pmsdesigns

Is there really a drive for creative people?

2012-01-17T18:05:00.000-08:00

I took one of those silly tests today to determine my right-brain vs. left-brain balance. It asked lots of curious questions that seemed of no significance, until I saw the results:

Yes - I am right-brain driven, 55% over my left-brain (my poor left side only works 45% of the time!)

Anyway, all it did was confirm that I really do enjoy thinking outside of the box - often doing these things in some solitary setting, picturing the outcome clearly before I begin.

I've had a series of "inventive" moments the past few weeks. I can only describe them as: an overwhelming desire to dig into a project, at the expense of everything else, including food.

Here is a toy from my children's toddler days and redesigned into a working, musical instrument/wall hanging. This was once a xylophone that used to rest on a foam rubber mat and was played by a toy wooden mallot. The chime sound was delightful and it (and the nostalgia) has lived in our attic for over 35 years. I had my husband drill some holes in each pipe; I then strung them with fishing line to permit the sound to resonate, and hung them from an interesting tree limb. It actually plays music, and can be used as a dinner bell.......or anything else you can play within an octave.

I was practicing "green" way before the term was invented, so recycling is nothing new to me. In the winter, I feed

the birds fat drippings that I have saved in plastic containers all year.

I've been trying to come up with a way to scrape the saved suet into an outdoor container when the time comes.....and here is this week's invention.

Rinsed out tuna cans make the perfect container, nailed to another interesting tree limb (for the reality factor), and hanging from a sturdy eye hook. It took about 15 minutes for the chickadees to notice this and start visiting their new triple-decker deli. I like quick successes. Ahhh, I do LOVE the 55% of me.

The Season of Giving

2012-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

It was a busy Christmas season for my creative juices. My youngest grand-daughter wanted a purse. But finding an appropriate style for a 7 year old without all those "Dora" emblems or "Kitty" faces was impossible. So I decided to make her one.

I first watched a tutorial at http://www.lazygirldesigns.com , then made some editorial changes, and came up with this. Her favorite colors with a bit of 'little girl fantasy' will be just the ticket.

Well, that was fun, so I kept going.

Her older sister has a selection of purses, each of them from the typical haunts, but I bet her friends will be wanting a unique one like this for their collection. Just the thing for an early teen who carries only a few items to school.

Wow - after a few hours, I was really excited about digging through my stash to find coordinating fabrics for little girl purses.

A friend thought the concept was great for adults as well.

So as I work out some kinks and discover assembly techniques that work best for me.....stay tuned.

Here is the outcome of my purse adventure: The green/orange for a 9 year old; the small yellow has a velcro closure for her 3 year old sister; the purple stars for my 7 year old; and the more sophisticated Laura Burch fabric to my teen. Merry Christmas to my little princesses!!!

In between the stitch-witchery above, I was also doing zentangles. All four of our younger grandchildren received a matted and framed depiction of their name to hang on the wall.

As each zen was developing, the child's personality worked itself into the artwork - none of it planned in advance. These take hours to complete, and represent a lot of thoughtful contemplation of the child (maybe the best part!)

Left) A completed work - lots of movement in this particular piece.

Below) A detail of another piece, as it nears the end.

The start - and the finish, representing about 3-4 days of design and execution. What I find special about zens is the unique character of them. Even the most critical can find some nugget to enjoy about the doodle. This was a very satisfying season of giving! I hope I've inspired you to create unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for yours.

Pinwheels

2011-12-27T20:52:00.001-08:00

I love pinwheels in quilts. One of my first quilting challenges when I began this journey years ago was creating an overall pinwheel quilt for a girlfriend's surprise birthday gift. Midway in my project, she announced to me that she was redecorating and changing her color scheme. Fortunately, I still had time to make adjustments to my work - and it all ended well. But by they time I finished 72 pinwheel blocks, I was an avid and accomplished enthusiast.

