Things Have Changed

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I was watching a Bob Dylan documentary recently, and his song Things Have Changed got me thinking to how things have changed with my artistic life.

So many changes. I’ve been extremely sad about the state of our country and the planet. These are not good times. Then we had fires and mudslides in southern California, affecting us all, some more than others. I have a number of dear friends who lost everything to fire. And we just had two big earthquakes last week! Climate change is very real. All of this weighs heavily, and I lost a lot of creative mojo at the time.

I went back to work as a substitute teacher at an alternative public K-8 school several years ago, and I have been kept very busy there. I love my job, and working with children gives me hope for the future. I also have a new granddaughter as of last October! That makes one grandson and four granddaughters. Spending time with them is so very special, as they are spread out geographically.

The world of art that I have been involved with in my community has changed. Vending opportunities have changed, and fees are so expensive now, they are getting out of my reach. My husband and I are getting older, and it’s hard on us to set up and take down. When you don’t even earn back what you paid for your booth space, it really doesn’t make it seem worth the effort. The director of the Ventura County Arts Council retired, and it doesn’t seem very robust now. Stoneworks Studios has stopped hosting First Friday art gallery events. Our city’s annual Art Walk was almost canceled, but it has been revived by a small hardy band of volunteers. Suddenly, my local outlets are pretty much gone. I recently vended at an Earth Day event sponsored by the school where I work, which was fun. I may just vend at their two annual events. (I couldn’t post about it because my website was down then.)

At this writing, I’m leaving tomorrow for Manchester, New Hampshire for the Crochet Guild of America Chain Link conference. It’s the 25 year anniversary; I first attended in 2004, I believe. Maybe I will get some inspiration and ideas for where to head. I’m taking two classes on garment design and pattern writing. I have so many ideas. I also want to make more painted studio quilts…and freeform crochet…and freeform beaded jewelry…and upcycled clothing…you see what I mean that my squirrels are at a rave!

Oh, and my website got hacked with malware, which I had to have fixed, and then I changed web hosts, which has been a real headache and hassle all together to get it right. Now I have to update my WordPress skills, since things have changed. Things are always changing, and sometimes it feels overwhelming.

So now I am contemplating my creative future. I am going to explore avenues for teaching crafty fiber arts classes locally. I am going to look into pop-up shops and trunk shows. I still haven’t decided how or where to sell online, as there are so many avenues now. More research is needed.

I feel like I’m ready for some renewed creativity. Being around other crochet artists this week will inspire me more. Things are always changing…it’s up to us to find our way. I think I’m ready for some positive changes. Just thought I should check in now that my website has been recovered. If you have read this far, thanks! Happy Summer!

Beaded Treasure Necklace

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I admin the Altered Artwear Facebook group. We’ve been kind of inactive this year, but now that summer is over, I hope to generate more group involvement. One of the ways I do that is via informal challenges. The summer challenge was to try a technique in upcycling clothing or accessories that you’ve never tried before.

I have been making costume jewelry off and on for over 40 years. In the ’70s I worked in a mall store, piercing ears and stringing necklace, bracelet, and earring sets. Lately I’ve been missing working with beads.

This was my inspiration for the challenge: a beaded treasure necklace by Mary Ellen Merrigan.

My inspiration for my own treasure necklace

I have lots and lots of inexpensive ethnic costume jewelry. I mean LOTS. I’ve been collecting for years, especially from yard sales, thrift shops, and dollar stores. It’s much cheaper to acquire beads and charms that way. Broken jewelry? No problem when you use the components as materials for your own original creations.

Jewelry that I was willing to take apart for the components

I looked through part of my jewelry hoard and selected some items that I was willing to deconstruct. Some of the pieces were dusty and needed cleaning.

Pieces washed and rinsed

I put the pieces needing cleaning in a bowl of warm water and Dawn dishwashing liquid and swished them around. I rinsed everything and placed on paper towels to dry.

Use a towel to keep beads from rolling

I took the necklaces apart on a towel so that the beads wouldn’t roll around, and also to see them better because my little work table is black.

Use ice cube trays for beads

These ice cube trays came as a pair for 99 cents at the 99 Cents Only store. They are perfect for holding small amounts of beads. As I disassembled everything, I put the pieces in the trays. If I had to buy all that from a bead store, it would cost a fortune.

Starting with the lower strand

I have two beading boards…a one strand and a three strand. I used the Darice three strand board that I’ve had since the ’90s. I started with the bottom strand. Put masking tape or painters tape on the ends to hold your beads in place so they don’t slide off.

