Blog - Solamente

Creative success and epic fails

March 30, 2021 1 Comment

“Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow.”
~ Kurt Vonnegut

It hit me this weekend why I was disappointed in the outcome of a quilt re-design: it’s just the normal trials and tribulations of not following the pattern.

Patterns usually work

When you follow the pattern you can count on the result. A pattern has been tested, the measurements work, the seam allowances are correct, and the blocks fit together.

Follow all the steps, and you will get a finished piece that looks like the pattern. Simple.

Creative adventures have bumps

Being creative, adventurous, and a bit quirky, I always want to try this or change that in applying my own style to a project. The result is, well… the result.

Sometimes these adventures come out as I envisioned. Sometimes it won’t go together, and the result is disappointing. Occasionally there’s an epic fail. But all of these are normal results when you choose to NOT follow the pattern.

So it is with my monthly quilts

Since December, I have been participating in an online “top-a-long” group. The most colorful part of a quilt is the top, and in this group, the goal is to create one top each month.

For me, an organized program like this is great for structure, inspiration, and deadlines. But most of the time I end up experimenting, unable or unwilling to follow the designer’s patterns as written.

The Christmas quilt

This design started with silly pre-printed panels and some Christmas blocks that I loved. It could have been fast and easy—use the pre-printed blocks add sashing and a border—done!

Well, I love the wonky Christmas trees—they are from a table runner pattern. I love the Present blocks—I found several free designs for those on line. The challenge is how to fit all this merriment into a single quilt top.

Quilt with dark green christmas trees, red presents with bows, and cute animals wearing santa hats

You can see that all the alternative blocks are very fun, different sizes, and… difficult to put together. I ended up rather freeform-piecing the rows with the Christmas blocks. In the end, I managed to tie it all together reasonably well with color and theme. I’m calling it a success!

The Valentine quilt

My riff on the top-a-long heart pattern was a success. The design was supposed to be diagonal hearts, but I added the envelopes so it looks like Valentine cards. It turned into a banner.

Once again, you can see the blocks I used to fill the spaces since these two were not originally designed to go together. I was happy with the outcome. This is what it looked like before it was backed and quilted.

Irish Chain part 1

Changing up the St. Patrick’s themed pattern went differently. Twice. The Irish Chain pattern features diagonal lines of little blocks to create diamonds. Not wanting to be too cute, I avoided adding the more traditional shamrocks in the alternate spaces. Instead, I found colors I was pleased with that were not St Patrick’s Day green.

In a word, the first try was disappointing.

Irish Chain Part 2

The second try was great practice with producing crazy quilt blocks in a process called “Stacking the Deck.” I love my fabrics individually, but together? Well, they are just okay.

And in this experiment, I learned that that patchwork quilt blocks just don’t look that good with Irish Chain. But you don’t know until you try!

Oh well. Two more projects finished is better than perfect—and the upside is that I made my goal of a quilt top for March ahead of schedule!

Growing my soul through practice

I forget that quilting is new to me, so there will be wins and losses when coloring outside the lines.

When you have lots of experience in a medium, the choice to depart from the pattern is more likely to work. When I work with wire, for example, I can make a piece from scratch, and it works for me most of the time.

While the world slowly comes back to life and most art shows and galleries still on hold, this is how I’m stretching myself creatively. Starting with good materials and just experimenting is a lot of fun.

So risk making an epic fail, something wonderful can happen!

2020: A (Surprisingly) Creative Year

December 31, 2020 1 Comment

Creatively speaking, this has been a very different year. Many of my creative friends have shared that the sense of concern and isolation has slowed their creative energy.

As much as I wanted to get to my own bench and work with wire, most of my creative energy kept going to my new love: quilting. I decided not to fight it. This year, even with everything going on, I started four quilts and finished two.

I’d love to celebrate with you in photos the various colorful projects I did do, rather than dwell on the untouched wire projects. Enjoy!

