tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58856847281105966022024-03-13T00:00:06.306-04:00Studio Kit - Art by Kit LangKit Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910138957358034285noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-29650775175125455512020-01-20T15:42:00.002-05:002020-01-20T15:42:39.489-05:00Oh The drama!<div class="BodyFull" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not really, but today I’m posting
about a no-no. Or at least, it’s commonly described as a no-no.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m talking about re-working an old
piece. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Truthfully, I’m often tempted to
re-work old pieces. Some of them are hanging in my house (some of them are even
hanging in OTHER people’s houses!); but mostly, they are rolled up and hidden
away in the dark recesses of my studio, or in cupboards or storage units. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXG_ejEb8u4/XiYP1qDMWgI/AAAAAAAAAOM/3qncOA7RdPQRhNktgf1ePSxfJWYWGmhdACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Winter%2BBirches%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXG_ejEb8u4/XiYP1qDMWgI/AAAAAAAAAOM/3qncOA7RdPQRhNktgf1ePSxfJWYWGmhdACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Winter%2BBirches%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2013.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just before Christmas however, (on
the 23<sup>rd</sup>, to be precise!), one of my collectors (they have purchased
5 pieces so far including a large commissioned piece); wrote me and asked if I
had something approximately X size in X price range. I told them that
unfortunately, no, I didn’t. I had some bigger pieces that would be quite a bit
more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="BodyFull" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They wrote back and said more would
be okay because it was for their sister and they didn’t mind spending more. So,
I sent a few pics of unsold work, but nothing appealed. Unfortunately (or
fortunately for me) literally all of the work I have been doing the last four
years has been commission only, so I didn’t have anything unsold. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then I remembered that I DID have
a piece tucked away that I had been wanting to hang in our house, but wanted to
fix it up a bit before I did, despite the fact that it had been exhibited in
the condition it was currently in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sent the collector a pic, told them
the size and price, and they bought it. I explained that because it was the 23<sup>rd</sup>,
I wouldn’t have time to go to FedEx until the 27<sup>th</sup>, and would that
be okay. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I dug it out of the bin it had
been in (mounted on corrugated cardboard with double sided tape and in a
plastic sleeve) and began to prepare a background for proper mounting - I chose
to do so on a plain black painted canvas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I prepared the canvas, and waited
for the gesso to dry, I kept looking at the piece, thinking “It really would be
improved if I would just added such and such”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It really would look better if I
just filled in that a little.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It really would… and before I knew
it, it was in my hands and I was stitching. *le gasp!*<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKrkhrGTICA/XiYQXoLeinI/AAAAAAAAAOU/VUptxBYS1XYm99KqU-JppynIXcrZwBLRgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Winter%2BBirches%2B%2528c%2529%2B2019%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKrkhrGTICA/XiYQXoLeinI/AAAAAAAAAOU/VUptxBYS1XYm99KqU-JppynIXcrZwBLRgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Winter%2BBirches%2B%2528c%2529%2B2019%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, as you can see, I added some
winter grass, I filled out the snow on the ground a bit with more French knots
and beads, and the big problem - that evergreen that seemed to be floating in
mid air, got lengthened and brought down to a more appropriate height. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I added another evergreen to the
right of it. If I’d had more time, I would have added a bit of another peeking
out, but I ran out of time and had to ship it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think it looks much better, and now
I want to re-work ALL of my old work that I don’t like. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know that people say you should
keep the old work as it is, as a record; but who is really going to care, but
me? Nobody is ever going to be doing a retrospective of my work, future
scholars aren’t going to study it and write papers about how it’s changed as I
grew more exposed to so and so, or took a such and thus course. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then I might actually enjoy my
work, and it wouldn’t be shoved in some bin in the back of a closet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are your thoughts on improving
old work? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yay, or nay? </span></div>
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Kit Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910138957358034285noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-20612470807758412342019-11-20T16:23:00.000-05:002019-11-21T10:21:54.737-05:00Studio TourI promised to do a studio tour 5 years ago, so here it is! LOL<br />
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It's never been clean enough, perfect enough, arranged enough...it's never actually reached my "vision"of what I wanted my studio to look like, but as I was reorganizing and rearranging a couple/few weeks ago, I realized that it's never actually going to look like that. Alas.<br />
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So here it is. Four hundred and fifty square feet, stuffed to the gills in all its glory!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el6OmAFXh44/XdWo8D9oM9I/AAAAAAAAAMA/ca2hvg9S5q4r1uFRoP_FBmBn_IeL_y0qgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/View%2Bof%2Bback%2Bwall%2B%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B-%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="464" height="518" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el6OmAFXh44/XdWo8D9oM9I/AAAAAAAAAMA/ca2hvg9S5q4r1uFRoP_FBmBn_IeL_y0qgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/View%2Bof%2Bback%2Bwall%2B%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B-%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I realized when I was uploading this photo that I didn’t take
one of when you actually enter the studio and see what it looks like as you
come around the corner. Ooops!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, this a view
of the back wall - you can see my mostly covered wall of thread (Lol) Behind
that brown particle board (which is my photo “wall” when draped with white
cloth) is a heavy duty shelving unit with all my sewing machines on it - and
beside them are 3 baskets of fabrics I use to make trees. I make a lot of
trees! You may have noticed. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">This is where I am most of the time - sketching, making notes, cutting fabric, painting fabric, painting paper, sorting, etc. This is my main work table. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpAfwNaqGT8/XdWo8n2OVzI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/ccBvLbOILYU-wwijdkqtJMXxkFoxovmqACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/view%2Bof%2Bboth%2Bwork%2Btables%2Bfront%2Bwall%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpAfwNaqGT8/XdWo8n2OVzI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/ccBvLbOILYU-wwijdkqtJMXxkFoxovmqACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/view%2Bof%2Bboth%2Bwork%2Btables%2Bfront%2Bwall%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The one over there (points at fabric covered table with all the plants)
is where my digital cutter is (orange plastic covered thingy under the plants)
and where I do any work on the computer. Sometimes I sketch there if I’m
working in the studio in the mornings. It’s also where I do my make up before
work every day, which is why there’s a mirror there! Lol <br /><br />As you probably noticed, the base of that work table is small dressers, which are filled with fabric scraps. Each drawer contains a particular colour. There's a small shelving unit underneath it in the middle that has wire baskets full of painted fabrics. There's another one of those shelving units under the main work table that has painted papers in it.<br /><br />To the left of the work table is a tall skinny thing that has all of my sewing patterns in it. It is JAM. PACKED. I need a new one of those cabinets, but IKEA doesn't make them anymore. *cries*<br /><br />The white shelving unit on the right is usually more packed with stuff, but in my reorganization, I purged a lot. Right now it has yardage for clothes, and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and BOXES of beads, as well as some small art WIPs. Don't worry - those empty shelves will fill up again soon! </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYnNgf5kWGs/XdWpanZI8iI/AAAAAAAAAMk/qhCAgKP4IGQw3xWEGeiOpy1XPmtcx-oDQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/new%2Bindustrial%2Bsewing%2Bmachine%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYnNgf5kWGs/XdWpanZI8iI/AAAAAAAAAMk/qhCAgKP4IGQw3xWEGeiOpy1XPmtcx-oDQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/new%2Bindustrial%2Bsewing%2Bmachine%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is my new prize, my industrial Necchi sewing machine. I’ve been
wanting one for a long time and finally got one. She stitches a crazy amount of
stitches per minute (5,000!) so she’s pretty intimidating - I expect that I’ll have at least one visit
to the hospital having stitched through my finger - but I lurrrvvvee her. <br /><br />She
only does straight stitch, and I already bought her a darning foot so I can
free motion. I’ll get a walking foot later, and I’ll have everything I need in
her. *looks at her with heart eyes*<br /><br />The little black drawer/shelving units to the right are filled up with all the embroidery floss in the world, because I'm a hoarder. There, I said it. Haha!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBO1d-t-Chw/XdWo8KyeKuI/AAAAAAAAAMM/WJ6110A8fwo23gclhdTO0YMBa2fvxJ8YQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/View%2Bof%2Bcredenza%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="567" height="564" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBO1d-t-Chw/XdWo8KyeKuI/AAAAAAAAAMM/WJ6110A8fwo23gclhdTO0YMBa2fvxJ8YQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/View%2Bof%2Bcredenza%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think I already showed you this credenza/sideboard thingy, which is currently full of fabric - the drawers are filled with all those little bits and bobs that tend to need corralling in small places.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwQqvi5jPls/XdWo8KyGTwI/AAAAAAAAAME/4Q_fhGTGLnMzdacYC3DXAFutCWf8rSWpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/View%2Bunder%2Bthe%2Beves%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="625" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwQqvi5jPls/XdWo8KyGTwI/AAAAAAAAAME/4Q_fhGTGLnMzdacYC3DXAFutCWf8rSWpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/View%2Bunder%2Bthe%2Beves%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2Bstudio%2Btour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is where I sit and embroider - I don't know where my large floor embroidery frame is, but you can see my lap one on the book shelf if you look closely. The bookshelf contains all of my reference materials. <br />
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The desk on the left of the bookcase has been covered with mosaic tile and has a little kiln on top of it, because sometimes I play with clay. ;) <br />
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Behind that, stuffed into the corner are some LARGE wips rolled on pool noodles that I intend to get back to some day!<br />
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Those of you who remember when we first moved here, the floor was white-painted floorboards, which turned out to be really impractical (I think I've lost a thousand pins and needles in the cracks over the last five years); so when I did my recent reorganization, I put down these <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Venice-Natural-Bamboo-Indoor-%E2%80%8EOutdoor/dp/B0749RGFLT/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=bamboo%2Barea%2Brug&qid=1574349404&s=kitchen&sr=1-3&th=1%E2%80%8E">bamboo area rugs</a>. <br />
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They were a breeze to cut to fit with a utility knife, then I nailed them down with tiny finishing nails. They'll pull up easily when we move again (I tested), and now there no more lost pins!<br />
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That space in front of the chair and book shelf is quite a bit bigger than it looks - maybe 6 or 7 feet by 10 or 11 feet - so that's where I do my pilates when I do my pilates. lol<br />
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And that's it. The big studio tour. :) Hope you enjoyed seeing my messy, happy, dreamy space.<br />
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<br />Kit Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910138957358034285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-27403189206435449132019-11-18T10:49:00.001-05:002019-11-18T12:06:46.582-05:00Merry Halloweenie? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCJW3Y_Ilsk/XdK4fO1bvnI/AAAAAAAAAK8/VAAD0hCu_kw5FBFDrw_vZz0LtxdwjBMqQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Headless%2Bhorsemen%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B-%2Bwip%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCJW3Y_Ilsk/XdK4fO1bvnI/AAAAAAAAAK8/VAAD0hCu_kw5FBFDrw_vZz0LtxdwjBMqQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Headless%2Bhorsemen%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B-%2Bwip%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you follow me on in IG or FB, you've seen these already, but I promised I'd do a process post, so here it is!</div>
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A couple/three years back I was doing a commission for a collector <span style="font-family: inherit;">and and we were testing backgrounds for a large piece. I did a bunch of 5 x
7 inch tests (mostly pinky sunset/sunrises), photographed them and forwarded them to the collector. He chose
the one he wanted, and we went from there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(The photo above is my initial sketch, a headless deer, and fabric glue EVERYWHERE. lol I posted it to my IG, and </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lisachinartist/" style="font-family: inherit;">Lisa Chin</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, replied "Oh deer" lol - which became the name of this piece.)</span></span></div>
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(Deer has a head again, and it's in an embroidery frame, ready to go!)</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had all of these tests of painted acrylic on wee canvases, but didn’t know what to do with them, so I
tucked them away. <br /><br />Cut to, I was at IKEA this fall, and happened to notice they
had all of these small, fat frames on sale for $10 each. I wasn’t positive, but I
thought those little tests would fit in them quite nicely (even though IKEA
frames are European sizes, not North American sizes, so they’re always slightly
off); so I grabbed ten of them and brought them home. </span></div>
<br />
It turned out that if I put some stuffing in the inside, the opening of the mat was just the right size.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-by3N7rBZkqE/XdK4gfNwrTI/AAAAAAAAALU/85dUDEoB8Ewil3JmNkLpoyO7bOLnpGGWwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/making%2Bprogress%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B-%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="432" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-by3N7rBZkqE/XdK4gfNwrTI/AAAAAAAAALU/85dUDEoB8Ewil3JmNkLpoyO7bOLnpGGWwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/making%2Bprogress%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B-%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.jpg" width="552" /></a></div>
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(Making progress!)</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since then, I have lost and found the frames, and then the
tests, and then the frames, and then the tests. Lol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">BUT, as you know from
my last (?) post, I did a studio reorganization recently, and found the tests,
AND the frames, and had them both at the same time! Miracles never cease. Hah. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1EL5tjvc5bw/XdK4fMaGrZI/AAAAAAAAALE/RKm9ejomUocbOPFHY1TbbvUbYu9768UPwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Nearly%2Bthere%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B%2B-%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="978" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1EL5tjvc5bw/XdK4fMaGrZI/AAAAAAAAALE/RKm9ejomUocbOPFHY1TbbvUbYu9768UPwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Nearly%2Bthere%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B%2B-%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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(At this point, I felt like it was done-ish. But the more I looked at it, the more it seemed to be missing something!)</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngtiIO1jQJQ/XdK4f5TT2aI/AAAAAAAAALI/bZVyzFZNBzcZjVFFTixqbhC9bBwSNopeACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Oh%2BDeer%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B%2528framed%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngtiIO1jQJQ/XdK4f5TT2aI/AAAAAAAAALI/bZVyzFZNBzcZjVFFTixqbhC9bBwSNopeACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Oh%2BDeer%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019%2B%2528framed%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I put them on my worktable, and found some time recently to start
