Was able to get some dyeing/printing done yesterday. I do like how these came out. I call the top piece 'tunnel', the middle piece 'path' and the bottom piece 'door'....a traveling theme....

Another ATC done last night while watching quite a bad movie....that newest Indiana Jones one. I can only recommend this movie to those who enjoy bad plot lines, no character development, unrealistic action and poorly done Hollywood extravaganzas. All I can say is give me a good indie film any day over monster budgets.

All is Calm, All is Bright

Apparently all of my ATC's at the Danforth Museum of Art sold on Christmas Eve day! What a lovely holiday gift. So...last night after all the hullabaloo was over and 1/2 the overnight guests had left I started work on some more for the Museum Shop. I have many commitments that must be kept in the upcoming weeks. Looks like 2009 is starting off busy.

Hope everyone's New Year brings peace and hope.

Steve's Chocolate Pecan Cherry Rum Balls

* 1 pkg Nabisco Chocolate Wafers

* 1 cup pecans

* 4oz. dried cherries (but the moist kind)

*1/4 cup light Karo syrup

*1/4 cup dark Jamaican rum

*1 cup confectioner's sugar

Put the wafers and pecans in a food procesor and grind. Remove to a largish bowl.

Put the cherries in the food processor and grind up. Put in the same bowl as the wafer/pecan mixture.

Add the Karo syrup and the rum.

Mix all together with your hand.

Let rest for 10 minutes.

Roll into bite sized balls and then roll into the confectioner's sugar.

Wrap and let cure.

Delicious.

Changing Landscapes

Awhile back I was witness to the following statement that was used to describe why terminating (laying off) someone was necessary in the name of - supposed - efficiency...."It's time to change the landscape in our environment". When did stripping someone of their income and throwing their life in turmoil become associated with gardening?
Maybe the greed that is so rampant in many executive offices should be termed "creating lush vegetation"?
Or....maybe...."contributing to root rot" better fits the bill.

Anyway, art.....I "changed the landscape" of the small piece from yesterday's post by overlaying it with dyed silk organza and tulle. I do like how it soften and abstracted the piece even more.

Lay of the Land

A small landscape I did last night while messing around with pieces of fabric that I either gelatin printed, discharged, painted, stamped, deconstructive screen printed and/or dyed. New supplies arrived from Dharma Trading yesterday and I can't wait to get into them. This is a busy time of year but I'm hoping for some art time this weekend.

I could of stayed up all night working on this. It was one of those times that I was living in the right side of my brain and time was something from another dimension....a very special, special feeling. The base is plain white fabric with overlaid dyed and discharged silk organza. The hearts are dyed, discharged and stamped cotton fabric.

Merry Christmas

In lieu of cleaning the house husband person and I made this today. The base is a large grapevine circular wreath with pine boughs secured on it (a good thing to have pine trees on your property), colored lights and gorgeous twisty branches in memory of Carla.
I heard some words in a song tonight that really hit home about life..."it’s hard some times, but pretty much it’s alright" by Mark Knopler (and featuring The Queen - Emmy Lou Harris).

Happy Holidays, everyone.

Hearts That Have Stood the Test of Time

I posted a hearts piece awhile back and received a great comment on a possible name for it from Carol Wiebe (do click on her name and check out her marvelous work). The former hearts piece is still in the "let's see if this ever becomes finished or will it get cut up and included something different?" stage but I am in love with her suggested title. Soooooo....this piece (that no, isn't finished yet) is going to bear the 'Hearts That Have Stood the Test of Time' title. Thank you very much, Carol.

A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time when I was smart, attractive and young I didn't realize the potential of life or that I wouldn't always be smart, attractive and young. I often took my overflowing cup (or bowl if you will) for granted and did not honor nor do justice to all I had been given. Now that I am not so young or attractive (but still smart, although that too will change as this brain becomes muddled when the myriad of connections no longer spark and hum the way they always have) I sometimes think of my younger life's potentials with a bittersweet longing. Hindsight is always 20/20. Tonight as I read a post on another blog that was listing all the ills of her life and the world at large I became painfully aware of how full my basket really is. For right now my life is good. I have a job (even if it sucks the life blood out of me - it is a job and pays me well), my health seems alright, I have a beautiful roof over my head and a soul-mate husband whose mission seems to encompass the wonderful attributes of being supportive, comforting and ever vigilant that I am happy. I realized that sometimes we may not appreciate all we have until we are not young, not as attractive and with....maybe....a bit more wisedom sprinkled in with all that brain power.

I'm toying with the idea of using altered art cloth to create handbags. Funky, fun and no two will ever look the same. I've realized that I love making cloth - dyeing it, screen printing it, painting it, discharging it and anything else that occurs in those 'hey what about doing this?' moments. Since I don't like making clothing I'm wondering if handbags would be an avenue to pursue. Stay tuned for more on this....but probably not until after the holidays.....it's so busy right now....and I have company staying over in a couple of weeks....and that means the house has to get cleaned....tum da dum dum.....

The piece above is dyed cloth overlaid with dyed silk organza and lots of stitching.

