Wrapping up 2014 with Glitter

Wrapping up 2014, this has been a challenging year. I suppose they should be challenging or we would all be sacked out on the sofa with empty chip bags, cats and wondering whose turn it is to go get beer! Not all that productive!!






I've been digging in my personal resources a lot in 2014. And I've had the opportunity to learn a lot of new things. Not necessarily things I'd thought I would want to dig into.. bookkeeping, stocks and percentages, but coming from a family of engineers that information is another tool. And not bad stuff to learn. And, of course, I am in the "101" phase.






I've learned a lot about Community Art and Development, how they interact socially and economically and look forward to several upcoming public art projects.






I had a few goals to pursue and I am so glad I did that! Went to more festivals this year, checked out how they work, met some lovely artists at StokesStomp, in Galax at Chestnut Creek School of Art, and have enjoyed exhibits at Piedmont Arts in Martinsville. Piedmont Craftsmen's PopUp Art Project was great fun to work with, meeting a lot of artists and helping to install over 17 pieces of public art in Downtown Winston Salem, some in the Downtown Art District (DADA) and some scattered in other downtown areas!

Now I am getting geared up for the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Empty Bowls Fundraiser. Last year was my first with this part of the project and it was a blast! I  got to travel in the mountain-y areas (that I love!) meet some wonderful groups of folks that are nice, dedicated to helping out the community and when I was getting a tad behind with the schedule, I contacted our Arts Organizations in the state and had a chance to meet more artists, groups and arts enthusiasts.




You may notice there is no weaving listed here. Weaving is happening and it is time I got moving on the sharing that stuff!


I am setting a few more goals for 2015 now. KGTextiles on Facebook will get more attention, KGTextiles on Instagram and KGTextiles on Twitter will get more attention! And am loading up stuff to try out online sales. DyeCrazy at Etsy. And I have several workshops to teach already in ink on my calendar. That is VERY exciting! Have several to attend, too.


And a few more that involve being outside! I live in a beautiful part of the world and between the color, texture and great feeling from being out and about, it is time to move on.
Happy New Year! Let me know how you're doing!

Month Number 8

Again, the year has been traveling way too quickly.
I'm going to add a few photos of new weaving here but I did want to share some of the other blogs I write.

I have a very part-time job at the Rockingham County Arts Council, in Wentworth NC. I wear a closet full of hats with this position and lately, one has been very much like wearing a crow on my head. Yep, a bit bitter at some decisions by the board but.. things change and I'm hoping that this job i really do love will let me turn it back into what it was evolving before the wall fell (note reference to Star Trek TNG metaphor culture!!! hahah).
So, the jobs are as Executive Director- meetings, politicking, writing grants, bookkeeping, grants administration, events coordinator, gallery exhibit coordinator, website updates and a monthly or so blog there. One of my favorites got a bit personal and you can read it here. I really had fun with the artsy educational games! A new one to play with is Blendoku, a color sorting game.

Hayfield-green warp. 

Chickory blossom

With the giant cutback in my "regular job" hours (from 30 to 10 and yes, the pay cut is a tough bite to deal with) I am working to be positive about the time i have on my hands. I don't see ever NOT having enough to do! One thing is spending time with family, another is working on my garden and yard, and there are the two estates of my parents that have been so very difficult to deal with. But I will and this too shall pass, as my grandmother used to say.

I also write blogs for my friends who have businesses and soon i will launch my own website. I think it is time to do that in conjunction with my stab at getting back to weaving, art, workshops and festivals.
I have been teaching a bit.. it is so very rewarding for creativity as well as income (cats must have crunchies!).

Live Music!

Mullein plants

I had a chance to visit Elk Creek. My pal Marianne invited me for the pre-fiddlers convention and there was so much wonderful music. I have always liked traditional music and these folks played everything with enthusiasm.  The mountains are my favorite place to be and once again, the colors were very inspiring. A warm blue-violet chicory blossom, soft greens and earthy browns of hay fields and rusty red and bronzed oranges of climbing poison ivy are just the color ways for the square wraps I've been putting on my Nancy Bruce Leclerc.

