tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325405252024-03-15T20:09:27.008-05:00Art In StitchesDay to day journal of installation, embroidery, and fiber arts created by Susan LenzSusan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.comBlogger1963125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-1199014669152913032024-02-25T17:25:00.005-05:002024-02-25T17:29:49.964-05:00Moving Update!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRWIygBRQNcERXUqYj0lEoJdf73CwLb9FrqqaZO_8cBlrgBO3Wii011BORceuQqIKE1v38WrFm9nmV7on0GpnXp35Q1uWeog7Dc-CzLvcFDQy6yjj_wfPQFlZtIUWvblLVzs1LkejVJT6xlA5ZAoSI5wPEYdzoFwYVVZR4znp9L5qt8AKR8Zz/s960/428686240_10232868623523086_5668566455343619592_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRWIygBRQNcERXUqYj0lEoJdf73CwLb9FrqqaZO_8cBlrgBO3Wii011BORceuQqIKE1v38WrFm9nmV7on0GpnXp35Q1uWeog7Dc-CzLvcFDQy6yjj_wfPQFlZtIUWvblLVzs1LkejVJT6xlA5ZAoSI5wPEYdzoFwYVVZR4znp9L5qt8AKR8Zz/s320/428686240_10232868623523086_5668566455343619592_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: View to about 98% of our belongings loaded into the sanctuary!)<p></p><p>Blogging has unfortunately been an item on my "to do" list that just hasn't been checked off in weeks. Instead, Steve and I have been busy packing boxes, hauling things to the church, getting a mailbox (and starting rural delivery service), changing addresses on too many accounts to number, and doing all the other things that come with a major move. We are super excited to announce that Mouse House will become Rob Shaw's frame shop, gallery, and home ... continuing our tradition of "living above the business". Historic Elmwood Park neighborhood is thrilled too! The property will be owner occupied instead of becoming the fifth of five 9 - 5 law firms (which we sort of assumed until Rob expressed interest!) <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPES6bgWZl1KWTVxliP5x86G7aioo2PGLD3DHkAot21y8bUGuXbudnUFA6_4ZJVGnNvBVdoK5jO7zaiBHXKhqchO0xD6c3s35lPoNmAkhW_IaF_hL-RijRYEOw1_qYnRLX836OzBdwJwjR0dwbSoN1xntOfKuL9LsM-gzsWhwq7dHhehDY1P4C/s2048/428597662_10232856094329864_6393697063579021986_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPES6bgWZl1KWTVxliP5x86G7aioo2PGLD3DHkAot21y8bUGuXbudnUFA6_4ZJVGnNvBVdoK5jO7zaiBHXKhqchO0xD6c3s35lPoNmAkhW_IaF_hL-RijRYEOw1_qYnRLX836OzBdwJwjR0dwbSoN1xntOfKuL9LsM-gzsWhwq7dHhehDY1P4C/s320/428597662_10232856094329864_6393697063579021986_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: The five man crew from <a href="https://www.palmettospecialtytransfer.com/">Palmetto Specialty Transfer</a>!)<p></p><p>Last Tuesday, the five man crew from Palmetto Specialty Transfer came to haul away the big, heavy things that Steve and I couldn't manage ourselves. This included several pieces of framing equipment ... because despite being retired from that industry, we will still need to frame my future artwork!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuWbdUKskNlqaj460GK6id7qHlEWCEUdnBu6IYZz2SW-6bbPKlWDCSErp07GkpPCL9laOWvo4YwGvJQgXZe4uoeBg48DJKnzT_ilRm6FJwTt9sgq4H4_fKqCi6XwNjec2qbWWkOc1sqCa6p50dmH0QJvkDDcGVyljBqEpJ1-EGH4rbhNAbzY1/s2048/428645968_10232849472964334_7503836798825631197_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuWbdUKskNlqaj460GK6id7qHlEWCEUdnBu6IYZz2SW-6bbPKlWDCSErp07GkpPCL9laOWvo4YwGvJQgXZe4uoeBg48DJKnzT_ilRm6FJwTt9sgq4H4_fKqCi6XwNjec2qbWWkOc1sqCa6p50dmH0QJvkDDcGVyljBqEpJ1-EGH4rbhNAbzY1/s320/428645968_10232849472964334_7503836798825631197_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>We were amazed at the speed, careful handling, and efficiency. We were also stunned at just how strong these guys were. They had two trucks loaded in less than a half day.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a8Xq7k9pTolROa8b-APf2MxadroOdulUkyNsacrwx0o4J9q3UfhgOcXZ0THW3kyqc60aiwizg5iE5Cu9bly5tWO2oZFV4gWmKQjPsmwAy2A9VPrckgmPwieEicsJ5_OhimxeVxML4Gq1o-oTAzbFnexruj6sdR8pXOmtvVHnXBqDzVrrCOuK/s2048/428648672_10232849472804330_1928036066782984119_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a8Xq7k9pTolROa8b-APf2MxadroOdulUkyNsacrwx0o4J9q3UfhgOcXZ0THW3kyqc60aiwizg5iE5Cu9bly5tWO2oZFV4gWmKQjPsmwAy2A9VPrckgmPwieEicsJ5_OhimxeVxML4Gq1o-oTAzbFnexruj6sdR8pXOmtvVHnXBqDzVrrCOuK/s320/428648672_10232849472804330_1928036066782984119_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>After they finished, I drove another van load of our things to the church. This included our futon mattress. I worked all afternoon and into the evening ... clearing space in the sanctuary for the load from the professional movers. I swept and swept and swept ... after consolidating things that the contractor still had in the space and all the empty corrugated boxes that once held appliances, lighting fixtures, and plumbing needs. When it got dark, I went to the grocery store and then made dinner. Finally, I went to sleep ... the first night in the church ... without flush toilets and with an HVAC unit that wasn't working.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWo3I3F033Ox50BlduGKrhb-V1aEvVUIrw8c8nA4CiAITpGVev5D5n89IPRjHZWB9dszlzAt4MCt01PEfeTyuBI0McwPvDrAnoUdp_AazjrV4XbEp6c6YRCzERELGGnPOftVxkKTj9dmfX5OBtHVy59L5B2IqW8e9rhgvAlTHOeOlY-dzJ1BK/s2048/429687434_10232868636723416_2222653948801912611_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWo3I3F033Ox50BlduGKrhb-V1aEvVUIrw8c8nA4CiAITpGVev5D5n89IPRjHZWB9dszlzAt4MCt01PEfeTyuBI0McwPvDrAnoUdp_AazjrV4XbEp6c6YRCzERELGGnPOftVxkKTj9dmfX5OBtHVy59L5B2IqW8e9rhgvAlTHOeOlY-dzJ1BK/s320/429687434_10232868636723416_2222653948801912611_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Steve and Ernie ... urban camping in our Columbia living room!)