The Colorwash Quilt

This quilt style, Colorwash by Wanda Hanson, was a fun color challenge for me on so many levels — and I loved it. The technique is wild! First you lay out the squares to create a gradient like you see on the design board above. It requires using muddy colors I don’t usually like, but I love the overall effect of the colors washing together.

Once I liked the arrangement (you spend a lot of time tweaking, moving the squares until it is just right), the next step was to stack the colors in order and clip them together. The strategy is to sew the color squares together by rows with links of thread to connect them; the ultimate in chained piecing. This is as far as I’ve taken the project. Since the designer’s advice was to do it in one sitting, I am patiently waiting for a free afternoon.

The Christmas Quilt

I made this lap quilt for myself to feel more festive around my favorite time of year. Bonus? It has holiday puns like “fleece Navidad” and “jingle owl the way” because laughter is the best medicine. With the border added, this is nearly done — it just needs binding!

Susan’s Quilt

Now that this quilt is in her hands, I can finally share photos without spoiling the surprise! This quilt uses printed fabric featuring birds’ nests, eggs, and butterflies. In the middle are panels of complimentary-color, freeform “Melanie style” blocks.

A scrappy quilt

This one is still in the works; it’s made from pieces and scraps from another project that had colors I love. My creative question was: How tiny can you go before a piece of fabric becomes unusable? These triangle squares and piano key blocks are making me stretch my imagination!

Watercolor Stichin’ Therapy Quilt

This is my most recent project and might really be my favorite. Like the Colorwash quilt, the blocks feature color gradients. The Watercolor designs can be found in the artist’s generous tutorials on her inspiring blog, stitchintherapy.blogspot.com. The difference is that for this design I can choose colors I love (no need for the muddy ones), and these botanical prints are gorgeous.

There’s a system to making the blocks more efficiently too which involves sewing long, narrow strips together and then cutting them into sections.

Watercolor Quilt with floral botanical prints

There’s a bit of an art to deciding where to place the fabric in order to get that blended-together look. It’s especially challenging because a single print can contain light and dark elements. To test it, I used the black-and-white filter on my camera to see the gradient.

The creative bonus of 2020

With no live shows for artists or the bead community this year, I found myself connecting more with people online in a new way. It has been delightful to get to know some of the bead makers I’ve collected and highlight their online efforts and shows as well. Steph and Kerri’s online show inspired me. I got to chatting with Tammy Mercier — whose animal beads I love — and made a fun connection.

At shows, the focus is usually about seeing it all. This year, I’ve noticed that I’ve felt more in touch than I would be at a show — messaging back and forth with people, watching their work develop over the course of the year. Our common interests around art brings us together in this year of connecting electronically.

A surprisingly creative year

Between quilting and encouraging my creative friends, that’s where my energy has been, so that is where I went. It has been the kind of year where it’s better not to force things and instead follow the creative energy where it leads.

It’s not where I expected to go, but I’m really grateful this year has been so rich with connections, blessings, and color. I’m wishing you a serene holiday season and a bright new year!

Nowhere to go, but all dressed up

November 24, 2020 2 Comments

If you’re like me, you are feeling a bit cooped up and missing the “normal” things we used to do before covid hit.

I’ve been asking myself lately why not dress up, even if we’re all in pandemic pajamas? Though I’m generally camera-shy, this month’s post has actual photos of me and some friends creating a little bit of silliness at a time it’s most needed.

In the studio

While you are working, why not wear something fun? This blue owl (Kerri Fuhr) lampwork necklace in the background is one of my art jewelry creations. My yellow pendant features a lampwork character bead by Catherine Steele. Tying up the ensemble are artful earrings by Judy Mountain and Wayne Robbins.

At the market

If you aren’t wearing your own art jewelry, then collect and wear someone else’s. I purchased this piece from Stephanie Dieleman. It looks stunning in the cereal aisle, don’t you think? Especially with my farm girl truck mask!

