Whip up! Classic to Chic

I love recycled things. I find myself facinated with how people can turn a worn collar, make bags out of twist ties and tin toys from license plates. My latest diversion has been buying lambswool sweaters at thrift stores and felting them. In the past I have felted with roving wool but lately my attention has turned to creating a blanket for next winter from strips and squares cut from my ever growing pile of felted sweaters.
Nothing says CLASSIC more to me than a v-necked soft lambswool cardigan. Two beauties were laying on my play (not work!) table shouting, pick me! pick me! The soft spring blue number won out over the black one. I cut off the sleeves, shaved the fuzzies off and made a pair of CHIC spring legwarmers for Daughter #1, age 17 - the one with the passion for ballet since age 4. She has a pair she wears before pointe class, but these are a bit softer and shorter for her regular class. She declined my suggestion of the vintage buttons. Fair enough! Daughter #2 - age 11 - also a dancer - spotted the remaining sweater with cap like sleeves after cutting, and said oh that is cool! So I thought, ok, let's make it CHIC and cut it short like the current craze and the vintage tulip buttons go on that! It was past her bedtime for a photo op by the time I got them sewed on, but you get the picture. She will be cozy in her leotard and CHIC dance sweater in the drafty dance studio. Classic cardigan to Chic dance wear. All in a late night craft session. Cost of the two pieces was just $5 for the sweater at the thrift store and the lovely gift from dear friend Jeanne of the buttons three years ago. We just loved them and were waiting for the perfect item to sew them onto. There it is! Thanks Jeanne!

Felted Bowls

Jennifer Lynn White, Rochester's Poet Laureate is also a knit-wit. Knitting whiz I should clarify! Here are three of her nesting bowls we have at the gallery. Hand knit, felted and worked with needle too. I love these fuzzy little bowls. The set is $100 and are beautiful seperately or together in any setting. Most anything would look cozy inside. She also makes lovely handbags in this same method. All of her items will preview in our online store later this week! What things do you like to felt or knit?
The word for the day is ... reduce ... as in your dress size, your daily goals, and a lovely port wine sauce you simmer for your dinner!

Weekend Travel Log

This was a full week of art and fun and games with my family and friends ... one photo says a thousand words so here are a bunch of photos to illustrate a million words the past days:

First, an artists gathering (with family) at Ms. McKeen's new home for a very festive Cinco de Mayo. The men were hanging out elsewhere, whilst the women created homemade tortillas in the wee kitchen. Luckily Judith and Mary Ellen had a good grip on the Sangria and a recipe for tortillas from the absent Anna of Mexico. Who we can't wait to meet.














Yesterday I had to take daughter Grace to the Mill in Rollinsford for her ballet rehearsal. I was going to stop in and see an artist at the Upper Mill while I was waiting ... But he wasn't there. So instead I visited with some other friends who have studios there. They had an open studios event which they usually do twice a year. The one in the fall is very busy - packed with people. Yesterday was a little slow. I was able to visit three studios to see friend Josh Belanger who was sharing some of his space with Albina Colden. Josh's new work looks great and larger than life just as we like it. He is a very talented emerging artist who we believe in big time. Which is where he is headed - by the way... he just quit his day job. Albina's colored works were really lovely. Sorry for the absence of closeups ... I was in heavy chat mode. Then I ran into potter Sarah Burns from Sweet Fern Pottery. She was out with her friend Jess for the day without babies, so they were having a grand time!


















Then it was off to my friend Cappy's studio to see what she has been working on and congratulate her for her awards and sales of the past two months. SHE'S SO CAPPY! Notice her lovely coordinated outfit ... the gold in the brass necklace goes with the gold in her Mickey Mouse's shoes screen printed shirt. (Yes, Cappy and I have the same dresser! )
Cappy Whelan is this areas most gifted all around artist in my book. There I said it. I mean it. Here she is with one of her works incorporating some horns from Kris Lanzer (who is holding the eggs on the dish above at the party) I can't wait to see how her new work evolves. She is working with metal. Last but not least I finally met Scott Schnepf. I have always tried to run into him here or there but somehow our paths didn't cross until yesterday. He is just as nice as everyone said he was and his work is impeccable. I had to buy one of his small etchings and had to limit it to one as I could have gone overboard and broke the bank. They are so charming and timeless. We are talking about an exhibition of his work, which will be exciting for artstream as well. I chose per usual: Chocolate. The perfect bonbon on a lovely lace tablecloth. YUM! So the word of the day is ... Intricate ... as in a lace tablecloth pattern, a many layered painting, or a web of friendships spanning the globe!

