I took an unscheduled break for a few weeks (you may have noticed). My muse had fled - due, I think to a mild depression I was experiencing. Essentially, I was pre-mourning my future health issues.  I let myself have a wallow, but a few days before Christmas, said to myself "Self, that's enough now!Time to pick up the ball."



So, since then I got creative by making some new decorations for the Christmas tree, making SIX cozies for my new tablet  (because you never know what kind of mood you'll be in); but also, actually finishing "the boy".

I know it seemed like I only had a bit to do -  (I sure thought so!) - but it turned out, that the weight of this sucker was SO. MUCH. that after I put my usual envelope closing on, the  weight of it actually pulled the seams apart. So I had to re-quilt what I thought would be only the centre portion, but as that skewed the rest of it, I actually had to re-quilt the entire thing. (Augh!)



And then I had to make the small, but painstaking "repairs" (adding more feathers, fussing with the neckline, making the bat [that bat, as innocuous as it looks, took HOURS and HOURS which I will delineate in another post]).


But on to the actual piece!

It began its life as a piece about my son, Issac, who died 19 years ago. You may remember I started it in the spring - the start date was actually on what would have been his 21st birthday. But I didn't want to make a cherub, so I aged him using my face and those of my other sons at various ages to make him an older child.



But as I worked on the wings, I realized that I was not only grieving the death of my own son, but all of our sons, who are taken from us because of the world we live in - whether its an accident, a stray bullet, a predator, or a George Zimmerman.

And so I called it "Remembrance Day"

...

All alone I didn't like the feeling
All alone I sat and cried
All alone I had to find some meaning
In the center of the pain I felt inside

All alone I came into this world
All alone I will someday die
Solid stone is just sand and water, baby
Sand and water, and a million years gone by

I will see you in the light of a thousand suns
I will hear you in the sound of the waves
I will know you when I come, as we all will come
Through the doors beyond the grave

All alone I came into this world
All alone I will someday die
Solid stone is just sand and water, baby
Sand and water and a million years gone by  ...*

I hope you enjoy your new year's eve celebrations if that's what you do - and if you take this time to reflect on the past year(s) or make plans for a new one - I hope you find much to celebrate and look forward to.

I'll see you on Wednesday with my annual "Year In Review".

'Till then!



*From Sand & Water by Beth Neilson Chapman"

First up, Cas Holmes - and an interview with her at World of Threads.  When I was experimenting with surface design, I made all these cool things - but then didn't know what to do with them. Ms Holmes certainly does!

If I were to be a surface designer, rather than whatever it is I am now (lol) I would hope that one day my art would be as incredible as hers.




This review called "Selected Secrets From A Disillusioned Generation" by Christine Shan Shan Hou, of a show called Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and The New Psychodrama—Manhattan, 1970–1980, at the Whitney Museum of Art, not only sounds like a "must see" show if you're in the area, but the review itself offers insight into contemporary art. Excellent writing on the part of Ms Shan Shan Hou.



And Terry Jarrard-Dimond talks about juried shows again. At this point in my career, juried shows are a must - later, hopefully not - but I always love reading about them, and Terry offers insight with her experience and whys and wherefores.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Over on Facebook, I began offering some of my small works at special holiday prices, (which I will be doing throughout December).

It just occurred to me this morning, however, that I ought to let *you* in on the deals too!

So, this is what I have left for this week:





If you're interested in any of these, you can contact me at kit.lang.ltd@gmail.com Cheers,

I've been busy hand-painting and crush dyeing fabrics for the next big project!

Can you guess what these are going to be?

Two people. Ten hours.

What might two people, over the course of ten hours accomplish? Many things!



However, in this case - two people (myself and BSP), over the course of ten hours, managed to take a basket-full of seriously unruly embroidery floss - and turn it into the above. Approximately 120 little  skeins of lovely, colour sorted embroidery floss - ready, at a moment's  notice - to make (hopefully) beautiful things.

I can't believe it took us that long - and it's why I have nothing to show you today but this.

Not even a lovely, decorated cigar box - which started out at this:


A cigar box given to me by my friend, mixed media artist Linda Kittmer.

I could, but am not going to show you a lovely, decorated box, because I've done 3 versions and hate them all. lol  Apparently, I suck at this part - and I think I'm just going to cover it all with fabric.

Some fiber work on Wednesday.  Until then!

Artist Anna Dumitriu makes storytelling quilts - out of superbugs!

"The quilt squares are made using natural and clinical antibiotics on Chromogenic (pigment-generating) agar in which the fabric has been embedded and inoculating the squares with bacteria, creating patterns that reflect the interaction between bacteria and antibiotics. The quilts are embroidered with thread dyed with saffron as well as with the antibiotic Vancomycin."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next up, photographer Nicholas Alan Cope and creative director Dustin Edward Arnold have combined forces as well as painting, chemistry, sculpture, fashion and installation, to make extremely beautiful, thought-provoking art.

For this week's Material Matters link, here are "Three branding opportunities most artists miss" by Lezley Davidson.





P.S. Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about re-arranging how I blog a bit? I think I've figured it out.

Life/health permitting, it will go as follows:

1. Monday will be a process and/or talky post;
2. Wednesday will be the WIP (wordless or otherwise - why break with tradition?); and 
3. Fridays will be my Friday'S-linky post and the current week's finish of the lunchtime project. 

That seems workable for me at the current time and I hope will be entertaining for you.

Have a great weekend and see you on Monday!