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Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Sam-the-golden-wonder-dog has been home with Beau and me this week.

Watching the dynamic between the two dogs is interesting, especially in the morning. Sam is approaching 11, old age for a retriever. He had a bad injury as a very young dog and the resulting arthritis slows him down. His attitude is good and he’s happy but his style is different.

Watching him with Beau reminds me of the proverb “Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill”.

Sam is a serious working/hunting dog. The closest thing to a bird is his training dummy.

Beau’s game is to steal the dummy from Sam at every chance then run around in circles trying to entice Sam to give chase.

Sam watches.

Eventually Beau, being young and NOT a retriever, gets distracted, whereupon Sam gets the dummy back and the games continue.

I am easily entertained when it comes to the four-leggeds in my life.

Posted in friends, miscellaneous | 2 Comments »

“a month of mondays”

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Earlier this morning, a friend described February as “the month of 28 Mondays”. Perfect!

This is usually a month that I welcome. Once it is over, March is here, bringing Spring and all those nice changes. This year Winter has been relentless. Even though this, the shortest month, is nearly done, it seems the ice ruts in the streets are permanent.

The crusty coating on paths I usually walk with the dogs is stuck in a freeze/thaw, freeze/thaw cycle.

We have had more gray days than not. I miss the sun.

The last few weeks have been spent away: a wonderful visit to Berkeley, my first trip to Northern California. It was a delight. Then just enough time at home to repack and off I went to Iowa for the annual retreat. Driving allowed Beau to go with me. As always, he acquitted himself very nicely, made friends, had a good time. He travels well and is a good companion, helps me maneuver the ice, keep track of everyone and remember to exercise every day. Now I am home until the latter part of March.

Then there’s a workshop in Florida, the Retreat in Colorado Springs and a new Retreat in Ann Arbor, MI. see my schedule page for details.

Right now seems to be time a good opportunity for re-grouping, pulling in, paying attention.

some photos from this morning’s daybreak:

what lovely color as the sun rose. Now it is gray again.

Off to walk the dogs and then will spend time setting things in order around here. what a repetitious adventure that is! wouldn’t it be nice to do it once and have it done? where are the pixies???

Posted in conversations, friends, landscape, miscellaneous, travel, workshops | 2 Comments »

what do you do when…

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

…it is simply too cold to be out and about?

w_e_e_l_l_l…

My helper and I worked in the office, we worked in the studio, put up an Etsy shop and more.

It is not enough for an active puppy boy.

He doesn’t care how cold it is (or remember that his feet have issues at these temps.) He wants to be out and DOING STUFF! Granted, he and Sam go out with M twice a day, but it is too cold for Sam, too cold for M, and Beau, being young and a shepherd mix, needs more to do. We are working on basic commands. He and Sam “mouth wrestle”, play tug with the “snake” and Beau tries to herd the cats on a regular basis – they do not like this. He’s only trying to find a job to do. Cats always know that it is not their place to do the work – that is what the staff is for.

Beau is certain he has opposable thumbs and can carry for me. He knows he could drive, if I would only provide an appropriate set of keys.

Ah well, what else is there to do. it is not even Winter yet.

Posted in conversations, friends, landscape, news, studio | 1 Comment »

post holiday post

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Thanksgiving is always wonderful, even when it doesn’t include ALL the people I want to spend it with.

This year we again spent the day with an old friend at her house… other good friends going way back through various incarnations of our life in Montana were there. The age range was 21 to 87, the food was great and the conversation far reaching. I miss being with immediate family at Thanksgiving, especially my daughter and her husband. This was the first year Nancy’s adult children couldn’t come home, so it was good for all of us to be together.

One of these years we’ll be able to add a fourth generation to the mix.

***

In preparation for the gifting season, I am producing three suites of hand altered photographs, in extremely limited editions.

