Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts..., Sewing | Tags: art, artist, dedham, drawing, quilt, sewing
“BRRRBOOHOOHOO” means that I’m getting VERY TIRED of the temperature around here.
I know.
11 degrees isn’t THAT bad. But when the wind blows, it IS cold enough to make one’s face ache, fall to the ground, and get lost in a snow drift. I almost tripped on mine the other day. We sort of missed out on warming up during February vacation, as we didn’t go anywhere. I was delirious with kindergartener fatigue for that entire week. I found myself staring vacantly at a spot on the wall while my son talked incessantly about: double inverted fishtail bracelets, how he needs more rubber bands, and why it’s better to stay inside all day and make bracelets instead of going outside for sledding and exercise. Because my son is obsessed with Rainbow Loom, we have an explosion of colored rubber bands all over the house, in addition to all of the bracelets/charms/actions figures that he makes. He keeps reminding me that I said that it is the “worst toy in the world,” which I mistakenly said when I was in a fit of frustration trying to help him with some rubber band disaster project. I get a migraine just thinking about it.
Actually, those days at home were much easier than the days with playdates. I yearned for a large margarita both during, and after, every playdate. Thankfully…there weren’t many of them as MOST people were gone because they had gone somewhere to thaw out. In our house, that’s standing in front of the toaster oven.
Let it be said that I am thankful that we have both a house and a toaster oven.
The vacation was a general success, though, as we did manage to get through it without Mommy falling ill with a case of the vapours. I threatened to do so numerous times. In order to cope, I also obsessed over my own crafty projects:
THAT…is a stupendous baby quilt that I made for a friend. I even sewed on a poem:
I know that I can post this without spoiling the surprise, as new mom’s don’t have time to get changed out of spit-up covered pajamas, never mind read my mindless blog!
NEXT PROJECT:
Yes. I made that. I followed a pattern that I found online, so I can’t take credit for the design…but I CAN take credit for the snazzy fabric choices! I’m using it to keep my knitting in…(more craft addictions…pls send help!)
Check out the super cool lining! I nearly broke my sewing machine with this…so next time, I’m using lighter weight fabrics. OR…I am going to get an industrial sewing machine, which I’ll set up in the middle of the dining room. (JUST KIDDING, HONEEEEEY!!!)
Besides showing you my ridiculous crafts…I am also proud to say that some of my drawings have been included in the latest issue of New American Paintings.
WOO HOO!!!! Yes, I draw AND make garish things out of fabric. Maybe I need to start drawing the garish things that I make out of fabric? Maybe not. I should probably start with some overdue housework first…
Nah.
The drawings in New American Paintings are actually up at a new arts center in Dedham right now: Motherbrook Arts and Community Center.
It’s great to be included in this show, as there are many really talented artists who are also participating. I’m going to show you the work of just a couple of people…
Christiane Corcelle, Square 27
This gorgeous print is part of a series that Corcelle has done. She specializes in carborundum collagraph printmaking. I have taken several classes with her, and she is also a great teacher. I LOVE this whole series…the colors…the transparency…the textures. Amazing.
Martha Wakefield, Slip #11
Wakefield is one of the co-curators of the show. She has an entire series of paintings on slips. In each one, the slip is almost floating down off of the canvas. She really captures the lightness and hidden quality of these garments (or rather, undergarments…). They don’t hang as if suspended from a hanger, but they are almost drifting away…slightly billowing to suggest the form of the wearer. Beautiful!
Jeanne Williamson, Fence as Lace #7
Williamson is the other co-curator. She describes her own work as: “Contemporary abstractions that combine grids from orange construction fences and rich textured mixed media surfaces.” She has taken such a neglected part of our landscape: plastic construction fences, and transformed/re imagined them into compelling works of art. I love the neutral palette with limited color. The dark textures almost seem to relate to the construction origins of the material, whereas the dots of color (and the title) relate to textiles/femininity.
Go see the show, as it’s up until March 21. Please feel free to buy one of my drawings too, as I know that you’d love to have a picture of me on your wall!!!! I go with most decor, especially Chinoiserie.
Actually, I just need more funds for my craft addiction…and maybe some groceries too.
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., textile forms | Tags: art, artist, groundhog, quilt, seasonal affected disorder, snow, winter
If this post seems grumpy, it’s just S.A.D. Those of us in the Northeast embrace this seasonal grumpiness by complaining about the temperature, the snow, the temperature of the snow, shoveling, lack of parking, lack of daylight, lack of warmth, and the general fatigue and malaise induced by constantly having to spend half an hour putting on layers of clothes to go outside, and another half an hour taking them off when we come inside. There’s also hat head and/or static electricity.
Can we ship some of our snow to drought-ridden California? I’d be more than happy to stuff some into a Tyvek envelope and send it over.
This is what our deck furniture looked like during the blizzard on Wednesday. Hmm. I guess the cursed groundhog saw his shadow the day before. Evil creature! Vile vermin! (Maybe a groundhog can’t be vermin? Too big???) Speaking of groundhogs…LOOK WHAT MY SON MADE THIS WEEK AT SCHOOL:
I might have to keep this FOREVER. I assumed that this was a popsicle. I was told that this was not the case, and that this is obviously a groundhog.
Oh. That clears everything up. I think that the background paper should have been white, not green, just for the sake of accuracy. (Actually, I should think that at the current temperature outside, all groundhogs are kind of like popsicles, right?) Please excuse my blurry image, but THERE ISN’T ENOUGH LIGHT in the dead of winter to take an indoor photo.
Tonight, I am going to the opening reception of a group show that I’m in. It’s being held at the Motherbrook Arts Center in Dedham. I’m looking forward to seeing the work of the other artists!
I may have to gear up my team of sled dogs to get over there. I wonder if I can go through EZ Pass lane on the Mass Pike with sled dogs? Stopping to pick up a ticket will really slow me down.
Can I at least go in the carpool lane? No?
Besides complaining about the snow and doing rainbow loom nonsense with my son, ad infinitum…I also finished up that little quilt that I was working on:
Kind of cute, right? The back:
Now that I look at it again…those scallop shapes are starting to look like groundhogs to me.
Hmm. Maybe I need some fresh air? I may have to put myself in a Tyvek envelope to be mailed to California…it’s warm there, right? I’ll say “hi” to the California raisins for you…
slightly wonky 