Voices Contemporary Lectures

If you live in Portland, run, don't walk and sign up for next
season's Voices lecture series. It is money well spent.

My week 5 highlight was having the opportunity to hear
Dee Dee Myers speak. At age 31, she was President
Clinton's Press Secretary and served in this position for
2 years. She most recently wrote a book by the title
Why Women Should Rule the World. It is not a male
basher but rather discusses the gifts women bring to
the table in business or politics or life.  Myers also
encourages women to give consideration to the voice
they use when speaking of their own achievements

As a side, she graduated from Santa Clara University,
which is where my girlie goes to school.

Totally loved Week 5.

Wabi Sabi Eye Candy

I needed some industrial cloth for a project I am working on.
As I mentioned, I had a pile of fabrics that really were bad dye jobs. I also had a bottle of Jacquard's Discharge Paste. This cloth is the result.

These are made using a three layer

process. For the bottom layer, I
placed some type of texture: drawer
material, bubble wrap, just whatever. 

Then the "bad dye job" cloth. The
top layer is a household screen. it
provides some additional
texture and adds the feature of holding
the cloth in place.Using a sponge roller,
I applied the paste. The biggest trick is
learning how heavy a hand to use. 

Too much and all the color is removed.
Too little and you don't alter the cloth
much. It's all in the wrist.

Some cloth was not as successful. To
these, I will add some additional texture
with thickened dye and then remove
some more. The final layer will be 

and Layers. PS has really helped me

They are even better up close and
personal. The colors are much richer.
They are delicious!

 

Wabi Sabi

I am reading a book called Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers by Lawrence Koren and trying to grasp the concept of wabi-sabi. I am not sure why other than I love the term. The author says it is a concept derived from the Buddhist assertion of the Three Marks of Existance "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete". Andrew Juniper claims, "if an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi.".  Richard Powell summarizes by saying "It (wabi-sabi) nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.". If that doesn't sound like life itself.

I am altering some cloth that I need to use in a piece of fiber art. I fondly refer to it's beginnings as a "bad dye job". The colors were flat mostly sort of solid browns and greens. I would like to add some interest and complexity to them. The first layer was the solid colored dyes. The second layer was the removal of some of the first layer with discharge paste. I used a variety of household items that had texture to them as the understory and a window screen as my silk screen wannabe. It was pretty slick because the window screen held everything in place and kept it all fairly stable. Do you think this is wabi-sabi. It just might be. I showed them to a group of fellow fiber artists today and they all loved them. Wait until they see where they are going.

 I promise to add some photos to this post tomorrow showing some of the results. So do come back then.

How Green Is My Garden

I believe the highlight for Week 4 is simply how nice it
is in Portland. Not the usual rain and many sunny days
which translates into warmer temperatures. So this week,
I decided to walk around my garden and see if anything
green was showing its face. Low and behold, some of my
flowers are raising their heads and hands. Check out the
Autumn Sedum and the Cranesbill geranium. My all time
favorite is the rosemary, which is like an evergreen here
in Portland.

I love my yard art. My sister is responsible for starting
me on all of these rusty elements but now I am hooked.
Don't you just love them. They get better every year.

Destination St Louis

St Louis is my home town. I haven't lived there for 12 years
and do like to claim Portland as my new home town. My definition
of a native is "deciding to stay" and I have. I don't get back
to St Louis much since my dad died and I have no other family
there. Well no other blood relatives but plenty of family. You
know the saying "friends are the family you choose for yourself".

Week 3 took me to St Louis and my work that week was connecting
with old friends, not to be confused with friends that are old.
Weelllllll maybe....

 

Anyway, here we are. Well most of us.
Week 3 was fabulous!

Begin.....

So there is this movement afoot. Actually it has been
around for a few years now. That is, to choose a word
to focus on for the year. So this is me, Elena (my alter
ego). Tell me how do you focus on just one word. Last
year I chose three: Focus,balance, joy. I liked them.

This year I forced myself to chose just one and it has
taken a bit of time. I read this bit of prose by Rachel Snyder.
It goes like this.

Begin.
Start something. Put one foot in front of the other and
inch forward ever so slightly. Show up. Say hello and
begin a conversation. Ask Says who? and begin a
revolution. Write one sentence and begin your novel.
Begin again, this time in a different key, at a different
tempo. Begin putting yourself first. Begin enjoying it.
Begin an intentional community if that's how you want
to live. Begin a reading group and focus on women who
made bold new beginnings. Begin a new way of eating,
a new way of moving, a new way of getting your needs
met. Begin as soon as you finish reading this page. Begin
at the beginning and don't even think about where it will
take you. Now begin.

