Got a lot done around the house yesterday despite being sick. The front porch is now repainted, yay! As is the front of the house, and the sides are in progress. I kiss the ground in thanks that my friend and house-helper has stepped up to assist with this. It needed it baaaaad. The friend, Jody, helps around the house in exchange for using barn space. It’s a win/win. Next, I am going to apply a new skimcoat of mortar to the foundation in a place that needs it badly, and if I get brave, will go under the deck and fill in the long hidden old, crumbled stairs so that they aren’t used as rodent habitats. Sorry warm furry outdoor creatures. Game over on that count. STAY AWAY.
Am starting to get a sick feeling in my stomach thinking about fall after last year’s horror show. This year though, the house next door is not being newly renovated, the train tracks on the opposite side of the swamp from me are not being replaced again, and my house is buckled up much better than before. I tell myself. And pray. And seriously still have nightmares over the previous events. Wouldn’t wish this kind of thing on my worst enemy. Well, maybe I would...lol.
Also, I have to get started on a special textile for a good buddy’s new baby, expected this fall. Can’t believe I waited this long to begin. What this piece will lack in complexity will make up with love for the new little fella. So happy for his arrival! It is overcast and cool today, a perfect day to focus on getting things done without distraction.
More information was released yesterday about Linda Kemshall's amazing quilt, 52 Degrees, yesterday. She is the most innovative and skilled art quilter around. She released a series of photos yesterday explaining her process for making this ambitious piece, explaining how she used multiple techniques and technologies in its production. Amazing work. The scale alone is daunting, but to feed a quilted piece through an inkjet printer? Awards for bravery alone! They all must have held their breath the entire time. Stunning results. The Kemshalls are my favorite artists and this piece again shows how they continually push the boundaries of what fiber art can be. I wish I could see the piece in person someday.
Digitally embroidered text is such an underused technique and Linda Kemshall use it so well. Maybe because it is such a pain in the butt to create. I've only been able to do small chunks at a time, and even then the machine is flukey and prone to erroring out midway. To think of what she is able to do blows my mind! I want to experiment more with this -- and paint over it, bead around it, etc. Have to think of what text to use. So many possible words out there...lol. The piece below is called Ragged and Black and has digitally embroidered text on a digitally printed background. Bravery incarnate! Onwards, humbly.