At the bull sale

I love this look—farm clothes, bad hair, don’t care! It didn’t stop me from wearing my butterfly wing necklace to a recent bull auction (where this bull won an award)! Butterfly wing and accents by Christina Burkhart.

: [SOLD}

Doing chores

Banish the bathroom-cleaning blues. My friend, Jen, becomes a domestic fairy princess in a tiara I made.

: [PRIVATE COLLECTION]

Out and about

Susan looks pretty in purple while waiting to order ice cream. This flower lariat includes lucite beads, silver findings, and silver chain. [SOLD]

: [SOLD]

Out for tacos! Even with no one else here, the green butterfly wings fit right in!

: [SOLD]

Susan in silver, quartz, and hand-carved bone beads – the perfect accessory for furniture shopping.

: [PRIVATE COLLECTION]

Or, if you want to get really glammed up, why not just stay home and wear all the sparkly things at once?

Since none of us really knows when the next special occasion will be, don’t wait. Take out your finest and wear it now—in your house, while on Zoom, working solo, or running to the store in your mask. Find your best, flashiest, or most outrageous things and throw them on for some fun.

In time for the holidays

Would you like to own something beautiful? I’m putting a few of my pieces up for sale on a limited basis for the holidays. If you see something below that you love, just send me an email (bendwire@aol.com), and I’ll arrange to send it to you early next month!

Blue owl: The blue owl lampwork bead is by Kerri Fuhr, accent lampwork beads by Cathy Milligan with colored art wire, Bali silver beads and handmade sterling silver chain. $475 plus shipping

Vintage gold: The center piece is an intact vintage brooch with frosted carved glass and rhinestones. Accent beads include carved citrine, lucite, and citrine all on gold color art wire. $285 plus shipping

Holiday charm: I love these lampwork character beads by Catherine Steele. Who doesn’t love a chicken in a Santa hat? Your choice $59 each plus shipping.

Breastplate for Ninsun: For more than a year, I thought this gorgeous necklace had been accidentally taken after displaying it at an art show (remember those)? It appeared again while I was cleaning and would love to see it get a new home. Lampwork beads by Gail Crossman Moore, focal set with hand forged sterling silver wire, Bali silver beads, and handmade sterling chain. Price on request.

Even though these times are a challenge, you can bring beauty and play to almost any situation. I dare you! Wear something fancy just for fun and send me YOUR dressed up selfie!

Artistic collaboration: A sparkling virtual art show

November 12, 2020 1 Comment

Celebrating collaboration

As an artist, I’ve shared before how inspiring and uplifting it is to collaborate with fellow creatives. Just recently, I started back to meeting weekly with my local artistic ally, Kathleen Mattox to talk about all things art. Even if we’re physically distancing, this connection is vital.

Last month, when I saw two of my favorite lampwork glass artists’ gorgeous online show, I just had to cheer. Kerri Fuhr Keffeler and Stephanie Dieleman have been friends for almost 15 years and, in Kerri’s words, “met over their mutual love of beads.” Their creations end up in my own designs all the time.

In this month’s post, I want to celebrate their inspiring collaboration. If you’re a fan of beautiful glass lampwork beads and jewelry, you’re in for a treat! Feast your eyes on their stunning work from a recent online show and look for an announcement about upcoming plans.

(c)Kerri Fuhr Keffeler, used with permission

(c)Stephanie Dieleman, used with permission

Stephanie: “We’ve always done shows together — you only have to pack half the boxes! We usually do artisan shows in US and Canada, but they’re all closed. I wanted to place to sell not just jewelry and interact with customers. We’d been losing that.”

(c)Stephanie Dieleman, used with permission

(c)Kerri Fuhr Keffeler, used with permission

Kerri: “Selling online is much less hassle, gives us more time to be in the studio creating beads and jewelry for our amazing customers. We each have a large customer base and many of our customers purchase from us both, so it seemed practical to group everyone together into one online space where they could easily purchase from both of us.”