Fat

Lil Fatty ink and watercolor 4" x 4"

For Illustration Friday I realized I had not phat nor fat in my portfolio. I am still interested in expanding (no fat pun intended) my little birds so I drew a this "lil fatty" for this theme. If you are interested in these little illustrations of mine or others, just let me know. They are all for sale and will be in the online store soon ...
It is going to be a lovely hot day here in New England so I imagine the little birds and the little bugs will be all a buzz with activity while I work in the garden this morning. Lots to do!
On another buzz - note, have you checked out delightful blogs? It is a neat list of blogs in categories which allow you to browse the sites which you are interested in. Well put together site and as they say - find a new blog everyday! (I am listed under art + design) You can vote for your favorites as well as add your own link! Go on over for a peek.

The word for the day is ... drink ... as in drinking in life fully, a sip of something yummy or to be diving into the drink!

Just in from Brooklyn -

I love Brooklyn, most everything about it and Angie at omondieu! introduced me to Rena Tom at Rare Device. Rare Device makes the Brooklyn Experience even more complete this month by featuring all kinds of local Brooklyn designers! Yea for buying local! She has a newsletter which I received just now and you should go check out her store - live preferably if you can, or online. Sign up for her newsletter too! The above photo is an exclusive plate which Lena Corwin made just for the show you are about to read about below. I love it!

Below is an excerpt from the Rare Device newsletter featuring a great event which includes a reception held by Grace Bonney, high queen of design blogs (you HAVE seen design*sponge - of course you have! There is nothing which comes close to her design blog). Here is the newletter excerpt:

Rare Device from Brooklyn has one of the greatest collections on earth and this month is focusing on Brooklyn Designers. DESIGNER EXHIBITION: Join us this month for a special exhibition by Brooklynite Lena Corwin, an illustrator and textile designer whose handiwork can be seen in Glamour and Martha Stewart Weddings. Lena will be doing a window installation and we'll also have her entire range for sale at Rare Device, including a new limited-edition plate created just for this show. For those of you not in New York, the plate is available for purchase at our website. A reception for the designer will be held the evening of Thursday, May 11 and is hosted by Grace Bonney of design*sponge. If you are in town for Brooklyn Designs in DUMBO, this is a great prelude to the weekend.

How cool is that? Just GO! photo by Rare Device

Kathy Des Roches

Sea Flowers by Kathy DesRoches Cotton, glass beads,
21"by 21" Machine qppliqued, machine quilted, hand beaded.
$175

Kathy Desroches is a fiber artist from our area. She has shown her work and taught fabric quilting and journaling classes for many years now. She offers some of these classes at artstream. She also is an avid knitter and has attempted now on two accounts to teach me to knit... she doesn't give up easily and knows I can do it ... sometime! She also teaches knitting for artstream in the fall and winter to those who actually "get it". She has a fabric journaling class which helps you produce this amazingly cool fabric book at the end, all about whatever you wish to journal about or illustrate with fabric techniques. I have admired Kathy's work for a very long time and am pleased to show it to you here today. She has a number of pieces at the gallery at the moment ... which will appear on the new shop very soon! Stay tuned.... until then here is her website which you can purchase her beautiful art quilts at.

The word for the day is ... dabble ... as in trying a little of this and a little of that, your toes in the ocean, and ducks in a pond.

