old posts-

Turn Left at the Cornfield

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Dog days

My Sammy girl, pretty as ever, will be 13 soon. She loves the warm weather for her arthritis but not so much for how hot she can get. Her favorite place is the cold tile floor in our kitchen this time of year.

Her allergies have been mild so far this summer, maybe because I switched her food to Wellness Senior which she loves.

Miss P. enjoys laying under the ceiling fans doing kitty yoga's version of the 'Corpse Pose', but is still camera shy.

In between gardening and house chores, .almost done with another bag. I think I'll keep this one since it's about birds; another of my favorite subjects. It's big enough to hold sketch books and pens.
Dyed corduroy, with blue feather fabric inside, machine quilted with a favorite quote on the back: "It is good to love the Unknown"- Charles Lamb

Enjoy the lovely bird songs and flowers everywhere.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

My very own moat

We woke up to this Saturday, after an all-night steady rain. I was up before 5am, mucking around in waders and trying to scrape leaves away from a drain somewhere in the pond. A futile effort, because the storm sewer was clogged up somewhere down the line. The water was about mid-calf, so all my landscaping was under water or floating away. Creepy. I hate being in water in the dark, and it was still raining. It finally started to recede around 9am, after the town utility service got the sewer moving again.

Since it rained all day, it was a good time to clean my studio, and work some new projects. I've started working in a new medium, paper beads, to make into jewelry. I wanted to go in a different direction for awhile and it's a great way to use up junk mail, catalogs, magazines.

I still love my art quilts, but my pieces seem to be too expensive for most folks.
I've been feeling burnt out working on them lately, so even if the beads are a short diversion, I hope it will get me back in the creative groove again.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Facebook

I joined FB last weekend. Maybe I'm old, cranky or both, but I don't really get it. I think I'm just not a techno-rat. It seems like a bunch of confusion more than anything.

The aforementioned Crawfordsville show was great and my work looked better than I could have thought, given the lighting was bright. Here I am, with one of my favorites, "Animal House".
Thank you Barb! I dressed so classy for my own art exhibit.

Cheers!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Art Show - Crawfordsville, In

After months of doing my usual nothing, I finally finished a new piece.

My Rainbow Trout is now debuting in an art show at the public library in Crawfordsville, In., from August 30-September 28, 2010. Stop by and take a peak and see the other 2 artists on display. Thanks to Diane Hammill for her hard work in getting it set up, my sister Jill for her willingness to sit and type stuff while I sewed one afternoon, and the love & support of all my friends and family.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Joseph's Coat

Summer is bringing out all the beautiful flowers in my yard and sending the bees, birds and butterflies into a feeding frenzy, and lavender sends out it's relaxing fragrance as I cut flowers each day. Joseph's Coat is of one of my latest editions to my rose collection. The picture doesn't come close to bringing out all the colors of this stunning beauty! It's a blaze of pinks, orange, yellow, and somewhere in between, depending on which flower you look at. It's entangling itself with a medium purple clematis in my front garden and looks gorgeous. I never thought I'd fall for roses this much, but they are enchanting, despite the thorns and a little extra care.

My main machine was in the shop for several weeks, for a much needed tune-up, so I got acquainted with my little turquoise 1960's Good Housekeeper machine. It did really well for all I put it through each night, and despite a few tension & thread hang-ups, I'm pleased with it's performance. The top is coming along, and I added glow-in-the-dark thread to several parts. Neato.

Take time to touch the Earth today

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Peace

This a fairly large piece, 5' x 6', based on a sketch I did a few years ago, and then it turned into a large drawing. I am putting the background together now, after a few weeks spent making patchwork for the letters. I hope to have it done by September, for a show I'm scheduled to have of my work. I've got to push myself hard this summer, and finish two other pieces also. If only my day-job didn't get in the way! The Sun is shining more, daffodils are starting to bloom, and the birds are singing again.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Moonlight

I need to see the sun and green grass very soon.

Lots of sewing has been getting me through long nights but I'm getting restless to be outside and touch the earth again.

I've finally getting my website up & running this year. Thanks Ted!

