Studio: 3,647 ; Lynn: 3

That's the score. My Studio has clearly won more battles then I have. I'll never forget the day I realized I could use one whole room for just making art.

I celebrated.

I rejoiced.

I moved in like a tornado and thought I was just the luckiest person on the planet.

Then I realized something horrifying...I would have to clean it.

See, as far as I can tell, there does not exist any cleaning fairies. And if they are out there, I need to hunt them down and trap them for myself. Until then, I'm pretty well stuck with the task. And while I don't have a compulsive need to keep things neat as a button, I also can't coexist with a mess that rivals a landfill.

I have learned that its a universal problem for all artists : keeping their workspace clean. That makes me feel a little better about the trainwreck that up until recently was known as my Stuido. I've done a few makeovers trying to tame the beast. The first one was when IKEA first came to town and was actually the thing that spurred me to starting this blog.

The shameful thing that I didn't reveal in that first makeover was that I didn't completely finish it. There was still no way to display artwork and there was also one whole half of the room that I didn't bother to photograph. Don't give me that look, it was a big improvement in and of itself.

The truth was that I just wasn't sure what in the heck to do with it. Its a fairly small space and I feel like I'm becoming more settled into my artwork so I'm getting braver in the things that I will try. Which means more stuff. Which means more mess. Which means the Studio continues to defeat me.

Okay, I'm going to show you these photos but only because if I don't, you won't appreciate just how grand it looks now. After this posting, these pictures will be forever destroyed and I will deny all knowledge of them. Here is what my studio looked like a month ago:



Disgusting, isn't it?

I finally came to the conclusion that the source of the problem was those white evil bowed work tables. I was using the top to store fixtures and containers of stuff and cramming junk underneath them. Which meant I had no idea what was under there and it was too easy to just deny its presence by kicking it under the table.

So I went spelunking and pulled everything out. About half of what was under there either got tossed or given away. I reduced it all down to stuff that I thought I would use. Oh, and don't feel too proud of me, its still a lot of stuff.

I think the Studio whimpered a few times during the process. It realized it was being defeated and since Tom helped me, I had reinforcements this time so there was no denying it. (All hail Tom, without him the battle would have been lost.) I finally finished it up today, I am so happy with it I was giggling like an insane person.

I'm inspired. I'm excited. I'm glad to have order in there. I'm....exhausted.

Here are the after photos. I give you the tamed Studio:



The layout is much better and I'm actually much happier with the work tables I have. Which is weird because I drastically reduced the amount of work surface I had from before but it all feels usable now.

The bin underneath the table on the left is from IKEA's kid section. I had to endure a woman gushing about them as she told me they were a godsend for organizing all her kids junk. I think she wanted to swap kids stories. I opted to not tell her that I was buying them to organize my skull bead and mixed media collection.

And here is a picture of what makes me REALLY happy, my design wall:


Its FULL! Its a small board but it really makes me all warm and fuzzy. (Hey Leann, see your RR block there in the middle? Told you it was safe...)

I'm ready to start working again. I love that I'm surrounded by so much artwork, both my own as well as pieces I've collected along the way. Its my own little slice of heaven.

Will it stay this way? I'm sure it will get messy again, I'd be a dirty liar if I said it wouldn't. But I think I've got a fighting chance at keeping it better under control. Its the best layout I've had so far and the way things are organized is really quite cool.

Let's see if I can skew the score in my favor...

Watch this

Another circle of hell...

I discovered a new circle of hell today: IKEA during the holiday shopping season.

Oh, and don't be fooled, the holiday shopping season has begun. That fact drilled me in the forehead this afternoon as I made a stupid decision to go to there.

See, I thought I was being clever. I needed to return something from my almost-done studio makeover and I specifically waited for today. Thanks to the UAW's creative observance of veteran's day, I had today off. (I am salaried but what the union get off, so do we. And its a complete conincidence that its the friday of deer hunting season opening.) I was also sure I was being extremely smart by going in the early afternoon.

Let me be clear: I went on a weekday, during working hours, BEFORE thanksgiving.

The parking lot was packed. No problem, the weather was decent and I don't mind walking and its really not that unusual for their lot to be full almost all the time. I needed to locate a cart because the stuff I was returning was kind of heavy. I found one in a return coral, grabbed it and as I was walking away, I heard a woman swear at me. I mean, we are talking the F word and the B word. I turned around to look at her and she was giving me the look of death as she stomped away. I had no idea what that was about but as I was walking into the store, I saw her tromping her way toward the same entrance with two kids in tow.

Now let me explain something: I am not psychic and I'm pretty sure I don't appear to be. Had I known she was toting around two tiny human beings I would have let her have the cart and gone looking for another. I think she enjoyed giving me dirty looks too much.

I should have just gone home after that. It pretty much set the tone. I took a number, got in line to return my stuff and took care of that. But not while the gentleman (that term is used loosely) was cussing out the cashier next to me because he didn't have the credit card he used when he made his purchase so he had to take a store credit. Oh the tragedy.

I wanted to pick up some meatballs for a holiday party that I'm hosting soon and the fun continued there. People were bumping into each other left and right, not because it was that crowded but because the new trend for shopping this year seems to be wearing headphones while shopping. Charming.

But this was the best part....ready? At the cash register they had samples of their ginger cookies out. Now, I am not paranoid about much but I don't usually take food samples, especially during flu season. And believe me, its totally justified.

As I was paying for the food, the guy behind me sounded like the host for the plague as he was hacking up a lung. To his credit, he was at least covering his mouth -- with the hands that he then used to reach into the cookie sample tin. He took two pieces but decided after eating the first one that he didn't like it. He said he "didn't want to be wasteful".....so he put the second one back. Thanks typhoid mary. I thought the cashier was going to wretch on the spot.

I was relieved to get the hell out of dodge but then discovered a real treat when I got out to the parking lot. An SUV the size of houston had parked next to me. So close that I could not get my driver side door open. I had to crawl into my car through the passenger side door. Note to the big SUV driver people: if the space looks to small to park in, it IS. Go park somewhere else because the next time this happens, I'm keying your car.

I'm home now but still twitching. I am not stepping foot into a single store until after Christmas. The only exception will be the grocery store because I have to eat. And I have to admit that I am pretty much done with my gift shopping. Don't look at me that way, some years it works out real well and this happened to be one of them. I also have a shortish list so that helps too.