The whole poppy

Poppies III 24"x24"x2.5" acrylic

This is a painting I did this winter in a series of seven paintings entitled Poppies. (1-7) They will be in our Colors of Summer Exhibition opening on June 16. So there they are all brazen and blazin. I never use these colors but somehow in mid February something snapped in my brain and I had enough of the drab winter. So flowers it has been and dreams of gardens. Something new for me to explore in paint. Which is good. I hate rehashing too much and well, it is good to move on. But this one is where it all started. And it became my blog header too!

The word for the day is ... public speaking ... ok, it is two words, I was asked to do it this morning for the Leadership Seacoast group of 25 movers and shakers of the area... I had to follow three amazing speakers - (powerhsouse performing arts people) . They were Executive Director Patrica Lynch from the Music Hall, Peter Hamlin from the Stone Church of Newmarket and Anthony Ejarquc from The Governor's Inn. Man. It was TOUGH. But thanks to all who said I did well. I am going back to my studio now for a little visual quiet and peace. phew. What was I doing there?

Art and Design Surf's UP!

First, here is a work of my own to show which I have been working on and am almost finished for an exhibit this summer ... yeah, it is different. It is 12" by 36" and a collage piece with a lot of paint which is hard to capture here. It is part of my dream garden series which I am slowly pulling together. This is called "Twilight in the Dreamgarden"

Second there are too many good things which I found in the art, design and illustration world to show and tell you, so am linking them here for you to go surf on your own - trust me they are worth the trip. Bring your most sturdy bathing suit - you are in for a huge ride! It is my extra long day (for a short person I get "extra long" in my days - even if I don't in my inseam!) so hopefully you will have fun all day long too! These are in no particular order, as I am messy by nature and have less than zero interest in making them into a neat o beat o bundle of what is best first order. Go now, shoo! enjoy it and tell me what is YOUR favorite?

1. Very cool textile and fun design for children at home at Nume. Italians just ALWAYS get it right don't they? ahem, Fiat the exception there....
2. Very very very chic clothing... Edun, ok yes, Italian again. But I would actually wear these clothes if I could afford them! *inseam shortened of course*
3. I want a TUMBLY! These Dutch folks go for bold and fun ... remember that cool hot tub I posted in February? Well, these are for apres tub with bouncy friends and drinks with LIDS!
4. What is it about artichokes and their lovely shape? This one will light up your life - by Louis Poulsen.
5. More beautiful clothing! Zero Maria Cornejo - closer to home (just a quicky 5 hour mad dash to the city!) will bring you to clothing made with such a unique style that you will be the only one at the party with one of these jackets! ooooh la la!
6. Someone I met online today and bought one of her beautiful originals before someone ELSE snapped them up - interview to follow in a few days - negotiating some of her work for an exhibit soon - meet Ashely Goldberg ... I found Ashley via Bird in the Hand (a great blog and chockerblock full of crafty goodness and art AND Lisa Congdon is a writer for one of my favorite daily reads, Whip-Up!) Please don't tell me you have not gone to Whipup yet. ...
7. Have you seen Andrea's small art yet? Get over there now, please! It is miniature wonders all for fabu prices which you just can NOT say no to. More appear seemingly each week.
8. What about the garden? Tis time to pay homage to that special place we lovingly prepare and nurture which feeds us body and soul in the summer and fall - and later for you warmer climate readers, darn you all .... these blooms are so stunning and sensuous. Smith and Hawken has always worked for me when I need something my local lovely garden store doesn't have.
9. What about blooms for your fingers? omondieu! you say? Say no more! Yes, we have them in stock at artstream fresh and ready to be picked by you! They don't need watering and they are very very hardy with even the worst hand abuser (the acid test has been run by yours truly) Check out Angela Gwinner's lovely line of blooms for your fingers, hair and to pin on your lapel here at omondieu!
10. Queen Oscar cards and Penhollow Press make lovely handmade cards, letterpress cards and other paper delights for the gentle form of correspondence. Back when Anna Birch started her business I carried her cards in my little studio/shop in what we lovingly refer to (correct me if I am wrong Ms. White?) the "East Village of Rochester". *ahem* (do I detect soft tittering amongst you folks in the know?) Anna B and Queen Oscar cards has gone so very very very far in these past ten years that now you can even buy them at The South Pole in Antarctica! But do drop in to artstream if you are up North in our area, we have a great selection of Queen Oscar and Penhollow at the moment.