So when my art quilt group, ARTAA, decided to provide Christmas gifts to the residents of the nursing home where we meet, I immediately thought of pinwheels. I planned a black and white color scheme, but it became evident rather quickly that more color was needed. Perhaps this is a bit of overkill, but I like to think the outcome has a generally sunny disposition. Our quilts were very welcome!!! I wonder who got this one.........

Documenting the weather!!

2011-11-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about change the other day: how children change - older folks change - our interests change - and even our relationships change. But having the advantage of living in one beautiful spot for many years gives another perspective on change: change is lovely, change has many creative faces, and change can bring inspiration and constancy all at once, in the same breath.

Living near water, no matter what its type, is an adventure. The transitions can be moment to moment, and add to the mood of each day. This view is easy to capture from the deck of my home and shows some comparisons for your weather/mood-watching enjoyment.

Bright sunlight seldom arrives in conjunction with a thunderstorm, but the pretty vision (above) emerged just as the other side of my world crashed violently into lightening, claps of thunder and near total blackness. The sunbeam was gone in a flash, but it's memory lives on in this image and the smells of rain when mixed with excessive heat.

A torrential downpour can sure be dramatic. It stirs the heart, and makes the warm safety of indoors a welcome space. The rinse brings freshness to the air.

But nothing beats the moments of light that turn the pretty into extraordinary! With so many photos in this category, each hoping to savor the light for another time, none conveys the real-time feeling of amazement.

And finally, we'll be waiting for this scene, coming soon, and worthy of some B&W artwork to depict the harshness of winter. Incredibly, the snow and drifting cold of winter months is particularly soothing for the hunker-down emotions. Time for homemade soups, hot chocolate, crackling fires and a good book. And definitely a bit of art!

"All is flux, nothing stays still. Nothing endures but change." from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers.

Productive Doodles

2011-05-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone - yes, I'm still here. Its been weeks since I've been more creative than packing an efficient suitcase or sorting through travel brochures. We were away and that plays havoc with the muse....but there were still moments when I just had to doodle. Here is the start of a "zentangle" featuring the letter K.

A zentangle can be anything you make of it. You fill sections of your drawing with designs, patterns, scenery, or in some cases, color. Everything is possible or welcome, with as much detail as you want - there are no mistakes. I like art like that!!!

During "the Winter that WAS...."

2011-03-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

With over 72" of snowfall in the Albany area this January and February, many art venues and gallery events struggled to stay on schedule. We can relate! But our second reception on February 3rd, at the kindness of Family and Children's Service of the Capital Region (FCSCR), was well attended. We were so impressed by the distances people traveled to see our exhibit and loved talking with so many folks; thanks to friends from the Berkshires and the Adirondacks for making the evening event.

Here some of our visitors from the lower Hudson Valley appreciate the variety and color in our exhibit.

Many thanks are extended to Janet Tanguay of Art 'n Soul and the staff at FCSCR for making it such an enjoyable experience.

Reception Re-set

2011-01-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

Due to a snow storm that blanketed the area, a new reception date for "The Threads that Connect Us" is scheduled for Thursday, February 3, 2011, 6-8 PM with a meet the artists at 7 PM. Refreshments will be served.

Above, a disappointed Janet Tanguay (of Art n' Soul), Pat Spillane, and Diane Evans chat while wondering if the heavy snowstorm will spoil the planned opening event on January 7th. It did!

Ready, Set, Go!

2011-01-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

This morning we installed "The Threads That Connect Us" at the Social Art Gallery of Family and Children's Service of the Capital Region in Albany [FCSCR], our hosts for the event. The exhibit is sponsored by Art'n Soul [ANS], and features the work of three ANS artists: Diane Evans, a new piece by Kathryn Greenwold, and me.

The gallery is a spacious room with a sophisticated and adaptive system for hanging art.

While the process took us a bit longer than expected, the trick seemed more a question of deciding which piece should go where. Once we got going, it fell into place.

For those attending our opening, Friday, January 7, between 5-9 pm, we'll have a few words to say at 7 PM. If you read this blog from a distant location, here are some pictures I captured today when we were nearly done. Let us know what you think!!