I'm going to go distract myself with my almost-done studio and try to forget the trauma of the day...you've been warned, the insanity has begun....

100 things...

Okay, yesterday's post generated some suggestions on what to write about in the abscence of art. One that I found interesting was: "Make a list of 100 things about yourself." I found this intriguing not because I think I'm fascinating but because I wasn't sure I could come up with 100 things about myself. It took me thinking about it off and on during throughout the day but I did do it.

So I apologize if the prospect of reading 100 factoids about me makes your eyes glaze over but I was pretty impressed that I could come up with that many things. So I figured I'll go ahead and post them since I got 'em.

Here goes:

1. Despite my genetics, I'm allergic to all things pink and girly.

2. My favorite color is orange/red.

3. I love skulls. But only the happy ones. The angry-biker-flames-and-snakes-oozing-out-of-the-eye-sockets creep me out.

4. I'm not a vegetarian but I have serious issues with sucking meat off of bones. I prefer to not see the carnage.

5. I'm an animal lover, all types but especially dogs. Puppies make me gush.

6. Cats make me sneeze if I hang out with them for too long.

7. I am a good cook.

8. I don't like to cook.

9. My favorite type of books/movies are murder mystery/psychological thrillers.

10. I'm terrified of ghosts.

11. Bugs and I manage only to coexist if they choose not to crawl on me. If they do land on me, I will promptly squeal like a little girl and gag as I crush their little bug bodies.

12. I love learning new things.

13. I am a math geek.

14. I design transmissions for a living.

15. I have little patience for people who lack common sense.

16. I hate hot weather. I am white as a fish, have freckles and red hair. I pretty much catch on fire in the sun.

17. My middle name is Marie.

18. I always wanted to be a writer.

19. I haven't worn a dress in ten years. I wore one everyday for twelve years as part of a school uniform and I still have two more years of not wearing them before I am even.

20. I went to twelve years of Catholic school.

21. I am not religious but am spiritual.

22. I would love to visit the catacombs in Paris.

23. I wish I was taller.

24. I have a bad back and it hurts all of the time.

25. I can't effectively use a sewing machine to save my life. I can sew straight lines and some curves but free motion quilting is the kiss of death. Forget about it , move on...

26. I didn't even thread a needle until I was 24.

27. I started doing fiber arts while recovering from backs surgery.

28. Up until #27, I was an obsessed workaholic.

29. I have one older brother.

30. My brother is also an artist. He is a graphic designer and photographer.

31. My dream job would be to work at a zoo and play with animals all day.

32. I prefer the nightime. I don't mind being in the dark, I actually find it soothing.

33. I'm fundamentally very shy.

34. I was a Resident Advisor in an all-girls freshman dorm when I was in university. It sucked.

35. I always read magazines backwards.

36. My favorite type of fiction is historical fiction.

37. I love chubby babies.

38. My biggest weakness is ice cream.

39. I hate fish.

40. I am allergic to the mall and don't go there unless I am under an excrutiating deadline that prevents me from buying said item in a local shop or online. (And I try to buy as much as I can from the local shops. See #41.)

41. I owned a fiber arts store for three years.

42. I am grateful for all the friends I made while the store was open. Without it, I'm not sure I would have found out who I really am.

43. I believe in "Everything happens for a reason."

44. I can't dance. Its not attractive. Don't ask. I won't do it.

45. I can sing pretty good. Especially when the volume on the radio is turned way up and no one else is around to hear.

46. I prefer chaos in my artwork as opposed to order. I feel its more representative of life.

47. I will NOT eat: olives, mushrooms, duck, oysters or alligator. (I tried the last one. Take my word for it, it was disgusting.)

48. I WILL eat: hummus, yogurt, bananas, chicken and pizza.

49. I wish I could convince people that you do not need to eat every part of an animal. Please people, leave the tongue, feet and stomach out of the eating equation.

50. I hate to clean but it drive me nuts when everything is messy. I am the queen of logic.

51. I stand up for what I believe in.

52. I can talk to pretty much anyone. I like meeting new people but see #33, sometimes it can be a problem.

53. I make decisions very quickly. I don't dwell.

54. I've been in love three times in my life.

55. I have a sarcastic sense of humor.

56. I love office supply stores. Post-it-notes and sharpies are the equivalent of crack to me.

57. One of my favorite movies is "Talledega Nights." HEY DRIVER!!!

58. I don't like to watch the news. See #15.

59. I love plants. They are my friends. We happily coexist, they have common sense.

60. I can not understand why people choose to paint wood furniture. They are alien to me.

61. I make a lot of lists. I don't follow them and often loose them after I write stuff down. It just makes me feel better to make them.

62. I think rust is beautiful.

63. I like to take photos of old gravestones. The carvings are amazing.

64. I swear too much. I blame it on the fact that I work with all men. I'm trying to stop.

65. I've been wearing glasses since the third grade. If I don't have them on, you all look like blurry fuzzy blobs.

66. I tried to wear contacts and discovered I have a violent dislike of having things in my eyes, including my own fingers.

67. Although I spend my life trying to package auto parts with a few millimeters of each other, I find it torture to have to make a quilt that exactly measures 20"x24".

68. I have trouble understanding measurements in inches. I am a metric girl.

69. I can NOT tell you which way is north, south, east or west. Don't ask me unless you want my face to turn purple with frustration and you want me to start twitching. I value my friends who have directional sense.

70. I choose what I do based on whether or not I think I can find my way there and back. Its a consequence of #69. Yahoo maps is a godsend.

71. I hate to travel on airplanes. Its like being smashed into a tuna can.

72. I will watch a two and a half hour horror movie and turn it off after two hours and twenty minutes. I have no desire to know how they end because it can't be good.

73. I would love to get a permanent mehndi style tattoo. And yes, they irony of this is not lost on me.

74. I usually end up overcommiting myself because I usually just think about how many hours there are in the day to get stuff done, never taking into account the need for sleep.

75. I'm the type of person that functions best on 12 hours of sleep but I usually only get about 7.

76. I am worthless without coffee. In fact, I've been told that I hand out dirty looks without cause to innocent bystanders before I've had sufficient amounts of it. (I apologize for that.)