Major Bonus: Finally. An album you can actually get behind heart and soul. Neil Young, Living with War. Get it today at iTunes, Napster, SonyConnect or better yet, your local music shop. Check out his interview at the blog too. Best damn speaker I have heard in a LONG time.


Oh there is much more, but more than enough for today. Are you still listening? Or did you fall asleep ....

The word for the day is ... enthusiasm ... as in ... when God said "Who wants enthusiasm?" I distinctly heard "Who wants chocolate?" and shouted "I do! I do! and keep it coming!"

Happy May Day!

All that glitters and blooms!
(and some things which don't
but are equally beautiful!)
For all you fellow magpies out there...
Here is one of our display cases exhibiting the lovely work of a variety of artists. Click image for a larger view!
From left to right:
Vase by Sweet Fern Pottery ($22)
Omondieu! Flower Rings/Rose brooch, Poppy ring, small white rose ring ($18-28)
Tre Redmond Crystal earrings ($18)
Zooziis lampworked buttons and green earrings on stand ($22)
Stringbeangirls little bottlecap pins ($6)
Tara Twine beaded eyeglass holder ($28)
There are many more colors and styles and items which are not shown here ... I have so much fun picking out lovely things to fill our cases with. All of the artists we deal with are so sweet and talented. It makes going to work (is that what I really do?) so much fun!
We are still (sigh) working on the online shop. Moving ahead slowly, but surely and all of these items are going to be for sale there. What!?! You can't wait? No problem-o. Email me! We ship world wide.

The word for the day is ... arrived ... as in your daughter finally coming home from a far away country, a place where you know you have made it, and that special letter in the mailbox!

The Quiet Side

Here is myself being not so busy, taking time for a bike ride with my father in law in their little village in Germany. We try and go for a month every year and visit them and travel around. I love this field behind their house with the tiny tiny chapel in the middle. We ususally go in August so it is very warm, great for biking and usually towards the end of our visit we get to see the big combine come and cut the wheat, behind their home. Here are a few more photos of Enniger... the little village just outside of the city of Muenster where my dear husband grew up. He then moved to the city and never left.(until he married me!) Muenster is a city of 250,000 people and houses a major University and design school (where said husband taught). The city is know for having the most bicyles in the world and the entire city has roads with seperate bike paths and separate side walks all through it. It is also won the title of THE most liveable city in the world . It truly is lovely! They planned a lot of green space into the city so it is beautiful, cosmopolitan as well as easy to navagite on foot or bike. It is built on a series of rings around the city center where the Dom is and one ring is called the Promenade. This beautifully wide bikepath is enjoyed by everyone on a daily basis and houses "flea markets" in the summer. You can shop till you drop for most anything you can imagine! There is a beautiful Altstadt in the center and it respects the history yet has a very hip feel as well - (due to the Univesity crowd) all wrapped into one city. There is a lovely Art Museum as well as a new Picasso museum featuring Picasso's Graphic work and some of the presses he used which opened up about four years ago. Public art is most everywhere ... So here are a few random shots to show you that Susan can relax! Wink - wink!
The word for the day is ... brilliant! ... as in the sun shining, your newest idea, and someone with a lot of brain power.

Whip up, friends and family

Our gallery front door - do drop in? Click for a larger image...Edibeth's encaustics to the left... what is left of them! We sold six of her works in this exhibition with a week to go... extention of exhibit official!