Have you figured it out. My word is BEGIN. And, I don't
know where it will take me. But, I will begin by sharing
a pretty image I captured.



Until next time...

Week with a View

I started the week with an amazing discovery
at a new friends home. She has a bird's eye
view of the city, the river and most importantly,
Mt Hood. Amazing!

Next stop is the Rip City Rose Garden by way
of the MAX, where the Trailblazers play in "our"
house. And finally, the Japanese Garden
with big views of the city.

It was especially fun because we got to show
off our city to Rod and Delse who paid a visit.

It doesn't get any better!

OMG! I missed 01.01.10

I so wanted to type the numbers

01.01.10

on the first day of the New Year. Do not ask me
what happened on that day or any since. Oh well!

I considered beginning the 365 project. This is
where you take a photo a day and upload them to
a flickr group. I finally decided the structure
would soon make it a chore for me. It takes the
focus away from the things I really want to do.
My SIL, Delse, as always, had the right suggestion
My plan is to simply journal the year by picking
the highlights of each week.




I was sorry to see a lot of things go this week.
First the Christmas tree which was so perfectly
symmetrical. I think the best tree we have ever
had. Then, Caite went back to school. She is in
her second year at Santa Clara. Next Nick headed
to Argentina for 4 months. Otherwise, I went to
the Pittock mansion with some friends and started
getting things back in order around here.

Yosemite--Three Rocks

This summer we took a side trip to Yosemite. The Kodak
moments were amazing. HMMM! I wonder what they will call
Kodak moments in the future. The next generation will never
have heard of film and processing. Whatever.



The is the juxtaposition or is superimposition of three
famous Yosemite Rock formations--El Capitan, Half Dome
and Sentinel Rock--filtered, blended and then some.
I think the result is spectacular.

My Buddy

My very best four legged friend died today. He was 15+.
His name was Buddy and he was. Though, he had a lot of
nick names...Boo, the Bud-man, the Budmeister, Mr Dude,
Mr Bud. He was loved.



Everyone in the neighborhood knows Buddy. They have been
watching this gentle soul for a long time. First as a pup
while chasing crows and the neighborhood coyotes. Never
on a leash, he didn't wander or bother others. Later as
his hearing failed him, more cautious. He was kind to people
and other dogs but there was a special place in his heart
for Belle. He always knew when she was passing.

During the last few years, he slowed down and so we took
4-5 very small walks each day. I learned to slow down and
love the colors of the seasons and the birds singing and
the peace there is in silence.

It's hard to say good-bye. But as my son said, "He had a
good run!" He did and we did. He will be missed.



Love you, Mr. Dude!

Capturing the Glory

I love coneflowers and have some in my garden. It is
difficult to get just the right lighting because they
are on the south side of my house and that translates
into full sun most of the day. This first photo is the
actual picture I took.



After running it through Photoshop and applying a burn
technique, I think the flower is presented as a stronger
focal point.



And then, just because I can possibly means that I have to.
Layers and layers later, this flower is blended with the sky
and gradients to become something altogether different.



What do you think?

A Good Read

I just finished a really good book, People of the Book
by Geraldine Brooks. It is a work of fiction inspired
by a true story about the Sarajevo Haggadah, which is
a book of prayer used at a Jewish Seder meal. This
haggadah dates back to 14th century Spain.





The author creates stories in an attempt to trace the
origins of this beautiful old codex over the centuries.
I came to love each of the characters in each of the
stories who added something to the value of this book.
One added beautiful art, one added Jewish script, one
added book bindery skills and several added risk of life.
Their were many Muslims who protected this Jewish tome.

One of the author's most thought provoking statements is:
Ozren says: I have spent many nights, lying awake in this
room thinking that the haggadah came to Sarajevo for a
reason. It was here to test us, to see if there were people
who could see that what united us was more than what
divided us. That to be a human being matters more than
to be a Jew or Muslim, Catholic or Orthodox"

It is a truly captivating and beautiful novel. I highly
recommend you find it at your library.

Adjustments

I am beginning to pull together a Fiber Art show for
the Untied Methodist church women for next year.
The theme will be Portlandia or Portland or home.
Interpretation is up to the fiber artist. With that
in mind, I made a few adjustments to the Portlandia
graphic that I had produced and like this one so much
better. I thought you might like to see it.

Portlandia

There is a statue in my home town of Portland, OR.
It is a woman, made from copper, and she is on the
balcony of a large building, leaning over the edge,
reaching out to all. It is fitting--a woman with
a spear but kneeling and reaching out, tough and
gentle at the same time, fitting of most women
I know. Her name is Portlandia. The following poem
was written to tell her story.



