Runaway Runway ... and the Wildlife Rescue

(Above: Stitched, recycled tyvek mailing envelope. Click on this or any photo in this blog post to enlarge.)

An artist residency is truly "the gift of time". I love getting up in the morning and immediately going to "work" ... stitching and making art! It is a fantastic way to spend the day. Yet, every day I also try to "see something" new in Key West and to ride my bicycle. As a result, I'm getting to know the place pretty well and also getting a little tanned (or at least my arms and lower legs are!)



Yesterday I went to the Wildlife Rescue Center and the White Street pier. I saw lots of birds. Some can't be released back into the wild due to the injuries they've sustained. Others are mending and will be set free. Lots of birds just enjoy the pond and the jungle-like grounds. The place is near the White Street pier. It was windy but the sun was shiny brightly. I know that the color of the ocean is a result of some complicated way sunlight refracts and reflects through the water ... but, seriously, the two sides of the pier seemed like two totally different bodies of water!



One side was variegated green ... from mint to kelly.



The other side was all turquoise and blue! Both sides were amazingly clear to the sandy bottom. There were plenty of fish too!



Although the cruise ships dock on the other side of the island, I cycled past this one earlier in the morning.

So ... what have I been up to "art wise"?


(Above: Runaway Runway 2012 two-piece recycled garment. )

I've been working on my Runaway Runway 2012 garment. This fashion show of recycled materials is being held on Saturday, April 21st. This is also the same day as the Historic Elmwood Tour of Homes and the Columbia Open Studios. Our home/business, Mouse House, will be featured for both these events ... and then we'll get to the Township Auditorium for the fashion show that night!

My mother and youngest sister Sonya came to Runaway Runway 2011. The morning after the show, Sonya and I designed the concept for this year's entry. Sonya warned me not to blog about it but I can't help myself. (Plus, I've never really been someone to keep an art secret. When asked about the possibility of others copying me, I've always figured I'd simply invent something else ... something even better! I have faith in my imagination.)

The two-piece garment will be worn by my neighbor's daughter. She's fourteen and into pageants. The base fabric is recycled packaging felt from River Runner, the local kayak and canoe shop. The owner, Guy Jones, has been donating this felt to me for years. It is the same material I use as the base of my "In Box Series" and all my faux-stained glass fiber pieces. Most of my Grave Rubbing Art Quilts don't have traditional batting; they've got this recycled, black packaging felt.

The white buttons were salvaged from the floor of the former South Carolina State Mental Hospital's laundry and alterations building. I used them in my December storefront window installation at S & S. Now, I've been stitching like "crazy" to cover the felt ... a little every night before going to sleep in the big, comfy bedroom chair. Even the decorative buttons around the neckline came from the mental institution.


(Above: "Junk" from my youngest sister Sonya's travel agency!)

The garment isn't all that will be on the cat walk next month. My model will be carrying a red faux-alligator bag made from "junk" from Sonya's travel agency. She sent it to me within a month of last year's fashion show. Some of it dates to 1989 ... like the disc covers for travel agency computer programs from Delta Airlines!


(Above: Stitching the tyvek mailers.)

Some of the mailing envelopes were made of tyvek. I stitched a grid ... well ... several grids! Then I zapped them with a heat gun. Heat made the fabric pucker and bubble. I painted it red.


(Above: Stitched, zapped, and painted sheets of recycled tyvek mailing envelopes.)

I gently ironed the "material" as flat as I could. Then, I restitched the largest piece onto a couple of bubble-wrapped mailing envelopes.


(Above: Bubble wrap mailing envelopes about to be stitched onto the zapped and painted red tyvek.)


(Above: Red faux-alligator bag for Runaway Runway 2012.)

Eventually, I used some of the foam material and more tyvek for the strap. More buttons from the Mental Hospital were added ... plus an elastic hairband that I took from one of the other artists-in-residences! Kristen Michelle is appearing at the Waterfront Theater's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She was generous enough to supply the used hairband I needed for a purse closure!




I also added some wax and black crayon to better emulate the look of faux-leather.