Stringing the necklace

I used .024 inch Beadalon bead stringing wire for stringing the beads, which is necessary for heavy beads. I only purchased the stringing wire, end cones, and toggle clasps (from Michaels). I already had the jump rings. Everything else was from the jewelry I took apart.

Three strands

Remaining beads after necklace was finished

As you can see, I still have a lot of materials left over. I also just found another bag of take apart jewelry, so I have a feeling I will be making more than one treasure necklace.

My completed beaded treasure necklace

Beaded treasure necklace detail

I’ve been wanting to create a treasure necklace for a long time, and I’m very pleased with how this one turned out. Entirely made from old earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. It was a lot of fun and not difficult to accomplish. It’s not that heavy, and I’m looking forward to wearing it because it makes me happy!

 

Summer is Over

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I suppose that Labor Day is still officially the end of summer, but nowadays the kids go back to school in August, so that is when it feels like it’s over to me. I started substitute teaching last school year, and I’ve already been called up this month. So here is what I did over the summer….

Metta Prayer Flag, 2017

The theme for the June 1st First Friday show at Stoneworks Studios and Gallery (Ventura, California) was Things That Fly. I created this Metta Prayer Flag, which sold.

In June, I also started crocheting a long dress to wear to the Saturday night banquet at the Crochet Guild of American (CGOA) in Chicago, which I attended during the last week of July. The dress pattern is the Coogee Bay Dress by designer Jenny King.

Beginning of Coogee Bay Dress

The July 7th First Friday Stoneworks show theme was Art With Text. I put text on my art quite often, and I had so much fun making the prayer flag that I made another banner. This is titled Wave That Flag, which is a line from the Grateful Dead song, U.S. Blues. It’s now hanging in my home.

Wave That Flag, 2017

I flew to Chicago from LAX to O’Hare airport on July 26th for the CGOA conference in Itasca, Illinois. I shared a room with my friend Zann at the Westin Chicago Northwest, which hosted the conference. I had a great time visiting with my crochet friends from all over the country and beyond. We received more free stuff this year than at any other conference I’ve attended in over 10 years; I had to ship a big box home and I still received more free yarn that I squished into my small carry-on suitcase. I mean, who can give up free yarn, amirite?

I took an all-day class in freeform crochet on Friday, taught by my friend Margaret Hubert. We started on a freeform crochet clutch bag, and here is what mine looked like at the end of the day:

Beginning of freeform crochet clutch, 2017

Coogee Bay Dress, 2017

I finished crocheting my dress with time to spare. It is made up of 40 squares, and I added crocheted trim on the sleeves and hem. It’s heavy and I’m short, so it did touch the floor a little bit when I wore it to the banquet on Saturday night. Designer Jenny King was there, all the way from Australia, and she took a photo of me in the dress. There were three other women there wearing their versions of the dress, all in solid colors. Mine was the only multicolored one, as it started with my desire to use up some of the jewel tone #10 crochet cotton in my stash. I modeled my freeform shawl California Wildflowers in the fashion show, and it received many compliments, which was nice.

Wearing Coogee Bay Dress at 2017 CGOA banquet in Chicago

My flight back to SoCal didn’t leave until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, so I got up early and took the hotel shuttle to the local train station, and then took the train into downtown Chicago so I could take in The Art Institute of Chicago, which is world-renowned for its magnificent collection. I got there before they opened at 10:00 a.m. and I didn’t leave until about 3:30 p.m. to walk back to the train station. It was fantastic! I took hundreds of photos, and it was such a delight to see so many famous paintings up close. It felt like seeing old friends.

The Art Institute of Chicago

I arrived home from Chicago on Sunday night, July 30th. I rested for a few days and got ready for the next adventure…hosting visiting grandchildren for a week and numerous activities. I hope to see more of Chicago someday!

 

 

No Longer MIA

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Sorry to be gone so long. I got caught up in fall vending, and then in December I had to go out of state for a month due to a family emergency medical situation. From January to early May, I had one health setback after another and didn’t feel super creative. I even missed participating in this year’s International Freeform Fiberarts Guild challenge. But I’m on the mend and I’m doing better, so I’m happy about that.

I did manage to make a few new pieces for local shows. January’s First Friday show (1/06/17) at Stoneworks Studio and Gallery was the annual Black & White show. Since I was out of state during December without access to my studio or supplies, I decided on making a simple line embroidered portrait of singer and artist Patti Smith, which I framed once I returned home prior to the entry date.