77. I type really fast.

78. One of my favorite books of all time is "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. I would have been the daughter that stayed.

79. I have never read any of the Harry Potter books but have seen and adored all of the movies. Reveal anything to me and I will find you and smack you down.

80. I am in love with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. Combine the two and I am a drooling machine.

81. I find it hard to show my artwork. (Again, the whole shy thing.) And prefer to enter shows in other states that I know I can't attend.

82. I collect bobbleheads. I like to tap all of them at once so there is a whole set of jiggly heads bobbing around at once.

83. I am easy to amuse.

84. I collect kokeshi dolls.

85. I collect anything that has to do with Dia de los Muertos.

86. I love graphic novels. Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean are my favorites.

87. Every time I drive by a field that has cows, I roll down the window and make mooing sounds - - even in winter.

88. I may not be a natural redhead...

89. I did yoga before I hurt my back and was a pretty limber pretzel. Now I just do the sit and meditate part.

90. I tried growing a vegetable garden once but developed homicidal urges toward the squirrels living in my area so I decided to not do that again.

91. I can't sleep unless its pitch black in the room.

92. Frida Kahlo is my all time favorite artist.

93. I am an Apple computer girl all the way. Macs rock.

94. I have a pretty decent amount of jewelry but hardly ever wear it.

95. I have a thing for scarves. I love 'em, especially wooly ones.

96. I like to organize things. Its neat. (Pun intended.)

97. Even though I tend to swear more then I should, I use swear words I pick up from the shows on the BBC channel. They don't sound as naughty.

98. I can't swim and I'm scared of large bodies of water.

99. I usually don't tell people when my birthday is. I'm content to let it be a quiet day. (Did I mention I can be shy sometimes?)

100. I never thought there were 100 things about me to write down. Go figure.


If you've read all the way down the list, you get a gold star for perseverance. Now go make you 100 things list! :)

The definition of boring...

...that would be me. I've got absolutely nothing exciting to write about. I'm not doing anything thrilling (I'm pretty sure battling back insane sinus activity due to yet another turn in the weather doesn't count) and I've got no big plans for my long weekend.

Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch-o.

But I've been doing a lot of thinking and here are all the things I'd like to try out doing art-wise:

Linocuts (this one will see reality pretty quickly because I went and visited the university art supply store at lunch time and picked up a couple blocks. Wish me luck that I don't cut of my hand while carving them.)

More knitting.

Spinning with a drop spindle. (I'm still trying to find my groove with this one. I'm beginning to understand why the wheel was invented.)

Some acryllic/mixed media canvas monstrosities. (Not sure what to call them really. Its kind of a cruel name but I think it will basically be doodling run amuck.)

Assemblage. (I have a burning desire to cover everything in rust. I like it. Tom took me to a hobby shop and I bought some paints called "Bone beige", "Scab red" and "Bubonic brown." I can't wait to use them on something so I can say "Why yes, that is a lovely shade of brown. Doesn't it remind you of the plague??" Gotta keep people on their toes...)

Fiber sculpture. (What is that you ask? Not sure. What will it look like? I'd like to know too. I've got wire, I've got fabric strips and I've got this rug weaving thingie to wind it around. Again, this may end up in the monstrosity category but nothing ventured, nothing gained.)

Collages. (I like chaos. Enough said.)

Encaustic painting. (This could be messy. I will have to make sure the westie is safely secured before melting any wax.)

Oh yeah, and in between trying out all this stuff, I still go to work for about ten hours a day and do other domesticated type duties.

No, really, I'm not delusional.

I can tell you that I am commited to finishing up my studio this weekend. The fact that it is so close to being done has turned into a nagging annoyance of epic proportions. What is done looks pretty snazzy. There will be a big celebration posting with tons of pictures (even the tragic "before" shots that I ordinarily wouldn't share but are necessary to make sure you are properly impressed with the makeover) to oogle.

Bear with me, I'll be intersting again soon...

Some art!

I know, I know...its an incredibly creative title but considering the fact that its been a while since I've done a post about artwork it seems appropriate. And now that I've gotten you all excited, I have to admit that its not my art. I collect small fiber art pieces so I thought I would share with you one I just purchased.


I got this in the mail today from Wen Redmond. You may remember her from her extremely cool article in the April/May 2007 issue of Quilting Arts. After her article, "Holographic Memories," I went to her website and drooled...and drooled...and drooled some more.

I finally wrote to her and told her that I would like to purchase a giclee of "Opening", the piece above. She let me know that she would have to create one and set to work on it. Its absolutely wonderful!!! (The colors are much more vibrant in person, go see her website for a better photo. The one she made me is a mini version of the one on her site, measuring about 13"x16".)

Wen is a wonderful artist and she is also really friendly and easy to work with. She was very willing to work with me on the size of the piece and I am extremely excited to hang this in my studio! Go check out her work...and keep some tissue next to your keyboard because its seriously drool-worthy.


And just to prove that I am not a complete slacker, I've been taking a lot of photos lately. I've just posted several on my Flickr page and my mind is working on the different ways I can incorporate these into some collages and art quilts.

Here are two of my new favorites. These are really interesting because the first one is rust from an old Ford pick-up truck and the second one is of bark! Its interesting that they seem to share some of the same characteristics.

Hey, if you know what kind of tree is in the bark picture, leave me a comment. Its the weirdest thing I've ever seen. Go here to see the other two shots I took of it, I'm really curious about it!

Where I Stand Sunday

We had watched this tree over the summer drop its leaves, its branches becoming skinny sticks against the sky. We had hoped our friend would recover. But with autumn's arrival, it became obvious that it would not be able to stand through the winter. I watched it be cut down and hauled away, with only this stump left as a reminder of all the years it had grown on this patch of the earth.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you'd like to join me by posting a photo on Sunday of places you've been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on this post telling me where I can find you/your photo and I'll add a link to my sidebar so others can find you.

Alternatives for the 'P' word

I've come to the conclusion that this time of year breeds inactivity in the artwork sense. At least for me it does and it seems that I am not alone. We are almost at the end of the year and often we view it as almost being across the finish line. Its been a long twelve months, we've worked hard, we managed to survive it. And if you are like me and have Procrastination (for me it gets a capital letter) in the blood, its an excellent excuse to hold off on starting or working on new artwork.

