I have just plumb run out of inspiration for “Where I Stand Sunday”…..perhaps it will be back occasionally when the muse returns. Where I Stand has had a good run(two years), but lately, I’ve been digging pretty deep for this post every week. The time has come to retire the series for me. But the original “Where I Stander”, Lynn is still going strong, along with LeAnn and Patti. I sure will continue enjoying their weekly posts.
I hate to just stop this weekly routine of Sunday posting…..and am looking for inspiration. Anybody have an idea? Please let me know, I will be ever so grateful for any and all ideas.
But for now, hope you enjoy these wood sculptures as much as I did:
I love the lines and shadows….
The shapes….
And colors….
I am sorry I do not know who made these beautiful works of art.
They were part of the Northville Art House’s January show that featured wood as the primary medium.
I have one more thing to say….I am so very grateful for everyone who has read my Sunday posts (all my posts, really). This blob has come to mean more to me than I could ever have imagined. It’s a scrapbook of my life, but with the added benefit of notes and comments from friends. I know SOME who read do not comment, and that is okay. I really appreciate that you look at and read my blog. But, commenting completes the circle…..connects and creates a community, friendship and new ideas. Thank you , friends…..have a good Monday!
Friday, I went to the Birmingham Bloomfied Art Center for the mosaic show by the Mosaic Artists of Michigan. My photos do not do these mosaics justice, they were so beautiful. With over 100 pieces on display, I took a limited number of photos…..hope you enjoy seeing them, and highly recommend going. But hurry the show ends Feb. 12.
These are details shots of the tree mosaic (third photo above)
And a detail of the heart:
This week, I’ve many pieces in progress, but not much finished.
I’ve been moaning and groaning to Jeff about the grout color of the key hearts. After days of listening to my passing thoughts on possible grout color, he said..”aren’t hearts supposed to be RED?”. It was an AH…HAAA moment.
So I went ahead and painted the grout just that:
Now I am satisfied. And I ordered some lipstick red grout.
Speaking of hearts. Yesterday, I was gifted with some GORGEOUS pieced blocks from Gail. I wish I could piece like this….Gail and Kat are both so gifted with their combinations of colors and fabrics.
I immediately put them to good use, and made a banner for my side door:
#53
And just for fun, this photo makes Bibbs and the pillow appear as one…kinda, funny:
I know this look on my mom’s face very well, one of concern and worry..,,,
Looking a little tired too, Mom.
She was sitting at my bedside while I was in labor with Steph. (Cropped myself right out of this scene). A mother can always find something to worry about when it comes to her children. But something else occurred to me today…if a time comes when a mother stops worrying about her child….that child will be worrying about her. This could happen in many different situations, but particularly today I am thinking about when your parent is having a medical crisis….
Fortunately, later, my mom has a smile on her face. And fortunately, my mother still worries about me.
Happy Birthday Mom, with all my love!
Lynn, of FibraArtysta, and the sweet bird nest necklace I showed you the other day, has started something lovely this year….a new photo essay blog called 365 Happy Things Project. I have subscribed to it, and everyday I start my day with one of her photos…they make me smile.
Don’t you all think that finding “happy things” is really another way to express the gratitude that lives within. The gratitude for the people, places, things in our life….those little sight, sounds, touches, that bring warmth, joy, fun into our lives.
To that end, I have decided to copy Lynn’s concept….hope you don’t mind, Lynn….and mark some of the happy things in my life every once in a while. And here is my first:
The musician IZ, and his ukulele combine to make a beautiful noise. If you’re familiar with IZ,you’ve heard this song:
Try some of his other music…Beautiful! Where have I been, he passed away in 1997. His music lives on. I am in love.
Marlo has a new red collar and leash. Yes, red is her favorite color despite the old rule that redheads should not wear the color red. She is ready for her walk, but don’t say that word too loud.
…is at her full, and riding high…..
As much as I wanted to get back to serious stitching this week, it was not to be….almost. There is a price to pay for going in several different directions. If one goes in many directions for a while, though, pretty soon you’re going in a circle…where all action is connected. One thing leading to the next, all perfectly related but unrelated. One can hope!
My bit of stitching this week was a request by a friend, for a crown pin….
I made two, and had her pick her favorite:
#36
#37
In exchange, I received a sweet little harbinger of spring:
Thank you, Lynn…I love it, and hope you are royally smitten with your brooch.
This is Lynn’s etsy shop, where she has necklaces, and other good things available.
I also spent a day making flower pins to restock ArtIsIn Market….
Black and brown, neutrals. Meant to go with just about everything.
Also spring colors….meant to brighten the winter dreariness.
The buttons are in, what I hope, is continuous improvement. I like these better than my early ones. I’m using vintage and new buttons, wool, felt, leather, ultrasuede. Constantly discovering new materials and new ways that work well. 15 pins….numbers 38 thru 52
Speaking of new materials….look at the bargain I came across:
many, many buttons on cards, for a ridiculously low price. This was the find of the century. Thank you JoAnn’s. I am sorry you are closing another store near my home, though.
And I have a new favorite thrift store….Value World. Kelly took Lisa and I there last week, and I found wool clothing that will get cut apart, washed, and felted for pins and ?????? One man’s junk is another’s treasure, certainly! The colors are so gorgeous:
I can see that this may well turn into a new way to shop for fabric. Suits my likes perfectly…beautiful fabric, economical price, supporting a local charity, recycling clothing.
and grouted…
Kelly’s plate:
I took the liberty of adding grey grout to the spiral, just to accentuate it.
Kelly landscape frame!
Jackie’s mirror, with the camera reflection
and her orange collage.
Lisa took her mosaic home, to Virginia, and has it grouted too. See it here.
They all turned out so very good.
I found some tiles that were just so beautiful, I wanted to experiment with them. They are like sea glass, with a little metallic burnishing added. I did this plain but pretty mirror. Keeping it simple! #34
I also completed another “Key to my Heart” mirror….
Not too sure about this grout color, but at a loss for what color to use. Perhaps this is just too beige??? Any suggestions???? I have a thought of adding a wash of fine silver glitter to the grout once it dries completely….hmmmmm. #35
Addendum: No glitter, but I think ivory grout might be better. Will try it next grouting session
This is not all I’ve completed this week…will post again today, later….
If there were a top ten list of my treasured possessions, this portrait would be one of them. I remember the day I first watched my mother unwrap it. Then we took it to a photography studio, maybe Hudson’s, for restoration. I remember yellowing and water stained areas in the background. And, soon I was with mom when we went to pick it up…amazed at the results.
This is Esther, my maternal grandmother, as a young girl. You have met Esther before on my blog, here, here and here. She is probably about 3 years old in this charcoal rendering of her. This was a popular technique back then, drawing with the aid of a projected photograph. Timeframe: 1903ish. She was always as sweet as this picture depicts her.
