Using Art to Connect and Stay Sane

Here are more of my dress cards. The first one is inspired by the Korean traditional dress- Hanbok. I never thought I would continue to make this but going through my scrap paper container keeps providing me with inspiration. Creating these helps me to relax and concentrate something that can be a challenge these last few months.

Surviving Stay at Home with Art and Connection

I knew that I needed to find something to do that would keep me being focused and creative. Both of these things have, at times, been difficult. Making dress cards has helped me not only stay creative but also a way to connect with family and friends. Covid has been a reminder that I need to let people I know that I love and care about them so creating a card with a theme (kimono/dress inspired) was a winner and has gone on for more than a month. I made a rule to only use my paper scraps. Silly, I know, but it keeps the focus and uses what I have on hand.  Not being able to go shopping has not been an issue for me. A limited pallet and supplies is something I often embrace. Hope you are finding time for creativity and coneection.

New Year, New Beginnings

I love making collages if I can stay out of my head. This is not easy at times, but when it happens, the world disappears. Creating "Quiet Joy" took a while to get to the get out of your head stage. I am happy and hope whomever takes it home, enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it.

The Brush Art Gallery and Studios has been good to me so when the opportunity to support them, I jumped at the chance. They are asking artists to create a piece of art on a 4" x 4" canvas. The event is called FOUR by FOUR for Education and is on display from March 4 - 14 with the fundraising event occurring on March 14 at 2:00.

"The Four by Four raises funds for the Brush Scholarship fund and Special Perspectives. A $1000 scholarship is granted to a deserving University of Mass Lowell art student. Special Perspectives programming brings art instruction to challenged adults, currently Megan's House, a transition program for young women recovering from addiction."

There is still time to participate. Deadline is February 26. Mine is in the mail! 

More Collages

 I have been collecting quotes for years so deciding which ones to use was not easy. And even though the 100 day challenge is over, I am continuing to make these mini collages. These were purchased by Marie Gnesda, another amazing ceramic artist at ClaySpace Ceramic Arts Center. Creating these small collages have caused my creative juices to go into overdrive. I have done lots of sketching and made lots of lists. Now life needs to cooperate! Hope you enjoy.

100 Pieces of Art in 100 Days

 Jean Burnett issued a challenge for the Resident Artist of ClaySpace Ceramic Arts Center to create 100 pieces of art in 100 days. I knew that doing 100 pieces out of clay would not happen so I decided to do little collages (approximately 4.5 x 5.25 inches). I am on a mission to use up what I own. I am happy to report that I made more than 100 in the 100 days. This also lead me to start making small journals and intention cards and it inspired a new quilt! I have been asked to share the collages so hopefully I can share 5 or so a day here. I am also hoping this gets me back in the habit of blogging even if no one reads it. These sold when the group got together to share. The reception of my artwork was a wonderful surprise. These are now owned by Linda Lee Kiepke. I encourage you to check out her amazing ceramics. Linda did pick a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Creating a Book Out of Memories

This one kept me up because I was so excited. It began as a three ring binder of sermons from the 30s and 40s from the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Most of the sermons were given by Dr. Peter Marshall (emigrated to the U.S. From Scotland and was appointed as the U.S. Senate Chaplain) but there is one from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. I added other letters, papers and a piece of cloth with the Old Rugged Cross printed on it. My family loves to keep keys. Do you? The photograph is from 1916 and is of Rachel Knuth Field. She married my dad's legal guardian in 1955. She was 43. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met. I still miss her even though she has been gone from my life for a long time. I hope she would be pleased.

Aunt Peggy's Student Nurses Apron

My great Aunt Peggy was someone I occasionally visited when I visited my grandparents in Maryland as a kid. She was my grandmother's youngest sister. Peggy's nickname was "The Queen" because her entire life she managed to only do what she wanted. She worked at the State Department beginning in 1940 for 60 years, never married, never had kids and lived in a small apartment. She never had much interest in me but I was interested in her. She was not boring.

Recently I learned that she had been in nursing school and quit one month before graduation. No one knows why she quit. I get the impression that this was something Peggy did. I did track down the hospital where she worked/studied and it was, at the time, an "insane asylum." Might make me quit too.

My mother was the executive of her estate and brought home boxes of things after her death. My mother is now going through things and disposing of them.  I have become the keeper of her nurses aprons (two), her nursing hat and medical book as well as some photos. This is a work-in-progress. I already see changes I want to make. The silk was dyed with avocado skins. I dyed the hanky bit. The other things were passed on to me. The gloves were mine and wore them to church on Sundays.  And so I continue to contemplate on why we keep the things that we do and what things will my children discover about me when I am gone. I do know I ask a lot more questions of those I love. Have you inherited things that now make you wish you had asked more questions?