(c)Kerri Fuhr Keffeler, used with permission

(c)Stephanie Dieleman, used with permission

Perhaps some would not be willing to share the spotlight, but Kerri and Stephanie understand the many benefits of collaborating with other artists.

Stephanie: “We’re there to support each other. ‘You make lunch, and I’ll post on Facebook.’ It’s nice to have a partner, since we make beads by ourselves all the time!”

(c)Stephanie Dieleman, used with permission

(c)Kerri Fuhr Keffeler, used with permission

Kerri: “It’s so much fun being able to do this together since we know each other so well and we are used to working together as we have in our travelling show days.”

(c)Kerri Fuhr Keffeler, used with permission

(c)Stephanie Dieleman, used with permission

Kerri: “The beauty of online shows is that we can host a show together, even though we live far apart. It’s also really helpful to have two of us to take care of group administration and make sure that our shows run smoothly and that we are able to keep our customers happy and entertained.”

(c)Kerri Fuhr Keffeler, used with permission

(c)Stephanie Dieleman, used with permission

Announcing the next Stephanie and Kerri Show: Black Friday weekend

Stephanie: “The next show is massive—three days starting November 27th, the day after U.S. Thanksgiving. It will be the biggest show of the year with the best bonuses and giveaways.”

If you would like to view and participate, join their Facebook group. I’ll be there too, cheering them on!

The Stephanie and Kerri Show (Facebook group)

Inspiration beads into future projects

September 30, 2020 2 Comments

Of all the things you can create fine art jewelry with, I love lampwork beads the best. Forged in the flame of a torch (a “lamp”), these intricate sculptures take hours to create as the artists melts on layers of colorful glass filaments. In this post, I want you to see a sneak peek of the collected creations of my favorite lampwork artists that will inspire my next projects. With twists of wire, these will soon be wearable creations.

I love dragons, and Keri Fuhr Keffler‘s sassy baby dragon cameos delight me so much.

blue and white glass dragon head on black bacground surrounded by complimentary blue and black glass beads

When I’m designing a piece of jewelry, I usually start with the focal piece and allow its design and colors to inspire the palette of colors, shape, and textures.

For this future piece, I’ve pulled in colors like black, blue, gold, white with iridescent Swarovski pearls, disc and accent beads by Stephanie Dieleman. Butterfly wings and accent beads by Kim Snider.

Tammy Mercier‘s animals often include uncommon colors that are fun to pair creatively with other materials. In addition to brown, these bears have blues, greens, pink, and aqua (and the sweetest eyes!).

With these creative colors as inspiration, I’ve paired one of them with green beads that include materials as diverse as chrysoprase, fluorite, frosted glass, and Lucite. I have almost as much fun deciding what color wire to use to compliment the focal piece and different color beads.

When designing a piece, I tend to work monochromatically (within one color) or shades within one color. This allows a dramatic focal piece to really stand out. To add interest, I use unexpected textures like buttons, shells, feathers, fiber, or found objects.

Stephanie Dieleman’s work is new to me as of this year. She made this intricate glass fish with its comical expression. The red bee is by Keri Fuhr Keffler. Together with pocket watch faces and metal buttons, I can’t wait to bring some new creations into bee-ing.

The colors and details in this green owl are just stunning. Over the years, I’ve collected many of Keri Fuhr Keffler’s owls because I just love their expressions and faces. I’ve paired this owl bead with butterfly wings by Kim Snider and dainty disc beads from the bench of Stephanie Dieleman.

Having designed art jewelry for many years, I find it interesting what catches my eye and how it shifts over time. My taste has changed from when I started, and I have a more critical eye than I did early on. In the artists I buy from too, I’ve seen how their skill and tastes shift over time.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek into my stash and works in progress! If you’re not following me on social media (Facebook and Instagram), please do for my more spontaneous snapshots of works in progress and an occasional farm photo!

