Tumbleweeds

Tumbleweeds

Do you ever get that feeling that you are a tumble-weed being blown about the open plains? There doesn’t seem to be anything to hold on to, everything just slips by you as you are blown about. You are at the mercy of the wind with no anchor, nothing to ground you, no safe place. These past few weeks I seem to be that tumble-weed being blown about here and there. I have to stop and grab onto my anchor, my safe place. Art is my anchor… my ground… my safe place. I can count on the fabric being there - the dyes transforming my unrest into calm. There
are no expectations, only acceptance that I will transform it into something magical. I feel safe.

Accepted

I really don't care how many times you find that you have been juried into, made the cut, passed the mustard - you ALWAYS have that wonderful feeling of  YES.......  So with a dreary day today I opened my e-mail to find that I had been juried into Art Cloth Network.  This is a group from all over the United States that is dedicated to exploring and promoting art cloth.  What a wonderful ray of sunshine today!  I am very excited to be joining so many wonderful artists in this group.  I think that Texas, especially south Texas, may have a majority of members!  Susie Monday, Lisa Kerpoe, Peggy Sexton, Leslie Jenison,  Mandi Ballard and myself all come from Austin/Houston/San Antonio area.  My first meeting will be sometime in September in California.  I am excited to begin this new journey with so many wonderful artists!

Spring Meadow

Spring Meadow

6" x 18"

Silk Broadcloth, Hand Embroidery

This time of year is very exciting for me. The landscape is beginning to turn green again - a fresh clean green. The days are warming up. It is nice to go outside and soak up the sun's warmth. This is a time for new, fresh ideas. A time for growth.


I am finding that I have enjoyed keeping my hands busy with smaller items. Bits and pieces from larger works or from experiments done to find the right color combinations or textures for the next piece. I have an incredibly hard time tossing anything out - I just know it will be the "PURPECT" piece for the next project - needless to say my purpect pieces are stacking up! Time to use them up and give them new life - new growth - and while these bits and pieces are being rejuvenated I too am being given new life. Fresh clean ideas emerging for a fantastic summer crop. This is a very exciting time to be alive!

Spring Meadow - Detail

Happy Valentines Day

Hold all that you believe in close to your heart.  Love yourself first then spread that love out to infect everyone and everything you touch.  A simple act, a small spoken word, a smile can send your love and touch others you may not know.  Make everyday a Valentines Day - the world would be such a better place!

Listening to the Voice

ORNIS - 31” x 22”

Hand made paper, interface, rug canvas, tea bag paper, textile paint, feather (Red Golden Pheasant) hand stitching using grasses for thread

This work came from my desire to showcase the magnificent beauty of the ornamental pheasants we raise. I have been reluctant to use feather's in my work as I felt it too realistic or too gimmicky. My love for these magnificent creatures and my desire to find a way to honor their beauty without being trite has been a driving force in finding a way to do that. This particular feather is from a Red Golden Pheasant - one of the most breath taking birds I have ever seen. I can't begin to describe the colors on these birds - I think they have every color in the rainbow on them. And not dull colors - bright vivid color - well I digress -

The work developed simply by playing with different textures and materials. I wanted to focus on the beauty of the solitary feather, to show it's importance. I am sure there is more to why this was important to me but I'm not one to go delving into the inner workings of my brain - I just want to enjoy the process and enjoy the outcome. I have been timid in actually finishing this piece as I felt I was betraying my desire to make Art Cloth - what I was really betraying was my artistic voice. I am slowly understanding that when there is a statement that needs to be made by this voice I should not try and control what medium is used to do so. There is no way that this piece could have ever developed into the finished work if I had refused that artistic voice it's right to complete it's statement the way it needed to. This piece was really freeing as I finally am understanding that my art is not limited to one medium. I am an artist and should not be concerned about using more than one method to express my voice. I am growing day by day, becoming stronger in my convictions. This is not to say that I will not continue to work primarily with fabric but it does mean that I will not be shy about using anything I find to express my voice. I was thrilled when I found that Ornis had sold! That alone validates that I made the right decision to complete it and show it.

ART CLOTH EXTRAVAGANZA

Exciting news: Art Cloth Studios will contribute a bag for "Tote Tuesday"!

The members of Art Cloth Studios are putting together a wonderful "Art Cloth Extravaganza" for Tote Tuesday, the newest fundraising event for Fiberart For A Cause.

Here are just a few of the items that will be included:

A beautiful hand-made tote by artist Laura Ann Beehler, created from her own art cloth

Complex Cloth dvd by Jane Dunnewold

"Paper & Metal Leaf Lamination", a book by Claire Benn, Jane Dunnewold, and Leslie Morgan
Art Cloth created by ACS members Laura Ann Beehler, Linda Charleton, Jane Dunnewold, Martha Grant, Leslie Tucker Jenison, and Lisa Kerpoe

Prepared for Dyeing fabric

Textile Paint

Procion MX Dye

Thermofax screens & frames & squeegee

Plus, if "Art Cloth Extravaganza" receives the highest bid for the day, we will donate up to $1000 worth of members' artwork!

Stay tuned for photos and more info about when this fabulous tote will be offered!

The Art in Fiber

Pease join us at the Copper Shade Tree Gallery in gorgeous Round Top, Texas, for the opening reception of "The Art In Fiber", a juried exhibition of 24 Texas fiber artists (juror Liz Axford). Opening reception is Friday, February 5th, from 5-9 pm.

I was thrilled to see my art work  on the postcard as well as to find that it has also been used on the cover of  "American Landscapes".  This little book is comprised of those artists juried into the show interpretation of the "American Landscape".  The book was created by Gerald and Debbie Tobola, owners of The Copper Shade Tree Gallery, specifically for this show.  Copies are available for purchase on the gallery website:  http://www.coppershadetree.com/