Interpret This - November Reveal

It was a struggle for me to get started with this one.  This photo of a cottage in Sissinghurst, England. features an idyllic setting that is almost too perfect ... too idyllic ... too pretty.

After much study of the photo and a lot of pondering, I found it was  the patina of the aged wood that very much appealed to me.

Narrowing my focus to feature just the door let me get "into" composing a piece to meet the challenge... let me enjoy the journey of interpretation.

"Door of Yore" - 13" x 17"

fabric, tulle, oil stick pastels,

water color pencils, pastels,

and yarns

Go here to read the details of the process and techniques I used to create this piece ,,,, as well as see the results of the other members interpretations.  There will be 3 reveals on 3 days beginning with today.

A Mended Quilt

You may recognize this silk quilt I had made as a Christmas present for my friend in 2007 ...

The original areas where it's green had been constructed with old silk that had "shattered".  Darn!  That had been the perfect color and foil to the bright pink and orange prints.  Also, I hate mending, but this is one  quilt that really needed my personal attention.

It's now been replaced by sewing a new and modern soft green "silk cotton" over the top of the old silk.  The seam allowances had been pressed under on all the newly cut border pieces. Those were then machine appliqued with clear mono filament thread on the quilt top just outside the seams into the edges of the pink silk prints and binding.

For the quilting I followed my original quilt lines by free-motion sewing with the back side face up ... which meant putting the fancy variegated silky thread in the bobbin while having the plain beige thread set up on the top of the machine.

I'm pleased with the results and the quilt in now on it's way back to my friend in Milwaukee.  To read the post written about the creation of this quilt go here.

"Interpret This" October Reveals Begin

Saratoga Spring Fountain

13"x 17"

fabric, wool roving, yarns,

tulle netting, oil stick pastels

My interpretation of Judith's chosen photo for the "Interpret This" blog is the second one to be revealed today.

Go here to see more detailed photos and process details for this piece as well as to see Barbara's, which was the first reveal posted this morning. There will be reveals by the blog members each day through the 30th.

Cow Tipping

When our friend, Alicia, came for her annual holiday at the beach during August she did a lot of tipping of this paper mache cow sculpture while giving it a new coat of many colors and patterns.

I had given Alicia several pieces of scrap muslin for cleaning brushes and wiping up paint.  Those treasured paint rags hanging to dry on the clothesline will find places in my future creations.

We got the idea for this project while Lee and I were visiting her in Milwaukee.  She had taken us to see a painted cow at an upscale art/craft shop.  We were tempted to buy that very expensive piece until we recalled that we already had a very nice, but rather plain spotted cow sculpture at the cottage.  Our thanks to Alicia for volunteering her talent to turn our cow into a "funky art" piece.

We are greatly pleased ... and hope she's looking forward to painting this cow's calf next summer.

ArtPrize - Making Music

There were a number of ArtPrize entries that featured music.  This one, "Accord", by Bree Gomez exhibited outside at the Grand Rapids Art Museum was voted into the Top 25.

The description written for ArtPrize is:

Accord is a dynamic and engaging sculpture comprised of strands of light that are interwoven within a metal structure. Upon investigation, a sonar beam emitted from within the sculpture captures movement and converts it into recognizable tunes such as the violin and flute. The lights (strings) then respond to the sound generated by movement. By utilizing the captivating medium of sound, light and metal, Accord provokes interaction and dialogue.


The sound component of Accord enables those with limited mobility an opportunity to communicate using sound.

Here are young viewers interacting with it to make their own music complete with a light show ...

Another sound sculpture was "The Benchmark Experience" exhibited along the river front at DeVos Place by Scott Naylor.  It was voted to be among the Top 75.

There was "soft" rock'n roll music piped from the speakers above each molded chaise seat which housed the woofers so you could feel the beat.  For me and Lee it was a welcome respite to get off our feet and to enjoy a "moment alone".

It, too, lit up at night ...

My favorite making music ArtPrize entry was "Street Pianos ... Play Me, I'm Yours" by Luke Jerram.  It, too, was voted into the Top 25.

Play Me, I'm Yours has reached almost three quarters of a million people in cities stretching from London to Sydney. Sites are found where there is an existing hidden community or where we feel a piano may be values (park, bus stop, bridge, etc.) Each piano has a local custodian - someone who works in a shop or opub next door. It is an unpaid job, keeping any eye on the piano, covering it if raining, and reporting major problems or issues that arise. Pianos are placed to target specific parts of the Art Prize perimeter, reaching different sections of society. The pianos can be played by anyone, anytime or used for concerts, lessons, sing-alongs, street parties, charity events, music videos - whatever! A Street Piano website accompanies the project and documents everyone's creativity and contains films, photos and comments posted by the public, connecting communities and also providing maps of piano locations. Pianos are donated to a good home after the completion of Art Prize.

There was lots of participation ...

Colleen Kole and I enjoyed this fellow's street corner concert.

Lee surprised me with a rendition of "Chop Sticks" on this one placed outside of DeVos Place.