Meet Kalliope Sabrina Famellos and Anzula luxury yarns

July 27, 2020 Leave a Comment

As an artist, I know the value of community, so I’ve been using my blog this year to highlight local art and creative businesses in the Fresno and Sanger area. In March, I featured Kathleen Mattox, owner of art gallery, Mixed Messages Art. This month, I’m want to introduce you to an innovative local company and its owner, Kalliope Sabrina Famellos.

What is Anzula?

Located in downtown Fresno, California, Anzula produces hand-dyed luxury fibers from ethical sources. Anzula offers 25 different types of yarn—from merino and cashmere to silk and linen—in 140 colorways, shipping to local yarn shops around the US and the world.

Who is Kalliope?

Anzula owner, Kalliope Sabrina Famellos, was first introduced to the world of fiber as a six year old, learning to crochet with her mother’s help.

Even while working and going to college full-time, Kalliope brought along projects to keep her hands busy. Any fiber fan knows that when you work on yarn projects in public, it starts conversations. To Kallope’s surprise, people started offering to pay her for what was on her needles.

Soon, Kalliope was doing booths in Bay Area farmers’ and crafters’ markets. When she learned to spin fiber at age 21, she added skeins of hand-spun yarn to her offerings. Then she learned to dye the fiber.

Thriving in hard times

The 2008 economic crisis brought an unexpected opportunity. While she lost her full-time job, she decided to try grow this creative “side hustle,” bringing her fiber to national trade shows and yarn markets across the country—and it worked. Orders took off. Compared to many, the recession was a time of opportunity for Kalliope. She had many friends who were out of work who were willing to step in to help with this sudden influx of orders.

In the early years, Kalliope ran Anzula out of her home, which slowly got taken over by yarn—hanging to dry in the bathroom and boxes everywhere tripping her up.

Eventually, she said, “I couldn’t take it anymore and started looking for a space.” In its current 4,500 square foot location, Anzula employs four people full time.

How Anzula creates ethical, luxury yarn

According to Kalliope, “I wanted to create colors that could be a beautiful canvas for lace and cable stitches to shine.” This is hard to find in a hand-dyed yarn which is often dyed in small batches creating great variation between dye lots. “And so I created a semi solid palette with 45 colors. We have a specific method to keep the colorways consistent. We work very hard at it.”

When it comes to the fiber itself, “I’m looking at certain qualities,” Kalliope explained. “The less texture from twist you feel, the softer it seems. But if it’s not spun tightly, it’s going to fuzz out, making the garment look old and sad just moments after you put it on.”

Anzula produces multi-ply yarns (most are three- or four-ply). “I want people to be able to create heirloom pieces with our yarns. I realize I’ve turned into a yarn snob,” she laughed.

Their impact on the community and its health matters a lot to Kalliope. At the beginning, after reviewing the types of dyes available, she chose citric acid or vinegar-based dyes. “We take the environment seriously. I don’t want to expose my employees or the planet to hazards.”

The sources of Anzula’s fibers reflect that commitment as well. Their merino wool comes from non-mulesed sheep in New Zealand (a painful practice banned in some countries). “We work with our mills to make the most ecological and ethical choices for silks and cashmere. We don’t outsource labor and strive to pay our workers a living wage.”

When I asked if Kalliope has a favorite colorway, she laughed. “That’s like picking your favorite child!” Among her favorites are jasmine, aqua, marigold, and cedar.

“Stitch in Place”

Although Anzula sells their yarn wholesale, Kalliope decided to do a program called Stitch in Place during the pandemic. They are temporarily selling direct to customers—giving 25% of the sale to the customer’s local yarn shop (which may be closed due to state orders) and 25% to non-profits of sales of their For Better or Worsted line.

“People’s budgets are obliterated,” Kalliope said. “So we are also offering a single skein to people for just the cost of shipping.” This project she calls #StitchInPlace has been a huge success, with free skeins going as far as New Zealand and Australia.

