I've managed to lay out the framework for the entire surface of the quilt top; 7 across by 8 down.  I can't even begin to explain how amazing and useful it is to have a design board like this to work on.  I nailed up large pieces of foam-core board to the wall, then covered it up with batting. Lightweight pieces of fabric will stick to the batting and everything else can stay with the help of straight pins. No more standing on furniture while laying out pieces on the ground!  I have another quilt I need to start at the beginning of next year and, instead of putting this quilt away for the time being, I believe I will build myself another design board on the adjoining wall.  Ah...sweet, sweet, spacious luxury!

So happy I found cold ears to prompt me to pick up my needles. Of course, I'll become obsessed, and fly right through it, and be forced to begin my quest again for more cold appendages.

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I keep on trucking'...

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Yep, apparently I am capable of making furniture and, even more exciting, collaborating!

The insanely-talented Adam Joyce was so kind as to share his wood-working skills, and general furniture-making know-how, with me, and help me make an awesome birthday present for my girl Megan.  Last year's gift seen here.

Adam built the box and I was in charge of upholstering.  The knitted piece was a lucky find in the bottom of a trunk that I happened to open at the right moment.  It was originally going to be made into a pillow but I wasn't happy with it for some reason and can be traced back to 2009.

Adam had the idea for the storage container inside and had the forethought to make it big enough to fit a standard book size.  Everything came together fluidly all in one beautiful day, probably 9 hours in total.  It's amazing how much faster you can move with another pair of hands!  I really loved working with such a fully-capable craftsman and can't wait for our next project together.

And then finally, my favorite part: the bun feet.  Home Depot had only 3 of the 4 feet we desired, so desperation and overall stinginess flung us into the back shed where we procured a lonely roller skate whose wheels were the perfect size and quantity for finishing this project.  GENIUS!

  This piece is being called a foot stool-settee-storage container-tuffett thingy.  Any suggestions on a more streamlined name for this guy?  

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Beautiful Memories are Forgotten (Flotation Device)

20" x 24"

acrylic, spray paint on canvas

October 2011

Started this piece after the flight home from Pittsburgh at the end of September. 

Found the perfect sized canvas out of the back storage room and eventually got over the guilt of covering up my brother's art from waaaay back. I know it was a masterpiece, Laurence!

I love starting on a not-blank canvas. It gets you past that complex of making the first mark.

I would've never thought to place the moon behind her head if it wasn't already on the canvas! I love the halo feel to it. Circles have to be my favorite shape (that's right I have a favorite shape) and I love to incorporate them as much as possible. So many meanings behind circles, rings, moons...

I have to credit Megan Burchett for getting me past this stage and helping me resolve the treatment of the sky. I ultimately spray painted the moon to keep his face from taking the focus away from the woman, but I had to leave it transparent enough to remember that he is there.

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COMING SOON

My first foray into furniture fabrication...

Watch out now!

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Finally found my way back to the studio...

This is what draftsman's tables are for, right?? Endless, meticulous cutting leads into endless, meticulous sewing...good thing for those Virgo traits.

This is definitely the most ambitious quilt/sewing project I've ever undertaken. Gave myself a long deadline and keep repeating sayings in my head like "Enjoy the process!".

Also, funk you, Blogspot, for recording my procrastination so accurately. March, seriously??

Batting-covered/foamcore-backed design wall finally getting used! Only like 100 more of these to go...

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A birthday present for my love, Mackenzie Craig.  He's a second in a series of stuffed animals from Donna Wilson's book, The Odd-Bod Bunch.  I took more liberties with this pattern compared to Racoon-Fox man. I changed the ears completely, to resemble a more authentic dauschaund, using a stockinette stitch and starching to control excessive curling.  The rainbow pattern was me, changing colors every two rows....a damn pain! A lot harder than the previous animal but absolutely striking. And I closed the eye to make my life easier, I quite enjoy his peaceful look in the sunshine.

New quilt completed this past weekend

This one has a great story to it: I was working in the Scrap Exchange one day and a lady brought in these beautifully hand-embroidered squares with each state represented with their bird and flower. That means there were 50 amazing squares sitting there on the table, abandoned by their original maker to her daughter-in-law who, after 10 years, finally accepted the fact that she was never going to make them into a quilt and brought them to us. I took them immediately, pained by the fact that the tedious, mind-numbing hours spent creating these might go to waste potentially forever. This quilt was made in conjunction with Julia Gartrell and myself, as a befitting addition to the silent auction at TSE's last fundraiser party. It's beautiful and I love it.

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Real life's been a little hairy. Got pictures, will post soon. Until then, enjoy Anna Dewey Greer...

DEWEY for President

No!

Amelia, modeling a most crucial goddess headdress. I loved the fact that after I put this on her head, she proceeded to wear it for the rest of the day, channeling her goddess powers all the while, of course.

This was a piece I created after my mythology teacher senior year allowed us to do whatever we wanted for our final project. The persisting imagery used to represent the goddess throughout mythology were my inspirations -- the phases of the moon, feathers (birds were often connected to females), and, snakes -- I don't know how I feel about the snake connection but I guess we aren't all sugar and spice, and everything nice...

It became quite a striking prop for Nick Mendise, a photographer buddy who also went to SCAD. It's always fun to pose, especially when you know you're gonna get a crazy cool picture of yourself in return!

My favorite pair of jean, or, as I like to call them...

...a time-lapsed fiber art installation. They keep rippin' and I keep patchin'!

Malone, making good use of all the Spoonflower fabric on the floor.

Found these on my desk Wednesday morning, needing a patch job. Seriously?? Talk about honky! What's also honky is then saying to your boss that you fixed the Skoal Hole...

A most crucial find at The Scrap Exchange

Break My Body, Hold My Bones
Circa 2009

(Francis Black from The Pixies)
Bezeled pin, peyote-stitch details, hand-embroidery on wet felting

Watch Him As He Goes

circa 2008

Some bezeled, Dave Grohl love.

Finally!

Two years after I sketched this idea for a scarf, the final product has been completed. Has it really been that long?? Having a creative drive can sometimes be quite burdening; discipline, commitment, energy, forward movement -- all can be very elusive and not the most exciting qualities to maintain, but the thrill of completing an idea will always be there for those who can make it to the end!

Current installation on view atop my fridge...other people do this too,....right?

My Things Aren't Making Me Feel Any Better
circa 2005

I thought I was gonna be a repeat-pattern designer once.

TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE = I AM MORT DA TORT