There's still a bunch to do on it, but the first page is partially up.
Here's the link: http://www.dogstarstudio.us/

I have a show coming up later this year, so I'm pushing to finish several large quilts. I really miss all the time I had off with my last job.

I bought a back-up sewing machine last week- a "Good Housekeeper"- from the 60's?/70's. It sews beautifully, I can quilt on it, and it's turquoise.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Itchy-scratchy show

Summer flew by with lots of flower planting, porch painting, and house insulating getting done. I love summer, even all the bugs.

I've now gone into my fall "SAD" depression. I know what's coming. I dread & despise winter and it's dark cold gray sky's for weeks on end, snow, ice.

My life-sized Rainbow trout is being machine quilted. Can't wait to see it on a wall.

Other pieces I worked on this summer - a baby quilt for my sister's co-worker, finished hand-quilting a small log cabin & applique piece, painting on a another large wall piece, all illustrated. I've been working on scrap piecing for a big quilt- part illustrated and part crazy patch-work, with lots of little things sewn on too. The patch-work colors are keeping me happy as I sew each night after my day job.

We are dealing with a minor flea invasion. My doggy & kitty are doing the itchy-scratchy dance, but we're getting the little buggers under control.

"sketch everything & keep your curiosity fresh" - John Singer Sargent

Don't forget to donate to your local animal shelter(s), and go to the
Animal Rescue Site and click on the purple button every day to give bowls of food to shelter pets.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Back to Reality

Happy New Year!

Where did time go? Holidays over, inauguration day passed and time goes on. This was a custom-made purse/bag for a co-worker's parental unit, for Christmas. It was loosely based on a popular designer's work, who the bag's recipient loves. That's the fun of specially-made pieces. You can personalize it for the owner so it has more meaning. The lady loves it, I was thrilled to hear from her daughter and then her.

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Colder than a well-digger's 'Arse

This picture is my life right now. It's not my photo, but it could certainly be me in my house.

Winter is here and my house is cold. Seeing as it's 100+ years old, any insulation that it once had has long since turned to dust. We are lucky if the house stays at 60, forget about 68! The propane bills are as much as my mortgage payments. Time for space heaters kids Sometime soon we'll be blowing in insulation, and insulating the crawl space.

Our girl Sammy had to have two teeth extracted last week due to cracks. She is ten years old. She got to zip up to Chicago the day before, so the thrill of the car ride had not yet worn off yet. I knew she was fine, post-surgery, when the vet said she was "talking" to them.

I'm actually working on ART again. In the last year or so it's been hard to say that. Everything was in my head, but I wasn't making time to DO it. I feel like I lost touch with that part of me and I can't take it anymore. I'm making one of my quilted bags for a friend who's paying me. I also have a couple of other quilts in the works too.

More news on the Big Lebowsky. I recently watched one of the only shows worth watching- Ace of Cakes. Duff and the gang made a giant 'Severed Little Toe' cake for a Big Lebowsky convention in Louisville. It was gruesomely cool. I want a job at that company, just pure silliness!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Ike

Hurricane Ike brought a bad storm to our area last weekend, and wrecked havoc on much of the Indianapolis area. With it came incredible winds, and blowing rain on Sunday afternoon. I had just returned from my sister's house when she phoned to say a tree fell in a yard behind her house and knocked out the whole street's electric lines. Minutes later I heard a huge boom behind my house, my power went out, and I saw a huge branch from a maple tree had dropped and pulled the power lines down from my house. After the fire and police arrived and roped off the area, we waited until late in the night for the power to come back on. We were lucky- many people are still without power. My neighbor's car got hit with a branch and got a dent in the trunk. Not good, now he dislikes me even more than for the O'bama sticker on my car. He was not happy when he found out his auto policy would have to cover it and not my homeowner's. What a great start to my new life in this town.

On a better note due to being without internet, and cable TV for three days, my art studio is cleaned up and ready for art. You can actually have a life when you get off your duff and do something.

And speaking of being a couch 'tater, the 10th anniversary edition of The Big Lebowsky has just been released. So crude, but I love the Cohen brother's dark humor. Where is my White Russian?

Monday, September 1, 2008

Goals

This is one of Sammy's goals, not mine. Her bowl-drinking days are pretty much over. She seems to have forgotten this filthy habit in her old age. I only use baking soda and vinegar to clean it, so no nasty chemicals.

