My very own moat

We woke up to this Saturday, after an all-night steady rain.  I was up before 5am, mucking around in my waders  and trying to scrape the leaves away from a drain somewhere in the "pond".  A futile effort, because the storm sewer was clogged up somewhere down the line.  The water was about mid-calf, so all my landscaping was under water or floating away.  Creepy!!  I hate being in water in the dark, and it was still raining!   It finally started to recede around 9am, after the town utility service got the sewer moving again.   They are going to re-build the damn dam that a neighbor messed up a couple years ago and then things should be better.

It's the second time this week that our yard & crawl space have been flooded, but we fared much better than so many people in this area.  

Since it rained all day, it was a good time to clean my studio, and work some new projects.  I've started working in a new medium, paper beads, to make into jewelry.  I wanted to go in a different direction for awhile, but also do something more green.  It's a great way to use up junk mail, catalogs, magazines.  I still love my art quilts, but my pieces seem to be too expensive for most folks.
I've been feeling burnt out working on them lately, so even if the beads are a short diversion, I hope it will get me back in the creative groove again.

Don't forget to wear your clean undies when you go out today, kiddies!     Namaste´

Facebook!?

I joined the FB ranks last weekend. Maybe I'm old, cranky or both, but I don't really get it!   I think I'm just not a techno-rat.  It seems like a bunch of confusion more than anything.  Can I be excused now to go climb a tree and sit with my favorite book? 

The aforementioned Crawfordsville show was really swell, and my work looked better than I could have thought, given the lighting was bright.  Here I be, with one of my favorites, "Animal House".
Thank you Barb!  

I dressed so classy for my own art exhibit: I AMAZE myself sometimes...I'm sure I'll make the cover of Vogue one of these days.

Now I am busy insulating the crawl space of my little abode.   Anyone looking for an exciting afternoon of claustrophobia, spiders and scratching?  It just can't get more fun!  I'll be wearing my black witch shoes and striped stockings so when the house falls on me, you'll know who to look for.

Cheers!

Art Show - Crawfordsville, In

After months of doing my usual nothing, I finally finished my latest Fish Portrait! 

My lil' buddy Rainbow Trout is now debuting in an art show at the public library in Crawfordsville, In.,  from August 30-September 28, 2010.   Stop by and take a peak and see the other 2 artists on display.   Thanks to Diane Hammill for her hard work in getting it set up,  my sister Jill for her willingness to sit and type stuff while I sewed one afternoon, and the love & support of all my friends and family! 

More from the peanut gallery later.... Namaste

Joseph's Coat

Summer is bringing out all the beautiful flowers in my yard and sending the bees, birds and butterflies into a feeding frenzy, and lavender sends out it's relaxing fragrance as I cut flowers each day.  Joseph's Coat is of one of my latest editions to my rose collection.  The picture doesn't come close to bringing out all the colors of this stunning beauty! It's a blaze of pinks, orange, yellow, and somewhere in between, depending on which flower you look at.  It's entangling itself with a medium purple clematis in my front garden and looks gorgeous.  I never thought I'd fall for roses this much, but they are enchanting, despite the thorns and a little extra care.  Like anything worth loving, you learn to appreciate even the difficult parts!

 

My main machine was in the shop for several weeks, for a much needed tune-up, so I got acquainted with my little turquoise 1960's Good Housekeeper machine.  It did really well for all I put it through each night, and despite a few tension & thread hang-ups, I'm pleased with it's performance.   The top is coming along, and I added glow-in-the-dark thread to several parts.  Neato!  My childish side is always thrilled with little bits of surprise here & there!

Take time to touch the Earth today!

Namaste    

Newest piece

This a fairly large piece -5' x 6', based on a sketch I did a few years ago, and then it turned into a large drawing. I am putting the background together now, after a few weeks spent making patchwork for the letters. I hope to have it done by September, for a show I'm scheduled to have of my work. I've got to push myself hard this summer, and finish two other pieces also! If only my day-job didn't get in the way!

Oh happy day! The Sun is shining more, daffodils are starting to bloom, and the birds are singing again!

Question of the day: If you had to leave Earth forever to live on another planet, what memories about our home-sphere would you want to remember?

Run screaming into the void!

That is my plan if I don't see the sun and green grass very soon!

Lots of sewing has been getting me through long nights but I'm getting restless to be outside and touch the earth again!

I've finally getting my website up & running this year. Thanks Ted!!!

There's still a bunch to do on it, but the first page is partially up.
Here's the link: http://www.dogstarstudio.us/

I have a show coming up later this year, so I'm pushing to finish several large quilts. I really miss all the time I had off with my last job!



I bought a back-up sewing machine last week- a "Good Housekeeper"- from the 60's?/70's. It sews beautifully, I can quilt on it, and it's turquoise!

Well time to make the doughnuts........ Vegan of course!

Itchy-scratchy show

Summer flew by with lots of flower planting, porch painting, and house insulating getting done. I love summer, even all the bugs.

I've now gone into my fall "SAD" depression! I know what's coming- I dread & despise winter and it's dark cold pit of death. Gray skys for weeks on end, snow, ice. Ugh.

My life-sized Rainbow trout is being machine quilted. Can't wait to see it on a wall.

Other pieces I worked on this summer - a baby quilt for my sister's co-worker, finished hand-quilting a small log cabin & applique piece, painting on a another large wall piece- all illustrated. Lately I've been working on scrap piecing for a big quilt- part illustrated and part crazy patch-work, with lots of little things sewn on too. The patch-work colors are keeping me happy as I sew each night after my day job.

We are dealing with a minor flea invasion. My doggy & kitty are doing the itchy-scratchy dance, but we're getting the little buggers under control.

phrase of the day: "sketch everything & keep your curiosity fresh"
- John Singer Sargent

Don't forget to donate to your local animal shelter(s), and go to the
Animal Rescue Site and click on the purple button every day to give bowls of food to shelter pets. It's free!

~Namaste- Betsy