Portlandia
She kneels down
and from the quietness
of copper
reaches out.
We take that stillness
Into ourselves,
And somewhere
deep in the earth
our breath
becomes her city.
If she could speak
this is what
she would say:
Follow that breath
Home is the journey we make.
That is how the world
knows where we are

by Ronald Talney.

I so love this statue and wanted to share
her with you.

Two+ Months But Who Is Counting

I have a new fiber post.


Three of a Kind

It is digitally rendered fiber piece, having been designed
and developed in Photoshop and then printed in layers
using pigment inks on cloth and finally assembled with stitch.
It is 8 x 10 in size.

This piece has been offered to FiberArt for a Cause,
which will auction small art collages to benefit the
American Cancer Society. This was the brainchild of
one woman, Virginia Spiegel, who hoped to raise $200
offering some fiber postcards on-line. I am thinking
it has been five years now that she has taken on this
project and she and her many online friends have raised
$165,000 through 2008. This is the final year and
the goal is to raise $20,000.

This is my gift and as always, I hope it is well received.

Words of Wisdom

Words to inspire in 2009...

2008

December was awesome! All of my adult children--ages 23,21
and 18--were home for the Holidays and a few friends came
with them. The house always seemed filled with the noise
of young people. I like it that way.

The "weather outside was frightful" as it snowed or iced most
every day from about December 14 till Christmas. But only
frightful if you had places to go. We stayed put a bunch and
just enjoyed each other, quiet time and the winter weather.
Caite and Nick actually skiied and snowboarded down the
streets of our neighborhood.





Rick reminded me that I asked for all that snow.
I guess I better watch what I wish for in 2009.

One of the things I always wait for in December is the blooming
of my Christmas Camellia, a gift from a friend shortly after
we moved to Portland. It is getting big and has become
a prolific bloomer.



I share it here with you.

My wish for you is to find both joy and some quiet in 2009.

One Year Ago

on Thanksgiving day, we loaded onto a boat and motored
to The Great Barrier Reef from our get-away "peace of
paradise", Hamilton Island. We spent the day snorkeling
and then back to a sea food dinner. Not a bit of turkey
to be found. Whatever!

It was the trip of a lifetime, not to be forgotten.

The Greenskeeper

These are not ready for a change.
Sometimes constancy is good.

A Dad and his Girl

Working photos from this year. What fun memories.
Glad I "book" them.



No one prouder than a dad with his nearly grown up girl.
And such a lovely one at that!

College Bound

Rick and I took Caite to college this weekend.
So now I am letting go.

So grown up!
How proud I am.

Lotus

I recently returned from a trip to China.
I was fascinated by the Lotus, blooming in gardens.


Begin with the blossom...simply gorgeous!


Intrigued by the seed pod.


Gathered and sold for flavor and sweetness.

Wings

Once in awhile, I capture a moment so tender that it makes my
heart light. This moment is one of these. Fiddling with my camera,
I came upon Caite in an introspective moment. It is a fitting name,
Wings, as Caite is about to dust hers off as she heads for college.

The Graduate

My youngest graduated from Jesuit High School this year.
How did I get so old?

Once when she was about 5, I told her I thought she
was growing up way to fast. She didn't miss a beat
with her reply. "Well, your mother let you grow up."
So I have tried to guide this one but in the end it is
probably she who has guided me.

In the fall, our home will be an empty nest. I am
a bit worried about the quiet.

Always On My Mind

I love scrapping our family photos from back in the day.



This is Drew in the summer of 1987. Just 21 months old,
he liked nothing better than "driving" his Grampa's tractors.
Thinking about those times today!

New Work : Honeycomb

Inspired by the book The Secret Life of Bees,
this quilt depicts a cropped view of a honeycomb.
Constructed with silks and cottons, it was then
screenprinted.

Backwash

I love this old picture of my son, Drew. He always loved
drinking from the hose. Problems was, so did the dog.
Turn the hose on and they both came running. Sometimes
Drew drank first and Tosh was on the tail end; sometimes
Tosh went first. EEEW!



But then, isn't life about give and take, she says with a smile.

Looking for Joy in Ordinary Places

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to look for something
to be joyful about, each and every day. One time it was simply
putting on pants warm from the dryer. Another was the sheer
joy of discovering that my Christmas camellia was blooming.
Another was the beautiful and unusual shape of a coffee cup
saucer. Looking for joy each day, caused me to really notice
my surroundings. Whatever brought my joy, I discovered,
was always in the present. It wasn't really the promise
of a trip to come or an event that had passed. It is always
in the here and now.



