Gray Cat Studio

First SuperSauce Image Transfer

2010-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is my first SuperSauce transfer on cradled board. I didn't do a great job with the edges, but I kinda like it the way it turned out. It was from a digital collage I had made several years ago.

Merry Christmas to All

2009-12-24T02:40:00.000-08:00

Winter Memories digital collage

Kaleidoscopes

2009-12-06T03:41:00.000-08:00

I have resisted buying and playing with Kaleidoscope software for a long time. Finally, today I decided to go ahead and I'm hooked. I am using Kaleidoscope Kreator Here are some of my favorites, which I made using some of my Digital Collage as a starting point.

Missing

2009-11-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

I've been bad and very silent for awhile. I've been busy and depressed about my situation. On a much better note, this is my encaustic "Missing" that was in an exhibition last August in Lowell, MA. It was created using an old baby dress. The dress comes away from the surface as if there was a child there at some point, but is now missing. It was photographed against a black background. The really super news is that I sold it almost immediately after the show was taken down to a good friend. I was so thrilling.

I promise not to be so out of touch again.

New England Wax at the ICA in Boston

2009-08-16T23:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday New England Wax met at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston. I had never been there before. The drive was an easy 25 minutes from Woburn on a Sunday. The museum building is very interesting and includes a wide set of wooden stairs/seats on the harbor side. People walking or running down by the water would stop in and sit on the stairs and look out to the harbor.
Here is the view from the side of the building:

As you can see, it was a beautiful day. We met in lobby and then went to see the last day of the Shepard Fairey exhibition. It was extraordinary and investigating his layering methodology worth
the trip. Some of the pieces were on canvas or wood and filled a wall in one of the rooms. We had lunch at the Water Cafe, outdoors, on a shaded porch with a soft sea breeze. When lunch was over we had out meeting on the steps I spoke about earlier.
Here are two pictures from the meeting:

There is Kim Bernard in front.

In Lowell during the Quilt Festival

2009-08-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

I have been very pleased to have a piece in the "The Fabrication of Imagination" exhibit at the ALL Gallery in Lowell, MA. Every piece in the show explores the boundaries of using fiber in art.

Saturday was the busiest day during the Lowell Quilt Festival and I spent time with many friends and met a lot of new quilters as well. In the morning, I went to the SAQA regional meeting at the New England Quilt Museum, where Rosemary Hoffenberg gave a wonderful slide show. Then to lunch with Rosemary, Sandy Donabed and Silvia Einstein. Then I went to the reception at the ALL Gallery, and on to the reception for the quilt exhibiton at The Brush Gallery. A great day.

My piece, "Missing" is an encaustic using a vintage baby dress.

Here are some other images from the reception yesterday.

Banners by Cornelia Jutta Forster, which wafted through the air surrounding you as you entered the gallery.

Directly to the left and in the center, stitched wonders by Laura Sapelly, who I had not seen for awhile. The huge bag "Excess Baggage" by Susan Webber is truly wonderful.

Extraodinary dresses by Virginia Fitzgerald, on the far wall pieces by Linda Dunn and Merill Comeau and
Linda Dunn. The case holds beautiful jewelry knitted from copper wire by Alessandrina Costa.

Book Recommendation - Art Revolution by Lisa L. Cyr

2009-07-13T23:27:00.000-07:00

Art Revolution: Alternative Approaches for Fine Artists and Illustrators
by

Lisa Cyr

The is a super book, filled with inspirational and instructional information and examples. The author profiles the work of many artists, some of which supply instruction about how they create their art. I found out about this book at Leslie Avon Miller's textures shapes and color blog.

Born on the 4th of July

2009-07-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

Digital collage, July 2007

This is a partial repeat of a post from 2007 on this day.

The 4th of July was my fathers birthday , so many memories: chocolate cakes with whipped cream and fruit that
were shaped like the flag or the map of the US; presents that we gave
my father that had a July 4th theme; the silly hat we made him wear
when we celebrated in Monterey, CA.

