The Joy of Color

In the service of keeping the creative fires burning during the course of a long project, little things get played with. For instance, today while I was searching for the symbolism of the octopus (they have been appearing in my personal journals for about two years now, and I have been seeing them out in the real world during the past few months), I came across a link to the work of Judith Cornell. I have her book Drawing the Light from Within, and in it she talks about using prismacolor pencils on dark paper to bring out inner world out to view. This is the mandala I worked on this morning. A full shot is at my flickr, this just had a better angle on the color and detail.

I had intended a lotus in the center when I began, but it morphed into the dragon or octopus-like figure seen here. I had thought perhaps a golden sun at the top, but the bird is what happened. I think it is appropriate, in that deep way of knowing something belongs.

And this is the big project. Some would call the mandala avoidance, I would call it sanity saving. This piece is for the local Hillel and will hang in the lounge above the loveseat. The green will be divided into hills by strips of opalescent batik that will have fruits embroidered on it, and three buildings symbolizing the local communities will be nestled among the hills (those are what is intimidating me right now, though I know once I start they will go quickly). The base is the bricks that the local streets and buildings are covered with, and will contain a quote about being blessed in our homes and our communities. It's only 36" h by 54" w, I don't know why I'm so intimidated (after all "What Lies Beneath" is 69" x 42" and Bean Gildorf's Rambler quilt in Rice's new book is only 544" long!).

It's been raining a lot here. Good weather to stay in and work!

Skully Stella and Friend

While preparing stuff to take to Wholly Craft tomorrow, I came across this unfinished giraffe mini quilt, which was crying out to be finished. So after I found the proper machine threads, I embroidered him right up. I am unsure whether he is a stand alone or a part of a multiple component piece (after the dream I had last night I think I have an idea...)

And then I made Skully Stella, friend to Skully Stan, also machine embroidery. Both pieces are on my own hand-dyed twill (ie twill I dyed myself, not purchased myself). What is the proper terminology for that? Artist dyed cloth?

Details of each image are at my flickr.

Midweek Update

Farmer's market bounty of the day, yum!


Skully Stan, part of a new mini run of plush. Or run of mini plush, I suppose! :)

It has been hot here, like pretty much everywhere else. Hard to believe this time last month we were running around in sweats because it was so chilly in the morning. I haven't beaded anything since last month's bead journal page, but here's a taste of what's happening in my corner of the world.

Today we went to the farmer's market and I was pleased to see it nearly as well stocked as it is on the weekend. I managed to get several types of peppers (fajitas anyone?) and a mess of tomatoes that will be sauce for tvp joe and pizza, as well as some wonderful peaches and blackberries. I passed on the green beans this week because I used all my maple syrup making carob brownies earlier this week and we won't get to Trader Joe's until next week (I have a great recipe for mustard maple syrup green beans).

We didn't get into Craftin Outlaws, not sure where we are on the wait list, but I decided to mess around with some smaller plush anyway. So I present Skully Stanley. And a trip to Knitter's Mercantile over the weekend yielded a luscious Himalaya Yarn wool/silk that is begging to be made into the tiger purse I began planning back in June. Watch this site for further updates as the work progresses!

Hearts Desire Journal Box Class

I am on the schedule to teach a Hearts Desire Journal Box class at Riverside Artists in Marietta Ohio next month. In this class we will create a box journalling our deepest hearts desire. This can be something we are working toward, or something we are memorializing. The box shown commemorates my love for my family and my desire to share those good times with them again. The class will be held Saturday September 22, from 1-4pm. Cost is $45 plus $10 for supplies. (I will provide boxes, paints, ephemera, found objects, adhesives, handouts and more, students may bring their own found objects, copies of family photos, etc to make their boxes more personalized).
Email me for more information.