Pleased, but not converted

2010-12-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

A while back, I did a workshop with friend and fellow ARTAA member, Kris Gregson Moss at her Glens Falls studio in The Shirt Factory. Kris wanted me to "play" with my fabric choice, a word she lives by. I was having a terrible time letting loose; I usually approach my work with a vivid idea already formulating. Letting a design just happen doesn't come easily to me, which is probably why I disliked that abstract art course way back in college. [It has something to do with confidence in outcomes I can't identify.]

After a couple hours and a really unhappy feeling, I put the background fabric away, expecting I had completely failed at this adventure. But a few days later, I put on some music and decided to attach a few colorful elements "just to see".....

Suddenly, bubbly eruptions emerged, stitches seem to dance around certain areas, and my stash of beads was pulled out for even more excitement. The result was a delicious something that made me want to frame and display the results.

I've called it "Baubles, Bangles, and Bright Shiny Beads". Thanks, Kris!!

My Learning Curve has improved....

2010-10-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

The days are growing short now - but the compensation is their beauty.

This has been an exciting week of capturing breathtaking photos. The sun comes out, spotlights a particular tree, and I'm off and running with the lens already opened. I return to download, and suddenly realize that I want to protect my work and I'm stumped. With a new camera, new computer, and brand new photo program.....well, you can imagine, it's quite an overload of operational manuals.

But to the rescue, my "Digital Essentials" book by Gloria Hansen! In a matter of minutes, and with some gutsy experimenting, I learned several major commands in one sitting. Gloria's book far outshines the three MAC books I've been pouring through, at least for what I'm trying to do. Now if she'd only drop by to finish up a couple of my art quilt projects, I'd be all set.

Northeast Quilts Unlimited Opened SATURDAY

2010-10-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

The 24th annual Northeast Quilts Unlimited show has begun at Old Forge, NY. This year, my art quilt group, the Adirondack Regional Textile Artists' Alliance [ARTAA], is honored to be featured in the invitational portion of the show. Our group is displaying "The Best of ARTAA" which includes several award-winning quilts by the members. The show runs October 9th -November 11th.

My contribution includes "Valentines for Mr. P", an especially personal quilt dedicated to my Dad as he appeared in his thirties. The choice of a black and white color scheme is meant to highlight those old brownie camera photos that we all have in our attic. Working on this piece connected me with the past and memories of Dad in a special way - and the quilt will remain in our family. A portion of the quilt is shown below:

My second piece, "en pointe" has been shown previously in dance venues and was created for the 2009 Glens Falls celebration, MUSIC and DEGAS.

I hope you get a chance to visit the exhibit at Old Forge during this harvest season.

It's All in the Name

2010-09-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

When a flurry of activity on the theme of "dance" was dashed this spring, the disappointment was hard to overlook. Even the pieces I created suffered the news--and two of them sat around for months without titles.

But following a meeting with art coach Janet Tanquay of Art n' Soul, and Diane Evans, friend and fellow art quilter, the sparks of creativity and possibility were reignited. The three of us had a wonderful coffee break together where we discussed goals and incentives -- and WOW, what a shot in the arm toward enthusiasm. Coming away with a new game plan and sense of direction, I dusted off those spring creations with gusto. Once again feeling positive, my quilt just named itself:

"Blue Ribbon Caper"

will be heading off to the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake in another week. Members of my art quilt group, ARTAA, will be doing demonstrations and displaying an array of recent works for the Adirondack Fabric & Fiber Arts Festival on September 25, 2010. Maybe you'll get a chance to visit.

Summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime...

2010-07-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season to kick back and enjoy. This week I took time for kicking back with my oldest, dearest friends - the "ya-ya's". We've been close since high school (and some even before that in grammar school).

We've shared secrets, prom dresses, boyfriends, pajama parties, first apartments, weddings, good news, bad news, heartaches, travel and most recently, growing older. There were seven of us to start: one missed our recent date - and another is ill in Texas.

