Merry Christmas to All

Winter Memories digital collage

Kaleidoscopes

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favorite Artist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A digital collage created for this day.