The boy in the picture is my father as a child.

What I'm reading

2009-07-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Before talking about the books I am reading now, I'd like to mention a book I just finished - "A Pearl in the Storm".

This book is about Tori Murden Mcclure who was the first woman to row across the Atlantic ocean. It is a real page turner as she is tossed about on the ocean on her first try. She finally made it on her second try. This is a great book and I highly reccommend it.

Right now I'm reading "Marked" the first in the series about Night School, the vampire finishing school in Tulsa Oklahome.

I'm really enjoying it and have ordered the next 3 in the series, used from Amazon. It's kinda young adult, but there are definately some racy and erotic parts to it, so fun for adults too.

I'm also reading "The Jungle Effect: A Doctor Discovers the Healthiest Diets from Around the World--Why They Work and How to Bring Them Home"

As indicated by the subtitle, it is about changing how one eats and
protecting yourself from disease by following the diets of areas of the
world where the residents are actually free of those diseases. It has
been interesting reading and seems like it might work. I'll let you
know.

A short rant about the weather

2009-07-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

Today the weather finally got to me. I had to turn the lights on in my house this morning, in the middle of summer, it was so dark at 7:30am. That is ridiculous! Here is the garden outside the store where I work on Wednesday and Thursday.

I'll add an image here tomorrow

We took down the "Women of Letters" show last Sunday. Since then, and because of the weather, I just haven't felt like posting. Everything is in my studio waiting to be hung for Open Studios on Saturday at Western Ave Studios in Lowell, MA

Another Gray Day

2009-06-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

It has rained 19 of the last 24 days in Massachusetts. Right now it is just gray, endless gray. We are expecting to see the sun on Thursday, thank goodness. However, I'm not holding my breath.

Last Saturday, I took an encaustic class from Tracy Spadafora in Somerville. It was super and I learned a lot for just one day. I have one piece that is almost done, which I will post when it is complete.

Visit her site, her work is really beautiful.

Here is another piece from my current show, "A through Z"

Women of Letters Reception

2009-06-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

June 13th was the Artist Reception for my show "Women of
Letters". It was great and although we didn't sell anything on
Saturday, my compatriot, Mary Hart, sold 2 of my pieces on Sunday and
one of hers. Yeah! We are hoping for more sales this weekend. If you
are in the area of Lowell, MA please drop by Ayer Lofts Gallery, 172
Middle Street, Lowell between noon and 4pm.

Here are some new images from before and during the reception.

Whole gallery from back wall

reception

Food and drinks table in the hall outside the gallery

Me,
oh I do hate to be photographed. You don't see the glass of wine in my
other hand giving me courage.

One of My Favorite Blogs - Robin and the Sage

2009-06-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

robin and the sage blog
and her Etsy store

Delila is a true "nature observer" and her store offerings reflect that. She lives in Finland and her photos and art reflect that love of nature.

I just bought a bunch of ephemera that I received earlier in the week and it's all wonderful. Now that I have time to play, I'm inspired to use it.

Finally back

2009-06-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was the Artist Reception for my show "Women of Letters". It was great and although we didn't sell anything on Saturday, my compatriot, Mary Hart, sold 2 of my pieces on Sunday and one of hers. Yeah! We are hoping for more sales this weekend. If you are in the area of Lowell, MA please drop by Ayer Lofts Gallery, 172 Middle Street, Lowell between noon and 4pm.

I was so tired after all the effort of getting the show up sorting out the reception, I haven't felt like posting to my blog.

Here are some new images from before and during the reception.

Whole gallery from back wall

reception

Food and drinks table in the hall outside the gallery

Me, oh I do hate to be photographed. You don't see the glass of wine in my other hand. You can see the poppy I recently bought and posted about on this blog.

Way to cute to pass up

2009-06-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Blog Cute Overload has a whole series of kittens sleeping in all sorts of odd places this is my favorite. Here is the link to this article

Having a cat of my own, I appreciate all of this cat sillyness.