Wow! It has been a great productive week here at the studios and my little diversion craft last weekend won a prize at Whip up! I couldn't be more surprised nor pleased as I adore that blog. My entry for "your surly side" and four others won new books on surly side cross stitch. How cool is that? Major cool! The computers have been abuzz with so many project lately, but most pressing was finishing the design of our new brochure of summer classes and last minute additions make dear husband surly! But it is all for good as they are done and winging their way to everyone in a matter of days... if you are local and want one, just ask! Raku and Pit firing workshops, painting on silk, fabric surface design, art camps for children and one more new exciting class for adults: Creativity Class! Yes, time to put aside your fears and get in touch with your creative side! So lots of play is in store for everyone this summer.
So many blog - ites have been posting so many beautiful things that I have been so inspired this week too. Ulla, with her eye for everything beautiful, Andrea and Andrea with their stunning paintings, and Corey with her stunning images! (keep an eye at artstream in the late autumn for her photographs!) Local friends have been completing a lot of artwork for upcoming shows and I will be snapping some shots of them this week.
We have also been slogging through images and ideas for our online shop! Yes, artstream will have a shop very soon (I know I know I said this a week or two ago...) where you can buy beautiful one of a kind art pieces just as you can in the shop. Stay tuned... I have also been
preparing for our huge Emerging artists and their Mentors exhibit in two weeks, which has been exciting and draining all at the same time.
Fortunately daughter #2 has had this week off so I took the week off too and we have had the joy and pleasure to be remodeling her bedroom! Layers of fabu old wallpaper scraped off to reveal years of design - mad for plaid, red cowboy color paper and on the last bottom layer - an aquamarine background with people in yellow ski suits swooshing down the mountain to the sea where others in 50's beachwear were motoring around in huge power boats! If only I could recover the paper, what a collage THAT would make! Choosing paint for a 12 year old - especially one who knows what good art and not so good art is tough. Yes, it took a few trips to the paint store, but we have secured the perfect color, and two shades and tints of it to make the room sing. When it is done, we will take photos! The sun continues to shine, so today will be another opportunity to get outside! Enjoy your Saturday!

The word for the day is ... deliver ... as in really good take-out, the goods, and us from evil!

Under the Sea

Surface Blue
mixed media on canvas, 11"x14"

Blue is the water at the surface of our dreams
composite memories make a new reality
everything below is not as it seems.

This is my illustration friday painting. #2 in the series of 4. I think you have seen the others?

Today is a glorious sunshiney day. What will you do with this one wild and beautiful life today?

The word for the day is ... complete ... as in something or someone who helps make you whole, a finish to a project and a great breakfast!

(off to have one of my own) Have a beautiful day!

Make mine Metal

When it comes to artist materials one of my favorites by far is metal.
Here is a photo I snapped of a gate to an artist's workshop in Vienna. Kunstschmiede. Decorative artistic metal in gates, building details and most everything you could make from metal are found in that beautiful city. Formed with love and care weathered to a patina of such richness that it brings a tear to your eye. The second photo is equally lovely to me. This is a found metal sculpture in Barrington, NH by Adam Pearson. Its patina is rust and red from harsh winters and driving spring rain. Rust is good. The curved forms draw me in. The colors of the patina are rich and varied. The two sculptural pieces are very different and very similar. The gates are not for sale - just what is inside. The sculpture is.
What sort of metal excites you? Show me and tell me !

The word for the day is ... observe ... as in the world around you, take a second look and think in terms of that one sense only - seeing.

The Other Side of Sorrow

On Sunday, I was invited to the Poetry Society of New Hampshire's unveiling of the new anthology of poems that the Poets Society created or should I say my friend, Pat Frisella, the president worked tirelessly for months making this work come together. The book is entitled "The Other Side of Sorrow" Poets speak out about Conflict, War and Peace. It was a deeply moving response to the events of 9/11, wars present and past and written reactions by about 120 poets. There is no way for me to convey the feelings one has when sitting among so many passionate people listening to work which comes from the heart, direct experience from war, and from loss. I wanted to share one poem with you today as well as let you go hear a NH Public radio interview with Pat and if you are interested in the book, you can contact River Run Book Store (a stronghold among bookstore in Portsmouth, NH) at 603.431.2100 or email Pat for a copy. There are over 250 poems in the paperback which has been beautifully created by Hobblebush books out of Brookline, NH. The image is a photograph that writer, Hannelore Hahn took of the fingerprints on the World Trade Center revolving doors on July 31, 2001. It was incorporated into the cover of the poetry book and is a perfect representation of the contents. Hannelore writes "Each life is sacred, each life is unique". Words for warring nations to live by.