But I got to thinking about the word Procrastination yesterday and I've decided I don't like the negative connotations it has attached to it. I figured I could come up with something better. Being an automotive engineer, I'm surrounded by a form of English that makes your eyes cross. Its called Office-ese and for those of you who are not familiar with it, here are a couple examples:

This is a good opportunity for advancement. What this really means is that the assignment you are getting is crap, no one else wanted it and you will most likely be working unpaid overtime to get it finished by the unrealistic deadline they've given you.

We need to examine the situation and come up with a timeline. The translation of this one is that we are awed by the enormity of how screwed up the project has become and we're starting to twitch because we probably don't have enough time to fix it.

We have the resources and capability to handle the situation. Duck and cover when you hear this one. This means your boss just got his head chewed off in a meeting with his boss because something wasn't done right or on time. You will be suffering the consequences of that meeting.

As you can see from the above examples, there is always a more friendly, if not obscure way, to state things. So I figued it was high time there were some alternatives for those of us who are cursed with Procrastination.

Try these on:

I'm a Planner. Why is it that no one faults a person who calls themselves a planner? These people are basically doing the same thing: they are dwelling on the preparation stage of a situation. Heck, some even get paid for it. I say we Procrastinators claim this one for ourselves.

I'm evaluating potential opportunites in order to properly prioritize my timeline. Okay, this is a classic Office-ese alternative. But it does sound better and if you say it to someone who isn't accustomed to the language, they will be so dumbfounded by it that you will be able to change the subject before they realize what you just said. (Here's another one from my buddy Tom who is also an engineer: "I'm assessing probably permutations before enacting implementation." Makes your eyes water, doesn't it? Imagine sitting through a three hour meeting with that kind of babble going on. Ack.)

I'll get back to work on this when my project stops talking so much, its making so much noise that I can't concentrate. This too is also effective. Often its the opposite problem of the work not speaking enough but we've all had a few projects that just won't shut the hell up until they are finished. Anyone who is not an artist will not understand the idea of inanimate objects speaking so they will most likely just back away slowly and decide that Procrastination is one of your better attributes.

I needed to clean. This one is most excellent because it screams normality. Never mind the fact that you can no longer refer to the dust in your house as dust bunnies since they've long ago morphed into dust cattle. No one needs to know that. And its often important to point out that the cleaning activites rarely extend to the room/space designated as the studio.

So you can see, we don't have to bear the burden of the nasty tag called Procrastination. Its all in how you spin it. Now if you excuse me, I need to go plan something and clean...

Holiday Countdown Reality Check

For those of you who need this...



Its almost here. Quick, hurry. Start shopping, start cleaning the house, start baking. And if you are so inclined, start panicking...

Just consider me your friendly Holiday Countdown Reality Checker...and just for your convience, I've added a scrolling countdown to the sidebar. Enjoy.

I've stalled...

This about sums up what's going on with me art-wise lately.

I go into my almost-done studio and admire it. I look at the fabric and the yarn and the sketches I have. I study the started projects and get ideas on what I want to do next. I even go so far as to pull out that bead or the odd trinket I've been hoarding for a year....and then do
a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g.

It would seem that I've stalled. Its definetly not a block because the ideas keep coming. But I find myself wanting to stew over things rather then actually do them. This has happened before and I remember thinking the same thing as I am now, "I wish someone would just kick me in the butt so I could get going again." (And don't all volunteer at once.)

I've come to the conclusion that our minds and bodies are often smarter then we think. And its probably a good thing that they come equipped with an automatic QUIT button. We spend our lives running in circles all day - going to work, chasing the kids, cleaning off gooey stoves (that one's for you, Leann) and at the end of it all we aren't always intelligent enough to stop and take a break. I'm no exception, I run until I crash and apparently I've crashed.

So I've decided to just hang out until my butt gets that kick (and again, let me remind you that I'm speaking metaphorically, not literally so put your foot back down on the ground). I did go to Office Max today and found some quite cool bulletin boards to put up on my wall in my almost-done studio. That should finish it off and then maybe I'll get motivated to move.

On the other hand, my brother has an exhibit opening in Royal Oak this friday and Jackie and I are going to go tromping through an old cemetery to take pictures and then there are the holiday cookies.....

Where I Stand Sunday

During the York Street Cemetery walking tour on Halloween evening, this larger headstone stood out. Not only because of its size but at the base sits a small marble book with its pages open. There are no carvings on the book and no explanation for why its there. Could it
be that there is a story that hasn't found an ending yet?

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you'd like to join me by posting a photo on Sunday of places you've been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on this post telling me where I can find you/your photo and I'll add a link to my sidebar so others can find you.

Celebrating Dia de los Muertos

It occured to me as I was preparing the photos for this post that there doesn't seem to be much art making going on for me to report about. In fact, I got an email asking where it had gone. No worries, dear reader, it will return soon. But my studio is still being finished up (it was torn apart successfully but is holding a bit of a grudge at the moment and taking longer to put back together then I expected). That combined with the facts that I've been busy with several projects that are finally done and there is just too much fun stuff going on right now that I want to go see has me spending very little time in the studio.

So today's post is not much different in that regard. Leann, Julia and I went downtown Detroit today to Mexicantown for their Dia de los Muertos celebration. If you aren't familiar with this holiday, it is the Mexican tradition of celebrating the lives of loved ones that have passed on. Its a very upbeat holiday and full of artistry that is totally unique and gorgeous. As a result, this post has tons of pictures in it so be sure to let them all load, they are really worth the wait!

Our first stop was to the Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado. This is a relatively new center and I was really impressed with it. They had several offerendas and merchants there.







An offerenda is an altar with a photo of the deceased person and things that they loved as well as food offering. The photo above is of a more elaborate one set up in the Welcome Center.

We also had the extreme pleasure of meeting Hector Tapia Perez. He's a retired art school teacher turned full time artist and the recipient of the 2007 Hispanic Leadership Award from the Michigan Senate. He was really fun to talk to, he had a lot to share. The photo below is of him posed next to one of his gorgeous linocuts.


We had a really nice time at the Welcome Center and then decided to walk around the Mexicantown neighborhood. One of the first things we came across was a small gallery. Unfortunately it wasn't open but I was really digging this metal snake sculpture attached to the outside. (I'm short, hence the angle of the photo. What can I say? You get short people taking pictures, you get photos at weird angles.)



