more zombie felties....

were made and given as holiday gifts.  A zombie pirate, Michael Jackson and pumpkin head now have a new home.  They will join last years gift of a zombie duckie, skeleton and kitty. 

Again, these are from the fabulous book "Zombie Felties" by Nicola Tedman and Sarah Skeate.  I made some last minute changes as I didn't have the right kinds of beads for the pirates hook and leg, so I used a paper clip.  I didn't have black leather cord for MJ's curls, so I just stitched down a portion of the embroidery floss and cut it do different lengths.  I wished I had added a tongue to the pumpkin head, or maybe a hat.  It feels like he needs a little something.  I have the pieces ready for a folklore zombie, which may go to the owner of these for her birthday.  What is better than a miniature zombie collection?

ready for the holidays….

And unfortunately there hasn't been very much studio time recently.  It is the end of the semester, so there has been more grading than usual.  Then, there are family packages that get sent with copious amounts of baked goods, which I have been baking every chance I get.  The goodies went out yesterday, so I had time today to work on a project that has been waiting since the last holiday….new pajama bottoms for my son.  He will not wear commercially made pajamas, so he either wears the pairs I made when he was three which have been let out and out again.  They are capri length and skin tight and it is not his most comfortable look.  Or he will wear athletic pants and be good to go in the morning.  So I got both pairs made this afternoon and the pattern was terrifically easy.  I used McCall's M6222.  I skipped the pockets and added extra length to hide in the hem.  I shouldn't have to make him more pajama pants until he is 10 years old, based on the last experience.  Merry Christmas kid!

Littleyellowbirds….

is a blog I have been admiring from afar for some time.  I am not sure how I discovered Joetta Maue, but it may have been from the book "Push Stitchery."  The book is a collection of thirty contemporary embroidery artists and interviews and it will make your heart ache.  In a good way….

Joetta's blog is often about her process as an artist.  What she is making, not making, balancing, living; and I find hope in her own inquiry.  Her blog is also a place to make discoveries.  She features artists that do lovely things, that I might never have found on my own.  Joetta has an exhibition scheduled for January/February of next year and I can't wait to see what she does.  

"On the Couch" by Joetta Maue

"On the Couch" detail

"Window" by Joetta Maue

yesterday….

i was listening to my local NPR station on my way home from school, and there was this really interesting conversation on.  The moderator was talking with two disabled men from the twin cities about their yoga practice.  Which, yes, how does that work when you are in a wheelchair?  And both men were so eloquent about their yoga process; that it is not about moving the body, but the relationship one has with the body.  And that the body always does what it is supposed to do, but not necessarily what we want it to do.  And here, one might think, were broken bodies, but they are not.  Theirs are bodies that are "moving towards living," just like all bodies.  And I was struck by the grace and dignity of that thought.  

I have been thinking a little about some new work.  I've got three pieces going right now and a couple that need fixes, so it is still a ways off.  But I think this work has been there for a while.  I have always made work about bodies, and in many ways these works are my body.  But I am beginning to think about work that explores the relationship I have with my body;  the one that is "moving towards living."  The body that is doing exactly what it is supposed to do, and the moments where I can accept that.  

Here is a link to one of the on-going stories about Bruce Kramer (one of the men being interviewed) and his life with ALS.  I was only able to hear half of the program yesterday and I look forward to reviewing them all.  I think this will be fertile ground for the next new making.  

it's mass chaos….

On my studio table.  There has been some work.  But you wouldn't know it from the following pictures.  The table has to do too many things….office work, long term and short term storage, creative space…and there is just not enough room for all of that.  Plus, the table is plagued by the Rocky Paper Situation.  The Rocky is a cat, a grey tabby with too much time and too little to do.  The Paper is various research images for new work, newspaper and sewing pattern paper for current pieces.  The Situation is when Rocky is bored and can't get my attention, he jumps to my studio table and shreds any paper he can get his teeth into.  He just tears off little pieces and spits them out until he has demolished something of minor importance or prompted me to find the laser light.  It is maddening.  All of that just sits there amongst the other stuff, as neither or us is willing to pick it up.  Rocky won't because, obviously, he is a cat.  I won't because, obviously, I am making  a point.  I know its not in my best interest to be in a power struggle with a cat, but I hope if I just leave it, he will think there is nothing else to do up there too.  So here is my progress on my crazy table….

A three tiered cake that will have a little figure interacting with it in some way.  I would like to see the figure scale it with a dessert fork, but that is going to take some figuring.  

The second piece is a little deer.  I think I would like to see her sitting at a wardrobe with red Mary Jane shoes on, and maybe doing her lashes.  But that will take some figuring as well.  I tend to figure things out as I go along.  I will post more progress pictures and hopefully a more organized table shortly.  

it's been...

over a month and I haven't had a minute to post.  I  spent most of my spare time in November reviewing grant applications for the Minnesota State Arts Board.  I am fortunate enough to have been granted one this year, and wanted to participate when I was asked to volunteer.  It is a lot of work…but so exciting to see some of the amazing work being made by Minnesota artists.  It was also a great learning experience to see the process from the inside and see how one could better write to the grant criteria.  I had two nights in a hotel in St. Paul by myself, and Thai food for the three dinner meals I was there.  Grant recipients will be posted in January and I am looking forward to seeing the entire roster.  

Senior thesis...

When I was visiting my dad this summer, he pulled out some work I had given him nearly twenty years ago.  I don't recall if this actual piece was in my senior thesis exhibition at RISD, or if I made it specifically for him.  But I remember the very first one I made.  It was in my apartment on College street that I shared with my roommate Marlene.  I don't recall where the idea came from, but I realized I could make a little dress with a sleeve as big as my pinky, and I really wondered what it would look like.  The first one was a painted block printing paper that I just tore into the sort of right sized shapes. It was pink and I used a dark red thread to put it together.  The little stitches were x shaped that followed the edges of the torn paper.  There was a shoulder seam, side seam, waist and set sleeve.  I had started in Apparel Design, but this was the first garment I had ever enjoyed making.  And so began my Senior Thesis without my even knowing it.  The dresses started to take on character with different added materials.  I used to fold them up around a needle and thread and stick them in my pocket with a little pair of scissors, so I could pull them out and work on them at my work study job, or in the Print building, whenever I had a minute.  I'm happy my dad gave her a good home all these years and that we have had a chance to get reacquainted.  I think she might be the next listing on my Etsy shop....watch for her!f

it's live...

I am so excited to announce that my online exhibit of dolls is live at buysomedamnart.com .  I hope you will have a chance to visit and peruse the other talented artists also exhibiting!