<p></p><p>Meanwhile, Steve was back in Columbia cleaning floors and investigating our future Internet needs. We had already sold our old bed frame. The box springs and mattress were pulled into the living room. (They go out on the street on the morning of closing! A new bed is in our future ... something special after 29 years with this one!) So ... Steve had flush toilets, heat, and our two cats but little else. This is also how we are living until this Wednesday.</p><p></p><p>On Wednesday we are flying to New York City to attend the Outsider Art Fair. We've always wanted to go. For a while, we thought this trip would get postponed for another year, but the closing on Mouse House is scheduled for Monday, March 4th. We will return late on Saturday, pack up what's left on Sunday, and permanently move to the Cateechee mill village church after the morning closing on the 4th! This is super exciting!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkh9q_vECzQkyjyUi2ps7bh38MuqCMeuPUrysg3YTwUsHoJtHtlcgoQkBjXxlptjQI5aahYjPSu0t7hnnsCO7p36j9HVvrFlZ9SBZUYt8XT6O7aHhV2ImuMlHDIrGy-_BOP0vr1Fl0TjeUQxYUgNTm_3tGlCbuSKmFjTUB1IlSyqCqWkkPwUR/s1440/428630457_18247070491246160_1554101349004629545_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkh9q_vECzQkyjyUi2ps7bh38MuqCMeuPUrysg3YTwUsHoJtHtlcgoQkBjXxlptjQI5aahYjPSu0t7hnnsCO7p36j9HVvrFlZ9SBZUYt8XT6O7aHhV2ImuMlHDIrGy-_BOP0vr1Fl0TjeUQxYUgNTm_3tGlCbuSKmFjTUB1IlSyqCqWkkPwUR/s320/428630457_18247070491246160_1554101349004629545_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: The writer's panel for <a href="https://bulletsandbandaids.org/">Bullets and Bandaids</a> at<a href="https://www.ringling.edu/EAC/"> Ringling College or Art and Design's Englewood Art Center</a>.)</div><p>Although I am still stitching a little almost every day, I've also been busy with another creative pursuit. Last weekend I was in Florida sitting on a writer's panel for Bullets and Bandaids at the Ringling College of Art and Design's Englewood Art Center. Over the last two years, I've written four essays and created three artworks for this important non-profit. It was truly an honor to be included on this panel for my writing. More than that, I've learned so much about veterans and their struggles. So ... when facing the many excuses and delays with the church's renovations, I am much more tolerant. Things could be a lot worse ... and just two days ago ... the plumbers managed to get our toilets flushing, the downstairs HVAC unit is working splendidly, and all sorts of other good things happened. Steve and I are truly blessed. There's plenty more to do but we can do it!<br /></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-82294699725120128542024-02-05T16:44:00.006-05:002024-02-05T16:45:33.362-05:00Hand-stitched Commission<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77JeOddU71Zx2L42DNeEe-E9kZ8ogaEHPabLs7TooAIkuAvVdJkJ9d2FwjJZem0v_wK7Y7cTnFYHKeffr-ODoU_tmzE6tzGfkcWZxdO2CPuMNFqlZtH8C1eOezWBatuA3b7NCUfX438XSCXH4wCDOXEBnNdubfyXWMRFI7YekP2p_vYGvkDTj/s1800/Donna%20Pullen%20and%20the%20commission.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77JeOddU71Zx2L42DNeEe-E9kZ8ogaEHPabLs7TooAIkuAvVdJkJ9d2FwjJZem0v_wK7Y7cTnFYHKeffr-ODoU_tmzE6tzGfkcWZxdO2CPuMNFqlZtH8C1eOezWBatuA3b7NCUfX438XSCXH4wCDOXEBnNdubfyXWMRFI7YekP2p_vYGvkDTj/s320/Donna%20Pullen%20and%20the%20commission.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: My friend Donna with her newly commission, hand-stitched In Box Series artwork. The artwork is framed: 31 1/2" x 18". Click on any image to enlarge.)</div><p>Recently I was honored with a commission from my friend Donna. Donna works for a local bank. Twenty-three years ago, the bank purchased a city block in downtown Columbia on which to build their new offices. Donna convinced the bank's officers to allow artists to salvage anything from the three buildings scheduled for demolition. I went. Donna checked all the artists onto the fenced off block. It was the very first time I ever signed my name as "an artist". A year later, the bank held an event to showcase the artwork made. This was one of the first times anything I created was also sold. So, it seems fitting that one of the last things I will stitch here in Columbia is a commission for Donna! By the end of the month, Steve and I will be moved into our Cateechee mill village church outside Central, South Carolina. Below is a bit of documentation for this commission. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0VgpLXCVEk_95r38hOXAA57ZvuXPnPhKgZoRuIc7sKhQpo3FxznUy-pAYIE0dUUSEuUAtmGevuCvQl_RlTt2m6TjPqm8kkr_PkQNhCV6lP1oo2nFwMRAY15iD0rEAejGfUBei75fKhTcg2o3lOfzfyoy4OGVwn4Ulb3bk4xzcJ2yUMmko11X/s1500/001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0VgpLXCVEk_95r38hOXAA57ZvuXPnPhKgZoRuIc7sKhQpo3FxznUy-pAYIE0dUUSEuUAtmGevuCvQl_RlTt2m6TjPqm8kkr_PkQNhCV6lP1oo2nFwMRAY15iD0rEAejGfUBei75fKhTcg2o3lOfzfyoy4OGVwn4Ulb3bk4xzcJ2yUMmko11X/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: A piece of recycled, black industrial felt onto which I ironed a piece of Pellon 805/Wonder Under.