This is the spread from my Columbus Monthly Home & Garden interview with Devon Palmer, local Woodturner and Craftsman. He turns downed and blighted trees into beautifully crafted bowls and art pieces. I encourage you check out his website (www.devonpalmer.com) and seek out his work! He teaches locally if you want to try woodturning for yourself!
Where's the waaaa? :(
I just packed up my eighteen year old son, my first born, my buddy, and I drove him into northern Ohio, through Amish country, where I moved he and his prized possessions into an antiquated, non-air conditioned space, half the square footage of what he has lived in for the last eighteen years!
I left him with cleaning supplies (which I'm sure will sit untouched), enough snacks to get him through what I had hoped would be a few weeks, but probably 24 hours, and a laminated key card hanging around his neck that will open every door to his future, paying for things along the way. God help us all if he loses that card.
I tried to anticipate his every need and I spewed nonstop advice, my tried and true tips on how to handle his accumulation of laundry, etc., (only to learn that the Cross Country Team has a dedicated drop-off laundry service). (What the?!!! I could have been at the pool that summer I spent teaching him how to use a washer, dryer and iron)!!!
I fretted and fussed. I reminded and reassured. I hugged and was hugged back and then I left after being politely dismissed (he had a team meeting, the clock was ticking). I drove back through Amish country, arrived home, explained to the dogs that he will no longer be their breakfast provider, they'd have to kiss up to his brother. (Dumbstruck they stared longingly toward his seat at the dining room table.)
Ah yes, the dining room table, always set for four, now awkwardly set for three, reminiscent of the cartoon depicting the King dining at one end of a LONG table, with a candelabra, as his only companion.
I was good. I didn't call or text. I didn't watch the clock wondering what he was doing (I knew it didn't involve cracking open the cleaning supplies). I waited with faith and sure enough my phone buzzed. A text stating he was back in his room after a team dinner, met his R.A and he's nice, already finding friends and that all was well! I played it cool, texting back a raised thumb and a blushing emoji., (okay not blushing... kissing).
It has been several days and I have not shed a tear yet! Where's the waaaa? Sure I am stumbling over "triggers" like his messy bathroom and a forgotten pair of shoes, but no leakage... my floodgates are secure and my well seems to be dry... am I a bad mother for not crying? How long should I wait for the other shoe to drop? I know he is in a good place, a safe place and an encouraging environment academically and athletically. I know he will thrive like the sweaty plants in his terrarium that we so carefully transported. I also have already learned that whatever I may have forgotten to teach him in preparing for his flight from the nest, he will eventually figure it out and be fine. I have also learned that the more you let go, they seemingly get closer (like that stray cat you ignore that ends up meowing and rubbing against your shin).
I can say this with certainty as my phone buzzed again and I got an "I love you and thanks for everything", alongside a kissing emoji and a raised thumb! Oh yeah...kissing, not just blushing!!!
Now I'm off to reassure the dogs and to introduce his brother to the laundry room! Good luck to all my fellow moms as their babies fly from the nest! No worries, they will spread their wings, then undoubtedly send a note through a homing pigeon, asking for money!
On the Page...
My husband and I recently ran over to Grandview to check out the current exhibit at the Ohio Craft Museum, entitled, On the Page- The Book as Art. It was wonderful! It will remain up through August 23rd, so I HIGHLY recommend you stop in and check it out!
Here are some of my favorites...
While my photography doesn't do these justice...the book on the top shelf is set within two halves of a harmonica...truly you need to see it up close...beautiful!
The one on the second shelf is just so fun!
I love the simplicity and hand stitching on this one...I was dying to touch this one.
THIS ONE IS AMAZING!!! Again, you can't tell from this photo, but the pink tones of this dress is created by tiny, tiny, cursive/sanskrit writing in red ink!!! Again, a must-see in person!!
The black paper butterflies are wonderful...
So, if in or near Columbus, I encourage you to check out this exhibit of interesting books as art, created by US artists as well as members of the Santa Fe Book Arts Group! The Ohio Craft Museum is a gem of a resource, not only for wonderful exhibits, but they also house a gift shop boasting some wonderful artwork from local artists, as well as hosting a terrific summer camp for kids, where teachers, artists and experts in a variety of mediums come in and lead small hands-on day camp sessions! The Ohio Craft Museum is also home to The Ohio Designer Craftmen, the arts organization behind the Winterfair events in Columbus and Cincinnati. Check it out...www.ohiocraft.org
Whatcha doin'?
