Category: Moons

Posted in a collusion of ideas, Commission, in progress, Moons, Sketchwork, Tabula Memoria

moon decision made

Posted on by arlee

So handy to live in a digital age 🙂 Hesitant to put needle and thread to the centre, i did this first, and am confident that the top right is the way to go. Some of the sketchies were dismissed immediately, some would work elsewhere on other work, but this gives me a clear idea of how to handle that centre strip.

It needs to be “filled” but VERY discretely, and more “openly” so it doesn’t fight with the rest of the moon, and the rest of the work. The moon needs to be emphasized, but not at the expense of the other elements: it can’t assume more importance than the figures or side work.

My order of threads had arrived last week, so i’ve chosen the Caron Wildflowers #171 Caramel to work that area. It “blends” enough with the colours of the fabric and natural dye processes, but is still alive enough to add a little interest, without being overly visible. There’s plenty, with 2 skeins, to do this and to add the discrete hexagons to other areas of the whole. I may also use it for the standing figure–which has to go on the frame sometime this week and be done!

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 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

Posted in Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative, Moons

juice moon 1 done

Posted on by arlee

I may go blind doing these 🙂 , but a sale is a sale! And if i don’t have enough for the Contextural Christmas Artisan day to justify the fees, there won’t be any point being there…..

juice-moon-1

At the same time though, the ideas are flowing freely, as i jot down copious notes about these and the technique/colourways for future work, so WTH, go with it. After Nov 19th, i can go back to the winged figure, and develop new work for next year.

I’m also working on another “rabbit moon” (different pose than the first), and thinking about some moon “miniatures” too. I knew i bought those silly little 4×4 canvases for some reason!

Posted in Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative, Moons

*this* is why i’m all “moony” right now

Posted on by arlee

original_3a6ff7contextural_sale_-_business_card_sizeOriginally, i wasn’t going to participate, as i don’t “do” “Christmas”—in product or at home as a “celebration”, but at the last Contextural meeting, was persuaded it might be to my benefit. No scarves, cushions or bags from me, as other members of the group have that amply covered (and no, that ain’t a kvetch, it’s what they do, for *their* bread and butter), but lots (i hope) of moons in various sizes, flavours and permutations.

So far, i have five….. I’m hoping for at least ten (hoofies crossed). Considering how many of these i have done this year, you’d think this is all i’m interested in, or capable of, but WTH, you do what sells. I had not planned on this being a Year of Moons!!!!!!!!!!!!

And this too:

The Weight She Carries, 2014, hand embroidery, natural and synthetic dyes, rust, 24x40"
The Weight She Carries, 2014, hand embroidery, natural and synthetic dyes, rust, 24×40″

Perhaps some collector will fall in love. (Have to find an easel though for display: our venue allows nothing on the walls.)

See you there????