A Little Catchin' Up

I have been feeling sooooooooo gooooooood that I've been overly productive and haven't had time to post on the blog! So, I really cannot complain! Hope you are really living life too!

I had two most pleasant surprises last week. The first was a long and newsy email from my long lost friend Diane! She is totally responsible for my introduction into fabric dyeing, and silk dyeing in particular! I owe ALL of my happiness to this woman! We've taken a couple of classes together, and when she is not too busy in her hectic life, we email. So, it was GREAT to hear from her. She said that I should expect a package, so this was the second very pleasant surprise:

The lovely hand-knitted bag on the left is chock full of lavender.....and now that my sense of smell is returning, I can totally enjoy it! Diane is an incredible knitter, as you can well see!

On the right is this lovely skein of yarn:

If you look closely, you'll see that it's called Tofutsies and it's 50% Superwash wool, 25% Soysilk Fibers, 22.5% Cotton and 2.5% Chitin (fiber from shrimp and crab shells...it's naturally antibacterial!). I'm very excited about this new yarn and I've already picked out a pattern - it's called Peppermint Twist and here's how it looks in the little demo:

Thanks Diane....thanks for everything!!!

Well, I think "Pieces of Grace" is finally finished:

I've beaded, foiled, painted, quilted, etc. Here are a couple of detail shots:


I may have to put some gold on the cornerstone buttons....just to jazz them up a bit!

With the reno of my sinuses, I also added some new specs AND a new 'do'!

The heat and humidity had about done me in, so here's a rather unflattering photo of the new and much improved MOI! It's so nice to get up in the morning, take a dip in the pool, go for a long walk with Barker, take another dip in the pool, do some dyeing, take another dip in the pool...........you get the picture! With this do, all I do is shake and walk away! LOL

PEACE!!!

A Few Things

Since returning home from the Surface Design Conference in KC, I've been having a blast simply playing with techniques that I learned in class with Kerr Grabowski or heard about in lectures, primarily with Jane Dunnewold. It's great fun, and I'd like to share a few of my results with you.

This is a silk crepe de chine scarf, with about three layers of deconstructed screen printing, monoprinting and soy waxing. I think I'll call it Hydrangea.



Here's another monoprinted and soy wax resisted silk crepe de chine scarf:

I am planning to do a bit of foiling on both of the above.

This is a piece of muslin that has three layers of soy wax resist on it. It was a very fun piece to create, and I'm hoping that I have enough fabric to make myself a little sleeveless tank top for these hot summer days.

and this is one of my faves:
I was using a technique that Melanie Testa described in her book: soda soaked fabric with leaves painted on with a tjanting and then dye painted, more dye added with an extruder, monoprinting and finally some crackled soy wax. I really love this piece!

Here is an update on the soy silk fusion piece that I am beading in my spare time.

That's it for today! Hope your day is lovely!

PEACE!!!

The Date: A Retrospective

Yesterday started out most innocently with a morning Barker walk in Midtown and an invitation to breakfast at the new NooN on the ground floor of 1010Midtown. Since we would have Barker with us, and there is no outside seating offered, we decided in advance to get takeout and sit in the lovely gardens of the Federal Reserve Building, which is about a half block away. It was warm, but there is always a marvelous breeze blowing down Peachtree....and our warm baguettes of proscuitto, parmesan and butter accompanied by iced coffee were to die for! YUMMMM

After a very light lunch, we walked up to the High to see the new and of course stunning Monet exhibit, plus the accompanying and complimentary Richard Misrach digital photography show. The other current exhibit at the High is Evolution: Five Decades of Printmaking by David C. Driskell.



I was in heaven!!! I could have spent ALL afternoon there, just admiring Mr. Driskell's work and also attempting to figure out his layering process for each piece! You can hear Driskell describe a couple of his woodblock prints here. I tried in vain to find a pic of his "Jonah in the Whale" 1967 which was one of my all-time faves, but it was nowhere to be found on the net. Maybe you can find it....if so, please leave a comment and let us all know! In the meantime, I'll share these pics with you:

Temptation in the Garden, 1999

The Herbalist, 1999

The Jester, 1999

I dawdled just as long as I could, soaking up every last little bit of Driskell's marvelous prints, and then we hurried back to the condo, taking Barker for a quick walk, and then meeting up with our friends Dee and Bill, to take in Every Little Step at Midtown Arts. What a great documentary!!! C and I had seen A Chorus Line in Miami Beach during its original run. Was it at the Theater of the Performing Arts? We can't remember! Anyway, I do recall how captivated I was by the story, the Marvin Hamlisch tunes, and the dancing. Wow: could they kick! Dee and Bill have not seen A Chorus Line, but they were as enthralled as we were by the movie. So, it comes highly recommended!!!

