The Hand Series has New Canvas

What was I saying about now doing 8 - 8x10 inch pieces, 5 - 5x7 inch pieces, etc. for my "Hands" project?

Jeff and I were up in Madison yesterday and I wanted to go into the Jo-Ann superstore there, just because our store here in Rockford doesn't have everything, including not having a fine art supplies section...

With my employee key card in hand, I checked out their stretched canvases, and saw these very interesting sizes that came 3 to a package.  I've never seen 4x12 inch ones before, and for some reason, I knew they would be perfect for a few of the pieces in my collection.  When we got home, I checked online to see if their prices were comparable - Jo-Ann's had the best price - $16.00something for the three, and my discount on top of that...

Maybe I should stick with unusual sizes for the rest of the pieces.

 Something else different here: had just seen on Lily's site about scented yarn, so I decided to pick up a skein of "Sugar 'n Cream Scents"...not sure what the scent is, but it is pleasing.  Just think, aromaknittingtherapy.

I had thought last weekend that I had 5 days off from work, so I could delve into some major playful time in the studio, but I was wrong...I only have the next couple of days off, and wouldn't you know, this is the week for deadlines!  Rockford's Greenwich Art Fair app, a one day show app that will be held at an upscale shopping complex this summer, and my art class proposals for Rock Valley College/Rockford Art Museum are due tomorrow.  I wish I could pull those all-nighters like I used to, but now it just ruins the next day for me.  Well, maybe I could do 1:00 am...

Colorful Balls of Felt to Lift Those Gray Sky Blues Away

I just can't say it without laughing! While at best friend Bobbie's today getting ready to show her how to make a nuno felted scarf, I pulled these out of my pocket. Perfect timing it was, because of a conversation that a goofy trio (Bobbie, her hubby Lenny and myself) were having. So here they are, now cut in half to show the colorful insides...

(Okay, if you watch Project Runway, Tim Gunn once said that he "preferred the wooley ones.")
I need to stop now. It's too late in the day for falling off one's chair.

 Aren't they fun? It's been so gray and dreary here for so long - the bright colors are good for the soul! I also needed a little distraction from the "hands" series, plus it does give me inspiration for next week - I have a few days off in a row from the store and plans are to make some pre-felts from roving...and maybe make a huge batch of these!

New Sizes for the Hands Series

12 - 12x12's are finished, now onto the 8 - 8x10's.

I was thinking that this would be a way to decide how many pieces I could realistically handle for this series. Knowing that the largest ones were done (the tops anyway), I can focus on creating the next group without feeling overwhelmed.  This is the first time I've done anything like this.  What's next? 5 - 5x7's, 3 - 3x5's, and then maybe some tiny pieces.  I'm feeling encouraged now, thinking that this would make a wonderful exhibit.

This is the first of the 8x10's...it was a commercial print that I fell in love with because the pattern had such movement to it.  I stitched away with some of  JoAnn Deck 's threads in her gift box to me.

And this is the 2nd one that I'm currently working on.  While straightening the calico wall the other night at work, this print stood out.  No little florals here! It's been fun so far coming up with giving the different circles a little character.  And,  Sherrie , that one solar-looking stitch in the detail shot is for you!

What You Can Do With Hand Dyed Wool Roving

Too much for a blog post title? Well, this is about last night's nuno felted scarf class I taught at Emmanuel...

Ten wild women gathered in the Library to create their scarves.  It was so much fun seeing the ladies play with the fibers, get them wet, roll them over and over again, then we went outside to "throw" them - if you're familiar with nuno felting, one of the final things that you must do is to fully felt the wool roving into the silk and the way I do it is to literally throw them.  It's interesting to see who's a little reserved and who lets go - I can honestly say that all 10 of them were really getting into it!

My new camera can create 10 minute movies, so I decided to tape the gals, and now they're on YouTube! We had to go outside so any splashing of water wouldn't get on anything inside.  It was starting to get dark, but we did it anyway...YouTube - Nuno Felting Frenzy

Here they are with their creations...

Here's a shot of the merino roving that I had dyed earlier this week for the class.  Since our favorite yarn shop has closed in Rockford, I ordered the "superfine 80 merino" from Dharma Trading, and am very happy with it. I had NO problems with it during the process, and when it was dry, I didn't have to card it at all - hardly any tangles, and it felted fast on the silk scarves.
 A few of the ladies would like to take the class again, so that's good!  We just need a few more, and we'll schedule it for a Wednesday night coming up in a month or so.  If you're interested, let me know...

Transfer Artists' Paper on Leather?

I've been going in different directions with the printing of the hands for my series.  Leather it is, and other musings from the week...

I had tried Lesley Riley's TAP before, but maybe was a little impatient with the process, so my images were not good.  I decided to order another pack and give it another try for my series.  This time, I got it to work on leather!

Number 11 is now finished (all the stitching, that is). I am very happy with how it turned out, especially since it didn't involve creating movement in the stitching, and those straight lines, I thought, were boring. A friend's hands, Jonathan, will be on this one...






Number 12 will be started this week, so I wanted to show you what I've chosen for this one - an elder's hands that I found on a public domain site.  Aren't those threads perfect? Again, those are from the Caron Watercolors line of hand-painted 3-ply threads.




I'm not sure why I always feel like I need to start from scratch with some processes.  For this series, I'm attempting to create 12x12 canvases to mount my pieces on. It may be because I can't walk into a local store (you know, the big box ones) and pick up ready to go 12x12 canvases at a lower price, and with the fabric that I want in the color I'm looking for.  So...I may end up realizing that this is too much work for the same amount of money, yeah. I'm still going to try it on at least one because there is the matter of a deadline for next Monday - I'm exhibiting at Emmanuel for Rockford's Spring Artscene - "All My Relations ~ A Peaceable Kingdom." I'm finishing one of my series' pieces for the exhibit as a sort of a 'taste of things to come' - a solo exhibit in the not so distant future, I hope!
Stretcher strips together...

Gesso'd muslin as a base to be stapled on the strips...

A beautiful natural "hopsack" weave linen that will be on top of the muslin.  Plans are to brush on some clear gesso...

A busy week it has been and you will be glad to know I am working diligently on the business of getting my work out there! I've been intrigued by the TAFA: The Textile and Fiber Art List, following it on Facebook. It looks like a wonderful opportunity for us textile types! In one of my other lives, I have met with the women at church regarding my resignation from my childrens' ministry position and am feeling so much better about that.  Jason is back home (well, sort of), working his two jobs, going to Rock Valley College - he doesn't have a car yet, but the three of us are working that out.  As usual, I've avoided doing our taxes and would normally wait until the last minute, but I had promised Jason to have them finished this weekend - for his student loan apps, he needs that info.  I'm still such a good mommy...

Question: does anyone know how to add a blog widget from Etsy?

Goodies for Me?

JoAnn Deck  - what did I do...

to receive this wonderful box of fiber goodies in the mail today? It was just like Christmas today, coming home from work and finding that package from you...this 56 year old woman feels like a little child - THANK YOU!!!!!

I can't wait to dig through all the goodies..."Oh Jeff, supper will be a little late tonight, okay?"

Am I to "pay it forward"?