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv0TniSfiBua96GmotBDDV2BVEimxDJI6n5Oggl0FFMzld5YgOUMmhz5GJpy-ATl7mS0-Y2yIZjCDl5KgOygHBkafRrup2B7GVwQu6Et3IT7Mme7eskaYSrtwZZ0NWrQjfwY5phkm_-gOI_YFP6AV6H7kXubF7RvAd3sGNJwH3VMako6IWbTC/s1500/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv0TniSfiBua96GmotBDDV2BVEimxDJI6n5Oggl0FFMzld5YgOUMmhz5GJpy-ATl7mS0-Y2yIZjCDl5KgOygHBkafRrup2B7GVwQu6Et3IT7Mme7eskaYSrtwZZ0NWrQjfwY5phkm_-gOI_YFP6AV6H7kXubF7RvAd3sGNJwH3VMako6IWbTC/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: My stash of polyester stretch velvet shapes. The reverse of all this material was previously fused with Pellon 805/Wonder Under.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanS0aWtCSF2J6a0fhg4Vj8jjCPsOJirVrcw7XgTae4yRs_EGHDFf0MX1rzZJSf5zSPmRmUbpqrlNpTZ9B_iEqvOkFXduiaIApD3tuWQJ7VbHMX4y1arHKVVQ5hBBBYsUJmqOB9ucUCouH2ZmTKxzedlKOv6GGtibwvS-GFI5VQIVoEPZGvdBk/s1500/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanS0aWtCSF2J6a0fhg4Vj8jjCPsOJirVrcw7XgTae4yRs_EGHDFf0MX1rzZJSf5zSPmRmUbpqrlNpTZ9B_iEqvOkFXduiaIApD3tuWQJ7VbHMX4y1arHKVVQ5hBBBYsUJmqOB9ucUCouH2ZmTKxzedlKOv6GGtibwvS-GFI5VQIVoEPZGvdBk/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Pulling off the carrying sheet of the Pellon 805/Wonder Under. The adhesive defines the area in which to create the artwork. It also gives an extra firm hold on this foundation layer of polyester stretch velvet.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmRDmThKZFRfFeIY6IrUsCZZYqcc_IYggqc_esL9ZUpfOZcdUOWcWQz8XXH-wya3lHSWB-zDxZPJOuon_dMiAfHuphxgS-0AUSO1IyH1f44WllaldyszFnABmQvys16dTODoKsCq3f88d3jyU17asrUMbQWqgyCw0CNUU0xb5FKkgQiOSYsbU/s1500/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmRDmThKZFRfFeIY6IrUsCZZYqcc_IYggqc_esL9ZUpfOZcdUOWcWQz8XXH-wya3lHSWB-zDxZPJOuon_dMiAfHuphxgS-0AUSO1IyH1f44WllaldyszFnABmQvys16dTODoKsCq3f88d3jyU17asrUMbQWqgyCw0CNUU0xb5FKkgQiOSYsbU/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Assorted pieces of the polyester stretch velvet stash fused to the industrial felt. I generally add another, solid layer of Pellon 805/Wonder Under over this surface before adding more layers.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7Tj0p1gyFudRvVgtHT-zacOJ3S_OOmy88bKYWLrfj0EJ-Faq0NtvhaZoV1CpjDY_owmvP8aggmf7cyyi7bdFCAJLDwCu-jiVjO-C_rZR4zC6jzTwa_HZEKtMV52UXcGsIV8agWARCYHFgdyOyJrSU8ArqjqAZw47xds3dgKd5FKI5v7hlH0J/s1500/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7Tj0p1gyFudRvVgtHT-zacOJ3S_OOmy88bKYWLrfj0EJ-Faq0NtvhaZoV1CpjDY_owmvP8aggmf7cyyi7bdFCAJLDwCu-jiVjO-C_rZR4zC6jzTwa_HZEKtMV52UXcGsIV8agWARCYHFgdyOyJrSU8ArqjqAZw47xds3dgKd5FKI5v7hlH0J/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Additional pieces of polyester stretch velvet layered onto the foundation pieces. Some of the shapes are as much as five layers deep. At this point, I iron another, solid layer of Pellon 805/Wonder Under over the entire surface.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iiBCzMcd_o_Hu_yJaA8HBgK6w5YcEiOw2zsFQgzLsBHm0NLrOsinNzr8MVsU8Kzr3fXiB4pk3ZHEUIkfdcdb75cz6CxipwD4vYZzl-KLdtCnaBRIB9kkPQFu6CjdUaXsY6_arFo8g_XJ6tE3a127-5LT6mf5eTq_4cxCUjoBbSCWXlSxaE9c/s1500/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iiBCzMcd_o_Hu_yJaA8HBgK6w5YcEiOw2zsFQgzLsBHm0NLrOsinNzr8MVsU8Kzr3fXiB4pk3ZHEUIkfdcdb75cz6CxipwD4vYZzl-KLdtCnaBRIB9kkPQFu6CjdUaXsY6_arFo8g_XJ6tE3a127-5LT6mf5eTq_4cxCUjoBbSCWXlSxaE9c/s320/7.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Strips of sheer chiffon and bridal tulle/netting are fused over the surface. This provides a smooth surface for stitching.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUvwMXmTfpmjsrmJBZXpz_9IU2h9Bssm9HUPWeWK84s3Nz-qG7tT7TXxaWCj9AypHMVYzq_u1XK7Y5ZzgEElmWygoDIzq-0gSRDd66pRqSLaQIIYh-pzg1uZxLV0RlqWu-YRZ1Nn8ybDYvY6j_i0QhuH2yFOsdwEbFd4I6DURAzVdNm14FMr_/s2048/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUvwMXmTfpmjsrmJBZXpz_9IU2h9Bssm9HUPWeWK84s3Nz-qG7tT7TXxaWCj9AypHMVYzq_u1XK7Y5ZzgEElmWygoDIzq-0gSRDd66pRqSLaQIIYh-pzg1uZxLV0RlqWu-YRZ1Nn8ybDYvY6j_i0QhuH2yFOsdwEbFd4I6DURAzVdNm14FMr_/s320/9.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: The piece is then stapled to a stretcher bar. I stitched this piece while riding in the cargo van, back and forth to the Cateechee mill village church. Assorted 100% cotton embroidery floss is carefully stitched in a back-and-forth system so that no odd, diagonal stitch is visible after the melting process. Basically ... I have to keep in mind where the stitch on the backside is going!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiQ-4H8kahsM5B83WhvgSjW5pYQnswfIhOCeoHb2_7O9CCel5eEl2Y-IrLP9tKlLziZk_xKizQgfZUP7LhufdSawGGZid8c8yTS0RlDVS0bYMmSMCphBQHD1_jwmnns2LmlvYeE0jGAtDUrY-rlgo8yn9o0i4MYLEVnRqzdDzOoregALkh1NM/s1500/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiQ-4H8kahsM5B83WhvgSjW5pYQnswfIhOCeoHb2_7O9CCel5eEl2Y-IrLP9tKlLziZk_xKizQgfZUP7LhufdSawGGZid8c8yTS0RlDVS0bYMmSMCphBQHD1_jwmnns2LmlvYeE0jGAtDUrY-rlgo8yn9o0i4MYLEVnRqzdDzOoregALkh1NM/s320/11.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: I use an industrial heat gun and melt the space between the polyester stretch velvet shapes. This is the space where the felt is still showing. It is the thinnest layer which melts within a second or two. The cotton floss "bridges" do not melt. They hold the shapes together. These bridges are obvious on the back side. They are the ones with the twisted colors ... because I've laced most of them when stitching from one square to the next.