Craft In America

CRAFT IN AMERICA

I happened to catch the last half of the 1st in this series last night, and was blown away.

It's an intimate portrait of several well-known and NOT so well-known artists/craftspeople from the U.S. I've always found it fascinating to watch someone create a physical object, and I also am enthralled by learning how and why they do what they do. What inspires them, how they organize their days, how they started, what the pieces mean to them, what tools they use and why, just every detail. This series of 3 episodes feeds that desire completely.

I still have two episodes to watch, but I'm still savoring what I've already seen.

Then I did a bit more research and found out the fun is just beginning. The 3-part documentary is just the FIRST project in the works. There will also be a traveling exhibition and a companion book. LINK TO MORE INFO

This site takes the concept so much further, they have links to the exhibition schedule, an area just for educators, a section for meeting the artists and more. Possibly my favorites are the
several links to crafts delineated by material used. Each page includes a discussion of the history of the medium, artists famous for its use, and links to ways YOU can learn how to start creating in it. Links are there for
Clay
Wood
Metal
Glass
and
Fiber

One REALLY COOL bit is when you click on the links called "Meet some of the best and most interesting" It gives you a long list of artist's names.. when you click on one of the names you have really great info INCLUDING a video interview with or about the artist!
I checked out fiber artists, and simply because I liked her name, clicked on
Hystercine Rankin.

Turns out she's a quilter.. I'll let you follow the link and read her story yourself... She's around 78 years old this year...


image is a piece of my own fiber art, called "Inner Light Goddess" Unfortunately, she was lost on a round robin adventure.. I kept the pattern I drew, though, and I think that her sister, when I make her, will be even better. I think I will hand paint my own fabric, and possibly make some of the elements with collaged stuff, maybe even some free form knitting or crochet.

Scottish Night at Otter House

I was surfing youtube last night and came across an old favorite group, the Battlefield Band

The particular performance found HERE may illustrate why I love them... the interplay among the performers and their instruments is fascinating.

Of course, being who I am, I kept browsing, finding odd and odder waters...
For example, Star Wars and ACDC being played on a bagpipe HERE
Warning.. its very silly..

But then, I found magic. I love finding a new (to me) musician... Eddi Reader. She sings haunting contemporary, and also traditional Celtic music, including an album singing songs of Robert Burns' poetry.
She'll be in Chicago, Boston and Milwaukee this year, otherwise she's on the other side of the Atlantic. Her website is HERE

Here she is singing with John Martyn.. she has such a fantastic voice. VIDEO

Then I found another favorite, Dougie MacLean, this time singing with Kathie Matea
HERE

And one of my favorite Scottish songs of all time, his CALEDONIA


*Happy Sigh*
Great night for surfing, dudes..

13 Things

I'm trying to feel better about not getting everything done by listing the things I DO accomplish. It is the first day, and it really kept me on task.
I currently have a total list of 42 things (9 of which are daily tasks) that I've thought of that I can do (if I am careful). Some of the tasks have time limits, most do not. Some are about getting the house more organized, some are about starting a pattern business, some are about writing. I managed to check 13 items off the list today. Eight daily items plus 5 of the additional tasks.
Some of what I did:

Remove dead catnip from beam

Make Spiral Felted Cat Toy

Write clean pattern for cat toy

sweep in front of washer

Mend summer quilt

put away corned beef dinners

Plus the daily laundry and dishes and dog feeding kinda things.

I feel pretty good. MUCH better to look at what I accomplished and not at what I didn't.

Image is of my Byzantine Strawberry Bag Pattern. It's almost finished. When it's done, I will make an additional sample from a different fiber, add the photo to the pattern, then put it up for sale on Etsy.

UNBOUND by Lori Devoti

As part of a program at Romance Writers of America - Online, I wrote a review for fellow romance author Lori Devoti.
I thought I would share it here, as well. It was a terrific read

Shapeshifters, trolls, an ancient God and a witch with the blackest of hearts range themselves against an innocent who knows nothing of the power she possesses.

Risk Leidolf is a Hellhound. Hunting is in his very blood and bone. Bound to the whims of the witch Lusse for almost five hundred years, his strong will has kept him sane and made him the Alpha leader of her pack, but the cost to his humanity has been steep. He fights merely to survive. Freedom is a fantasy, unattainable, until he senses the true power of his most recent prey, Kara.

Kara has always depended on her twin. Kelly was the strong, courageous one, Kara the follower. When her twin disappears, Kara is determined to find her on her own since the authorities aren't of much use. The only person who offers to help search also embodies her deepest fears, and has a hidden agenda of his own. Stronger than fear is her need to find her sister, and her overwhelming desire for Risk. Their connection, their shared passion is beyond anything she has ever hoped to experience.

As her world shifts around her, she discovers her own hidden strengths, and pits them against ancient powers in an attempt to save her sister and her self.

