Gossip Blossoms

Gossip. A topic that makes me uncomfortable. I don't like to think I do it. 

But let's be truthful here. I do.

As much as I'd like to announce that I am above it,

I am not. 

Gossip is a topic that comes up in my artwork quite often. 

Perhaps because it makes me uncomfortable, it also fascinates me. 

Gossip can be blatant, but it can also be quite sneaky. 

It can be cloaked in kindness.

A bit of a tricky thing.

Leaving Suburbia

I started my 8 week printmaking class last night at Atlanta Printmakers Studio. I had signed up with a friend, but she had to back out. I was left with a decision. 

Should I make the excuse that I do not feel comfortable driving downtown into a sketchy part of town on a school night without my friend? 

Should I buck up and do it, knowing that there will always be an excuse?

I bucked up. 

So glad I did.

Sit and Look

I'm a bit overwhelmed after a busy weekend. 

I have a few minutes to be productive down here in my studio, 

but I just can't get myself to do anything. 

I am tired to the bone. 

So I am sitting and listening to the hum of the washing machine and looking around. 

This is what I see.

I am so used to seeing all these items, I don't really notice them anymore. 

Take some snapshots of your immediate surroundings. 

It is always good to look again.

Galerie Matilda

Something special happened this week. My work is now in a gallery called Galerie Matilda in my town of Roswell, Georgia. The gallery is filled with funky, fun, and colorful folk art. Last night was their grand opening. I was thrilled to be included.

My friend Tamara was my first Galerie Matilda patron. I sold two other pieces as well to two complete strangers. What a special connection and honor for someone else to recognize a special part of my heart.
Happy Happy.

Under the Rug

I finished it! The big collage I have been working on since before Christmas! It has taken many shapes. But this is the final one. I renamed it. Under the Rug is the new title.

Under the Rug

Under the Rug Detail

The layers beneath:

 

What is beneath the rug?
Needless things. Sweep them into the dustpan and toss them to the trash bin.
Treasures neglected. Polish and shine. Bring them back to light.
Harmless fuzzballs.
Hmmm.

Newfangled Contraption

I did it. I cut the quilty textile thing I have been creating over the last week.

It felt good to cut it, paint on it, sand it, and glue it down on a canvas. My newfangled contraption is a quilted television. As you can see, the screen is rather small. Perhaps this is acknowledgment of the diminishing role of t.v.in my life and the increasing role of art. I hope to keep it that way. I have to think I will be a happier person if I fill my brain with colors and lines instead of scary reality show people.

Felt Like Making Pins

It may have been 80 degrees outside this weekend, but down in my studio I was still working with wool felt. I am participating in an artist's market at Matilda's Cottage in a few weeks and part of  my inventory will include wool felt scarves and pins, so I allowed myself to create just a few more.

Not sure if  you noticed the interesting textile in the background. Yes, that is my evolving scrappy quilty thing. I added gesso, black acrylic smudges, and tons of stitches in a variety of threads. This is how it looks now.

I'm still not sure how I will use it. I am starting to think it would make cool fabric cuff bracelets. I made a trashy looking flower pin to go with.

I am also imagining pieces cut for collage on canvas. Photos don't really do it justice (well... my photos anyway.)
Textiles are so much better in person.

I Should Be Cooking Dinner Right Now

I must take a break from being so responsible.
Instead, I must share my fun project inspired by a recent article in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. Susan Pickering Rothamel and Frankie Fioretti wrote an article on creating restructured paper using all those beautiful scraps most of us have in abundance. I did not have all the supplies on their list, but I knew I could make do with what I've got. 

I gathered up a pile of paper and fabric scraps, matte gel medium, a paint brush, and a smooth plastic bin lid. I just smeared some medium onto the lid and started adding scraps. After the first layer, I added more using the medium to adhere the pieces. I threw in a few fabric scraps, tulle, and paper cording.

Then I let it dry.

This afternoon, I peeled it right off the plastic.

Here's the back.

And here's the front, ready to be used as a collage background or accent, journal page, book cover, or ripped into new pieces for additional collages and accents.
The whole process only took about 15 minutes. So much fun to just make a mess, let it dry, and peel it up later!

This is Fun

I was inspired by a Cloth Paper Scissors' challenge to make a fabric swatches for their swatch exchange. I decided to use my scrap bin to make a deliciously textured and wildly colorful fabric.

 I started by sewing random scraps of fabric directly onto muslin. I did not try to match colors or select my favorite fabric scraps. Even the ugly stuff went in. Whatever I grabbed got sewn down.

 I covered the entire surface with fabric pieces.

Next, I ripped black and white fabric into skinny strips and sewed them all over the face of the fabric. I also used a variety of threads to sew lines across the surface. This helped the fabric lay down and gave the fabric a more quilted texture.

At this point, I do indeed have great texture and color, but now I am supposed to cut this into 9 inch squares for a fabric swap. I am not sure I want to do that. I am also thinking of taking the color down a notch by covering the whole thing in gesso. 

Super fun. Mindless bursts of color, loud music blaring, sewing machine smoking. Good times.