The story gets better. “People reached out to me asking how they could cover the costs of skeins we were giving away.”

In these challenging times, it’s so heartening to see this local business thrive, pay it forward, and get paid back again by caring people. As Kalliope put it, “It’s a win win win.”

See more Anzula

See all the gorgeous colors of Anzula on their website, and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Creativity while recuperating

June 30, 2020 Leave a Comment

It’s surprising how often we need two hands or a healthy shoulder to make art. We don’t realize it until something is out of commission.

Last month, I finally had a postponed elective surgery on my left shoulder, and I’m recuperating well. However, it’s curtailed everything from cooking and sound sleep to creating art. My work has come to a screeching halt.

Thankfully, while my shoulder mends, my imagination and creativity can still play. Somehow not being able has me thinking more than usual about what I would create if I could.

Lately, my mind has been returning to a project I was working on last fall—creating pendants with art glass (lampwork) animal beads. Some of the beads feature realistic heads and faces in beautiful detail like this Heron by artist Kerri Keffler that I’ve set in silver wire.

Others are playful, like these charming character beads by Catherine Steele.

Another of my current favorite beads are by artist Tammy Mercier. Her beads are stylized, realistic-looking animals that feature striking color combinations. The leopards below include silver and pink!

If I could use my shoulder, I’d be working on this series of sophisticated critter necklaces. In fact, I have a couple in the works that I need to pick up again once I regain the strength and dexterity in my left hand.

One of my Works in Progress (WiP) is this Lion bead by Kerri Keffler in a scrolled, embellished wire setting.

While I recover, I’m missing my wire. Creating beautiful jewelry with these stunning beads is one of my favorite activities. In the meantime, using my imagination is helping me feel excited about getting back to my bench. When I’m healed enough, I look forward to creating again!

Creative inspiration: Pinterest eye candy

May 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

Short on time and energy to create?

In order to manage my urge for shiny, new projects, I turn to Pinterest, a social media platform where users “pin” pictures on virtual bulletin boards and collect eye-catching images based on themes. I get creative inspiration there without adding to my stash!

So far, my creative focus this year has been fabric-oriented, so I thought I’d share with you some of my Pinterest inspiration boards, and the creativity it’s sparking in my art jewelry.

Quilting!

You might remember that last year I took an advanced quilting class that had me crazy with 40-piece blocks and matching points. I kept up, but it was so detailed!

This year, I thought, “Enough with the blocks already, let’s MAKE something!”

One of the simple things I started was a rug. Using a jelly roll of 40”x2.5” fabric strips, I’ve been sewing lots of lengths of them end to end with a diagonal seam. You end up with long strips that are sewn together to make a big rug. It’s the exact opposite of those fiddly quilt blocks with angles and measurements because you can just sew and sew and–like nothing–you have a finished project. I was excited to do it!

Of course, my sewing machine blew up in the middle of it, and I decided, “Nuh-uh. I’m not dealing with that.”

But I found the Goldilocks of fabric projects—a little bit fussy, but intriguing enough to keep going and see how it will turn out. All the little 90 degree triangles—the scraps cut from each of the long strips in lots of colors? Using a square up ruler to make 2 inch squares, I started sewing them together. All these little squares from this silly abandoned project!

Along with the squares, I have been sewing “mile a minute” scraps, partial blocks and pieces into fabric. If you look up the mile a minute technique, you just chain piece scraps, cut them to make straight edges and chain piece again. Random, lovely and so fun—now what to do with the fabric?

I just have to laugh because I didn’t make the rug that was supposed to be so easy, but I’m sewing the abandoned scrap ends together. Finishing is no fun, but new is LOTS of fun. It’s the reason why I try not to leave stuff for my future self because I’m not a good finisher. What I want to do is something new.

Pinning quilts

So, I pin quilts on Pinterest guilt-free because I may never start or finish them, but it keeps me from having more stuff in my studio. My category is called “quilts various” and has art quilts and freeforms that I think are gorgeous.

