{quilt} while you're ahead

(4) 2014

I feel that today we're coming out of hybernation a little... Mr M has gone back to work, one boy is at a friend's house, a friend is visiting, all signs of Christmas will be obliterated ready to make way to Mr M's birthday tomorrow, and the washing machine has been going non-stop since the early hours.

And you know how it goes... new year... new... things.  My fingers are itching to do some sewing, my head is itching to tackle unfinished projects and begin new ones...

It's quite an exciting, buzzing sort of feeling.

The house is getting a bit of spruce up too.

When we were in Nashville in October we visited the amazing Hatch Show Print shop (now relocated in the Country Music Hall of Fame) and couldn't help coming away with a few pieces.  There is something about letterpress printing that is really warm and real, don't you think.

...

Now to the tree... urgh... But first a funny story.  A couple of years ago the defunct tree was resting by the garage door waiting for its final trip to the dump... it was my turn to take one of the sprogs to rugby and as usual we were late so I remember I quickly put the boots and mud towels in the boot and sped off in the cold January morning.  We were driving along, lah lah lah., when I noticed that the other cars were flashing their lights at me/beeping their horn... what the heck was going on.  Half way into the journed I stopped to check my car... and yes, in closing the boot I'd trapped the tip of the tree and had been dragging the (now) very sorry thing along with me.  Through town.  A 6 ft tree.  Trapped in the boot.  Sigh.

Yup, that's me.

 

166**2013 - Mandy Pattullo -

Early Christmas present to myself.

A bird by Mandy Pattullo.

I kicked myself since I didn't buy one of her pieces at the Birmingham Festival of quilts... so when she made some more available... well, here it is...

I love it.

 

83**2013

Last week it was 'Open Studios' in my town.

I had the chance to visit a few and come away with a fabulous ceramic picture (more when it's on the wall!), a lovely jug and the enrolment onto a printing course.

No 2 - my artist in residence - came out all inspired... and, although we need to have a chat about his habit of 'creating' in bed, it's great to see him inspired and ready to let his imagination go.

Good stuff.

52**2013

No 2 had to choose his favourite painter and creat art using him/her as inspiration.

Of course he didn't choose Monet or Picasso or some quiet pencil drawing artist... oh no.... he went for Jackson Pollock.

And of course No 3 followed in its steps.

After a few timid attempt at his splashing methods (read: paint everywhere) we moved the whole production outside.

(before you choke on the fact that I let my child paint with a white top... it's a very old stained white top that was rescued on its way to the bin!)

Here they could let the Pollock inside them go wild.

And wild it went...

Move over Jackson.

52**2013

No 2 had to choose his favourite painter and creat art using him/her as inspiration.

Of course he didn't choose Monet or Picasso or some quiet pencil drawing artist... oh no.... he went for Jackson Pollock.

And of course No 3 followed in its steps.

After a few timid attempt at his splashing methods (read: paint everywhere) we moved the whole production outside.

(before you choke on the fact that I let my child paint with a white top... it's a very old stained white top that was rescued on its way to the bin!)

Here they could let the Pollock inside them go wild.

And wild it went...

Move over Jackson.

34**2013

 

 

Marina Abramovic and Ulay started an intense love story in the 70s, performing art out of the van they lived in. When they felt the relationship had run its course, they decided to walk the Great Wall of China, each from one end, meeting for one last big hug in the middle and never seeing each other again. In 2010, Marina performed ‘The Artist Is Present’, a minute of silence with each stranger who sat in front of her. Ulay arrived without her knowing it and this is what happened. 

I had never heard of Marina Abramovic and have very little personal experience of her art or any type of performing arts for that matter but I find her work incredibly thought provoking.  It's so far removed from my life that I feel I've been living in a cocoon all my life and need to get out of my comfort zone much more.

Anyway, it's a bit radical for a Tuesday morning, the vacuum cleaner awaits and my dishwasher is still broken.

If you wish to read more about Marina and her work you can do so here , and here.  

Interesting stuff.