A little farther up the block was this mural painted on the side of a building.


Leann, Julia and I couldn't resist a Where I Stand photo in front of the mural. (Well, to be honest, it was more me whining at them to do it. They thought I was a little weird but they did it and hey, aren't you glad? Julia's foot is on the right and if I hadn't badgered her into doing it, you would have never seen her cool shoe.) We balanced against each other and held up our feet, we didn't want to put our feet on the mural so we just hovered in front of it. Its amazing just how bad my balance is, thank goodness Leann is a steady one!



We went on from there to eat burritos and drink margaritas (my only regret is that I got the small one and yes, Leann, I know it was early afternoon and no, Leann, that doesn't make me a lush). We visited a tortilla factory where we got tortillas that were still warm they were so fresh. A package of 10 fresh flour tortilla for a grand total of 69 cents! They will be used tomorrow night for the enchilada dinner I'm making.

We also shopped at the supermarkets and small gift shops. I bought some fresh made guacamole and chips and some seasoning for the aforementioned enchilada dinner. And of course my skull addiction flared up and I picked up these new friends:


It was a really lovely day. The weather was sweater weather, Mexicantown was busy and it was a really nice way to remember loved ones that are no longer with us.

Tomorrow I start baking holiday cookies and am going to attempt to put the studio back together. Its been long enough now that I've not worked on any projects that I'm beginning to get that twitch. So keep a look out for art related posts soon, won't be long now....

York Street Cemetery Walking Tour

This is York Street Cemetery here in Plymouth, Michigan. I went on a walking tour of it tonight and Leann was right, its not creepy at all. I'm not sure if its because so many of the grave stones are missing or if its just a peaceful spot. The guide did tell us tonight that they aren't completely certain how many people are buried here because at one time it was "fashionable" to take the grave stones from the cemetery and put them in your garden. So a lot have been stolen. Which, to be honest, I think is quite rude.

But what is left there is fascinating to look at. There are several that have the most beautiful carvings on it. Which, the fact that they have lasted so long is amazing in and of itself. This cemetery dates back to the 1800s. In fact, the most "recent" date I could find on one was for 1914.

Here is one that I thought was particularly beautiful.

The inscriptions are just as interesting. If you want to know Emma's last name, you have to read farther down her stone to find the name of her husband. And it also states that she was "Aged: 30 years" at the time of her death.

Below is a detail of the hand carving on her stone:

Its really quite beautiful and in remarkably good shape. I'm not sure what type of stone it is but Emma's death is dated to the 1800s. So it certainly wears well!

And of course what good would a cemetery be without some overgrowth to add to the ambiance?


Below is a photo of one of the stones laying on the ground, there are several like these. I'm not really sure if they were standing at some point and then fell over or if they started out laying down. But the ones that are resting that way are sinking into the grass. Its a strong testament to how long they've been around.


I took more photos then this but didn't want to upload them all in one post. If you'd like to see more, you can visit my Flickr site. Flickr didn't let me load them in them in the order I would have liked but what can you do? Technology can be a pain sometimes.

I found the carvings so interesting that I'm going to try to locate more old graveyards. I know of one not too far away. It could become a new hobby...

I also got a most awesome shot for this week's Where I Stand Sunday post so be sure to check back to see it.

Happy Halloween!

I love today, Halloween is my favorite time of year. There are several reasons:

• Daylight Savings time is over, which means I get to sleep for an extra hour.

• The weather is cooling off but its still warm enough that I can get by with a sweater.

• The year is winding down and it just feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel, particularly if its been a difficult twelve months.

• Halloween = candy (and let's face it, you can't get gummy eyeballs any other time of the year so the candy alone is worth it)

I've chosen to celebrate this halloween by going on a cemetary tour this evening. Those of you who know me know that this takes a large amount of courage on my part. I am openly and admittedly a complete sissy when it comes to the subject of ghosts. (I believe in them completely and don't mind them being around - so long as I never have to see one or be touched by one.) So it makes sense that I would visit a cemetary on halloween, right?

Its an old cemetary, we're talking 1800s so the gravestones are really cool. Leann has been there and her photos are awesome so now I want to go see them. I like old gravestones, quit looking at me weird.

The catch is that you can't get into this cemetary unless you are on a walking tour with the Plymouth Historical Society. I missed the last one and when I saw that they were doing one for tonight, I figured I would pull up my big girl pants and go.

I think I'll be okay against the ghosts. There will be a large group of us, it will still be daylight when we are there and I've muttered some voodoo protection spells. Hopefully I don't get sucked into the ground or possesed by something evil...wish me luck!

Where I Stand Sunday

Michigan is trading in summer for autumn. The weather is growing cold, its raining and the leaves have become victims of gravity. It won't be long before my blacktop driveway is covered in ice rather then spotted with leaves.

Welcome to my new little project: Where I Stand Sunday. I've long been admiring the photos people take when they go on trips of their feet standing on new soil, an interesting walkway, a special building.

And I got to thinking that we often give little thought to the ground that we tread on every day. So I've decided to start paying attention. Its keeping in line with what I said in my Blog Action Day post, "I plan to spend more time stopping and looking at nature around me. Its time we all spent more time living in our environment rather then just on top of it."

Each Sunday I will post a photo of someplace I stood. Beneath the photo will be an explanation of where I was standing and why I chose to take a photo of that particular spot. Odds are it won't be anywhere exotic but the point is to stop and really pay attention to where I live, where I spend my life standing.

I invite you to join me in doing this. I think you'll be surprised at how much you take for granted once you stop and look around at the places you spend each day of your life in. If you would like to join me in posting a photo (on your blog, on your photo site, on your website), leave me a comment on this post where I can find it and I will start a blogroll on my sidebar so other people can find you as well!

Have you fulfilled your yearly quota?

I have come to believe that spinners and knitters have a secret requirement: to convert non-knitters and non-spinners into obsessed lunatics over fleece and yarn. I believe they have to convert a certain number of people each year in order for them to maintain their status as spinners and knitters.

I've asked a couple of them about this and they laugh and say there is no such thing. But there is always a smirk on their faces so I think they are nothing but dirty liars.

