Mother Lode Final Stage

I have binding and some needle sculpting to do but they're virtually finished so I can show you. They will be mounted on separate cradle boards as presentation. Everything you see on them is a form of gold, either in metal, color or gemstone.

As I was looking at the jpgs, I noticed what seem to be eyes and faces looking back at me. I tend to anamorphosize a lot of things from composits like bathroom tiles and marble floors. But then, say 'Hello Kitty' when you look at the bottom image and try NOT to to see it!

(Ed. Note: These aren't quite as garish as the picture shows. I promise! My camera tends to really intensify colors and come up with its own shades. You can see more detail by clicking on the pictures above.)

Geode I is Finished!

Geode I 9"X21" Textiles and
Gemstones Mixed Media $3250



Finally finished the edges and final details on Geode I while I dog sat for Martha. I will put it on the back of a cradle board with Velcro before it goes in a gallery show or sells. I also decided that Velcro will help it be hung in any orientation as is pleasing.

You can tell the progression from the first pictures I posted. The binding/backing is a silk linen weave with a heavy slub that reminds me of the texture on the outside of geodes. The little pocket on the side was an afterthought that turned out well. I like the idea that it can be in the process of growing.

I'm really pleased how it turned out. There are multiple amethyst gemstones including light pink Cape Amethyst, grape amethyst cabochon, faceted amethyst beads, loose diamonds and a diamond tennis bracelet, druzy, quartz, tourmaline, tanzanite, fluorite, some lapis, fiber optic cat's eye, glass beads, vintage rose montees, opal, fire opal and opal glass, leather from a fashion belt, vintage beads from my stash of 1800s jet and rocailles, vintage sequins, hologram sequins, carnival beads, mirror, Swarovski crystal, hand dyed brocade from Cindy's stripper costume, square bent silver wire, ivory salt water, gray and peacock fresh water pearls, iridescent blue rhinestones from a 1950s cocktail dress, and a lead crystal cube.

I know I'm OCD.

New Amazon Store

Finally took the leap and added an Amazon Store to my blog. All of my recommends are geared towards fiber, mixed media, quilts and fabric manipulation. All but two of the first 35 selections are under twenty bucks in deference to artist's budgets.

I'll be reviewing these books along with photos of them. If you're a mixed media artist of any stripe or an artist that does ACEOs and ATCs, you just have to have "The Art of Manipulating Fabric" by Colette Wolff (Paperback - Oct 1, 1996). She teaches every possible combination of folding, pleating and manipulating fabric in the Universe and many techniques are transferable to paper for artists that use texture in their work.

My Copy is absolutely loved over, bent, written in stapled with cloth and shreds of paper. This is my fabric 'bible'.

I've almost finished the Geode piece. Some ends to tie up and then I'll do the finish work and frame it. Will share jpegs then.

And The Geode Part of 'Hat and Geode'

This is an update on the Good Earth Works piece I'm working on. As you can see from the photos, there's lots more work done on the canvas. I'm still not sure what to do with the blank white corner. It may be something that has to ferment for awhile.

So. Here are the views I have. As with Sheree Rensel's summer beret jpegs, I haven't the benefit of a photo editing program so they're rough. But I think you can see the real gemstones: Cape amethyst (lighter shades of pink and lavender), diamonds - including a broken diamond tennis bracelet, real pearls, druzy quartz with a tormaline on top, silverwire, the large dark purple amethyst cabochon seated on a chunk of sugalite, and large faceted amethyst beads, faceted white topaz, fire opal, flourite, Swarovski crystals and onegorgeous lead glass cube.

On the small round mirror, I anchored a princess cut pink tanzanite and a diamond. My friend Carol, a jeweler told me the glue to use. Look for the pointed quartz wand, the iolite, and carnival glass beads with copper wrapping.

I was telling Martha that the most sparkle amongst all the high dollar glitz comes from the sequins - inexpensive glitz! I love the 'river' of magnesium green sequins that unites everything and pay homage to the fact that amethyst gets its purple color from the interaction with the magnesium atoms present with the silicates.

One of my fave repeats are the hologram glitter sequin and beadv 'fans'. And my secret in this piece is that most of the ground under and atop the canvas comes from the brocade I dyed for Cindy Miller's Tesse Tura stripper costume. A fitting tribute to one of my angels! I'll think of her every time I see this piece!

Next issue: Framing and presentation. I need me some Martha Marshall advice for this.

Yes

Geode 1 Mixed Media Fiber, Gems, Silver 20" X 7"

I'm here. Still arguing with my computer about settings, malware, cat hair, etcetera. If not a total win, I'll persevere so that I can at least use it efficiently.

I have pictures to share which I will as soon as I find the software for Corel to reload or learn to use Photoshop Elements, whichever occurs first. I've taken pictures of the first Good Earth Works piece I've started. Hard to photograph because of all the sparkle. Here are two unedited views I took about a week ago. The ground is 20" X 7". I'm almost finished covering the entire canvas now but am a bit stuck.

I have one area that I don't know whether to cover with brocade and stones or leave blank. It's the bottom left on the whole view canvas above. This is where I suppose an art course or two would have helped with design principles. So I'm sitting on it for a bit to work on something totally different.

Almost finished a summer beret for artist Sheree Rensel and wanted you all to see that before I give it to her. Just working on a chapeau pin for decoration and then I'm done. Very pleased with it. Sherree chose the yarn in the bottom right corner - a multi stranded, very light weight and airy blend in 'amethyst' called Moda Dea Gleam.

It has a bit of sparkle to it, weighs next to nothing and I used a size "N" aluminum hook for a lacy and open fabric. I think she'll be pleased with it. I'm told Sheree has a reputation for eclectic and artsy dressing. If so, this will be an anchor piece for her wardrobe. I'm calling it "Summer Beret With Wild Hair".

I'm all for kissing the toes of Josie and Arpatx Latorre for their wonderful gift! The Ott-Lite magnifying glass has been used daily and extensively as I've sewn on beads, set gemstones and unraveled fuzzy yarns! Thank you both once again!!

I'll make a stab of putting up some photos without the tweaking.

Project

Told you about the new series of textile works I wanted to do. So. I just had to start one and have been working on it non-stop when I should be doing stuff for Sky and Cindy. She'll understand. She's artsy, too.

This first piece is called Geode. Chris' discussion about amethyst being his birthstone inspired me to start on this work first. I've sewn, set, manipulated and glued gems and beads and fiber to a large base for the last four nights until I'm stiff as a board. Woke up with a crunked neck, shoulders and hands. I told Martha that mama used to say, "You have to suffer for beauty", as I plucked my lush eyebrows. I never expected to suffer with my art, too.

I've a pile of amethyst, other precious gems and every style and description of glass bead and crystal in purple and silver tones I could lay hands on. I have an armature to build to give it shape and to drape on. Maybe that by the weekend.

(The picture above comes from the Gem Color Society.)