We make every effort to keep in touch and see each other at least once a year; we just pick up the conversation where we left off.......

This time we boarded the Saint Sacrement on Lake George for a two hour lake cruise, and then headed north for a late lunch at the Sagamore Hotel in Bolton Landing. What a gorgeous day!

Switching gears was a blessing in disguise...

2010-07-10T18:36:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I discovered that someone else had already made the bed quilt I intended as a contribution to a favorite charity. Instead, my husband suggested that I make a "Ronald McDonald" wall quilt in keeping with the charity's association with Ronald McDonald houses.

WHEW! How big a challenge was that? But I agreed, hoping that it would not be more than I could handle.

To my surprise, the quilt developed nicely. I like to think that it was the intended use that drove it's success. Choosing the colors, winding my way through some technical issues, and the ultimate quilting of the background which is usually my waterloo -- all fell into place. Of course, had I failed, you would not be reading about it here.

Today we presented the quilt, "Ronald McDonald" at the Building On Love, Inc. 1st annual fund-raising picnic in Cohoes, NY. The organization is a 501(c)3 charity that supports Ronald McDonald chapters in the northeast and the families they serve. The quilt will hang in their newly purchased home in Albany. Visit their website to learn more, and maybe one day you'll visit the house where "my" Ronald McDonald wall quilt resides.

Here are some photos of the presentation and my later chat with Ronald McDonald himself.

Some random images from Paducah 2010

2010-05-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

On your way into town, and out for that matter, you must stop at the Hancocks of Paducah store. It is a veritable treasure trove of fabrics. Hoffman, Kaufman, Bernatex, Kaffee Fassett - it's all there. They cut by the yard, and there are always bins of batiks and other specials cut from the bolt. It's deeeee-lish!!!

I saw Ricky Tims from down the aisle and asked his assistant to take our picture. The shot was fuzzy, so we did it again. The shot was still fuzzy - but by now, I was embarrassed to have another pose. So, I guess I'll just have to go see him next time. I met him in 2005, too!!!

Lunch is not glamorous. You grab something from a vendor and you might get a chair in the shade. Otherwise, it's take a seat on the curb, eat your whatever, and get back to business. No time to waste except to rest your back and feet.

I ran into Laura Wasilowski, introduced myself, and someone suggested we take a photo. Well, SURE!!! So, here we are, having a chat.

This is one of the several AQS booths scattered throughout the venue. They were selling T-shirts, bags to carry your loot, lots of books, and an assortment of memorabilia. I got myself a 2010 Show pin to go with my previous one from 2005.

The crowds were thick on the morning of the first day. You find yourself traveling at the pace others set. By later in the day, you could linger longer to examine the fine works. They say that by the weekend, the locals enjoy a much quieter time at the show.

There were plenty of quilts that caught my eye, but my photographs of them do not do them proper justice. The show prints a catalog of all the quilts shown. It's worth the price!

Paducah 2010

2010-04-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we get a chance to simply "enjoy" our passion, and that was the situation last week when I flew in to attend the American Quilter's Society (AQS) show in Paducah, Kentucky. I had last attended five years ago and the experience [then] guaranteed my desire to return another time. AQS shows are the centerpiece of creativity; they are an inspirational, eye-candy adventure with something for everyone.

It is charming that the entire city of Paducah gets involved with the show. Below you see the famous mural wall along the Ohio River, where it meets the Tennessee River. Historical scenes are displayed. This area is adjacent to many of the venue locations.

II arrived the day before the festivities got underway and the streets were pretty quiet. Nevertheless, all the shops displayed quilts in their storefront windows. Anticipation hung in the air.

On the first day of the show, visitors head to the focal point at the Convention Center - the circle of winners where crowds struggle to get a closer look or a personal photo. This is a breathtaking display of world-wide talent.

