Archive for August, 2011

designer parts…

Sunday, August 28th, 2011

At last report I was zipping along to a work-stoppage deadline imposed by an upcoming total knee replacement. Normally I like to avoid deadlines as they intimidate more than inspire but I was making significant progress with my self-imposed timeline.

Last Thursday I received an evening phone call from the surgeon who said he was postponing surgery for a month as my situation requires more time. Essentially I am getting a designer knee! My knee scans are going through a CAD program to create the perfect fitting joint to snug in beneath steel plates and screws left behind four and a half decades ago.

The call came just two days after I decided it time to turn around my gnarly pre-op attitude. I had been languishing in the fear of more surgery but decided instead to focus on my truth of being a survivor. Now I am actually excited that someone believed enough in my story to accomodate my special needs. I cannot help but be positive about all this.

And I have a bonus month to cram in more art-making! This weekend I have been updating two lectures which I am delivering in early 2012. Powerpoint is almost as much fun as art-making!

Posted in health, knee surgery, time management, wisdom | 2 Comments »

more upheaval…

Friday, August 26th, 2011

I just finished and photographed Upheaval # 9; what I hoped would be the 3rd of four new works designed in August. With just 5 days remaining in the month I am re-assessing that challenge! I am now taking a break to do some ‘housekeeping’ chores of my artistic life. And yet as soon as this one came down I put up fabrics on the wall for the next Keeping Up Appearances piece so it may still happen.

The problem I have currently is actually a good one to have. I have multiple pieces out on exhibit at different venues. I need some new work to have available for other opportunities.

While I am recovering from upcoming knee surgery who knows how long I will be unable to sew or stand at my design wall? Although the other day I decided to sit at my machine as much as possible as that is the same pedal reflex that I will need to develop to drive again. I don’t want to be house-bound any longer than necessary! If there is a will, there is a way.

I have spoken endlessly about this upcoming surgery; some people assume I had it already I have been yakking it up for so long. Because of the extensive leg surgeries I had in the ’60’s I have been more than anxious about all this. And yet deep down believing I will do fine. I am strong, fit, a survivor and I heal quickly. Two days ago I decided to stop feeding the fear and think only good thoughts. Would you believe I am now counting the days?!

I have 19 days to get a lot done. I’ll relax when I am medicated!

Posted in gallery, knee surgery, new work, shapes, surface design | No Comments »

keeping up appearances..dos

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Here is the second in the Keeping Up Appearances series! As viewer will recall this work was inspired by a long lost and then found copy of mid-20th century American etiquette.

This one challenged my sense of balance with the delicate embroidered and painted dresser scarves vs. heavier woven dyed and painted dinner napkins.

Then when I needed just a touch more light color linen I hand-stitched together four embroidered bridge luncheon napkins and screen-printed there as well. This one also deals with smoking and eating in the office and proper salutations when writing a business letter.

This work is part of my campaign to stock the studio before I have knee surgery. I am having great fun with this new series!

Posted in knee surgery, new work, surface design, textures, time management | 2 Comments »

keeping up appearances…

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Last summer while cleaning out my aged father’s home I happened across my mother’s manual for life…Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Book of Etiquette published in 1954. I grabbed a spot on the sofa and began to leaf through this treasure of civility. Not too far into this tome and I was laughing till the tears came. Much like watching old 50’s re-runs on TV this book is a living testament of those very proper rules so important mid-20th century that today are often comical, ridiculous and/or surreal.

It was then the idea began to ferment about doing a narrative series on the etiquette of my youth. This spring I created a few screens and began to screen-print vintage linens with these stories. The first piece Keeping Up Appearances #1 is now up on my website. I incorporated dye-painted & screen-printed dinner napkins, dishtowels and hand-woven samplers in this piece that speaks to women chain smoking in the office and discreetly eating candy at one’s desk. Within the text collage is also wisdom about how to properly show interest in a prospective mate. We would never want to be improper!

I have just finished designing the second piece of this series with more in the works.

Posted in new work, patterns, surface design, website | 4 Comments »