Whine, Whine, Whine!

Art Tragedy!!  I can barely bring myself to write this... I've worked so looong on this doggone wall hanging...got to the place of trimming on the base before adding batting...(this is like remembering a bad dream)...I have flashes of scissors cutting through two layers in slow motion!  I've had to rip out some seams, cut some new pieces, and am now starting to embroider something I've already done...and that I had redone before that because I didn't like how it was looking.  Life, in the guise of myself, handed me a huge lesson in dealing with frustration and learning patience.  I thought I'd be posting some photos of this piece but, alas...!

In my time of shock and grief, I am brought to posting pictures of some more of my little pieces:

 

My Light Is Falling

We had beautiful weather last week, although there was a tornado about an hour from here where I grew up.  There were six people killed and one hundred some-odd injured.  It's an area that has always been lucky and doesn't have a history of tornados hitting, only passing by to other places.

I've had more dreams and memories of the past, of sun and storms, of changing weather and scenes and people.  Today has been dark and cold and my energy started to feel like that, also. This old piece hangs by my bedroom door for moments like this:



"My light is falling over the earth and slowly everything is blossoming
in it.  The hardest stones are opening like flowers."



Mother Meera, a holy woman from India, is responsible for this quote.  She teaches healing ourselves and our world, to love, to help, to be peace.  Something wonderful to contemplate today.

 

Deep Thoughts

In this political environment of greed,  I am increasingly sad and angry that we humans don't learn from our history, or to connect compassionately with our needy, our poor, our abused children, our ailing elderly.  And our leaders keep playing games to keep their power and positions by taking power from the people they are supposed to guide and protect.  We are not falling through cracks anymore...people are plummeting into the abyss.    We need leaders who are enlighted and believe in truth that we are ALL equal and have equal rights...and that to whom much is given, much is expected.  

Problems cannot be solved

by the level of awareness

that created them.

Einstein

Oh, What Lovely Yarn We Weave

I'm still trudging along with my crone piece...It's certainly been practice in patience.  I keep running into unexpected problems with my fabric, in my job, doing taxes, and working in shorter periods to try and prevent a carpal tunnel flare-up.  I'm therefore going to put up a couple of yarn pieces which I hand wove, then used embroidery thread and beads over and throughout them.

10"  x  32"



   

Deep Thoughts

Can anyone imagine

Moses, Jesus, or Gandhi

armed with the moneybags

of Carnegie?

Einstein



Blessings

This piece is called "Thangka: Family Blessing" and was a gift to my son and his family for Christmas.  The image of Buddha is a transfer, the piece is hand embroidered and beaded, and it is 10 1/4" wide and 30 1/4" long.

BLESSINGS AND PEACE TO ALL

    

Extra! Read All About It!

Just released in paperback.

The female figure in lower left corner is the

project I contributed.  

Can be found at  www.larkcrafts.com or at Barnes&Noble.  

Deep Thoughts

Lord,

let me grow old

like beautiful lace,

cherished and treasured

and cared for with grace. 

  Lacemaker's Prayer



"Baby" Dolls

These photos show some of my "Inner Child" dolls which are around three inches tall.  They are made the same way the totem dolls are...although the words I use are more about children, wounded and healing.

Audacity + Fabric =

Life is faster...I'm slower...bad combination.  You know that old saying about "meeting yourself coming and going"?  I'm coming and I'm going, but I'm running into myself less and less... I just hope people will bring me home wherever I end up!

I'm posting some pictures of female totems I make.  They have changed and evolved over the years, beginning as "Audacious Women" with words of empowerment.  "Audacious" is what my mother used to call me whenever I wandered outside of appropiate female behavior or her own personal comfort zone.  This stage of change for them opened up to include all sorts of messages (love, hope,etc.) and/or made specifically for someone with her own personal message. 

They range in size from about six to nine inches tall and a number of different shapes and different types and colors (just like us).  Each doll is different...fabric, beads, yarns, threads, ribbons,etc.  I machine sew the fabric outline together, turn inside out, and stuff.  The hair is also added at this point.  I begin to hand embroider and bead, maybe a pattern or images I drew on, or I may follow designs on the fabric.  The word or words  are made of flat alphabet beads and are attached before any of the other outer work is begun.  I add a small loop on the back so it can be hung up if wanted.

              

This Is NOT A Tease....New Art Work

While I haven't been able to work on more complicated pieces for many months, I did get to make some little things beginning a few months ago.  They range mostly in size from 3"x3" up through 5"x5"  with some larger and some a bit smaller.  I cut stiff pellon to the size I want and the cover fabric a little larger than the pellon.. Then I transfer pictures to fusible fabric, cut them out,  and then iron or sew them to my chosen fabric.  I proceed to hand embroider and bead them.

I glue ribbon or cord on the back at the top and then glue felt over the entire back. 

Ready to hang.

MORE TO COME !!

A New Year...2012

Forget about last night.  What happened on New Year's Eve, stays on New Year's Eve.
Today is a new day, a new year, a new start.

Merry Xmas 2011!

I've been gone a long time, carpal tunnel, work/overwork,etc.  My hands/wrists are better and my life is slower.  I have made some new little pieces: some are fabric and some are on canvas or board.  I'll post some photos soon but for today:

Deep Thoughts

Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it.

                                                                                                        Lily Tomlin

First Day Of Fall.....Walking Home Again

"Walking Home Again"     (7  1/2" x 8  3/4")

 

       Iris Dement singing "Walking Home Again"  moves me back in time....walking over the fields or down the dirt roads....mild breeze blows....hint of cooler air....grasses dying down....sun glowing, paler and not so bright....hearing my mom's voice, kids shouting, screen door slamming....the excitement of my dad getting home from work....old furniture worn out by all the kids and pets and people....the fireflies will be out soon....I see it and hear it and smell it and feel it.  I am that girl again and these are the moments I love.