Remembering

Sketchbook Studies
I decided to experiment in my sketchbook with an image of my current embroidery piece and rename it.

"be normal"
I was thinking of our troops, of war zones and wondering how one can be normal after all this AND what is normal anyway? Is your normal my normal? How can one be normal after one,two, three tours of duty in a war zone, to see your family shot at a checkpoint, to see children die, to see a loved one whither away because they couldn't afford health insurance or their insurers wouldn't cover lifesaving treatment, or you lose a body part.

The image in the sketchbook is a mixture of a photograph of my embroidery, and then acrylic painting around it, foil behind the mouth. I want to use a mirror in his mouth on the real piece so viewers can see themselves.

Yes I remember, all the time
As a mother of a veteran can I just share that saying thanks is nice BUT
Over 2,2000 Veterans Died In 2008 Due to Lack of Health Insurance

Semper Fi

The Queen of GewGaw: Aminah Robinson

You can see Aminah's World here and what an adventure.

Columbus, Ohio, artist Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson creates magical two- and three-dimensional works of art" using " traditional art materials with found objects and everyday materials such as buttons, cloth, leather, twigs, shells, and music box workings"

Aminah has an exhibit at the Springfield Museum of Art called "Along Water Street" and gave a talk on Sunday.

She said several things that resonated with me, particularly when she answered a question about the changes in the business of art since she attended art school. Her response is that she doesn't consider art as a career (she leaves the business of it up to the gallery that represents her) but as a way of life. You can certainly see that in her work which looks archeological in nature, not only in what it represents but the artifacts themselves seem to tell a story.

"Dad's Journey"
Image source: Aminah's World

She works on these pieces for years and wrote the term for them in my sketchbook

because they go on and on and on in the making,and the telling of an ongoing story of a life within our world.

If you are in the area you can see her commissioned piece for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati Ohio. Her chair is in the Columbus Museum of Art

Source:Cincinnati Enquirer
Photo by Steven.M.Herppich

I'm so glad I went, she's such a lovely person, and her work very interesting and inspiring. The Springfield Museum of Art did a beautiful job presenting her work, a must see.

G is for GewGaw

And thank goodness for GewGaws because I use them all the time in found art, assemblages etc. My fave was this glass glitter heart incorporated into my FAF Guerrilla Art piece called "Goldigger"

Hard to see but there are porcelain teeth inside the box.

Well I was going to say back to the grog and grind in Jafabrit's Studio but I'm seeing that in the USA it connotes something saucy. Arg! I can't say fagged out, feeling queer, or even chuffed now without it being taken the wrong way.
Oh anyways I digress. I am starting a painting.
YES a Painting.
either this or this

Adobe manipulations
I can't make up my mind and it is leading to procrastination,that evil curse. arg! Talking about procrastination, my fave street art sticker was published in this cool street mag called "i left this here for you to read" issue #39."I used to be indecisive but now I'm not sure"

F is for Flower

And I got this beautiful quilted flower from local artist Karen Russel for the knit knot tree II.

I made a crochet and knitted background for it.
I can't wait to see it up on the tree for all to see.

woo! hoo!
check out Discover Ohio ONN Yellow Springs News clip showing some of our Jafagirl Knit Graffiti
Our village was chosen by Ohio Magazine as one of the five Best Hometowns in Ohio.

Thankyou Debrina
at Altered Art Diary for the shout out

Ha Ha Pizza: YUM! YUM! YUM!

Helping Talitha hang her show at Ha Ha pizza today and of course have our FAVE anchovy/pepperoni pizza with whole wheat crust. Leadbelly boys rate the pizza here very highly too, and for GOOD reason, it is YUMMY!

Mural painted by Travis Hotaling & Jade Wolfe

Meanwhile A Knot Gets Another Knit
From Pierre Nagely
(officially recognized as a local J.a.f.a)

E is for Eye on Yarnbombing and Chickens

and it's all about eye's lately

The Knit Knot Tree is back and if you live in town or plan to visit then bring a piece of your knitting or crochet to put on the tree. The measurements for the tree are on the Jafagirl blog, so get clickety clacking with those needles or crochet hooks.

I love this eye

On a more serious note: I am delighted to learn that in the uk battery(factory) farmed caged chickens will be banned by 2012. I stopped eating factory farmed chicken after reading how it impacts chickens (abusive circumstances of their lives) and how said abuse produces unhealthy meat for human consumption.

D is for Discombobulated

My favourite American word is discombobulated which I seem to mutter frequently in the studio. It still stinks of dammar varnish which means I still have to demephitise the place for several days with my trusty hepa filter.
Art Studio Safety Guide

Meanwhile in the Studio
My dexterous fingers are still at it, albiet a bit ragged since I never never never use a thimble. I've used a leather thimble when quilting, but never with embroidery.

Wip: "checkpoint"
Embroidery translation from sketchbook and the inspiration for the painting called "dichotomy at checkpoint"

Studio Whinge
I am still in a flummox about my doll, not liking it.
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Oh well, ta ra everyone, till next time.

C is for Credit

A pal and I got it in the credits for crafting yummy sandwiches for the actors and crew during filming of this short film adapation of "love conquers all" by Irish writer Mike McCormick, thanks Vanessa.

AND
unbeknownst to us until a couple of days ago the Knit Knot Tree was included in this book published in August
believe it or not
I am still surprised by the inclusion, but I guess us putting a sweater on a tree continues to amuse. It is listed in the chapter titled Artistic License (Page 187) and you know I have one of those LOL!


41 Extraordinary Knit Designs
from the Daily Green Website
thanks for crediting the jafagirls for the pic of Nancy yarnbombing

thanks to Craft Gossip
for the shout out for my skull embroidery

B is for Bovvered

and bovvered I was. My daughter shared this stress reducer after my disastrous efforts to save a jar of venice turp resin (very very very very very SMELLY) from crashing to the floor in my studio. In the process I knocked over my cup of tea and dropped all my papers on the floor, arg!!!!!! All was not lost though, I decided I don't hate my effigy doll as much since I added hair, so I left the studio feeling okay.
Not sure I want the head to slant so will fix that, and haven't figured out what to put in the background yet, and I am not sure about the tongue.
The eye on the box represents the evil eye.

Nazar Boncuks (evil eye stones)