A Steno Pad for My Thoughts
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Posts filed under 'art'
Heard in a documentary on Alice Neel, her quoting and then stating, “Man is a measure of all things. You can do anything you will to do. Which is to say, if you are sufficiently tenacious and interested you can accomplish what you want to accomplish in this world.” I love that. Sufficiently tenacious and interested.
Above is a lithograph I gave us as a gift over the holidays by Henryk Tomaszewski. It’s the most the wonderful balance I try so hard to get–clean, simple, paired down design; a touch of the hand, amazing deliberate lines and marks; with a final bit of nostalgic and wonderfully succinct statement. This. Here. Enter. Perfect.
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February 22nd, 2011
When I first starting painting loop troupers, people commented on how similar they were to kokeshi. At the time, I wasn’t familiar with them but was so excited to find a history to the format of those wooden dolls. I was hooked. So imagine my surprise when a most amazing person sent this book in the mail to me. Amazing doesn’t even justify it. All I can say is, it’s mine. It’s all me and I am so inspired by it. There can be no better present than that! A few clips…
The book is Kokeshi by Saito Ayumi published in 2005 by Pie Books (ISBN 4894444240) available on YesAsia here.
July 7th, 2009
These are the Little Small Clothespin People that are still available from my show currently at Paper Boat Boutique + Gallery. You can call or email them to purchase and to confirm availability. (Their phone number is on their website homepage.) Of course, if you’re local to Milwaukee, you can always stop by!
No. 538 Piping Hot
The oven door opens to reveal a stash of firewood!
Available from Paper Boat Boutique + Gallery.
No. 540 Piping Hot
Available from Paper Boat Boutique + Gallery.
No. 541 Green Giant
Available from Paper Boat Boutique + Gallery.
Available from Paper Boat Boutique + Gallery.
January 23rd, 2009
Today, I have a show opening in Milwaukee at Paper Boat Boutique + Gallery which includes some mixed media photographs + new Little Small Clothespin People. The date got shifted a bit so I, unfortunately, won’t be in attendance but it’s Gallery Night so if you head one down there should be loads to see. I was aiming to include some very affordable pieces (go, go, go economy!!) along with some new peeps so you should really try to head out there if you dig what you see here. Or call them up, I’m sure they could take orders by phone.
See them larger and see the whole group of them here. There are about 30 of these pieces included in the show. Pictures of the peeps in the show are coming a bit later. But do check it out! Paper Boat is run by Faythe Levine and Kim Kisolek. And that Faythe is the same one who, along with Cortney Heimerl, wrote Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design. (Which I’m in representing South–hot dog!) And she is also the one who directed the movie by the same name, which was just completed and is currently screening across all over the place. Seriously, on January 29th it’s in Hamburg and then on February 5th it’s screening in Milkwaukee. Find out if it’s coming to your area here. Or watch the trailer here. So, really, there are tons of reasons to go to the opening tonight.
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January 16th, 2009
A few months back, the mighty Reform School in Los Angeles asked me if I would create a limited edition for their Student of the Month selection. No doubt! The idea was to used recycled/upcycled objects and I knew the perfect thing to use. I had been stewing over these amazing clothespins a customer had generously mailed me. I needed something to use as stands and remembered this box of 100 flat bottom test tubes I had and The Test Tube Kids were made! Ha!
They are a new clothespin doll design which I love–especially the new materials for the arms. Each doll has a small bookbag and wooden book.
The bookbags are each different and was the first thing I had sewn to sell after a long hiatus. I remember now why I gave up sewing for the shop.
I made 50 for them, 25 of each style, and this kept me extremely busy last week. I’m so glad they asked me to do this though cause I these things were so great so much fun. I couldn’t resist setting them up like a school class portrait.
They’ll be available online shortly through their site You can buy them now here! Yippee!! And check out the previous Students of the Mont while you are there, too.
September 9th, 2008
When we were at the beach this year, my nephew made this drawing of himself singing. I flipped my lid and tried to keep my cool when he showed it to me hoping he had made this drawing for me. Though I didn’t want to let on since it could have easily been for Nana or Poppa or even his other Aunt. But no, he handed it to me and I went through the roof. I was so stoked.
It is hands down one of my absolute favorites he has made at this size. I needed to turn it into a pillow. I had made a drawing my niece made into a pillow for my sister and then an even earlier drawing of hers that was of her and her dad into a pillowcase so he was due for a pillow. But this one is a bit different since it isn’t just a line drawing.
So far so good! To enlarge and transfer the design, I took the drawing to my local copy shop and enlarged it in four sections until I had it about the size of the pillow form I was going to use. I taped the section togethers and hung it on the window so I could trace it on the fabric using a disappearing ink. Hanging it on the window is like a lightbox for free. The disappearing ink is totally fun cause then I have to work fast on the embroidery work since the ink is fading away. Of course, you could use a light pencil or water soluble fabric ink so you didn’t have the threat of invisibility working against you.
I decided to embroider using a chain stitch for the lines. The eyes are a satin stitch as will be the musical notes.
For the color fields, I decided to applique them on using a zigzag stitch. Then I used a light interfacing on the back of the heavyweight wonder under before stitching down. The shirt and arm sleeves have this great block pattern which I piece together like a quilt square.
Given the amount of rain we are getting, I’m thinking one more day of this weather and we’ll be done with the front at least. he’ll be absolutely beside himself when he sees this done.
August 22nd, 2008
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