“Winter Suite” is now up on Gallery 3. “Autumn Suite” and Spring/Summer will go up this weekend. Here are just two of the Winter photos:

In other news, the studio clean-out continues, and it is still a mess. It is at the point now where the things to be gotten rid of will be donated or put into the Guild loop and the rest (that I am keeping) has a space in which to live. I have not begun to sort the papers and works on paper… maybe soon.

Beau misses going to school and the advanced class doesn’t begin until January.

I hope I can keep him busy and on track until then. The dogs next door have not been helping. They are 9 month old pit bull pups, sisters, and have no manners yet. They are smart and have learned that somewhere/somehow, there is a way to get from their yard into Beau’s. They repeat this learned behavior at every opportunity. This weekend is dedicated to fixing the fencing to cut down on the chaos. I worry about them bull-dozing Sam, who is old and arthritic. I worry about them knocking me over (two bad knees and only one good wrist right now, I’d have trouble getting up!) It has also been proven that once they are in this yard, they can get out, into the street and get into who knows what sort of trouble. We’ve been working with the neighbors to find a way to get this situation under control. So far… no success. Maybe tomorrow.

The samples of various techniques with un-spun fibers are winging their way to London for photography. Wish them well. Here’s a fuzzy photo of a fuzzy sample

and some weird photos of the other inhabitants of my domain:

and now I’m off to other chores.

Enjoy the weekend!

Posted in conversations, friends, landscape, miscellaneous, new work, studio | No Comments »

the state of the studio

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

thanks everyone, I think I have all the boxes filled now, or close to it, depending on how much oddball stuff folks are willing to take. A trip to the P.O. tomorrow and then I can begin to sift the papers etc.

As for the suggestion of boxing things up and setting them elsewhere: it’s a good one and I appreciate it. We have a tiny house. Available space here is already claimed and occupied…

this is a great opportunity to clear out a lot of stuff I’ve had hanging around for a while….

Posted in friends, studio | 1 Comment »

october 21

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

New on my web store page, Fabric Stash Bags! Although it sounds slightly illicit, it is a great way for you to add usable bits to your stash while I continue to reduce my supplies as my work is changing. Each bag is unique and reflects the pallette I’ve been using for the past several years.

stash bags

The next round of private coaching begins on the 28th of this month. Again, see my web site for details.

Upcoming workshops include an extended studio in Iowa, the Textile Evolution Retreat in Colorado and Fabrications in Kalamazoo, later in the year. For details, see the next Museletter due to mail out in the next few days (to subscribe, go to my home page) or check my website early next week. I am in process of updating everything, but it is slow going.

I went to the high country only once this Summer, for the 4th of July to spend time with my sister and her husband. He passed away exactly a week later. Now, thinking of going up there breaks my heart. M and Sam are there now to winterize the cabins for both our families. It should be beautiful! Crisp temperatures, some snow, but warm during the days.

We totally missed Indian Summer here in the low country. There was a sustained, record breaking freeze while I was in Chicago and all the green leaves just dropped. No color changes this year – I rather miss that. Beau and I will be working in the gardens the next few days, raking, pruning, putting in a new rock path and planting daffodils. I love the thought of investing in color for a season yet to come. Yet another idea of sanctuary and sacred space.

I appreciate everyone’s thoughts on that topic. You have helped me clarify my own.

be well!

do some studio work.

keep in touch.

Posted in conversations, friends, garden, inspiration, landscape, museletter, news, studio | 1 Comment »

it’s been a long strange ride…

Friday, September 25th, 2009

The colors and temperatures are gradually shifting here in the lower Yellowstone Basin.

Fall?

Late September?

Already?

It isn’t difficult to remember where this year went, but oh, it seems to have passed so quickly.

Perhaps things have settled down in the family. Perhaps not.

Meanwhile, I am back at work, writing, making things, planning ahead – in no particular order. Well, actually, given the fact of deadlines, the writing is coming first.