playing with them. I thought I would offer them up as inexpensive holiday
gifts. :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Meb3O2aGLWg/XdK4gBryIAI/AAAAAAAAALQ/kEE8J5PZIo4ricnuc_PCL_NjXLPjWiKegCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Oh%2BDeer%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Meb3O2aGLWg/XdK4gBryIAI/AAAAAAAAALQ/kEE8J5PZIo4ricnuc_PCL_NjXLPjWiKegCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Oh%2BDeer%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
And as you can see, it needed just a little more grass, and a little pop of red!<br />
<br />
This piece has already sold.<br />
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Talk soon!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zvoUweIYKho/XdK9YlvFjRI/AAAAAAAAALw/8N_zKhgtluQ8ktBIMe0vXGjiNrGz0z5HQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Kit%2B-%2BSmall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="35" data-original-width="67" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zvoUweIYKho/XdK9YlvFjRI/AAAAAAAAALw/8N_zKhgtluQ8ktBIMe0vXGjiNrGz0z5HQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Kit%2B-%2BSmall.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />Kit Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910138957358034285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-86145381773060035182019-11-01T10:08:00.000-04:002019-11-01T10:09:10.306-04:00New additions to Studio Kit!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jp_99XGNBdw/Xbw4f-NsLFI/AAAAAAAAAKE/PuCaZf289lQC3zCYrkulOiQy9JHVHxMbQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sewing%2Bmachine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="700" height="568" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jp_99XGNBdw/Xbw4f-NsLFI/AAAAAAAAAKE/PuCaZf289lQC3zCYrkulOiQy9JHVHxMbQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/sewing%2Bmachine.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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First, the one I'm most excited about - a new-to-me Necchi industrial. I've been wanting one for so long, and finally got one! This one is about 55 years old, and being of that vintage myself, I can attest to the fineness. lol I'm going to get her running this weekend and if I don't sew my fingers to one another (this thing is F-A-S-T and strong!); I'll let you know how it goes!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7o_tHs6mJ8/Xbw5HPVRFoI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/zOqK0kJI0WAtkDkxh4mYwDswsRwoL8PCgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/new%2Bcredenza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7o_tHs6mJ8/Xbw5HPVRFoI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/zOqK0kJI0WAtkDkxh4mYwDswsRwoL8PCgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/new%2Bcredenza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then, I added this hand-painted antique Indian credenza type thing to the studio. It was a neighbour's and I had been coveting it for more than a decade - the only other ones I have seen were around a $1,000 so it was never in the cards for me. But, don't give up on your dreams! My neighbour moved, and was having a contents sale. I got it for a song! It arrived in studio yesterday, along with my new sewing machine. :) It's going to provide some great storage, and look pretty too!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ouex3CE6LLk/Xbw44LA2QyI/AAAAAAAAAKM/wma6MpLECKIeSQoF991L-5FK9ty4TD0swCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/planter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ouex3CE6LLk/Xbw44LA2QyI/AAAAAAAAAKM/wma6MpLECKIeSQoF991L-5FK9ty4TD0swCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/planter.jpg" width="418" /></a></div>
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And finally, two planty additions on my desk - the umbrella tree on the left is a heritage plant - it was my mother's (who passed away in 1998). It was getting too big for the living room, so I moved it up to my studio. And I also got that nifty head-planter from a South African artisan. It weighs about approximately one million pounds, and at 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide, she's a large lass, but I think she's very cool.<br />
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I've also got a number of art projects on the go - some small pieces for Christmas sales (8 of them); and I think I've got a commission (discussion to be had with collector this weekend) to begin work on shortly, so as ever, Studio Kit is busy even if I forget my poor, neglected blog.<br />
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Hope you're all doing well, and I hope to talk to you soon!<br />
<br />
Kit<br />
<br />Kit Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910138957358034285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-91347081782589087152019-07-05T11:33:00.001-04:002019-07-05T11:33:28.907-04:00Given the news lately, I thought I'd do a re-postof my piece,<br />
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"We are Mermaids Too"<br />
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<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye2WJsQqT9I/UCMyhaeDheI/AAAAAAAAC70/3ev-YcpohNM/s640/We+Are+Mermaids+Too+(c)+2012+Kit+Lang.jpg" /><br />
<br />
It seems relevant.<br />
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KitKit Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910138957358034285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-8090867686334425742019-06-03T16:25:00.000-04:002019-06-04T09:34:00.114-04:00Illustration, at last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4541lsZGJs/XPVwxgjtrfI/AAAAAAAAAHs/xwIgYAMdOmwn1nXtri2YxD7it3566wcCgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190603_140535_490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4541lsZGJs/XPVwxgjtrfI/AAAAAAAAAHs/xwIgYAMdOmwn1nXtri2YxD7it3566wcCgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20190603_140535_490.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had mentioned the last time we talked that a publisher had contacted me and asked that I illustrate a poem in their upcoming book called “Power Poems for Small Humans”.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eventually, I was paired with poet Liz Morgan, whose poem is entitled “When Someone Asks About My Drawing of My Family”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I won’t share the poem here, but its about non-nuclear families.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My original idea was inspired by the videos you may have seen that run on the theme of a blind dog who has a seeing eye goat bff, a donkey and a pig who are best friends, animals who adopt animals from other species, and a long time favourite: Roy and Silo, the two male penguins at NYC’s Central Park Zoo, who first fell in love, and then year after year, tried to raise a clutch of rocks, until the zookeepers finally gave them an eggs to hatch and raise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sketch I shared with you six weeks ago of the little pig, was part of a larger piece that was going to be a farmyard composed of many iterations of different types of animal families.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxr_65LDYdQ/XPVwwXOHcqI/AAAAAAAAAHo/bqMxp3iVum4kbDqhId-jGmd2fmqHACOWQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190527_200426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1600" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxr_65LDYdQ/XPVwwXOHcqI/AAAAAAAAAHo/bqMxp3iVum4kbDqhId-jGmd2fmqHACOWQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20190527_200426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But then I was thinking about the brief I was given:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“… something between an illustration and an environment…the important
thing is that the artwork meet and embellish the emotional place of the poem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, I don’t know about you, but that gave me pause! It
reminded me of when I was in second year at Uni, and a professor asked for “an
intelligent, emotional response” to a text we had been given to read, and no
further instruction. And it was worth 40% of our mark! Boy, that struck terror into my heart. Lol<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, as I considered this “between an illustration and an
environment” I thought that perhaps I was being too literal. That a more
abstract idea was called for. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I slept on it overnight, and when I thought about it the next
day, I could “see” this two page spread as you see it here, and realized that
was they way to go. Shockingly, there are birds. lol But Roy and Silo!<o:p></o:p></div>
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In general, my most successful pieces have always been the
ones that I see as if they were already made, before they’re actually made.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So here it is, “After Roy and Silo”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now that the publisher has the images for use in the book, I
will unmount (dismount?) this piece and put a group of hares or perhaps a fox
family in that blank space where the poem will be in the book. </div>
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When that’s
done, I’ll show you that version too. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfVcrDA8gXc/XPWB97AVa-I/AAAAAAAAAH8/8Eomq-m0KVIdUaAS7WO8b3mN5NsXts1XQCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2BHeader%2B%2528novembe%2B2018%2529%2B-%2BStingray%2Bfont.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="637" height="37" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfVcrDA8gXc/XPWB97AVa-I/AAAAAAAAAH8/8Eomq-m0KVIdUaAS7WO8b3mN5NsXts1XQCLcBGAs/s200/New%2BHeader%2B%2528novembe%2B2018%2529%2B-%2BStingray%2Bfont.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />Kit Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910138957358034285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-18727290251734663732018-11-12T10:53:00.000-05:002018-11-12T11:07:55.857-05:00Hello<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It occurred to me that I should
either delete this blog (or perhaps the other one) or actually post. </div>
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As I typed that, I realized that
what I SHOULD do is delete THIS blog (i.e. the Kit Lang Art blog) and go back to
posting on the Kit Lang FIBER art blog, because who am I kidding? I have a
bunch of blogs and a website and I don’t really post on any of them. May as
well keep the one that actually has followers and a long history of content! </div>
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So as if that wasn’t a confusing
enough entry – this blog is going to be posted at both kitlangart.blogspot.com,
and kitlangfiberart.blogspot.com and I’m going to delete the former. Hahah. HI.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aBaJlvOdxn4/W-mVjIKkbfI/AAAAAAAAGPI/hzlkSHNg4RYIgzn6nDNOip-S7SSktGqpACLcBGAs/s1600/in%2Bprogress%2B2%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bpainting%252C%2Billustration%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aBaJlvOdxn4/W-mVjIKkbfI/AAAAAAAAGPI/hzlkSHNg4RYIgzn6nDNOip-S7SSktGqpACLcBGAs/s640/in%2Bprogress%2B2%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bpainting%252C%2Billustration%2B1.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">in this photo, I was trying to decide between cloth birch trees (centre) and paper birch trees (outer trees) <br />I thought the creamier colour of the cloth would show up better on this piece, but nope - paper it is!</span></div>
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Speaking of content, do people
actually read blogs anymore? I know I drifted away from reading them a few
years ago, and stopped posting at about the same time. </div>
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And then in the ensuing years, I
have mostly (only) worked on commission work, and not much else. When I was blogging, I produced a lot of work
because I was worried about producing “content” for my readers – an obligation
that I had a love/hate relationship with.
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And then I decided that producing
content as an obligation to people who didn’t know me was a silly way to live
my life so decided to post whenever I felt like it and to hell with the
obligation. And well, here we are. No
content at all. Ooops.</div>
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<img height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-waC5e5mQ7II/W-mX4NoGGfI/AAAAAAAAGPk/jPKWHacMQFY5OK7hAoQceOoE7_GMJukGQCLcBGAs/s640/progress%2B2%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bpainting%252C%2Billustration%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">As you can see, I've added some texture, colour, and branches to the birch trees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">More hand-stitched branches (and leaves!) will follow</span>. </div>
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In part though, this dénouement
has not only been about content, but about a concern with “engagement”, and
whether it was worth the time and effort of producing content for a blog when
the “engagement” was so low. Such is
social media in our time. When I first
started blogging 20 years ago now (! – although my first blog had nothing to do
with fiber art), I figured I was talking to myself , and was not only astonished,
but a bit put out when I got my first comment. </div>
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I had actually *liked* talking to
myself and was upset that there were people reading what I was writing. Ah, the innocence. lol</div>
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Anyway, fast forward 20 years and
I’ve had FIVE fiber art blogs, most of which have gone by the wayside. Some of you may remember good old “Diva
Quilts” – that was my very first fiber art blog, focussed specifically on
quilts as that’s what I was doing. After
I got into fiber art, I started “Coneflowers in Leslieville” – the name of my
very first “art quilt”, but I found that keeping up the two blogs was too much
work. So I started ANOTHER blog –
kitlangfiberart which was where I decided to do all things fiber art related,
and made that my new home. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img height="594" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rD9b9r9TT_M/W-mVi4fZyUI/AAAAAAAAGPE/RdE0Z9EOO8gcOPMsJBB6op57f4oUSb45QCEwYBhgL/s640/in%2Bprogess%2B3%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bpainting%252C%2Billustration%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here, I've added some grasses and ferns - more of the same in both cloth and hand-stitch will follow...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I got rid of Coneflowers in
Leslieville - well strictly speaking, I folded
it and the content from what was now divaquilts.com into the kitlangfiberart
blog, and stayed there for many years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What’s funny though, is that to
date, Diva Quilts had the most engagement out of any blog or site in my fiber
art history. (I did have another “lifestyle” blog under another name that had a
HUGE following back in the early days of the internet.) But diva quilts remains
such a popular name, that all these years later if I wanted to buy back my old
domain name, I would have to pay over $3,000 for it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Related: there’s a guy who lives
in my city who’s an actor who has the same first and last name that I do. For a few years, he had the domain name
kitlang.com which made me gnash my teeth somewhat. When he finally let it go, I
tried to buy it, but it was selling for over $1,000 which seemed to me to be a
ridiculous amount of money. I just checked,
and now our combined star power makes the domain name worth $2,300. lol I should
have stuck with Diva Quilts!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Blah, blah, how I do go on!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMkbFN5LR4s/W-mVjB8L5cI/AAAAAAAAGPM/7iv_vrp4geUmxdQkJtDoeqDrcW6retPpQCLcBGAs/s640/in%2Bprogress%2B4%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bpainting%252C%2Billustration%252C%2Bfibert%2Bart.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The progress...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, all of this is to say,
that I think I’m going to try and start blogging again, because doing so forced
me to be less lazy about producing work. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to
blogging 3 times a week, but maybe if I blogged twice a month, that would make
me actually get off my ass and do some work.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Because I am a bear of very
little brain, and also because I am of the personality type that when you start
doing one thing, you start doing another, and another, until you eventually
become overwhelmed and collapse and do nothing - I’m actually taking a course
which requires a lot of memory work (which is not my strong suit!), so of course
I want to start blogging and producing more work outside of commissions. Just when I have all the time in the
world. FYI, I also want to start going
more regularly to the gym and join a choir.