Earlier this week I was in the waiting room of my son's dentist office, sitting and needlepointing, waiting for him to finish his appointment, truly waiting to learn if he had dodged cavities again! He's one lucky sugar hound!
A little boy, 4 yrs old I'd guess, walked in the door with his mom and baby sister. He was adorable...curly brown hair, round face with pink cherub-like cheeks! He b-lined right up to me, placing his tiny, chubby hands on my knees and said, "Hi! Whatcha doin'?" Before I could answer, he returned straight to his mom, I think because he realized (and was startled) he didn't know me after all!
So here's what I'm doin'!
Yesterday in the studio was spent playing with watercolors! Working with the Caran D'ache crayons on both paper and cotton, just seeing what comes out on cloth, primarily. I was also prepping more fabric collage pages with selvedges! I was trying to rebuild my foundation pieces that I use in collages, both paper and fabric, so they are at the ready when inspiration strikes!
LOVE how these came out! Will probably embroider these further...
This collage base has been bugging me...I could take it a few different directions but can't decide which, so it sits in time out for now!
oh well... moving on...
Yesterday I also put out an email and Facebook plea to local friends and fellow sewers...I am in need of more selvedges! My stash is dwindling and I am seeking selvedges cut from cottons or home dec fabrics, with their typography and any hints of the original fabric from which they were cut. All colors but would love bright pinks, lime greens, etc. Spread the word...I'll arrange to pick up and I'll barter with home baked cookies or a starbuck's card!
Rain, rain...
I'm all for rain, but this is ridiculous! I've spent so much time with my umbrella that it made me curious...
Did you know...that the first umbrellas date back over 3,000 years to Egyptian days when they were made from palm leaves and in 11th century BC China, they began introducing waterproof umbrellas by incorporating leather and silk umbrellas only for nobility and royalty. Men, you have Englishman, Jonas Hanway (founder of English Magdalen Hospital) to thank...he was the first to stand up to ridicule and carry an umbrella, making it an acceptable accessory for men in the mid 1800's. Then the pocket umbrella came out in 1928 by Hans Haupt and in 1969 Bradford E. Phillips introduced the modern folding mechanism to the umbrella. Patents are annually sought for umbrellas designed to withstand strong winds, making an umbrella that won't turn inside out! I'm all for that!
Patterns and Printing...
Now that summer is launched and I am switching gears into a slower, lazier pace, I am tuned in to all that is growing, climbing and blossoming around me! There are some wonderful patterns nature shares with us if we are willing to slow down long enough to notice.
Recently I came across two books that have inspired me after a long, hectic Spring had drained me of all creativity, Make Your Mark: Creative Ideas Using Markers, Paint Pens, Bleach Pens & More, by Lark Books, has packed each page with a wealth of ideas and information, resources and eye-catching photography! I must admit, I am very judgmental when it comes to books, especially art-related and craft books. They have to bring fresh ideas to creating practical items before I will even think about purchasing them. They have to prove that I will return to them as a valuable resource, once in my library and on my bookshelf. The photos have to lure me in and the pages have to be more than generous with resources and how-to information. Who doesn't love a good sidebar full of tips? This book, Make Your Mark aims to please, and yes it earned a place in my studio library!
Another wonderful book, with a completely different approach to the topic of pattern making, is Jessica Swift's, The Crafter's Guide to Patterns. This one takes you behind the scenes into the digital process of pattern making and the world of repeats, as used in fabric design. Again, the photos are bright, captivating and colorful.
And while I was reselling my old magazines at the Half Price Bookstore, I came across another Lotta Jansdotter book whose publication had slipped past me in the last few years. Published in 2010, Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Style is a keeper. Yes, I am guilty of purchasing this too. Ok, admittedly it turned out to be more of a "swapping" my magazines for a must-have book, rather than a "reselling/recycling" moment...this is why I'd never bring home a paycheck if I worked in a book, fabric or craft store!