Since July and the passing of family members, this last long whiile has been consumed by professional obligations: teaching (Fabrications, Columbia Fiber Arts Guild), then taping for The Quilt Show – what a gas. I’ll let you know when the segment airs (sometime next year). All I can say, is it was fun working with Ricky, geting him to totally improvise, and that if weren’t for Liz, I couldn’t have done it at all <G>. The tech crew was wonderful to work with and I am forever grateful to my sponsors: Mistyfuse, Pellon, Artistic Artifacts and YLI. The thank you notes have been slightly delayed, but wlll go out.

Meanwhile, back on the home front, the cats have settled down (3 weeks is a very long time for me to be away!), Sam is himself but aging quickly, and Beau has not only started school but also skipped a grade! He began training last week but was immediately moved up to the intermediate level. I have high hopes he will pass quickly through that, into “Good Citizenship”, and then on to bigger and better things. Truth be told, I am hoping he has the temperament to be a service dog. We’ll see. There are lots of hurdles between here and there.

Apologies for the long silences. I am hoping to get back on track in the next few weeks. Drop a note if you are out there. What should we talk about?

Posted in conversations, friends, miscellaneous, news, travel | 2 Comments »

June 30

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Last week was spent teaching an extended surface technique workshop . We had a group of 8 wonderful people who worked well together, challenged me and each other and in general, had a great time (as evidenced by the fact that the days simply were not long enough !). A few got started on or continued with multi-panel projects. Some focused on hands-in the-stuff production of raw materials.

We began with color work, then set up creative play stations, had some demos on working with transparency as a design element, a demo on stitch issues (using tricky threads) and concluded with a group sharing and discussion.

Here’s a small selection of interesting bits from the workshop:

monoprinting: a gelatin plate, and bubble wrap

fiber fusion

Making friends with thread

mono-printed sheers, hanging to dry

various bits, panels and surfaces

what I did on Saturday, with a little help from my friends, thanks all!

***

next post i will add more photos of the raw materials produced, and some links to special artists

For details about Artistic Artifacts, one of my favorite places to teach, please visit this page.

Posted in Uncategorized, friends, process, workshops | 4 Comments »

Hudson River Valley Worksop

Monday, May 11th, 2009

We are here! we made thae drive quite well. Between Beau and Becky, I had the help and company I needed for this cross country drive.

So far Becky has taken all the photos, but I promise to either link to her blog, or get my own photos up.

The last time i was here it was winter. Now, the ancient lilac is about to burst into full flower. The studio is slowly filing with people’s materials and tools…. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

and now I better go plug this computer in to get a good charge so I can upload photos.

Posted in friends, inspiration, landscape, travel, workshops | No Comments »

5/5

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

what an amazing several days it has been!

Learning about Insurance laws in Montana, negotiating for what I want/need with people who do not really care, (to be fair, it is the property loss people who don’t care, they wanted and got immediate settlement; the health and so forth people, OTOH have been great). The Insurance Commissioners Office has been fabulous, answering my questions and some I didn’t ask, giving me information I needed, and reminding me to keep track of all of this, so that when the “pain and suffering” issue comes up, I have anecdotal documentation if nothing else.

My primary care doc is great! she gave me a prescription for daily massages (and one of my students next week just happens ot be a massage therapist!).

I feel like I’ve lost a week. Still need to pack for next week’s workshop at Greenville Arms – need to check my list, see where i am and get on with it. I begin the drive tomorrow, will stop along the way to see friends and family, and am picking up a “Studio Assistant” on Thursday.

this is all good but only if I am packed.

Onward.

PLEASE: wear your seatbelts. Drive vehicles that have airbags. Be a defensive driver, do NOT turn in front of someone who has the right of way, especially if you are talking on a cell phone. Pay attention.

If I’d been going 3 miles an hour faster or not wearing my seat belt or in a vehicle without airbags, I would not be typing right now.

photos? not today.

Be careful out there. Watch out for the idiots and don’t be one!

Posted in friends, miscellaneous, news, travel, workshops | No Comments »

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