Work in Progress: Crocheted Character

Of the people who know me, those who know me the best know I am obsessed. Obsessed with mummers. And muppets. One day, I hope to reach the point where this love will reach a culmination, through my creations. I'm not talking mimicry, I'm talking unique, never seen before, my very own creations. I'm not there yet...though I have quite an assortment of plushies under my belt. Until that day, I will keep fiddling...and creating.

Knitted coffee cup sleeve

Today I offer thanks for coffee, the merciful potion that blesses me with the clarity to be present for my children. The best in Philadelphia is from Earth Cup at 45th and Pine streets. Owner Natasa (pronounced NAH-tasha, with the stress on the first syllable, like "Anthony" or "Jennifer") has concocted an eponymous house blend that I once compared to a giant bell that hits all the notes, resounding and stately and deep. The americano, too, is worth a trip for its own sake, not the strange apology of a drink you might find elsewhere, but an intriguing, sultry brew.

No ordinary yarn would do for the cup sleeve for this sacred nectar. At the Spruce Hill May Fair in Clark Park, I found this playful "Sparkle and Fade Fuchsia" metallic merino from String Theory, a West Philadelphia fiber artist who hand-spins and hand-dyes her own yarns. (She brought her spinning wheel to the fair!) Quite rightly, her yarns are not cheap, so I splurged on a hank and promised myself to save it only for the most special projects.

What's the Story, Morning Glory?

When I was four years old I became obsessed with growing things. My first foray into gardening was an experiment with navy beans; they grew so fast I was afraid of them so my Mom took them out of my room.

My second planting was much more “successful”. I took several packs of morning glory seeds and scattered them all over our yard and the lawns of the houses on either side of us. No-one realized what I had done until the tell-tale heart-shaped leaves appeared. That summer the morning glories covered all three yards in a "Heavenly Blue" tangle (and because they are self-seeding, they were persistent for years after). Our neighbors were not amused, but my Mother never let them yell at me. Instead, she taught me about boundaries, respecting people's property, and of course weeding.

All these years later, when we’re out and about and see a wall or fence covered in morning glory vines, my Mom giggles. I took this photo last summer and saved it to frame as one of this year’s Mother’s Day gifts. This week I didn’t make a piece of art or a concrete thing, I made my Mom laugh.

The photo was taken in natural light with a FujiFilm FinePix A201.

Art Party!

A good friend/artist/poet/maker and I hosted an Art Party last night! We invited a few of our fellow maker friends to share and create collaborative pieces. It was pretty easy to get everyone going with the plethora of materials we collected - everything from printed materials (textbooks, vintage gay porn, magazines) to thread, sequins, markers, some image transfers... all in all, it was inspiring and FUN.



I've uploaded a few shots of completed pieces to my flickr page, but I must warn you that some of the images are not safe for work (NSWF)! ;)

Making and making and making

I've been creating new stuff like crazy in anticipation of a couple of upcoming shows, and I feel good about the delight I experience in the making.
I'll try to keep up with this blog because it looks like a great way to keep the imaginative juices flowing.
Wow, there are so many great artists out there!

All About Bibs

Like Leah, my posting has fallen by the wayside in this sprint to the finish for Art Star. I am sewing everyday, but mostly more of the same. The last couple days, though, have been all about bibs. Older infant and toddler bibs good for messes of yogurt and such.

Reversible bibs with strong snaps they can't undo themselves. Lined with quilt batting to absorb the spills and drool. Yum!

Strange Plants, A Collage

I like making imaginary plants by combining old botanical illustrations.