Can you hear me laughing at myself? lol</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iP65bJqD4Xk/W-mVjYfjVcI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/kdf1tPzvpc48ekuOkbEe7IuQaxz0W7F5gCLcBGAs/s320/lint%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Some lint that was in my sewing machine. Hahah kidding! This is actually some roving which will be</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> needlefelted and made into some little creatures...content for the next post perhaps!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So... all of which to say, I am
hoping to be blogging again more regularly, however, not here (if where you’re
reading this is kitlangart.blogspot.com) because I’m totally serious about
deleting this blog. Which I will do just as soon as I have time to move the
content over. HAHAHAHAHA.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But if you’re reading this at
kitlangfiberart.blogspot.com, I will try to blog more regularly here, so who
knows, you may see some “content” here, whether you actually “engage” with it
or not. And perhaps I’ll occasionally blog over on my proper website kitlangart.com,
which believe it or not, has a blog too – although I only ever put place holder
content there and have never updated it since. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And if I’m talking to myself as I
did back in the old days, that will be okay too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’ll just wave to myself and tell
me I’m doing a good job. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p> Okay bye! </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3wWOVO0Kt2w/W-mhzG1S15I/AAAAAAAAGPw/IDyVgCoTnmUMoWX-hlwmGChPugq1rnRgACLcBGAs/s1600/Kit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="42" data-original-width="54" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3wWOVO0Kt2w/W-mhzG1S15I/AAAAAAAAGPw/IDyVgCoTnmUMoWX-hlwmGChPugq1rnRgACLcBGAs/s1600/Kit.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-77821669792363585972018-02-05T11:43:00.003-05:002018-02-05T12:31:39.468-05:00Augh! <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-STLJZlB2DMg/WniJVnYdb3I/AAAAAAAAFTg/FjqTVK3huMM0Xd16NEwnkUGbxYc7xPdXgCLcBGAs/s1600/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%2B-%2Bthe%2Bartist%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bcanadian%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-STLJZlB2DMg/WniJVnYdb3I/AAAAAAAAFTg/FjqTVK3huMM0Xd16NEwnkUGbxYc7xPdXgCLcBGAs/s640/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%2B-%2Bthe%2Bartist%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bcanadian%2Bart.jpg" width="628" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo shows a Canadian artist in the wee hours of Sunday night - about to head to bed* </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lol </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we spoke last (uhhhhh…3 weeks ago?); the
following happened. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was at work, and
all of a sudden, I started getting vertigo. My desk would rush up at me every
time I sat down or looked away from the screen, I was sweating and nauseated, and
when I got up to go the bathroom I was staggering around like a drunken sailor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had broken my glasses that
morning, so I thought it had something to do with my vision being borked. I made an appointment to see my opthamologist
that afternoon, and left work early. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I went home, lay down and tried
to make the world stop spinning – got up later to go to my appointment and
ordered my new glasses, and then went back home to bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next morning I woke up with
the same symptoms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Same thing the next morning, and the
next and the next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By this time it was the weekend,
and I was fully expecting to go back to work on Monday. But on Monday morning I was no better, in fact, I was worse - with an ongoing fever added to the mix. I
tried to make an appointment with my family doctor, but she wasn't available
until the next day, so I called in nearly dead for two more days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next day I went to my doc and
found out that I had a severe ear infection; hence the vertigo, nausea,
imbalance, fever, etc. She told me that I would need another TWO weeks off work (!)
and sent me home with a fistful of prescriptions and a "stay in bed"
order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm now back at work. I'm not quite
myself yet (I still get dizzy when I get up too quickly or when I roll over in
bed or get out of bed); and I had a bout of quite severe nausea and fever yesterday, but I'm more
or less okay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In GOOD news since we talked
last, I sold "Starling in Hawthorne" and received two commissions. Yay!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For whatever reason, I tend to get most of my commissions in February/March; I
work on them through June/July; take the summer off, and then try to get back
into an art practice in the fall. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This year, I had hoped to get into a regular
studio practice and never mind the rest of it, but my commissions started
coming in early. I'm not complaining – and perhaps this means that I won't get
any in March (although I hope that doesn't happen!); but this is why there will
be a lack of posting over the next little while as I try to catch up/get going/produce work!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm also trying to make a gift
for a friend – the original plan was that I would dash that off over the last couple of weeks of
January, but now that needs to be put on the back burner and stuck in - maybe at the end of this month? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So… see you soon? I don't know. I
hope so! :) :) :) I was enjoying talking with you all of you again.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">* P.S. amazed that my all day lipstick really did last all day! It's Colourpop - an American brand out of California with a very friendly price point. If you like make-up (I LOVE it lol) check it out! :)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-40573713248923065932018-01-16T12:10:00.000-05:002018-01-16T12:28:06.130-05:00Disperse Dye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sorxvVcSVHY/Wl4w3t-mxnI/AAAAAAAAFJE/lNiv_AD1I4IlV4ajEpmPH4kl2cWsBJVKACLcBGAs/s1600/Winter%2BIs%2BComing%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bdisperse%2Bdyeing%252C%2Btransfer%2Bpaint%252C%2Btransperse%2Bdyeing%252C%2B%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="629" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sorxvVcSVHY/Wl4w3t-mxnI/AAAAAAAAFJE/lNiv_AD1I4IlV4ajEpmPH4kl2cWsBJVKACLcBGAs/s640/Winter%2BIs%2BComing%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bdisperse%2Bdyeing%252C%2Btransfer%2Bpaint%252C%2Btransperse%2Bdyeing%252C%2B%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">"Winter is Coming" (c) Kit Lang 2014 background composed of pieced disperse dyed fabrics</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">After
having a conversation with someone on FB yesterday about disperse dye, I was
inspired to do a post about HOW to disperse dye. Disperse dye is also known as
"transperse dyeing" and "transfer paint" dyeing. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Although
when I first tried this process, I bought the ready-made bottles of transperse
paint, the next time I tried mixing my own colours, which was a raging success.
You can choose how much, mix your own colours, and more importantly, I got much
better results with the home-made dyes than the ready-made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">So
here is my method:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Mixing
the colours:</span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I used<a href="https://www.gsdye.com/idye.html"> </a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://www.gsdye.com/idye.html">IDye</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><a href="https://www.gsdye.com/idye.html"> </a>for my disperse
dyes (the link is for a Canadian store but I believe you can also get it
at Dharma Trading. However, any powdered dye that is meant for polyester fabric
will do.</span></span></div>
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">
</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I mix
the powders to the following method:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
a) 1
tsp for pale<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
b) 2
tsps for medium<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
c) 4
tsps for dark<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
d) 8
tsps for black<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
and
then stir the dye into a 1/2 cup of boiling water and two drops of
synthrapol for an opaque result. If you want a thinner, more watercolour
effect, mix with 1 cup of boiling water. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When
the mixture(s) are cool, paint your papers (more below), and let them dry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u>Painting
the Paper</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There's
no secret or particular method to this process. The most important thing
for me was the paper itself - I had the best results BY FAR using paper
from a student sketchbook rather than bond (photocopy paper). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I
found the heating process bound the colour to the bond paper (that's what
photocopy paper is for, after all!) whereas the colour just sat on top of
sketchbook paper. However, you don't want to use a really, really good quality
sketchbook paper as the colour will then sink into the texture of the paper
rather than sit on top.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Once
you have the right paper, make sure you have a place set up where your can lay
your papers flat to dry, <u>as well</u> as drip dry - one of my
favourite papers was hung to dry and as a result has drips and globs of dye on
it that translate really well when transferring. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
As for
the painting itself - the sky is the limit. I painted papers with one
colour, multiple colours, in patterns, in solids, I did solid undercoats with
finger painted swoops and curves over top of the dried solid backgrounds, I painted
grid patterns, combed the fluid on the paper, splattered them,
"dropped" dye on the papers, smooshed the colour with my hands - or
combinations thereof. Do whatever you want, let them dry and see what
happens!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Try to
keep notes as you're making your papers of what you've put on them, and once
they're dry, write it on the back. Once you've done a press and see the result,
write again what the colours <i>actually</i>
turned out to be. That way you can re-create them, and also, when you want to
use the paper again, you'll know what your result should be. (Although it will
get a bit paler with each session.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJOrwH4up_c/Wl4w3zBLVeI/AAAAAAAAFJI/syY14LOW_kQdTSFg_Vu5zOYJB1w7Yt7yACEwYBhgL/s1600/Fern%2BNo.1%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%2B-%2Bdisperse%2Bdye%252C%2Btransfer%2Bpaint%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="795" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJOrwH4up_c/Wl4w3zBLVeI/AAAAAAAAFJI/syY14LOW_kQdTSFg_Vu5zOYJB1w7Yt7yACEwYBhgL/s640/Fern%2BNo.1%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%2B-%2Bdisperse%2Bdye%252C%2Btransfer%2Bpaint%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart.JPG" width="566" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p>"Fern No. 1" (c) Kit Lang 2012 </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p>background is composed of torn pieces of disperse dyed papers with a fern resist</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u>Fabric
choice</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you
want "glowing" colours, then the higher the amount of 'man made'
material in the fabric, the better result you'll have. I had the very
best result with 100 polyester silk which gives a really lovely glow to the
fabric. I also tried a sheer polyester tulle with a very dark value paper which
produced a really lovely see through print.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
But as
I don't like the "shiny" look of the fabric (in most applications, the
sheen distracts from the overall piece), I use predominantly cotton, rayon, and
polycotton mix fabric. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u>Transferring
the colour</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Start
by using a heavily padded surface on your table, and then put a sheet of craft
paper over it (otherwise the colour will transfer to your ironing
"pad".) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Lay
the fabric on your pad right side up,
and put the painted paper(s) face down on the cloth, and then put <i>another</i>, bigger sheet of craft paper on top of it all
to keep the iron clean. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>VERY IMPORTANT!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While
you're working, keep the iron moving, and keep the iron HOT HOT HOT(no matter
what the fabric requirements are - you have two layers of paper between the
fabric and the iron to protect it) and press down as hard as you can. Just
really lean on that sucker! <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A note
about the iron: I have used a standard iron with steam holes in it. If you are
using such an iron, make sure that there is no water in the iron, and never let
the iron sit still. If you do so, there will be a pattern from the steam holes
on your finished product. I have purpose bought an iron that has no steam holes
whatsoever – I looked long and hard through various charity shops and second
hand stores to find one, but I finally scored! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The
longer you press and/or the more pressure you apply when you press, and the
higher the heat, the more brilliant your result is. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgWW6khGsU8/Wl4w3i5JuZI/AAAAAAAAFJA/sJNylflp1mAf8s6zXZuZ0ySMsPpSHNsAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/disperse%2Bdye%2Bfabric%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Btransfer%2Bpaint%252C%2Bdisperse%2Bdye%252C%2Btransperse%2Bdye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="578" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgWW6khGsU8/Wl4w3i5JuZI/AAAAAAAAFJA/sJNylflp1mAf8s6zXZuZ0ySMsPpSHNsAgCEwYBhgL/s640/disperse%2Bdye%2Bfabric%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Btransfer%2Bpaint%252C%2Bdisperse%2Bdye%252C%2Btransperse%2Bdye.JPG" width="420" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
Disperse dyed large piece of fabric - also made with torn up bits of disperse dyed papers. This eventually because a throw cushion. </div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u>Further
Advice</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Try
different things with your papers - using resists, cutting out shapes from your
dried papers or tearing the papers into rough pieces and laying them out on
your fabric as I did for the piece above. The key is to keep that iron moving
and to do it as long as you can.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Don't
worry if your first pieces are crap - my first ten were!! :) It takes a
bit of time to get used to the process, and if you're using the wrong kind of
fabric, you'll never get a good result. There are definitely fabrics this
process likes, and some it really DOESN'T like. Lol <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You
will naturally get a few disappointing pieces as you begin this process, but if
you continue to do so, try a different fabric. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I
have, with success, overdyed a disappointing procion MX dyed cloth with
disperse dyes and gotten really beautiful results, so really, the sky is the
limit with this process. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When you are finished
making your fabrics, put the dried papers away for further use in the future. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Although conventional
advice is that you only get one or two good passes out of the papers, there are
some papers that I have been using for years! It depends on how thickly you
applied your "paint" and how much detail there is to it. One paper in
particular which I had painted with a solid colour, let it dry, painted over it
in sections with other colours, let it dry, and then painted again with a drip
dry method has yielded nearly 20 sessions although I finally had to throw it
out last year, after first creating five years ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 3.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: wave windowtext 3.0pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
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And
that's it! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One great advantage of this process is that it doesn't take
up a lot of space. You can make as much or as little dyed fabric as you like,