Then we headed to Apres Diem for a glass of wine, and on to Nam for a sumptuous dinner. We began with the seafood net spring rolls and the traditional Vietnamese spring rolls, and then Dee and I ordered the Flounder special, while Bill had the short ribs, and C ordered the Shaking Tuna. We all came away very happy! We enjoyed spending time with our 'condo friends' as we don't often have the opportunity to get together, and we all obviously enjoy one another's company.

So yesterday was a fun, fun day! I have spent several hours this afternoon dyeing in the studio. It is very hot and humid: great batching weather, and I am taking advantage of the gifts of Mother Nature! I hope to have a few pics to show in the next day or two!

Enjoy!

PEACE!!!

Desert Blooms and More

Remember this cute little succulent that I bought a few months ago? It was just a little something to keep my aloe and orchid company on the condo patio.


Well, look at it now!

I love things that thrive on neglect, don't you?

Here are some first results from my deconstructed screen printing escapades here at home.


For those of you who were in Kansas City for the SD Conference, if you thought it was humid there, think again! I have had to personalize our print paste recipe, omitting all urea and increasing the alginate. It's still not perfect, but I'm getting there! So, I suspect I will have much more vivid screen prints once the recipe is suitable for this very humid climate!

Below is a portion of a tank top that I have been tinkering with for about a year now!

I had been playing around with reds and pinks (definitely not me!) and then discharging with added turquoise dye. It just didn't send me, so I hung it on the rack in the studio, where it frustrated me every time I glanced over at it! LOL So the other day I decided to fix it once and for all............I dumped it into the soda soak and then into a combo of greens that I had mixed up for an order a few months back. It now goes beautifully both with my hair AND my turquoise linen slacks! WooHoo!!! I'd like to say that I planned it that way, but aren't those happy accidents fun!

Enjoy your weekend!!!

PEACE!!!

With A Little Help From My Friends!

Things are looking lots better on this front! YAY!! I hope life is good for you too, wherever you may be!

This is a fiber post, 'With a little help from my friends'! Actually, today was the first day that I've even felt like going out to the studio....so you know how lousy I was feeling and how much better I feel now! I think three hours of anesthesia just really did me in, because my nose has not hurt very much.

Here is a very lovely piece of shibori that my blogger bud Gerrie surprised me with for my birthday while we were out in KC. That Gerrie sure does have a hand for dyeing, not to mention registering an entire Surface Design Association conference!


The next two wonderful pieces arrived in our mailbox a week or so ago from my very talented mixed media friend Elizabeth. This first pic really shows the elements that Elizabeth was rusting. (Elizabeth is even more of a dumpster diver than I am....now Elizabeth, don't you deny it! LOL)


and look at this gorgeous piece of sunprinted fabric that she included:

I wanted you also to see the lovely ribbon that she wrapped all of the goodies in....so coordinated!

This last piece of Dupioni silk arrived yesterday from my new friend Deborah in SoCal:

We were classmates in Kerr's Deconstructed Screen Printing class at the SDA conference. I had run out of muslin so I asked Deborah if I could borrow a piece from her, and I would replace it later. Well, time got away from me, as it often does, and I didn't find an opportunity to buy her some muslin at the school store, so I tore off a hunk of Dupioni that I hadn't used and gave it to her with the specification that she send me a picture of how she used it. Well, better yet, she played with it and then sent half to me and kept half! I could easily frame this piece as is (there is a lot that the picture doesn't show, including foiling) but I'm trying to think of a fun way to really use it...any ideas?

Thanks again to all of you for your packages, cards, private email wishes, etc. As I said above, I think the anesthesia is both the best and the worst part of this procedure. My Anesthesiologist had me flying for a good 24 hours post op...as many of you will recall....but then the 3 hour procedure just left my body weak. It's behind me now, and I won't discuss it again: PROMISE!

PEACE!!!