Horses, hand embroidery, 2017. Portrait of Patti Smith.

Horses, hand embroidery, 2017. Portrait of Patti Smith.

I wasn’t able to enter February’s show due to health issues. March’s First Friday show (3/03/17) theme at Stoneworks was Color It Red. Personally, I was seeing red over the current administration’s attitude toward women’s rights and women’s access to healthcare. I created a small studio quilt mounted on a red plastic hanger. The machine quilting along the border represents barbed wire, in keeping with the imagery of No Trespassing and Private Property.

Seeing Red, studio quilt, 2017

Seeing Red, studio quilt, 2017

April’s First Friday show (4/07/17) theme was Time. Due to ongoing health issues, I entered a piece from last year, which I created for the 2016 annual International Freeform Fiberarts Guild challenge. I called it Springtime in California for the show.

California Wildflowers, 2016

California Wildflowers, 2016

March’s First Friday show (5/05/17) at Stoneworks was the annual portrait show, Face It. I still had very little energy for creating anything very involved and time-consuming. I decided to make a quick, off-the-cuff improvisational portrait quilt. I did it very quickly and intuitively, completing the entire top in six hours. I entered it in the show, forgetting that there would be a People’s Choice Award with a cash prize. Even if I would have remembered, I would not have expected my piece to win compared to the other entries.

Abby Normal, studio quilt, 2017

Abby Normal, studio quilt, 2017

When I arrived at the gallery on Friday night, I saw sheets of paper with stickers on them under each work of art. I had just woken up from a nap and was still half asleep, so it didn’t click with me right away that it was the voting method for the People’s Choice Award. Mine had the most stickers, and I was quite shocked to win the award! I was very pleased nonetheless, and my friend Lucy purchased Abby Normal. It was a very good evening.

I’m back to creating new clothing out of old, and I’m working on new work for the June show. The theme is flying. I have a few ideas.

I promise to update more often. Sometimes life gets in the way of our art.

Getting Caught Up

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I came here to post about September art doings, and much to my chagrin, I hadn’t posted since May! I was working as a full-time nanny to my youngest granddaughter until mid-June. I decided to shift my focus to creating wearables for children, so I’ve been working on that while creating art regularly for two local art groups. Let’s get caught up!

No Words (2016)

No Words (2016)

I created No Words, a painted studio quilt, for the July First Friday show at Stoneworks Studios, Word Up! I was influenced by the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting. I then entered it in the Ventura County Arts Council show, Surreal: Depictions of the Barely Believable, which is currently up until October 11, 2016.

No Words in Ventura County Arts Council show, Surreal: Depictions of the Barely Believable

No Words in Ventura County Arts Council show, Surreal: Depictions of the Barely Believable

In July, I entered my freeform crochet shawl California Wildflowers in the Ventura County Arts Council show, 101 Corridor. (The 101 Freeway runs north-south through California.) It won Second Place and a cash award. The show ran July and August, 2016.

California Wildflowers in Ventura County Arts Council show, "101 Corridor"

California Wildflowers in Ventura County Arts Council show, “101 Corridor”

I finished what we fiber artists refer to as “a UFO”, which means “Unfinished Object”. In this case, it was the Medici Coat pattern by “free range knitting” designer Jane Thornley. It had been languishing forlornly in a basket. I like it and it fits, but because I live in southern California I might be able to wear it for a month or two this winter.

Medici coat (2016)

Medici coat (2016)

The theme for the August First Friday Stoneworks show was The Dog Days of Summer. I don’t have a dog. I have three cats. So I thought of my friend Hugh, who lost his beloved dog Polly last year. I asked him if he would like a quilt made in Polly’s likeness, and he said yes, so I took one of his favorite photos of Polly and transformed it into fabric. This was my photo inspiration:

polly-photo

And this is how I interpreted it:

Polly (2016)

Polly (2016)

The Altered Artwear group on Facebook had a Summer Challenge, so I transformed this dress into a tunic.

vintage-dress-to-tunic

The September theme for the First Friday show at Stoneworks was Change It Up (mixed media, collage, recycle, found object). I created a collage mask, made with torn up magazine paper on a plaster cloth mask with buttons and green coated wire embellishment. I titled it Sleep Study.

Sleep Study (2016)

Sleep Study (2016)

I often get caught up in creating, and forget to post and share regularly. I will work on that. Hope you enjoyed this post!