you don't have to hang it up to dry, and the little packets of dye are just
that – little packets. You can pop them into a ziplock bag and stick them in a
file folder with your finished papers, until the next time you want to dye!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I hope you try this process and if you do, link us to your
results in the comments! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kit<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-75668633110750738442018-01-15T13:02:00.002-05:002018-01-15T13:02:31.999-05:00Best laid plans<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TGISDZETqJY/WlzkMTn6C0I/AAAAAAAAFIU/n1RUKurdkC4l2cOfPEoMsJzRBKP9EuXXQCLcBGAs/s1600/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bgreen%2Bwoodpecker%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%252C%2Bhand%2Bwork%252C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="785" height="498" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TGISDZETqJY/WlzkMTn6C0I/AAAAAAAAFIU/n1RUKurdkC4l2cOfPEoMsJzRBKP9EuXXQCLcBGAs/s640/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bgreen%2Bwoodpecker%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%252C%2Bhand%2Bwork%252C.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This is another piece in the group of birds I'm going to be
working on. I seriously love how my hand-dyes look with these birds even if I
do say so myself (this one is a disperse dye). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I was planning on talking about how the greater woodpecker
piece I'm currently working on (it's in a state of flux currently because as I add
more and more hand stitch I'm realizing that it's beginning to overwhelm the
bird – which is the focus after all!) So I'm going to remove a lot of what I've
done and pare back the stitching to something that's more subtle. But I need to have a think about it first. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And
that's all I've got to say about that, really. lol<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So let's talk about dyeing.</div>
<a name='more'></a> <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Over the years, I have done a LOT of dyeing, manipulation
with paint and other forms of surface design. I've done shibori dyeing, tie dyeing, ice
dyeing, rust dyeing, snow dyeing, shaving cream dyeing, marbling, acrylic inks, ice cube dyeing, smoking fabric, burning fabric, eco print, procion MX dyeing (I used Melody Johnson's "<a href="http://lazydyer.blogspot.ca/">lazy dyer method"</a>
after trying some others), screen printing, thermofax; I used resists, transfers, wax, oh, I don't know
what all. I was both a contributor and followed "And Then We Set It On
Fire", so I tried a LOT of stuff. Like every textile artist, I'm all about the textiles, and as I'm hands on, I collected books, magazines, blog posts and tutorials about surface design, and I tried almost all of it. lol<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But the fabric I use almost exclusively, is one of three
things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">1<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Fabric that I have hand painted;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">2<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Fabric that I have disperse dyed; and</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">3<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">"Wiping cloth" fabric.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In these bird pieces it's all disperse dyed. I have
discovered that I like the control of disperse dyeing and the lack of mess,
it's much more economical than procion MX dyeing, and I think (although I have no
proof) that it's better for the environment. It uses about 99% less water, I
can use the papers over and over again – sometimes even years later, and virtually
none of the chemicals in the dyes will get into our groundwater. Note: although everyone says to use disperse dyes on polyester only (and it's true that that's how you get that wondrous glow); I use it mostly on cotton, rayon and silk. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If you've been with
me for a long time, you may remember my painted papers (which I continue to use
in a lot of my art – ten years on, it seems my concerns about colour fastness
were unwarranted!). If you're relatively new, long ago in a land far away, when
I was painting my fabrics, I wiped my brushes on paper towels. At some point, I actually looked at the paper
towel and discovered that it had made the paper towel quite beautiful. I did
some further experiments and discovered that if I dampened or even wet the
paper towel as I was wiping, it made it even more beautiful! (See example below)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0SZ8HR5doU/WlzrJGKWClI/AAAAAAAAFIk/O2H3hKVk4bwc3BZdHa1JfpLWekvV9YJ8QCLcBGAs/s1600/Paper%2Btowel%2Bart%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1024" height="522" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0SZ8HR5doU/WlzrJGKWClI/AAAAAAAAFIk/O2H3hKVk4bwc3BZdHa1JfpLWekvV9YJ8QCLcBGAs/s640/Paper%2Btowel%2Bart%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
(I can't remember what I called this one and I sold it a few years back. But I made it between 2010 and 2012 I think, this was one of the original wiping paper towels, on which I had wiped my paint brushes as I painted my fabric and dabbed up messes/puddles on my table)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Although I did that for a couple of years (and consequently
still have hundreds of painted paper towels in my stash) I decided at some
point to just wipe the paint on plain unbleached cotton muslin (I always have a
bolt or two of that in my studio); or on scraps of white cloth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
These are some
of my favourite "dyed" cloths to work with now. I like them because
like the paper towels it uses up paint whose chemicals would otherwise
eventually get into our groundwater, but unlike the paper towels, doesn't
require cutting down trees. Producing the fabric of course effects other ills
on our environment, but you all know how I feel about TREES. (<3 all the
hearts.<3)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, I don't think I'll ever use the procion MX dyes
again, and I have quite a bit left. Eventually, I'll destash them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So, in conclusion: DIPSERSE DYEING. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
YAY! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Lol<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Kit<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-49951914296130371592018-01-12T12:01:00.000-05:002018-01-14T00:19:25.845-05:00So about nobody being interested<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnCi7Ndh4pY/Wljpmvt1RFI/AAAAAAAAFGk/HEx7vio4bEwMozmvl3kbAHGwDBxBKH2qQCLcBGAs/s1600/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Bcontemporary%2Bstitch%252C%2Bcontemporary%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bart%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="638" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnCi7Ndh4pY/Wljpmvt1RFI/AAAAAAAAFGk/HEx7vio4bEwMozmvl3kbAHGwDBxBKH2qQCLcBGAs/s640/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Bcontemporary%2Bstitch%252C%2Bcontemporary%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bart%2Bembroidery%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was out for lunch yesterday, and chose a table by the
window so I would have good light for stitching when I finished eating. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had been doing so for a little while when my light was
suddenly blocked. I looked up, and there was a woman standing there, looking
interestedly at what I was doing.<br />
<br />
So I held it up so that she could see. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She gave me an enthusiastic smile and made
"applause" motions with her mittened hands. I smiled back, and
mouthed "thank you". <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Happy new year!" she mouthed back. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"And to you!" I said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then she went on her way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The exchange took all of a minute, but it warmed me the rest
of the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess I still feel a little toasty today, too. <span style="font-family: wingdings;">😊</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Talk soon, <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kit<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-68000150422003791162018-01-10T13:04:00.001-05:002018-01-10T13:06:27.082-05:00Tools of the Trade<div class="MsoNormal">
For Christmas I received some generous gift certificates to
fabric stores that I frequent, so recently, I hit up the January sales and
purchased fabric and notions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BFbVXbXwJDQ/WlZVhwODp-I/AAAAAAAAFFc/ZyAnKKG1QD46tVRA73OAdNZewReRkfxPwCLcBGAs/s1600/Embroidery%2Bscissors%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1352" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BFbVXbXwJDQ/WlZVhwODp-I/AAAAAAAAFFc/ZyAnKKG1QD46tVRA73OAdNZewReRkfxPwCLcBGAs/s640/Embroidery%2Bscissors%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a few pair of embroidery scissors (and a multitude of
snips); but all of my embroidery scissors were hand-me-downs and were quite
dull. I have been using snips for the
last several months, but have thought from time to time that I would like a
purpose-made pair of embroidery scissors. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About a year ago I saw this pair and thought they were
really lovely, but the price was more than I could (or would) justify. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But guess what was up for grabs in the January sales? You
guessed it – and marked down from $89.99 to $69.99, to… $8.99!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was thrilled to scoop them up, and they have such a lovely
weight to them that you feel as if they are good quality. And more importantly,
they're quite sharp, too!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In thinking it over later though, my nose was a bit out of
joint. I imagined that if I had splurged and spent $90 (plus 13% tax) on these scissors
and then saw them for $8.99, I'd be quite upset. So I had various uncharitable
thoughts about "capitalism!" and "One percenters!" etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Butttttttt…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, the truth is of course, that these stores have to pay
staff, and rental or mortgage payments for their properties, utilities,
insurance, pest control… stock of course, and all manner of things that I probably
can't even think of. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So then I began to feel quite badly for the store owner.
What if they were selling them at a loss? What if it was an error and they
should have been more? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I wasn't going to return it and find out! Lol<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are some cases where manufacturers and purveyors of
goods are clearly out to squeeze as much money as possible out of us. There is
clothing store here that I used to buy a lot of my clothes at, but the quality
of the fabrics they used had deteriorated so much that I couldn’t do it
anymore. And it has gotten even worse since then. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so many products at the grocery stores from orange juice
to soda to soup to cereal have gotten smaller, or significantly smaller in
packaging, so you end up with much less volume of product, for the same price
that you were paying before. That one in particular ticks me off, because how
stupid do they think we are? We NOTICE. I'd much rather that they charge us
more than that they think we're so stupid that they're getting away with
something!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Similarly, we went to a fast food restaurant the other day
(which we almost NEVER do); and I was having a "Where's the beef?"
moment. (Seriously dating myself with that one. Lol) I literally couldn't see it, and when I
flipped up the bun, the patty was paper thin and half an inch smaller in
circumference than the bun. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
JUST CHARGE ME MORE AND GIVE ME A DECENT SIZED BURGER. Lol</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the same vein, I read an article a year just after
Christmas, about the extremely popular headphones of that year. I was trying to
get a pair for a gift, and it was like finding a unicorn. They were sold out
everywhere!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The article was on one of those tech-y sites and they were
comparing this particular pair to others in the same price range, comparing not
only the quality of sound, but also how they were manufactured. And they said
that this particular brand was producing headphones that were made completely
out of plastic – 100% except for the little copper wires inside their plastic
sheaths; and that they then put metal weights in them to make them feel heavier
so that that we sheeple would think they were worth the price!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They said that yes, they were an excellent headphone, but
that in terms of components and quality of sound, they were exactly the same as
another brand, priced $100 less. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is that their (evil?) cunning or our stupidity? I'm not
sure. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think that there are times when was can be justifiably upset
with manufacturers and purveyors of services who are setting out to deliberately
rip us off, either through maleficent cost cutting, production/distribution or by
assuming they can hoodwink us, and there are times when perhaps the
person/entity selling to us is nearly as much a victim as we are. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This might play out for instance in the anecdote that <a href="https://albedoarlee2.wordpress.com/">arleebarr</a> shared yesterday of an observer who sniffed at her prices. We all know how
exorbitantly expensive most of our materials and tools are, and most of us pay
ourselves minimum wage (or sometimes less) and that's how we end up with our
prices – which people than sniff at and think is "overpriced". <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I myself charge a certain dollar amount per square inch,
which doesn't account for the fact that some 'inches" take 4 or 5 of 10
times as long to produce as others because of the technique involved; but that
I don't feel comfortable asking my collectors to bear. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sometimes think "Why not?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, I'm a long way away from buying scissors at a discount,
aren't I? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blah blah. Lol <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm posting every day, but it's more a free association, and
I think I'm missing the point of my posting. Shouldn't I be posting about
something more on point? Hahhahahaha. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TLDR: behold the scissors I got on sale!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kit<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-73938712472644220112018-01-09T11:54:00.000-05:002018-01-09T13:07:44.219-05:00Go Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XRwxC91an0/WlTwRTJcwlI/AAAAAAAAFDs/MedKtCShnR89Uau0AkFQNiq09p3ZzQo2wCLcBGAs/s1600/Go%2Bback%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="687" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XRwxC91an0/WlTwRTJcwlI/AAAAAAAAFDs/MedKtCShnR89Uau0AkFQNiq09p3ZzQo2wCLcBGAs/s640/Go%2Bback%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" width="578" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Because I'm going to be doing hand work on these pieces, I'll be bringing them to work with me and working on them instead of reading at lunch time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Doing handwork like this in public always feels a bit uncomfortable
for me. It seems like showing off
somehow, but I also feel criticized (without anyone ever saying a word!) and
want to offer an explanation to anyone who happens to glance at it: "Oh,
this is just the beginning – it's going to look much better in the end!" Or talk about <i>why</i> I'm doing it as if I need to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I mean I should be saying to myself "Who cares",
and mostly, I do … or try to Lol </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's so strange that I feel like that
sometimes when I know that in truth, most people couldn't give a flying flip
what I'm doing and are completely uninterested, and that's somehow worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hand work, fiber work, textile work - whatever you call it - it's viewed as "women's work"; and generally people don't value it (or us), so
they dismiss it out of hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It reminds me of a conversation I had with a co-worker some
months back. She said "Oh your boss is so nice, I really like him." I
agreed that he seemed to be nice but that I didn't really know him. She thought
