Musings

The autumn is just flying by. I'm finding little time to do anything other than grab a few seconds in the middle of the day, go outside and dream of having more spare minutes to enjoy the beautiful sun, organic smells and crisp air. It's a bittersweet time of year with all its endings and beginnings. I find myself curiously sad but at the same time invigorated.

This past weekend I spent time dyeing with print paste, messing around with deconstructive printing and mixing up lots of dye baths. I think this scarve still needs one more plunge - probably into a nice deep red.

A Fall Sunday in My Life

A view from our backyard this morning....very special...

Deb Lacitiva's art quilt (upper left) hanging in an installation in Woodstock, NY...very special....
http://morewgalo.blogspot.com/

Husband person checking out a glass art installation that he thought was cool...very special....

Husband person inspecting and figuring out another art installation (and what a tres imaginative sculpture this was)....once a tool and hammer guy always a tool and hammer guy...very special...

OH! And I was tagged by Thelma Smith http://www.thelmasmith.com/blog/ I still smile when I remember how she contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in becoming part of PlanetTextileThreads http://www.planet.textilethreads.com/ . I am in such esteemed company on this website.

Anyway, I need to tell 7 things about myself that may (or may not) be interesting and tag 7 other people. I'll leave the tagging for later but here are the facts:

1.) I was born on 3/19 @ 3:19a.m.

2.) Music can transport me to other places and times.

3.) Growing up I never believed I was artistic but always wanted to be an artist.

4.) I am the happiest now than I've ever been.

5.) I am a bit of a misanthrope.

6.) I don't use a clothesdryer (ok - you have to admit someone who still uses a clothesline in this day and age is unusual but boy do those sheets smell great).

7.) I am quite intuitive.

Beautiful Sunday Morning

Clear, sunny and cool seems to be on tap for the weather today....absolutely gorgeous! Sept and Oct are my favorite months of the year. I am not a beach person - more a wood fire, homemade soup person. No doubt this blog will have at least one posting showing a bonfire that we will have out at our pond sometime in the next few weeks. You are all invited as long as you bring the marshmallows!

I made this 4x6er last night from hand dyed & painted fabric that was further embellished with foils. The other elements are rolled cloth that was secured together with gel medium and wrapped with beads and wires. I call it Ancient Ruins and is further exploration of this cairns, portal, standing stones series I've been busy with.

Oh...and....the class Thurs night went great (at least that was my take on it). I believe I realized some success in my mission to only provide inspiration and encouragement to design creatively rather than instruction on specific construction methods. Part 2 will be this Thursday. I hope the participants are all as enthusiastic as they were last week.

Autumn Fire

This is some more experimentation with sheer fabric that has been gel medium’ed on both the front and back and then painted with acrylics. To finish it off I did some free motion stitching and added copper foiling (loving this foiling stuff on fabrics). I do like many things about this technique but still have some issues I’m contending with! I use rubbing alcohol to manipulate and alter the paints. The alcohol seems to make the paint a bit shiny and slick. I like texture and matte so I’m still trying to get that type of result and still be able to use the alcohol. Maybe if I gently sand the painted piece it will help me get the effect I’m after.

Rays

"Summertime,

And the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin'

And the cotton is high"

These George Gershwin lyrics certainly evoke a mood and are like a painting with words. Somehow these words conjure up memories of my childhood - endless days and nights spent outdoors, butterflies and fields filled with wildflowers.

That said, summer is not my favorite season. Sweating, gnats and misquitos tend to make me crabby and my husband has learned to steer clear of me if the thermometer goes over the 85 mark. I don't consider humidity my friend. I much prefer the autumn with its rich organic smells, bonfires and promise of good snuggling-getting-cozy weather. Give me a pot of hot steaming soup over an ice cream cone any day.