Art and a quick getaway.

 My husband was thinking he wanted a lake property

in Indiana to fish on. Well Thursday we took off

at 7 am and traveled to the center of the state.

Drove around the lakes scouting out small cabins.

Found a street we liked and a small place that was

going to be on the market. Than we went to

Shipshewanna  for supper and the night.

By morning he thought it over and decided it

was nicer to just stay at our lovely home in the

summer and go fishing at a lake 1 hour away.

He likes his garden too much to give it up.

Needless to say I am happy to spend the summers in

my STUDIO. not a fishing cottage.

I also got to go to Lolly's for some fabric before

coming home.

 These two paintings are by my 94 year  young friend

Doris B Myers. She is awesome.

No one can paint trees better than her.

She will have a show with her daughter  Bonnie Zimmer

this summer in Lafayette.

Have a great week end.

Sculpture

 Thought I would share this piece from the past.

The assignment was to do a figure  sculpture.

He had a big blue heart.

 Cheese box for a head, leaves for hair,

sewing machine boxes for legs,

shoe last for feet and chair ladders for ribs.

My husband helped me with this masterpiece.

Never know what you may end up doing in

the name of ART.

Picked up a paint brush today

 Wow did I have fun today.

I haven't painted in over a year.

I did not know how much I missed it.

 I was channeling Pollack today.

Can you tell.

I don't know if they are any good but they were

FUN.

Friends and good times

I took my friends Doris B Myers to brunch today

at the new Farmhouse Restaurant in Fair Oaks

Indiana today. Her and I have our art displayed there

for the next few months. This is my 92 year young

friend. While she was in the bar posing with her art

she made friends with the bar waiter, never too old for

good looking men. The food is very good and the

service was outstanding. 

Here is another old friend.

This is a painting by Doris of Charlie Carter's barn.

Charlie lived a mile north of as when I was a child.

He drank pretty heavy so he did not have a car.

He took his tractor to town to get his groceries.

He wired a bushel basket to the tractor hitch to

carry his good. I loved the looks of the old barn

and traded Doris one of my paintings for this one a

few years back. It hangs in my bedroom and I

look at it daily, she is one heck of a painter and

a great friend.

Collage

 I joined a group of 30 artist on face book that create

collages out of junk mail. Now you know how much

junk mail you get. Plus catalogs. so there is plenty

of material to work with. The top one is called

Rise and Shine.

The other one is called

Life Story.

I am getting quilts ready to ship to shows,

amazing how they sometimes need repairs to

continue their commute.

Today's go to Columbus, Ohio.

Tomorrow's to Indianapolis.

Well off to work.

Art for Martha

 I got a call from Martha yesterday asking if I had

any larger pieces. I had to think so I went down to

the studio and found these. The top one is Atmosperic

a 30 x 50 tall fiber art. Cotton velveteen rust dyed

The one my grandson told me it looks like spilled coffee.

Below are two of my favorites.

Walden Woods is 30x48 and a very impressionistic

painting. I hung it next to Grasshopper which

is 18x36 another abstract. I am looking forward

to getting my major art quilts done so I can paint

a little. Love the abstracts. The grasshopper has

an encaustic square with a grasshopper on it.

 Then there is Green Valley a acrylic that is 26x50.

A nice landscape that strictly came from

 my imagination.

 Another acrylic and one of my private collection

is Autumn Glow. 28 x 34 I love the detail of the

roots of the tree and the horizon. So I do something

besides art quilts when I have time.

Painting of a painting

 This was another clever winner at the Salon Show.

A painting of the back of a painting.

You never know what will catch the judges eye.

Finally got back in the studio yesterday afternoon.

I warmed up by making some more hot pad art quilts

 

I have 5 sets now only need 6 more.

Theses will be good stocking stuffers.

A good use for an art quilt at least practical.

Art in the least expected place.

Today I will work on another landscape quilt

Time to get down to business.

A new week to create in.

WHAT GLORIOUS WEATHER.

I love the cool weather with the windows open

I hear the birdsong and feel the cool breezes. Love it.

I had a nice quiet weekend. Another grand kid

came over to see what the attic would yield for

his college dorm. He is off to Purdue in 2 weeks.

He is studying landscape architecture. Found

several things he could us. The attic and the basement

is like the fishes and the loaves there is always

more. The  kids always call up and say Grandma

can I come and look in the attic for something.

Interesting to watch the younger generation

grow up and achieve their dreams.

Today I will go t the studio to create a

couple of abstract paintings. I am in the

mood to paint today.

Art

It is time to start creating art again.

Yesterday I spent some time in the studio

and got to work finishing the 12 by 12 blocks

I need to have done by Friday.

It really felt good to be back in my chair in front

of the sewing machine.

Today is the forth of July.

The fireworks started last night (well really

I have been hearing them for days) and will

finish tonight with the neighbors big bang.

My son is moving today. The new house is not

done yet so they will camp out in the basement

and shower at her moms house. Should be

interesting for the boys they have lived in

the house they are vacating for their whole lives.

Brent will go off to college in August and the

youngest will start high school. Life brings

many changes.  I promised them lunch of sloppy

joes, chips and watermelon. I had better get cooking.

Road through the pines.

This is my favorite painting in our show.

I just love this . I love pine trees.

My friend Dana is such a talented artist.

