OLD MAN WINTER

Old Man Winter was rather late to the party this year, and now we can't get him to leave. I don't mind the snow so much, but my old eastern shore bones are not accustomed to this level of cold. I have had some fun with my camera though, and renewed last year's fascination with frozen bridges. 

Choptank River

Choptank River

Dorchester County. We actually kayaked here a few months ago.

Also managed a couple of quick trips to Blackwater where not a lot of creatures are stirring, besides eagles, who are not only stirring but nesting, a few heron, and this disgruntled penguin.

Exercise caution when landing in icy conditions.

We've had frozen pipes in the house and barn, but were able to get the water flowing with no ruptures. Lots of folks on the shore were not so lucky. I think by now even Scout and Nigel are tired of playing in the snow. 

Inspired by the frozen marshes in and around Blackwater, I am working on this...

Vintage fabrics and papers, hand and machine stitched on a cotton print of my hand-painted background. It's a process!

 One last thing. While we've been having all this wretched weather, we have had the most spectacular sunsets. This one in particular, had a peculiar beam of light shooting upward from the horizon. 

I think Mother Earth is dangling these little treats in front of us at the end of the day as compensation for what we've endured, such as the icicle bending wind that has accompanied the deep freeze.

Stay warm blog friends! XO

OLD TRINITY AND OTHER WORKS IN PROGRESS

I don't like to let a whole week slip by without checking in, but sometimes real life stomps its foot and demands all my attention. 

I do have new work to show you. I've been editing some photographs from a visit to Old Trinity Church. Started with this so-so window shot.

 Printed it on linen and did what I do, with old fabrics, papers, and hand and machine stitching. The hinges on the window are used horseshoe nails, courtesy of Abby.

I have two more works-in-progress. I was longing for spring color, and started this, which is actually an unusual  gravestone at Old Trinity. The shape really appealed to me. I'll show you the original when it's finished.

An abandoned and boarded up house became this, and though I've barely started, I was intrigued by the look of it after I backed out some of the detail, and can't wait to see where it takes me.

Have a great weekend, and if you ever have a chance to see The Psychedelic Furs, you should definitely go for it, even if your sinuses are throbbing and you really just want to tuck your pony in and go to bed with your Kindle. They gave a concert at The Avalon Theatre on Monday night. The joint was jumping! There was wine.

XO.

KENT NARROWS BRIDGE: EVERY NEEDLE TELLS A STORY

I promised you a mixed-media piece from my pics of the Kent Narrows Bridge.

And here it is.

Except for the linen background and the printer fabric, all fabric pieces are from my stash of raggedy old quilts. I don't just rescue dogs, you know. The hand-painted paper scraps are left over from other projects. I added texture to the icy water with strips of an organza doll dress and a snippet from Rime of the Ancient Mariner in keeping with the maritime theme. As the underside of the bridge has a very cathedral-like quality, I added a cross. There are other bits of symbolism but I'm not explaining those. I like to leave a little mystery.
As always, there is hand and machine stitching.
Hope you're working on something fun this wet cold day, and staying dry, like my Nigel.


XO.

MORE WINDOW STITCHING: HAUNTED

Still working from my church and abandoned house photos taken in Dorchester county. Finished this today, and couldn't wait to show you because it has a surprise. And because I worked really hard on it.
First, the original photo...

Then my fabric version...

I'm not the kind of person who sees Jesus in her French toast, nor have I ever grown a vegetable that looked like a dead president, but check out the left hand window, top middle pane, on the lower sash. I'd just begun working on this when I realized there was a face in the window besides the one on the right, and I didn't put it there myself. I've cropped it so you can get a better look. It's hazy, but squint a little, or tip your laptop screen. I'll wait.

Can you see her? It was very clear when I printed the photo onto fabric. She appears to be sitting sideways with her head turned toward the window, if that helps. She's wearing a flowered dress. Mike thought it looked like a sheep. I think it looks like a lady, and I'm just dying to go back down there and take more pictures. Do I really think it's a ghost? Of course not! Am I going alone? No way.