that was strange, and we had a conversation about how I keep myself to myself
at work, don't share my personal life, etc. and how she does the opposite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She said that she forces her boss to listen to her when she
talks about her running or her fitness goals, even when she can tell that he
doesn't want to hear it (!); and she said "You should talk to him about
your hobbies."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although I'd just told her I don't talk about my personal life,
I didn't want to seem rude by repeating that, so I said "Oh, I don't think
he's interested in hearing about my sewing."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She laughed and said "No, NO one wants to hear about
your sewing. I sure don't!" and she
left!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had to laugh to myself because there I was
worried about coming off as rude to HER; but it made me a bit sad to think that it showed how
much these skills are devalued, even by other women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the heels of the quilting and knitting "revolution" of the first decade of the 2000's, it
would seem that people are turning back to their sewing machines again, judging by sewing studios that are opening in my city, and the business that offer rental time on sewing machines to the general public. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That's hopeful, but just to end this on a gloomy note: it would seem that these
skills are nevertheless becoming archaic and rather quaint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My evidence: the autocorrect on my phone and tablet continually
change "sew" to "see", no matter how many times I tell it, "No, I really DO want to say "sew" (I mean, YEARS of this!); and did you hear that Monopoly wants to get rid
of the thimble as "no one knows what it is"?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ack!!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I'll sign off with </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
#needlelove</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
;)</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-49531018786013609342018-01-08T07:28:00.000-05:002018-01-08T07:28:27.911-05:00The WIPAbout ten years ago, I got four prints of hand-painted bird panels from Laura Kemshall. I thought they were gorgeous, and the quality of the printing was incredible, but I couldn't figure out what to do with them. So they've been sitting around in a basket since that time.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQZZp_pPWWM/WlL1RzwbYTI/AAAAAAAAFDY/fn9uidSpyzsolA5Upr1qZl5hvz7gSA8MwCLcBGAs/s1600/Greater%2Bspotted%2Bwoodpecker%252C%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Bwork%2Bin%2Bprogress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="610" height="524" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQZZp_pPWWM/WlL1RzwbYTI/AAAAAAAAFDY/fn9uidSpyzsolA5Upr1qZl5hvz7gSA8MwCLcBGAs/s640/Greater%2Bspotted%2Bwoodpecker%252C%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Bwork%2Bin%2Bprogress.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The other night I was looking for an "easy" project, and I thought I'd pull them out. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I decided that looking through my stash of hand-dyed fabrics would be the likeliest place to start, prior attempts to work with the prints had been kiboshed because of my inability to find commercial prints that would work with them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I pulled out the stash, and had a fun ten minutes. You see, I haven't looked at these fabrics for over a year - I was feeling pretty meh about the last few batches I had made and I mostly hand-paint fabric for my work now, so when I pulled them out, I must have sounded like a crazy person to BSP. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Oooh!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Check THIS out!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Omigod, that's <i>gorgeous</i>."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and laughing to myself. I'd be surprised I didn't end up in a looney bin, but BSP must be used to it by now. ;)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, for each of these prints I found a hand-dye that was so perfect, it was as if they were purpose made. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yesterday, I showed you the machine stitching on the back of this bird. When I started stitching it, I thought I would machine stitch the entire thing and then go over it with hand stitch and beading as embellishment. </div>
<div>
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But having thought about it for 24 hours, I think the whole thing needs to be hand stitched. </div>
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So much for my "easy" project.</div>
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That bird is also itching to be covered with my hand painted feathers, isn't it?</div>
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We'll see...</div>
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Kit</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-74959609534285589512018-01-07T03:03:00.001-05:002018-01-07T03:36:43.626-05:00Trying something...<div dir="ltr">
EDIT: So, blogging from my phone with the app didn't work. Bizarre spacing, and the picture didn't attach!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hpUj3ZR8z9k/WlHYPlpPXwI/AAAAAAAAFAs/4BVUYxthFmMthdJ_75b1XNG9zfbAs9cMQCLcBGAs/s1600/Woodpecker%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hpUj3ZR8z9k/WlHYPlpPXwI/AAAAAAAAFAs/4BVUYxthFmMthdJ_75b1XNG9zfbAs9cMQCLcBGAs/s400/Woodpecker%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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So, I had a bit of a conversation with someone on FB today about blogging *waves* and she directed me to a site where the person talked about why it was important to blog every day. (<a href="https://austinkleon.com/2017/11/20/a-few-notes-on-daily-blogging/">Austin Klein</a>)</div>
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There were some <a href="https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/seth-godin-explains-why-you-should-blog-daily">links</a> in that article, and more links in that one (and so it goes); the most interesting of those (to me) was one called "<a href="https://www.blogtyrant.com/is-blogging-finally-dead/">Is Blogging Dead</a>" (short answer: no - it's just changing from the way oldies like me think blogs work.) Anyway, the upshot is that I'm going to give it a try.</div>
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I don't know if I'll have the discipline for a daily blogging practice (it's benefits are supposed to be for me, btw, not for my audience, although one can hope you'll like it!); but I'll start with a promise to myself to make best efforts.</div>
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This is the back of a little piece (1 of four) I spent some time last night setting up for stitching.</div>
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Although I have some larger projects on the go, I've been taking a break from them for awhile and wanted to do something to get my head back in the game so to speak. </div>
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I'm also trying to get back into a better studio practice (insert eyeroll at myself here) and be more disciplined about it.</div>
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Perhaps writing every day will drive the work (for content) and vice versa.</div>
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Who knows? </div>
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Not I. Lol</div>
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Talk soon I guess! :)</div>
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<u>Kit</u></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-49413719007973250832018-01-06T02:22:00.002-05:002018-01-07T03:23:31.671-05:00Starling in HawthorneHappy new year!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7cPTCwXWBy4/WlBtBlBsb_I/AAAAAAAAE_M/v35MQOM1AYELHaPLQU8o44NVNfsR7id3gCLcBGAs/s1600/Starling%2Bin%2BHawthorne%2B%2528c%2529%2B2018%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bbark%2Bart%252C%2Bfine%2Bart%252C%2Billustration%2B-%2B280kb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="847" height="528" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7cPTCwXWBy4/WlBtBlBsb_I/AAAAAAAAE_M/v35MQOM1AYELHaPLQU8o44NVNfsR7id3gCLcBGAs/s640/Starling%2Bin%2BHawthorne%2B%2528c%2529%2B2018%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bbark%2Bart%252C%2Bfine%2Bart%252C%2Billustration%2B-%2B280kb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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First finish of 2018, first blog post in many moons, who knows, it could be the start of something new!<br />
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I started this in 2017 - maybe even the beginning of 2017, I'm not sure - stitching birch bark on fabric and then putting one of my painted fabric birds on it, and then I lost it.<br />
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No, not metaphorically, I mean sometime around March, I actually <i>lost it</i>. I'd done a studio clean up, and when I came back a few days later, I couldn't find it.<br />
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I looked of course, but I remembered it being on a hoop and having been put away that way, and how many places can a big ass hoop be (16 inches across) without you coming across it pretty quickly? We'd had a series of people in the house around that time, some we knew well, some who were strangers to us - and I thought maybe someone had stolen it. (Someone *did* steal another piece of art during the period, right off the wall!)<br />
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After a couple of concerted searches, I figured it was gone, and didn't think much more of it.<br />
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Fast forward to November, and lo and behold, I found it! Off the hoop, folded up, and put in a basket, which was the bottom basket of a stack of baskets that had been sitting on a shelf the whole time.<br />
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So, I started working on it again - there wasn't much left to do.<br />
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I hand stitched it to the hoop, painstakingly wrapped purchased ribbon around the hoop and then thin copper wire over that, enclosed the back with a piece of an antique hand-embroidered white tablecloth, signed it, dated it, flipped it over to admire it, and realized I had somehow gotten some kind of reddish stain on the front. I assume it was lipstick that had gotten on my hand somehow. I tried washing it out, but I ended up with a much larger, pinkish stain that I couldn't budge.<br />
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SIGH<br />
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Okay, no problem, I decided to paint the white background white. But it took SO. MANY. LAYERS of acrylic paint to cover the pink stain that by the time it was dry, it looked really bizarre. Thick layers of paint right up to the edges of the bark and embroidery.<br />
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Nothing for it but to cut it out of the hoop, cut off the artfully arranged needle felted branches (sacrificing some of the hand-painted berries and embroidery); and re mount it, re embroider, and re needle felt some branches. Butttt, I didn't feel like doing that right away.<br />
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In December, I decided I'd like to produce something I could post (I've been working on secret projects behind the scenes); so I pulled it out again, re-worked all that needed to be re-worked, re mounted it on a hoop, wrapped the hoop with hand cut ribbon, and then with metallic copper thread, sewed another piece of antique, embroidered white tablecloth to the back, hand beaded the edge because I thought it needed a little something else and, TA-DA! It was done.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ilyTdNQLXXk/WlBxyhdCnHI/AAAAAAAAE_k/kcZkqsd5uGkWq-vHbD-Rz_rSVjxWH7HcgCLcBGAs/s1600/detail%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Bbark%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ilyTdNQLXXk/WlBxyhdCnHI/AAAAAAAAE_k/kcZkqsd5uGkWq-vHbD-Rz_rSVjxWH7HcgCLcBGAs/s640/detail%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018%252C%2Bbark%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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I put some fray-check on the ribbon and left it to dry overnight.<br />
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And when I looked at it the next day, I FOUND ANOTHER STAIN.<br />
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This time it was the fray check, and nothing I did could budge the stain.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PwUbjs_Vp3c/WlBzojGj10I/AAAAAAAAE_w/WriMWj6fW8EOPi1YdLt6WriQcLTGxTiwACLcBGAs/s1600/hoop%2Bstain%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PwUbjs_Vp3c/WlBzojGj10I/AAAAAAAAE_w/WriMWj6fW8EOPi1YdLt6WriQcLTGxTiwACLcBGAs/s640/hoop%2Bstain%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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By this time, I wanted to throw the thing out the window.<br />
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I brought it to BSP to both show and complain, and BSP said "Uhhhhh...I don't like the "round" thing."<br />
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<b>Uhm. WAT?</b><br />
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"Well, it makes it look like, you know, don't get mad at me, but it looks like <i>craft</i>, not ART. It's not classy. Your work is intensive, painstaking, a ton of work. Don't you want it to look that way?"<br />
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<b>But this is COOL. </b><br />
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"Mmmmm...not really. This needs to be in a frame, with a mat, under glass. Especially at the prices you charge."<br />
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<b>Well... you may have a point. </b><br />
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So, I pulled it off the frame, thinking I could maybe save it and not have to redo the branches and berries and embroidery a THIRD time, but...taking into account the round shape, the stains (yes, once I took it off the hoop I discovered that there were a lot more stains)<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hy2NGCi9DQ0/WlB12Mr_JMI/AAAAAAAAFAA/39QxgDpuUok9e6tUNlyC33ENMMUyfgQGQCLcBGAs/s1600/STAINED%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hy2NGCi9DQ0/WlB12Mr_JMI/AAAAAAAAFAA/39QxgDpuUok9e6tUNlyC33ENMMUyfgQGQCLcBGAs/s640/STAINED%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And, I had to re-embroider, re-needlefelt branches, re-paint fabric and cut out little berries, for a THIRD time.<br />
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Then I remounted, this time on a rectangle.<br />
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It's not actually framed yet - this is my "artist rendering" of how I want to have it framed, so it's currently mounted on hardboard, 15.5 x 12.5" and is for sale. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7cPTCwXWBy4/WlBtBlBsb_I/AAAAAAAAE_Q/e6yHiA1kykYc8NTRZI_FBYPXZkv55D14QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Starling%2Bin%2BHawthorne%2B%2528c%2529%2B2018%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bbark%2Bart%252C%2Bfine%2Bart%252C%2Billustration%2B-%2B280kb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="847" height="264" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7cPTCwXWBy4/WlBtBlBsb_I/AAAAAAAAE_Q/e6yHiA1kykYc8NTRZI_FBYPXZkv55D14QCEwYBhgL/s320/Starling%2Bin%2BHawthorne%2B%2528c%2529%2B2018%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bbark%2Bart%252C%2Bfine%2Bart%252C%2Billustration%2B-%2B280kb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you'd like to buy it, please contact me at artbykitlang@gmail.com<br />
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First 2018 finish! Yay!lol<br />
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Kit<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-51906133096805755792017-08-04T00:04:00.000-04:002017-08-04T09:22:10.913-04:00Toronto Black Women's Collective<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKukGK9S1Ms/WXwH3dtul9I/AAAAAAAAEk4/-kaAZDk9dyEAhwcCVAVPRA33yzOLX0OiwCLcBGAs/s1600/Black%2BWomens%2BCollective%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="700" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKukGK9S1Ms/WXwH3dtul9I/AAAAAAAAEk4/-kaAZDk9dyEAhwcCVAVPRA33yzOLX0OiwCLcBGAs/s640/Black%2BWomens%2BCollective%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ta da! The final learning tool for the Toronto Black Womens' Collective.</div>
