Monday Musings

I just finished reading Wisdom of the Ages, 60 Days of Enlightenment by Wayne Dyer. Taken from the inside book flap it says," It is a group of essays that focuses on a collection of writings, poems, and sayings by some of the greatest thinkers of the past twenty-five centuries. He sets out to explain the meaning and context of each piece of wisdom, and, most important, how we can actively apply these teachings to our modern lives."

In the section on Nonconformity he quotes from Walden, by Henry David Thoreau,"If man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured and far away."


Dyer states in this essay, "The beat that you hear within yourself is your connection to your soul's purpose. It will continue to plague you when you ignore it or suppress it in an attempt to conform with society. If you continue to ignore it, you will live a life of frustration. You may even learn to "suffer in comfort", which is the very best you'll be able to achieve."

Again he says, "Walk with Thoreau in your own mind. Listen to the voice you hear, and the drumbeat only you can feel, and honor it, while honoring it in those you love as well. While it may not get you any awards while you are alive, you can take comfort in knowing that you fulfilled your own divine purpose and encouraged others to do the same."

There have been times in my life when I ignored my own drumbeat and made decisions about my life based on what I thought others wanted me to do, to fit in, to be accepted, to not appear weird. Those I regret. Now that I'am older, I don't think I do that too much, I hope.

If you like thoughtful essays, you will like this book.

Happy Easter

Sending everyone these beautiful sunrises on this Easter morning. 

Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless---Charles M. Crowe

Jack and Ava

This is grandson Jack and granddaughter Ava. They are the typical siblings who get in each others way but always take up for one another when needed. Once scanned into photo shop it is converted to gray scale then goes thru a series of filters and "clean up". I then made a template to use to cut out my pieces in black and sewed them onto my light fabric. Another way is once you get the silhouette you want to use print it out on fabric,back it with some batting and stitch around the black edges instead of making a template, cutting pieces out and sewing the on individually. You can find complete directions in the June/July 2011 issue of Quilting Arts magazine.

Hank in Silhouette

This is grandson, Hank, or "The Hankster" as I like to call him. This is a baby picture, but he is six years old now and full of joy and love. Again, the silhouette is a photo shop image I did from the original photo. Wish I had taken pictures of the finished product but you get the idea. Isn't he precious?!!!

Silhouettes

The top photo is of my grandson, George when he was younger. I scanned the photo into photo shop, converted it to gray scale, then adjusted it with filters. I used black and white fabric to complete the silhouette. The silhouette here isn't the fabric one. It is the template from the photo. Isn't he cute?!!!

My Garden in Spring

The poppies are just starting to bloom. Hundreds of larkspurs will be blooming in a few days. They reseed every Spring and provide some color in the flower beds before the weather gets too hot. The rusted metal stand behind the bird bath in the top photo is a antique ceiling fan post from a old warehouse we bought years ago. I turned it upside down and planted morning glories that will grow up it. Now there are some pink clematis growing on it. Hopefully we will get enough rain this year but the weather people have promised another drought so I m enjoying the garden before it turns brown.

I Cry

It has been so long since I have posted on my blog I had to go back and read directions. This piece was in the Copper Shade Tree fiber art show in 2010. It is made of commercial fabrics,dyed fabric, painted coffee filter. It is machine and hand stitched and hand embroidered. I don't like the name so I m thinking of another one. The eye lashes are made of florist wire that has been painted, bent and sewed on individually.

She Just Wanted to Blend In

It has been a while since I posted on my blog. I can only say life has been busy mostly with creating some fiber art. The piece below is called, "She Just Wanted to Blend In". You can click on the picture to get a close view of her face and hair. This piece was made for possible selection in the Art in Fiber 2011 show at the Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top, TX. I think she needs a personal name but I haven't settled on one yet. When I look at her the thought comes to mind that she just wants to blend into life, other people, what? That is why her dress and figure nearly blends into the background. But, bless her heart, as hard as she tries she can't because of that wild red hair. Maybe it will take her a long time to realize that what prevents her from blending in is the very thing that makes her unique. The PFD fabric was hand painted using Setacolor paints, watercolor pencils and gel pens. The hair is a discharged bleached batik that has been enhanced with gel pens and embroidered yarns and threads.

See my last post for details on the Art in Fiber 2011 show and the Copper Shade Tree Gallery.

