Wednesday, July 29, 2009

more fire

Above is Aster's heart pendant. She is incredibly patient and skilled at this glass bead  making business. 

I now truly understand the meaning of the word obsession. I cannot stop thinking about what beads I will make next. I cannot stop kicking myself for screwing up the precious torch time I misused and abused on Tuesday. I will return to More Fire tomorrow for hopeful success. But I have doubts. I do not think this is something I am cut out for. Although I do feel I conquered the sewing machine this summer, so anything is possible!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Hello


Kitty! When my daughter and I were in Pennsylvania we stopped by the King of Prussia Mall (a couple of times) and we spent a great deal of time and money in the Sanrio store. I loved Hello Kitty when I was little too.

Monday, July 27, 2009

more needle felting

I just love this one, and someone else did too! It sold right away an Etsy. It has a torched glass heart that my daughter made as a zipper pull.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

goodbye

We had new windows installed this week. They look fabulous and work well too! I said goodbye to the peeling paint and the moaning rattling windows with no regrets. 

Friday, July 24, 2009

new work

I am getting ready for my show and sale at Crocus Clay Works (Friday August 7). Sewing and felting like crazy, I am really enjoying needle felting images of birds. I feel it is still difficult for me to create a personal image  of a bird. They are so unique, each one of them, and I want to honor their individuality. We have a bird feeder and recently the mama birds have been feeding their young one's right in front of us. I have to try to make an image of that.For the red bag pictured above, I knit this awful red mohair I have knitting in intarsia the pink dots with a pink wool yarn and then fulled it in the wash. Then I embroidered the black outline around the pink and needle felted the black raven, crow, bird (?) The zipper is red and I attached two beads for the zipper pull. One is a hand made lamp worked glass bead and the other is felted wool. It has a cotton polka-dot fabric for the lining. It is for sale in my Second Seed in Stitches shop for $30.00.
This bag is made form a repurposed blue wool sweater that I purchased at the Salvation Army. I needle felted this little chickadee on a branch. I like the expression on his face. This bag has a lovely zipper pull that is two beads too. One bead is a messy brown, black and white hand made lamp worked glass bead and the other is a little brown pearl.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

flowers

Poppy Pod

Giant Thistle 

Cone Flower about to blossom.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Story of a Life

I have been away for a few days. I went to the Philadelphia area to attend the funeral of the mother of one of my best friends. It was a funeral for Mrs. Larson (to me) (Katherine D. Larson to most), she was 80 when she died. She was born in Albany N.Y. daughter of the late William E. and Anna Murray Drislane. She was a graduate of Manhattanville College in New York City and when she graduated she worked for the CIA in Washington D.C. She raised nine children (not counting me) and she had eight brothers and sisters herself so I guess she had some experience with large families. My friend Susie was the youngest in the family. Susie and I were the only girls our age in a pretty rural area. We had way too much fun together in her pool, in the woods, giggling, playing board games and watching TV. Susie's house was my other house (I still remember the phone number). Her mom was my other mom. In the 1950's Mrs. Larson was Kaddy English, a widow with four children and then she met Ed Larson who was also widowed and also had four children.

They married each other and had Susie (to have nine children all together). Those nine are: 
David Larson,  John English, Tom Larson, Anne English Barneby, Lori Larson Barrett, Steve English, Mary Larson Walker, Erin English Wisler, and Susie Larson Fleming.
Susie Larson Fleming
Susie's girls, Katie and Caroline
  I never heard the word step or half ever, never ever. As a child, I did not really know the situation, it was just one really big family to me and to them.  Kaddy and Ed made certain that each one of them received their bachelor's degree with no loans and they are all extraordinary, wonderful people, nurses, doctors and lawyers and not a screw up among them. All together they have produced 27 grandchildren for Kaddy and Ed, from 2 - 22  years old (even older I think and 25 of them attended the funeral). The two that couldn't be there were busy in Medical School and in the Peace Corps. 

Kaddy was born on the day of Mary's Assumption and it is an fitting metaphor for her life. Mrs. Larson was an amazing wife, mother and friend. I can only imagine what she and my mother talked about by the pool as they sipped cocktails and watched Susie and me swim. Mrs. Larson taught me to put my dishes in the dishwasher (at her house any way) not to take the name of the Lord in vain (at her house anyway) and to only use plastic dishes by the pool (always). I believe Susie's brothers put together my swing set for my sixth or seventh birthday and carried it all the way from their house to our house (about 1/2 mile down hill) so I would be surprised. Mrs. Larson also hosted my bridal shower and came to our wedding (for which Susie was a bridesmaid).

I have only wonderful memories of the Larson family and of my many days and nights at their house. I slept over quite a bit... and once we were awake in the morning we were not allowed upstairs again, and certainly never allowed in the parent's bedroom. The kitchen closed everyday from 1:00 to 2:00 to be mopped and cleaned (by Kaddy). Mr. Larson (Ed) fixed up a picnic table to be the kitchen table (as five people could squeeze on to each bench). Mr. Larson owned a number of Arby's Restaurants and I always got extra cheese on my beef and cheese and they served roast beef at their house all time. The Larsons also had all the Arby's give away character glasses. They even had a cement outdoor table from the Arby's by their pool, where we played hearts a lot. At different times of my childhood there were different adults and/or grandchilren living at the Larson's home due to different circumstances. Everyone was welcome, everyone fit, especially me.

I am grateful for a very wonderful friend, her amazing mother and father and the home they created that was open, loving and welcoming to so many. ( I will find more pictures).

Monday, July 13, 2009

Hot Glass Beads


My daughter and I took a weekend class at More Fire Studio to learn how to make torch beads. Here are pics of the best of my completed beads. I can't even begin to explain the learning and working experience, but I will say that working with molten glass is the most exciting, exhausting and focused art work I have done in a long time. We will return tomorrow for our first independent session at open studio. I have so many questions and I have been digging around for tools and ideas. I hope this does not become an obsession for me, I really do not need another obsession. 

Sunday, July 12, 2009

chives

These chives have long past. I took this picture back in May I think. Next to the chives are some giant thistle that is just about ready to bloom. If it is nice and sunny tomorrow afternoon I will try to get a pic of thistle shadows.

Monday, July 6, 2009

New Shop


I have a new shop on Etsy. It is called Second Seed in Stitches and it is a shop for all my hand sewn, needle felted, vintage sewing findings and fabrics. I have listed some Foundlings (as I have named these strange animals) and am beginning to get the felted bags/pouches/cases posted. I am sewing like crazy this summer and having fun looking at my fabric stash and fulling Goodwill wool and cashmere sweaters in the wash.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

14 days


Fourteen Fucking Days in the hospital. My hubby is now home and trying to get used to what he can and cannot accomplish on his own. I finally had two glasses of wine with out the worry of having to drive to the hospital.