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Throughout, you'll see their interests, slogans and accomplishments; and to me, the most significant thing they did (other than start Canada's First Black Women's Newspaper), was how they galvanized people to action. They initiated, led and participated in SO. MANY. marches. They were the inspiration for others.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T0ea5t08LUw/WXwGa35EjzI/AAAAAAAAEks/mPiXF03thhM9EF8iElkCd8hopJs4S0RbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Black%2BWomens%2BCollective%2B%2528detail%2Bone%2529%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T0ea5t08LUw/WXwGa35EjzI/AAAAAAAAEks/mPiXF03thhM9EF8iElkCd8hopJs4S0RbwCLcBGAs/s640/Black%2BWomens%2BCollective%2B%2528detail%2Bone%2529%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's a couple of close ups. :)<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8jIeb8tJnw/WXwGapXuGdI/AAAAAAAAEkw/pTOQEuU4cWg_6fw3_oqxuUMkUahNNOToACLcBGAs/s1600/Black%2BWomens%2BCollective%2B%2528detail%2Btwo%2529%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8jIeb8tJnw/WXwGapXuGdI/AAAAAAAAEkw/pTOQEuU4cWg_6fw3_oqxuUMkUahNNOToACLcBGAs/s640/Black%2BWomens%2BCollective%2B%2528detail%2Btwo%2529%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you're interested in learning more about Toronto Black Womens' Collective, you can watch the documentary <i>Sisters In The Struggle</i> about them, through the National Film Board of Canada, <a href="https://www.nfb.ca/film/sisters_in_the_struggle/">HERE</a>; and learn more about the Collective itself (including being able to read copies of the newspaper they started, <i>Our Lives</i>, <a href="http://riseupfeministarchive.ca/activism/organizations/black-womens-collective/">HERE</a><br />
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Thanks for stopping by.<br />
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Next week, I'll show you the another one in this group of learning tools.<br />
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Until then!<span id="goog_485006667"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_485006668"></span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EwqO96BogA/WXwC4M-q8PI/AAAAAAAAEkg/e1r83RITvFIf4qaX-rKayvW70PFi2qRGACEwYBhgL/s1600/Kit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="93" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EwqO96BogA/WXwC4M-q8PI/AAAAAAAAEkg/e1r83RITvFIf4qaX-rKayvW70PFi2qRGACEwYBhgL/s1600/Kit.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-75674297572759306282017-08-02T00:00:00.000-04:002017-08-04T09:22:26.897-04:00PatternsOn Monday, after a bit of rambling (lol), I told you about the thought process behind the learning tool for the Black Women's Collective.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-c9V69SZ-A/WXwA5xmLjEI/AAAAAAAAEj8/VCu43e7Cucoli-OsrAsxMXEy2UWlUHgwACLcBGAs/s1600/Pattern%2BTwo%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="700" height="436" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-c9V69SZ-A/WXwA5xmLjEI/AAAAAAAAEj8/VCu43e7Cucoli-OsrAsxMXEy2UWlUHgwACLcBGAs/s640/Pattern%2BTwo%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A group of women sitting in a living room, discussing how to save the world.<br />
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Last year, when I started planning out these learning tools, I decided early on, that I would make my initial sketch the exact size of the finished piece. <br />
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Normally, my sketch is about the half the size, and I have to enlarge it significantly when making the actual piece.<br />
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In this case, the sketches serve as a pattern for the entire piece.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B76QyGqaOko/WXwBFsRdtJI/AAAAAAAAEkE/FFTTDJRzjn4R6rqE8l1e4zAsITN82l6_QCLcBGAs/s1600/Pattern%2B%2528one%2529%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="700" height="368" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B76QyGqaOko/WXwBFsRdtJI/AAAAAAAAEkE/FFTTDJRzjn4R6rqE8l1e4zAsITN82l6_QCLcBGAs/s640/Pattern%2B%2528one%2529%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%252C%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I trace the initial sketch as above, and then cut out the pieces to use a template for my fabric as in th original picture.<br />
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And here is a view from the back, where you can see that the piece is beginning to come together!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpFcv2K6eYs/WXwBMKE33bI/AAAAAAAAEkI/bcnIrqLMmWEdSGl58E_X8399rB_nCGCxgCLcBGAs/s1600/Pattern%2B3%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpFcv2K6eYs/WXwBMKE33bI/AAAAAAAAEkI/bcnIrqLMmWEdSGl58E_X8399rB_nCGCxgCLcBGAs/s640/Pattern%2B3%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finished piece on Friday!</div>
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See you then. :)</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EwqO96BogA/WXwC4M-q8PI/AAAAAAAAEkY/zpLFk5kahSMYGrBzwIRf_kogeccOdSYUQCLcBGAs/s1600/Kit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="93" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EwqO96BogA/WXwC4M-q8PI/AAAAAAAAEkY/zpLFk5kahSMYGrBzwIRf_kogeccOdSYUQCLcBGAs/s1600/Kit.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-64157474730981153662017-07-31T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-01T01:46:20.548-04:00Toronto Black Womens' Collective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AU5FrVsc9jw/WXv668mQcsI/AAAAAAAAEjs/K5Eqt2RWp6Uw-OU8O15EDB7C7XGOW1qNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Initial%2Bsketch%252C%2Btoronto%2Bblack%2Bwomens%2Bcollective%2B%2528c%2529%2B2017%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="700" height="454" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AU5FrVsc9jw/WXv668mQcsI/AAAAAAAAEjs/K5Eqt2RWp6Uw-OU8O15EDB7C7XGOW1qNwCEwYBhgL/s640/Initial%2Bsketch%252C%2Btoronto%2Bblack%2Bwomens%2Bcollective%2B%2528c%2529%2B2017%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Earlier this year, Freedom School (an initiative of Black Lives Matter), commissioned me to make learning tools for their school again. </span><br />
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You may recall that they asked me to make five pieces for them last year, and to date, they are my favourite clients EVER. </div>
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As we did last year, we contracted that I would make 4 pieces for X amount of dollars, 1/3 due up front, 1/3 due halfway through, and 1/3 due just before delivery. We discussed what the topics would be for each of the pieces, and that was it. They paid me on time at each delivery date (in fact, the middle one I forgot about, and they sent it to me on their own!); and never bothered me again. BEST CLIENTS EVER. lol</div>
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Seriously though, I have been doing a lot of commissions over the last few years, and, without a doubt, this is the very best way for me to work. Too much input from the client dilutes my vision (such as it is); and the end result is the poorer for it. I always think, "If you like my work, and hired me for it, why are you trying to control the product? If you want a different product, hire a different artist.". </div>
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Having worked with them twice now, I think this is how I have to work with all my future clients - and if they don't want to do that, then I guess I won't be working with them. I don't mean to be disrespectful to prior clients; and lord knows I'm happy for the work, but I need to be true to my own vision. It produces a *much* better piece of work.</div>
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So, speaking of vision: in this case, with the exception of one of them, the topics were quite difficult, and the muse was not in evidence, even though I thought they were all very interesting. </div>
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I did a lot of research about the Black Womens' Collective, and I even had BSP do some research for me, in case I missed something. We both turned up with the same lists of the accomplishments of the Black Womens' Collective; and though any one of them could be artistically inspiring, how to choose ONE image to show ALL of their accomplishments?</div>
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It wasn't until I watched the documentary <i>RISE UP!</i>, about the Black Women's Collective, that I finally realized what it was I wanted to show. </div>
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These women were ordinary women. Mothers, students, young career women, who gathered together in each others homes, talked about ways to make a difference, and then, <i>went out and did it</i>. </div>
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To me, that was the most amazing ting about the Black Women's Collective; that these young women asked "How can we make a difference?", answered their own question, and carried out their plan. </div>
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And so I chose to show them as they were. A group of young women, sitting in a living room, effecting a plan about how to make the world a better place. </div>
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More, later this week. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-91259377246658666812017-04-24T00:00:00.000-04:002017-04-24T11:33:10.011-04:00Sweet To The Soul<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yCub-Zxxy0U/WPjKg_BD-AI/AAAAAAAAETg/PwY3LyHWs3YXO3YHEt4Gc-GLvVmxf65DQCLcB/s1600/Sweet%2BTo%2BThe%2BSoul%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017_detail%2Btwo%252C%2Bstitched%2Bpaper%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bapple%2Bblossoms%252C%2Bhand%2Bpainted%2Bpaper%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bkit%2Blang2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yCub-Zxxy0U/WPjKg_BD-AI/AAAAAAAAETg/PwY3LyHWs3YXO3YHEt4Gc-GLvVmxf65DQCLcB/s640/Sweet%2BTo%2BThe%2BSoul%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017_detail%2Btwo%252C%2Bstitched%2Bpaper%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bapple%2Bblossoms%252C%2Bhand%2Bpainted%2Bpaper%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bkit%2Blang2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I don't know whether I want to talk about "process" here, or PROCESS. lol By which I mean, the process by which I made this piece, or the processing I've been doing while making it. <br />
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As I said in my last post (and a couple of other posts, I think); I've had some rather rebellious rumblings in the pot along the line of "what will you do with all of these 'really cool' fabrics and papers you're making? Are these just for the fun of it? If so, perhaps you should move on to more useful things!"<br />
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It's been a bit of a question for quite some time really.<br />
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Ever since I started experimenting with watercolour on fabric and paper (henceforward "fibers"), and kept producing these "Oh cool!" and "Oh, that's really beautiful!" fibers; but immediately upon the heels of doing so, I wondered "are these art in themselves, or do I need to incorporate them into art". <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1etDjfFd1w/WPjKAsSkTkI/AAAAAAAAETY/TmTtsJiqp6kxT2nGlkTRr0dAO6Zqo5a5QCLcB/s1600/Sweet%2Bto%2Bthe%2BSoul%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017_detail%252C%2Bbeads%252C%2Bhoney%2Bbee%252C%2Bontario%2Bhoney%2Bbee%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2BKit%2Blang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1etDjfFd1w/WPjKAsSkTkI/AAAAAAAAETY/TmTtsJiqp6kxT2nGlkTRr0dAO6Zqo5a5QCLcB/s640/Sweet%2Bto%2Bthe%2BSoul%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017_detail%252C%2Bbeads%252C%2Bhoney%2Bbee%252C%2Bontario%2Bhoney%2Bbee%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2BKit%2Blang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>a detail of the 3 glass beads I used in this piece. <br />The light isn't right to show it, but that dark green one has a </em>wonderful <em>glow!</em></div>
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For some of them, I still don't have the answer. Some of the papers and fabrics are so beautiful, that I think of some eco-dyed swaths of fabric that I sometimes see hanging at fiber art shows, that are in themselves art without a stitch or a bead or a breath added to them, and think that some of my fibers fall into that category. </div>
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Of course, I also have to admit that sometimes when I see those pieces, I want to grab them and stitch into them, or (gasp!) cut into them...<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and sometimes I sniff and think "that's not art!" </span>Ahem!</div>
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But my musings off and on about those fibers got me thinking about the stacks (and stacks!) of my hand painted papers that I have on hand. </div>
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Those of you have been with me through all of my various iterations may remember that I made them in pursuit of my Paperwork" series back in 2010 and 2011; but except for brief occasions when I might grab "the perfect orange" fuse it and make some leaves (or similar); I haven't touched them since them. </div>
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So as I pondered, I thought, I really must get back to using some of those old ones while I think about how to use the new ones. </div>
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And though I hadn't really sat and consciously thought about what to do with them, concurrently to the general question, I also had this idea rumbling around about incorporating a solid piece of paper (?) or fabric (?) or new fibers (?) and one of the more colourful ones in different, but simple and really structured, ways. </div>
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At first I thought I might do it as abstract art, hand stitch different types of lines across and through the disparate fibers, joining them together across the divide as a way of talking about the current political climate. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YyPhO2R2lWc/WPjKAtRLjPI/AAAAAAAAETQ/iVt4gL57T4sz2K0oon51l9zZodbwj-EtgCLcB/s1600/Sweet%2Bto%2Bthe%2BSoul%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017_mixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bpainted%2Bpaper%252C%2Bmachine%2Bstitched%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bfibre%2Bart%252C%2Bhoney%2Bbee%252C%2Bbee%252C%2Bbeads%252C%2Bapple%2Bblossom%252C%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YyPhO2R2lWc/WPjKAtRLjPI/AAAAAAAAETQ/iVt4gL57T4sz2K0oon51l9zZodbwj-EtgCLcB/s640/Sweet%2Bto%2Bthe%2BSoul%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017_mixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bpainted%2Bpaper%252C%2Bmachine%2Bstitched%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bfibre%2Bart%252C%2Bhoney%2Bbee%252C%2Bbee%252C%2Bbeads%252C%2Bapple%2Bblossom%252C%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But just lately, I've been thinking about that on a more personal level.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>I've been considering how to join my
two lives together. Pre-birth family, and post-birth family. I feel that a
demarcation in my life has happened – a wall has fallen, or been lifted cleanly
away – and my body and blood have chosen, without consulting my mind to step
into a new life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">None of knows how are life will unravel, and no more do I,
but do know that I am on a different path than I was before. I have veered: drawing</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> BSP, former plans and my children in my wake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It feels right that this has happened in spring –
a time of renewal and re-birth, and so as I worked on this piece, thinking
about all that has occurred and what may in future, a spray of apple blossoms
appeared under my hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ancient Druids thought that the bee represented nuturing, community and family, and this must speak to something in me as my thoughts - and my studio! - are filled with honeybees as they have built a nest just under the eave above one of my studio windows. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And so I imagine myself walking into a new future, trailing bees, apple blossoms and hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Sweet To the Soul" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">12 x 12 inches, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">mounted on a painted gallery depth canvas, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">available for $300</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mlMrxcpDpA/WPpjHUxIvqI/AAAAAAAAET8/0W2twOBOsDY6Pygzx-oR13vQzlti3jg_QCLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mlMrxcpDpA/WPpjHUxIvqI/AAAAAAAAET8/0W2twOBOsDY6Pygzx-oR13vQzlti3jg_QCLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" /></a></div>
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P.S. I finally found the "followers" gadget! If you'd like to follow along, please do! :)</div>
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</span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-14618072802448273902017-04-18T09:14:00.000-04:002017-04-18T09:14:21.948-04:00In spite of it all, ordinary life continues...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TChiYSlLKTo/WPWlhTQrHzI/AAAAAAAAERo/rnRrELOdY9UpxperLbIW03TIMRSy8A9ygCLcB/s1600/20170418_013231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TChiYSlLKTo/WPWlhTQrHzI/AAAAAAAAERo/rnRrELOdY9UpxperLbIW03TIMRSy8A9ygCLcB/s640/20170418_013231.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<em>An Ontario Honeybee pictured for reference as I worked</em></div>