Available

This scarf is available to a good home! It's 100% silk - soft and dreamy with a beautiful drape. It measures about 72x14". It's been dye print pasted using my hand cut stencils, deconstructive printed and over dyed. Price is $45. Please email me if you're interested.

I've been a busy elf what with dyeing scarves and stitching. Today is the annual Art & Fine Craft sale at the Wallkill River School. Below the photo is an explanation of the reason I've pushed myself beyond my usual limits to get things ready. I know the economy is a mess and that many people don't have money for the necessities of life (like good food) let alone the luxury of art but I do hope today turns out successful.

All Sale Proceeds Will Benefit
The Aumick Art Scholarship Fund

The fund’s goal is to promote creativity, self-esteem and self-awareness in children and teenagers, regardless of their current involvement or education in the arts. We believe that all young people are innately creative and artistic pursuits can serve as solid foundations and help to positively impact their present and future lives.

In the summer of 2008, with much help from the Wallkill River School, our scholarship fund enabled 10 children and teens to participate in workshops at the school – free of charge. Oil painting, drawing, fashion design and Japanese animation were among the workshops that the participants attended.

It is our goal to grant at least 30 youngsters scholarships in the summer of 2009.

Thank you,

Steve and Denise Aumick

3 little, itty bitty ATC's with rings and tulle all dressed up for the holiday season.

And another.....I tell you nothing takes dye like silk!

Another silk scarf done with deconstructive screen printing and then over dyeing. This one is very subtle. Going to try another one today. I will only have a few for the show next weekend but it is what it is!

Holiday Show

Between stuffing turkeys and cleaning the house (are you proud of me?) it has been a hectic week. But yesterday all the guests were gone, the house was quiet and I was able to get some work done. I have a show next week and I'm pedaling as fast as I can! The top piece is dyed fabric overlaid with dyed silk organza and hand stitching. The scarf was created with desconstructive screen printing. It is luscious, even if I do say so myself.

Good weekend jujus everyone!

Hearts Galore

I stayed up way too late last night working on this. It began life as a piece of deconstructive screen printed cloth that I stamped with textile paint. It's not quite finished. I need to add a bit more quilting and some hand stitched accents. It may also get another piece of blueish cloth somewhere on the right side.

Today looks like it will be a great Sunday. We're meeting some friends to go see a local theater production of The Odd Couple. This theater operates on a shoestring and features only actors from the local area. It is always a fun experience and costs about the same as seeing some overproduced Hollywood blockbuster movie.

Support your local arts!

Work continues....I turned this piece around, snipped away some of the overlaying silk in certain areas and started to add some hand stitching. It's looks like primoidal soup, doesn't it?

Sometimes when I stop trying so hard I seem to produce more creatively unique work. This work is a dyed, painted and stamped piece of cotton with pieces of dyed silk organza laid overtop. Tonight, if time allows, the pins will be removed and hand sitching added.

Meanwhile my husband person finishes his Nuc Med classes by mid December and has begun to job hunt. When Steve left the world of high tech and semi conductors he knew he wanted to do something that would have a positive impact on people. I guess making computer chips didn't leave him with a great sense of having made a difference in the world. Be that as it may, he chose to pursue a career in the health care field. But, of course, chose one of the fields that isn't experiencing sky rocketing growth and has happy, contented already-hired employees who don't leave their jobs. Anyhow, he has two possible positions that he is waiting to hear back from. I'm asking all of you to wish him the best. This is a man who has had to endure more than his share of heart ache and stress in the past 2 years. Much like all of us 'he deserves a break today'.

This is not done yet but so far I am happy with the sweetness that is happening. Lots of layers, lots of pastel dust flying around the kitchen this afternoon.

Deconstructive screen printed cloth. I'm now well on the way to ruining 2 sinks with dye stains (perhaps a purchase of Ajax with bleach would be good - in the industrial size can). I ask you....can altered counter tops be far behind?

I posted this as a work in progress awhile ago. Yesterday I plunged it into a deep navy dye bath...yes after it had been painted and then stitched with batting....and then added the binding today. Kind of looks like one of those Hubble telescope photos, doesn't it?

I have been so busy this past week getting many pieces ready for the Danforth Museum of Art gift shop (yes, they want more) I haven't had time to blog post. This piece is cloth that I deconstructive screen printed and am now hand stitching. I was going to add more layers of dye but there was something about the simple nature of the first printing that made me leave it be. I really admire artists that are able to render their visions in works that are clean in design. Of course I also admire artists whose work is so filled with detail and stuff going on that it draws you in to keep looking and looking. Heck, I am an 'art harlot'...I love it all....

Maybe some day soon I'll have the time and inspiration to post a very thought provoking, intelligent or witty entry into this blog. But for now, I must post and run....this is a small study I did last night....painted and foiled cloth with silk ribbon, painted cheesecloth and glass beads.

This isn't stitched together yet and I want to add some other fabrics but...so far....I like where this is going.

