A Valentine Kiss From Cupid - or Klimt - or Dougie


Today I was greeted by a fairly large package on the kitchen table, wrapped in pages from yesterday's New York Times, and sporting a bright red envelope with my name on it. Hmmm ... it's Valentine's Day! I picked it up - rather, I tried to pick it up - but since I am walking with a cane these days (more about that some other time), it was way too heavy for me to carry. Dougie to the rescue. We headed to the family room where I would open this mystery package.


I confess, I was a little scared to open it. Dougie tends to be the extravagant one, while I am the worrier who thinks about things like paying the bills. I had a feeling this was going to be one of those gifts that caused me to worry!  I opened it and found I was looking at a large cardboard suitcase of sorts, imprinted with an intriguing piece of art by Gustav Klimt. Inside this case was a book - rather, a BOOK - like none I have ever seen. I spent about two seconds debating whether I was going to worry about the expense before I decided to give Cupid his due.


Wow! Gustav Klimt: The Complete Paintings, by Tobias Natter; produced by Taschen. This is a stunning, magnificent book! In fact, it is more like a museum; a 676-page, twenty pound museum!

Of course I haven't started any serious reading yet, but I can tell you of some highlights:

- fascinating images of early work,
- images which chronicle his experimentation with what became his iconic use of squares and swirls and triangles and gold,
- an extensive section on the Stocklet Frieze, which is an incredible mosaic built inside a Viennese villa, complete with amazing four-page wide fold outs and separate full size posters,
- a photo catalog of the complete list of Klimt's paintings
- 231 letters, cards, and other documents - all known Klimt correspondence - is included (good luck reading his handwriting),
- and, the women! The beautiful, rich, avant-garde women ... shown here in paintings as well as photographs. I am enamored of these women.


I must say, this is the most spectacular book I have ever held in my hands.  I'm planning on having a lot of fun with these images, not the least of which will be incorporating some of their elements into my little quilts.  When you think of all the many circles and squares that I've obsessively sewn over the years, you can probably understand why I am so excited by Klimt's work. Always have been, but my knowledge was so limited!  Now I'm going to become a Klimt Connoisseur, instead of just a Gustav Groupie.



CUPID

Tiny Things

  Little blue kitchen shelf with Go Fish hanging beneath it.
 

 
Tiny Paper Shoes, made by Doug - the larger pair is 1.5" long.
They are made of index cards, using an Exacto knife.
Difficult to see in the photo - they are actually woven with teeny tiny strips of card stock.
Doug is 6'4" with hands to match, so how does he do this?


 A Yesterdays Doll by Cathy Cullis. 
 

 The most amazing gift, from Cecilia Galluccio, arrived in the mail.
This is an example of her pyrography - i.e. wood burning.
What a lovely surprise. Isn't it beautiful?
 And she made it especially for me!
 
 
 
 Candles from my childhood.



 And a trick-or-treater who refuses to let go of Halloween.
This Goreyesque spun cotton character was made by Maria Pahls.

Failure That Feels So Good

So, I  failed. I was supposed to have my Flower Power piece, for an upcoming themed event, all ready and photographed by April 21. No way. I couldn't get it right. First I decided my beige background was the problem. So I started all over again with some pretty blue linen I had used to make a dress for Adeline when she was in middle school. Then I decided the woven background was all wrong. So I took it all apart (it was the only blue I had available), ironed out the creases, and started anew with a more organic, wavy background. Finally, I decided I just didn't like how the piece was progressing, no matter what. I  let event sponsor know I wouldn't have my piece ready and he very nicely extended my deadline to April 24th at 6 pm. Not bad!

I started all over again with a totally different idea, using my recycled sweater wool, and I was immediately so much happier. I found all the colors I wanted to use, including a fabulous purple for the background. I did the necessary pressing, cut out all my pieces, arranged and rearranged until I was satisfied with the design, and started stitching.

But, I failed. I realized that I had a mountain of stitching ahead of me. I would have to stitch non-stop for I'm not sure how long. And I still might not finish in time. And if I did finish on time, it would be a thoroughly unpleasant experience for me, and that would undoubtedly imbue the finished piece with bad karma. So, thanks to Doug, I liberated myself. He saw me stressing and imprisoned in the work which was becoming a chore instead of the pleasure it is supposed to be, and he asked, "Is this how you want to live your life?" NO! Thank you, Dougie! 

I did some errands today, because I didn't have to stay home, chained to my work. And then I spent some time in the yard --- what a gorgeous day! And now I can enjoy sewing my piece, just the way I like to --- sometimes in my studio, sometimes in the family room, because I like the company. I can take as long as I need to, in order to get it just right. And I can enjoy the wonderful process.

Ahhhhh ..... isn't failure just perfect? :-)