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In the aftermath of my journey home; I should be busy in my studio. </div>
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Lord knows I have deadlines fast approaching for commissions, I would like to actually SHOW something this year (can you believe I`ve missed TWO show seasons!?) and many of the deadlines for show season have already passed, so I really should <em>finish</em> something already!</div>
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But my mind has been so busy: thinking through feelings, mapping, making connections, questioning, positing answers; busy, busy, busy! It has left no time, and no feeling for art. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq4j1uaCUMM/WPWlncYw93I/AAAAAAAAERs/43roc1ED_xQA83lUpJXLI_JN5hrw7m4YQCLcB/s1600/20170414_221755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq4j1uaCUMM/WPWlncYw93I/AAAAAAAAERs/43roc1ED_xQA83lUpJXLI_JN5hrw7m4YQCLcB/s640/20170414_221755.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<em>a small selection of some painted papers I have on hand...</em></div>
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Nevertheless, I knew I had to get my mojo running somehow. Often, I can do that by doing something else "artsy" which acts as a prompt for my art brain. I tried making a couple of sleeping masks (I'll post those another time); I tried doing some hand embroidery, and then I tried doing some bead embroidery which I hadn't done since February of 2016!</div>
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Finally, a couple of nights ago, I decided to work on an experiment I had been thinking about in a loose kind of way for several months. An idea I had for stitching on paper.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYop1mBJaLw/WPWmVcAqqdI/AAAAAAAAER0/qJj1JH2HGRkpLLAU_-1m_NotQWl4ZWJvwCLcB/s1600/2017-04-17%2B22.48.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYop1mBJaLw/WPWmVcAqqdI/AAAAAAAAER0/qJj1JH2HGRkpLLAU_-1m_NotQWl4ZWJvwCLcB/s640/2017-04-17%2B22.48.02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Well, not only did my idea work out quite well; but it has indeed gotten my motor running again. <br />
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Phew!!! :) <br />
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I never show the backs of pieces because people don't flip over paintings to see what's on the back, and why should they with fiber work or mixed media (?!); but flipping over the back was important in this case because I needed to iron on some fusible. <br />
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More tomorrow I think - providing my painted canvas that I'm going to mount this on is dry! <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7fEjyxyZfc/WPYQdamx4JI/AAAAAAAAESE/c6STb4LG4Vw6mKSiOVw07AxgstBW1_LqACLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7fEjyxyZfc/WPYQdamx4JI/AAAAAAAAESE/c6STb4LG4Vw6mKSiOVw07AxgstBW1_LqACLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-51174634209029486712017-04-13T13:14:00.000-04:002017-04-19T08:26:54.601-04:00The Long Journey Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UswnVtBB9vU/WOHLkejr7WI/AAAAAAAAEPE/9Ft455ONcPEjlkrqHFs_PQt2gmwfCzaaACLcB/s1600/View%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BBridge%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UswnVtBB9vU/WOHLkejr7WI/AAAAAAAAEPE/9Ft455ONcPEjlkrqHFs_PQt2gmwfCzaaACLcB/s640/View%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BBridge%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A week ago Sunday, BSP and I got into our casual clothes; packed the car with rubber boots, warm socks, and a couple of small pieces of my art, and after a stop for coffee and bagels, told Leslie (our GPS lady), that we wanted to drive North to Parry Sound. A couple of hours later, we crossed the bridge into Wasauksing First Nation. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xw138B97fM/WOHFotq1YGI/AAAAAAAAEOM/7QR0g3vAMRcOPIspeVzuU9otgDPteBENQCLcB/s1600/Wasausing%2BFirst%2BNations%2BSwing%2BBridge%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xw138B97fM/WOHFotq1YGI/AAAAAAAAEOM/7QR0g3vAMRcOPIspeVzuU9otgDPteBENQCLcB/s640/Wasausing%2BFirst%2BNations%2BSwing%2BBridge%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a beautiful, sunny day. Blue and white above and below, and a promise made by that wide and welcoming sky. </div>
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I was full of hope as we drove across that bridge; but I was also nervous, excited, and a bit scared. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-24nqwd3A674/WOHFnf_kYEI/AAAAAAAAEN4/2Z8EuFjnjJURWyd4eX7KAlSa5dlxdp9uwCEw/s1600/All%2Bsigns%2Bpoint%2Bthe%2Bway%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-24nqwd3A674/WOHFnf_kYEI/AAAAAAAAEN4/2Z8EuFjnjJURWyd4eX7KAlSa5dlxdp9uwCEw/s640/All%2Bsigns%2Bpoint%2Bthe%2Bway%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>
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We drove for a few minutes more, and found that all signs pointed to home. </div>
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </div>
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</div>
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Here is where the talking starts. </div>
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We got out of the car, and I was greeted by my cousins. By. My. Cousins. </div>
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Listen:</div>
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We all have our kinfolk, and we
Black folks have our skinfolk; but I have never, in my whole life, been able to say: "these
people are my blood relatives". My cousins.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
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When I opened
the car door and got out, my cousins greeted me with open arms.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After those initial greetings, my cousin
C. invited BSP, me and my other cousin, S., to sit in her backyard (it was sunny and warm);
and we talked. And talked. And talked.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
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They told me
about my mother. They told me about our family. Our uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents and great grandparents. They gave me welcome gifts - a journal with a bird on it and a dream catcher. They gave me mementos of my
mother: her photo albums, some papers, and her purse. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was able to touch something my mother held.<o:p></o:p></div>
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C. had saved her purse in a box and I have left it there for now, but every day, I take it out. I stroke the soft, warm leather, I trace the beads with my
finger. I let the fringe spill over my hand like a waterfall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Flung over her shoulder, or worn
across her chest, her fingers dug inside this purse, carelessly scrabbled to
find something; her hands brushed against its leather as she pulled things out of or put things in it. At times, she must have held it quietly on her lap. The velvety leather that I
hold in my hands, was once held by hers, too.</div>
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When I close my
eyes and hold it, it's almost as if I am holding her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Almost.</div>
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Another gift they gave me was the knowledge that I had never been far out of mind – at least for my cousin C. S. was also part of the "find Mary-Lou" committee, but as she is younger than I am, she had no memories of me. </div>
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So I was touched beyond measure when C. handed me my mother's memorial card, and on the back it said that my mother was<strong> </strong>survived by,<strong> </strong>among other people,<strong> me.</strong></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
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Another "selah" here – a pause to meditate.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN79fEKTWfc/WOHF8GTUcAI/AAAAAAAAEOU/JKOyvlhZjacbasxlQIMO9RPUm2Qb4nl4QCLcB/s1600/House%2Bside%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN79fEKTWfc/WOHF8GTUcAI/AAAAAAAAEOU/JKOyvlhZjacbasxlQIMO9RPUm2Qb4nl4QCLcB/s640/House%2Bside%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Later, after a delicious lunch prepared by my cousins, they took us
to my grandmother B.'s house; the house where my mother and I lived when I
was a baby.</div>
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More than 50 years later, there isn't much left of it. </div>
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The ground floor was a single room where I'm told a stove used to be in the middle of
the floor; and then upstairs, another single room where we slept, the two
of us curled on a mattress together. </div>
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It was too
dangerous to go inside, but as I looked and looked and looked, I imagined. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the house my mother
brought me to – home from the hospital, home on visits. This is where my cousin
C. held me as a baby, or perhaps played with me to entertain me, or to stop me
from crying.</div>
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~ selah ~</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RyckRVKXNlw/WOHFn9Hz2eI/AAAAAAAAEOY/Qc4XZ-W2rLwjlbkS9ruvVsCxQk_JghjmACEw/s1600/Interior%2Bof%2Bthe%2BHouse%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RyckRVKXNlw/WOHFn9Hz2eI/AAAAAAAAEOY/Qc4XZ-W2rLwjlbkS9ruvVsCxQk_JghjmACEw/s640/Interior%2Bof%2Bthe%2BHouse%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There is this prevalent idea in
the popular imagination that adoptees have "a hole in their heart". Since meeting my family, several people have suggested that I must feel "whole" now, or that my "heart must be healed".<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can't speak <em>for</em> all adoptees but, in speaking
<em>with</em> other adoptees, what I have found, is that adoptees who grew up in
warm, loving families; adoptees who felt safe, nurtured, and cherished, never
felt the loss nor lack of their "other families"; and rarely felt a need to
look for them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But the rest of us, who had different homes, dreamed.
<o:p></o:p><br />
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We had fantasies of being a secret
prince or princess*, or being the secret love child of a famous actress, who
would come, claim us, and whisk us away to a different life. </div>
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<br />
Maybe our mother
was inexplicably trapped, and once she escaped she would move heaven and earth
to find us, and we would be reunited in a rain of happy tears. <br />
<br />
Or perhaps <em><strong>we</strong></em> were
the ones who been stolen - kidnapped from our rightful parents - and they
would eventually find us, dote upon us, and cherish us as their most precious
and valued possession for the rest of our lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For myself, although I had been told why I was put up for adoption; I didn't believe what I had
been told. </div>
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My adoptive parents had a very specific agenda they wanted to
forward with me, and in pursuit of that agenda, they said terrible things about
my birth mother and father – all cultivated to make me never want to see them
again. </div>
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I knew this, so I disbelieved my adoptive parents; and my child's mind came up
with many other reasons and scenarios as to why I was no longer with my mother.
So many theories: tried on like costumes and loved thin until the holes were too obvious to miss; but some half-believed anyway, until they were finally put away in adulthood. </div>
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So many theories that eventually, I forgot what I had been
told, and just "didn't know". <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4ghekE3R9s/WOHL6IggWuI/AAAAAAAAEPI/T6CrWJ9ZZAMenJpZJsQIMb7iYpqlsnA-QCLcB/s1600/Up%2Bthe%2Bstairs%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4ghekE3R9s/WOHL6IggWuI/AAAAAAAAEPI/T6CrWJ9ZZAMenJpZJsQIMb7iYpqlsnA-QCLcB/s1600/Up%2Bthe%2Bstairs%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" /></a></div>
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When I asked the question of my cousins, they told me a similar tale to the one my adoptive parents had told me long ago. They had mixed up some details - purposely or accidentally, I don't know, but the bare, raw bones of it was the same bloodied fist to my heart.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">This is a hurt I must learn to navigate with time, and with love and understanding for my mother; who was a person like the rest of us, who did what she believed she had to, with the tools and circumstances she had.</span></div>
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<br />
~selah~<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl8oIhyvC4U/WOHKd8V85AI/AAAAAAAAEO4/LvzlfeHxyUcwan53oEpNPPEoPyVmoNbWACLcB/s1600/front%2Bdoor%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bhouse%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl8oIhyvC4U/WOHKd8V85AI/AAAAAAAAEO4/LvzlfeHxyUcwan53oEpNPPEoPyVmoNbWACLcB/s640/front%2Bdoor%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bhouse%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There is much to meditate on, much to "process" as we're so fond of saying these days; so much that I
feel in my heart and in the blood of my body, but am unable to articulate just yet. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There were painful moments, yes, but there were sweet ones too: seeing a
picture of my mother at age 37 and recognizing that the legs I was so vain about in my youth I had inherited from her; seeing
a picture of her in a bathing suit, and recognizing that I had inherited her body shape too! When I laughingly claimed that body, BSP laughed also, and concurred - her body, was my body, my body, is hers.</div>
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There was another shock of recognition: seeing a picture of my half sister at
about age 18 and knowing that it was virtually indistinguishable from any
picture of me at the same age. Neither my cousins nor BSP knew me then, so they
didn't see the similarities, but without prompting, as soon as she saw that
picture, a friend I've known for more than 30 years gasped out loud and said
"Oh my God, she looks exactly like you!" We even had
the same haircut, styled the same way. :)</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bF6XiHzPND8/WO-vAeqixpI/AAAAAAAAERE/0gA_xKXYb98IFywTz3EGz7S3PR3LuKVdQCLcB/s1600/Sitting_Bull_and_family_1881_at_Ft_Randall_rear_L-R_Good_Feather_Woman_%2528sister%2529%252C_Walks_Looking_%2528daughter%2529_front_L-R_Her_Holy_Door_%2528mother%2529%252C_Sitting_Bull%252C_Many.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bF6XiHzPND8/WO-vAeqixpI/AAAAAAAAERE/0gA_xKXYb98IFywTz3EGz7S3PR3LuKVdQCLcB/s640/Sitting_Bull_and_family_1881_at_Ft_Randall_rear_L-R_Good_Feather_Woman_%2528sister%2529%252C_Walks_Looking_%2528daughter%2529_front_L-R_Her_Holy_Door_%2528mother%2529%252C_Sitting_Bull%252C_Many.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
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<em>Sitting Bull and his family. MY family. (!)</em></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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And there were some fun and mind
boggling moments: learning that we are Ojibway, learning a bit about all of the lines and Nations we encompass; and finding out that through my
grandmother we are descended from Sitting Bull (yes, *that*
Sitting Bull); and through my grandfather's line, Chief after Chief after Chief, for generations. </div>
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<br /></div>
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BSP said
later, "You really ARE an 'Indian Princess*", and we laughed at the old cliché. </div>
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<br /></div>
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And there was a different kind of sweetness in those moments when I found myself laughing and joking with my cousins as if we
had known each other all our lives.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We haven't of course, and there
is still SO MUCH MORE to learn about my family as a whole; and much time and
trust required on both sides in order for us to learn each other and learn to love one another as families do.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Eventually, there will be a visit to our Chief; and a visit to my mother's grave on our reserve, and so much more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
But for right now, my only goal is to explain how all of this <i>feels</i>. </div>
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I can't even explain it to
myself!</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
I don't know what it's doing in my brain, but, oddly, my body feels healthier – ever since I met my cousins, I feel <em>physically </em>better.