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTCWsSj4e6tmY02r_jYcRST03U0Tw_rdSI87Y8TMDrlTwqAgmsF9d4bSMqLUu2L1dHkyw5PaeAOzDvZYLMGXzVNgf3u1RDoDhpY6tjbX-aRu1ljY8OEU5L9ElkkbU9IXN7dGl7zkkacpFJJFU5FrC-Tqdm5i2lNhNEdpzBxG_-exWj-2W6bb6/s2700/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTCWsSj4e6tmY02r_jYcRST03U0Tw_rdSI87Y8TMDrlTwqAgmsF9d4bSMqLUu2L1dHkyw5PaeAOzDvZYLMGXzVNgf3u1RDoDhpY6tjbX-aRu1ljY8OEU5L9ElkkbU9IXN7dGl7zkkacpFJJFU5FrC-Tqdm5i2lNhNEdpzBxG_-exWj-2W6bb6/s320/13.jpg" width="166" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: The finished commission, full image without the frame.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgxcaxDY_I2j2pazUeVI6qHW1BoQ5cMsME_uFFfQZiQKBg6ys2jUn9i3X_SQ0rU0dGkG59xGqeIaa9-ZeQuycxGV-71CVLNZvIxcPtMZQSTP81iYEkJ84BXV-IKTY_XoPCPEvfqML0wkYPr99anWOI2SfL2bTny54kYL_5TSz4iGmXzNYHZsf/s1500/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgxcaxDY_I2j2pazUeVI6qHW1BoQ5cMsME_uFFfQZiQKBg6ys2jUn9i3X_SQ0rU0dGkG59xGqeIaa9-ZeQuycxGV-71CVLNZvIxcPtMZQSTP81iYEkJ84BXV-IKTY_XoPCPEvfqML0wkYPr99anWOI2SfL2bTny54kYL_5TSz4iGmXzNYHZsf/s320/15.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Detail image at an angle.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqyqW-o0vIw7j292d5jJnmQxFzerwjgM8QRJP2CFB8DL-qlbHOLqrb0BFxZhhzM5X3-S34C1SZElrUFnCJcK59Ds77K13UxomoFhQ7aqlr0z0iOmt8YeV5r6o6qNHNGB9dJpJEWSdXv9PrGt7w-bl3YPCBIkTyBBsCNkPbh-RJy8CWErMB-vt/s2700/16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="2025" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqyqW-o0vIw7j292d5jJnmQxFzerwjgM8QRJP2CFB8DL-qlbHOLqrb0BFxZhhzM5X3-S34C1SZElrUFnCJcK59Ds77K13UxomoFhQ7aqlr0z0iOmt8YeV5r6o6qNHNGB9dJpJEWSdXv9PrGt7w-bl3YPCBIkTyBBsCNkPbh-RJy8CWErMB-vt/s320/16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>(Above: The finished piece before Donna picked it up!<br /><p><br /> </p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-42887075607522520822024-01-30T12:03:00.003-05:002024-01-30T12:03:42.581-05:00Mandala CLXXVIII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZy7HDS34OXAcWBxWQb35JBJLqXqislgcoPX_TIpSNjT2m7onRBAHuOTTBJ5A9N5zJceb-yD_45G_ZNO20TQAhmXOBA3b5D0TAkO_k8h5gWUEbg6JCf5_eu2QislkwHRkXPXLWsL1xzxGqorRDLCb7c63ihfuLu4fDv2nqUBjfpsXlpqiJrIf/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXVIII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZy7HDS34OXAcWBxWQb35JBJLqXqislgcoPX_TIpSNjT2m7onRBAHuOTTBJ5A9N5zJceb-yD_45G_ZNO20TQAhmXOBA3b5D0TAkO_k8h5gWUEbg6JCf5_eu2QislkwHRkXPXLWsL1xzxGqorRDLCb7c63ihfuLu4fDv2nqUBjfpsXlpqiJrIf/s320/Mandala%20CLXXVIII.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <i><b>Mandala CLXXVIII</b></i>. Custom framed: 16" x 16". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include: Kitchen timer dial; six, miniature fighter jets; six vintage belt buckles; burgundy colored <span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto">tops from injectable medication bottles; light blue </span></span>insulin lancets; casino chips; Cheerwine bottle caps; round, front rail felt punchings from my old piano; all but two letters from a Scrabble dice game; assorted buttons and beads. Click on either image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>Every day sees Steve and me a little closer to moving into the old Cateechee mill village church that is being renovated into our future home and my sanctuary-sized fiber arts studio. Just yesterday, I delivered all the wood that was my 8' x 8' mat cutting table and a glass storage unit. These were essential parts of our framing shop. Although we are no longer accepting custom picture framing orders (as in RETIRED after 35+ years!), we will need these units for framing my own art and storing finished artwork. We got lucky! We met a great guy who does plenty of remodeling and custom woodworking. He came to Columbia and carefully dismantled the units ... noting where each plank and slat went. Even as I type this blog post, he is at the church reassembling everything. Soon ... as in "this time next month", I plan on being able to cut my own mats in my new studio space! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM2CQygQDx4FSQ7VqD5IpaFn9FcrejELvY3Tec5dQI-Aji_KZrP-JzRigv5AurL0RrvDck6N9mZumx7_SmTqyrLt0qYMQVQK9-c7UFCnj_i2OBcq317Tlj1wsH71DQPybWGbwT17a-Mi4Xrt83gJ7Qd5xN2fr4JsckeSrjfPyGDDA_kXBKIPe/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXVIII,%20detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM2CQygQDx4FSQ7VqD5IpaFn9FcrejELvY3Tec5dQI-Aji_KZrP-JzRigv5AurL0RrvDck6N9mZumx7_SmTqyrLt0qYMQVQK9-c7UFCnj_i2OBcq317Tlj1wsH71DQPybWGbwT17a-Mi4Xrt83gJ7Qd5xN2fr4JsckeSrjfPyGDDA_kXBKIPe/s320/Mandala%20CLXXVIII,%20detail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of Mandala CLXXVIII.)<p></p><p>The only way I am keeping calm and sane during this transitional period is by stitching a little every day. This <a href="https://foundobjectmandalasbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/">Found Object Mandala</a> was recently finished. Two more pieces for my <b><i><a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2023/12/kinsfolk-new-series.html">Kinsfolk Series</a></i></b> are nearly ready to blog. Another mandala and a commissioned<i> In Box</i> are also underway. Yet, I am really looking forward to getting moved into my new studio and resuming work on my<b><i> <a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2023/10/approaching-end-of-my-art-residency-at.html">Cascade Installation</a></i></b>! The desire to spend all day, every day with a threaded needle is my driving force! <br /> </p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-11364367254833807502024-01-27T18:02:00.006-05:002024-01-27T18:02:34.109-05:00A Fantastic Weekend!