My goals would be to get my studio in order to make some art again.
I got my huge 10.5' x 3.5' ft table in it finally, with the help of three-and-a-half other humans. My first project on it was a tiny baby quilt that a friend needed to make for someone, and due to a broken wrist, could not accomplish without a little help.

We made it in a day and it turned out great.

I'm organizing all my fabrics now on my shelves- a feat that should not be accomplished alone, lest one would get buried under a pile when it fell. My dear sister came over to help and we passed the time chatting and trying in vain to keep Panther the cat from getting too cozy in the piles. Didn't have much luck there. Somewhere I have photos of Panther- the Tortoise Shell chatty-kitty. She resembles a great-horned-owl I think.

It's the last day of my three-day weekend and I'm savoring my precious free time. Who has time to eat when there is so much other good stuff to be doing?

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Working Hard & Hardly Working

I'm all moved in to my new house, after a few weeks of cleaning, and moving little bits at a time. I had a huge storage space I cleaned out. No more rent to pay and no longer having to make frequent visits to see my stuff. I moved several times last year, and the life I used to think I would love- transient, REALLY got old fast. It's funny how you forget all the crud you think is so absolutely essential to living. When you are forced to live with less, it's easy. You find other things to take up your time, rather than dusting and re-organizing and looking for a place for some silly chatzki that you really do not need.

As I watched all my stuff come pouring back into my life I was remembering my 'salad days'. Well, I'm barely out of them, except for now I own a car and a house, but I still eat salads and bring my own lunch. I miss those silly college and graduate school days. At least I still have long hair.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

A New Home

I got my house. Closed on it at last Friday at the eleventh hour, after a long back and forth, inspections, repairs, estimates, a few more repairs waiting to get done. The house is in good shape for being so old. I will enjoy learning about it's history if I can. I spent the weekend checking out every corner & closet, cleaning, watching half the yard fill up with rainwater from a clogged sewer drain somewhere near my house. My crawl space filled up with water.

But I have nothing to complain about compared to the people in
the Southern part of the state. I am hoping for dry weather so I can get the grass cut and clean the rest of the gutters out.

I'll need to get my 10ft table soon and start setting up my new studio.
Can't wait- I even have great space for a design wall.

Today after a fierce morning storm I saw a beautiful rainbow.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day

A quiet day with friends and loved ones, and good eats. My sister made this fantastic colorful fruit pizza. Corn and veggie burgers both on the grill, double chocolate brownies, chips and salsa, fresh veggies.

In addition to remembering special people in our lives, my sister and I each had something to celebrate, and we both have new chapters to begin and paths to explore. New freedom for us both, in different ways, but equally important in their own rights.

For me the dreaded negotiating has ended. The house is mine, pending the closing. How I hate game playing, but I was stubborn and got a decent price for the house. I am ready to get going and set up my studio.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Our Boy, Ozwald

Today our world is smaller, and much less happy! Our dear boy Ozzie had been fighting off an auto-immune disease for a few months and was not responding to the meds as well as we'd hoped he would. It came upon him suddenly a few weeks ago- he was in pain when he opened his mouth, didn't want to eat, yawn. The vet diagnosed it as Masticatory Myositis, after eliminating other things. Ozzie was such a trooper, one of his medicines made him have to urinate frequently. That resulted in him needing to wear a diaper when he was inside. Poor guy- he never lost his wonderful happy spirit, not matter how bad he felt! To know him was to love him. His feet were always sliding around the floor.

The other med he was taking caused his immune system to weaken- he had a high fever, lost muscle, stopped eating again. The options were limited, and we knew he was in pain again and not enjoying life. It is the hardest decision in the world- to let a pet go, even when you know it's better for them. We humans are the weaker in that sense. Our emotions won't let go, we feel guilt, and are selfish because they bring us so much joy. But what is best for our faithful friends? They would probably ask to be let go, even knowing we will miss them so terribly. Ozzie had a great life after my sister rescued him and saved him from heart worm, but this was just his body turning against itself.

