Working on a Book

I'm creating a sample chapter for my BOOK! Although I haven't settled on a title, I have ideas for size and format as well as a clear idea of where I'm going.

An exciting part of this project is that there will be many opportunities to include patterns as well as paintings of food and food related images.

Crown Hat

Here is another winter hat I made as a present. This one is a new design I'm calling a Crown Hat. It is a simple triangular design which, when worn, has three peaks which looks like a crown (or perhaps a cross between a crown and a jester's hat.)


I think its delightfully wacky. My adult daughter thinks only weirdos would wear it.
Humbug.

I have one more present to make and then I'm done. Got to hurry now, New year's is almost here and I've promised this art group I will begin painting then -- or else.

Moving on

It was with a great sigh of happiness that I sewed the last few stitches in the tea bag dress today. As with most of these pieces it took more time than I imagined to get to the end point. The dress was quite fragile to work with and there were many logistic decisions as well as aesthetic ones along the way. So it is great to call it "finished".



I have quite a backlog of tea bags to open and empty over the next couple of weeks. I plan to take an extensive inventory with me to Australia so I will have plenty with work with there (especially without my loyal group of tea bag providers here). I will recruit my visiting family to help with the task....perfect for bonding over the holidays!

Adam & Eve

Last year I made a kirigami hanging heart with an image of Adam & Eve on it. Two angels flew overhead. It was wonderful, one of my best. I hung it with my kirigami display in the living room without thinking. At the Snowflake Party many people buy my wares from my Itty Bitty Art Gallery and someone bought my Adam & Eve before I realized it. (You take what you want and put the money in a box. I use the honor system.) I was sorry to find that my baby had left the nest.

So here is the new one I've created. Alas, it is not as fine as the old one.

Perhaps I will practice depicting the first family again next season until I am satisfied.

Tiny Kirigami Ornaments

This year I am again participating in Chandler Gallery's Holiday Artisan Bazaar. I just got a call from them asking me to bring more wares because my things are selling out. So I've been cutting more kirigami ornaments (something I do rarely) to put in the gallery. Each one is about 3-4 inches square. This lot was a three movie affair.

Milan fashion

I hadn't been shopping for dress patterns for more than 30 years. Yet it all seemed quite familiar to be browsing through pattern books at Joann Fabrics last week searching for something similar to the dress I found in the New York Times Magazine recently. The sleeveless rather 60's trapeze dress would be perfect made out of tea bags! I eventually located a McCalls pattern that would do the trick (at a surprising $15.95......whatever happened to patterns priced at $4.95?)

I've spent days sewing the folded teabags together. As with each project recently tackled, I've had to figure it out as I've been working. Today I was very happy to actually get to the point where I could cut out the front of the dress. Here's how it looks:



It may take a few more days to finish the back, put it all together and figure out the finishing details. I'm working in the house now as sewing in the chilly studio isn't very comfortable. So much for our dining room table!

Holiday Open Studios at Tip Top

Today from 5 until 8, and tomorrow from noon until 5, artists at Tip Top Art and Media Center in White River Junction will have Holiday Open Studios.  There will be artwork, refreshments, music and more.  In addition to oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, I will be showing my floral prints both hand colored and black and white.  Please come tonight to enjoy the festive atmosphere!

The latest print in my floral series is just finished.  I think it looks like the flowers are dancing in the summer breezes....

"Foxglove and Black Eyed Susan" 

linoleum print   •   9" x 12"

"Foxglove and Black Eyed Susan"

hand colored linoleum print   •   9" x 12"

And tomorrow, don't forget the Opening of the Holiday in Miniature Exhibition at ArtisTree at 6:30.   Small works perfect for holiday gifts at the gallery just north of Woodstock on route 12.

My Holiday Elf Job

Every fall and winter evening I put on my Elf hat and make fine crafts in my "night studio" in front of the tv. Normally I cut kirigami mandalas (shown at my Itty Bitty Art Gallery in Pomfret or in my online Etsy shop HERE)

... but this year I had the urge to do some sewing as well. I created more Art to Wear: One of a kind Hats (at Something Old Something New in West Woodstock) . . .


and I've made three dozen ribbonwork hat & coat ornaments for my favorite vendors. They are on sale at Arjuna in Woodstock and the Chandler Gallery's Artisan Bazaar in Randolph, as well as my online Etsy shop HERE.

I post all my new work (nearly every day) on my art blog HERE, if you are interested.




My Elf days are numbered, however. After making a few more gifts for my family, I will be back in my studio painting.

After all, Barbara did ask me to sign in blood my promise to paint