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlYiOYWbVOo4K043HZK2bRFqsbsyyUksGm6-Ook0qCqQIxPjQOZ-y1X7ANLkMr5ds_nypMHINYzV2V_Y1bCnEAjAULP3pu6F_uQgQ3bq30XyCxcsTfGzRi7qNuL4yZVOxww3tRF03-tJf0H1deaXkLnEYm8KQWEEoo5r7eF43Wi8u37jnBu3I/s960/Jan.%2025,%20kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlYiOYWbVOo4K043HZK2bRFqsbsyyUksGm6-Ook0qCqQIxPjQOZ-y1X7ANLkMr5ds_nypMHINYzV2V_Y1bCnEAjAULP3pu6F_uQgQ3bq30XyCxcsTfGzRi7qNuL4yZVOxww3tRF03-tJf0H1deaXkLnEYm8KQWEEoo5r7eF43Wi8u37jnBu3I/s320/Jan.%2025,%20kitchen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: The kitchen at our Cateechee mill village church renovation!)<p></p><p>Most weeks find me packing box after box and loading dozens of our framed artwork into the van. Then, Steve and I are off to haul everything into the sanctuary of our Cateechee mill village church. The sanctuary will become my giant-sized fiber art studio. Nowadays, it is simply the place for waiting appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures, and whatever we've moved in boxes, etc. Why? Well, the former Sunday school rooms, choir room, and offices are currently being renovated into our future living area. So far, the kitchen is ahead of the other rooms. It looks AMAZING! Under that piece of plastic and plywood is a gorgeous walnut butcher block island. Steve and I have never had an island. We have never had new appliances either. This is all super exciting ... especially since this kitchen was "custom made" ... </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIW4tOrLRxaJq4YCEqxm4qWkSV9z5xHqzE6I2PUz5K5cdwWsMjRVQtyIQ0UboZZqRpXLTtmeBw5xAzxclVc_c8xmJKWx3Cl4Eruv3rlfF0O1gIb_rx1QjQk-76q3_M8m3j9wV8q8tJphbjzaVSP4wWlNncgTo06ChkJBFMZu4J2eJx2ornNKz/s960/Jan.%2025,%20kitchen%20drawer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIW4tOrLRxaJq4YCEqxm4qWkSV9z5xHqzE6I2PUz5K5cdwWsMjRVQtyIQ0UboZZqRpXLTtmeBw5xAzxclVc_c8xmJKWx3Cl4Eruv3rlfF0O1gIb_rx1QjQk-76q3_M8m3j9wV8q8tJphbjzaVSP4wWlNncgTo06ChkJBFMZu4J2eJx2ornNKz/s320/Jan.%2025,%20kitchen%20drawer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>... including dove-tailed drawers and a two-layer "lazy Susan" (always hated that name!) in the corner cabinet! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC7ooDjLLYHNmEWPzISZxNxBFZZfUyv8o9q3jguSNh84p9qBa7Q7_Xq9sAlM1PNr_lPX3-e_FrriYdrYpz1tEjXbs7TA6thyMCD8ozp5i4F-RqaG22J8W5ChCQ82nsj4EGKv_X-dvu7cZipoU-3NSLkuurs8i8yWHSz8iXSHiQ1H9qawF9Wlm/s960/Jan.%2025,%20dining%20room.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC7ooDjLLYHNmEWPzISZxNxBFZZfUyv8o9q3jguSNh84p9qBa7Q7_Xq9sAlM1PNr_lPX3-e_FrriYdrYpz1tEjXbs7TA6thyMCD8ozp5i4F-RqaG22J8W5ChCQ82nsj4EGKv_X-dvu7cZipoU-3NSLkuurs8i8yWHSz8iXSHiQ1H9qawF9Wlm/s320/Jan.%2025,%20dining%20room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The kitchen is open to this dining area where the floors are still "a work in progress" but the lighting unit has been installed!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IdESxzCZMlItjk_2K-oSOS3L8dgwQ_XDAAac1-pO06lu9tY5-EUxB4SMTbC8T52i-D6QH0nmVeafos1Vk23QgtYoeR9PDCYUSClfU02lfYGYSZNXFbgMEN6il4ts9ddRBL4ledD-1bsVKWZd1VtpNKxc39aObiMegnpS0V0kP_dsMdqJbha3/s960/Jan.%2025,%20Mr.%20Lopez%20and%20stained%20glass%20window.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IdESxzCZMlItjk_2K-oSOS3L8dgwQ_XDAAac1-pO06lu9tY5-EUxB4SMTbC8T52i-D6QH0nmVeafos1Vk23QgtYoeR9PDCYUSClfU02lfYGYSZNXFbgMEN6il4ts9ddRBL4ledD-1bsVKWZd1VtpNKxc39aObiMegnpS0V0kP_dsMdqJbha3/s320/Jan.%2025,%20Mr.%20Lopez%20and%20stained%20glass%20window.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>While we were dropping off a van load on Friday, we saw several people hard at work ... including Mr. Lopez who was painting the trim on the newly installed stained glass windows. We were overjoyed to see them.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OmBf1HYkgPfweXCN4PLYkxrxhtdcO69h4kMHq2grUiOyy9Wa8gFfXNCYjcbcVuoSB3sCSGYkes8gQndHYeHfIBRrKwihi3Sq_qE6wcZX-Pq5e7Rm1sxFQki1yWywugtUqRACfuI_nBuLsStsqA5eyCkx-a7UUPXAU70cz9JmLtgqZ4ssp-Cb/s960/Jan.%2025,%20stained%20glass%20window,%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OmBf1HYkgPfweXCN4PLYkxrxhtdcO69h4kMHq2grUiOyy9Wa8gFfXNCYjcbcVuoSB3sCSGYkes8gQndHYeHfIBRrKwihi3Sq_qE6wcZX-Pq5e7Rm1sxFQki1yWywugtUqRACfuI_nBuLsStsqA5eyCkx-a7UUPXAU70cz9JmLtgqZ4ssp-Cb/s320/Jan.%2025,%20stained%20glass%20window,%203.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The two stained glass windows were once in our living room. We commissioned them from a former employee who was, at the time, working on his MFA as a painter. He installed them in front of the existing windows and told us that they could be "taken out" and "installed elsewhere" ... if we ever moved. At the time, I never thought this would happen ... but last week, it did!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4kvXcqWj56uKkT7ZIvkXlvGr223lU0Dr6iusMcQzSSHK6AN7dE9duS1xcHNtkgZRnpv-P_-Oo4Gp-LI-bKWPgIy2NmyXmAi4DQv4Ja9T6r849UiSHYxQvifqvqmFbV0Ch47q3rW8E-knqy86DGIiqSnFA-Z5jP5LQftrnD_3Z7nliZz2UrMU/s960/Jan.%2025,%20stained%20glass%20window,%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4kvXcqWj56uKkT7ZIvkXlvGr223lU0Dr6iusMcQzSSHK6AN7dE9duS1xcHNtkgZRnpv-P_-Oo4Gp-LI-bKWPgIy2NmyXmAi4DQv4Ja9T6r849UiSHYxQvifqvqmFbV0Ch47q3rW8E-knqy86DGIiqSnFA-Z5jP5LQftrnD_3Z7nliZz2UrMU/s320/Jan.