Ice, Ice Baby

I found this holiday card today. It's made from an image of a Gerhard Richter painting entitled "Ice". I love this card and already- immediately - plunked down the plastic money to buy them. I think my husband might have a bit of trouble wrapping his mind around using these as our Christmas cards but he loves me and will usually bow to my artistic wishes! But I'll wait until they arrive in the mail to show him....hee, hee....

Relics

This piece is almost completed. I started with sheer fabric that was altered with matte medium, paint and inks PLUS collaged tissue paper. Then I added painted & pigmented cheesecloth, some threads and embroidery. The focal piece is thick interfacing that was painted, stamped and foiled.

I also wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for your kind words and thoughts during the past weeks. The support of caring people means so much during times of turmoil. One never knows what life will bring but time moves forward and with that comes evolving acceptance with all circumstances.

A Special Gift

I received this wonderful gift from Jan of Laughing Dog Arts yesterday. Jan also included some lovely dyed cheesecloth that provided the perfect back drop to highlight her gorgeous textile art. Thank you so much Jan!

Here is a link to Jan's Etsy shop, for your viewing pleasure...and now it's time to get back to work on the textile piece I'm doing for Jan....

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5087421

Nested

The woodstove is fired up and warming the kitchen and dining room. Last night we lit wood in the living room fireplace. Sometimes our home helps me to feel safe and secure - even if only for certain windows of time. This feeling of comfort and established roots allows me the freedom slow down and feel centered. I am able to let go some of the stress of the past weeks.

This piece began with sheer fabric that was painted and inked. Hand embroidery was added along with some painted cheesecloth, a few beads and some painted branches. It will be listed on Ebay Sunday afternoon, about 3pm Eastern time. If you type in wildthread in the Ebay search bar it will bring up the listing.

Portals

This purely intuitive collage began with tissue paper that was torn, wrinkled and glued down with matte medium then painted, rubbed and highlighted. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Meanwhile discussion and ideas have begun for the scholarship fund we will be setting up in Carla's name. I want to thank everyone from the QuiltArt list who emailed me with information, suggestions and experiences. Your guidance has helped us find a direction. Initial thoughts are that the scholarship will be nebulous enough to help a child in any artistic pursuit (be it the visual, musical or written arts) and to be granted to a child of any age at our discretion. We plan to arrange this as an investment fund so the scholarship will be self supporting and ongoing. Carla was an extremely generous girl and we know this is making her smile, while giving us some solace.

Cradle Me

Sheer fabric dyed, painted, inked with added embellishments. This piece cries out to me about being comforted and cradled in safety.

Every time I create one of these nether-world landscapes the word "Perelandra" comes to mind. This is the second book of the C.S. Lewis sci-fi triology - a book I read when I was very young. Something powerful about the imagery in his writings and the beautiful word Perelandra became strong memories for me.

I like creating these alternate universes in cloth. I wonder if I've been working on series without realizing it!

Endings

I finished painting this at 5a.m. this morning. I am very much a morning a person and sometimes wish I could freeze that feeling of solitude and tranquility when the house is quiet and only I am awake. I love working with my tools and thoughts as daylight is just a hint peeking through the windows.

This piece will be machine quilted with added hand stitched and embroidered accents. I call it Endings. Endings can also be beginnings, don't you think?

There is a Season - Turn, Turn, Turn

My step daughter died in a car accident a week ago. It has been a time of disbelieve and pain. I would pick this piece up during some quiet times and embroider the stalks. I still have a few more on the left to complete but that should be done in the next day or so. Carla was gifted with extraordinary artistic ability although she wasn't producing much work the last year or so. She always seemed to love my art work and said she was drawn to its beauty. Two days before she passed Carla told her father she wanted to get back to her art while looking at some recent things I had done. I'm sure she's creating incredible beauty now - the likes of which none of us can comprehend.

Laughing Through the Tears

If you look at my Nov 1 post you will find photos of my friend Deb & I in high school and an art quilt I did of us a couple of years ago. She just sent me this photo in an email titled 'Us'. Thank you for this, Deb - I'm sure Carla is laughing along with us. (I do think I like my beads the best.)

In Loving Memory of Carla

Angel came down

From heaven yesterday,

Stayed with me just long enough

To rescue me....

(Lyrics to Angel by Jimi Hendrix)


May you now find the peace, love and serenity that so often escaped you while on this earth.

Some Things Never Change

My high school yearbook photo. You know how they had little writeups underneath the photos? Mine said something about liking sunny days and keyboard players (oh, those musicians), plus having an aversion to cars that won’t start. Important stuff back in the ‘70’s – I’m not even going to comment on the absence of listing any lofty goals!

My friend Deb’s high school yearbook photo. Now Deb had a very cute guy do her writeup (Deb was tres popular). He said that Deb was an outta sight chick who wanted to travel in space….or some such wacky 70’s nonsense. I never realized how short Deb really is when we were in school. Her hair added such height.

This is a Deb and me inspired art quilt assemblage I did about 2 years ago. Yes, we are still friends and even though we lived in different states at various times in adulthood we now live in neighboring towns. This Sat. is our 3rd annual Art & Craft Fair that we hold in Deb’s grand old Victorian house. We invite a ton of people, serve cheese and crackers, drink some wine and share many laughs. Oh – and…..Deb sells her wonderful beaded jewelry (her company’s name is The Bead Goes On - isn’t that great?) and I sell art quilts. Oh Happy Day!