The interior still shows the materials used in the construction. There's another accessory for my model ... but I'm keeping that one "a secret" for a bit longer!



Unbelievably, I ran out of painted Wonder Under. I use this while constructing my faux-stained glass fiber pieces. I'm currently working on twelve, small "Windows" (approximately 13" x 11".) It was nice to allow the washes of color to dry in the tropical garden just outside my cottage!

St. Patrick's Day in Key West

(Above: Collection of antique dolls at the "Oldest House" in Key West. Click on this or any image in this post to enlarge.)

It is really easy to lose track of time while in the midst of an artist residency. I've described this sort of experience as "a month of Sundays dream-come-true" ... and this is very accurate. It is also very much like "every day" being a "Sunday". Thus, I really didn't realize that yesterday was "Saturday" ... much less "St. Patrick's Day"!

One of the other artists-in-residence here at The Studios of Key West is Anne Ireland. She's a landscape painter from Maine. Her husband flew in for the week yesterday. I loaned her my car to pick him up at the airport. She returned saying, "Avoid Duvall Street at all costs. It's St. Patrick's Day and it's a mad house. People are wearing green tutus and their hair is sprayed florescent green!"



That was enough to send me directly to the heart of the action within the next few minutes! I had a total blast! Everyone seemed willing to pose for photos except the two "ladies" wearing shamrock pasties on their breasts. (They wanted a tip! I didn't want the photos that badly!) From college students on spring break to senior citizens in leprechaun boxers, everyone was having fun. Even the police seemed to be taking the antics and frolics with more than a grain of salt. (I think their task was simply to prevent people from hurting themselves!) My favorite 27 photos are on a Flickr! set HERE ... or as a hilarious slide show HERE!



At one point, I even got into one of the photos!



Yet, this wasn't the only thing I did on St. Patrick's Day. Right there at 322 Duvall Street is the oldest house in all of Southern Florida. It is operated by the Old Island Restoration Foundation and is free to the public. It was wonderful to wander around the building with the noise of St. Patrick's Day held almost at bay outside the front door.


(Above: Key West, The Oldest House ... living and dining room areas. Click on image to enlarge.)

I was most impressed with the vivid colors ... atypical for anywhere else I've ever visited showing early 19th century living quarters. It seems that the tropical environment, the sun drenched days, and the luxury of deep hues affected the interior design choices ... for the better!



The bedroom was lovely ... though it was hard to think of a family with nine daughters sharing the space!



Like many places with very warm, summer climates, the "kitchen" was a separate building ... a place outside the main structure for all the heat associated with cooking. Though I actually hate to cook, I love looking at antique kitchens!



I love the utensils, the storage units, the essential elements that are associated with food and cooking. This place did not disappoint!

Exploring Key West and NEW WORK!

(Above: Lancet Window XVIII. 28" x 8". Polyester velvet, recycled acrylic felt, free motion embroidery and melting. Click on this and any other image in this post to enlarge.)

It is hard to believe that I'm already at the midway point of this fabulous art residency. There are so many places I still want to visit and so many project on which to work. The entire island is a creative, magical paradise. I'm torn every day between studio time and "Key West" time.



Because I have a bicycle (graciously provided by The Studios of Key West), I am able to ride through places like Zachery Taylor State Park. The beaches there are amazing colors and the Civil War era fort is in great repair.



From the fort I watched one of two giant cruise ships pull into the harbor not far away.



During a recent afternoon, I ventured into the local aquarium. It was a great experience. Five different rescued sea turtles call the place home.



A guide fed the adult sting rays and the tank of nurse shark.



Do you think they really need the "no hands" sign?



This morning I rode around the airport which sits at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. A powerful rain burst totally drenched me ... but the sun came out and I was totally dry by the time I got back to the residency cottage to work!


(Above: Lancet Window XVII.)

Yes, I have been working! In fact, I've finished another four Lancet Windows! All these photos were taken using the marble bathroom floor as a background! This truly is "heaven".


(Above: Lancet Window XVI.)