%2025,%20stained%20glass%20window,%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The stained glass windows overlook the altar area ... just like the three windows that are part of our future living room!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDT0e4MxtuVx_dAyxzXwxms1jPPtwn7x0jbS3IYqZoiJcy8QjjRJeOcCY_bqVriJ56EFgeCX8RkCg3Xt3gJTVoBV5DP70480r047JNwg_-K8wFAJf3AcaJcyGA6hmKa29vJ-uNbjnytXZLXtKCaKuvD6phuR48R8R6FC3JFaYf2GFkEjmK92D/s960/Jan.%2025,%20stained%20glass%20window,%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDT0e4MxtuVx_dAyxzXwxms1jPPtwn7x0jbS3IYqZoiJcy8QjjRJeOcCY_bqVriJ56EFgeCX8RkCg3Xt3gJTVoBV5DP70480r047JNwg_-K8wFAJf3AcaJcyGA6hmKa29vJ-uNbjnytXZLXtKCaKuvD6phuR48R8R6FC3JFaYf2GFkEjmK92D/s320/Jan.%2025,%20stained%20glass%20window,%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>One day, Steve says he will paint the altar area. Currently, that's not part of the renovation!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLMYupjGkIvSZUowf1PwLMiPw9rQ3xdmqK9yWhRYpXQvN1vNV0c6fGQSd_dgpw1IYrPuiBE37rYzsLmQHo1SJOfrVi3KPn8yzYaV6Zc0iGvqHzra0Z0CDE3b1v3TzHUD-woHNJeBP3d7BQ-1N3CK2NZDYwjwPorZmhHbJUuki8kWi2ybFeJwz/s960/Jan.%2025,%20bedroom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLMYupjGkIvSZUowf1PwLMiPw9rQ3xdmqK9yWhRYpXQvN1vNV0c6fGQSd_dgpw1IYrPuiBE37rYzsLmQHo1SJOfrVi3KPn8yzYaV6Zc0iGvqHzra0Z0CDE3b1v3TzHUD-woHNJeBP3d7BQ-1N3CK2NZDYwjwPorZmhHbJUuki8kWi2ybFeJwz/s320/Jan.%2025,%20bedroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We've hired a professional moving company to move our bigger furniture and most of our framing equipment. That will happen on February 21st. We have, however, decided to get a totally new bed for the bedroom! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32HFmDHVpQQXLXE-9e50tM22PIO_Xpbd08-RvWlqe0behddpxd-pR-wwROCD45_pJixH40GLpLHY7v__jYdOG9WLMKNztj3NaKrnj7HAX6M6QOqxLOx_Ntm5eg0qQ5K6fZbRZweblCSJRyvJWFqxYitwkjlWDc4Bp4xvrWJBN-F4BGqWTklKB/s2048/Spalding%20Nix%20opening,%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32HFmDHVpQQXLXE-9e50tM22PIO_Xpbd08-RvWlqe0behddpxd-pR-wwROCD45_pJixH40GLpLHY7v__jYdOG9WLMKNztj3NaKrnj7HAX6M6QOqxLOx_Ntm5eg0qQ5K6fZbRZweblCSJRyvJWFqxYitwkjlWDc4Bp4xvrWJBN-F4BGqWTklKB/s320/Spalding%20Nix%20opening,%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>After we left the church, we drove to Atlanta for the evening opening reception at Spalding Nix Fine Art. The gallery has four distinct areas for four, separate solo shows. As a new artist to SNFA, I am truly honored to have been given the hallway area for a selection of my Found Object Mandalas.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJy99xmp2kFLq_tV16ctCcWwPhm_3RxfZyXgy0FlD4tQmCNaEvTLSVg63ekmpefKBxgqzEIpHfMcoujXSmRqWqiynjR2LC9VLzeiCOyoBWA32eEh2yRneJItlLZ-HfhswscV9x1GhAoO8ri5RK98Rn5uOuEbbLOeYYz0_gsTI1_dKiYO-lfqi/s2048/Spalding%20Nix,%20opening,%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJy99xmp2kFLq_tV16ctCcWwPhm_3RxfZyXgy0FlD4tQmCNaEvTLSVg63ekmpefKBxgqzEIpHfMcoujXSmRqWqiynjR2LC9VLzeiCOyoBWA32eEh2yRneJItlLZ-HfhswscV9x1GhAoO8ri5RK98Rn5uOuEbbLOeYYz0_gsTI1_dKiYO-lfqi/s320/Spalding%20Nix,%20opening,%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and I had no expectations for this opening. Thus, we were beyond stunned at the standing room crowd. Despite not knowing anyone there, I talked to plenty of people. It was a wonderful evening!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJcfFq4DHDJKc6APGp3PXpiQBkgMZBBpt-LS17XY-oKTXNQdCKa3M8-BCac81u4CwSTd-bdm_XIrtw0qYGIwviuUhGEqwPFPDrTfd6qeJZVCl-sF-LxwyCVKHFze1Qflapb6JOaRNojoDlAv7dhkHXOoC1R1SooSuT3WmbPaMXa4zYNVMJSHO/s2048/Spalding%20Nix,%20opening,%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJcfFq4DHDJKc6APGp3PXpiQBkgMZBBpt-LS17XY-oKTXNQdCKa3M8-BCac81u4CwSTd-bdm_XIrtw0qYGIwviuUhGEqwPFPDrTfd6qeJZVCl-sF-LxwyCVKHFze1Qflapb6JOaRNojoDlAv7dhkHXOoC1R1SooSuT3WmbPaMXa4zYNVMJSHO/s320/Spalding%20Nix,%20opening,%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPM4WaCnaq5vvABIeUPpcompWLPMzhyphenhyphen0JgsZh5lcbQ9kUNwUopgwU3R2BmNcxnVlglT7SvRUb6xoavKKIBpahuCcukWFDu7yWj9NsvLekwq-X43jQllNYSeKKuF-ttGmTjvuUa_tZbn_axPPnYBCZp2xL4flzYPmHLgeLrygWtIHKG-GTQR7p/s2048/Selfie%20at%20Elder%20Mill%20covered%20bridge,%20Jan.%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPM4WaCnaq5vvABIeUPpcompWLPMzhyphenhyphen0JgsZh5lcbQ9kUNwUopgwU3R2BmNcxnVlglT7SvRUb6xoavKKIBpahuCcukWFDu7yWj9NsvLekwq-X43jQllNYSeKKuF-ttGmTjvuUa_tZbn_axPPnYBCZp2xL4flzYPmHLgeLrygWtIHKG-GTQR7p/s320/Selfie%20at%20Elder%20Mill%20covered%20bridge,%20Jan.%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>We spent the night outside Atlanta and drove home this morning. It rained nearly the entire trip but we still stopped at Elder Mill covered bridge ...<br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qAAGuG653MCrVwjiK6LmnhFXuX0loCFWOTlZucx6Li0vc342i-ABSY5G5Iiy5ObaGOW_n2mvVh9W8hvW_tfS8zxWz5h3X5gJbkzVFwFuyqdsGSxBTgL7irkSWLFOcopTL0Ojj_qGVz5eSPaTuKxexfFwkDnE69HuifNMis3eYfkUB0bC53Ig/s2048/Stitching%20on%20Donna%20Pullen's%20commission%20in%20the%20van.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qAAGuG653MCrVwjiK6LmnhFXuX0loCFWOTlZucx6Li0vc342i-ABSY5G5Iiy5ObaGOW_n2mvVh9W8hvW_tfS8zxWz5h3X5gJbkzVFwFuyqdsGSxBTgL7irkSWLFOcopTL0Ojj_qGVz5eSPaTuKxexfFwkDnE69HuifNMis3eYfkUB0bC53Ig/s320/Stitching%20on%20Donna%20Pullen's%20commission%20in%20the%20van.jpg" width="240" /></a></p>
