(Above: Ed Madden and me ... the Monarchs of the Jasper Magazine Mardi Gras krewe.)
It seems like ages since I last wrote a blog post but it has only been two weeks (which, admittedly is a long time between my normal posting.) Plenty has happened since then ... like reigning over one of the local Mardi Gras krewes in a fun filled parade. My friend Ed Madden, the city's poet laureate, and I were the "monarchs" (a gender neutral esteemed title) for Jasper Magazine. Our regal head-wear was created by Kendal Turner ...
... and we rode in a '68 convertible Corvette driven by its proud owner J Britt. Photographer John Allen walked the entire length of the parade with us, snapping many hilarious photos en route.
After the weekend, Steve and I loaded the rental cargo van and drove to Baltimore for the American Craft Council Wholesale and Retail show. It is truly an honor to be under the same, enormous convention center roof with 640+ nationally juried, professional craft artists working in clay, glass, metal, wood, and fiber. Hundreds of people came despite dreadfully low temperatures and several inches of fresh snow.
I finished three, small pieces in my "In Box Series" right before we left. I didn't have time to blog them before leaving ... but here they are!
It's funny that two of the three sold during the show despite the fact that I had three others the same size! Only In Box CLXXIV is still available!
Before leaving, I started a new art quilt. I was otherwise between hand stitching projects and couldn't imagine a long drive up and back without needle and thread. This new piece is coming along very, very well. I'm excited! Also, I got my contract to teach my "HOT" workshop at the Craft Alliance Center of Art and Design in St. Louis on May 16 and 17 ... just after a 2-week art residency at the Anderson Center in Minnesota. I'm very excited. "HOT" is my workshop on heat-activated techniques for creative embroidery which has been taught at Focus on Fiber for Mary McBride in Florida, the Center for Contemporary Art in Pittsburgh, the Columbia Museum of Art, The Studios of Key West, and for the Masters of Art in Teaching program at Lander University. CLICK HERE for information on the workshop in St. Louis!
I'm linking this post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Fridays", a site for sharing fiber artworks.
Great seeing you--albeit briefly--in Baltimore. It is such a large show I feel I only glance at pieces and friends I wanted to be with for longer.
ReplyDeleteHope to see you again down the line--or at least on the web.