Women of Letters

2009-06-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

I just spent Saturday and Sunday gallery sitting for the new exhibition about the alphabet. My partner in this endeavor is Mary Hart of Winchester, MA. There are photos in a picture album linked on the left. Here is more info about the show.

Women of Letters
Alphabetically inspired artworks
Collage, painting and encaustic

An Abecedarium, defined as a primer for learning the alphabet, is just one element to be found in “Women of Letters”, the new exhibit opening at the Ayer Lofts Gallery on June 6, 2009. The women, Western Avenue Studios artist Karen Bettencourt and Winchester artist and teacher, Mary Hart are offering more than 40 works inspired by their fascination with letterforms. In the Abecedarium, Bettencourt and Hart, each created 13 individual alphabetical expressions. Other alphabet related pieces round out the show.

Karen Bettencourt of Woburn is taking a break this year from curating the Paste-up collage show and is participating in this exhibit instead. Her early work included watercolors, tapestry weaving and art quilts. Currently, she is creating fabric, paper and digital collages and learning encaustic (painting with wax).

Mary Hart of Winchester has been a calligrapher for over 35 years. The common element in her work is the use of letterforms, both as writing and abstract calligraphic marks. Mary teaches classes in Calligraphy, Graphic Design, Visual Dynamics and Color at Middlesex Community College, The Museum School in Boston, and Cambridge Center for Adult Education.

Women of Letters will be showing in Ayer Lofts Gallery at 172 Middle Street in Lowell, MA from June 6 – June 28, 2009. There will be a reception for the artists Saturday, June 13th from 2-4pm. Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 4:00pm.

Women of Letters

2009-06-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

I just spent Saturday and Sunday gallery sitting for the new
exhibition about the alphabet. My partner in this endeavor is Mary Hart
of Winchester, MA. There are photos in a picture album linked on the
left. Here is more info about the show.

Women of Letters

Alphabetically inspired artworks

Collage, painting and encaustic

An Abecedarium, defined as a
primer for learning the alphabet, is just one element to be found in
“Women of Letters”, the new exhibit opening at the Ayer Lofts Gallery
on June 6, 2009. The women, Western Avenue Studios artist Karen
Bettencourt and Winchester artist and teacher, Mary Hart are offering
more than 40 works inspired by their fascination with letterforms. In
the Abecedarium, Bettencourt and Hart, each created 13 individual
alphabetical expressions. Other alphabet related pieces round out the
show.

Karen Bettencourt of Woburn is taking a break this year
from curating the Paste-up collage show and is participating in this
exhibit instead. Her early work included watercolors, tapestry weaving
and art quilts. Currently, she is creating fabric, paper and digital
collages and learning encaustic (painting with wax).

Mary Hart
of Winchester has been a calligrapher for over 35 years. The common
element in her work is the use of letterforms, both as writing and
abstract calligraphic marks. Mary teaches classes in Calligraphy,
Graphic Design, Visual Dynamics and Color at Middlesex Community
College, The Museum School in Boston, and Cambridge Center for Adult
Education.

Women of Letters will be showing in Ayer Lofts Gallery
at 172 Middle Street in Lowell, MA from June 6 – June 28, 2009. There
will be a reception for the artists Saturday, June 13th from 2-4pm.
Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 4:00pm.

Another Sneak Peek

2009-06-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

We hung the Women of Letters show on Monday and it looks great. I'll post pictures of the gallery soon. Here is another piece from the Abecedarium.

Wonderful stuff: City Map Quilt

2009-05-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week Apartment Therapy had a link to this wonderful item.

Fort Greene Crib Quilt: white dupioni, $300.00

I would love a queen size with a map of San Francisco.

Another Sneak Preview - Women of Letters

2009-05-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

P is for Poppy, floated on mat board in deep black frame

Favorite Artist

2009-05-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

On one of my email lists, QuiltArt, Kay Sorensen asked

"Who
is your favorite artist?

s."

