01.20.09
Posted in Dance at 6:34 pm by deRomilly
This deserves an extra post. 
We woke up this morning to snow. Beautiful pretty, dangerous to drive in in the South, snow. And it kept coming all day long. We now have almost six inches in the back yard, and it doesn’t seem to be likely to go away tomorrow, although they claim it’s going to be back up to 50 by Thursday. It has stopped coming down now, however.
When the Universe grants you a gift like this, you take advantage of it. The EO couldn’t make it into work. I couldn’t make it into work, although I had advance notice and brought my computer home so I could work.
We went for a walk. Remember that 65 degree weather I mentioned last week? My peonies have bloomed. They are not happy with the snow.
We were accosted by our next door neighbor (she’s 12) and had a snowball fight, which I lost. Which felt normal for me, although I’ve won most of the ones the EO and I have had.
Dora wanted to know what the white stuff was. Her mom looked at her like, “You are insane, kitten. You do NOT want to go out in that.” Her mother was right, of course, not that she would get to go out in any case… indoor kitty!
I scattered birdseed around the back deck and it promptly was buried. Later in the day, a very cold squirrel came to visit and found it — at least some of it. hopefully the birds will find the remainder later.
Tomorrow is supposed to be the first day of my next session of dance classes. I am told that they may close the community center, and I don’ t think I’d be adverse to that. We’ll see what happens.
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01.19.09
Posted in Artwork at 7:00 am by deRomilly
I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of artistic blogs you can find just by poking around the internet a very little bit…
I am developing a new understanding and respect for, some of the mixed media techniques currently in vogue. For a long time I would look at them and think, but everyone’s work looks the same! And I realize that this is the case with most techniques — I think as artisans we are sometimes worried about taking the next step into experimentation.
I’ve often said that I don’t understand why people aren’t willing to try things with their needle and thread — they say afraid, and don’t have enough courage to step outside their comfort zone — after all, it’s not like death is a likely result from what we do! But in looking at the new techniques in collage, and many of the needlework books, for that matter, and the push to “quick and easy projects,” I think I’ve finally come to an understanding — it’s not really the failure itself that scares us — it’s the waste (or perceived waste) of time that accrues with a failure in something as time-consuming as learning goldwork or beading – or quilting- or experimenting with putting all of these together.
We are all so busy with our lives that the idea of a failure that took weeks or months to discover can overwhelm us. I have felt it myself recently – the discovery that I need to rip out so much of the model for Tramatina caused that kind of stress — and the reactions I’ve gotten from people who see me working on ripping it or who have read the post simply confirms this. “Why would you want to keep going if you have to pull so much out?!”
The fabric collage and paint techniques, by removing the sewing may provide me with a way to experiment with textures, colors, and symbols without the time constraint. It can’t completely replace sample stitching, but it’s another tool for the toolbox! And it’s fun and much quicker!!!
Some of the many mixed media artists I’m watching for inspiration and ideas these days:
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01.16.09
Posted in General at 7:00 am by deRomilly
I can hear my doctor, who is trying to keep me from diabetes and other health issues now — “Do you KNOW how many carbs are in that mocha and muffin?!” Well, yes, actually, I do, but my car has been sick, my schedule’s all messed up, I needed breakfast, I was late, I wanted comfort food and the coffee shop’s right next to my office.
And you have to admit, it IS a pretty muffin!
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01.14.09
Posted in Artwork at 7:00 am by deRomilly
Is easy for me to come by. I love winter. I love the garden in winter. Last winter, and this winter to a lesser extent, however, have been extremely mild here in North Carolina. Very warm. For example, it was 65 degrees at one point last week. I miss my snow!
But I have had a chance to take these photos of the wonderful winter berries around the area. I find them stunning, don’t you?
Yes, they are both of the same variety, but plants in different areas of town. That top photo is screaming at me to do something textiley with the theme… But I don’ t know what, yet. Any ideas?
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01.13.09
Posted in Giveaways at 6:15 pm by deRomilly
I’ll ship the William Morris book free of charge to the winner, including internationally. So don’t decide not to play on the basis of whether or not you’re in the United States!
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We were accosted by our next door neighbor (she’s 12) and had a snowball fight, which I lost. Which felt normal for me, although I’ve won most of the ones the EO and I have had.
Tomorrow is supposed to be the first day of my next session of dance classes. I am told that they may close the community center, and I don’ t think I’d be adverse to that. We’ll see what happens.