Faces - a morning well spent

So. If you happen to get a speeding ticket .... spending a day in traffic court can be time well spent. 

Sigh. We took the waaaaay back country roads on a way from a vacation and even though I was actually trying to stay within the speed limit (52 in a 55mph zone) I somehow missed the sign in front of the one mile stretch that was 35mph. 

So I had my sketchbook with me and while waiting my turn I pulled out my pencil.

I sat in front so all I had to draw was the lawyers and the officers.

Of course - one's hand is always there to draw. I was trying to be circumspect but one of the officers (I think it might even have been the one who pulled me over) saw me and leaned over when he walked by and told me he wanted to see it when I was done.

We weren't allowed phones so I couldn't take a picture which is too bad - the two pictures I tore out and gave to the officer and the bailiff were much better than these. I had plenty of time to work on those two and they held still the longest. The officer knew I was drawing him so I think he held still on purpose. After I gave him the drawing he told me he had told the judge to be nice to me. (He was.)

For Your Inspiration: clouds in Ohio

Living, as I do, in the land of "if you don't mow or pave there's a tree" I treasure long views.

It's beautiful to see a vista full of blue and gold, of clouds and light.

It was thrilling to drive between two storms - watching them over the course of almost an hour.

We didn't quite miss the rain, but it afforded a beautiful view.

Work in Progress: changing my mind - again

This was the last iteration.

I didn't like the bead color so I took them off.

Another road trip and I grabbed the  project again... tried a different bead color.

These are going to come off too... (I just remembered that I left this in the glove box of the car we drove - I'd better go get it before I forget it again). I think it's the beads themselves I'm not liking - there are such beautiful markings on these stones that the beaded bezel is competing with them. 

We'll see what happens next. No hurries no worries with this project.... which right now is something I need. I've been pressing deadlines without a break for soooo long (it feels like several years) that during this lull over the next month or so I'm feeling completely rebellious. I've spent the past week reading books. Refusing to go in my studio and not even blogging. (sorry.) They aren't even great books - just re-reading a sci-fi series I read years ago. No thinking involved. Maybe in another week I'll feel like getting back into things. It's good to take a break sometimes.

New Work: The Art Box - process part 1

I thought you might enjoy seeing the creation process for the series of works I did for

The Art Box CSA

Art Box work by Lyric Montgomery Kinard

dye and discharge cloth with a katazome inspired thermofax screen

mix colorless extender with textile paint to increase its transparency

use photoshop and make several images for a thermofax screen - variations on a theme

put it up and take a look - say oooooh, aaaaah!

test images for placement, keeping in mind the size of the canvas

use a strong enough color that it will contrast and become a focal point

a second screen will be used to apply foil adhesive to a selected area

a card (I always end up with a hotel room key) is perfect for this size of screen

lay the foil color side up on top of the DRY adhesive and use the edge of the iron and quite a bit of pressure to apply the foil

let the foil cool before peeling it off

check placement with canvas again before proceeding to the next step - adding batting and stitching

Keep your eye out here for a tutorial on how to mount the finished work on a gallery wrapped canvas.

The finished artwork in this series is available for purchase at

The Art Box CSA

What is an Art Box?

An Art Box is a new and exciting way to purchase a collection of art from several different artists at once.  Artists create a limited number of new original artworks for inclusion in the box in a predetermined size making it easy for the collector to display them together if they desire. Purchasing an Art Box is a cost effective way to begin or add to a growing art collection from today’s most popular mixed media and textile artists. 

The Kindness Chronicles

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil

It's been another crazy month. My extended family is scattered all over the country (WA, ID, MT, IL, KS, PA, NC) and we only get together all in one place once every four years. This time it was at the beach in NC but first many of them came to my house. 

It was amazing to all be together at the same time - the see little cousins meet each other for the first time.

These are the two amazing people who raised us.

They taught us that we are here to make the world a better place, to love and to serve.

We are still a little wacko - but these are some of the best people I know!

 Watching my siblings teach their children the same ideals of love and service is a joy.

There were so many acts of kindness. People volunteering to help with dishes, volunteering to watch little ones so parents could frolic in the waves unencumbered. Spouses putting kids to bed so grown siblings could spend more time together. There was much patience and kindness shown.

It often seems that the people we live with are the ones it is hardest to be kind to. I'm challenging myself along with all of you - let's find ways to be kind to those we love.

Creative Wisdom: Time for Art

"Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen." ~Epictetus

Time is precious: It's summertime and the kids are all home. Time is at a premium. I keep reminding myself that I started this career as an artist when I had infants and I really did get a lot accomplished in five minute increments. I keep hearing about how creativity needs time. I keep thinking I don't have time to get anything done. Hogwash!

"People ask me how long it took to make a work. I reply by giving them my age." ~Ted Godwin

You can eat an elephant one bite at a time: I could make excuses all day about not having time to get into the flow or I could get down to business and DO something. It's amazing how those five minutes here and there add up.

Are you making excuses too? Let's do this. Keep a hand-work project nearby. Sew a few patches together. Pick up your sketchbook and draw your hand or a flower or your lunch. Set a timer for five minutes and grab a glue stick and some fabric scraps and play with one of the elements of art. 

I'm teaching at Houston!

I would love to see you at the International Quilt Festival!

I'll be posting details about my classes soon.

You can find the full class catalog 

here

in the meantime.