The word for the day is ... stir ... as in what art in all forms can do for ones emotions, to create one by an action, and in "stir it up" a favorite song.

Imprint, Tiananmen Square
by Priscilla Burlingham

The Man who stood
before the tank
a wingless bird
with a giant's heart
they caged him anyway

Now we see him
through Goya's eyes
etched and inked
in black and grey

Looking back from
the curve of the world
at the body
he should have had

Moon for eye
his hand held up
to scatter tanks
like frightened sheep

No cage is large enough
for his kind
quills are forming
we have felt the boom
of his sonic heart

Sarah Burns Sweet Fern Pottery

Here are some of our favorite little orbs from Sweet Fern Pottery. Sarah is an innovator in functional pottery adding sculptural interest in every piece. These orbs have been evolving and growing in size over the past year that we have carried them. They are containers as well as sculptures, so you can hide your favorite things inside! Small ones cost around $24 up to the larger pieces at $75. I have some more photos of her work over here.
We are hoping to have the online shop up late this week ... Sarah's work will be included there too!

The word for the day is ... orbit ... as in your travels through the day, the earth around the sun and your thoughts in your head!

Our Surly Side

Whip up - my favorite daily read - had a whiplash challenge this weekend which I couldn't resist.
I made something a little surly for that surly time of the month. I had been thinking of how silly the little packets are which the schools give our daughters all pretty and pink and how we are always trying to hide our supplies at that time of the month. Well, no more! Here is a set for those in an office (or those who work with others) whose co-workers are insensitive enough not to know better - a handpainted canvas sign with a matching necessity case. The case has the words "Yes, infact it IS that TIME of the MONTH" on the backside as well. Feel free to drape the orange danger flag stylishly at your workspace or pin it to your cubicle. At home mothers and others can use this with just as much panache. Children will learn what those bright orange colors mean even before they learn to read! Those in your personal space will know clearly how you are feeling. Maybe they will even bring you thoughtful gifts of chocolate and evening primrose oil capsules. No need to beg for kindness any longer. All will know with this set of monthly tools. The case has a tie closure, and will fit in most any larger bag, or just tote it to the ladies room as is. Being a woman has never been so obvious! I used Dharma Trading ink jet transfer paper for the typesetting of the text - "PookieFair" is the font. Heavyweight painting canvas and Golden Acrylic paints for the background and Jaquard Lumiere for the golden tones. Stitching canvas is tough for a novice like me, so I went slowly.

On this same note - there is a site for those special times when feeding our comfort food cravings without the hassle of the shopping and messing about. Plan ahead for that needy time and order an amazing baking kit from Baking Fun 4 You! Marvis, the owner and creator of the recipes has *the most* amazing whoopie pies on earth. What is a whoopie pie you ask? It is a PMS food which there is no substitute. It calms the wild beast within us and these kits are so easy to use that you can let your children make them for you while you ease your pain with some tea and a warm blanket on the couch! The photo above should explain all about the Whoopie Pies as a picture is worth a thousand words. This is not art you say? Au contraire. These beauties are high art! Art of desert! Enjoy!
The word for the day is ... indulge ... as in once in awhile, live a little extra, and use all of your senses.

International Drawing Day/Earth Day

Today was world wide draw crawl #9 in San Francisco,
so as today at artstream was an art jam day, I figured I would make it into a coordinating
international drawing day/earth day theme ... Here are the photos of the day
children in the morning/adult painting all afternoon. The mini murals are hanging on the front windows ... I was too spent today to actually get a good photo of that ... maybe tomorrow... The adults tackled my challenge today and each one did an amazing job.
The word for the day is ... precious ... as in our dear loved ones, a moment of joy, and each breath we take.

