“A woman drew her long black hair out tight And fiddled whisper music on those strings And bats with baby faces in the violet light Whistled, and beat their wings’ – T.S.Eliot
mrs. brown’s skirt
I love it when there’s a label.
I’m curious about Mrs. F. C. Brown and what she was up to in 1917. Her skirt is very sensible with pockets and a modest train. The fabric is fabulous.
* note on the photo- I’m not giant, the chair is mini – I got it at the flea market a couple weeks ago.
It was fun to try on and I was surprised by how good it felt, the way it moved, the pleasant weight of it and how the little train felt behind me, it isn’t in wearable condition though, and I probably shouldn’t add “wears period clothes” to what I already have going on anyway. I’m going to make a collection of things from it, the first is a mrs. brown spider.
owl work
Some progress on a couple new rubenesque sort of owls:
new birds
I’ve added some new little birds and sweetheart sets to the shop and I’m working towards the next update which will include boats, bats, spiders, ballerinas and owls, they will be in the shop within a couple weeks. Please join my mailing list if you would like to be notified when new things are available.
things to do on a rainy day
I made the ship above as a prop for a TV commercial a couple years ago. I assembled some boxes and parts of boxes into a shipish shape and then added all sorts of stuff – pipe cleaners, dixie cups, part of a birthday crown, wooden ice cream spoons, buttons, felt, etc. etc. The castle collage below was for an ad as well. I think they would be fun for little people to make ( with some grown up help).
Both involve using the die cut sections of boxes for details . I can’t resist a good piece of cardboard – I live near a fancy grocery and their recycling is full cartons and boxes with interesting cutouts and shapes.
tuesday morning
Beautiful day, first open windows day since December I think.
boxes
Everything I make starts in a box and then lives there until it’s done. The boxes are for organization – keeping the many little bits for many little projects together and they are also a thinking tool and most importantly a way to start, it is very easy to put things in a box.
I love Twyla Tharp’s book, The Creative Habit. Here’s a little of what she has to say about boxes:
“The box makes me feel organized, that I have my act together even when I don’t know where I’m going yet. It also represents a commitment. The simple act of writing a project name on a box means that I’ve started work”
I have different sorts of boxes for different sorts of projects. You could also make your own box or use a basket – project bags are great too.
ballerina
snow
One of the first really old things I bought for making things was a purple silk bodice that was in wretched condition. The silk itself was mostly unusable- it disintegrates when you touch it .
I was originally interested in the buttons, the fantastic buttons, flinty piercing eyes, they inspired my first owl, but when I began to take it apart I found a variety of tiny prints and lovely indigo , hidden and preserved in the foundation. They ‘re mostly gone now – used in owl ears and beaks and spiders but yesterday I found one more piece of my favorite print inside a cuff. I think it’s enough for a beak for the fellow in the background and maybe a spider too.
It is snowing like nobody’s business in Park Slope.
spiders
I’ve added some spiders to the shop ( and a couple little birds too). I think the little black spider above looks curious and sort of cautious. I’ll be adding new things all week.
I do like a ruffley bum.
shop update and auction for haiti
I’ve added some new sweetheart sets to the shop that are ready to ship, a couple notes on this shop update:
* Many of the new sets will be available to order ( delivery in 6-8 weeks) shortly after the original set is sold.
* I’ll be adding new things – little birds, sweethearts, and maybe something new everyday next week – so please check back.
A sweetheart set is being auctioned here to benefit Haiti.
