home
about the artist
gallery
blog
links
contact

Archive for the ‘House and home stuff’ Category

Something Creative, finally!

Monday, June 4th, 2007

I have been participating in a Round Robin Collage. Most of the work has been a single piece with a build up of techniques and stuff as it moves around the group. A coupe of participants have chosen to do books and so you get to do your own completed collage on the pages. I worked on one this week-end and used my new Joss papers, some cut up kimono fabrics, some coins, some stamps and an envelope with fortune cookie sayings inserted.

rrbookcollage.jpg

Here is a close-up of the envelope with the fortune cookie sayings. An Asian coin is attached to the envelope with glossy gel medium.

rrenvelopecloseup.jpg

Here are two other close-ups:

rrbookcollagecloseup.jpg

rrbookcollagecloseup2.jpg

I had lots of fun doing this, and it has inspired me to get back to doing more collage works with my antique Kimono fabrics.

I just received a phone call from the dermatology office with sort of good news. I have basal cell skin cancer – the slow growing type, but it is not melanoma – yeah. I go in next Tuesday to have it removed.

I had a very busy week-end. On Saturday night, our Sojourner’s group met for the last time for dinner. We had it at our home, but did not have to do the main course. It was nice enough to have cocktails on the deck. We served margaritas. I also made marinated mushrooms, coconut shrimp with curried apricot sauce and caramelized onion hummus with pita chips. Look how pretty this pot is that I planted for the deck — dahlias and coleus.

coleusanddahlias.jpg

I was so exhausted after everyone left. I was about to hit the sack, when the fireworks started. It was alumni week at Reed College, and they often end a big event with fireworks. I ran out in my nightgown to watch and tried to get some photos:

firworks2.jpg

fireworks1.jpg

Yesterday, M and M came over to play in the afternoon and then the whole family was here for my famous focaccia sandwich and some salads on the deck. M and M did some chalk drawing on my studio patio.

mmchalkartists.jpg

Mia said that this is a pond with fish.

miachalkfishpond.jpg

There are some new photos up on the Virtual Iraq War Protest Flickr site. There is an especially good one of Sonji! Just click on the Endless/End This War bumper sticker in my sidebar.

Lime Green Trees and the Fence

Thursday, May 10th, 2007

This post is really for my son, Mark in San Francisco. I wanted to show him how beautiful the plants and trees that he planted last fall have become. And to give him an update on the fence that Mr C has constructed.

Look at these gorgeous lime green Japanese Maples:

limegreentrees.jpg

limegreentree2.jpg

limegreentree3.jpg

landscapeupdate.jpg

Here is the fence. We picked out a black oak stain. Mr C wanted it to blend in with the trees in the back and to match the trim on the house. It looks very nice. He spent half a day yesterday and most of today painting. He has about 3 panels to go.

mrcstainingfence.jpg

fencestaining.jpg

fencestaining2.jpg

I am working to finish the passages piece for the Columbia Stitchery show next week. I am doing some hand stitching with Perle cotton before I do the backing and machine quilting.

Don’t forget to send me our bumper sticker photos and click the bumpersticker to see the photos that have come in so far.

endthiswar.jpg

Sunday Potpourri

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

First, exercising my need for sympathy, I must let you know that I have one of those crappy viruses — sore throat, chest pain, coughing, snuffling. Mr C gave it to me. He keeps telling me how I am going to feel and what my symptoms will be each day. And, so far he is right.

Steph and Lili had a very successful opening of their show at Doe. Stephanie just about sold out and Lisa had great sales, too.

On Thursday and Friday, I picked up Mia and Miles from school. I have renewed respect for what Stephanie does every day. It pretty much eats up an afternoon. By the time everyone is home and has a snack, it is time to think about what to make for dinner.

I spent much of the week-end getting quilts and silk scarves ready for the Artist’s Among Us show and sale at the Cathedral next week-end. The deadline for turning in stuff was at 5 pm today. I walked in at 10 to 5. I was working in slow motion today. The quilts were from my inventory, but needed sleeves, labels and hanging devices. I forgot to take photos of the scarves that I did. I managed to get 6 done, one will go in the silent auction. Here are some hanging outside my studio, next to the mess that Mr C has made, building a fence.

silkscarveshanging.jpg

I spent much of the week-end getting quilts and silk scarves ready for the Artist’s Among Us show and sale at the Cathedral next week-end. The deadline for turning in stuff was at 5 pm today. I walked in at 10 to 5. I was working in slow motion today. The quilts were from my inventory, but needed sleeves, labels and hanging devices. I forgot to take photos of the scarves that I did. I managed to get 6 done, one will go in the silent auction. Here are some hanging outside my studio, next to the mess that Mr C has made, building a fence.

shiboriscarf1.jpg

And here is the fence masterpiece. That is the saw on the right. Mr C was happy to have Jack and M & M show up on Saturday afternoon. Jack ripped the fence pieces while Mr C used the power hammer to pound the nails.

fence1.jpg
fence2.jpg

I still have some bumper stickers left for the Virtual Peace Rally. Send me your snail mail on the contact form above and I will send you one. Then, you can e-mail me a photo which I will post on the Virtual End the War Rally on my Flickr site.

endthiswar.jpg