Robot: Meet Mr. Clean as a Whistle IF

"Mr. Clean as a Whistle"
photoshop messy sketch

OK, today is a little hectic.
Running to the DMV to help Grace get her license.. yes she passed. (hooray and horrific!) Get her ready for take off to Paris tomorrow.
Off with the gym partner M.E. soon to keep my sanity then ... here it comes into the inbox...
ooh how can one resist Illustration Friday?
Especially when one has all of five minutes to draw the ultimate robot?
Here he is. Mr. Clean as a Whistle. (no he can't cook, BUT...)
He shows up.
He smiles at the dirt.
He does his work.
He leaves and nary a trace of my messiness is left behind.
He DOES do windows.
You do not feel compelled to tip him nor does he expect it. He takes pride in his work and that is good because he LOVES to clean. He lives for it and depends on your dirt. He is a spiffy dresser.
*ahem* which no matter how many times I read the inspiring, beautiful and motivational "Plain and Simple" by Sue Bender, it just wears off in a matter of days. Oh Mr. Clean as a Whistle. Wherefore art thou?

The word for the day is .. lower ... your expectations in cleaning, the bar when you need a break, and your head for a nap!

Illustration Friday "Spotted"

This is a mixed media work entitled "Deep"
11 inches by 14 inches
It is the first piece in a four piece series about fishing with my mother.
You can see the others in the series over here.
It is a bit spotted and a bit dotted and a bit deep water
and a bit ... late in the game!

The word for the day is ... quintessence ... as in something in it's purest form, the substance composing the celestial bodies and the most typical rendering.

In Progress Wednesday

I usually work on my paintings in my home studio, but sometimes I work in my classroom studio on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Here is a painting I started yesterday of a garden path which was part of a dream I had. It is 18 x 24 inches and this underpainting is done in acrylic. I don't usually show things in progress, but I thought I would do so today. Also shown is a stoneware bird sculpture I have been working on the last two days too. It is about 8 inches high and fat. It started with two pinch pots which I put together to form the body. It has the little twiddle feather on top like a quail but has the body and eyes of a Saw whet owl. It was flying through the garden above, so that explains it's strange nature. How it could take off with all that body weight makes it a mystery....
It is in a leather-hard state right now, very chubby and will take some time to dry and burnish and finish. Birds and flowers have been invading my work. I guess it was a long winter? So, maybe late in the month you will see something in a more finished state from me. For now it is underpaintings, leather hard clay and unfinished business!

The word for the day is ... sprout ... as in bean shoot, emerging hope and something a beautiful shade of green.

Salamandra Glass - George and John

Salamandra Glass: George at work, some Rondells in our front window and up close with two sizes of Rondells:





























Because I like to make myself crazy, I sometimes leave things to the last moment. Like jotting down to Dover on Friday to pick up more Salamandra Glass before the event we held on Saturday. When I got there George and John were blowing some glass. I snapped a few shots of them working as it is just so incredible to see! It was a nice day in town maybe 55 or 60F. Inside it was 110F. They have a thermometer, so I am sure of it. Talk about your hot flashes! Actually, watching them work does make your heart go pitter pat. It is thrilling, hot, wildly colorful and glowing all along the process with them making it look so damn easy. Which it is not. Well, I didn't get the bud vases I wanted this trip, so will be going back again this week to pick them up. But I did pick out some more choice rondells for the window... the ones above range from $65 to $170. The one below is much more. Worth every penny as you can relax on your couch and watch them transfer light into a show on your wall or just dream away a few moments or hours reveling at the beauty of the glass itself. Salamandra glass is hand blown by Principal Artist George Cirocco and Glass Blower John Speight. Each Salamandra creation is unique. George and I talked a bit on Friday about the custom glass work he does for homes and commercial spaces. He recently created a glass wall for a space in a home with floating color inside the cast blocks. He also created pieces for a local hospital's meditation room which housed some focal pieces of his work and had special glass blocks inset into the walls. He really enjoys that most, like most artists do, creating something unique for a special space. I hope that in the future, we have the chance with our design work to work hand in hand with George and a special client. His work is breath taking and unique in every way.

The word for the day is ... exalt ... as in to raise in character or praise, to intensify and to elevate high.