So Lotta delivers again, clean fresh photos of fun, patterned creations being enjoyed in scenes of parties and home life (where the home is clutter-free, unlike my own) and some yummy-looking scandinavian recipes to try! Who doesn't want to have homemade cinnamon rolls with their coffee and serve them with a self-printed napkin? Now that is a Saturday!
So if you hear your kids complaining of boredom this summer, pick up one of these and challenge them to get crafty and create some patterns of their own!
Wishing you a happy, creative and safe summer!
No Blinking!
I, like many others, have spent the last 18 years watching something grow. I'm not talking about my garden or my business. I am talking about my sons, the oldest of which now 18, graduates in just over 2 weeks from high school and I can not believe how true (and now detested) the saying is, "it goes so fast!"
I must admit it is bittersweet in how much he tries my patience at times, how much he eats, how much dirty laundry he can create and yet how much I am going to miss him when he leaves the nest for college this August! What I wouldn't give to be back in the elementary school days!
I once heard a mother remark that having her child changed her life. At the time I assumed she simply meant how it changed her career path and her daily routine. I know having Jackson changed my life too. I now realize the change has been so much more. It took me on a meandering path I never imagined, with many ups, downs and forks in the road. It taught me a lot. I am grateful for every minute and will always be, as I continue the unpredictable, but wonderful, path with he and his younger brother.
I was thrilled to have this past Spring break with my family, where we flew to Seattle, saw the sights then hopped an overnight train to San Francisco, where we explored more fun things, and hiked through Muir Woods, which proved a bit humbling at first, as we stood at the feet of such remarkably tall trees. But after I took a picture of my boys together at the base of another giant tree, things fell into perspective for me, that while things may seem big, it depends on the context, and seeing my enormous boys dwarfed by the forest, reassured me that while I see them as grown (and my job as a needed mother waning), they are still small in some ways and my job is not over yet! Which brings to mind the other popular (and also detested) saying, "blink and you'll miss it" ... which is painfully true, so to all the mothers out there about to be celebrated on Mother's Day, stay on your path, for it will prove to be an amazing one... but no blinking!
Watercolor Wednesday...
Ahhh Spring...the birds are singing again...or working out to get ready for swimsuit season, like this old bird, which is part of my "Spring Chicken" series! He and some other ducky divas are now in my (watercolor) illustration gallery and will be available soon in greeting card form! Check 'em out!
These bird ornaments are created from recycled wool sweaters, hand stitched and embroidered. These are a perfect pick-me-up on a rainy day, hung from door knobs, rearview mirrors, you name it! These are just a few samples, check out the fabric gallery for more! These are available by special order, so email me! Wool colors are dependent upon availability at the time of order, the embroidered wing style is up to you!
Happy Spring!
Happy Easter!
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and Passover!
Just a little bit of green since Mother Nature has been teasing us! Coming home from warm and sunny San Francisco to snow was a bummer...so I keep visualizing Spring any way I can...I have faith it will be here soon! ( I hope so for the sake of my sons who had to help shovel their school track to have their first practice...keeping my fingers crossed!!)
Watercolor Wednesday...
Watercolor Wednesday...
There is a wonderful watercolor exhibit currently hanging in the Riffe Gallery in Columbus, Ohio that is a must see! A Century of Ohio Watercolor, curated by Charlotte Gordon of the Southern Ohio Museum, is a wonderful grouping and historical chronology of watercolorists originating from or working within Ohio from 1915-to today...100 years! Well known artists like Alice Schille are of course included, as well as many I did not know. What fascinates me most about this show is the range of styles! Watercolor can be a frustrating medium to work with as it depends on precision of hand and the correct ratio of water to paint. Some in the show have a very soft touch and painterly style putting forth a light, airy, colorful scene, while others have a cubist, heavy handed use of the pigments, incorporating very little water!
One painter that stood out to me especially was Ralph Fanning. Not from Ohio, he was a Quaker who came to Ohio in the 1920's, where he ended up teaching art history at the Ohio State University for 37 years. I was struck by his portrayal of a train yard, bustling and filled with steam, depicted by bold swirls of blues, whites and gray. My Grandfather used to paint the very same scenes in West Virginia! HIs train yards depicted the quietness of the space, not bustling but rather rusty cars sitting in the hot sun awaiting the opportunity to move down the track. It made me wonder if these two artists ever crossed paths, given the time period, they may have somewhere along the way.