Red to Rusty Orange threads for square wrap warp.

Hayfields and Christmas Tree farm.

Mallow blossom

An 8-harness twill with a few reverse points placed through the width.. the threads are different sizes from 16/2s to 5/3s and rayons, tencel, cottons and some silk.

Mullein, yarrow, chicory and Queen Anne's Lace

These have been a fun project- weaving a square with fringe on two sides. These fabrics have a wonderful hugging drape that can be cinched with a fibula, loose knot and a variety of twists for accent. yep, still need more photographs!

Getting Deeper into Surface Design

One of the reasons i have always loved Surface Design is the texture, whether it is texture to touch or visual texture that adds depth and color/hue variations.

I am excited to offer another session exploring introductions using a variety of techniques. So far, all of the students have been fun, playful and open to exploring. All of the right ingredients for a rewarding creative experience.

This session includes:

Acrylic Gel photo transfer

Marbling on Fabric

Silk screen printing with textile pigments

Appliqué and stitch techniques

Pigment removal/resist

dimensional stitching creating bubbles, rows and line

Block printing using linoleum

Composition, using selected samples and techniques to create a composition

This series of 8 classes will be held at the Art Alliance of Greensboro, located at the Greensboro Cultural Center on N. Davie Street. 

As an added bonus I have a homeschool drawing and painting class right after this class. We will work on some surface textures, portraits and a 3-D drawing and painting, plus lots of color mixing. If you are interested in scheduling classes for your group please contact me.

Another favorite surface design technique is painting and I am excited to work with the Second Harvest Food Bank on the Empty Bowls painting project!We are scheduling groups to paint bisque bowls that will be available at the upcoming April Fundraiser for the Food Bank. This is for the Northwest counties of North Carolina, helping to supply food to local pantries in so many counties. 

I've got some other projects on the burner too, working on grants, our upcoming Down to Earth exhibit at the Dan River Art Market & Gallery and a surface design piece i'm hoping to have ready for that exhibit!  

It is a busy winter moving quickly into spring.. I plan to plant some things that will be useful in dyes and more! Time to get a Dye Garden at my new space! 

Snow time like the present

Happy Horsey Year


Wow has it been busy lately!


I am excited about new warps and colors. Finished off "Coffee with Cream and some Alfalfa" yesterday and winding off some warps for neckties today, tyeing on a beachy blue and green scarf warp.




Starting off 2014 with several new projects, one of which is the Empty Bowls project with the Second Harvest Food Bank. While I am still one of the Fiber Bitches of Fiber Company (a title that is well-earned) the time I've spent working with potters and painters has not been wasted! For the next few months I get to travel with bisqueware and underglazes in northwest North Carolina communities and share the bowls and colors, take them back to be fired and all of these community creations will be available at the Empty Bowls Event  in April, raising funds and awareness for hunger in all of Northwest North Carolina.. and supporting the Food Bank, which in turn supports the local Food Pantries




And....
I've got an awesome Surface Design class scheduled to begin in March at the Art Alliance of Greensboro that is fun. All of the students have been great, playful and flexible. Something to really look forward to !This tinme we will be marbling on fabric, more printing -- silk screening, carved blocks, photo transfer, applique, resist and a few other things.






And a short workshop in \Social Media and Art- an Introduction March 20 at the Dan River Art Market & Gallery in Wentworth (that will have follow-up opportunities with the Business and Technology ). For those that like a social workshop setting and want to know what choices there are for social media in visual art,




Plus...
My pal and BFF Dee is selling off her studio so I'm weaving off her warps to help clean up looms for sale. If you have room for one more loom she is really doing this! And Yarn. She has awesome yarns. Contact me at Fiber Company, email me and I'll put you in touch.




With...
Grants. Why does the world come due in March.. well, it does. For me. But funding is always a good thing. Residencies, festivals, projects and all the great community that comes together for art and culture is what makes life even more fun.


guess I will add pictures here later.. it is no-load Tuesday!


Happy 2014!