Art in Fiber 2011 Show Interpretation Piece

I was thrilled to be one of 24 fiber artist to be juried into the Art in Fiber 2011 show at The Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top, Texas. Ginny Eckley was the juror. For the interpretation pieces the 24 artists were divided into 3 groups. One group was given a music CD, another group a poem and my group was given a 3D piece of artwork to interpret in fiber art. The piece below is my interpretation of Gerald Tobola's metal artwork, "Forest Floor". You can click on the photo to get a close view of the details. Can you find the tiny little forest gnomes hiding under the leaves? Because I love all things whimsical and magic I tried to add those elements in this piece. You have to look closely. Sorry if there is glare from my camera (operator error?). Santa has promised me a new camera for Christmas. Each fiber artists will have other pieces in the show made specifically for Art in Fiber 2011.

If you have never been to a fiber show at the Copper Shade Tree Gallery you are missing a opportunity to see fiber art created specifically for this show by fiber artists from across the state of Texas. The show runs Feb. 4--March 12. The opening reception is always a lively gathering where you can meet the artists. Gerald and Debbie Tobola, owners and artists, fill their gallery with art that is all handmade by Texas artisans. Even if you have never been there Gerald and Debbie will greet you like a welcome friend. That was my experience. Check out their website on the link above. Hope we will see you at the show.

Dyed Fabric and Paper Towels

 These are pictures of my hand dyed fabric and paper towels that were done at the fiber art day at Deanie Jone's workshop. Below is a pic of paper towels that we used to clean up and blot spills etc. Everyone generously handed me their paper towels when they were finished with them. I salvaged some from the trash. My mind was spinning from ideas of how I would use these. I think they will be great to include when I make handmade paper cloth. I could get hooked on dyeing fabric, but then when would I sew?

This pic is of a linen fabric I had found in my stash. The dye colors came out great.

 These fabrics below are white Kona cottons and PFD fabric I used for dyeing.

Fiber Art Group Fun Day

 Recently our fiber art group met at the home of Deanie Jones for a day of dyeing fabric. Below left is Mary Lee Tennant and Deanie Jones on the right. Deanie graciously hosted the group in her fabulous workshop near Boerne, TX. Deanie supplied the dyes and generous instructions and helpful hints. Each person supplied their own fabrics, cottons, linens and silks.

Below, taking a break from the dye processing is, S.J. Derby and Terry Drake. I wish I had taken a picture of Deanie's workshop. It is a fiber artist's dream. I will publish some pictures of my finished dyed fabric in the next post.

Another Punch of Color

Continuing on my redecorating adventure, I made this pillow cover from a print I have had for a at least five years. Yes, I really do have fabric / stuff in my stash that old. It is a beautiful print on fabric by Judy Buswell which I sewed to a blue/teal fabric.

Now, I will buy or make a new art piece for above my fireplace. A new lamp and shade should just about complete my redecorating project. Unless......? I have a friend who recently moved to Guatamala and has told me about the beautiful textiles she found there. So...., maybe the next redecorating will be the vivid colors of Guatamala and Mexico.

A Punch of Color

The pillow cover in the background was cut and sewn from towels I found that matched my color scheme. I also made bench cushion covers with them. I wanted to add a punch of color because I realized I would soon tire of looking at just two main colors. The pillow cover in the front was made from commercial fabric that has been discharged with a bleach pen. I placed a sketch I found beneath Plexiglas then following the outline of the sketch I traced on top of the Plexiglas with a bleach pen. The squiggles on the side are made free hand with the bleach pen. I let that set a couple of minutes then placed the fabric over the traced sketch and gently patted it down a little. When the colors appeared I liked I removed the fabric, washed it out, let it dry and stitched around the design. Can you tell its a nude? This piece was put away for a while until I decided to pull it out for this pillow cover.

Redecorating From My Stash

I have been wanting to change some of the colors in my living room for some time. It was okay but I was getting tired of the dark colors, mostly browns, golds and greens. I wanted something brighter and decided to go with a blue/teal color with chocolate colored accents in a geometric pattern for these two pillows.

These pillow covers are simply made from cotton fabric in my stash. I decided to make covers for the existing pillows in case I wanted to return to the previous design someday. The old throw pillows fit into the envelope covers. I didn't have to find a place to store the former pillows and they remain available for the future.

I also bought ready made draperies in the blue/teal color and sewed a band of chocolate brown trim across the top to coordinate with the pillows.

Winter Shirts

This is a photo I took of a marble statue in our garden. Keeping with the winter idea, below is a poem I wrote a few years ago. It isn't autobiographical,well, maybe a little. But I have never been to Minnesota. The poem came from my memory of living in West Texas where winters can be harsh. Many days I pulled frozen diapers from the clothes line and hung them all over the house to thaw. It was a great day when we finally bought a clothes dryer.

Winter Shirts

My mother took care of my father's shirts,
the ones that froze on the line during Minnesota's blue Winters.
The ones that smelled of sweat and cigarettes
she washed by hand when electrical lines froze and snapped.

