Nature wonders

The exhibit opening at the Burton Gallery was wonderful. It was a lot of fun to visit with other artists and talk to people. Demos were staged outside and the weather could not have been kinder. Outside the studio of one of my friends, that we were visiting the next day, a huge tulip tree was shedding seed pods.

It always amazed me how beautiful the little details of nature are. And I always see them with a needle, fabric and beads in mind. On days when other things are not going too well, when all the news in the media are rather grim, I think it does help to stop for a moment, look around and be thankful to be able to see and enjoy all these riches.

Burton Gallery exhibit

I am getting ready to leave to attend the opening of the 3rd annual show "The Art of Fiber" at the Burton gallery in Clarkesville, GA. I am thrilled to have been invited to be the "special guest artist" and I know that I will be in great company. So if you travel around that part of the country (until December 20) make sure to stop by, see the exhibit and all the other wonderful art in the gallery. And if you can, come on over tomorrow and join the fun!

discouraged, again

I am reaching the point when, after embroidering for hours and hours, I am beginning to put things together, and this involves glue. It always makes me very nervous because one wrong movement, one drop of glue that falls in the wrong place, and the whole element is wasted. I just have to keep reminding myself that should that happen, it is only time (yeah, sure!). I also know that I cannot do this part of the work when I am tired or nervous. So today would actually not be a good day. I think I have been working on this thing too long and I am beginning to wonder if I am not wasting my time altogether. May be tomorrow will be a more upbeat day!

New book

Lark Publishing has just released a new book about bead artists called "Beadweaving Masters" curated by Carol Wilcox Wells. It is a gorgeous book and I am so thrilled that the work of Amolia Willowong is included. She lives not too far from me and I have admired her work for many, many years. I love those books, which are not how-to books but collections of works by different artists. I find myself leafing through them when I am tired or when I am in a slump. The images just stir up my imagination and an assemblage of colors or a shape are usually enough to jump-start my creativity. Anyway, if you are interested in beads and beadwork, this is a great book!