I have my studio in a workable situation. I did some brutal cleansing and rearranging and will probably do more. I did a little sewing on Saturday. I am still having neck problems, so I need to take it a little at a time. I started writing a book today on some life events that we went through this past year. I have a substantial amount of it written already. I will put it out on the market one way or the other.
It is chillier here again. I wasn't happy with my husband yesterday when he opened the sliding door in my studio and left it open when he went out to clean the grill. The whole house started getting chilly and I had to go and close it. When he came up he wanted to know why I closed the door and if I was getting cold. Obviously that was the case. I had just gotten my studio warm enough to be able to use it, with the spring thaw and warmer weather. Not too happy that it is now chillier again.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Bing Images, Pollen and Mining
Strange title for an art quilter's posting. The Bing images comments are related to art quilting, quilting and art. Bing has started an image library like Google's. I have already found several of my art quilts and other images listed on the Bing images site. I have also found other people's images listed under my name, because of the way search engines catch the information. There is a contact information link at the bottom of Bing's images page and I recommend you contact them and tell them of your displeasure of their collecting the images. I contacted them and gave them my opinions and let them know I have official federal copyright documents for my art work.
Pollen, it is everywhere here in Central Virginia. My car is silver, and you can hardly tell that by looking at it. It is covered with yellow pollen very thickly. It wouldn't do any good to wash it at this point, and it would make a mucky yellow soup like it did when I tried to wash it off of my windows. I'm glad I started taking my allergy meds already.
Mining. The word stirs a lot of thoughts and emotions. Coal does fuel a lot of our nation's power plants and is a source of energy otherwise. Coal is a major export, I'm reminded of that every time I see a S&W train loaded with coal headed down to Portsmouth/Norfolk for unloading to be shipped over seas. Seeing the process is amazing. The old "homestead" family farm in Pittsylvania County is on the uranium belt and does have uranium on it. The state has been lobbied for years by mining companies to be able to mine that uranium. From what I understand the uranium just being there has polluted the waters around there. My grandmother used to tell us that when the family was first there, a lot of them got sick and some of them died. They figured out it had something to do with the river and they rolled the log cabin up from near the river to a higher site. I'm convinced it was because of the uranium. I first learned of uranium on the land when one of my uncles knew I collected rocks and liked seeing them. He took me out in the tobacco fields with him and showed me how the geiger counter he had crackled and cackled. The tobacco raised on that land and sold at market was contaminated with uranium. A lot of tobacco is radioactive and someone I know that works in the tobacco industry has told me they have detectors of some sort in their factories. Tobacco absorbs things easily and I have read that it is used in research for that reason. Tobacco is another ill in our society. Fortunately or unfortunately, one of our ancestors was Thomas Rolfe, who is credited with tobacco cultivation with seeds from the Caribbean.
But, back to mining, my mother's family name was Massie/Massey which has been used interchangeably throughout history and even in her and her siblings legal documents. Massey Energy owns the coal mine where the explosion this week took place, and they also want to mine the uranium, which in the case of the old family homestead, was also a Massie/Massey property. I have been told we are related to the founder of the Massey Coal Company and I am working on that genealogy. The headquarters of Massey Energy is here in Richmond.
Life is more precious than anything else. I hate the human cost of mining coal. Mining is always dangerous, regardless of what is being mined. Nuclear reactors are dangerous too. Gas and oil production is dangerous and refineries have explosions. Shipping gas and oil is dangerous too, with the environmental issues. Sun energy sounds really good and safe. If you are really serious about sun shields for creating energy, then you must have the batteries that are required to store the energy. Those batteries aren't safe either.
I am not a "tree hugger," but I love trees. I am not an environmental activist, but I think we should be good stewards of our environment. Pray for the miners and their families. Unfortunately, coal mining is the major source of jobs for a lot of places in West Virginia. There has to be a better way, and there are technological corridors in West Virginia. You have to drive through West Virginia to appreciate a little of what life there must be like.
I am still cleaning and purging my studio.
Pollen, it is everywhere here in Central Virginia. My car is silver, and you can hardly tell that by looking at it. It is covered with yellow pollen very thickly. It wouldn't do any good to wash it at this point, and it would make a mucky yellow soup like it did when I tried to wash it off of my windows. I'm glad I started taking my allergy meds already.