The grey and black with red piping,
light blue oxford cloth with extra starch,
Saturday night polyester,
white linen with button down collar,
quilted plaid flannel ones.

The same ones she laid over chair backs in front of the stove
to thaw, and ironed every Wednesday night since they married.
The shirts she hung carefully in his closet
according to color and sleeve length.
It was the shirts she watched him remove from the hangers
and throw on the floor that made her realize
her life had become a series of unappreciated repetitive tasks.

It was those shirts she took from his closet,
folded neatly in a pile behind the house,
set ablaze, and burned to a cinder.
As she watched twenty years of her life
rise in white clouds of smoke
against the icy Minnesota morning,
it occurred to her she had not felt that warm in years.

Winter Scenes

It is hot and dry in Texas. The thermometer hit 105 degrees two days ago. So I thought I would post some pictures of the last time it snowed in the Texas Hill Country where I live. What year was that? No matter. Just looking at the snow makes me feel refreshed.  The top photo is one I took of a angel statue in the courtyard of our yoga studio.Then tropical birds in Texas snow? They look like they are enjoying themselves. They are a little "plastic"!

A Year by the Sea and Other Musings

I recently checked out a book at the local library. A Year by the Sea, by Joan Anderson. Quoting the inside cover, "An entrancing story of how one woman emerged from a stagnant period, finding the energy to renew her marriage and the courage to persevere in the living of an unfettered life." The post title of the book is, Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman.  There are many pearls of wisdon and insights that hit home.

When I came home with my stash of new reading material I decided I would do nothing that evening but stretch out and read. I had nothing that had to be done; nothing urgent tugging at me to be fixed, cleaned, or managed. As I relaxed on the sofa with A Year by the Sea I began to feel very uneasy, feeling guilty for taking time for myself. After reading one page I went upstairs, cleaned up my closet then scrubbed and cleaned the bathroom. Now, that didn't have to be done but I felt I had to "earn" the right to indulge myself. Suddenly the anxiety was gone as I had "paid" for my priviledge.

Where does that "stinking thinking" come from? Chances are from many years of putting everything and everyone elses needs and wishes before our own. I dare say Im not alone in this situation, but, I had thought I had out grown it. I had to laugh at myself.

Joan Anderson touches on these feelings in "A Year by the Sea". In describing her feelings of guilt for leaving her old life for a year on Cape Cod she says, "There's a price to pay for such self-indulgence. I stand here holding freedom in one hand and guilt in the other---." She talks a lot about taking risks and making changes in our lives stating, "Doesn't change occur only when we stop living the expected life?"

I doubt that I will ever totally eliminate those feelings of guilt or not being worthy enough when I indulge myself, whether it be time for myself or buying something unnecessary and outrageous. But, being aware of this behavior is a step in the right direction. I can say now, when I catch myself feeling those pangs of guilt I stop and think how inappropriate they are and laugh a little.

A few years ago I tore a page from a magazine and still have it tacked up by my computer. It is an anonymous quote. "When you die God and the angels will hold you accountable for all the pleasures you were allowed in life that you denied yourself." I read it daily.

The Softer Side of Art

It has been a while since I created a post for my blog. What can I say? Life has been busy. I do want to post some pictures from the invitational fiber art show at the Kerrville Arts and Cultural Center that was from July 1-25. It was a great show with many talented fiber artist participating.

This  is Mary Lee Tennant who does wonders with fiber. Here she is demonstrating basket weaving.

Debbie Geistweidt stands beside one of her beautiful landscapes. She thread sketches/ paints traditional Texas scenes with a unique eye for detail.

Lisa Kerpoe stands between long pieces of her hand dyed, monoprinted and many other fiber manipulations I can't even begin to explain other than it draws you in to the design and colors.

If you ever get to Kerrville stop by the Kerrville Arts and Cultural Center. There is always a great art show going on and it is a lovely venue.

Fly Me To The Moon

I look at this piece and think, "How fun would that be?" Wouldn't it be great to hop on a big soaring bird and fly to the moon? I could dream about that. The background was made from handmade painted paper cloth. The picture uses commerical fabrics, hand dyed and rust dyed fabrics. Machine and hand stitched.

                   Below is a close up of a happy girl riding her mythical bird to the moon.

Flower Dreams

This 8x10 piece was a fun little project. I drew her face on cotton fabric. Then it was enhanced with watercolors and gel pens and machine quilted. I put it aside for a few days thinking it would be one of those pieces that would end up at the bottom of one of my bins, never to be seen again. While looking at other possibilities for making another piece I pulled it out again and she survived, mostly from frustration, but she made it.

Now that I have her put together I like her a lot. She has grown on me. The flowers and leaves are raw edge applique made from hand dyed fabrics on a commercial fabric.