With a big thank you to Rayna I'm having a bit of success with deconstructive screen printing. This piece started with a layer of red print paste that was imprinted on a screen with the use antique wooden textile blocks then, after the print pasted screen was dry, I used soda ash paste to push it through the screen to transfer the dye onto the fabric. Then I wrapped the fabric in plastic and let it cook in the sun until completely dry. Next step was to rinse and wash the fabric.

While this first layer was 'cooking' I prepared the next screen by imprinting golden brown print paste onto the screen creating images with the use of commercial stamps. After the print paste dyed on this screen I printed it over the first layer of the red printed fabric.

Many steps but well worth the effort and once you're comfortable with the process you'll realize how easy it is to do and how it can be done in segments over the course of a day, a week or a month.

Two tiny, little ATC's. I wonder how a bunch of ATC's joined together as an assemblage would look?

Pumpkins and Wings

The top piece is a pastel painting I did last night in the kitchen with the wood stove burning and homemade applesauce cooking on the stove - really! Appropo, don't you think?

The bottom piece is a sample of some deconstructive screen printing I did over the weekend. I love this image.

Take Flight

My husband's daughter left this life a year ago. She is soaring now, at peace in the light.

Print painted silk overlaid with dyed silk organza, dyed and discharged masa paper, hand stitiching.

Columbus Day

Besides taking one of the most luxurious naps of all time yesterday afternoon I worked on this piece. I think it will be go to the Danforth Museum of Art for their annual trustee's fundraising event. It's comprised of print painted silk overlaid with hand dyed silk organza, stitching and batiked masa paper.

Morning Has Broken

Here's what happens after dyeing fabric, then free motion quilting it and then painting with both transparent and metallic textile paints. Texture extraordinaire.

Sunday

Winds of Change is completed. After adding a bit more hand stitching I mounted it on a metallic, very light bronze/gold colored matboard. Now on to further experimentation with deconstructive screen printing.

Winds of Change

My comment on the current state of the world rendered with hand dyed cloth, hand dyed silk organza, painted dryer sheets and hand stitching.

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.

Field of Dreams

It's been an incredible week, hasn't it? I could go on and on expressing my thoughts, anger and fustration about certain people and their greed but that doesn't accomplish much. I will say this though, if the American people take it to the streets - I'll be there.

Now, can I say that I love painted cloth with added stitching? Not incredibly important in the scope of things but sometimes it's the small pleasures that bring on the smiles in our lives and help to keep us sane.

Music in My Heart

I don't know if it is all interesting that I am sharing my artistic angst (!) with this piece. It has morphed from a geometric something into an ethereal sappy something. The word 'sappy' aside I do have to say that this latest image is the one that I feel the most association with....I guess it is the one that has an emotional componet for me.

Someone recently told me that my art is packed with feeling. I found this remark intriquing because I am a person of strong emotions....I don't think I've ever been described as 'laid back'. Her comment keeps playing in my head. As an artist, isn't it incredible to emotionally touch someone with our work? Amazing. This certainly isn't a new concept but it is one to consider when contemplating why art is important on both an individual and cultural scope. Perhaps this ability is one of the defining differences between us and other species.

Decisions

Now I'm thinking circles.....

Ethereal

Suggestive. Filmy. Floaty. And nutritous too???? Someone told me this technique reminds them of creamy yogurt. This one has a base of multi colored hand dyed cotton with hand dyed silk organza laid over top. More hand stitching will be added.

Work Continues

I added some hand stitching over the weekend. At first I was going to load up this piece with stitching but I'm thinking maybe not....perhaps subtle is the way to go...but I'm going to let it sit for awhile before moving forward. I've often found that I need to step back from pieces about mid-stream and let ideas and thoughts come to me as they will.

Respite Saturday

What have I been up to this past week? Besides trying to maintain a semblance of sanity while at my day job? (and the jury's still out on how successful I was at that). I was messing around with silk and silk organza that I had dyed over the past weeks. I created this base and plan to enhance it (well...let's hope that's the result) with hand stitching. This is such a complete departure from my usual work that I'm very intriqued and excited. It's also a larger than typical piece, coming in at about 18x13". Change can be good.

Lost in the Right Side

Those of you who do it know this....doodling is a drug that doesn't hurt you, anyone around you, is very cheap and can be done just about anywhere at any time. It is a drug that takes you to another place where time is lost and your connection with the physical world fades back into the distance. I encourage you to get your dose of drug therapy today!

Script Images

When I made the screen for these images suggestive of ancient scripts my husband tried to read it. I think he came up with some sort of Dick and Jane type story but the main characters were called The Man and The Woman and were involved in the pursuit of everyday tasks - maybe preparing food? cleaning up the house? laundry? Do you think he was using my art to suggest the need for a bit of domesticity over here? Ha, ha, ha....

Painted and screen printed cotton cloth with overlaid hand dyed organza and hand stitching. Finished off with a bit of sparkling pigments.

Not that far out of the cave

To any of us who have physically or emotionally experienced the effects of what humans are capable of doing to each other in the name of religion, greed, culture, or any other absurd rationale...I send you thoughts of peace.