Mining. The word stirs a lot of thoughts and emotions. Coal does fuel a lot of our nation's power plants and is a source of energy otherwise. Coal is a major export, I'm reminded of that every time I see a S&W train loaded with coal headed down to Portsmouth/Norfolk for unloading to be shipped over seas. Seeing the process is amazing. The old "homestead" family farm in Pittsylvania County is on the uranium belt and does have uranium on it. The state has been lobbied for years by mining companies to be able to mine that uranium. From what I understand the uranium just being there has polluted the waters around there. My grandmother used to tell us that when the family was first there, a lot of them got sick and some of them died. They figured out it had something to do with the river and they rolled the log cabin up from near the river to a higher site. I'm convinced it was because of the uranium. I first learned of uranium on the land when one of my uncles knew I collected rocks and liked seeing them. He took me out in the tobacco fields with him and showed me how the geiger counter he had crackled and cackled. The tobacco raised on that land and sold at market was contaminated with uranium. A lot of tobacco is radioactive and someone I know that works in the tobacco industry has told me they have detectors of some sort in their factories. Tobacco absorbs things easily and I have read that it is used in research for that reason. Tobacco is another ill in our society. Fortunately or unfortunately, one of our ancestors was Thomas Rolfe, who is credited with tobacco cultivation with seeds from the Caribbean.
But, back to mining, my mother's family name was Massie/Massey which has been used interchangeably throughout history and even in her and her siblings legal documents. Massey Energy owns the coal mine where the explosion this week took place, and they also want to mine the uranium, which in the case of the old family homestead, was also a Massie/Massey property. I have been told we are related to the founder of the Massey Coal Company and I am working on that genealogy. The headquarters of Massey Energy is here in Richmond.
Life is more precious than anything else. I hate the human cost of mining coal. Mining is always dangerous, regardless of what is being mined. Nuclear reactors are dangerous too. Gas and oil production is dangerous and refineries have explosions. Shipping gas and oil is dangerous too, with the environmental issues. Sun energy sounds really good and safe. If you are really serious about sun shields for creating energy, then you must have the batteries that are required to store the energy. Those batteries aren't safe either.
I am not a "tree hugger," but I love trees. I am not an environmental activist, but I think we should be good stewards of our environment. Pray for the miners and their families. Unfortunately, coal mining is the major source of jobs for a lot of places in West Virginia. There has to be a better way, and there are technological corridors in West Virginia. You have to drive through West Virginia to appreciate a little of what life there must be like.
I am still cleaning and purging my studio.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Studio Clearance
I am cleaning my art quilting - art studio. This year it means purging. I have a lot of things I am getting rid of so I have less clutter. If you need fabric or supplies, let me know. I have fabric and art quilting supplies and art supplies. I have a lot of pastels, a variety of brands. If you want anything, let me know. I can send you a USPS Priority Mail large flat rate box (12x12x6) full of what I can fit in it for $35.50. That includes $12.50 for the post office fee. I have PayPal so you can pay me through that.
Some of the things I have are Jacquard Silk Dyes of various colors. You can specify a color and I will see if I have it, or I can send you some of what I have. I have some supplies that won't fit in a flat rate box.
I also have various quilting books, too many to list. I also have yarn and supplies. I have 2 bolts of "bridal" netting, I believe white. This would be great for bride showers, making rice bags, etc. I will charge $10.00 per bolt, that includes shipping.
So, let me know and I will be glad to help you out -- otherwise, everything is going to Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity shops.
Some of the things I have are Jacquard Silk Dyes of various colors. You can specify a color and I will see if I have it, or I can send you some of what I have. I have some supplies that won't fit in a flat rate box.
I also have various quilting books, too many to list. I also have yarn and supplies. I have 2 bolts of "bridal" netting, I believe white. This would be great for bride showers, making rice bags, etc. I will charge $10.00 per bolt, that includes shipping.
So, let me know and I will be glad to help you out -- otherwise, everything is going to Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity shops.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter
We were on our way to church this morning and in an open field, there was a bald eagle sitting on the ground. It was a real bald eagle and large. I have seen a few behind where we live, it is a wetlands area with lake. We have had ospreys and black eagles as well.
I started cleaning out and purging in my studio yesterday. After a few days of attention, I will be able to get in it and start creating.
I started cleaning out and purging in my studio yesterday. After a few days of attention, I will be able to get in it and start creating.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Why I do or don't take classes
First of all, I am disabled with several disorders. I do not take my sewing machine and supplies to any location that I will have to take these up or down the steps. My cognition can vary. I am a visual learner and part of that is seeing the demonstrations, but I also need the written instructions. I have Fuchs Dystrophy, which is a deterioration of the corneas. I generally cannot take bright or glaring lights and I have to wear sunglasses. Cloudy days are some of the worst times for glare. Some people don't understand why I am wearing sunglasses inside.
Some classes require a lot of supplies, fabrics, book, art supplies, etc. This can run at least $100 and certainly can run more. One class I took at a national quilting convention was expensive, I had to get over $100 of supplies - some of which I had to order because they were difficult to find, and then when I got in the class, the teacher announced we wouldn't need or be using most of what we brought, BUT we needed to purchase more supplies from a specific vendor... she happened to work for that vendor. That is the last time I will take classes at that location. I have had similar situations before.