I'm so glad that at least we were with him and it was peaceful and quick. We will never forget his sweet spirit and how he brought such joy to our lives. He was a blessing during some dark days in the past, and helped ease our heartache immensely. We loved our Ozzie! He's gone over the Rainbow Bridge now, send him some good thoughts.

Give your pets a hug, take them for a walk, and enjoy the time you have left with them.

Here's a big "woof" to you my sweet boy Ozzie!
Love, your aunt Betsy

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Home Sweet Home!

Yippee, one step closer to the house being a done-deal!

The seller & I have come to an agreement. Now on to the minutiae that must be done- inspection, loan-getting.

Miss Samantha will have many new floors to lay on and snooze. Her new friend Panther the cat will be joining her soon- lots of places for a kitty to explore and hide. Cousin Ozwald will come over to visit frequently too, since he'll be just down the road now. That's Sammy in the left-hand photo above, Ozzie on the right.

Election Primary in Indiana today. I voted early a few weeks ago. There may be light at the end of this long dark tunnel soon I hope.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

House-hunting

My quest continues to find a house.I think I've found it. I put an offer down today- now starts the negotiation stuff. With some luck I'll be the proud owner of a 100 year old, updated, money pit. It's a beauty- stained glass windows, hardwood floors & gorgeous woodwork.

It's not so much the house, as I need a place to store this GIANT antique table I bought last summer... 10' x 5', and it weighs 300 + lbs. I'd guess. An old dry-goods table- it will make a great studio addition.

I finally got my copy of Joan Lintault's new book about her wonderful art quilts and her thought process of working. Joan was the professor who got me in to art quilts in graduate school. What a fantastic person and teacher she was and is. I am eternally grateful to her for sharing her knowledge, skills, and heart while I studied with her at SIU, in Carbondale, IL. I always think about her words of wisdom and support when I get down in the dumps about art, and the sad state of our world.
Her book- M. Joan Lintault, Connecting Quilts, Art, & Textiles. Buy it!

Be kind to all your fellow creatures, and smile at your enemies.

Monday, April 14, 2008

House hunting & Art

A long way back back from Artus-interuptus

I sold some art a few days ago, and that combined with my tax refund, might enable me to buy
the most minuscule house around, but at least it would be mine.

Friday, January 18, 2008

New Friends

Hey it's time for my once a month post again.

In the past month I've had the pleasure of meeting some truly wonderful and loving people.
They have helped with so many parts of our life- moving us out of our home so it could be
renovated, boarding our pets, giving us a place to stay, donating time & materials for the renovation and now helping get our belongings back in again. As we have worked along with them, their kindness and love has helped lighten our spirits and hearts, and we will be forever grateful for all their help!

We are staying with a terrific couple- Shawn & Lisa, and I've had fun teaching Lisa how to make
a quilt. (for Shawn) We have had such a fun time with them, and they've made us feel so loved
and welcome in their beautiful home. Not much time for art lately. Started a new job, and I've been studying for a test I need to take to do the job. So much to learn in a very short time- the last time took a test more involved than a driver's license, I was in graduate school. I miss those school days. I feel ancient now, but life goes on, and brain cells can be re-trained.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Many Blessings

Some wonderful news came today that will vastly improve a family member's life, and mine temporarily. Once again, we have been saved from hitting the bottom of despair, and we will have a long list of people to thank. I am starting to have hope again.

Art-wise things are still slow but my art quilts are hanging up at the Eagle Creek Coffee Company in our little town. If you're in Zionsville, come by Plum's and hear Nancy Clark playing beautiful tunes on the piano, on Saturday nights.

My studio life will be interrupted again for a time, due to a temporary move, but I can still draw in a sketchbook each day.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Black Days Getting Grayer

I'm still trying to climb out of the surreal black hole my family and I fell into a few weeks ago!

A piece of the puzzle has now been put into it's proper place, and we hope they stay there for many years. The havoc they created will never be fully resolved, but at least we can go on with our lives.

We are all relieved. Each day is one step closer to being in the light again.

We have so many wonderful people to be grateful to and thankful for and we are truly lucky. We celebrated Thanksgiving with some good friends.