My vote goes to Hung Liu, China born but living in California. I love the way she uses runny paint and an almost collage-like use of image and color. Here is a tapestry which looks like her paintings.

Three Fujin of a Prince, 2008

Jacquard tapestry

78 x 79 in.
from Magnola Editions

Hung Liu's website

Great Blog: Eileen Goldenberg Encaustics

2009-05-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

Since I am work on encaustic collages today, I thought this blog was pertinent. I really like her work, particulary the Tea House series.

Tea House #102 by Eileen Goldenberg

I'm very new at encaustic and need a lot more practice but am forging ahead. Today I had to heat and scrape an entire work off a wood panel. It just wasn't working. I'm trying to get ready for my show in June, mentioned below, so every setback just adds to the stress. Here is the mess and the 3 pieces I'm working on.

A Day with Friends

2009-05-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Today I went on a jaunt with friends, 3 of whom are in my Quilting Crit group, Tina, Kate and Cathy. Tina invited a friend to join us, although Tina and her friend thought we were going someplace else. This, of course, caused a brief stop at the side of the road between Bedford and Concord, MA until we figured that one out.

We went to Quilters Way in West Concord, MA

image from Quilters Way website

Of course, there wasn't any snow, actually it was 90 degrees. I bought a book on making pincushions.

image from Amazon.com

Next we drove to Nancy's Airfield Cafe in Stow, MA. I had to soup of the day, creamy mexican flavored soup with corn and beans. I also had the Ploughman's Lunch - A hunk of bread, Vermont Cheddar, Wild Blueberry Chutney and a small garden salad. Yum Yum.

Then we drove down the road to The Quilted Crow where I found crushed walnut shells for the innards of pin cushions. I can't wait to start making them.

Then we went back to Bedford to have ice cream at the Bedford Creamery.

A very nice day.

Sneak Preview

2009-05-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I have a collage show in June at Ayers Loft Gallery in Lowell, MA. It's called "Women of Letters" is is all about the alphabet. I showing with one other person - Mary Hart of Winchester, MA.

Here is one of my images from the Abecedarium in the show, "F"

And our postcard:

What I'm reading right now

2009-05-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

Dance of the Dead, Thomas Perry

I was just introduced to this author and his books about Jane Whitefield, a guide who helps people in trouble disappear. I just finished "Vanishing Act", which was great. I'm a big mystery fan and always happy to have another series to read.

Pack up the Moon by Anna McPartlin

This book takes place in Ireland with a lot of humor and some sadness.

Red, Passion and Patience in the Desert, by Terry Tempest Williams

This is an extraordinary book by an author recommended by the book I read about "The King's English" Bookstore. It is part history lesson, part poem and part elegy to the desert, particularly Utah. I hghly recommend.

I just finished Hungary Monkey by Matthew Amster Burton.

I finished this book in less than two days, it was so funny. It is about a home husband and Dad (restaurant reviewer), who attempts to teach his very young daughter how to love gourmet food, with limited success.

Great Blog: Posie Gets Cozy

2009-05-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

This is wonderful blog and today's post is my very favorite:

We have strict rules around here.

I would love to be in a hammock with a dog right now, but sadly, no hammock, no dog. I have rules for my cat but she does not pay much attention to them.

Last Night - Margot Stage

2009-05-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

After work last night I rushed down HWY 495 from Lowell to the Indian Hill Music Center in time for an artist reception. The reception was for my friend Margot Stage, who is showing a lot of her recent work in the theater space at the Music Center.

I made it in time, thankfully, and the reception was great fun. Margot and I used to members of the Lowell Fiber Studio. The group shared a studio on the 5th floor of the main building at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, MA. A year and a half ago, I moved into my studio on the second floor of the "A" Mill. Just recently, Margot moved into her own studio on the second floor of the main building. Margot is a fiber artist and you can see more of her work on her website One of my favorite pieces is on the home page of her website:

Her work revolves around flowing shapes in sand, sea and nests. The piece shown on her home page is from a series called "Great Blue". Bravo Margot!