Some instructors discourage you from taking any breaks, including restroom breaks. They decide to only take a few minutes for lunch so everyone can keep on schedule. It is not good to not take breaks or to not be able to get up and move around. No one is going to tell me I can't use a restroom.
Some instructors are very bad at giving instructions or they push the time so fast that people can't keep up. I had one instructor ask me if I had ever sewn before. Thank you, I have been sewing since I was young. It isn't my problem that you can't teach. I wasn't the only one having a problem in her class. Tip to teachers: don't humiliate your students or you won't be teaching for long.
I do not talk a lot, especially in a class. I was always able to "work independently" per teachers when I was growing up and I never got in trouble talking in class. I do not care for others around me talking when the teacher is talking, and I don't appreciate the added noise.
The reason I do take classes, when I take classes, is because I want to learn new techniques or supplies. It isn't because I want to make a duplicate of a teacher's artwork. I want to be able to learn so I can apply the technique to my work.
Some classes require a lot of supplies, fabrics, book, art supplies, etc. This can run at least $100 and certainly can run more. One class I took at a national quilting convention was expensive, I had to get over $100 of supplies - some of which I had to order because they were difficult to find, and then when I got in the class, the teacher announced we wouldn't need or be using most of what we brought, BUT we needed to purchase more supplies from a specific vendor... she happened to work for that vendor. That is the last time I will take classes at that location. I have had similar situations before.
Some instructors discourage you from taking any breaks, including restroom breaks. They decide to only take a few minutes for lunch so everyone can keep on schedule. It is not good to not take breaks or to not be able to get up and move around. No one is going to tell me I can't use a restroom.
Some instructors are very bad at giving instructions or they push the time so fast that people can't keep up. I had one instructor ask me if I had ever sewn before. Thank you, I have been sewing since I was young. It isn't my problem that you can't teach. I wasn't the only one having a problem in her class. Tip to teachers: don't humiliate your students or you won't be teaching for long.
I do not talk a lot, especially in a class. I was always able to "work independently" per teachers when I was growing up and I never got in trouble talking in class. I do not care for others around me talking when the teacher is talking, and I don't appreciate the added noise.
The reason I do take classes, when I take classes, is because I want to learn new techniques or supplies. It isn't because I want to make a duplicate of a teacher's artwork. I want to be able to learn so I can apply the technique to my work.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Recycled Art
This piece was made entirely out of recycled materials. I used dryer sheets, edges of salvage, lint, excess threads, etc. to make this piece. I made it a couple of years ago. It is an example that you don't have to spend a lot of money to create art and you can create out of things you would throw away.
Easter Week
It is a story of redemption and a great good God that lives can be redeemed and turned around for good. Some of the kings in our family line did do bad things. There were others that impacted the Christian Kingdom for good. One king became a Christian and in the same day was baptized along with 3,000 of the people in his kingdom who followed him. There were other individuals like that. In my husband's family we found out John Knox was an ancestor of his. We both have preachers in our families.
We personally know the power of God's redemption and love for us. Lives are not perfect, no one is perfect. Things happen in people's lives that we think may never happen, but they do. This week we observe Easter knowing that through Jesus we have not only salvation but also hope and grace.
Introduction
I do not create art every day. In fact, I have gone months without creating art because I have had a family emergency and other situations. My studio is located in my basement and even though we have heating, new insulated windows and a fireplace, it is like ice cold during the winter. I cannot create in the studio during the winter months. I am waiting for the spring thaw to stay before I can get in it and start the spring cleaning in there.
On December 4, 2009 my only son, 31 years old, was in a major motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, where he lives. A car ran a stop sign and he broke almost every bone in his body and he did break all the bones (and some teeth) in his face. He had to have his jaw and teeth wired together for several weeks. He had several surgeries. I was in Los Angeles for 7 weeks. I went home a week after he was out of the hospital. He got out of the hospital three months early. When you go through something like that, it completely changes your life, and it completely changed our lives too.
We have wetlands behind our home, we are on a bluff and we overlook a lake. We see a lot of eagles, geese, ducks and other water fowl. We occasionally see huge turtles, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, chipmunks, ground hogs and other animals. I haven't personally seen a deer out there, but others have. I love it and I love not having anyone being able to build behind us. We are surrounded by trees and our son tells his friends we live in the country because we have trees. Los Angeles doesn't have an abundance of trees.