Community Service is Chicken Soup for the Soul

2010-03-11T13:12:00.000-08:00

Each year, on at least one occasion, I work on something that gets turned over to community service for those in need: i.e., fire victims, cancer patients, pediatric wards of hospitals, and shelters to name a few among the recipients of these loving quilts. The Wings Falls Quilt Guild established a standing committee for Community Service years ago - and I enjoy participating in their ongoing efforts. For the last couple years, two of my friends, also fellow members of ARTAA (Karen Sturtevant and Joanna Monroe) have chaired the committee. Their coordinated efforts to gather the donated fabrics and issue small tasks for others to complete has made this an outstanding, organized process that doesn't fall heavily on anyone's shoulders. Here's an example of a quilt that will benefit someone in need.

The tasks to get here included:
1. Guild Members donated fabric and cut into strips; some was assembled into blocks
2. Chairs color-coordinated strips and blocks for a pleasing quilt top; packaged pieces for members to assemble quilt tops at home
3. Guild Members sewed strips and blocks into patterns of their choosing and returned
4. Chairs gathered tops, batting, backing, and binding fabrics; packaged parts for a new task
5. Guild Members layered, bound, and quilted as desired.

Many hands make light work for good outcomes. A big thank you to folks like Karen and Joanna for taking on this committe responsibility. The world needs more like you!!

"Under Cover" Opens this week in Saratoga

2010-02-27T12:48:00.000-08:00

Thursday's opening of "Under Cover" at the Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs was quite the hit, despite unbelievably bad weather preceding the event. The show features traditional and contemporary textile creations including wall quilts and wearable art in an intimate gallery setting. The display will remain open until April 16, 2010.

Seventeen artists, including many ARTAA members, displayed an array of creations to a crowd of well wishers. Visitors enjoyed a delightful evening of refreshments followed by introductions and discussions with the artists.

The art is available for purchase and a wonderful assortment of greeting cards prepared by the artists is also on sale. A series of three-hour workshops is offered during the exhibit, as well as a theatre reading and a film: the QUILTS of GEE's BEND .

Call (518) 495-9698 for further information. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 10-4PM and by appointment.

"UNDER COVER" in Saratoga

2010-02-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

Ahh, February is here, my favorite month of the year!

In a few days, some fellow members of my art quilt group, the Adirondack Regional Textile Artists' Alliance (ARTAA) will participate in a 17 artists' exhibit at the Spring Street Gallery of Saratoga Springs, NY.

The gallery calls it, "Under Cover" and the display will be open February 22, 2010 until April 16, 2010. A delicious assortment of works, large and small, will adorn the gallery walls.

One of my entries called "Garden Whimsy", is a large quilt incorporating my own digital photos and crafted into an original, somewhat traditional crazy quilt design. The piece is covered in illusion stitching of flowers, ferns and vines, and even includes a couple of random butterflies.

Gallery hours are: M-F 10-4; Opening Reception: February 25, 2010 6-8PM

What can a magazine stash say about you???...

2009-12-22T19:58:00.001-08:00

Like most enthusiasts, I follow a certain number of magazines regularly - inspiring, affirming, and motivating issues to keep my juices going. Recently I realized that the articles that make us all buzz, "did you try it?" simply aren't for me.

Oh sure, they make interesting reading! But when an art project requires all the ingredients I might otherwise need for a layer cake, I draw the line. My attraction to ooey -gooey techniques ranks up there with cooking for The Iron Chef or volunteering for TV's House Makeovers: entertaining but best left to others.

So what does this have to do with art? Well, earlier this year, I signed up to work with other Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) members on a "visioning project" involving nailing down my art goals. For my vision, I chose to: search for my artistic voice. My plans would have meant exploring a lot of different approaches and techniques to identify and clarify my personal style.

But I've done very little work on it, largely struggling with whether I needed a vision in the first place. It has actually blocked my creativity to attempt this heady exercise, doubting myself; and by neglecting it, I've created stress. As if hit by a bolt of lightening, it came to me while reading those magazines that the artistic voice I believed I was searching for already exists very clearly. I return to it again and again, using a few favored techniques that have my style written all over them. Whether it involves my photography, sketching or painting - I am at home with my own favorites and disinclined to follow someone else's path.