Lori Devoti's dark world drew me in from the first page. Her deft characterization and fascinating alternate reality kept me hooked through the final phrase.

Garden Sharing

I was able to gift a neighbor (our dog Kitsune's former mom) with some plants from the garden that were failing, and parts of some plants that neeeded dividing.. It makes me feel so much better to have them somewhere they will be cherished instead of feeling guilty because I can't clear the weeds from around them. Sharon is ecstatic, she scored a Japanese painted fern, a foam flower, a few Monkshood (I had extras when I transplanted them), some phlox, mountain mint, pulmonaria, dead nettle, Johnson's Blue wild geranium and some variegated white striped grass. She did me a favor by dividing my plants, and was SO happy!
I need to transplant a paeonie that was planted too deeply and has yet to bloom. It may also want more sun. (this will be my third attempt) . I also found my Lady's Mantle. I think Lynn wanted a start of it, so I will pot it up for her before we go visiting on the 10th.

Below, some images taken in the past few years of plants mentioned above:

Social Life

A social life.
Yep, I'm getting one.
Tomorrow we meet with some Pagan and Pagan-friendly folk for a lovely outdoor picnic. I'm bringing an oriental coleslaw, if I get it done in time. I was hoping to do it tonight but my ankle gave up on me mid-way through the laundry.

When the meds kick in I may still be able to make it.. I need to find that delicate balance between lessened pain and still able to slice and dice!

Oscar needs about 3 hours sleep more a night than I do, so I'll just stay up a bit to make it. We're supposed to meet them around 11-ish, which is an hour earlier than Oscar is used to getting up.

I'll also bring my current knitting project. I'm making my own version of the Ribs and Lace Tank from the Spring 2007 Interweave Knits. I love the ribbed bodice, VERY clever decreases that really show off "The Girls".
You can see an image on THIS PAGE
Its the center middle image in brown. Its difficult to see the details, but I have discarded the bottom horizontal lace and done mine all in the vertical ladder stitch lace. I may do an edging around the bottom to have the 'skirt' lay more flatly. Rather than decreasing at the sides, I am changing needles to smaller sizes as I knit from bottom to top. I'm doing mine in COLORJOY "Lynnabelle" DK weight. I plan to make a matching shrug so that it looks like I'm wearing a short sleeve top rather than a tank.

I also love the Bonsai Tunic in the image just below, but that pattern is a bit trickier to transform into my size. I may try it after I finish this one, though.

No pics of mine yet, its basically a big tube of ladder lace at present, but it IS a beautiful hue. Here's a picture of my Lynnabelle Yarn. It's even prettier in person.



















Today's other image is of my faithful Buddha kitty. She always comes and lays on my legs if she thinks I've overdone things. I USUALLY listen to her and rest for awhile.

Driving

I drove today! Its the first time I've been behind the wheel since re-learning last fall. Hand controls were challenging to get used to. Today, it FINALLY felt natural to push out to brake and pull down to accelerate. I feel the door opening to all sorts of activities, like grocery shopping, and maybe even attending a knitting group now and then. There is one that meets on Tuesdays at the library in downtown Ypsilanti but the distance from van parking in back, around the sidewalk and up a loooong ramp to to the front door is intimidating for now. I'll work up to it. In the meantime, I bet I can find a more easily accessed group somewhere! I don't want to drive in the main part of Ann Arbor yet, students have a habit of walking in front of cars and my braking isn't THAT good, but there is a group that meets once a month, often at Borders book store, meeting tomorrow. I want to drive more in daylight first though. At least until I get my new glasses.

Image is a quilt block I designed, of the Egyptian Lioness Goddess Sekhmet:

Back at work

Still no Photoshop on the laptop, still not sitting upright for long so woodsy and new garden pics still on hold.
Oscar went back to work today, which meant my vacation was over too. I am writing again, and loving it. Who knows what will result? As long as I'm having a good time, its worth the time and effort.
We truly enjoyed our time off. Oscar unearthed a LARGE portion of his study, and is using my studio desktop as his station while the study is in re-structure mode. I mostly use my beloved laptop anyway, so that's all good.
I spent a small amount of time in the garden today, and found that the roses all made it through the winter. I am much better this year at limiting my time to protect my health, which bodes very well.
We are both reveling in the Spring. It took so very long to arrive this year, but seems to be making up for lost time. I have taken some photos, but they are still unprocessed. My next big project is finding the Photoshop disk!!!
In the meantime, here is a pic (taken last spring) of the anemones I found blooming outside today.

Back from the North

We just returned from a vacation up on my family's property near Gaylord. I was able to get on a four-wheeler and drive myself back into the deep woods. It was wonderful, the first time in years that I've been able to get out in the wilds by myself. We had a terrific time talking with Dad, too. I have photos, but haven;t been able to sit at the computer with Photoshop (or find the disc to upload it to the lap top) So I'll just share one uncropped photo for now.