Steampunk and lace!

Another board I call “fantasy fashion” which has all kinds of whimsical costumes, designer garments, and steampunk clothing. Every time I see something gorgeous, I have the same two thoughts:

a. I’d really like to wear this outfit…

b. Where in the heck am I gonna wear it?

So my solution is to I add it to my fantasy fashion board, and it makes me happy!

Denim!

My pin board for this category is Demin—Damn! where I collect images of creative projects and fashion using and upcycling everyone’s favorite faded blue fabric. In reality, denim is either too hot or too cold, or too heavy so I may never actually make things like this. However, I love the hippy vibe of the patchwork skirts and elaborately embroidered jackets. They’re definitely fun for my bohemian heart.

Fine jewelry!

I have to face facts that I live on a working farm and am often called to play cowgirl when our bovine ladies need medicine. I’m never going to wear big, sparkly rocks on muddy hands.

I created the pinboard “Mixd gems” to pin all kinds of fine jewelry, diamonds and emeralds. It’s such eye candy! And I love that I can dip my toe into the glamour.

Wire art!

Although I believe it’s unethical to copy someone else’s design, I love to pin other artists’ small-gauge wire for inspiration. There is a spark that comes from seeing what others make. Sometimes I’ll marvel at a particular curve or the way wires come together or the angle of an offset shape. Some element of a piece will make me say wow that I might incorporate it in my own work, riffing (like scat in jazz) on these unique elements.

All this inspiration

When I finally get back to my bench to do some wire work, I have so many ideas I want to bring to life! In the meantime, feel free to follow me on Pinterest to see more of these fun, curated boards!

Kathleen Mattox and Mixed Messages Art

March 13, 2020 2 Comments

I want to tell you about my artist friend and local-art partner in crime, Kathleen Mattox.

When my husband and I moved to Sanger, I was immediately drawn to her gallery, Mixed Messages Art—a cute brick building in the heart of downtown. Soon, she invited me to show my art jewelry there, and was introducing me to other local artists.

After a retiring from a career in education, Kathleen followed her dream to open this art space in Sanger, California. Mixed Messages Art is a gallery, studio, and website that reflects the variety of mixed media Kathleen uses in her art, including watercolor, paper collage with watercolor, other gel and texture mediums, and acrylic with paper collage.

More than that, the name is a hat tip to her “first career” as an elementary school educator teaching the alphabet and symbols which often appear in her work and acknowledge the power of language.

Mixed Messages carries local art and products that are small enough to fit into the petite gallery—all of them unique and different. Including my art jewelry, nine artists have their work for sale at Mixed Messages including Don Munshower’s art mobiles, two ceramic artists—Laura Fraedrich and Karen McQuown, two wire artists—Paul Parichan’s heavy-duty wire sculpture and Terrance McArthur’s colorful miniature characters, and Mary Lee Otto who makes lovely quilted baby items. Also featured are Basilwood Farm’s goat milk soap and Busy Bees Honey Farm’s local and infused honey.

As the only painter in the gallery, Kathleen’s work is bright, creative, and colorful. Featuring other other artists compliments her work and adds variety and spice to the Gallery.

One of the things I value most about Kathleen is the camaraderie we share. Getting together to brainstorm creative projects or resolve challenges when I get stuck. I think every artist needs a sounding board. When you live in a small community, collaborating with local artists makes such a difference. Kathleen is excellent at setting ambitious creative goals, so I recently sat down with her to talk about her art and goals for 2020.

What have you been creating lately?

Kathleen: I needed to create two paintings for a local show last October, but needed to complete them quickly. I decided to do them using palette knives which I have not used a lot before. In addition to the knives, I used squeeze bottles, texture, thick paint, and some glitter. I had so much fun! I’m going to do more in 2020. For Christmas, my mom gave me some nontraditional palette knives from Italy, and I just got some wood panels to try them out. I had wanted to do more with palette knives, but I didn’t know how much I would enjoy it.

