owl 2

I did complete this owl yesterday and I think he has a sweeter disposition than the white one. These guys are made from one cashmere sweater. Front and back are the front and back of these sweater and then I get the wings out of the sleeves and the base from the bit left over at the neck of the back (if that makes any sense at all). I don't know if I will make too many of thes owls as they are kind of boring for me to make. The one sweater makes them quick and easy to make - but I miss mixing fabrics, patterns and colors.

snowed in

It is rare that I won't drive in Rochester snow, but today is a true white out. I even canceled a doctor's appointment and am simply hunkering down, sewing, cleaning, sleeping. I did finish the first owl, I realized his eyes are too high on his head - so the next one will definitely look cuter. I also finished one more foundling - I may keep this one as he fits in our living room so nicely.

More of the Window

I made some tweaks and am ready to live and let live...

Change

When I began thinking about the window display for Thread - I was thinking mainly about Metamorphosis, which is Latin for a great change. I have used this theme a lot (too much maybe) in the past and I guess it is because I have rarely remained the same for long. I am always switching careers, making new, different work, going up in dress size and changing my eating habits (which coincides with the dress size).I do embrace change, but it makes for a rather undefined life. So now I am trying to get back to a goal on which I can focus.

In January when I tried to make a foundling a day, I was rather productive. So starting tomorrow (ha, ha) I am back to sewing and I want to make owls now, one a day, plus flower pins. I also will be selling at the Zine and Craft Fair at the Flying Squirrel on March 20th so I have a desire to create a new zine. Maybe I can use the bugs and cakes in it. Stay tuned...

Thread's Window is ready for viewing!

I worked most of the day running back and forth from Thread to my house, as I had to run children around and return for forgotten window elements. I will go back tomorrow with some finishing touches, but it looks pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. Jen Burger's amazing pods and garlands are in the window and they are the touch it needed! Thanks Jen!

I love the image below. The camera caught the reflection of the street with the South Wedge signage and all. But you can see more in the pic below of what is actually going on in the window. Jen Burger's amazing pods and garlands are in the window and they are the touch it needed! Thanks Jen!

This is a collage that is sitting on the pretty pink chair on the left.

and below is a jar of slide bugs.

Then I went to the Presidential 50% off sale at the Am Vets

and snapped this shot of the parking lot snow hill.

Vintage Doll's Dress

I found this at the Estate sale of Dorothy Placek up in West Irondequoit. Tomorrow is the last day and I am trying to decide if I should go back again for bargains. The prices were already reasonable - this dress was $4 and it is in mint condition. There was a lot of old art in old picture frames - great stuff for a collage artist!

Working on the Window

I am very close to feeling ready to install at Thread. I still have to wall paper the wall that the cocoon will be attached, and I could use a few more "masculine" items. I can't decide if I should leave the picture frames empty or not. I think empty makes the most sense, but it is hard for me to present empty frames. I am worried the whole thing is too "pretty." But probably I just think bugs are pretty, and most people don't. The dining room has been my studio for the last two weeks and I know I will miss the work when it goes to Thread on Monday. But it is clearly time to move on to other things...

Treats

Above is a picture of a fake cake that will be part of the installation I am creating for Thread's window. It is covered in bugs made from Kodak slides. Below is a picture of a real cupcake, one of many that I made for Valentines Day. I was so inspired by the wonderful little cupcakes available in New York city, I came home Sunday night and got right to baking my own!

three days in NYC

We began with a 6 am flight,breakfast in a diner, a lovely walk through Central Park and then the Metropolitan Art Museum. It was beautiful, long, day.

We all slept 12 hours that night!

Day two, Friday - THE Mac Store (above) and FAO Schwarz (below).

Then we took a cab to SoHo, went shopping at Urban, lunch at Roccos and more shopping at Evolution, Free People and Pearl River. Then the U of R Alum reception and dinner with Jess, Rob, Summer and Zippy. And then some midnight shopping in Times Square.

Below is Aster's pic of preserved beetles for sale at Evolution. Above is a store window - I am not sure where Aster saw that amazing image!Saturday we took the subway to the Brooklyn Flea - the most amazing shopping experience ever! We purchased military pins, a gas mask, vintage wallpaper, jewelry, a cupcake and much more! Micheal and Katja met us and we went to their house for a short while and then back to the hotel to get ready for a night on Broadway!Above is Aster's shot of the subway swipe card entrance. And below is Gage in his gas mask.

Sadly we did not buy this three faced doll.That night we had an italian dinner at Daniella's and went to see Green Day's American Idiot.

It was so incredible - awesome performances, amazing sound and outrageous set and visuals.

There is nothing comparable to Times Square on a Saturday night!

Oh, by the way, Happy Valentines Day!

The Amazing Lucinda Storms

Lucinda had a wonderful exhibit open on Friday at Record Archive!

Pieces were flying off the wall, I purchased a beautiful piece of pie. Go to Record Archive soon or there will be nothing left to see. I hope Lucinda will paint more desserts. I am in love with her bird cupcakes. Her style reminds me of another favorite artist of mine, Wayne Thiebold.

The Avett Brothers - Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise

Painted by hand by Jason Ryan Mitcham, the video is a single painting... which Mitcham altered 2600 times. To create 1 second of film, he had to alter the painting 10 times.

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There’s a darkness upon you that’s flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what’s wrong and what’s right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

Brie

My mom and dad's new puppy!

Cocoon Progress

I think the coccoon is destined to be a cat house. I was wondering if the inside might look more interesting than the outside. No sooner than I had placed it on the floor, Gizmodo started biting the chicken wire, and soon after he climbed inside the thing...

I got the cat out and Moonstruck help keep me focused so I got pretty far. I only need about five more sweaters to finish!

Happy Early Valentines Day

I worked on the cocoon this morning while watching Moonstruck. Nick Cage is one of my all time favorite men (especially when he was young and buff) - and he never looked better than in the bakery scene!

"I ain't no freakin' monument to justice!

I lost my Hand! I lost my Bride!

Johnny has his Hand! Johnny has his Bride!

You want me to take my heartache, put it away and forget?"

And then of course his emphatic declaration to Loretta...

"Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn't know this either, but love don't make things nice - it ruins everything. It breaks your heart.

It makes things a mess.

We aren't here to make things perfect.

The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us!

We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people."

Cocoon

I am going to install a display/installation in the window of Thread soon. It will involve a large cocoon like piece and many many insects. Pictured is a close up of the beginnings of the cocoon. I am quite concerned it is not going to look anything like a cocoon. But I have to keep at it, it is like when you knit a sweater and in the beginning you just can't believe it will ever be a sweater... you have to have faith that it will eventually come together.

Twenty Four