More Weeklies

Another of my 2007 goals is to learn to take better photographs of my work. The weekly exercises (each is 8 x 10) are a good subject since (ideally) there's a new one each week, and they aren't meant to be sold so the photography is less crucial. Here are two consecutive ones that I photographed this week.


This is number 17. I don't date them other than the year, so I can only estimate that they were done in December when I was working on the larger pieces in this color scheme, which are on display at the Slayton House Gallery.


Naturally, this is number 18. I am pleased with both of them, although I like the richer tones of #17. I like working large and small at the same time. Some of the challenges are similar, but there are significant differences in making something work in a piece that's 26 x 40 and in a piece that's 8 x 10.

I'm a couple of weeks behind, as usual, and this week I've moved into a different direction on the weeklies. But I like these enough to go back to this style. I guess I'm still interested in trees, and these alternately look to me like trees in a forest and bark.

It's getting late in the morning, so I need to get to the studio. I have another show looming, and I want new pieces for it.

As long as there are postmen, life will have zest.

In today's mail, I received a gift from a friend in Hawaii. She was cleaning out her mother's things, and thought I'd like to have this kimono. I am truly touched by her generosity.

I'm sure I have it hanging wrong, but I wanted to get it posted right away, so I took the photos without doing any research about how the front pieces should be crossed. Here's a detail.

It's a lovely blue background, with the design in a creamy blue, shot with red. As far as I can tell, it's all hand sewn, too. It really is beautiful, and my friend Marie Milks is generous beyond description to send it to me. She said that she hoped I could use it in my work, but I don't think I could ever put scissors to it.

Thank you, Marie, from the bottom of my heart.

And thanks to William James, the author of the above quote.

Another Photo from the Slayton House Gallery

Here's one more photo from the show at the Slayton House Gallery. On the left is "Tap Dancing to Heaven" by Linda Taft Walburn, and on the right is "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by me. I love the whimsical nature of Linda's piece. Those shoes!

Jumping on the Goals Bandwagon

My goals for 2007 are modest, I suppose, partly because I get overwhelmed by excessive detail - all the lists and dates and deadlines make me want to take a nap! So here goes: I want to keep up with the weekly series of 8 x 10 pieces that I've been making since the first of July and contact at least 2 galleries about a solo show (gulp!) I'd like to make production goals, but I really don't know what's reasonable and attainable. Maybe goals should be beyond attainable, so that I have to stretch to reach them, so I have to think about that. But what's reasonable for me? One a week? What size counts?

Then there are the artistic goals, those that make me explore different ideas or push me in different directions. For 2006, I wanted to explore perspective, which I did in a couple of ways. I took a drawing class, which really showed me how much I don't know, and I've had as a "rule" for the weekly pieces that they should use perspective in some way.


This is one of the latest weeklies. I used foiling and a thermofax screen to create the trees, and black netting for the shadows to anchor them to the ground. I wasn't all that happy with it, so I used the netting on another one, which still needs work. After I get the shadows fixed on that one, I'll post it too.

As I think about it, perhaps I should make a distinction between long and short term goals. Production levels could be a short or medium term goal, which might contribute to a lower anxiety level on my part. More musings on that later.

Gallery Reception

The Fiber Artists of Baltimore (FAB) is currently showing work at the Slayton House Gallery in Columbia, Maryland. The Artists' Reception was yesterday, and I have a few photographs of the gallery and the work.


From left to right, the pieces this photo are by Cathy Kleeman, moi, Cathy Kleeman and Linda Strowbrige. Sorry about the tote bag in dead center.

This is one wall of another room. From left to right, the artists are Gail Gutierrez, Jeannie Marsh, Jeannie Marsh, Linda Taft Walburn and Adrien Dawson.

These two are by Linda Taft Walburn (l) and Linda Strowbridge (r).

Another fiew of the main gallery, with a piece by Cathy Kleeman in the background.

Finally, another wall in the smaller room, with work by (left to right) Rosemary Epperson, Adrien Dawson and Lynn Tarakan.

The reception was well attended, and the staff at the gallery did all they could to make things easy for us. Many thanks to all of them, especially Bernice, the director, Carol, who did all the organizing, and Cathy, who held down the reception desk during the reception.

Liz (Dreaming Spirals) talks about making trifle for the holiday meals. Here's my recipe: burn 2 chocloate pies (making great amounts of smoke every time you turn on the oven.) Despair over having enough dessert for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners (seatings for 14 each time.) To the rescue: one resourseful sister-in-law, who scrapes up one pie out of the pie pan and into a trifle bowl, covers with a layer of whipped cream, adds the second pie and another layer of whipped cream. VOILA! Dessert is saved.
Here is my sister-in-law, and her trifle. She lives to bake!

I Don't Get It

Somehow, in the last few weeks, our TV has programmed itself to come on every night at 8. I'm certainly not savvy enough to make it do that; I can barely watch a dvd on the silly thing. Actally, when my husband was away for the weekend, I would have to call him to walk me through it. I had almost gotten to the point where I didn't need to call for help when we got one that, when you insert a dvd, assumes that you want to watch it and starts it automatically. But that's not the TV that's turning itself on. It will probably turn on every night at 8 for the rest of our lives, because we can't figure out how to stop it. But at least the timer isn't flashing 12!


This is a piece I finished in December, "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." 26.5 x 41 I've been using these browns a lot, and they aren't my usual palette. I've managed to work some purples in, though not in this piece, and I'm please with the results. I found that I like the richness of the browns and golds, and the contrasts with the black and/or purple. Next I want to move to another color scheme, but with the same idea. We'll see.