Artomatic Closing

Tonight is deinstallation at Artomatic. I can't believe it is over! I don't know how helpful I can be to Craig who will probably have to do it all because of this neck and shoulder issue. I am going to make some calls about deep tissue massage tomorrow. At this point I am ready to try anything. Thanks to all for well wishes and great advice. Today has been challenging. I have a studio full of work calling to me. I can't even read because holding me arms in front of me aggravates, so lots of lying down staring at the ceiling........wasting time! Depending on how things are on Monday, I will be back at the easel.

Update

Today has been a bit difficult because I am still having trouble with my shoulders and neck. I am at a place now where I may need to take extended time away from painting, which I cannot afford to do.
I managed a few hours today, though, on three paintings, so, all is not lot yet.

On a humorous note, Bravo TV is having auditions for a new reality show staring "emerging and mid-carer artists" (whatever that means.) That should be a complete train wreck. This will solidify in the minds of Americans every myth and stereotype about artists that ever existed. We all know these reality shows choose personality extremes for this stuff......

Knitting Lace

As the summer warms up, I have set aside my cable sweater project and pulled out some lace weight yarn to knit. I have 3 skeins of Knitpicks Shadow in Jewels that has been sitting in one of my yarn baskets. Things have been pretty stressful and I decided I needed something that would be very relaxing and simple to knit. So I consulted one of my favorite reference books; A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

I came across Ostrich Plumes, a variation on feather and fan, which is a very easy lace pattern, and thought that would be just the right amount of interesting design and easy to memorize pattern.
Being a visual person, I prefer working from charts than reading patterns, so I made a chart from the written directions on this chart generator. Seeing the pattern graphically helps me remember the pattern so much better.Before starting my shawl, I knit and blocked three samples to see what size needles I wanted to use for my lace pattern. These three samples in reality are different sizes, the blue one being the smallest ( 6" x 7"), it was knit on size 5 needles and makes a nice solid pattern. The second sample was knit from the same yarn (but in a different color) with two strands of yarn on size 8 needles. It finished just a little taller and about an inch wider than the first swatch, it was heavier weight and had lost the nice drape that my first sample had. The last sample was knit single strand on size 8 needles, after blocking it was 7" x 9", it has nice drape but the design felt a little too open, loosing some of the pattern definition.
I settled on size 7 needles with 2 and a half repeats of the pattern from the book. I figure I will just keep knitting until I run out of yarn or until it reaches 60 or 70 inches.

Today's Painting on the easel

It has been at least nine since I have painted a self portrait. I have never done one in oil so, I must have been is a brave head space today. Really fun, really challenging. I have a lot of ideas about where to take this. I did the initial blocking in and some tightening today, but the paint needs to set a bit, so time to lay off.

Chicago Origami Society

A couple months ago a film crew showed up at the Origami Society Meeting my son Ty goes to. The film makers work for the city and usually film Mayor Daley's activities, but since they were on a hiatus from the Mayor they were working on a few personal projects, including this one. It was so funny to see Ty with his long hair again, he cut it really short a couple days after this was filmed. I think this will be aired on a local cable access show too, for the month of July.

Stringing beads

I have accumulated quite a few beads from various quilt and bead shows over the years. Often they sit in bins for a long time before I get around to using them. I think it is challenging to string beads well, the individual beads are so beautiful, but it can be tricky to combine them together in a pleasing way. I am in such awe of people who do it well.

This morning I wanted to string a necklace with a pendant I unearthed as I cleaned off my table this week. It has been sitting on my table for at least a year.


As I've gotten older I have begun wearing red, a color I never felt comfortable in when I was younger and more introverted. Maybe red is a color that demands some confidence and life experience, lol.I haven't had any red jewelry, until now.

On the Sidelines

Well, today I am in more discomfort than I was yesterday, SO, I have to take a few days off. Sitting here is frustrating so out to run a few errands and get a haircut today (starting to look like Billy Idol in the morning.) Even typing this my upper back is starting to burn.... Hope I will be back on board at least by Monday....

I have several paintings on the side, but they will have to wait, along with ideas in the wings......let me count...