Great Store: Sundance

2009-05-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

Sundance is my very favorite online store. I have purchased more from that site than from any other I think: earrings, necklaces, bags, shoes, tumblers, and gift certificates. It all started when the site first went live and continues today.

1. Rain Tumblers
2. Journal
3. Earrings
4. Shoes

I own a pair of those shoes and the Journal. I own tumblers and earrings very like the items shown in the image.

In 2003 was driving back across the US (west to east) and made a reservation at the Sundance Resort to stay overnight. It was an extraordinary experience. My "room" was a little cabin surrounded by woods. The bed extremely comfortable and the towels amazingly soft. The stores in the main building were fun and really turned me on to the Sundance sensibility. There were statues and art everywhere. Dinner was excellent, but my "comes with the room" breakfast the next day was wonderful. I could have stayed forever but had to leave after breakfast to continue my way back to Massachusetts. At some point I'll find the photos I took and share them. It's a rather expensive place to visit, but I will never be sorry I had at least a one night stay.

Great Blog: Simply Natural

2009-05-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

This blog is one of my favorite Australian blogs. Catherine has such great images and projects included in her blog. Since we have similar taste in home decor and images, I'm always interested in what she has to say or show. Recently she had a post about scissors in all sizes, some really huge, included in home decor.

If you have a chance visit her here

Favorite Stuff: Bin Bin Waste Paper Basket

2009-05-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

I love these waste paper baskets. You can get them here at Zwello At $54.00 each they are a bit past my budget right now, perhaps later.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

A digital collage created for this day.

Great Blog - Textures Shapes and Colors

2009-05-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

This week I'm featuring a blog I just found recently called Textures Shapes and Colors owned by Leslie Avon Miller a collage artist from the Pacific Northwest. I love her soft neutral colors; they really speak to me.

This piece is called Big Rocks (perhaps),

Hot Flowers

2009-04-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a hot day, 90+ degrees. In an effort to cool off, I decided to do a digital collage using photos of flowers. It's supposed to be back down to around 60 degrees tomorrow, thankfully. I hate the heat, although it was a dry heat...

Great Stores - Mothology

2009-04-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Hand Blown Recycled Transparent

Blue Milk Glass Hurricanes

Plates too

http://www.mothology.com

This is one of my favorite stores. I just saw these plates and hurricanes today and I think the blue is just beautiful. When I can afford it, they are on my shopping list.

New Look

2009-04-27T00:41:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed I changed this blog's banner and colors. I haven't posted much lately as I am getting ready for a two person show taking place in June in Lowell, MA. I will post more soon.

Etsy Favorite - PrinceDesignUK

2009-04-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

These beautiful bowls are by Elizabeth Prince from Manchester, UK. I bought one very like the one at the top left. They are all one of kind and that bowl is very precious to me. Her Etsy store is here

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

These are the 2 items I bought online today in honor of Earth Day. The first items are bio-degradable plates and bowls from Branch and the second is bio-degradable trash bags from Drugstore.com.

Look what I just got in the mail

2009-04-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Tape!

I have loved this tape ever since I first saw it on several blogs. This selection is "Natural" and can be found here at at Tina Rice's site. Look at her blog too for great ideas on how to use the tape.

Happy Monday

2009-04-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

Today is Monday, Patriots Day in Massachusetts. The marathon was run and the Red Sox game started at 11:00am. I spent some time at my studio in Lowell in the morning and met with a potential web client.

I'm reading:

Pack of Cards, short stories by Penelope Lively I love her writing style, wit and detailed characterization. I have read many of her books. This is the first time reading her short stories, which are great for reading in bed at night. My favorite book of hers is The Photograph

My current "restaurant" book is The Kings English which is about a book store in Utah. It is an excellent book with reading lists at the end of every chapter. I'm set up for years if I use those lists. By the way, "restaurant" books are those that I keep in the car so that I have reading material should I go out to eat or have to wait for something.

