elderberry





green blackberry leaves on silk, wrapped on copper pipe. Funny how the leaves didn't leave any color at all but the copper tinged the outline of the leaves




sweet vintage glass buttons I considered adorning this scarf with but I couldn't bring myself to cut them off the card. Is that silly? I have these cards of buttons displayed in my studio and think they are little works of art in themselves.

Vendor Day at Art Unraveled

I'm preparing my garments to ship to Julie who will be selling for me on vendor day, Sat. August 6, at Art Unraveled in Phoenix.

These are some pics I took of some of my new items. I know they look better on a body but I can't spend too much time focusing with my eyes so I took some quick shots.

Art Unraveled Class

I was given the okay by my Dr. this morning to be on the computer for short periods of time. I feel like it's been a very long time lapse and I'm not sure how to catch up except I do want to encourage anyone interested in attending Art Unraveled and learn shibori dye techniques to do so. Even though I had to cancel I am so grateful that Glennis Dolce agreed to take over my class. If I could take a class from her I would be signing up! We both dye using shibori techniques but we do it differently and use different dyes and I'm always curious to learn other dyers processes. I know I'll meet Glennis in my future and spend time dyeing with her.

I am also grateful that Julie agreed to run my vendor booth, Lorie Garver is helping and several dear friends are prepared to assist if needed. Thank you Joanne, Fran, Martha, and Angie.

I felt so bad to cancel this event, especially after having to cancel the Create and event too. BUT I am going to be at Art Is You in Petaluma. I have my sister willing to assist me and other friends should I need that. It's a close drive for me and I just want to let everyone know who have signed up for my classes or are considering it that I will not have to cancel yet again. My eye is healing and I will be taking my doctor's advice seriously and going at the pace I need to so I will be prepared to teach and vend so don't be discouraged that I won't be there!

An update...

Cindy here, writing for Lorri as she's recovering from yet another torn retina (ack!) She wanted me to let you know that she's taking it REAL easy this time, but that she won't be able to teach at Art Unraveled next month after all. She's very disappointed and is going to miss being there and seeing everyone, but she has no choice. The good news is that she has arranged for Glennis Dolce to teach in her place! Glennis is a fabulous instructor and Lorri highly recommends her, so you can rest assured that you'll be in good hands. There's still space in the class, A Day to Dye For, which includes not only dyeing techniques, but shibori as well. Glennis (aka Shibori Girl) would love to have you join her, so take a look! She's in Yosemite for the next few days, but will be posting specifics when she returns, so you can check out her blog for an update.


If you were hoping to purchase some of Lorri's fabulous creations at the event, no worries—Julie Haymaker-Thompson has graciously offered to sell Lorri's goods, so come to the vendor show and check out the goods! Lorri will be there in spirit, that's for sure.

Please send positive, healing prayers to her—she's unable to read right now, but her hubby is taking good care of her and will be sure the messages get to her. She'll check in here again when she can!