I've been sucked into yet another type of fiber art. (Remember my fiber arts ADD issue? It doesn't appear to be improving.) I tell you, its like a freakin' tractor beam. And when you get down to it, I'm becoming enamored with some poor animals hair. (I like wool. Recite it with me: "Prrrrrrrreeeeetttttyyyyyy wool." Now give it a pat. That's it. Now back away, that one's mine...) Its kind of an odd thing.

And of course you'd think that I would make some effort to save myself. But nooooooooooo, I go to places like this.



Confused? Yeah, I kind of was too. Nothing says knitting like a side of firearms. But I swear, I went to the fiber expo. Here's a photo of it to prove it:


This was out in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was the First Annual Fiber Expo held at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. And it was pretty cool. There were lots of yarn to drool over and I even got to make some new friends.




They seemed to be checking my hands for shearing scissors. Suspicous little buggers. I picked up two skeins of handspun yarn while I was there (wool yarn...see? My new furry friends had nothing to worry about..) and am looking forward to trying out a couple new patterns I've been admiring. I'm loving it and I know just who to blame for this new obsession...

I blame Leann for showing me I could make yarn with a drop spindle. I blame Sylvia for showing me how easy it is to knit and purl. I blame Kate for being the fiber goddess that she is and knitting dolls that she spins her own yarn for. Here's some of her dolls to prove my point about her goddess status:


And I blame every single knitter I've come across that says, "Oh, have you tried this yet?" which usually results in me getting twitchy with the realization that there is still so much for me to learn.

I have been focused on knitting scarves so far. Why only scarves you ask? That's pretty simple: because they don't care if you are fat or skinny. I can loose five pounds (or gain twenty) and the scarf will still fit. If I ever reach a point where I've gained so much weight that my scarves won't fit anymore, I'll know I'm in big trouble.

Plus there are about a billion scarf patterns out there that touch on about a trillion different techniques. The odds of me getting bored with scarves are slim.

Before you go trying to convince me that I should try knitting a sweater, let me assure you that I've already thought it through. If I spent a year knitting a sweater (I'm a slow knitter, give me a break, I'm just starting out here...) and it didn't fit because I'd gained or lost weight, I'd really resent that chunk of wool. I'd give it dirty looks every time I opened the closet. Which would probably drive me to the conclusion that I should just give it away at which point I would just give the dirty looks to the person who could wear it. Its not a pretty situation so I'm going to just head it off before it even happens.

I do admit that I am itching to learn how to knit socks and I have purchased lace yarn for a very pretty stole pattern. I had attempted to buy the lace yarn at a store and was met with resistance. The "helpful" woman there insisted (in a pretty condescending tone, she's obviously met her quota for the year) that since I was kind of new to knitting that I should practice on big yarn and leave the dainty yarn alone for now. I tried to explain to her that I'm a tatter so I'm not afraid of no stinkin' lace yarn. But she wasn't buying it - so neither did I. Instead I went on etsy and purchased this lovely yarn. I've started the stole and its slow going but it'll be beautiful when its done.

I'm reading books by the Yarn Harlot and tagging knitting books on my Wish List on Amazon.com and starting to wonder just how much fiber goodness I've been missing out on all these years. I'm feeling drunk with all the new learning possibilities. You win! I've been converted! I'll keep going! I'll learn new stuff, I'll pass it on! I'll admire knitting and spinning and weaving with a new found respect!

STOP! I BEG YOU! (But please don't try too hard, okay? I kind of like it...)

What would you take?

So a couple of my co-workers today were discussing the fires in California this morning. I've been glued to the news since they started, I'm feeling really terrible about it. I think what floors me the most is that they believe some of the fires were started by arsonists. What buttheads. (I have stronger words but this a PG-13 blog so I will refrain.)

I just can't imagine the horror of being faced with something like this but knowing that someone started the whole mess deliberately? Some people are just not right.

The conversation here at work today turned toward the subject of "What would you take with you if you had to evacuate?" So I got to thinking about it. We're talking about material possessions for the purpose of this conversation. Past the obvious of humans, pets, important papers, photographs, etc...

I've been working on paring things down for some time. Mostly because I've had a really insane hectic life for the past few years that has generated a hideous backlog of junk that mocks me every chance it gets. But don't worry, I've purchased the trash bags and there will be no mercy, the carnage cleaning begins today after I get off work. In fact, I'm even taking half a day vacation to get a kick start on it. MUAHAHAHAHAH!!!

Sorry, got sidetracked there...back to the conversation at hand. So if you had already packed up all the important stuff and still had room to toss in some trivial items, what would you take, dear reader?

I had to think long and hard about it. I look around at the stuff I have and the first thing that comes to mind is: "This can all be replaced." But then I feel a small twinge and start to think that I would probably take at least these things if I could:

• A couple completed art quilts. I tend to work small, I could roll them up and stuff them in a tote bag. These represent periods in my life and I can gauge my personal history in them so to me, they are almost as important as the family photographs.

• My laptop and digital camera. Its got everything on there and again, its dinky so it too won't take up much space.

• Some yarn and knitting needles. If I'm going somewhere where I know I will have to wait and be a nervous wreck while I wait to find out if fire has eaten my house and all my belongings, I'm going to keep my hands busy so that I dont' go completely insane. Its how I deal with stress.

• A journal. Nothing like written therapy.

Other then that, I'd be willing to leave the rest of it behind. And that was a shocking realization to me but its true.

So now I'm wondering, what would you take?

My heart really does go out to all the people in California. My thoughts are with you all and I hope you are managing as well as you can. Be safe and be well. {{hugs}}

My Favorite Girly Art

Not too long ago, I posted a message on the Quilt Art list and mentioned that I am a tatter and that I taught it for the three years that my store, Lost Arts Stitchery, was open.

I got tons of email about it, some excited, some nostalgic...and some asking me just how many tattoos I had and what did that have to do with fiber art? So I thought tonight, dear reader, I would talk to you about the fiber art that my friends say proves I am a girl: tatting.

Tatting is a form of lacemaking that dates back to the 1800s. I say it proves I am a girl because its incredibly dainty and delicate, which is not always the first type of fiber art I am attracted to. (Hey you...quit that snickering...) But I do like it a lot, its really interesting and there are seemingly endless applications for it.