The magazine I just go finished looking at was Living etc. Good pictures, inspiring stuff.

Hope you had a good Monday.

One of my favorite Etsy sellers

2009-04-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

Bailey Doesn't Bark

Bailey Doesn't Bark is one of my favorite Etsy stores, love the ants. Jin Lee makes truly wonderful pieces. Here is her website - www.baileydoesntbark.com Here is her blog which has great wonderful images.

Candy's Birthday

2009-04-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Today is my sister, Candy's birthday. I live in Massachusetts and she lives in Oregon, so we don't see each other much. I wish her many happy returns of the day! I got her a bunch of stuff from Farmhouse Wares one of my favorite online stores.

Get them here:
Collapsible Wire Magazine Holder

French Dot Garden Pots

Bag Holder-Cafe Creme
Oh My Aching Everything

I also got her a gifts certificate for Zanisa, another online store.

I love these bowls

2009-04-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

These bowls used to be in the VivaTerra catalog but didn't buy them in time. When I got the new catalog for Acacia, they had the same bowls! I was so excited.

You can get them here

My Artist Statement as Wordle

2009-03-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

How fun is this! You copy text in and create a text collage. You can play with fonts and colors, etc..

http://www.wordle.net/

Stage 4 Studio Reorganization is basically done!

2009-02-07T05:06:00.000-08:00

Stage 4 - February 7th Open Studios

There is still some sorting and cleaning stuff to do, but today I could open!

Stage 3 Studio Reorganization

2009-02-07T05:03:00.000-08:00

Stage 3 Late January

The big desk has been moved to the left side, the fabric shelving unit has been dragged nearer the window. The place is a mess still, one week until Open Studios.

From the other direction, table on left contains Valentine card makings.

Stage 2 Studio Reorganization

2009-02-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

Stage 2 - Mid-January

2 collage shelving units moved to the right wall, the above pic from the door.

View from window.

Wonderful stuff received from a friend

2009-01-14T04:28:00.000-08:00

Recently I received a whole lot of wonderful stuff that was dug up at the Big Dig in Boston some years ago. Much of it is very old. John Cornelius kindly gave me some of his hoard of wondrous objects and let me see some of the treasures he is keeping.

This is the whole lot, including: pipes, jaw bone, leather shoe soles, glass, pottery and little tusks.

Pottery close-up

Glass and tusks

Pipes and other stuff

Can't wait to use them. Thanks John.

Studio mess

2009-01-06T02:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I received, for free, a big desk for my studio. I was going to reorganize the studio anyway, but now I'm forced to do it RIGHT NOW. A good project for January I think. I just took down the Christmas tree (big box on floor). I'll keep posting as time goes on. Here are two images, one from each end of the studio.

from the door looking out the window.

From the other direction, gallery area is near the door, work area in the back.

Chairs

2009-01-02T03:56:00.000-08:00

Chairs - a digital collage
I'm going to try to do more digital collage this year, this is the first.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T00:49:00.000-08:00

Goals for 2009:

Open Etsy store

Print/prepare and mat more work for sale

Improve the colors in my work, more colors, less brown

Incorporate new methodologies in my work

Incorporate calligraphy in my work

Create work for 2 person show in June, here in Lowell, MA

Sign on more website clients

Not Get Sick like 2008

Just starting this blog

2008-12-30T00:24:00.000-08:00

Well perhaps, third time is the charm. I was on Blogspot where my blog got all messed up, then Wordpress where I could not do what I wanted to, so here I am.

White Christmas

2008-12-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

Everyone says they want a White Christmas, until they have to shovel snow. Here are some pictures of the snow storms in the last week.

