Home from Tucson

I arrived home from Tucson on Feb. 11th and it took me a whole week to find myself.  The trip to doing the Bead Show was long and exhausting.  After I got home I had one night I slept for ten hours.  Really?  Yes, me who only sleeps an average of 6 hours a night.  That's how tired I was.

Once I began to unpack and regather I just did not find time to post here.  I will try to catch up but am now preparing for a trip to Kentucky to teach at Making Ends Meet and then to Missouri to teach at my friend Sharon's studio in Ashland.  I've also been working on some contracted pieces and an article for Belle Armoire magazine.

Here are pics of my little Boutique, meeting up with friends new and old, and the only pic of Tucson Mnts. at twilight.

Look who popped into my boutique and I got to finally meet?  The fabulous Suze Weinberg!

My Tucson friend Alison

Mary Jo modeling

Hanging with friends Pamela, Joanna, and Jane

Lexi's scarf bail

Goodnight Tucson

Growing My Inventory

Some garments are finished, labeled, and tagged while others are still in progress.

Mapping 2014 Artfully "Personal Geographies" Challenge

Jill Berry and I were chatting on the phone several months ago about our artistic endeavors and one thing led to another and before we knew it we were collaborating on an art project that we formed a class around.  We have yet to teach it but the conclusion and class title became "A WHEREable Art Scarf"  Me being the person that instructs botanical dye printing and natural dyed fabrics and Jill instructing putting these dyed fabric pieces together forming an individual "personal geography" map.  I sent Jill dyed fabric pieces and she put together her WHEREable art scarf - Down The Garden Path.

Jill a is leader in art map making and presented a challenge to any artist who wanted to accept and enter the project "Mapping 2014 Artfully" (click to go to blog and see other artist's entries).  Here is Jill's explanation:

Mapmaking is a tool, a craft for the curious. Every part of making a map appeals to me: the graphic elements of traditional cartography, the journey, and the personal story encompassed by the dashed neatlines. This project is about making a  map of the future, in particular the year 2014. 

I accepted the challenge and decided to create my own WHEREable art scarf.  I used leaves to dye print images on fabrics and then stitched them onto a background of botanically dye printed fabric. I can't honestly say I'm finished as my mind sees more stitching added but for now I'm happy with it and we'll see what the future brings!

Christmas Decorating

tree all lit up

Arrived home from Kauai on Monday night.  Yesterday the weather here was unbelievably warm.  I was wearing a tank top and felt like maybe I was still on island!

I decided I wanted to have a little Christmas decoration so I got my son Tony and we scouted the property for a tree to cut down.  Knowing that we have no plans for a Christmas celebration at our house and that my oldest son won't be coming home we chose a funny little tree instead of a towering one.  I only brought out one string of lights and a few ornaments.  We stuck the tree in a pot full of dirt and set it on the fireplace ledge.  We have something to put the few wrapped presents under but this is the extent of decorating this year.  Just a "charlie brown" tree.

the unlit version

If you want to see some beautifully decorated homes visit here or here or many other creative decorators blogs.

HAPPY HOLDAYS!

Bittersweet Visit to Kauai

Michael and I have been on Island since Dec. 4th and while the weather has been downright balmy and perfect the visit has been a bit sad for me too.  After our arrival we learned a dear friend was not doing so well.  We were able to visit with her and talked about old times and laughed a lot. Her mind was still so very sharp but her body frail.  On Saturday she left us.  I've not cried because I know Bea would hate it if we cried.  She always said death should not be a sad occasion, it's just part of life and you let it go.  So goodbye my dear friend.  xo

Another sad point to this visit is that we sold our condo.  After coming here for ten years I feel like I'm losing a part of me, a second home.  BUT I know, I know, my life is blessed and while this is by no means a hardship it was still special to me and now I have to turn the page ..............

I've sorted through my belongings I had here, piling what to donate, what to gift, and what to keep.  In between I'm taking walks, swimming, lounging, and visiting this place.  I've been collecting flowers, leaves, and pods and dyeing fabric samples.  I am so interested in seeing what the local area I collect from has to offer in dyestuffs and experimenting with the botanicals to see what works!  It's always the surprise that keeps me intrigued.

I have pondered creating another workshop here on Kauai after doing one with DJ Pettitt a few years back but things kept coming up to prevent me from organizing and following through.  On this trip I have a much firmer idea of what this should be and a special place I'd like to plan this retreat at.  I have a few instructors in mind who might want to join me so when I get closer to finalizing plans I'll be back with info.  But who wouldn't want to go to Kauai for an art retreat?

Botanical Dye Printing

Autumn is here and there and everywhere and in my travels I have been collecting leaves and blossoms.  I've pressed these between book pages, phonebooks, and even made a leaf press using corrugated cardboard, duct tape and muslin strips as ties.

It's been lovely weather to take walks and gather leaves. I take off with my bag and come back with it full and then the chores begin.  Soaking walnuts to make dye, placing the leaves of walnut and eucalyptus and blossoms of salvia and roses between pages.

I left out several piles of botanicals to dye fabrics and for the last several days have done just that.  Of course the last photos are of fabric wrapped on copper, not a botanical but spritzed with vinegar and water the copper will leave a beautiful verdigris!