An End to the Doldrums

I rejoice to say: sure enough the malaise has lifted - progress made on the challenge piece for Fiberactions - and ideas bubbling around for new work in the New Year.  Here is a little glimpse of the challenge, just a little detail because the reveal is not until January 15 here.

raw silk dyed with rust and onions; cotton dyed with procion; textile paints; beads

The last spectacular sunset of the old year happened last evening.

I share it with you here along with more trumpeter swans...

and best wishes for a creative 2012.  See you there!

Scene Recently, #21

The clouds parted for a rare glimpse of sunset at Blind Slough on a recent afternoon.

Reflections While Shirking

Reflections at year end as we enjoy some quiet days off from the usual routine:

In the studio, fooling around on a piece for the Fiberactions challenge (due on January 15), feeling weary, stuck and empty-headed… 

detail of work in progress: stamping on vintage kimono silk

detail of work in progress: stamping on eco-dyed raw silk

 

This will pass, I know, but it’s uncomfortable as always when beginning to work again after a hiatus.  Others have wisely suggested that at the start of a break, it’s helpful to leave something in progress waiting for you – I wish I had!  Experience tells me that it will be ok, just get in there and make some chaos – the doors to my imagination will fly open again.

 

We have taken some good walks on these afternoons while I am shirking my studio, and I believe this time off will play into the next body of work.

 

 

What is your remedy for being blahhked?

By the way, thank you so much to all who read, comment and follow my blog - I plan to have a give away early in the new year to celebrate my anniversary. 

Daily Drawing

Big Fish - Prismacolor and Pigma pen in 5x7 Moleskine

Looking for the Light on the Shortest Day - pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 5x7 Moleskine

Bronco - sharpie marker and prismacolor pencil in 6x9 sketch book

Home Coming

We spent the weekend traveling home from Denver, where every day was clear like this early morning:

Since you can't get back to our island in one day, we flew to Seattle and spent the night.  Walking to Daughter's apartment from the train we ran into some holiday crowds on the street.

The person in white appeared to be their leader.

We went to Fisherman's Terminal over in Ballard for lunch - so mild and sunny out we strolled the docks after we ate.

This morning, the jet made it into town right on schedule despite the sleet and low visibility.  Reunited with Flossy, we took a long walk after getting unpacked.  The absence of city noise and crowds was a welcome change.

Down at the Slough, cold wind and Trumpeter Swans.  Here they are, close up:

After the walk, The Sailor got us our Christmas tree and we went home to build a fire.  

Merry Christmas!

Fascinating

My Daughter linked me to a most fascinating work by photographer Jon Crispin.  I hope you enjoy taking a look when you have time.  Here are some of the things I have seen the past couple of days:

Scene Recently, #20

I am traveling right now.

 Maybe you can guess what pacific northwest city i was in yesterday?

 It has a phenomenal book store...

 ...and food of all kinds sold from carts everywhere.

A great thing: they are still having Fall rather than winter!

Kelp Twists

I am fascinated by what tide action does to these swaths of bull kelp.

The stems are 2 to 3 inches in diameter at the thicker, bulb end.

Rearrangements and a Walk

At the studio: a major re-arrangement, cleaning up and weeding out.  The dust flew.  Sacks of give-aways were trundled off to places in need.

Looking in from the entry area, see how clean the floor is?  My big ironing surface, recently recovered with two layers of felt for stamping, now parallels the other big work table.

I moved the sewing machines away from their former location under the windows where the sunshine made it impossible to stitch (on the rare occasions when the sun actually appears here).  Now I am facing the entry area when I sew.

At top center, the stacked boxes contain my weeded out fabric collection - reduced from two stacks side by side to just one.  I feel LIGHTER!

 

 

Afterward, time to walk before dark.   

Flossy fording the creek.

kelp hanging from driftwood

Misty fog came and went, raising and lowering silently along the shoreline.

Our neighbor's boat won't be making any more trips this year.

The old painted surface of the keel deserved a closer look.

We came across an echo of those colors a bit further on.

On the split boulder, I saw...

the Venus of Mitkof Island.

 

Next time, I want to show you the amazing kelp twists we came upon.  Off to the sketch book for now.  Good night!

 

A Fork in the Road

The exhibit of right around 30 pieces I’ve completed over the past year goes up at a local gallery Friday.  Yesterday the radio station reporter interviewed me about the show.  It was interesting to take a look at some of the work through his eyes, and to realize that I have arrived at a turning point once again – the end of one path and the beginning of another.  

pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 5x7 moleskine

This fork in the road is a good place to be standing near the close of the year.  Over the next weeks I will be examining my accomplishments for 2011, and setting goals on paper for 2012.  I did this last year, following Zom’s good example, and found it very helpful: self-esteem building to look back and see a bit of progress; illuminating to envision and prioritize undertakings ahead.  

One of my intentions for the new year ahead is to continue learning how to push Photoshop Elements around.   

original photograph of swatch

Remember this little fabric sample I think I showed you the other day? 

I brought the image into PSE...

 

and turned it into this using blending modes and filters.  Quite addictive, really!