"City of Lights" Parade in Lowell, MA

2008-11-29T16:00:00.001-08:00

I participated in the "City of Lights" parade in Lowell, MA for the first time last night. Western Avenue Studios in Lowell formed a kazoo band. We were at the back of the parade so it took a long time to get started and was cold. As you will see from the pictures we embellished kazoos, which ended up looking like Dr. Suess instruments. Alley -- Oop, local clown and friend of Western Avenue Studios was our drum major. The whole evening was fun but tiring. More pictures here
Glenn, Andrea and Rebecca

Jess and Donna

Alley--Oop

Back from Thankgiving

2008-11-29T16:00:00.000-08:00

I was in Maine for Thanksgiving with friends I have Thanksgiving with for many years. We ate, drank and slept a lot. Here are some pictures of the house and environs.

Side Deck, nice in the summer

Front yard

The Shed This is our summer hangout, the walls are screen.

The House

I sleep in the "pretty room" the window at the top left.

About

2008-05-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

I have always been truly fond of that which is old, weathered, rusted or distressed. I search endlessly for old handwritten letters, paper, tickets, photographs, hotel bills, rusted metal, and aged or distressed wood. Some of these treasures I scan to help me create my digital collage work. Then, everything gets sorted into boxes for use in my material collage and assemblage.

In every collage, I’m trying to tell a story, using transparency and the effects of time to bring that story to life.

Right now, I’m working on a series of 10 collages which tell the story of a fictitious woman from birth to death. This is for a two person show to be held in October 2008 at The Loading Dock Gallery in Lowell, MA.

Collage Mania

2008-05-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

le onziéme étourneau (the eleventh starling)

10"h x 8"w Old papers, acrylic paint, image transfer on canvas.

to see the collage on the left click here

This is my piece created and donated to Collage Mania (Fiberart for a Cause) which donates 100% of all funds received to the American Cancer Society. Own an original work of art at a fabulous price!

Monday, May 5, 2008 starting at 9 a.m. CST

All collages available for a minimum donation of $80.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 starting at 9 a.m. CST

All collages available for a minimum donation of $40.

You can preview all the art at Collage Mania right now by clicking here

Digital Collage Book

2008-01-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

Way too much snow!

2007-12-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

I just got in from an hour and a half of shoveling snow, whew! There is no place to out snow anymore. Here are some pictures.

Edwardian Box

2007-11-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

Edwardian Box
17 x 22
2007 Journal Quilt

Creative Quilting techniques used: digitally enhanced photo transfer (p. 54); button embellishment (p. 35); fused (p. 63)

I was very excited when this project was announced. When I was involved with the Journal Quilt project several years ago, I felt I was hampered by my choice of theme/structure (golden rectangle), and was happy to have another opportunity. I knew immediately what image and what fabric I wanted to incorporate in the finished piece, (backing fabric and central image). Then I spent months trying to figure out what to do next. During that period I was feeling less and less like quilting and more and more like concentrating on my paper and digital collage work.

I felt that I couldn’t create what I had in my mind, primarily due to vision problems, (I have very little vision in my left eye and depth perception issues). This vision problem was particularly evident when I was machine quilting.

During the Lowell Quilt Festival, I was inspired by the quilts I saw, particularly the art quilt exhibition at the Brush Gallery. I found myself inspired again to make quilts. Since my quilting was always an issue, I’ve signed up for a machine quilting class this Fall where I can hopefully figure out ways of compensating for my wonky depth perception and vision.

During the summer I visited the Joseph Cornell exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum three times and was very inspired by all of his work; my very favorites were his Medici boxes. This quilt is a 2D version of a 3D Medici box, using silk, hand-dyed cotton, upholstery fabric, buttons, and colored pencil.

July 4, 2007

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The 4th of July was my fathers birthday and today I got a wonderful ecard from my sister reminding me of the wonderful Independence Day memories we both had: chocolate cakes with whipped cream and fruit that were shaped like the flag or the map of the US; presents that we gave my father that had a July 4th theme; the silly hat we made him wear when we celebrated in Monterey, CA.

The boy in the picture is my father as a child.

