The Beauty of Abstracts

Started working on a larger than usual abstract this weekend which I must say is coming along quite nicely. I started out thinking of doing it entirely in various shades of blue but I really do use too much blue in my work. So I used almost every green I had with just shots of electric blue and some warm orangey browns. It is composed of wools, silks and at least 20 spools of thread and I haven't even begun quilting it yet.

One of my favourite artists whom I had mentioned before in one of my blogs Tracy Helgeson had an art opening of her newest works at the Enderlin Gallery in Roxbury, New York on Saturday night. I'm sure it was an resounding success. I am in love with her painting "Pink Road with Shadows" Check it out on the gallerys website

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. We picked lettuce, radishes and green onions from our garden this weekend and had our first "homegrown" salad of the year Yes, summer is finally here.

Summer Days

Woke up to summer this morning which feels really good. Everything in the garden is coming up beautifully and it is absolutely wonderful to be outside.

Got a call from Ila Kellerman the painter who is part of the three person exhibit at the Double Doors Studio in June. She sounded really excited about our show and we made a promise to get together a week or so beforehand with Mary Profitt just to get to know each other and figure our what our vision is going to be for the show.

Lots of work to finish up in the studio.............see ya

Sunday Afternoon

Today the weather is rather dull, cool and gray so I have spent a bit of time in the studio working on some new pieces as well as neatening up. Yesterday was so wonderfully warm.......my friend Kelly came over in the afternoon and we had a beer and some (ok, a lot of potato chips). That is such a downfall of mine but tomorrow is Monday so back to exercise and good eating....on Sunday my intentions are always so good....right Kelly???

This is one of my latest pieces but I don't have a name for it as of yet. "Lady on A Bench" just isn't doing it for me. If anyone out there has an idea please let me know as I would be most appreciative. I started out collaging the background in a variety of blues with a touch of purple, painted her in acrylic paint on cotton and machine embroidered the bench she is sitting on. Once I quilted it the whole thing just came together and became wonderfully three dimensional.

I'm reading Twyla Tharp's book "The Creative Habit" and just can't put it down. A fabulous read about creativity and how it must become a part of your life everyday. Highly recommended.

Well, must go and figure out what I'm putting together for dinner.

Be well,

Hanging On By A Thread

Yes, this really is the name of this artwork which will be a part of the show I am doing at the Double Doors Studio in June. Actually this piece just about sums up how I've been feeling this last week. Lots of stuff going on with the kids, the husband, the cats........poor Jamoca who is 20 years old is having a hard time of it. I think dementia has set in. She hisses at the wall, the refrigerator, the plant, etc. all the time. Kind of sad but kind of funny too. The girls and I giggle but not when she's around.

I've been particularly busy trying to get finished for the show........always a struggle when your on a deadline. Reminder to self.....more artwork....less housecleaning.

We are putting in hardwood floors this spring so I am debating painting as it is the perfect time to do it. The walls look rather sad and I'm sure would love a fresh coat of paint. We have an interior decorator, Lisa Freeman in town and I have seen some of her work.......outstanding. So she came over yesterday to help me choose a colour. She remarked on one of my pieces of artwork, Cold Wind Blowing (see my first post) and I took her into my studio and lo and behold she loved my work. She will be putting a piece of art and a little blurb about me in her next newsletter. Thanks Lisa

Well, must run.....I have to send off one of my images to the printer for the invite for the show, more laundry needs to be hung on the line, I can hear Jamoca hissing upstairs and tonight I am volunteering to make salad for my youngest daughter's play at school..........oh, and of course the studio is calling. Be well,

Happy Belated Mother's Day

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the Moms out there.

My mother's day was just perfect. French toast with fresh fruit for breakfast and our friends Charlie and Joan over for dinner. I spent maybe 10 minutes in the studio and the rest of my day outside planting some flowers in the garden as well as pulling lots of weeds.

This is my "zen"cat Simba. Why do I call him a "zen" cat. His favourite thing to do is relax which reminds me to take time to do the same. A good reminder for all us.

Work is going wonderfully and I am really excited about the new pieces I will have for my show on June 23rd. Lots of colour and texture as well as acrylic paint on cotton. I'm even thinking of an abstract using dye on silk. I've still got some experimenting to do. Hope your mother's day was as lovely as mine.

Random Acts of Kindness

A couple years ago I was having a really bad day. My artwork wasn't coming along the way I thought it should, the kids were both sick, John was away on business...blah, blah, blah. So, yes indeed I was having a pity party for myself. In the midst of it all one of my girlfriends called and listened, very compassionately, to the "poor me" saga.

A few days later this little guy arrived in the mail with the card that said "look for the blessings and don't take life too seriously". He now sits on the windowsill in my studio to remind me of just that. As the Indigo Girls say in their song, "it's only life afterall".

In that vein, there is a great website you may want to check out when you looking for something to make you feel good

www.actsofkindness.com

Waiting On A Friend

Just a quick post today as I am going crazy trying to find my camera which has magically disappeared. I have searched the house over and it is not to be found. John keeps telling me to calm down but I don't want to hear that when I am freaking out so he has taken to his office just it get away from me. It just drives me crazy when he is so together in the middle of my meltdown.

One of the teachers at my daughter's school came by today with a few of her friends to look at my work. So I did a little show and tell while still thinking about the camera. Oh well, not the end of the world. I am looking for perspective.

Here is a new piece I just finished for my show in June. It is entitled "Waiting On A Friend"......which was inspired by a friend of my grandmothers. She is always so elegantly dressed waiting for her friend to pick her up for lunch.

Textiles???

I had someone ask me the other day why I choose to work in textiles rather than acrylics, watercolours or oils. I guess the easy answer is that I love the tactile experience of working with textiles. I enjoy what it is to explore my ideas in colour as well as texture. To take wools, threads, cottons, silks and to challenge myself to create is the most exciting feeling to me. I haven't been able to find that passion in any other medium.

Which brings to mind one of my most beautiful memories which could also have a lot to do with why I work in this field.

When I was twelve years old and spending the night at my grandmother's house in Toronto, she took me to Woolworths on Bloor Street. It was winter as I remember the snow on the sidewalk and the darkness of the sky. She was an excellent seamstress and I wanted her to teach me to embroider like she did. She bought me a pattern, a pillowcase, an embroidery hoop and some colourful embroidery floss. We sat at the counter of Woolworths, shared a toasted danish and she talked to me about how important it was to work with your hands to create. We spent a few hours together that night at her house drinking tea and embroidering tiny yellow daisies with blue centers onto a white cotton pillowcase.

Sometimes moments really do come full circle. And yes, my nana is still going strong ......we just celebrated her 90th birthday on April 22nd. She doesn't do much hand sewing anymore as she says "her fingers don't seem to want to cooperate" but boy, do I carry around a lot of great memories.