MISSY STEVENS || SEEN AND RECEIVED, AN ALMANAC || 2015 — MISSY STEVENS || *SEEN AND RECEIVED, AN ALMANAC* || 2015

She sells seashells

July 22, 2017

Doug and I went to the opening reception of Like a Flower: The Art of Missy Stevens at the Brookfield Craft Center here in Connecticut. What a wonderful event! I have admired Missy's work for many years, after having seen examples of her thread paintings which are stunning and soulful. in fact, we had just watched a film on CPTV, Missy Stevens, The Spirit and Technique of Painting With Thread and so we were revved up and eager to see Missy's works in person. The film, by the way, is absolutely lovely (as is Missy) and it is being shown this evening at The Brookfield Craft Center (which also offers many classes), with Missy in attendance to answer questions and talk about her work. If you go for the film you'll get to see the show as well, as it will be there through July 29.

MISSY STEVENS || MOON CROWN || 2017 (DETAIL) — MISSY STEVENS || *MOON CROWN* || 2017 (DETAIL)

While we had expected to see many beautiful examples of Missy's fiber art, and we were not disappointed, we were delightfully surprised to also find examples of a new direction in the form of two crowns, made mostly from seashells. These crowns took my breath away. I was smitten!

MISSY STEVENS || SUN CROWN || 2017 (DETAIL) — MISSY STEVENS || *SUN CROWN* || 2017 (DETAIL)

MISSY STEVENS || MOON CROWN || 2017 — MISSY STEVENS || *MOON CROWN* || 2017

MISSY STEVENS || SUN CROWN || 2017 — MISSY STEVENS || *SUN CROWN* || 2017

Missy, in addition to being an awesome artist, is also a very special friend. It was Missy who guided me on my first shamanistic journey which I wrote about last October.

MISSY STEVENS ANSWERS QUESTIONS AT THE OPENING RECEPTION.

See more of Missy’s artwork at her website.

Basic training

June 29, 2017

Sorting through linens. This one makes my heart swoon, it’s just so sweet. I should photograph more of the tea towels and napkins and so on - they're just so good to share. I love looking at these remnants of a time gone by. :-)

I’ve had this wire basket for a few years. I keep it on the counter and use it to hold things like lemons and garlic, generally not at the same time. :-) :-)

I’ve been trying to convince a certain man in my life that it’s really a nice thing to push your chair back in when you leave the table. I call this Basic Training. :-) :-) :-)

I’ve got the button

June 21, 2017

I have a thing for buttons. You knew that already, right? I've collected so many beautiful buttons over the years, and I've let so many of them go. Sometimes it's a real struggle to give up a special button. I know it will look great on the piece I'm making, but I hate to see it go. Some of them are just so beautiful to look at that I kind of want to keep them forever.

One year, as a gift, my mother had a gorgeous selection of antique, hand cut mother of pearl buttons beautifully arranged and framed for me to hang on a wall. To Die For. I love it. I'll see if I can get a good photo of it (the glass might make that difficult) and I'll post it here.

I have recently become aware of the author Rohinton Mistry and I am intrigued and excited by the thought of a really good book to read. I'm going to have a go at A Fine Balance. I hope I can find an audio version as reading with my eyes has become quite difficult due to cataracts which I've not been able to take care of because of all the other medical stuff that was going on. Finally, I can get them removed. The first operation will be at the end of August, so still quite a way off. and that's just the first eye. The second one will probably be in early October. I'm quite looking forward to an improvement in my vision, rather a necessary tool for making art.

Buh Bye

For the moment

April 22, 2017

The studio clean-up continues

I've hit upon the most scathingly brilliant idea to help me clean up the hideous studio mess. Instead of saving everything and trying to figure out how to store all the stuff I gather and hoard, I'll create nice little collections for other people to use in making their art! Good idea, right? I'm calling them Collections of Curiosities and the first five are up for sale at my WickedWaifVINTAGE Etsy shop. You can click on any of the pictures to see its listing in the Etsy shop.

Hear ye, Hear ye ... the latest cancer update

The incredibly good news: it appears the tumors have been eradicated, i.e. I do not now have any evidence of cancer. I hesitate to write it, say it, believe it. I do not want to tempt the fates. I didn't even realize the doctors had told me this wonderful news because they are so low key about it. It wasn't until a month or so later that I understood because I mentioned "my cancer" and they told me (again) that there were no tumors left. I was gobsmacked. I kept making them repeat it. I asked, where were the cake and balloons? They smiled their laid back smiles. I love my doctors.

Some less pleasant stuff: A common side effect of the treatment is called Radiation Pneumonitis, and I have it. Geeze Louise, it was hard to believe the good news when I was still coughing and breathless. Now I take a lot of pills and elixirs to treat the inflammation in my lungs and I'm slowly getting better, but some of the pills, probably the Prednisone (a steroid), caused their own hideous side effects which I suffered with, maybe for too long, because my situation became worse and worse until I landed in the ER recently, in agonizing pain. It turns out I have ulcers in my esophagus and a lot of inflammation there and elsewhere. But, I’ve stopped taking the Prednisone and I have pain killers to see me through while the healing takes place.

For the moment

And then there is this: I recently saw a pulmonologist in Danbury, someone new to me. He said, "You’re clear of cancer, for the moment." For the moment? Did he really have to add for the moment? That bugs me. Hopefully, it will slide into that place where so many memories get lost, but for now, I just can’t quite shake it.

The warm weather is on its way ...

I'm hoping I'll get more involved in the dying process ... that's as in DYE not DIE. (Macabre humor.)

Linen & Laughter

March 22, 2017

LINEN LOVE - My darling daughter gave me this sweet selection of linen kitchen towels from Not Perfect Linen. Lucky me - in so many ways.

WORK IN PROGRESS - Recycled linen and vintage lace ... I had set it aside, feeling uncertain about what it would be, but now I know. I'm very psyched to get on with it, now that I know where it is headed.

LOLOLOLOL (apologies to Ellen, who doesn't like the LOL thing) - I was experimenting with the bread machine. My intention was to make Cinnamon-Raisin Bread, but I neglected to put the raisins in at the proper time. In a misguided effort to correct my mistake, I added them way too late in the process, thus creating a "new" baked good: Raisin-Studded Cinnamon Bread.

SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY - As you get older, all your juices start drying up and so you don't really need to shower as often. At least that's what older people think and believe ... which is why older people smell funny.

Such a secret place

March 3, 2017

Something precious arrived recently: a textile woven by Susan Johnson of Avalanche Looms. Spilled Milk, Half-empty or Half-full is the title of this small textile. It is one of a series Susan calls crying towels. She says they are "about our human experience of sorrow. Our human tears flow for many reasons, from slicing onions, or small frustrations, or physical or psychic pain. Some tears are for hard things, that can't be changed. These towels are suitable for all occasions of crying, made with sympathy and compassion for our shared human condition."

It took my breath away when I opened the small parcel that arrived in my mailbox. It is lovely beyond words. Adeline, Bill and I spent a good amount of time admiring it and discussing the many ways in which it might be displayed. It was quite pleasing to see both of them have such genuine appreciation for this beautiful handwork.

I’ve admired Susan’s work for years and now I've finally managed to acquire a piece. And am I now feeling satisfied? No. I want more!

I’ve been experimenting with the No-Knead Bread recipe. I finally have a nice shape figured out but the flavor is lacking. It’s not bad, but it also is not awesome. Fresh baked bread has to be awesome.