June 4, 2007 Green Fan

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Green Fan

June 3, 2007 Red Fan Redux

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Red Fan Redux

I was playing with new Photoshop filters and created this image from the Red Fan image from February.

June 1, 2007 Fan #11

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Fan #11

I hope I'm back posting again. This is my latest fan.

February 26, 2007 - Red Fan

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Red Fan

I've not posted for awhile but want to start working on series of digital collage using old fans. Here is the first one.

January 12, 2007 - Bones

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Bones

Digital Collage

January 13, 2007 - Study in Red and Aqua

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Study in Red and Aqua

Digital Collage

January 14, 2007 - London Transit

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London Transit

Digital Collage

January 15, 2007 - Between a Rock and...

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Between a Rock and...

Digital Collage

January 11, 2007 - Time Sensitive

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Time Sensitive

Digital Collage

January 10, 2007 - Bugged

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Bugged

Digital Collage

January 8, 2007 - Evangeline

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Evangeline

Digital Collage

January 9, 2007 - Global

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Global

Digital Collage

January 6, 2007 - Rust Lion

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Rust Lion

Digital Collage

January 5, 2007 - Moss Lion

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Moss Lion

Digital Collage

January 3, 2007 - Delilah

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Delilah

Digital Collage

January 4, 2007 - Beach Babe

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Beach Babe

Digital Collage

January 1, 2007 - The Old Year

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The Old Year

Digital Collage

January 2, 2007 - Persimmon Fairy

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Persimmon Fairy

Digital Collage

January 3, 2007 -The Eleventh Starling

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The Eleventh Starling

Digital Collage

Day 290, October 15th

2006-11-20T16:00:00.001-08:00

Travel Documents

Day 288, October 14th

2006-11-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

Baby time

Day 276, October 3rd

2006-10-13T17:00:00.010-07:00

Notes

Day 277, October 4th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.009-07:00

Flying to Portland, Oregon for Art & Soul

Day 278, October 5th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.008-07:00

Day 1 at Art & Soul
Leslie Riley - Stitched! Exploring Fabric Books and Diane Twedt - Monoprint Magnifique

Day 279, October 6th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.007-07:00

Day 2 at Art & Soul
Phoenix Forrester - Luminous Collaging Techniques

Paris When It Sparkles

Garden Memories

Fatigue Poisons

Day 280, October 7th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.006-07:00

Day 3 at Art & Soul
My sister and I went antiquing in the Sellwood and Westmoreland communities. We ate a great lunch at Caprial's Bistro and then went to Collage, a great collage and art store in the Alberta Street district. In the evening we went to the Paris Flea Market at Art & Soul and bought wonderful stuff.

Day 281, October 8th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.005-07:00

Day 4 at Art & Soul, Leslie Parsons - Tissue Paper Collage on Canvas and Diane Downs - Transfers & Transparencies.

Olden Times, from Transfers and Transparencies

Day 283, October 9th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.004-07:00

Day 5 at Art & Soul
Lesley Riley - Transfer Master Class

On Vacation
One of my digital collages, transfered to painted fabric.

Day 284, October 10th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.003-07:00

Flying home from Art & Soul

Day 285, October 11th

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Judy

Day 286, October 12th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.001-07:00

Sophie

Day 287, October 13th

2006-10-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Rooster Matches

Day 269, September 26th

2006-10-03T17:00:00.006-07:00

Emerald Forest

Day 270, September 27th

2006-10-03T17:00:00.005-07:00

Art Class

Day 271, September 28th

2006-10-03T17:00:00.004-07:00

Boarding House

Day 272, September 29th

2006-10-03T17:00:00.003-07:00

Memories

Day 273, September 30th

2006-10-03T17:00:00.002-07:00

Flamingos

Day 274, October 1st

2006-10-03T17:00:00.001-07:00

Golden Peacock

Day 275, October 2nd

2006-10-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Two Birds in a nest

Day 268, September 25th

2006-10-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Vulture