The Art Nest

Looking for something creative to do next summer?
Why not join: Judy, Deryn and myself
at the art nest in Park City, Utah, June 16-20 2009

I will be teaching Soulful Doors

Judy will be teaching Dreams in Wax
and Deryn her stunning Joujou Charm Keeper Necklace.


Registration begins in a few days on October 18th. ( and fills up fast!)

For information and registration, visit The Art Nest website.

I hope you can join us!

knowledge

I am an idealist. I don't know where I'm going but I'm on the way.
~Carl Sandburg

(corner detail)
Yesterday was spent expressing myself in thread...
truthfully a visceral girl at heart...
My creative process is obtained through intuition rather than from reasoning or observation.

(corner detail)

I declare that I am uncomplicated and not profoundly full of intention when I produce art however there is a soul that comes out of me during the creative process that baffles me at times.

(reads: Tree Of Knowledge)

I was raised in an ethnically mixed house hold, my home life resembled the United Nations on any given day.
My father’s family: Native American Indian (Tigua) / Basque. My mother’s: Japanese / Irish.

Culinary delights from around the world were found in our kitchen along with global wisdom from the elders of the household. Spiritual belief was wide open for debate, since more often then not the person sitting across from you at the dinner table did not have the same views on faith as you did.

(world wide book text was used in the bottom most layer and then reviled after free motion stitching completed by way of heat.)

It’s no wonder that I feel eminent affection for all religious convictions and I live my life in alliance to these beliefs.

My Deep rooted fascination to the tree of life and the tree of knowledge must have some connection to the fact that it’s present in most religions.

If you were to take a deeper look at this piece you would see that I used book text from many different lands to represent this aspect.

(side detail I tied threads around the rim of the piece to hold down the cloth.)

I used stained vintage silk for my top most layer. Then with free motion sewing I created the imagery and words with thread. Heat was also used to alter the tree. lastly I embellished with pearls.

This piece is 14 inches by 12 inches. Please click on any of these image to view full size.

(fresh water pearl flower detail.)

WONDERS
(Tree of Knowledge)
(Full View)

“Wonder rather than doubt is the root of knowledge”
~Abraham Joshua Heschel

Evey wall is a door.

"Stars From Heaven"

Life can be demanding. Every now and then we become so mystified that we cannot see how we can progress from one stage to the next. However, if we step back a moment or two, we can catch sight oftentimes of a new course we must take to precede.

(forged and aged cooper)

Over the last couple of days I have been working on class samples for artfiberfest, that will take place in just two weeks.


I will fully admit that things do not always go as planed in my studio, case at hand these doors…

Looking at them now you could never tell that I was breaking needles left and right to the point that I was thinking that I would have to start a new sewing trend of having to where safety goggles to sew!

I had the brilliant idea that I would use extra heavy fusible web to stiffen the felt, however the issue of the sewing needle heating up during the free motion sewing process due to the speed of the needle cased so many problems that this door just about ended up in the trash!

Lucky for me I know when to walk away from a project and allow my self-space from the process.


Its always the details for me, thus with hammer in hand I created these teensy weensy little door handles complete with a slid out rod hinge.

Once the hinge is unlocked, the wide open door reveals a multi-layered collage with an image of a young gypsy girl. The words were pounded into copper then aged and lastly sewn down
(please note the not a single needle was broken when the copper was sewn!)
that reads:



“ Hope is the dream of a soul awake”



Furthermore hinged is the gypsy girl collage that pivots open to disclose the second part that reads:


"The stars from ancient heavens."

Life & Art
is the process of
unearthing
growth and discovery in our character.

Rich In Fruits

We all stumble across artistic blocks,
we know we need to transform but we cannot comprehend how.

My thinking had turned to new ideas but the passion to create has been nowhere in site for me.

"Lost in self doubt"
(yes! we all do this!)

Then last week the visions in my head started to become extra lucid.

And I am happy to report that I have been bursting with innovative imaginings that have been formulating in my head and I have been playing with new ideas and creating new effects.

So why not go ahead and allow your self the freedom to set your self in motion a little today and try to stride out of your creative box and try something new!

Journey To Italy

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. ~Buddha

( Photo of Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed.
Some progressions are achieved so naturally that we are almost unaware they have taken place. Others are complex and demanding, wasting our energy making it difficult for us to comprehend the lessons that we need to gain knowledge to proceed.

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

This last year has been turbulent for me. Family Issues caused set backs that lead to me frantically working on my fabric art book till the last minute. Life had taken a strong hold over me along with my instinctive ability to procrastinate. I found myself burning the candles on booth ends. I was so displease with myself as I knew precisely that I was self-sabotaging out of fear.

