Happy New Year!

Anticipating 2016 tomorrow and a new birth year for me leaves me hopeful and excited to begin again anew.

This year's word is execute - to act on, to complete, to follow through.  A very heavy word.  But this is the push I think I need.  I now have more time to work, to see my ideas become real.  The pressure of age and fewer years to experience is a very definite motivator. 

My relationship with the New Year has always been a special one because my birth corresponds with the calendar year.  Even with acknowledging that relationship I have always felt September was the beginning of the year-- a close to the summer, a new school year--.  January sits in the middle of the winter.  It really does not offer a change from the day before.  The days are too short- too dark.  It is cold in most of the United States.  Heavy coats and boots are not fun to put on and old bones get cold more easily.  I know that's not true, but it feels like it. Hibernation or curling up with a good book are more easily done than braving drafts and sitting at the sewing machine under artificial light. Even hot cocoa doesn't replace a cozy blanket. Hand stitching in the lazy-boy may be the activity of choice. Slow stitching has been embraced by many in the last year or so. I like the idea.  I may try Liz Kettle's stitch meditation.  I know I need to put together hand work for the evenings.  I really like hand work.  I should organize and prioritize so I can pick up, stitch, and repeat when the opportunity arises.  I have many such projects started.  So 2016 may be a year of finishing as well as creating.  I hope so.

Faux pottery

My latest vessel is a faux pottery piece about 8 inches tall.  The form is pellon.  The skin and lining are white cotton painted with Dye-Na-Flow and Lumier.  The exterior is finished with Golden's Heavy Gel (Gloss).  A bias piece of burlap faces the inside of the opening.

The undercover story

While the vessels I have constructed to date seem to be sturdy, I believe they can be improved with a few extra steps in construction.

I am still butting the pellon edges together and using a zig- zag stitch.  This maintains a relatively smooth form. I have added a stabilizing strip to each seam. This step does not increase the sewing time by very much and makes the form stronger, less likely to slip or slump.

The lining has been attached at the bottom and top edges holding it in place. This time the fused lining has also been tacked to the form at various points hidden in several seams. The added tacking will help to keep the lining smooth on the inside of the form if the fusing should come loose.  I can call upon my tailoring and clothing construction experience to improve the quality of my vessels.

The more I experiment the more options I find to choose from. I can use batting to soften the form or fuse for a harder look.  I can fold over the top edge or face it on the inside, or use trim to accentuate the line.  The sky is the limit. The undercover story is the foundation for these vessels.  Without good technique in the process of creating the form, the exterior decoration cannot be showcased.

I am very excited about this project. I want it to work into a long term exploration.

Rework the pine cones

After listening to several critiques of the pine cone series, ( see post Jan.5, 2014) I rescaled the pinecones on the same backgrounds and re-matted them on black.  I used stiff pellon to keep the pieces flat, showing off the dimensional texture.  I did not mount them on stretcher bars.

I am very pleased with the results.  Constructive critique can be very beneficial.  I am glad I was open to suggestions and took the time to implement them.  Please compare the pictures of the before pictures on the Jan 5, 2014 blog and those posted here.

A "WORD" for 2015

Focus is a word I have used to help me with my art in the past.  The ability to block out external interference and to concentrate on a project.

Intention is also a word I have used. This connotes decision making, and action in taking the steps necessary to completing a project.

Present, being in the moment, with observation, emotion, thought.

These are all good words, good concepts to employ in life and in art.  They are close, but not quite where I need to be.  This year my word will be "mindful".  A more thoughtful intention. A more considered focus. A more complete involvement.

A friend in our art support group brought The Slow Stitching Movement to our attention last month.

Take a look at their site- http://www.slowstitching.com.  I think I have been inching my way to this philosophy for quite a while.  More on that journey later-

Fortunately I am comfortable at this time in my life - the hectic duties are in the past. I can pick and choose my activities.  What I am doing in my art now can be considered, redone, evolving and a process I enjoy from start to finish.  Mindfulness will give me a better product, a better journey and more joy.

I can practice mindfulness in every phase of my life and be better for the use of my time, the results in my body and soul, the connectedness of my actions and decisions.  Maybe a better example .

I hope I will have a good report of my progress in future posts.