What do you like about using palette knives?

Kathleen: They work great for florals. It causes you to work a lot looser and less detailed. Brushes have more control, with palette knives you’re creating the detail by pressing, pulling, or lifting.

Where are you showing your art this year?

Kathleen: I have a show coming in March in Fresno. The owner is a teacher of young children and connects with home schooling movement in her studio. I get to fill one and a half walls and plan to feature three abstract pieces. I’ll use them for inspiration pairing the paintings with new creations in fabric and calling the show “Re-Energized Through Improv.”

I’ve been sewing and quilting—so I have everything from pillows and table runners to coiled fiber and fabric bowls which all coordinate with the paintings. The great thing about fabric is that you can incorporate so much color and texture. I’m currently looking for far-out and non-traditional ways to hang the fabric pieces with the paintings.

What are your goals 2020?

Kathleen: In addition to everything else, one of my fun goals is to improve my artistic wardrobe. I like to look like an artist, so when I can add a piece or two that looks artsy I get excited. That’s one of the things your (Melanie’s) jewelry helps me do. What you’ve made for me is really me, colors and style.

My husband and I also train and show our Havanese dogs. It’s a breed that’s smart enough to make us think they’re really stupid. They’re sometimes a little bit ahead of us.

Overall, my goal is to keep learning, researching, and exploring. That kind of mindset is what keeps people young.

Peace Order Calm: Finishing the Sweater Project

February 22, 2020 1 Comment

Finishing is something I don’t love.

Like most artists, I like to be finished with a creative project, but it seems there’s usually a dozen fiddly steps between here and the finish line. None of them take very long, but strung all together like beads, they might as well take an eternity to complete.

I have, for example, a gorgeous finely-knit shawl in autumn shades of angora and baby alpaca in a canvas tote bag with all its yet-unsnipped tails hanging off. It can’t be worn, yet I can’t seem to finish.

Long-unfinished projects are heavy.

Maybe you have noticed the baffling physics too—the longer a nearly-finished project sits untouched, the denser its center of gravity grows. Somehow it gets harder (and harder) to pick up again.

However, this the year of clearing the decks. Yes, I’ve declared 2020 The Year of Peace and Order and Calm (P.O.C.). This goal means finding a happy medium between working only on tantalizing new stuff and doing nothing.

In fact, I’ve set my sights on a project that moved with me from Pasadena to the farm eight years ago which I call the “sweater project”. It’s so neglected it feels like a ton of bricks. But I’ve decided that finishing it will proceed a very different way than I have approached my projects in the past.

Getting the project ready.

The sweater project started out as a legacy idea to turn my Dad’s old cozy sweaters into a long, stylish, felted patchwork coat. My dad holds a special place in my heart, and I wanted this to keep him close even though he’s gone. So I washed them, felted them, even cut up pieces according to the instructions.

A few years ago, I got a beautiful serger to make piecing everything together a breeze. I had all the materials I needed ready. Occasionally I tossed in a cashmere sweater my husband accidentally felted in hot water. And all of it sat, organized in tubs, along with the pattern, waiting for inspiration to strike.

A clearer goal.

At the beginning of this year, though, I had an insight related to my goal of peace and order and calm: cutting up and sewing sweaters makes a outrageous mess. The feather-light fluff floats in the air for days, gets caught in clumps inside the machine, and coats my entire studio in a fuzzy film.

In January, I realized with perfect clarity: I do not want that.

A new way to finish.

Even though I want the felted coat, I don’t want the extra mess and chaos. In the same breath, I remembered seeing talented Etsy creators selling similarly-styled upcycled items. Would they—I wondered—be willing to take on my coat project on my behalf?

So, this is now my plan to bring my project to completion: find another creative soul who shares my vision and would be delighted to deal with sweater fuzz.

Sometimes you need a new way of thinking to get to the goal. I already feel lighter, excited to move it forward at last, and can hardly wait to wear it!