Visual Art...

WHat She Made me

My mom sewed incredible clothes for me when I was in high school. We collaborated on patterns and fabric but she did the heavy lifting. Since I'm trying to learn watercolor technique, I thought it might work to capture what she made me.  So when I have a few minutes, I fool around with paint. And buttons. And beads.

There were signs

I took photos of pre-construction signs painted on pavement in my neighborhood, printed them on silk then stitched them on rayon. The pieces are suspended from bike spokes. Thanks to Jesse Kuester at Wheel & Sprocket for the spokes from a broken wheel!

Bluesy blues

Green was my favorite color but these photos I took in Morocco and printed on cotton made me fall for blue. Embellished with thread, gauze and batting.

The Handkerchief project

 “What advice did your mother give you?” I asked female friends and strangers over about six months. And then I embroidered that advice onto vintage handkerchiefs and strung those handkerchiefs on braided pantyhose and embellished this “clothesline” with my hair, a cut-up dollar bill and other detritus. I feel so privileged to be allowed a peek into the private world of mothers and daughters. And I loved all the laughter. And the wine.

My Studio Neighbors Inspire me

Becca Kacanda is my new neighbor at the studios of Tinsel Gallery at 10th and Mitchell. Here's her website and she sells her work on etsy and at local galleries. https://www.rottogrotto.com/  And Mary Louise Schumacher featured her in her Art City email recently. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/art+city/FMfcgxvzLhgKVjNWtkJcXKtQFCCKCPMN

One of My Design Walls

I like to surround myself with other people's work. The blue dress is by Michele Dangelo. Other things include: a bed spring, rusted metal I found on a beach, poems.

Vietnam Inspiration

I was drawn to taking close-up photos of Vietnamese walls and icons on my recent trip there. I print the photos on silk and paper and then quilt them with batting and backing.  Lately I've been embellishing them with a variety of mosses.

Other Things I'm working on

The first piece is part of a Mending Wounds series and features deconstructed fabric held together with tiny mending stitches. Photos of my lips inspired the second piece. My used contact lenses inspired the third.