ABBY, SCOUT, AND NIGEL

Today was farrier day. Here is Abby's worried face. Don't know what her problem is...most girls like new shoes.

Here's what I'm working on...

Scout

Nigel

Experimenting with adding fabrics to the paper collage backgrounds. Will probably print these boards onto fabric and add stitching.
Hope you had a chance to make something fun today. Or at least, got a new pair of shoes. XO.

WHERE I'VE BEEN...

I'm back. It has only been a week since my last post, but that's not my norm, so some of you have asked where I've been. When I say some, I mean  my MIL, mostly. She's my number one blog fan and not entirely unbiased. So where have I been? I can only say that when I lost Lily, I seemed to have lost my mojo. Dragging around a heavy heart doesn't leave much energy for anything else.
I haven't been completely idle. I've been working on some small mixed-media pieces. I'll share a couple, but others turned out a little on the scary side. Apparently, if I paint when I'm feeling gloomy, my characters look like extras from Shaun of the Dead.

I had no intention with these. Simply created backgrounds and then looked for the characters within.
My Mr. C. has also been trying really hard to cheer me up. We've been shopping for our upcoming trip (London, whee!) and Saturday evening we drove over to Dover and had a really excellent dinner at Michele's. A bonus extra...our waitress also has horses, so we had some horse chat with our dessert!

Chilean sea bass with a pine nut crust.

Rockfish stuffed with crab.

And this bit of heaven...Chocolate Lava Cake with raspberry gelato. I usually go for the "fruity" desserts but I would definitely order this again!

Don't want to talk your ears off, so I'll just finish by showing a few more signs of spring around our place.

Pruned these Knockout roses ruthlessly just 2 weeks ago, and now they've exploded!

Azalea.

Hosta.

That's all for now. For those who care (you know who you are, my dear MIL), I'll try not to stay away for a whole week again. Check back often as I have a really fascinating post planned about the horses shedding their winter coats (good stuff!!). Also, lots of cake pics upcoming because therapeutic riding starts this week and I always bake for our riders and volunteers.
Hope things are coming up roses at your place! XO

P.S. A big heartfelt thank-you to all the kind souls who sent hugs and sympathy after the loss of our sweet Lily!!

TUESDAY COLLAGE: FOCUS ON THE FLOWERS

Happy Tuesday! Here's what I'm working on today...

Vintage papers, acrylic, charcoal, Pitt pen, on canvas.

Focus on the flowers, and the spiders will take care of themselves! XO

Love of Art: Fly-Tribe Blog Party

Welcome to the Fly-Tribe Blog Party. The subject is LOVE of ART.
I use a lot of vintage fabrics, tattered needlework, paper ephemera, and found objects, in my work. What I love most is the connection I feel to those creative souls who came before me.  When my needle is slipping in and out of time-worn linen, I believe I am extending the story of those other hands and hearts who have held the same piece of fabric. We are each a part of one history, and with my needle, I am weaving a thread that will extend our shared story into the future. 
We are all connected by art...to our past, our future, and each other.

And finally, a work in progress. Love this tattered bit of crazy quilt. I pick it up and add a few stitches, when I'm not sure what I want to work on next. It helps clear my head and gets the wheels turning.

Enjoy the party, and please, stay connected! Go here to see a list of party participants.

Small Blessings

 I may be a little puppy obsessed. Mixed-media with acrylic, vintage papers, Pitt pen, charcoal.

Wednesday: Random Stitchy Stuff (Every Needle Tells a Story)

In a push to get ready for the holidays, and finally stock my etsy shop, I am doing a major studio cleanup. Here is a small sampling of needlework that I am sorting and finishing...

Spring had awakened a longing for adventure which she hoped was real, and not a false  sense of bravado brought on by a new dress and the seductive qualities of polka dots...

Moonbug

Rubber stamp by Hampton Arts
She would not see the molehills...only mountains.

In the interest of full disclosure...I attempted this same cleanup last holiday season, and never quite got there.

Hope your workspace is neat and tidy!