Another painter I was drawn to was Joseph O'Sickey. He was from Detroit, but later became part of the Cleveland School, a group of renowned artists of the time who were influenced by the Great Depression and WWII. He was drafted into service and visited India and Algeria, which obviously influenced his whimsical and vibrant style.
I especially loved his artist portrait accompanying his bio, he looks like quite the character!
So...you have until April 15th to check out this century of inspiring work from our talented Ohioans! Enjoy!
To know me is to know that I am a saver, recycler and a rescuer...not an abandoner. I have rescued 4 pets, recycled everything from clothing, to plastics, wood and metal. I believe in reuse.
So when I came across the Art Abandonment Project, I was a little skeptical. My youngest son poignantly asked, "Can't you get arrested for littering?"... the mother in me was proud of his concern for Mother Earth, the artist in me was offended that he considered my art... litter!
Then I thought about all of the ways we can give that do not include dollars and cents. We give compliments, smiles, a listening ear, a strong shoulder, and hugs! We give constructive criticism, courteous acts, and we volunteer our time and energy. All of these count and are valid ways to lighten someone's load in our daily grind, that so often proves trying and overwhelming.
So why not art? I know just perusing the colors and designs in a stationery story brings me joy. To others, they are lifted through styles of clothing, technological toys, books, you name it! I have always been inspired and uplifted by art of any medium. While I personally may not work with particular art supplies, I still respect and take joy in what evolves another artist gives their heart and soul into a piece using their preferred medium.
So I am excited to join the Art Abandonment Project and take along numerous small, portable pieces of my own fabric art for abandoning over Spring Break! I've packed some fabric postcards, some fabric brooches...
Abandonment Can Be a Good Thing...
I have taken care to package them in waterproof ziploc bags, because we are headed to drizzly Seattle first!
I can't wait to find some unique spots aboard our overnight train from Seattle! Then I will leave an artistic trail through San Francisco, all the way back to Columbus! I hope that everyone who finds my gift will reach out and share their experience at i.found.artwork@gmail.com!
I encourage you to join the project- go to Facebook and search the Art Abandonment group, ask to join and once they respond, you will find great samples of previous abandonments from all over the place, you will also have access to templates for gift tags to leave with your art!
Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, there are always ways you can give...and often it takes just one teensy show of compassion, or random act of kindness to lift someone's heart and spirit...so abandon art, or just abandon something of your self! It will not only make you and your recipient happy, it will give you wings!
Artist's Reception...Please Drop By...
I am thrilled to have had one of my fabric collages selected for this show. I am among artists that I have admired from beginning my journey in art! If you are in or near Columbus, Ohio, please drop by Studios on High to celebrate art, share some camaraderie and to enjoy some color during this bleak month!
Watercolor Wednesday...
With the current weather and temperatures closer to zero than I can tolerate, I have been hunkered down with Winston, stealing some reading time when I can! One book that I have picked up recently and really enjoyed, is Felix Scheinberger's Urban Watercolor Sketching.
Felix is a German illustrator, artist and designer, who has lent his talent to many magazines and to over 50 children's books. This book, his third, invites you into his travel /daily journal, where you get a great peek at his sketching and painting style in all of its quirky glory! I always love to see what people record in their sketchbooks, and here he shares hand-sketched and watercolor imagery of places he has traveled around the world, like the congested markets in Istanbul, ornate temples in Korea, waterfronts in France, etc., and all of the various characters he encountered along the way! HIs style is very reminiscent of Ralph Steadman's!
If you are new to painting with watercolor, this book can serve as the perfect guide, or art lesson, for he covers everything from the basics of color theory, to the tools and tricks to mastering watercolor, to wisdom on developing your own style within the medium.
His fun doodles and renderings are a great visual and personally preferred over photographs that could have easily been incorporated. He is a great storyteller and imparts artistic wisdom while sharing the history behind the art form, watercolor pigments, their origins and their evolution.
With the endless backdrop of bleak, gray skies, I encourage you to check out this book, even if you never intend to pick up a paintbrush or attempt painting in watercolor! It will at at least brighten you with some funny sketches and doodles and some much-needed color!
Happy Valentine's Day
Sending out some needlepoint love! Hope you had a "love"ly Valentine's Day! Keep celebrating and make every day Valentine's Day!
