Author: arlee

I am a Canadian textile artist in Calgary, Alberta. As textile artists, we connect and are connected to communities larger than our Selves, or our immediate environs. We encapsulate culture, technique, history and innovation every time we touch cloth.
Posted in FybreSpace the shop, Moons, Not so ordinaries

buy my art *before* i’m dead, shop update

Posted on by arlee

7-moon-aAbove  SOLD

juice-2Above, SOLD

pollen-moon-smAbove, SOLD

juice-moon-1

darkwoods-rabbitAbove, SOLD

first-rabbit-moon-a

Above, SOLD

These small works of art are all hand dyed, whether with Procion or indigo, other natural dyes and dye processes, and all feature lots of hand embroidery, though the juice moons also have some machine work. I will this time INCLUDE the shipping cost, as i really want them to go to Good Homes. And with the Canadian dollar so low, you’re getting a deal there too!

Please visit the shop for more details.

I won’t be here much in the next few weeks, but thank you again for your continued support and kind words.

Posted in Probably talking to just myself

no sale…………………..

Posted on by arlee
It’s with much regret that i must withdraw my intent to participate in the Contextural Artisan Christmas sale on the 19th.

Personal reasons, which i will not go into here, in public. As much as i appreciate the thoughts or wishes, please do not email privately either. This will pass.

I’m very sorry if this has caused inconvenience, or false pretense for publicity purposes.

Posted in "OPINIONATION"

whatever makes us happy

Posted on by arlee

At first i was pissed off and scared about all the bad news posts this morning, then i was afronted and pissed off by the alternating flowers and pussycats posts, because it seemed to trivialize the point, but you know what? Let’s do that: art, shoes, cats, babies, flowers, sunrises and all the good stuff–because we need a reminder that the world in our hearts is still good and *these* are the things we affect and are affected by to DO GOOD ourselves. Here’s my DogFaced Girl Nessie, having yogurt for breakfast. THIS makes me heartened.

nes-and-yogurt

Posted in Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative, Moons

two more moons done

Posted on by arlee

juice-2

Above, “Pure Joy Moon”, below “Pollen Moon”

pollen-moon-sm

I have one more indigo moon planned, and two more of the 4×4 juice moons, but in the meantime, i am doing something entirely, not-so-different 🙂 with indigo dyed cotton. It’s a Christmas fair after all, and what’s a Christmas fair without a few funky bits?? If my plans do not work, well, back to moon again, or stars, or suns or something…….

When the sale is over, i plan on taking a two week “reading break”!!!!!!!!!!

Posted in "Rosehips", in progress, Indigo Dreams, Moons, Probably talking to just myself

“torn between two lovers”

Posted on by arlee

8-moonI continue. And continue. And continue.

I’m reminding myself that the intended audience cares nothing for or about my “serious” work, that they want “pretty” or “interesting” for a reasonable price, and no one can blame them for that. The aim after all, of a Christmas Market is to get something into someone else’s hands for gift giving, and to get a few dollars in your own pocket. How can i complain about that? When i made “wearable art” in the 90’s that was my ONLY concern: i *didn’t* want things hanging about the Stoodio, or it was wasted materials, time and effort. The big problem really is that i committed late to the endeavour, giving myself only 37 days to get enough work together………..I blame ME for all of this then……The Financial Me says GO GO GO, and the Artist Me is dragging her heels and whining.

“Next year, i’ll start earlier for Christmas.” I *do* have an 11tybajillion ideas for that, so we’ll see what percolates up from the wells then. And all complaining aside, i like these efforts, BUT..

 

I keep staring at this, currently pinned to a design wall, trying out things in my mind, jotting notes, holding my breath.

autumn-languishingI’m reminding myself it will all be “over” at the end of Nov 19, and i can return to this and other new work, with copious ideas, plans and colourways, motifs and techniques.

Snivel snivel snivel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS Fabrics are on sale in the shop–winter clear out time!   <——That’s a link 🙂

Posted in "OPINIONATION", Moons, Not so ordinaries

still hopping

Posted on by arlee

Second rabbit is almost done–and there won’t be anymore in this time frame! (19 days till set up!) As much as i love them, the work involved getting them to sit properly is time consuming, and sometimes frustrating! I just about threw “Darkwoods Rabbit” in a hissy fit at one point the other night. “Next year i’ll start earlier for Christmas” as we all so  brashly say 🙂

darkwood-rabbit-progress

darkwoods-rabbit-thread

This is my new favourite variegated from Caron’s Wildflowers collection. Oft-times when i choose a thread to use, it’s late at night, and i am depending on the Ottlight in my stitching corner to “match” colours. On Sunday, i was in the stoodio with the sun was shining on the worktable as i pulled various flavours, and i saw this colour combination as it truly is–deep grey, deep indigo, soft charcoal and that wonderful rust shade, perfect!

stones-colourwayCaron Wildflowers collection # 260, “Sticks and Stones”

There are other pieces, just moons, and something else i’ve come up with to produce for this sale, all laid out in an ever burgeoning pile in the stitch corner……but whatever gets done, gets done. I haven’t a clue how much more i can do in 19 days, but am giving it my valiant best to have enough to show what i do, and interest people!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was finishing one of my small moons on the train last Friday morning and the lady sitting beside me started talking about what i was doing, asking intelligent questions and truly interested. After she asked me how much i would sell it for, another woman sitting across from me sniffed and said derisively “$XXX for *that*???”, whereupon my seat mate smiled, leaned over and put her hand on the woman’s knee and sweetly but edged said “yes, isn’t it awful how we undervalue handwork?” HUZZAH! #somepeoplegetwhyhandworkisvaluable