Busy Times

I had sprained my wrist camping in mid September, which left me unable to do much hand work for the month of October. So I had some catching up to do to prepare for Christmas shows.
Here is some of the work I pulled together. I had fun making creatures and embroidered sachets. My big show was this weekend, so now it's on to presents for Christmas.

The Quilts of Susana Allen Hunter

Looking at her beautiful quilts is enough to make a person want to take up quilting! In the back of my mind I have always wanted to make a quilt , but doesn't everybody?
These are so inspirational, so without pretense. I love that they are called improvisational, like music, using whatever comes to hand.
Pictures don't really do them justice, so if you have the opportunity, see them in real life.

More images here.

Ruth Asawa,  1926  -2013

Pics found via the blog, Mondo-Blogo

Decorated Paper

I am always looking for inspiration for my rug hooking, and on the blog Lettorology, I discovered these beautiful designs that are decorated papers (some over 300 years old) used for endpapers and booksheets. I think the colors are so lovely.
They are part of a collection that belongs to Carmencho Arregui, who also designs beautiful end sheets in her bookbinding work.

Balancing Stones

Bruce and I are adding stones to our driveway, the part we never drive on, to create a little patio. I was inspired to balance some stones:

But here are some by a master:

Free Standing Stone Sculptures Using Balance by Michael Grab

New Rug Hooking

This is a piece I finished late in 2012. I think the imagery is connected to my fascination with the myth of Demeter and Persephone. I haven't found a satisfactory title yet.

Summer Solstice

I

check 

my 

where

abouts

by

the

altitude

of

the

stars

against

the 

rigging

and

set

out

to

summer

solstice

the

fortunate

islands

are

2

in

number

and 

are 

in 

the

sea

of

darkness

Susan Howe: from The Western Borders printed by Tuumba press

Found at: Poets.org

How trees communicate

A quote that is stirring my imagination... Are all things connected in invisible ways?: "Our lives are like islands in the sea, or like trees in the forest. The maple and the pine may whisper to each other with their leaves ... But the trees also commingle their roots in the darkness underground, and the islands also hang together through the ocean's bottom." -William James, psychologist and philosopher (1842-1910) William James' observation of the trees that "commingle their roots in the darkness underground" is confirmed by scientific research in this video. I love the part about the Mother Trees. Lots to ponder and learn from our natural world.

Work in Progress

I am still tweaking colors and shapes, but this is close to being finished. I like to put a piece like this away for awhile, and look at it again in a couple weeks, when I can see it with fresh eyes. That way I can spot if something is out of place, or if a color isn't really working. What frustrates me is I started this in winter light, and now the light is so different. I have to get accustomed to how the colors look in this new light.

Ghost cats

I have begun doing paintings with more involved landscapes, and I am loving them. I am busy filling card orders right now, but hope to get back into the studio to finish a couple more that I am working on. This one I send out to the spooky, feral cat that we see sometimes hunting in our woods.

Beginnings

Another artist's blog. So many. But wait! I love artists' blogs, so maybe it is time (way past time) to begin my own. I want to interact with some of my favorite bloggers, who have given me so much. And maybe, by sharing my projects and inspiration, it will help me stay a bit more organized and focused.  We'll see.