Life is good when lived in the present. Why don't you try this
with me and look for joy each and every day in ordinary places.

Chihuly, Revisited

I've been looking at the photos I took during the Chihuly Exhibit
in September, 2006 at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St Louis.
It was simply amazing to see this glass art peeking out of nooks
and crannies, sometimes boldly showing off but always lovely.

I share it with you.

Two Days Late and at Least a Grand Short

To my SIL, Delse on her birthday.



This is one together gal. She's is truly capable of doing anything.
She is totally responsible for starting me on many paths and then
watching me run. Just not running paths, LOL.

Cheers to you gal. I love you dearly.

A Tree by Any Other Name...

Another digi scrapping contest. This one required
five photos of the same subject but each from a
different perspective, a quote and about 10 other
things going on. This was my entry.



It's rather fun to select a theme and journal a bit.
Let me know what you think.

The Circle of Giving

So my friend, Virginia Spiegel, was looking for feedback
for her blogs and web. I told her I thought the header
for The Garbage Day Project should be slightly green,
slightly rusty, slightly grungy and slightly artsy.
I designed one for her and to my surprise, she is using it.
It looks like this:



It feels really good to give back to someone who has
organized artists worldwide to rally and raise funds
for cancer research.

Thank you Virginia for all you have done.

Merry Christmas Everyone

We are having a white Christmas
at least for the moment.
Hope yours is grand as well.

FA-LA-LA-LA-LA.....LA-LA-LA-LA!

To Know Your God

We just returned from a family vacation Down Under.
Our middle child, Nick, spent this last semester
at the University of Sydney. We joined him during
Thanksgiving Week spending some time in both
Sydney and at Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday
Islands. Thanksgiving Day was spent snorkeling at
the Great Barrier Reef. WOW! is about all that
comes to mind right now.

The little tiny red roofed building in the photo
was our home away from home for 5 nights.

What a view!

Finally, Some Fiber

The title of this blog is Fiber and Photographs.
Until this moment, it has only been my photos and
Photoshop work. No more, she says...



This is my 2007 Journal Quilt entry,
Land Forms #1, which is hanging at
the Houston quilt show. A description
follows.

Land Forms #1
The inspiration for this piece came while
looking out the window of an airplane. The
patterns and colors evident in farm land
across America are simply awesome. I sketched
for awhile and then later, put fabric to form.

There is an old tree on my in-laws farmland
that has been dead for many years. It stands
as though a sentinel, guarding the property
and family. I have taken many pictures and
include it here as a screen print, guarding
this farm land as well.

How to Make a Difference

Ah, the last entry for the Stand Up contest.
It has been fun and I have certainly tried
on a bunch of different styles. This is one
of my favorites. As life would have it,
I actually did this one twice because
the first went into the Neverland of
bits and bytes. Failure to save bytes
(pun intended) me in the back side every
once in awhile.

But, whatever, do get out and volunteer.

Moody Blues

This week's contest challenge is to tell a story
using a single color which defines the story. I
chose blue which is a very calming color for me
and, I have never really met a shade of blue that
I don't like.

Can you tell?

Apple Picking or Pick Your Apple...

This week, the Stand Up contest challenge was
to scrap something that makes me smile. I think
there are a lot of things that happen every day
that make me Laugh Out Loud.

This is just one of them.

Enjoy my tale!

The Simple Life

I have been away to long.
Very busy, what can I say.
Well, I am involved in another contest,
"Stand Up and Be Counted".
It seems earth related but
our first challenge is to post a dream.
This is my entry:



Always and forever trying to simplfy.
That's me!

Will-am-ette, Dammit

In any other community,
this river would be called Will-a-mette.
Not here.
It's Will-am-ette, Dammit.
And don't you forget it.
LOL

We don't forget it but for a different reason.
It's the heart of our community.
And now you know the rest of the story.

Student Off Discovering the Land of OZ

Nick left on July 2 for a semester abroad.
He will be attending the University of Sydney
as a Civil Engineering student. What better
landscape than the Sydney Harbor Bridge or
the Opera House.

Wish I was there too!

A Walk Among Giants

In April I visited St Louis, Mo, which is my
hometown. A friend and I walked through
Laumeier Sculpture Park. It was a beautiful
afternoon, sun shining, clear blue skies and
good female conversation. What more could a
girl want?



Here is a photo that I took, intending for it
to be a panoramic. My shots did not allow
enough foreground and so when I tried to link
them in Photoshop, I did not get a smooth
lower line. This is how I solved the photo
problem in telling the story.