A Side of Fries and...a Cattle Prod!
I recently did something I rarely do...feed my kids fast food. My teenage son had a doctor's appointment and we were racing to get him back to school on time, so I opted for the drive-thru meal! I pulled up to the window after ordering, and was greeted by a young man smiling ear-to-ear. As I paid and took my bag of greasy guilt, the giddy young man exclaimed, "Hey my book came out on Amazon today!!!"
Confused, I stammered, "Wow! That's great!" while wondering what that had to do with my order.
"Yeah I self-published it- you should check it out- its on customer service! I'm the youngest person to write about that topic!"
I was impressed by his smooth elevator pitch, and as he handed me my drink, I woke up to what he was really saying...
He was not your typical fast food employee, that he had taken things into his own hands, got his message on customer service out, and that he had been successful. He chose that particular path and found gratification at a young age. No sending manuscripts, no sitting in "slush piles", and no painful rejection letters! He was now self-published and his message will be heard!
I wished him luck and pulled away.
I drove home thinking about his young entrepreneurial spirit, his infectious enthusiasm, and his guts. I was impressed that In less than five minutes, that young man had served a nutritionally deficient meal with friendly customer service and had empowered the writer in me! And to think if I had taken my son somewhere else for lunch, I wouldn't have received such encouragement about a matter near to my own heart! Perhaps he was sent as a sign, a smiling cattle prod, to get my messages out, self publish my manuscripts and... to eat more salads!
Hit the Hop...
My fabric collage has been accepted into the March Gallery Hop show at Studios on High! Hope you can hit the hop!
Something to Crow About...
A friend recently invited me to join her after church, in trying out a new dining spot in the Short North of Columbus. We went to a small spot called Double Comfort. It is a cozy, cool joint with a serious mission: Great Food, Happy Customers, Happy Employees, Helping Others!
Double Comfort is a social enterprise with a focus on southern comfort foods and amazing fried chicken. More importantly, Double Comfort gives proceeds to designated local food pantries, so when you enjoy a plate, so does another!
It is simple and smart in its down-to-earth decor, with touches of reclaimed wood and creatively up cycled galvanized steel and light fixtures. A bar is wedged perfectly into the space and the friendly bartender welcomes you warmly from the door.
While I am gluten free, I had an amazing salad with roasted butternut squash, while my friend enjoyed fried chicken and waffles. Yum!
It reminded me of my Great Grandmother from the UK, who had a wickedly wry sense of humor and apparently used to say, "Ahh hunger and thirst after righteousness" (when it should of course be hunger and thirst for righteousness)... I can tell you, we walked out stuffed, happy and perhaps a little righteous!
Check it out, they have very accommodating hours to meet everyone's needs from the late diner wanting drinks to the post church crowds, and when you enjoy, so does another! Something to seriously crow about!
Designing new wings...
I'm currently working on a large custom order of recycled sweater birds and returning to embroidery in designing their wings has been relaxing and fun! If you are interested in learning needle arts there are many great resources online, but I also like to go "old school" and check out books to see what other stitchers are creating!
Published in 2013, The Needlecraft Style Directory by Sarah Whittle, is a fabulous overview of everything involving a needle: embroidery, needlepoint, cross-stitch, crewelwork, beading, punch needle, needle felting and more! I love this book because it is full of eye candy ( very cute stitched projects of all types) and is truly a well-done visual guide through the various types of needlework, and the stitch guides in the back are really well illustrated, therefore easy to follow!
What are you waiting for...Get Stitching!
“Everyone needs time to develop their dreams. An egg in the nest doesn't become a bird overnight.”
― Lois Ehlert
We all need wings!
Currently in my studio, thirty recycled sweater birds are getting their wings...soon to be embroidered, stuffed and sent on their way! Speaking of getting one's wings...yesterday I drove through the German Village Meeting Haus, where the organization Dress For Success was accepting donations of professional attire, to further their mission of promoting economic independence for women in need by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and life. They are collecting today as well (despite our frigid temperatures) and offering drive through, drop off service, so I ask...how can you ignore this opportunity!
Please donate today or contact the organization directly to learn of additional donation opportunities! www.dressforsuccess.org/columbus