Our kitchen has pretty much been ripped out for over a year now. Our home is a five-story townhouse built in the 1970s. Retro avocado, harvest gold and powder puff blue are the original color schemes in the house. Avocado in the kitchen, harvest gold in one bathroom, and powder puff blue in our master bathroom. The half bathroom near my studio was "cat" themed when we moved in. That has been changed. Basically everything in our kitchen was avocado (and apples) when we moved in. The first time I saw this place, I literally nearly fell on my face when I saw the kitchen. We immediately got a new refrigerator and an used stove, and ripped out the non-working trash compactor. A cabinet door came off in my hand and that began the destruction process. We were going to begin the plumbing and electrical changes in the kitchen in December when we were called to Los Angeles for our son's accident. That has postponed the work in the kitchen. I am not able to cook due to the status of the kitchen. We would love to remodel the whole house, but it would probably cost around $100,000 to do it right.
My studio is about 20 x 14 feet. That sounds really good, but I have a lot of architectural intrusions that affects how I can use the studio. I have windows, fireplace and 8 ft. patio doors on one wall. I have HVAC intake vent high on the wall and an open "box" in one wall, on the other side I have a staircase. Those issues are on the long walls. I need a studio twice as large as I have. I have a lot of sewing and art equipment and supplies. No matter what I do with the studio, it will never be a beautiful studio like in magazines. It is a working studio. I am going to take a lot of my art supplies and things I don't currently use and put them in a small storage unit. These are things that would be expensive to replace if I got rid of them and decided later on that I need them. I have carpet that is a disaster in there. I would have vinyl or tile in there if I could redo it, but that is what it had in it when we moved in. Threads and everything else are difficult to keep it clean. My studio looks out onto the wetlands. When I have the patio doors open (but screen doors closed) I have rabbits and chipmunks that sneak past.
I have exhibited my art quilts in a lot of shows. I have a couple out on exhibit now. I am probably going to take a year off from exhibiting just to get my creativity really flowing again. A lot of the exhibits I have been in have had themes that I had to create pieces for.
On December 4, 2009 my only son, 31 years old, was in a major motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, where he lives. A car ran a stop sign and he broke almost every bone in his body and he did break all the bones (and some teeth) in his face. He had to have his jaw and teeth wired together for several weeks. He had several surgeries. I was in Los Angeles for 7 weeks. I went home a week after he was out of the hospital. He got out of the hospital three months early. When you go through something like that, it completely changes your life, and it completely changed our lives too.
We have wetlands behind our home, we are on a bluff and we overlook a lake. We see a lot of eagles, geese, ducks and other water fowl. We occasionally see huge turtles, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, chipmunks, ground hogs and other animals. I haven't personally seen a deer out there, but others have. I love it and I love not having anyone being able to build behind us. We are surrounded by trees and our son tells his friends we live in the country because we have trees. Los Angeles doesn't have an abundance of trees.
Our kitchen has pretty much been ripped out for over a year now. Our home is a five-story townhouse built in the 1970s. Retro avocado, harvest gold and powder puff blue are the original color schemes in the house. Avocado in the kitchen, harvest gold in one bathroom, and powder puff blue in our master bathroom. The half bathroom near my studio was "cat" themed when we moved in. That has been changed. Basically everything in our kitchen was avocado (and apples) when we moved in. The first time I saw this place, I literally nearly fell on my face when I saw the kitchen. We immediately got a new refrigerator and an used stove, and ripped out the non-working trash compactor. A cabinet door came off in my hand and that began the destruction process. We were going to begin the plumbing and electrical changes in the kitchen in December when we were called to Los Angeles for our son's accident. That has postponed the work in the kitchen. I am not able to cook due to the status of the kitchen. We would love to remodel the whole house, but it would probably cost around $100,000 to do it right.
My studio is about 20 x 14 feet. That sounds really good, but I have a lot of architectural intrusions that affects how I can use the studio. I have windows, fireplace and 8 ft. patio doors on one wall. I have HVAC intake vent high on the wall and an open "box" in one wall, on the other side I have a staircase. Those issues are on the long walls. I need a studio twice as large as I have. I have a lot of sewing and art equipment and supplies. No matter what I do with the studio, it will never be a beautiful studio like in magazines. It is a working studio. I am going to take a lot of my art supplies and things I don't currently use and put them in a small storage unit. These are things that would be expensive to replace if I got rid of them and decided later on that I need them. I have carpet that is a disaster in there. I would have vinyl or tile in there if I could redo it, but that is what it had in it when we moved in. Threads and everything else are difficult to keep it clean. My studio looks out onto the wetlands. When I have the patio doors open (but screen doors closed) I have rabbits and chipmunks that sneak past.
I have exhibited my art quilts in a lot of shows. I have a couple out on exhibit now. I am probably going to take a year off from exhibiting just to get my creativity really flowing again. A lot of the exhibits I have been in have had themes that I had to create pieces for.