So, here it is 2010 (Happy New Year!!!) and I'm ready to go (count that as a RESOLUTION). Taking a few hints from Alyson B. Stanfield's book, "I'd rather be in the studio!" I will find my procrastinating excuses and work on her action plans to get back to work. Excuse me now, I'm off to create.

The Colors of My Inspiration

2009-11-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

As I was trying to undo a bad spell of "creative block", that dreaded malady, I pulled out my trusted camera to record the gorgeous sights around me.

The spectacular shade of the Japanese Red Maple this season had to be captured for all time. Yes, it truly was this color! Was it the rains this year, or the maturity of it's days? Only heaven knows.

Reflections of the pond always stir me - never enough perfect pictures. I want this as a postcard, a message to send my loved ones, that simple beauty resides nearby. This was a crisp morning, just as the first light frost hit.

And finally, turning around, the brilliance of my blue bottle garden, especially in the early morning sun, made me grin in satisfaction. What a silly but truly inspirational way to display my favorite color blue year 'round. Who knew recycled glass could look so good? I will never get over how this vivid idea struck me one day.

I hear the muse again.

Witness to the UNEXPECTED

2009-11-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

I often hesitate to go off-message on this blog which is primarily devoted to and read by those interested in artistic pursuits. But this is one of those "takes the cake" moments that few of us get a chance to experience.

In mid-October, about dusk, and as we were brewing an evening cup of tea - we had an unexpectedly large visitor wander through the yard. This is a rushed and blurry photo of a transient bobcat as it was about to disappear in the underbrush. Not a bad shot, considering the cat was on the move - it's taken through a screen - and I was trembling and breathless the whole time.

As many of you know, we are raising a new, terrier puppy - and from this moment on, she goes outside on a leash only. It's a bit creepy at night, wondering if this character is lurking. But nice to know that nature is surviving quite well in spite of all the doom and gloom we hear.

Looking for a Subject

2009-10-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

Turning an ordinary garage cleanup into art can be an adventure and the results can be spectacular. Sometimes it means finding a new use for your discarded junk; sometimes a passing image or idea emerges to capture your attention.

Here are a couple of manipulated images that I intend to use in a future piece of work, but I offer them to make a point. In the first example, the pieces were randomly strewn about. I liked this arrangement, particularly once I was able to make comparisons with my next experiment.

Now, the same pieces have been deliberately placed and separated. This arrangement was less interesting to me because of its predictability.

Which pattern appeals to you?

A Bit of an Interruption

2009-10-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

Artistic motivation is hard to find amidst the joy of bringing home a new puppy.

Two weeks ago, we drove to a country setting in Ohio to pick up our DARBY, an 8 week old Cairn Terrier born and bred on a small farm. In the days since, we've been kept busy with all the trappings of puppy-proofing and raising this little wiggle worm. We are, at the same time, challenged to stay ahead of her curiosity and comforted by her affection. We look forward to her many years of contribution to our life.

Rainy Day exercises...

2009-08-25T08:20:00.001-07:00

Rainy days interrupt my plans in a big way, so the recent return of consecutive days of wetness brought out my pencils. Sketching flowers has always been my favorite subject, so here I begin a composition of a peony. My set-up was based on a silk flower since my own peonies have long faded and would probably not last long enough to complete a drawing. Working with pencil is patience building!

July slipped by gracefully.....

2009-08-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

In spite of lots of rain, the month of July was packed with great events. There was the visit with high school friends who once shared "sweet 16" together - a day of catching up, lunch and strolling through Saratoga Springs. We will mark our 50th high school reunion in 2010.

And then a trip to QBL for a full day of inspiration and art. Quilting By the Lake is in a new location; the show was magnificent and the student works in progress will soon be appearing in various shows of their own.

And lastly, I finished a second piece for the "Degas and Music" exhibit being shown this fall. The (as yet) untitled ballet hand will be on display with other Degas inspired works by the members of ARTAA (Adirondack Regional Textile Artists' Alliance) from September 16 to October 18, 2009 at the studio gallery of Kris Gregson Moss, The Shirt Factory, 21 Cooper St., Glens Falls, NY.