The RollerCoaster Ride

I seem to recall that Day 2 Post Op is not pleasant, then Day 4 comes back and hits you upside the head just when you think you are really feeling good. Is that right? Does anybody remember? Anyway, today started out fine, with us walking Barker throughout our Midtown neighborhood and then stopping at Starbucks for coffee, pastries and the New York Times. Then I got really, really tired and sort of achey. I think I just overdid it, because after a wonderfully luxurious 3 hour nap, I'm fine! I am laying low however. We are off to see a play at the Horizon Theater, and then out to dinner.

Here is the soy silk fusion piece I've been beading. Unfortunately, I left the beads at home and brought the piece to Atlanta! ARGH!!!


I'm participating in Melanie Testa's Inspired to Quilt Video Prompt exercises. One of the lessons involves drawing with the non dominant hand. I've never allowed myself to take the time to draw, so actually, there isn't a lot of difference between my non dominant hand (background in reds)
and my dominant hand! LOL
I do have my sketchbook here with me, and my Pelikan watercolors, so it's nice to just kick back and do a bit of doodling.

You can now find me on Facebook at "JudyintheDyes"....what else?

Hope you're having a great weekend!

PEACE

Smelling the Flowers

Today dawned another new and yet better morning! After a quick shower, I took a nice long walk around our pool patio garden. I was thrilled to actually smell a gardenia!

It's been years since I've enjoyed their scent!

My Echinacea is just beginning to peak:

I'm feeling lucky that I've got several white Echinacea seedlings in my garden this year.

I particularly enjoy the spent clematis blossoms:

Surprisingly enough, several of my Nikko Blues are blooming pink this year. C says that Barker has had something to do with that!

This Hydrangea (below) dates back to Kristin's high school days in the Key Club (a banquet table decoration). I was sentimental enough to take cuttings from our last house and start them here at this house. I am happy to report that their blossoms are very similar to those of my Nana's hydrangeas: such a sweet memory!

Money Plant: another sweet memory of my Nana! I love how the seed pods and leaves are turning a bit red/violet with a hint of chartreuse.

I spent a good part of this morning just vegging: watching "The Secret Life of Bees" and beading on a soy silk fusion piece that I started several years ago. Thanks again for all of your well wishes. I can't tell you how much it means to me! I'm doing really well....and even breathing through my nose on occasion!

PEACE!!!

Today

Anesthesia is like a fickle lover: it leads you on and then it dumps you! I was riding high until mid afternoon yesterday and then plummeted into the bowels of hell. Well, not quite that bad, but it wasn't pretty and I'm happy to say that I've reemerged, feeling better. Tomorrow will be a new and even better day, I'm sure of it! Thanks to you all for your wonderfully supportive emails. They have really, really helped!

Belle Armoire arrived today to keep me company with loads of ideas and lots of eye candy. I love this Vogue Jacket by Jane B. Houck:


sorry, but Blogger was at it again: you'll have to turn either your monitor or your head to view these images right side up.

I snapped these pics on my diningroom table and was intrigued by how similar the color scheme of the jacket is with that of the table runner I dyed a couple of years ago.

A few weeks back, I showed the next pic and asked your opinion on how I could improve "Pieces of Grace".
Here is what I've done thus far:

I created a freezer paper stencil of a cross and then used Shiva paint sticks to add the gold color. It still didn't seem like enough, so I couched golden yellow perle cotton with metallic gold thread over the edges of the cross. I had intended to bead the edges of the quiltlet yesterday, but decided that I needed to get some better beads. I haven't attached the yellow perle cotton yet, but I am thinking that I may do so rather loosely along the rusted tin.

Hope you've had a great day!

Cheers!

Three Little Birds

Thanks to everyone who left such wonderful words of encouragement concerning my sinus surgery. It went sooooo well, and I felt your healing hands! Michael, my neighbor-surgeon, had scheduled my case for two hours, but he said that I was so 'gunked up' (my term, not his!) that it took 3 hours! YIKES!!!!! No wonder I sounded so horrible and felt pretty yucky most of the time too! C has been a most indulgent and caring nursemaid, and I know I'm going to owe him big time! Boy I hate being in debt to that guy! LOL Anyway, I was a bit wobbly and not feeling 100% when I first got home, so I opted for bed, but soon was asking for my cell and my laptop. But we have no wifi in the bedroom (my bad!). He also brought me my ipod, so I cranked up Solitaire and some Bob Marley. The first tune that I heard was "Three Little Birds"..........and oh so appropriate:

Rise up this mornin’

Smile with the risin’ sun

Three little birds

Sits by my door step

Singin’ sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true

Sayin’ ‘this is my message to you:

Don’t worry about a thing

Cuz Every little thing’s gonna be alright

Don’t worry

About a thing

Cuz every little thing’s

Gonna be alright'

You can hear Bob here and you can see a really funny video here. If you read down further, you will know that the voice belongs to Gilberto Gil, a Brazilian. I highly recommend you listen to the first Youtube first and then go to the second, as it will surely make you laugh....and that is good!

Oh, and one last thing, if you spend any time at all in my studio, you know that I'm very partial to the voices of Bob Marley and Leonard Cohen, the great sermonist Barbara Brown Taylor, and surface designer Jane Dunnewold for her wisdom and design pointers but most of all for the calming nature of her voice!

so, Every Little Thing's Gonna Be Alright!

Thanks!

Bumper Stickers, Conference Notes & More!

While I was on my way home from a delightful lunch with Dr Sock, a big old gas guzzler pulled in front of me and I was very disappointed to read its bumper sticker: "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less". What exactly are people thinking????? You can read some cons of this nonsense here......and to think that my dear Newtie is behind all of this!!!! I am saddened when I realize that some people would rather swap the natural beauty of our countryside and drill, rather than conserve. I'm saddened to think that future generations might have to go without petroleum because of the greed of our generation. My purpose is not to make this blog into a political rant, so I won't go any further with this, but I am saddened.

I must tell you that in copying over my notes from the SDA Conference, I was further reminded of the great speakers that we enjoyed in Kansas City. Harmony Susalla spoke to us about the growing organic cotton trend, and the woes of using pesticides on crops. Did you know that only .1% of pesticides reach their target AND that 20,000 people die annually from pesticide-related illnesses? YIKES!!! Harmony has an amazing and refreshing story for such a young gal, so I do urge you to go to her website and read more about her and the emerging interest in organic cottons and pesticide-free gardening.

C and I attended several parties last weekend. My SDA friend Leisa Rich is having a terrific fiber arts show at Atlanta's Callenwalde. I've just gotten to know this incredibly energetic young woman and am so impressed with her creative bent, organizational abilities, and enthusiasm. Here's just one photo of Leisa's show.......this is her ideal world, all created by her own little hands. Can you see the adorable little girl enjoying Leisa's world?


Our daughter, Kristin, has completed her MBA program at Georgia State! Hooray!!!! She and Dave hosted a celebration last Saturday afternoon. We dropped by for a quick visit with some of their friends. I was really thrilled to see that she chose to wear the silk halter top I had created for her last year!

a rather pensive moment:

We hated to leave their party just as it was beginning, but we had another engagement to attend back at home, an hour north, so we hit the road running!

C went to the local farmers' market bright and early this morning and brought home some wonderful finds: haricots vert, beets, and asparagus! YUMMMM


I steamed the haricots vert, roasted the beets, and sauteed the beet greens in olive oil and diced garlic. C grilled a steak and we enjoyed it with the haricot verts and diced roasted beets on a bed of the sauteed beet greens topped with feta cheese. It was a glorious dinner. I go under the knife tomorrow morning: sinus surgery. What a sendoff, eh?

PEACE!!!

Meet Me in St Louis Baby!

C and I have enjoyed a couple of wonderful days crossing the great state of Missouri and enjoying it's scenery. One of our destinations was Taum Saulk State Park, which houses the high point of Missouri....and yes, we love the High Points!


After conquering the high point (a .2 mile 'hike' on a paved path), we turned the car northward toward St Louis, as we had tickets to the Cardinals game....and I'd never seen the Arch!

Busch Field on an early summer eve:



Sadly, the Cards lost, but we really enjoyed being at Busch Stadium. The food was pretty good, for a baseball stadium, and the locals were ever so friendly!

We got up bright and early this morning and walked from our hotel down to the famed St Louis Arch


I couldn't believe how magnificent it was and how it captivated me!!



Our view from our hotel room yesterday afternoon.......the mighty Mississipp in the background



......the view from the elevator down into the lobby of our hotel



and the view down to my feet this morning in St Louis

PEACE!!!