Last night was "Walk on White", the third Thursday art crawl for the galleries along White Street. The Studios of Key West are located on White Street and dozens of people came through my studio/living space to visit. It was great.


(Above: Lancet Window XV)

Tonight there's a concert: "Vienna in Paradise" with Herbert Weissberg, former principal flutist with the Vienna Symphony playing with Heinz Medjimorec on the piano (Haydin Trio) and Peter Siakala on cello (Vienna Symphony). Am I going! OF COURSE! Better get dressed up. It's in a half hour!

Relics from Key West and a walk around town

(Above: Relic LXXVII. All these "relics" are the results of my workshop demonstrations. Each is approximately 6" by 8" to 9". Click on any image in this post to enlarge.)

On Sunday morning I took my camera on a walk down Southard Street, back up Fleming Street, and down Margaret Street on a meandering path back toward my cute artist residency studio unit on Ashe Street.



I passed fancy big houses ....



.... and comfortable cottages with rockers on their porches ...



... and more blossoming trees and flowers than I could possible photograph.



The architectural details are amazing ...



... especially all the colorful shutters ...


.... and the gingerbread woodwork and mosaics ... all in various state of repair depending on the property ...



There's all sorts of art and sculpture along the way.

I shot over 200 images but pared the selection down to under eighty. To see these on Flickr!, CLICK HERE. As a slideshow, click HERE.

With this blog post, I'm happy to share the finished demonstration pieces from previous "Hot" Workshops, including the one I taught here at The Studios of Key West last week. I've prided myself on finishing all my demonstrations but I'd gotten terribly behind. I had seven in various stages of completion ... now all done!


(Above: Relic LXXIX. Click on any image to enlarge.)


(Above: Relic LXXIII.)


(Above: Relic LXXIV.)


(Above: Relic LXXV.)


(Above: Relic LXXVIII.)


(Above: Relic LXXVI.)

The Audubon House and another Lancet Window

(Above: Lancet Window XIV. Approximately 28" x 8". Polyester stretch velvet, previously painted heat activated adhesive, metallic foiling, free-motion machine embroidery, melting. Click on this or any other photo in this blog post to enlarge.)


(Above: The Audubon House, Key West.)

Last Saturday I visited the Audubon House here in Key West. Audubon never actually stayed in this building. It wasn't built until over a decade after he left but it was constructed by Capt. Geiger, one of the people who entertained Audubon, gave him accommodations, and provided guides for excursion to find new specimens. Yet, he stayed in the building that pre-dated this one and used the gardens to sketch of 18 of the 22 birds he found in the Keys.



It is also a beautiful historic house which was rescued from demolition in 1958 by the Wolfsons. The renovation spear-headed the preservation movement in the area.



Over the years, Steve and I have sold dozens upon dozens of reproduction Audubon prints. (The Long billed curlew with the Charleston skyline in the background and the now extinct Carolina Parrots have always been our best sellers.) It was nice to spend time with 28 first edition prints.



The gallery/gift shop wasn't bad either. I expected the prices to be obscene but they weren't really. (Higher than I can command but still enticing for tourists looking to purchase an antique from a memorable place!) I took bunch of photos. They are HERE on Flickr or HERE for a slideshow.



The gardens were simply beautiful. I don't know much about flowers, especially orchids ... but they sure are pretty! I know my great aunt Janet, my late Grandma Lenz, and my sister Wanda would love this place! There was an exotic feel to the plant life!



Of course I'm sight-seeing ... but I am also hard at "work"! I finished another Lancet Window (first image in this post, of course!) and tomorrow I'll have more work to post. Tonight I'm hosting a "stitch & bitch" for my workshop participants. This is a chance to come together with our finished works ... after everyone had time to work in the privacy and quietness of her own home. It should be fun. In preparation for it, I, too, finished all the "demos" I had going. I generally demonstrate heat activated techniques by starting a piece or two of my own. Unbelievably, I had SEVEN in various stages of completion ... from at least the last three workshops! I finished them all! Photos coming!