I thought that, by my age, I should be a sage. The enlightenment would be reached and I could dwell in the comfort of knowing... At 78, it hasn't happened yet. I am trying to know something.....maybe more of myself than anything else. So, with the Covid 19 happening and all my face to face workshops being cancelled, I am taking as many or too many online classes to fill my little brain.
Now I am learning to Zoom.. Wow, what a technology to have. How lucky we do have it.
I gave a short class to Artseed. I volunteered to help try to save their summer intensive workshops for vulnerable kids. It worked and the group was pleased with my small contribution.
Next, I am the guinea pig for SCRAP-sf, planning Zoom classes. We are trying to figure out logistics of materials and tools and use of Zoom for the workshops. Challenging.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
25 Million Stitches
.....one stitch for each one of the 25 million refugees This is a project to engage as many participants and raise awareness to the current global refugee crisis. The 25 million stitches were reached after many in the world sent their panels to Sacramento to Jennifer Kim Sohn. Jennifer began this project 13 months before the 25 million stitches were reached. I was fortunate to meet and talk to her in front of her home when I delivered 2 of the 5 panels I stitched. I only did a straight stitch and no real embroidery, concentrating on making the stitches to count. The virus hit and the display and opening of the project has been delayed.
My first piece...made without planing. I just let my fingers do the walking.... |
all of the pieces were done without sketches or planning. |
Even this was done without planning... |
Collage embroidery
A challenge by fiber artist Merrill Comeau, we were to use fabric scraps to form a collage with added stitching. Here are my two attempts;
The base cloth was a piece of lightweight denim. Most of the fabrics were cut offs and scraps from mask making. |
The back fabric with netting to hold everything in place. I utilized the transparency with my embroidery stitches of weeds. |
Stitching
It has been a while since I put hand to cloth with embroidery or hand stitching. With SIP, I joined a group headquartered in England. ...Textile Arts and a monthly Stitch Club. Each month, three stitch artists give a workshop with a challenge. Here are some of my attempts of the first challenge by Debbie Lyddon;
The fabric was first painted with acrylic paints. |
Whip stitched all around to hold everything together |
Openings placed to be able to see what is inside at different angles. |
This container was made to hold my Granddaughter's saved rock. I wanted to make something that would hang. Here was my solution. |
I shaped the opening hole to mimic the shape of the rock and formed the holder to do the same.. |
SIP - Shelter In Place
A new term to learn. SIP and all its meanings. We are all vulnerable by the unknown virus; physically and mentally. It is a taxing time to learn ones ability to cope....again and again.
I have been so fortunate in most aspects of my life but those bumps in the road haven't been easy.
I know I like to do creative things alone in a quiet place but need the contacts of friends or family. I realized that I needed interaction with another person at least once a day.
Before this SIP happened, I would take a walk or have an errand to do, no matter how insignificant, at the least, once a day. Now, I try to make something or learn something new with the new technology and Zoom. How fortunate to have this. I hope this time is meant for all of us to learn about ourselves and our home on earth.
Upon learning that our caregivers needed masks to help their lack of safety equipment, I wanted to help. Because of my experience in sewing, I began to make masks. I tested numerous kinds and patterns and finally came up with my own....a tweak here and a tweak there. With a friend, Chula Camp, we were able to donate to Doctors and Nurses, a school (400), cancer wards and others. We now sell them to help pay for those we donated and are donating.
I have made a few different ones than the regular mask. I worked on a beard mask and a mask with extra nose space and a mask for children. I now have 75 different prints. All masks have a filter pocket and a nose wire with three ways to wear them (inserted directions).
beard mask |
child size mask |
Monday, February 3, 2020
8X8 Food for Thought
This is the piece for the 8X8 Art Mosaic. It will be with the Letters California Style Calligraphy Conference at the Kellogg Center in Pomona. A botanical print paper blanket on mat board with words written on either side with mix of Dr. Martin's white and sepia gouache.
"& so what do the flower buds pushing up from the broken earth say about you? We break to grow."
Pavana verse.
"& so what do the flower buds pushing up from the broken earth say about you? We break to grow."
Pavana verse.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Pence Gallery 'The Printed Realm"
This is a piece I made with Botanical Printing. It will be exhibited at the Printed Realm show at the Pence Gallery. It is a print on paper, mordanted and printed with leaves of cotinus, Eucalyptus, maples and a few other leaves, steamed in unknown bath of probably iron, tea and onion skins.
The dilemma I had was to determine the direction of the piece. It could go in any direction.
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