I finally started working on art again- the last few weeks just were too crazy and messed up to even begin, so it was such a great feeling to be back in my new little studio playing with fabrics
and getting lost in colors and ideas. Art therapy at it's best! I hope to have a few
more days of meditative peace and quiet. With two dogs and two cats in the house, some days
are wacko, and fur is flying. It's been too long since I had time to think about my art, and
where I'd like to be with it in the next year. I hope to get back to projects I've stuffed away.
For me it's so easy to lose that magical thread that can keep an artist going, and hope alive.

As grandfather always said, "Keep going"

Peace- Betsy

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

New Plans

I'm down to 1.5 addresses now, soon to be just one. This year has been one of constant change, with my plans switching every 5 minutes! My intellectual side knows this is the way of life, and necessary for growth, but my emotional side still wants some familiarity and sameness. My favorite quote is by Santayana- "There is wisdom in turning as often as possible from the familiar to the unfamiliar: It fosters humor, kills prejudge, and keeps the mind nimble." I'm learning to repeat that to myself often.

A few days ago someone in my family suffered a big loss in many ways, and the shock waves have run far and wide, to include some of my plans. We are left to pick up the pieces and keep moving. At least we have the substantial love & support of family and friends. And new plans.

My art has gone into hiding for the last couple of weeks, but I have managed to get a little done, and will be taking some work up to Frankfort, Indiana, tomorrow, for a show that runs this weekend (Nov. 9,10,11).
The photo is of a bag/purse prototype that I recently finished, and want to make more of. Each one will be different, 'cause I hate to make duplicates of my stuff.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Fish Lips

I'm living like a gypsy these days, staying at three places in three different towns, so I can't always get to a computer. Sometimes it's fun to move around so much, but I do get tired of living out of a suitcase at times. Samantha is happy as long as she has food, a bed, and daily walks. Wish I was that easily pleased all the time. I do watch the sunrise each morning to get my lithium "fix" though. I once read something that people in ancient civilizations used to do that to feel happy. What if we could get as many people as possible to do that each day around the world? Would we begin to see more PEACE on Earth, and less warfare?

I have been busy with my artwork though; painting on one art quilt, hand-quilting on another, and assembling the pieces on a third, which is in the photo above - a rainbow trout-ish fish.

I found out this last week I've been accepted into a big show at the Frankfort Library, in Frankfort, In. It's their annual Christmas show, and is an opportunity to sell my work as well as raise money for the library. Always a worthy cause. I'll put two quilts in; Sugar Daddy and Spring Beauties. Both are illustrated, hand-painted pieces with birds as the subject. I also just sold a few pieces I have at a gallery in Lafayette.

I will also be displaying my quilts for the month of December, at the Eagle Creek Coffee Company in Zionsville, In. Come by for coffee and a biscotti and enjoy the rotating gallery of artwork they have.

This week I ate lunch with my friends Kim and Barb at The Abbey, in Indy. It's a favorite place to go because they have LOTS of vegan and vegetarian delights on the menu. Also great coffee and desserts. I dream about their carrot cake. It's not vegan, but worth the splurge now & then. It's one of the best, if not the best I've ever had, and they serve you a HUGE piece! I can't eat it all by myself.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Dogs & Corn, but not Corn Dogs

My first blog post after finally getting a browser that works with Blogger.

I created this blog to show my artwork while I work on a website, and to find other artists and friends. All art and opinions are my own, unless noted, so you don't have to like or agree with either. I welcome thoughtful & philosophical discussions on almost anything- but please leave hate and anger out of it.

I recently relocated from a nearby state, and right now things look almost the same up here. Hot, dry and crops everywhere. Corn to the left, corn to the right, and you cannot see over it by the end of Summer. In my last state it was mostly tobacco, which you can actually see over.

I chose the name of my blog for two reasons: I lean that direction politically, and I find myself wanting to give driving directions by the phrase, "turn left/right at the cornfield."

The dogs in this photo all like me, but chose to remain anonymous, due to the Canine Witness Protection Program. The black Labrador in the middle is mine and just had her 9th birthday. Old as dirt, but she's still feisty and I love that about her!

One last note, I'd like to say Thank You again to my family and friends who've helped me through a major life change this year. You are the BEST!