Yesterday was another busy day. My cousin

from Minnesota came for supper to tell us

what we can expect when we use their house

in Minnesota. I am so appreciative to be able

to stay in their lakeside home and spend time

with our kids. I sent her home with a big art

quilt for her home.  Just a little thank-you.

Today our grandson, his wife and Tommy will

be here for lunch. I am going to make meatballs

mac n cheese, salads and a fruit plate.

Than after lunch greatgrandpa , grandpa,

and his dad will take Tommy fishing in the pond.

What fun. 

Sand Hill Cranes

This is a lovely photo taken by Barb Lucas.

She takes awesome bird photos.

Sand Hill Cranes migrate through our area.

They spend a lot of time in the corn fields

gleaning food on their trip south.

We will see fields full of cranes all fall.

Yesterday the open house went well.

It gave the local people a chance to browse through

a artist studio. They were not bashful.

One fella went so far as to peek behind the drapes

 at my fabric stash.

Lots of questions about how do you do that.

I love to share my art.

People are fascinated by the process.

I love to visit with friends and watch

them pick out a favorite piece of art.

Lot of Christmas shopping happen.

Now a day of rest.

 



Under Indiana Skies

 Enjoy some of our show

 Opening in Lafayette,Indiana on Friday.

The variety of art is amazing.

Jasper and Newton counties have very talented artist.

Stop in if you are near the month of August

through September 7

Love at first sight.

I found this somewhere on the net.

I just love the colors in this mosaic.

Makes me want to redecorate the whole house

in just these colors.

I really only need  to add some dark blue touches

to what I already have.

Today we will put Mariam Hope Lawyer to rest.

She was a grand lady.

A supporter of the library, the arts and the community.

Best friend of my friend Doris.

90 years is a long life but with special people

not long enough.

I grew up with her daughter Penny,

I am friends with her son Terry.

Doris will give the eulogy for Mariam.

I wish I could live half the life of these priceless women.

I can only try.

Doris's sky

We hang our Under Indiana Skies show the 30th.

This is my friend Doris's entry.

At the young age of  90 she is a great artist.

Sadly her best friend is fading away.

Mariam has just a short time left.

It must be hard to be the last one left of a generation.

They were all great women.

I looked to them all as mentors as I grew up.

I hope  Doris has many more years.

What a great heritage they gave us all.

Makes me think that we have an obligation

to give this same mentor ship to our young artist.



The start of the county FAIR

I am off early to help with the county fair.

I will help in the fine arts division.

We have to tag, sort and hang the art.

The judging will take place this morning.

Two of my grandsons will be showing their art in the fair.

Can't wait to see their art.

Brandon got Grand Champion for both his

leather craft and his woodworking.

I look forward to seeing their 4-H projects today.

My husband, son and another grandson will

be roofing the new chicken house this morning.

The new chickens need to get in their new home soon.

A busy family

Last nights show was nice.

everyone like the fiber arts

and the pottery was popular.

Abbie's sky paintings were a hit.

Have a great week-end.

There's a Purple Rooster in my Garden.

I delivered my finished art quilts and a painting

to the Wells Center in Lafayette Indiana yesterday

for Art Mix.

A kick off event to start the spring season in art.

The yard was too wet to try and finish the spring

clean up so I decided to take my entries down

I-65 to Lafayette so I could have Sunday to myself.

The road was full of fast driving teenagers intent

on reaching Florida for spring break .

Caravans of cars weaving in and out of traffic.

It is amazing they all make it safely.

Met Rebbecca Brody at the Wells center.

She is an awesome watercolor artist.

If you are near to Lafayette check out the Art Mix event.

Friday the 30th is the kick-off. Tickets required.

The show will be up  until May 5th.

More of the Wisconisn trip

                                    Outside one of the galleries I found this old car.
                                     I love old cars reminds me of the car I drove in
                                     high school. Back in the 60's. Memories. The trees
                                     had already changed in Wisconsin. Ours are in full
                                     color now in NW Indiana. Tonight was the opening
                                     of the Art League show Trees. The art work was
                                     awesome. Such talented artists in the group. 
                                     

A Wisconsin Creek.

                          We had a great time in Wisconsin last week.
                          We spent 4 days at the Cabin on the Creek
                           and the rest of the time in Door County.
                           By the end of the week the  trees were turning.
                           I put a pork roast in the oven seasoned with
                           garlic, salt  and pepper the house smells so good.
                           A perfect Sunday in October. Pork roast mashed
                           potatoes, carrots and homemade applesauce.
                           Enjoy your day of rest and quiet. I will.

Vistors from the sky.

18 geese showed up this morning on the pond.

                     They strutted around the yard nibbling grass.

                           This afternoon I went down to the studio
                           to play with some fabric and looked out the window.
                           Must have gotten hot out there.
                           Some of them found a shade tree to rest under.

The garden has gotten in the way of my creating

I will be glad when we are finished so I can

go back to hanging out in the studio again.

Mondays progress in painting

Monday was good.

I started a new lake painting.

This will be a fall scene.

                           I added the 5th layer to the roots painting.
                           I love these colors reminds me of fall.

Taking photos help me see where

 I need to change the painting.

Today I will paint in the rocks.

Have a good day.

I will try and concentrate on painting

and stay away from the sewing machine.