Fibermania

Knee Deep in Projects

I started this bolero jacket on my trip to Yellowknife, knowing full well that I didn't have enough of this fabu wool/silk yarn to finish it. I spent several days visiting yarn shops (woe is me) searching for an coordinating yarn to complete the sleeves and collar. Finally I purchased this ribbon, which is perfect.

It knits up much larger than the smooth body yarn, but I can deal with that issue, should I ever return to this project. At the moment I am subsumed with a few other distractions.

I am reknitting the button band on a finished sweater, it never felt right, and putting leftover diamond miters together to start the bottom of another cardigan. They sit there awaiting my attention.

And then I got my latest issue of American Style Magazine and there was a tiny picture of these great sox...Not a match in any way. My kinda stuff! I have never made Dave a pair of sox and he has ICICLE TOES so I started this pair for him last night.

Of course he will never wear these anywhere but to bed, but I am having a wonderful time designing them on the fly.

In my studio I have two paintings in the works, collecting dust actually. One is a new acrylic which I collaged things like paper towel squares and strips of rice paper onto. So far I am way intimidated by the result.

And I have an oil that I am painting over so that the canvas is not wasted. Is this desperate art? You bet. It has been drying for over a week and still I can't be enticed to work on it.

These are mere details, the whole thing is revolting and I couldn't bring myself to shoot a full shot of either painting.

I also have three sets of wonderful print fabric scraps sent in by wonderful quilters in order to help me start that pieced bedquilt I was going to make... I still will. It is on the list.

Along with making some new pajamas. I am willing to bet that I will make that little jacket before the pjs get made. Not that I need another jacket.

But today I have washing and ironing of dyed fabric.

To those of you holding your breath for the Tulip Party kit, I know I will finish this and put them in the mail today. Thanks for your patience.

And now for something completely different:

Gabrielle Swain wrote a wonderful blog post and mentioned my name and my art. This is in relation to our fiber art being relevant, politically, socially etc. in the context of the other art that is more blatantly political.

I love this topic, now that I have figured out what my art is about. It has taken me years and I did have to wade through the stuff in grad school about meaning and content. It drove me nuts. I have come to my senses and have taken a stand not to take a stand.

Just you try to make art that is content free. It cannot be done. Even a blank canvas says something about the artist's intent.

My work is my journey, which sounds so hokey doesn't it? It reflects my attempt to get the essential Melody-Johnson-ness into the finished product. Every time I publish a new work I take a risk of having it rejected. And that builds character. Since I have opted out of the competition side of our quilt world, I am stating my desire to make the art that pleases me and not the judges. So in fact, making my art/my way is in defiance of what is expected from a professional quilt artist. Ha!

On the other hand, I am showing my newest Stack pieces at the new Greater Chicago Quilt Expo this November, along with the other faculty from the Chicago School of Fusing. Even within the small band of that elite group I have really shifted to my own corner, doing non-representational pieces. I hope you will have the opportunity to see our exhibit in person.