I have had a quiet weekend which is what I needed. I received a phone call today from a friend I grew up with in Pleasure Ridge Park sine June 10, 1960...the day we moved into our new home on Terry Road. Russell is a gift to my heart's circle...we have been through marriages, births, deaths, grown children and grand children...and now as we move into our 60's we are both exploring our artistic lives. He is a writer now and has just written his first children's book dedicated to his love for his grandchildren. I ordered his book today from Amazon "Letters from a Captive Heart"... letters to and from POWS and their families trying to survive this turmoil and crisis. I will give you all feedback later after I read this book...I just am so fortunate to have kept him in my heart for all these years. No we never dated...I would have loved to have dated but time works strangely and wonderfully...now we both have loving spouses who support our dreams and share our years of exploration as we walk into our Golden years. Did I just say that???
Tomorrow I am heading down to the Midland to do some volunteer work in the morning and then down to the Studio for the afternoon. I have been reading a publication for the last year and half..."Where Women Create"...and this newest issue has Amy Butler on the front cover. Many of you who sew probably recognize her fabric designs and line of colorful fabrics. The article shares her design space, her home and she explains some of her processes and inspirations. She is headed over to the large quilt exhibit in Birmingham, England,,,the same one I had considered attending with my friend Susie Shie this month. Money is very limited right now and I could take the adventure of a foreign journey or use the funds to open my own studio space. I do love to travel but for the first time I am living my dream. "From a woman's soul through a woman's eyes by a woman's hands" is the mission statement for this publication and there is always a wonderful selection of motivating women living in their moment of time and exploring the business of the studio. Ken has worked out a tri-fold photographic handout to share some of my ideas and proposals for the numerous possibilities I am wanting to explore.
I also am enjoying the latest issue of Quilting Arts Magazine for August/September 2010. There is an article about using metal for embellishments...my rusty bits and pieces are coming along quite nicely. Thread painting and sketching exercises with some easy advice for adding dimension with your machine stitches...machine work is not my strong point right now because I still love the slow cloth approach with the meditative pace to soothe my crazy soul. There is an article about weaving a cloth base that employs small remnants and pieces that can be assorted and placed to express a poetic composition...wonderful stitches ans embellishments...something I am totally addicted to. I highly recommend both of these publications for your reading enjoyment on a lazy summer's afternoon. I hope you all have found a moment or two to relax and enjoy the break in the storms that have plagued us over the last two hot, muggy weeks. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
I am also diving into Jane Dunnewold's two best books ever!!!
My guest left this morning, very early. We slept in well past our usual morning wake up time. We all, including the baby seemed to need that extra sleep during the thunderstorm.
ReplyDeleteI was using my sewing machine, today, in the studio and I found myself, in the grove. Working the fabric, under the needle as if the machine was simply an extension of my body. My hands moved the fabric, my foot connected to the energy pulsing in the machine. Slow cloth can be done by machine and human. It's HOW the cloth, machine, needle, thread and human connect to one another. :)Bea
You are so correct!!!! Rest now because I feel more visitors arriving to your lovely studio! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful posts you write. Thanks so much for your comments. I shall visit often and see what is up. It is amazing how much just pure creating make life so much more fun. xox Corrine
ReplyDeletewonderful post, love the photos, books and the story of long term friendship... and the woven cloth sounds fascinating! ciao!!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to so much of what you say, as well as to many of your experiences.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a relaxing weekend. I have the complex cloth book, but not the other one. One of these days I am going to just read all day. lol
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