The messy stage...

...of the photo transfer process.  It feels raw and pieced together - going to let it sit for a while to wait to see what might come next.

Small Steps...

I've been in bed for the better part of two days fighting off either a stomach bug or a bad food reaction.  It took down my husband and I - I'm thankful to our kids for continuing to run the household.  This evening I had my first real meal in two days and wanted to get back to making something.   I spent some time on the computer working with images for new transfers.  I had thought I would actually apply the transfers but then felt tired again so for today this small step is enough...

Color Wheel Wreath

Here are my collected felted stones after the addition of last night's creations...

I was delighted this evening to discover I had enough to cover the wood ring I planned to use and that there worked out to be a good distribution of color.  I look forward to hanging this on the front door tomorrow.  

I can also go all the way back to this post from last January to see the beginning of this project...it feels good to complete it.

Some un-making today as well.  Disassembling the tree fence at St. Aidan's.  I am reminded how much I enjoy this way of being with others.  Thankful for the hard work and also the community and laughter of this group...

Making gifts

One of my favorite things about Christmas is making gifts.  My husband and I spent our first Christmas together with the first floor of our townhouse turned into a workshop.  The project I remember best was a shadow box for his grandfather featuring photos of Chad, his father and his grandfather each with their Navy shoulder boards.  That required 9 carefully cut holes in a single piece of matt board as well as backing board, and staining and making the frame.
This shadow box created at the 11th hour is a bit simpler.  It is a store-bought shadow box.  My son has been wanting to frame the license plate to the car he wrecked this summer.  The photos were staged the day after, contrary to the picture, the adult took full responsibility.  It was his idea...

I'm also thankful for a home to create space for fun and celebration by these wonderful young people. It feels different having bigger kids this Christmas - thankful for the chance to celebrate with them and see them celebrate with their friends.

Cranberry ginger ale made it a particularly festive evening...

Surprise

I find I am drawn to processes and materials that have a sense of surprise.  With photo transfers, it's the excitement of seeing the photo and collage colors come together when I first begin to peel back the paper...

...here are some photos of the process...happening right in my kitchen sink...

...and then drying on the baking rack once the cookies are put away.

The next step is more tedious as I try to piece together images from different pieces of paper to complete the image...

I'll have to patch a couple places where image rubbed off too and work to blend the seams in the already pieced images...

And a family outing tonight for one more visit to celebrate and participate in the "be the light" installation in Del Ray.  Seemed like a good way to honor the longest night of the year...

Working big

Preparing new collages for photo transfers inspired by colorful winter skies.  Completed these two in a little over an hour, working large and fast to the music of the Saw Doctors this afternoon.

These panels are 16 inch squares, the largest I have done in collage...

 

Here is some of my process tonight piecing together the photos to transfer...

Preparation...

Today I made a trip to the art store and primed 4 new panels...

Collages coming soon - maybe one will even feature this evening sky today...

Felting

Worked with felting today and managed to avoid any help from the pup this time.  Here is a needle felted labyrinth ball...

And six new stones, these are wet felted from wool that was part of another project that got destroyed by a curios pup...I am working to have enough of them to create a wreath of colorful stones.

And our tree...took two weeks to get it in the house and then another week to add the ornaments. Feels good to have it decorated now.  It's particularly fun to remember projects of years past as we add the ornaments.

Photo transfer

My latest photo transfer on a collage from several weeks ago - next step is more collage but going to sit with this a while first.  Really liking the lines of the bare trees - enjoying those in our environment again too as we head toward the first day of winter.

Touchstones

I finished up my Artist Rule class today at St Aidan's.  I am so grateful for the dedicated group of women who have gathered to share this journey over the last 3 months.  We created touchstones last week.  Here they are arranged around our candle at the beginning of class.

And here's my stone...

Collage...

I haven't done much collage in a while.  It is good to get back to it.  Here is a winter sky I am creating for a friend who liked one of my images that sold at Huntley Meadows.  This one will be similar.  Black branches are the next step...

Watercolor practice...

Bottle Cap Art

I'm catching up on posting here today.  We spent yesterday with friends at their home on the Chesapeake Bay.  It was lovely to be outside the reach of cell service and to enjoy the cozy house in cooler weather.
We experimented a bit with bottle cap art, creating fish from many years worth of collecting colorful bottle caps.  It was fun to sort them, find colors and designs and then to play a bit with making mosaics with the caps.

Small Handmade Objects

Here is my completed collection of 50 mini collages for Art-o-mat...

...spent the morning signing, adding stands on the back and then wrapping and boxing with a note.

Here's my collection of boxes to mail tomorrow - need to find a bigger box.

Glazing and Firing

Today I fired the kiln for a first time in a while.  I glazed 3 labyrinth balls and finished 3 more that will bisque fire today.
The thing about firing the kiln is that I usually forget to take pictures - I am eager to see what things will look like after firing so there are no photos of today's making.
They are contained inside the kiln which is clicking away as it slowly heats up on the back patio.

"I am for an artist who vanishes, turning up in a white cap painting signs or hallways..." - Claes Oldenburg

You So I wasn't wearing a white cap but I did turn up painting signs.  I repainted the lettering on signs for the St Aidan's Christmas Tree sale today.
I was also an event photographer for the 15th annual Fox Trot for Fort Hunt Elementary.
Here are some of the runners...

...and a beautiful view of the park in the morning fog....

It's fun when making happens in different settings in roles in the community.

Fall trees

In-process

...waiting for the glue to dry to reveal the photo transfer.

First layer

Incomplete...

These are in process.  Since the commitment is to the making not to what's made - even small things might happen in stages.  In that spirit, I share these here even as they are: half complete...