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

Much regarding my creative process has become clear to me over the last few months, along with a assortment of personal breakthrough’s into my inner creative process. It has became apparent to me that I was no longer living my motto:

“let the beauty we do, be what we love”
~rumi

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

The artwork for my book is behind me. The manuscript is in my hands and its time to support the artwork with my words…
I have establish the voice I want to write my fiber art book in and look onward to sharing it with you, next year when it is published.

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

Life is all about the journey and the living of it. Once a passageway is behind me I am forever on the crusade to dream up my next expedition. I often times appear fearless regardless of my inner trepidations. (Stubbornness has always been my best friend and fears my driving force; I am an Aries, what more can I say?)

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

Hard lessons where learned this year, however I am pleased to report that I have arrived at the other side of the passage and my spirit is now enlightened and wide open to new possibility's!
I look forward to taking my art to the next level and teaching at national venues over the following year. There is however one thing that has captivated me the most.

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

A few months ago I set into motion in conjunction with Bill and Kristi Steiner a journey That I would like to invite YOU to take with ME to Orvieto Italy: October 4-10, 2009.

Invest in feeding your creative soul and pamper your self to a voyage that will eternally alter your existence.

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

Delight in the companionship of like-minded artistic individuals.
As we stay in a picturesque Convent B&B surrounded by inviting gardens and a charming courtyard. Discover a different way of life and thinking, Orvieto is a captivating medieval city full of character and absorbing history.

( Photo Orvieto, Italy Courtesy of Al Morrison)

Together we will learn and discover so much about our self’s as we journey to Italy for art immersion. Here are the details:

Souls in Flight


Dates: October 4 - 10, 2009
Instructor/Leader: Ruth Rae

Trip Description
In this class, your door to jewelry creativity will open as you learn the foundations of metal smithing: sawing, riveting and forging. These techniques will be covered as we create a hand forged chain link, twisted jump rings, a multi faceted curio centerpiece. As your skills in sawing, riveting and forging will be cultivated; trinkets collected on our trip can also be added to this completed project.


We will then venture into creating a mixed media hand sewn “journal”, which becomes not only a reflection of your travels but a safe haven for your piece. Combinations of papers and fibers will be altered and then combined with the use of hand stitching along with embroidery techniques.

Itinerary:
Oct 4 - Arrive Orvieto, group dinner
Oct 5 - The doors of creativity open as we begin our exploration into the process of creating. While discussing our journey we will arrive at our themes. We will begin sawing, forging, riveting and exploring the many attributes of resin.
Intro to Italian culture and wine tasting
Oct 6 - Continue work on the focal point of your creation while covering the basics of link forging. Our journey together continues as we forge, saw and create.
Cooking class and dinner with wine.
Oct 7 - Discuss our reflection journals and the way in which we will approach its creation. Foundations of our journals will come to fruition.
Shopping for & picnic lunch. Afternoon free, Etruscan cave tour
Oct 8 - Market Day explorations, complete our reflection journals taking inspiration from the Etruscan caves, open studio time to continue working on our pieces and journals.
Vineyard tour and wine tasting
Oct 9 - Open studio, continue work on our pieces and journals.
Group lunch - pizza! Followed by, open studio. We will have a bit of show and share time for those who might be leaving us early.
Oct 10 - Wrap up – Reflections of our journey together.
Depart Orvieto

Details
Cost - $2375. Fee includes six nights double occupancy lodging and basic course materials. Single occupancy available for an additional cost. Because the tour is meant to expose you to the local culture, meals are not prearranged or included. Travel costs are not included.

I hope you will join me for an art adventure in Italy:
October 4-10, 2009.
(click on this link to sign up as space is limited to the first 12)






To view more of Al Morrison's amazing photography head on over to his site.
(Thank you Al for your amazing eye!)

Jewelry Class this weekend

I will be heading to Reno, Nevada this weekend to teach at the ArtisTree Studio
This Saturday, September the 20th from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Hand Forged Talisman Bracelet:


Create a piece of art for your wrist. Using a sterling silver band learn to saw, file, drill and hammer words of your choice onto the perfect Talisman bracelet. We will explore random design with fibers and antiquing too! This is also a great new version of a Mothers Bracelet.
The cost of this class is $80.00 (plus a kit fee)
Please call the ArtisTree to reserve your space at:
(775) 348-1555

live interview

I will be talking live from The ZNE Studios!
on blogtalkradio.com

( "laugh BIG" altered composition journal for sale here)

Mark your calendars for THIS Monday, 9/15 at 6:30 p.m.
(Pacific time)
The interview will be featuring ME...
And you will be able to call in and ask questions.

I look forward to talking to you!