Work in Progress

I think I painted this picture of Marvin Harrison in 2004. Maybe early 2005. It was after I went to quilt camp in Indy, at least. It's been hanging on a corkboard ever since.

Vodou flags (drapo) are often sequined around a lithograph of the saint associated with the lwa being honored.

*lightbulb*

Above, how it looked approximately four weeks ago. I added the football because I didn't like the way the hand looked, and I added the horseshoe for balance.


To the right, how it looks as of last night. I haven't been keeping track of how many hours I've spent on it because it would probably depress me; I only work on it while I watch TV (I'm now well into the fifth season of Babylon 5 and I have no idea what I'm going to watch this weekend). It's escapism. For a few hours I can hide in geometry, thread tangles, and a fictional universe.

More block prints

Used a lot of the lessons learned with the circuit-board designs--no straight lines or tight angles. The green paint was a little runnier and easier to work with, too.

No idea what I will do with these.

I have Photoshop!

Now I just need to learn to use it more effectively.



Today makes one year we have been in Milwaukee.

My assistant is evil.

The Cat has been chewing on my Teflon press sheet. It's full of teethmarks and dozens of little holes. I knew he likes to lick Ziploc bags and chew on fast food wrappers, but this is new. And $15-ish to replace. Nothing is as expensive as a free kitten...

Can't get Photoshop installed on the new computer, so new photos will have to wait. I made some new block prints last night; they're very blotchy. The paint wicked through the polyester satin so I threw those prints out--was a 43-cent remnant I grabbed Saturday for experimentation.

No, I don't know what I'm going to do with the stack of block prints on cotton.

(Saturday I was looking for discontinued Atlanta Braves cotton fabric for my sister to make a dress for my niece. Didn't find any, but I did buy myself a couple of yards of new Iowa State fabric. Iowa State fabric! On this side of the Mississippi!!!)

Frustrated as hell

Sat in front of the computer all day. I want to make stuff, but I don't have any ideas.

How do I make ideas?!?!?!

My computer is dead. Long live my computer!

A couple of weeks ago the dysfunctional power supply on my computer melted through the case, finally convincing me I couldn't put off replacing it any longer. So when I finally finish installing everything, I should be able to post photos again.

More importantly, I should be able to purchase a printer and begin using it to print photos and words onto fabric as well as printing out templates I can draw around.

Musing

I'm considering taking Pamela Allen's class at this retreat in Michigan. I'd get to take three days off work and ride the car-ferry. I could bring Bryan for an extra $225, and he could fish when I'm in class. Plus, that's the bye week, so I wouldn't miss any football. :) I'm going to think about it for a week; I have a lot of other travel I want to do and finite money.

But I think it would be good for me. I like her work, but mostly I like her thinking.

I completed another sequined flag, a little bit smaller than the last. Also...very boring. About halfway through, I realized it would be right at home in the "decorative accessories" department of Hobby Lobby, except those are lovingly hand-stitched in a sweatshop in China instead of a recliner in Milwaukee (and minus the 1% genuine FUZZ fuzz that characterizes all my work). So I didn't photograph it before I sent it as a gift to one of those people who like everything I make because I made it--I love them but I think I'd benefit from a critical eye every now and then.

I also found my serious-scholarship book on Vodou flags--history, ceremonial use, popular symbolism employed, major lwa, important artists of the 1990s. I have some ideas for better construction and better presentation of my own symbolism (radishes, black cats--why not?).

Still struggling with the making stuff vs. social life vs. spending time in nature vs. housekeeping vs. getting sufficient sleep, and still struggling with Good Ideas for Stuff to Make. I've been journaling and doodling and Good Ideas remain elusive. The boring sequined flag was useful in that it gave me something to do without obsessing over design, but nothing bubbled up during the respite.

In high school, I used to have all my good ideas while mowing the lawn.

Hexagonamania explained?

Maybe I'm just homesick...Cassini Images Bizarre Hexagon on Saturn

Still trying to generate some new ideas. I think I'm working on old, boring, labor intensive projects to avoid the possibility of a new project being bad/ugly/dumb/etc, but that's a little too much introspection for happy hour.

Radish Voodoo Flag

Did an archaeological excavation of the spare room last month and found this amongst the unfinished objects. Radish made of sequins...I believe I started it in 2003 after seeing an exhibit of voodoo flags and other Haitian beaded and sequined objects at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. (It was a blind date. Going to the art center was a good call. Unfortunately, the only other interesting thing the guy brought to the date was that he played high school football with Dallas Clark's older brother, and I was too old to be impressed by high school football.... I digress. I liked the sequins...)

Took a month to finish it. I think if I make another voodoo flag, I'll leave the binding un-sequined. I'd probably use uniformly-sized sequins, too. I do like the subtle effect of the yellow print showing through the irridescent sequins...it's a little hard to see on this picture but it's obvious in person.

I should probably start making stuff that isn't cartoony radishes. Grow a little bit...