(This is one of my favorite books from Dover. They have lots of tatting pattern books.)

Its used for all kinds of things. Doilies, edging on pillows, edging on cuffs, purses (both the whole thing as well as edging), tablecloths, bracelets, earrings, Christmas tree ornaments, decorations for handmade greeting cards, embellishments on crazy quilts (which is what I used it for) and probably way more then I could ever possibly think of.

And there are two ways to do it: using a shuttle or using a blunt tipped needle. Shuttle tatting is the traditional tool, which is what I use and teach. And I should mention that if you choose to do needle tatting, you need to buy multiple sizes of needles depending on the size of the yarn. With the shuttle, one size fits all.

This is a shuttle.



These are needles.

One woman who wrote to me after I posted to the Quilt Art list asked how she could go about learning it. I have to say that even with all I know about it, I read some of the books out there and feel like I've never picked up a shuttle before. So, in my opinion, shuttle tatting is really hard to learn from a book. Note that I said hard, not impossible.

However, I have been told that there is a really good book for learning needle tatting called Learn Needle Tatting-Step By Step by Barbara Foster. Many semi-homicidal wanna-be tatters have found redemption in needle tatting after trying to learn it on a shuttle. Plus this site, Handy Hands tatting, has online instruction about the technique. I've personally never done needle tatting but if you've not had an easy time learning shuttle tatting, you may want to give it a go. Plus if you have arthritis in your hands, I've also been told needle tatting is easier.

For those of you more like myself - determined to torture yourself into learning it the traditional way - there is help. Handy Hands also offers videos for shuttle tatters. I can't really endorse these because I've not seen them but I can tell you that in the three years of teaching people to tat, all my students caught on. This is clearly an art easier learned by seeing someone else do it.

But if you are on your own with no human to show you how to do it and determined to learn, you should know that there are about a billion resources on the web. Well, maybe not that many, I didn't count them all. But I did google "tatting" and about went cross eyed looking through all the hits.

This is one of my favorite sites for learning shuttle tatting. Its from Carrie Carlson and I think its exceptionally clearly written. Plus she has instructions for both left and right handed people, which is near impossible to find. (Oh, here's a good tip. I am right handed but successfully taught left handed people to tat many times. If you are left handed but your teacher is right handed, sit across the table from them. You'll be looking at a mirror image of their hands and its easier to pick up.)

Here's how I taught my class and what I recommend for beginners:

• Keep in mind that tatting is all based on one stitch called The Double Stitch, which is nothing more then a set of two slip knots. Learn that and you are good to go. So stay calm and concentrate on conquering that stitch into submission.

• I had my own instructions for my class but I can't locate them. I suggest printing out Carrie's instructions. They are good, trust me.

• Start with big thread. The bigger the number, the smaller the thread. So start with a size 10 thread. Yeah, yeah, I know 80 is the bigger number but its dinky thread and you'll be cursing in no time flat.

• Use two colors of thread, its easier to learn how to flip the knot. Carrie's instructions are easy to follow because she uses two colors to demonstrate what to do.

• I like plastic shuttles, like these from Clover. They do make a somewhat annoying clicking sound when you are using them that always solicits dirty looks from my dog but hey, sometimes the loved ones have to suffer for our art. They'll get over it.

• Start by learning the chain first. Your objective when you start is to learn the double stitch and the chain is easier to learn first. Then become a contortionist and learn the ring. (Which Carrie shows under her First Half of Stitch and Second Half of Stitch sections.)

• Oh yeah...remember to breathe....and take breaks if you are feeling frustrated.

• And PRACTICE. This is not an instant "I get it!" thing that only takes 30 seconds. And if you do get it right away (to which I congratulate you!!!) and there are other new tatters around you, you may want to consider celebrating on the inside for the moment. New tatters are sometimes disgruntled.

I would really encourage you to give it a try if you are interested in it. Too often people psyche themselves out into thinking its too hard. Its really not. Especially if you are a knitter or crocheter. I do those too and I'm tellin' ya, I'm not buying the "Tatting is too hard" when you already turn string/thread/yarn into various types of knots.

I'll help ya as much as I can if you get stuck. And definetly do an internet search for "tatting." There is TONS out there!!!

Most excellent time wasters

Okay, I admit it...I like these silly little quiz things at Blogthings. And usually I do them, chuckle like an idiot and move on. Its one of those secret little addictions I have that are nothing more then fun time wasters.

But seeing how I adore the autumn and Halloween is my ultimate favorite time of year, I had to share with you the results from their new Halloween quizzes.

What kind of Candy am I?

Butterfinger

They call you sticky fingers for a reason!

What Kind of Candy Are You?

What is my Monster name?

Your Monster Profile

Blood Thirsty Butcher You Feast On: Fried Twinkies You Lurk Around In: Public Restrooms You Especially Like to Torment: Priests

What's Your Monster Name?

And one more: What is my pumpkin face?

You Are

A Classic Pumpkin Face You would make a good pumpkin pie.

What's Your Pumpkin Face?

Go give it a go. Its a nice mind numbing way to spend fifteen minutes of your life. And let's face it, a little mind numbing is in order every once in a while...

So you want to curate an exhibit?

I spent the weekend turning this:

into this:

If this doesn't excite you, then you are far too difficult to impress.

This is all the work from Breaking Traditions. I discovered a new love over the past couple of years: curating exhibits. It appeals to my obsessive Virgo personality (that I think is slightly dysfunctional because the rest of my life is never as organized as my exhibits are).

I love working with artists. I love getting to interact with their artwork on a personal level. Its very humbling to have someone mail you something that came from their creative soul, its like they are mailing you their first-born. (And no, don't start leaving babies on my doorstep. The quilts don't need to be fed and don't poop all over the place so I much prefer those, thank you very much.)

I had the opportunity to participate in an conference call with a SAQA region that is putting together their first regional show. They had specific questions and I answered them and it felt like a productive phone call. After I hung up the phone, I had a twitchy feeling - kind of like I'd left the house without any pants on. I realized that for everything I had told them, I hadn't even scratched the tip of the iceberg. I'd left out billions of tiny details and I kind of panicked.

So my plan was to do a write up of all the steps and email that to them so it would be like I was there helping them along. I started it three days ago...I'm up to eight pages...and I'm not done yet.