New Work is Ready

2009-07-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

I have completed one of two pieces to be entered into the Degas and Music event held this summer in Glens Falls, NY. My dancer, titled "en pointe", will soon head to the gallery of Kris Gregson Moss for display with others from the Adirondack Regional Textile Artists' Alliance (ARTAA). The Degas celebration includes all sorts of performances, artwork, community events and lectures. For more information on event details, go to the Hyde Museum blog.

Local Display Opportunity

2009-06-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

Imagine my excitement when one day recently, a friend in the art community called to ask if I could help her out and display some of my pieces at our local public library. I didn't need time to think about it. Within an hour or so, I had gathered some representative works done over the last couple years and taken them to our lovely display areas, just inside the main doors.

Because it's local, it has been interesting to hear from folks who knew me in another life, surprised at what they found me doing these days. This was my first solo exhibition, and while I had to adapt a bit to the display situation, I thoroughly enjoyed having complete and final word on it's content.

Be sure to visit my other blog where I discuss some recent artistic explorations.....

Parenting: The same the world over....

2009-06-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I love posting stories of the nature that surrounds me. This one struck me particularly funny.

For weeks, we've been listening to a nest of baby crows, high in the evergreens above our yard, crying out in hunger as the adult bird scavanged for food. Each time the mother approached the nest, the nestlings screamed out for attention.

They finally left the nest sometime last weekend. But the familiar plaintiff cry caught my ear one morning this week.

Sure enough. On the lawn was a large black crow, with a somewhat smaller one following closely behind. It was the follower who made the noise - mouth gaping open in a pitiful sound, hopping quickly to catch up with the parent. It was clearly one of the young ones, now well feathered. When the large bird nabbed a bug, the youngster assaulted the adult in an effort to get fed.

Watching the pair made me laugh. It was clear that the adult was showing the young crow how to hunt - ignoring it's noise, turning it's back but persistently present, and no doubt saying to itself, "Come on kid, let me show you how it's done. It's time you learn because I can't support you forever."
Mother Nature is amazing when you take the time to watch!!!

The Show was Terrific!

2009-06-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

Its Sunday night and another fabulous quilt show has been put to bed. The Wings Falls Quilt Festival (Glens Falls, NY) was held this weekend, and many friends came away with ribbons for their interpretations of Log Cabin designs, applique, and well loved, traditional patterns.

Part of the festival showcased my art quilt group, the Adirondack Regional Textile Artists' Alliance and their themed exhibit, "No Flat Cat Road Kill".

As the name suggests, these quilts were inspired by items we all found along the highways and byways of this spring's thaw. Our assortment of "Road Kill" works were displayed on a highway along the floor where visitors peered over caution tape and orange hazard cones to examine the art.

My own piece, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" depicted a small, child-sized cookie cutter that suddenly erupted from my flower garden this spring. Since nobody in my family remembers such a goodie, it is unknown how long the little guy was buried. The quilt is composed of various photographs of the metal "find" and combines thread work and some embellishment of the actual piece at the top.

This was a challenging exhibit that stretched our imaginations more than any other to date and gave us plenty of belly-laughs.

My Blogging Resumes

2009-05-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

In recent weeks, I have been preoccupied with my husband's unplanned surgery and unable to tend to this blog site. But, gratefully, he's on the mend once again, and I can resume my concentration on several exhibition obligations coming up this summer.

In less than a month, the Wings Falls Quilt Guild will be holding their biennial quilt festival at the Adirondack Sports Complex, Queensbury, NY. This year's theme, "Seasons of the Adirondacks" will be on display June 6 and 7, 2009 showing over 200 quilts. Our art quilt group, Adirondack Regional Textile Artists' Alliance (ARTAA), will have a special display at that venue. In keeping with a theme we've developed having to do with "found objects", I have been working on a piece that really tickles my funny bone.