My blood rushes and sings through my body, and my body itself feels strong, and capable, and younger! Could I have found a fountain of youth? It makes me smile to think of it. In fact, I can't stop smiling.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
I feel
happier. <br />
<br />
Something happened to me 13 years ago, and as a result of it, I lost my "joy". I have been happy, of course, since then, but I never felt "joyful" again. <br />
<br />
It's been so long
since I felt this feeling, that I can't quite identify it; but I think, maybe, this is "joy". I found it, or perhaps, at long last, like my family; it found me. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
I have found my people. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
I have found home.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcpJbrUBfhw/WO-vSF64F4I/AAAAAAAAERM/QN1AfHc-GZ4evPQVIBKmoPAhfc74biq9QCLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcpJbrUBfhw/WO-vSF64F4I/AAAAAAAAERM/QN1AfHc-GZ4evPQVIBKmoPAhfc74biq9QCLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-3441773118539990722017-03-27T11:27:00.000-04:002017-04-21T10:33:21.630-04:00The calm before the storm...<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKO_1ndDNyQ/WNkzoUIaZ5I/AAAAAAAAEHY/DwhavCUgNYEuiVjWz8KMq4ImQgP8vFRpgCLcB/s1600/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2BKit%2BLang%2Bart%252C%2Bstudio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKO_1ndDNyQ/WNkzoUIaZ5I/AAAAAAAAEHY/DwhavCUgNYEuiVjWz8KMq4ImQgP8vFRpgCLcB/s640/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2BKit%2BLang%2Bart%252C%2Bstudio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
One of my favourite things about my studio, is something
that I don't get to enjoy very often. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>Our house faces west, and my attic studio has 3 deep-set windows: one is large and north facing, one is small, set off to the side, and east facing; and one is centered, small, and west facing.<br />
<br />
So my studio has good light, but there's rarely <i>direct</i> light. These conditions are, it must be
admitted, excellent conditions for making art, although I do miss the happy endorphins I get from sunlight flooding into the room.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
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But for a short period every day, through the smallest window
on the west side; the sun pours through, lighting that side of my studio with warm,
golden light. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There's something about that afternoon light that is so
peaceful, so … I don't know, "filling" somehow, that just standing
and looking at it feels like walking in a forest through sun-dappled leaves. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Perhaps it's because it lasts so short a time that I treasure it so.<br />
<br />
Or, perhaps it's because I'm so rarely
there to enjoy it that I love it so much: I still work a day job, so most days, I'm slogging away in a cubicle while that golden warmth touches and caresses my work table, chair, and
the tools of my work.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Strangely, that beautiful light heralds the darkness, as it's just before sunset that it softly steals in.<br />
<br /></div>
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I happened to be up there last Monday afternoon, cleaning,
when I was struck still by a soft touch on my cheek, and turned to face this glorious warm glow. So I thought to take a
picture of it and share it with all of you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Some day soon, I'm going to take pictures of the entire
studio. I'm always saying "When it's clean"; but even when my studio
is spotless, it rarely looks so. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There's too much stuff in, and all over it.<br />
<br />
The painted
floors have scuffs, stains and scrapes - some down to bare wood so they will never
look clean no matter how scrubbed they are. And the things I create with are
everywhere – crammed onto shelves, tucked into drawers, folded into baskets and
bins and pinned on the walls.<br />
<br />
I just need to wait for good light, and then I'll take some pictures and finally (three years later!) show you my "new" studio.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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These days, there's a lot going on in Studio Kit, despite
the stillness of this photo.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have four commissions right now (I'm going to try and remember
to post about them as I make them); as well as several works in progress for
myself/shows and some ongoing hand work. If I was single, I'd never leave my studio, but as it is, I try to spend no more than a couple of hours per day there, except on weekends, when I work long into the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And there's also a lot going on in the head of the head of Studio Kit. </div>
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<br /></div>
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If you are
friends with me on Facebook (not just following my Kit Lang Art); then you know
that recently, my matrilineal birth family found me.<br />
<br />
Of course, that was very
exciting for me, but I've also been experiencing a lot of other emotions.<br />
<br />
Some positive, some neutral, some negative (the latter mostly directed at my adoptive family), but also some that fall along the "feelings" spectrum that are difficult to deal with.<br />
<br />
Within days of talking with
them, I received my very first picture of my mother, along with her name; which
until that day, I didn't even know.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ2mFzr42zg/WNkum0qojCI/AAAAAAAAEHI/k1UFGuWUCM0ZSR9UvvwWCW_CKTwmJFatwCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1490298891772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ2mFzr42zg/WNkum0qojCI/AAAAAAAAEHI/k1UFGuWUCM0ZSR9UvvwWCW_CKTwmJFatwCLcB/s400/FB_IMG_1490298891772.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
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<b>Patricia King</b>*<o:p></o:p></div>
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For days, I couldn't stop staring at her picture while the tears ran down my cheeks. Crying, crying, crying. Crying some more.<br />
<br />
Since my little Issac died, I have not spent so
much time crying! But these are happy tears. Well, and also, complicated tears. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Happy,
yes: but no sooner did I find my mother, then I learned she had passed away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As I explained to BSP, she may have died in 1998, but for
me, it was on Friday, March 17, 2017. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Like every adoptee, I had daydreams of a tearful and loving reunion
with my mother; and that died on March 17, too.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
And, oddly, finding out that my birth mother's "date of death" was a couple of days before the anniversary of my adoptive mother's death has stirred up a lot of ... "stuff".<br />
<br />
She and I had a lot of unfinished business, and though I have been able to view her more kindly of late; losing my "mummy" brought some of it up again, so I am angry with my adoptive mother (again); and I am also mourning the relationships I never got to have – with either of them.</div>
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<br /></div>
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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However, there is much to celebrate, and I'm going to meet
my cousins, possibly an aunt and some other relatives this coming Sunday. I'm
both nervous and excited and if I'm honest, a little scared (what if they don't like me? what if they don't like that BSP is White? what if, what if, what if?); and
I have approximately one billion questions to ask. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So there's that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And as if that wasn't <i>quite</i> enough; also, there's another thing happening, which I
haven't talked about on Facebook (or anywhere) yet; so more on that later.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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All of which to say – there is studio work going on, but
the personal stuff is interfering with it a bit (I've found it very hard to
concentrate lately!); and, in case this post didn't drive the point home already, I'm feeling very talk-y. lol<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Fair warning, when I do pop in, I'll probably be doing
a fair amount of chatter too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, talk soon I hope,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>*Yes, as you can see, I am half Native. I've always said that, but many people thought I was lie-telling. Here is proof in my beautiful mother. </o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-72778882504087387552017-03-24T09:49:00.000-04:002017-03-24T09:49:51.248-04:00The BIG finishOr rather the little finish? :)<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLoLfN5wgg4/WNUjPTqtSeI/AAAAAAAAEGE/gPbgLGkV6TAKLEWifvd40O21L2-SM6N8ACLcB/s1600/Seeking%2BMami%2BWata%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bwatercolour%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bwatercolor%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bmachine%2Bstitched%252C%2BBlack%2Bwomen%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2BMami%2BWata%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLoLfN5wgg4/WNUjPTqtSeI/AAAAAAAAEGE/gPbgLGkV6TAKLEWifvd40O21L2-SM6N8ACLcB/s640/Seeking%2BMami%2BWata%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bwatercolour%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bwatercolor%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bmachine%2Bstitched%252C%2BBlack%2Bwomen%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2BMami%2BWata%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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When I left you, I had pinned and even stay stitched some bits of fabric to the woman in the foreground in order to give her that 3D look that's kind of my thing. I was a bit worried though, that it was too heavy for the size of the piece and that the purity of the image I saw in my mind was somehow lost.<br />
<br />
In the end, I decided to take the fabric off, and though the piece is a little flatter as result, its more true to the vision I originally had.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zzPEmyZIjTA/WNUjU-1v2QI/AAAAAAAAEGI/-DMEw0HE0MA7HvHlJ49WZdJxEb4MXzv1QCLcB/s1600/Seeking%2BMami%2BWata%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bwatercolour%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bwatercolor%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bmachine%2Bstitched%252C%2BBlack%2Bwomen%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2BMami%2BWata%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart%252C%2Bexampe%252C%2Bkit%2Blang%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zzPEmyZIjTA/WNUjU-1v2QI/AAAAAAAAEGI/-DMEw0HE0MA7HvHlJ49WZdJxEb4MXzv1QCLcB/s1600/Seeking%2BMami%2BWata%2B%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%2Bart%252C%2Bwatercolour%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bwatercolor%2Bon%2Bfabric%252C%2Bmachine%2Bstitched%252C%2BBlack%2Bwomen%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2BMami%2BWata%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfabric%2Bart%252C%2Bexampe%252C%2Bkit%2Blang%2B1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
Once it's matted by the end use - this is what it will look like - all 4.5 x 6.5 inches of it.<br />
<br />
I hope they're pleased with it. I am. :)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BIexT0TFAAo/WNUjuAa6MEI/AAAAAAAAEGM/kC8oSJ5iyHg8VCJowY2IvHDtm9m27LMxACLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BIexT0TFAAo/WNUjuAa6MEI/AAAAAAAAEGM/kC8oSJ5iyHg8VCJowY2IvHDtm9m27LMxACLcB/s1600/Kit.jpg" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885684728110596602.post-51937605760306864752017-03-21T11:10:00.001-04:002017-03-21T11:10:18.917-04:00Making progress<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5Rqz3VfEeo/WNE8Q-I7sNI/AAAAAAAAEDk/4VmY8RtZbVkl_3LrAyylk2KxsQz6XDEVgCLcB/s1600/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2BWIP%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%252C%2Bart%252C%2Bblue%252C%2Bmami%2Bwata%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2BBlack%2Bwomen%252C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5Rqz3VfEeo/WNE8Q-I7sNI/AAAAAAAAEDk/4VmY8RtZbVkl_3LrAyylk2KxsQz6XDEVgCLcB/s640/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2BWIP%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%252C%2Bart%252C%2Bblue%252C%2Bmami%2Bwata%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2BBlack%2Bwomen%252C.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
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Apparently, tomorrow is a very elastic term with me. lol</div>
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But, back to what I was talking about last week... So, the water turned out fine once it was dry, it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but watercolour kind of makes up its own mind about what it wants to do (and that's even more true when you're painting on fabric!); so I left it to its own devices and called it good. </div>
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I made the ladies out of a vintage table cloth and painted their skin on cotton muslin.</div>
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Because this piece is so small, I stayed very true to the original sketch.</div>
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As always, thread matching is the difficult part. </div>
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I counted my shades of blue, including what I have on the wall and in this basket, and I have 73 shades of blue. But I still didn't have the "perfect" shade for the stitching! I mean, really. How big does a woman's thread stash have to be?!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy9iR9HQnrA/WNE9rkSsF8I/AAAAAAAAED8/aS1hXoHGFm0-kISlaT7lV_sshALc6O8SQCLcB/s1600/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2BWIP%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%252C%2Bart%252C%2Bblue%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2Bblack%2Bwomen%252C%2Bwhite%252C%2Bmami%2Bwata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy9iR9HQnrA/WNE9rkSsF8I/AAAAAAAAED8/aS1hXoHGFm0-kISlaT7lV_sshALc6O8SQCLcB/s640/%2528c%2529%2BKit%2BLang%2B2017%252C%2BWIP%252C%2Btextile%2Bart%252C%2Bfiber%2Bart%252C%2Bmixed%2Bmedia%252C%2Bart%252C%2Bblue%252C%2Bafrican%2Bamerican%2Bwomen%252C%2Bblack%2Bwomen%252C%2Bwhite%252C%2Bmami%2Bwata.jpg" width="542" /></a></div>
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I decided to make do with the less than perfect shade and stitched it down, being careful to make wavy watery shapes and allowing for the different shades and colours in water. Of course, once I cut the piece down to size, most of that was gone because I scaled it to the size I was working on, not the size I was cutting. </div>
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Note to self: Cut first, then stitch!</div>
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(Nothing is going badly with the piece, but then, nothing is going very well, either. I hope it resolves itself as some point!)</div>
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When that was done, I started pinning bits of fabric in place as you see above, but I'm not sure about it. </div>
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The fabric looks cool, and is in very in line with my style of work, but somehow the purity of the image is lost. </div>
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Hmmmm. What to do, what to do...</div>
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More tomorrow maybe. </div>
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Talk soon!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Toronto, ON, Canada43.653226 -79.38318429999998243.2856095 -80.028631299999986 44.020842499999993 -78.737737299999978