The honest to God truth is that as I wrote it, I started to really question my sanity. Why is this something that I love so dearly? Why do I feel like I've conquered the world when I plan and execute an exhibit? Its still not clear but I do know that if I would jump at the chance to do it for a living.

I do plan to finish my write up of what goes into it. I'd like to post it on my website so that others can reference it when they feel like giving curating a go. But I thought maybe I would post a few things (some of which are a little funny) here just to give you a taste of what is involved.

What Curating an Exhibit Isn't
(otherwise known as "The Delusions that need to be
Destroyed for New Curators" - and trust me, that included me when I first started)

• Curating is not for the weak of heart. Planning and executing a successful exhibit usually takes around a year. If you try to do it in a tight time frame (like a couple months), you'll end up in a corner muttering to yourself. Don't do it, it won't work, take it from the rest of us who have been there and were crazy enough to try it. Keep that part of your sanity in tact.

• If you don't have even a tiny touch of OCD, develop it for at least the course of the exhibit. You need to be hyper-organized. Spreadsheets are your best friend and you will begin giving your spreadsheet software little pet names like "honey-bunny" and "sally."

• You will, at some point of the execution of the exhibit, begin to wonder if you are a sociological experiment for how much stress one human being can absorb before exploding. Just breathe and bravely soldier on, it will all work out in the end.

• For the love of all things holy, label the boxes that come from UPS and FedEx with the name of the artist as soon as you unpack the artwork. The evil S.O.B.s at these shippers often only list their store as the return address. Unless the artists lives in the UPS or FedEx store, you will be playing "match-the-box-with-the-artwork" game because the artist's address may not even match the city in which it was mailed.

• Be flexible. If something in your plan is not working out, don't dwell on it. Find another solution and move on. Quickly now, before the Schedule flattens like you like a bus.

Now that's just a taste of some of the stress, uh, I mean excitement. I can see you, you know. I see you with the scrunched up forehead and squinted eyes muttering, "She's clearly not right in the head. Why would I bother?" Here's why:

What Curating an Exhibit Is
(otherwise known as "Why the Heck I Do this to Myself")

• Curating connects you to other artists in a way that no other activity can. How many exhibits have you been to and you've walked through them fairly quickly, only glancing at the work? When you handle and hang the artwork, you really look at it and get to know it first hand.

• Its F U N. I know it didn't sound like it from the points above but it really is. Because when people send work in for your exhibit, they are telling you that they share your vision. They understand the exhibit's purpose and they want to join you in standing up and speaking with their art.

• You really learn a lot about different styles of artwork. Its fascinating because it seems like you are looking at your chosen medium with a new set of eyeballs and you wouldn't believe just how endless the creativity of fiber artists is.

• You learn about how you can improve your own artwork. I learned some really cool tips on packing my art quilts from seeing how others have done it. I know what type of hanging rods are easy to ship and which ones should be avoided. I also learned the things that I can do it make it easier for the shows I ship to.

I really do encourage everyone to give curating an exhibit a try if you think you would like to do it. But don't enter into it lightly. You are making a commitment in terms of your time and be prepared to do a substantial part of the labor if you aren't going solo on it, in which case you will do 99% of it yourself. If you agree to co-curate an exhibit, follow through and do the work, never expect the other person to do all the heavy lifting.

Also understand that you are making a commitment to the artists that are sending you their work. Tread carefully and respectfully of that fact. Because all artwork - whatever the style, the topic, the medium - is to be treated like it was your own when you curate.

Go on, give it a go. I'll be here to listen when you realize at 2am the night before hanging that you forgot to print up the labels for the work or spent an hour trying to figure out which box goes with which quilt. (I'm sure that it was shipped by FedEx or UPS, I tell you , they are out to get us.) Its all good.

What can $25 do?

"Boundary Waters" photo by Virginia Spiegel

I'd like you to consider a question for me today, dear reader: What can you buy with $25?

Several things come to mind:

• a new DVD movie
• a yard of hand dyed fabric
• a couple skeins of yarn
• a nice meal at a restaurant
• specialty coffee drinks for a week

NOW consider what $25 can do when its donated to the American Cancer Society:

• Fund research for new treatments to not only extend but IMPROVE the quality of LIFE

• Fund programs to HELP patients and their families COPE with the effects of cancer

• Give HOPE to patients and families when they need it most to keep going

We've all heard these points before. We are so bombarded with requests for money from charities and companies wanting to us to buy their products that its easy to glaze over them. But go back and really read what that money can do. And imagine if you were the patient or the one supporting your mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife, friend. Those items would help define your world and touch your life in a truly profound way.

And what's even more impressive about that small amount of money, is that we as artists have been handed a unique opportunity to not only donate it to help others, but to get something in return.

You've read posts from me before about Virginia Spiegel and the project she leads to support the American Cancer Society, Fiberart for a Cause. And you'll continue to read posts about it from me until I'm blue in the face. And here is why:

Virginia continues to put together fundraising efforts for the ACS with absolutely no compensation to herself . She does a tremendous amount of work coming up with new and exciting things to encourage us to donate. And when it comes right down to it, she's giving it away in order to gain donations. You've heard of paying it forward, right? Well, she has made it easy for all of us to exercise this by doing nothing more then clicking on a button and making a donation.

Virginia's latest fundraising effort is her e-book. Its truly a treat. It contains her essays and poems and photos. There is so much to read and she continues to add new items to it. When have you ever bought a book and had it updated with new content before?

I really encourage you to get her e-book. I've spent a lot of time reading each section and her writing really commands your attention and draws you into her life. The whole thing is very personal and inspirational and like nothing I've ever read before. The quality of photos and writing is outstanding.

"Wren" photo by Virginia Spiegel

I know I personally think nothing of buying a book for my fiber arts library for inspiration only and often pay far more then $25 for it. Virginia's e-book is doing double duty by speaking to us as a fellow artist and changing the lives of people who are battling cancer.

And if you still aren't sure you want to make the donation for the book, Virginia even has a sample chapter posted so you can check it out. I encourage you to give more then the $25 minimum donation she is asking for this treasure if you are able to. Not only are you receiving a beautiful piece of written work for it, you are helping to make the lives of cancer patients and their families a little bit better.

Now you tell me: what is better to spend $25 on?