My inspiration started when I found this child-sized cookie cutter erupting from the soil in my garden. I have no idea where it came from; it could have been buried for years. But using my photograph technique, I started designing and playing with a composition.

The color and apparent image of a LION in this little metal chunk intriqued me. I selected some fabrics that reflected both and eventually, a quilt top developed that was long and narrow, and quite symmetrical. I will soften the rigid lines with some thread painting, my favorite part of the project. Here it is on my design wall.

Thanks to my friend, Diane Evans, for help in solving a technical question. You can visit her exquisite work on her blog.

Dance theme continues...

2009-03-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

The hand drawing sat around a few days until I was motivated to get out the paint. I'm often hesitant at this point, worrying far too much that I'm not ready for the task. Once underway, of course, I love every minute of the fussing. I selected a chunk of lining fabric, for the red color I think, but I'm not certain it was a good choice. The finish is easy to paint, but not so easy to handle later ---- it's slipping all over the place until I get it sewn into some compatible fabrics. Not one to give up on these things, I'm going to try to find a fabric that reflects the theme I have in mind. From the looks of things, this may mean a shopping trip! ;-)

Vivid Signs of Spring

2009-03-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

This weather is a treat after such a very long winter. It's hard to accomplish as much as we'd like now that the outdoors beckons.

Yesterday, we were visited by the herd of deer - "the girls" we call them, must have been a dozen altogether, just meandering around the lawn, nibbling at "Snow Drop" flowers and emerging buds. They didn't stay long, but felt very comfortable looking in at us as we were looking out.

Here, the tail end of the parade - as they graze their way around the track they take. Pretty soon, their activity will slow as the females bear new young. Let's see, .....how many will that make later this season???

The Muse Found Me

2009-03-21T19:47:00.001-07:00

So, having taken a bit of a break, the Muse found me last night. My charcoal pad and an idea called me to work, and I began the design of my next "painted" piece. The theme continues to be about dance and tomorrow in the daylight, I will transfer this sketch to fabric that I'll paint and then stitch. It will accompany my other piece, still underway, of a dancer on toe.

I'm really enjoying this technique, bringing together my first love - drawing - with my newer love, stitching. It feels comfortable and my vision of the finished product is like a picture in my mind. The theme of dance surrounds the 2009 summer-long celebration of Edgar Degas in the Glens Falls, NY community.

Motivation Assumes Many Hats

2009-03-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

As we artists discuss our motivation and inspirations for creative work, we often forget or ignore those day to day issues of interruptions, getaways, illnesses and living life. Having gone through a bit of this lately, I sure noticed my own lack of creative drive while being distracted. Because - sometimes it's not about us.

This thought was reinforced recently when I learned a friend's story:

An avid dog lover, owner of two sweet little Westies, he recently adopted a Cairn rescue(d) dog. The new family was adjusting nicely when a horrific fire struck the town's boarding kennel, killing many dogs. When my friend learned about the grieving family who had lost a Cairn in the incident, he sacrificed his own enjoyment and offered these strangers his rescued pup as replacement. It was a selfless act, motivated by nothing more than empathy and a feeling that it was the right thing to do. The Cairn, for a while named Biscuit, is pictured here (middle) before he entered the life and hearts of his new owners. Sometimes it's not about us.

Starting Anew with Blogger

2009-03-03T14:34:00.001-08:00

I've been blogging about a year now, but recently decided to move to this new host. I will maintain both accounts for a while....and hope you'll enjoy the more colorful, option-loaded aspects of this site. For older, past posts you can continue to check my previous blog as it winds down on wordpress:
http://www.pmsdesigns.wordpress.com/

On the art front:
The early March reception of Fiber: Strings & Vines at the Fulton Street Gallery, Troy was highly successful. It was a cold, rainy evening but the crowds still appeared for "Troy Night Out", a monthly event designed to inspire participation in downtown life. Visitors enjoyed a festive atmosphere at the gallery as they spoke with the exhibiting artists and munched on refreshments. The exhibit continues through March 25.