... and I got plenty of hand-stitching done on a new commission!<br />Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-21440067919806453722024-01-19T17:29:00.002-05:002024-01-19T17:29:27.083-05:00Lost & Found XIV<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kxAXcryuEYKLzr6X8Phyphenhyphen5_oDZnKFNHHZfZ_oDkAlbYmG2CxQut83hgXZzXJ3I6aWKJR5-42BDSX4ajv1xGWoriXwTnJK8Or6ZAWEByDr3YJWeqrQBTWNVeUUQkVuyyI0sSQkYS1Ayxdo-yJPPhNNmyxpOR7tNLjv8dzgUkkwr2b_nkVrKojz/s1800/Lost%20and%20Found%20XIV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1800" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kxAXcryuEYKLzr6X8Phyphenhyphen5_oDZnKFNHHZfZ_oDkAlbYmG2CxQut83hgXZzXJ3I6aWKJR5-42BDSX4ajv1xGWoriXwTnJK8Or6ZAWEByDr3YJWeqrQBTWNVeUUQkVuyyI0sSQkYS1Ayxdo-yJPPhNNmyxpOR7tNLjv8dzgUkkwr2b_nkVrKojz/s320/Lost%20and%20Found%20XIV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Lost & Found XIV</i></b>. Framed in an antique, cross-bow frame: 13 1/2" x 26". Three plastic birds, fabric yo-yos, and buttons hand stitched to a section of an antique crazy quilt. Click on either image to enlarge.)<p></p><p> The three birds look as if they suddenly flew off an old cuckoo clock but they didn't! LOL! They have indentations on their back sides ... so that they could hang directly on a wall. They aren't even old. They're plastic but they look so sweet! They went perfectly in this antique frame and they also used up a narrow piece of the old crazy quilt that was cut for my <b><i><a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2023/12/kinsfolk-new-series.html">Kinsfolk Series</a></i></b>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHzWopfVHj7Mg5kZFvlh9NslVrusj8ySzm3Gz33S6r9yRkxv_Cxlp3wEj92tl4AQAG41WyqR2Ei5oUXPNgVdYqXB1eK5jYF8cGITtSwXhIl637_emMYg92AaYOFgnfGXle6KZ5FoylJJfgSy6KfDyWyqYZ31onK-JbCFn7Kk17OsH8oYEEFKA/s1800/Lost%20and%20Found%20XIV,%20detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHzWopfVHj7Mg5kZFvlh9NslVrusj8ySzm3Gz33S6r9yRkxv_Cxlp3wEj92tl4AQAG41WyqR2Ei5oUXPNgVdYqXB1eK5jYF8cGITtSwXhIl637_emMYg92AaYOFgnfGXle6KZ5FoylJJfgSy6KfDyWyqYZ31onK-JbCFn7Kk17OsH8oYEEFKA/s320/Lost%20and%20Found%20XIV,%20detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>Lost & Found XIV</i></b>.)<p></p><p></p><p>The antique crazy quilt was tattered but before attaching the three birds and the embellishments, I covered the entire surface with bridal tulle. I add plenty of decorative stitching to the simple stitches of the antique crazy quilt ... until all the stitching blends together and the netting isn't even obvious. The tulle protects the fragile and fraying fabrics. I am really enjoying this process. This is the sort of stitching I am doing every evening ... which is keeping me sane during the process of moving!<br /> </p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-26322474230582008192024-01-07T17:13:00.003-05:002024-01-07T17:13:50.318-05:00Lost & Found XIII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlqAHYxzTKov1VMjI_8BYYLI2dFUNjGvKSpUsCx0VYClusXz3Dzo8rbIjonqeio7qiGpx2KpMH_s8BEVR48RfqIgGzDu79wooIf-myGMWFY9e0tmYOVKQN7AfcFQSPWdW3csrdN4M2xF7wOj5Na4qNbNAArZ6PGfnyqA_HqWE_tzkrY506kAR/s2194/Lost%20and%20Found%20XIII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2194" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlqAHYxzTKov1VMjI_8BYYLI2dFUNjGvKSpUsCx0VYClusXz3Dzo8rbIjonqeio7qiGpx2KpMH_s8BEVR48RfqIgGzDu79wooIf-myGMWFY9e0tmYOVKQN7AfcFQSPWdW3csrdN4M2xF7wOj5Na4qNbNAArZ6PGfnyqA_HqWE_tzkrY506kAR/s320/Lost%20and%20Found%20XIII.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Lost & Found XIII</i></b>. Custom framed: 13" x 19". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include: Two glove hangers; a tomato server; four, dog-shaped souvenir spoons and two silver souvenir spoons from Spain; Tinker Toy connectors; two, corn-on-the-cob holders; Herbacin Kamille hand cream tin lid; four, white circles cut from a beer can yolk; two, pink Spoolies (folding hair curlers); sewing machine bobbins; two, gold Stella Artois beer bottle caps; artificial leaves; and assorted buttons and beads. Click on image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>I couldn't resist stitching this piece. It was entirely inspired by the two, decorative glove hangers. I used several less decorative ones on <b><i><a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2023/11/mandala-clxxii.html">Mandala CLXXII</a></i></b> ... but these two didn't match. I only had two and no prospects of finding two more. Thus, I designed them in a fan shape that only required the two I had. I'm very pleased with this one! <br /> </p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-85909548546850741032024-01-07T17:02:00.000-05:002024-01-07T17:02:13.201-05:00Mandala CLXXVII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIEW9pJOLY2vZnYDd5eCMojb4Q3_T2EE5IC2ISJkKUYZOUyNl6YTw8Oy9Ipf3WJzdXogGrejn82qvSY33bxcM1y6YIFTUm5IMbUc1CBQUCW4udfZRg2mMuR4NgJMDDWBxCKRAMf5kby9PqmmwcFhte-rX7EvYbC8uJnjGoB25szbI_uf8drOf/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXVII.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIEW9pJOLY2vZnYDd5eCMojb4Q3_T2EE5IC2ISJkKUYZOUyNl6YTw8Oy9Ipf3WJzdXogGrejn82qvSY33bxcM1y6YIFTUm5IMbUc1CBQUCW4udfZRg2mMuR4NgJMDDWBxCKRAMf5kby9PqmmwcFhte-rX7EvYbC8uJnjGoB25szbI_uf8drOf/s320/Mandala%20CLXXVII.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: <b><i> Mandala CLXXVII</i></b>. Custom framed: 21" x 21". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include: A vintage, aluminum gelatin mold; a ring of front rail felt punchings from my old piano; eight seed heads of artificial stalks of wheat; eight, lobster claw clasps with D-rings; yellow-gold and copper beverage can tabs; eight, Singer sewing machine stitch dials; sixteen, amber-yellow dice; four, brass clock mainspring barrels; Newcastle beer bottle caps; red Monopoly hotels; laminated Tampa Nugget cigar bands; orange, syringe needle safety covers; chandelier prisms; assorted buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)</div><p>Since Christmas, I've been stitching every evening. I just haven't had time to blog the work that was finished until now! This is the fourth Found Object Mandala. In a minute, I will write another blog post featuring <i><b>Lost & Found XIII</b></i>. With any luck, I'll be finishing another mandala later tonight. Stitching is my best way to cope with the stress of moving, the frustrations with the contractor's slow progress, the worries over the sale of Mouse House (our home/business), and the demands of packing. I really don't know how other people manage trying times without the passion for embroidery! Many people remark that I must have the "patience of Job" to stitch so much. I just smile ... because I know that the only way for me to find patience is by pulling a threaded needle through fabric (and ... apparently ... holes drilled in found objects! LOL!) <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8n7cttpG92EI6xCGVJwGJi3FmF6p41fo7x1ioLxLIzNySYTz04WHReH-V4bu-AaRRsF8WOKzIc4zcuCTAzWa8qeWcxbUf3S6WnOLXoXjcs7iYZkceq-qBWm1p1dqq8WwjNjb030eJ534UYBowMAE8evcH3TSaa3_GfnvspGcIuUfUJnQKKHL/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXVII,%20detail%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8n7cttpG92EI6xCGVJwGJi3FmF6p41fo7x1ioLxLIzNySYTz04WHReH-V4bu-AaRRsF8WOKzIc4zcuCTAzWa8qeWcxbUf3S6WnOLXoXjcs7iYZkceq-qBWm1p1dqq8WwjNjb030eJ534UYBowMAE8evcH3TSaa3_GfnvspGcIuUfUJnQKKHL/s320/Mandala%20CLXXVII,%20detail%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhdrZ85K91P45LrmOEYF7LFN59y9mwoXPp4mGk3c41k0sBPOQbuQcMvwbixvrN9Gy34KhZzY57pNCcptbIDzMyna1EF0XRfLcd3uPsZyEIRKPSqsdKXMQx8VxpBtQKsiQXR2ZliDC7IHt6qazD-XZxyeNAs1276gyBtvPfgOPgS3DZt_FMKGU/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXVII,%20detail%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhdrZ85K91P45LrmOEYF7LFN59y9mwoXPp4mGk3c41k0sBPOQbuQcMvwbixvrN9Gy34KhZzY57pNCcptbIDzMyna1EF0XRfLcd3uPsZyEIRKPSqsdKXMQx8VxpBtQKsiQXR2ZliDC7IHt6qazD-XZxyeNAs1276gyBtvPfgOPgS3DZt_FMKGU/s320/Mandala%20CLXXVII,%20detail%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-45910287978315084412024-01-07T16:41:00.001-05:002024-01-07T16:43:28.913-05:00Mandala CLXXVI<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxjCMqczQiMhL9FuD8S_9P8U7GwVovQKPG5fGPt8NlL3WT1G3SSrvauUvqCL5qOYRaO3ZBZs2O6H7hCJVlt62vuezHgYE5WMN-XLGPBMb7kuNUdQ-qwap7Rl-TnD-kAyQdDKmxihw37pooxL3ymkpcJDyZ76mIcWh_hyphenhyphengo6k5Ym15Fxz_cHmz/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXVI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxjCMqczQiMhL9FuD8S_9P8U7GwVovQKPG5fGPt8NlL3WT1G3SSrvauUvqCL5qOYRaO3ZBZs2O6H7hCJVlt62vuezHgYE5WMN-XLGPBMb7kuNUdQ-qwap7Rl-TnD-kAyQdDKmxihw37pooxL3ymkpcJDyZ76mIcWh_hyphenhyphengo6k5Ym15Fxz_cHmz/s320/Mandala%20CLXXVI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Mandala CLXXV</i></b>I. Custom framed: 18 1/2" x 18 1/2". Found objects hand-stitched to the back side of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: A vintage clock mainspring; piano hammer flanges [part of the internal workings of a piano key]; assorted beer bottle caps; eight gold flatware forks; four, vintage brass belt buckles; ballpark seat numbers; plastic candle holders for a Christmas tree or cake; eight, tan-colored Princess phone
key chain rings; assorted buttons and beads. Click on either image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>Moving can be emotionally difficult. There are always items that are highly sentimental, things that no longer have a place in one's physical reality but serve as markers for past memories. For most people my age (which I'd like to call "middle aged" ... but I'll be sixty-five next June, a senior citizen on any system that gauges the human aging process ... basically ... OLD!) there is no one in the next generation who wants or even cares about my "precious possessions". I've known this for a long time. I've even presented a 2015 TEDx talk called <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqE7n_0GK6U">Precious: Making a Plan for Your Precious Possessions</a></i>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v9vKagUO23yAex-7tr0egndzLfZMS-ZbnNJsBSCTsD02rs6V3RjS3WvKZtqgMLMHD_7Z67ifcNaTyjg2N7aVBZJa1y4fKzpOP7d_j6gqhWWza-IYOEbXiJ-3MW1R0bxlBI2t7Rxj7JJNlS5jNqg3a-tgh2xpv3odcFhtOEd6nd4qSRQo49wM/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXVI,%20detail.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v9vKagUO23yAex-7tr0egndzLfZMS-ZbnNJsBSCTsD02rs6V3RjS3WvKZtqgMLMHD_7Z67ifcNaTyjg2N7aVBZJa1y4fKzpOP7d_j6gqhWWza-IYOEbXiJ-3MW1R0bxlBI2t7Rxj7JJNlS5jNqg3a-tgh2xpv3odcFhtOEd6nd4qSRQo49wM/s320/Mandala%20CLXXVI,%20detail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>Mandala CLXXVI</i></b>.) <p></p><p>While preparing to move, I've had to face the twenty-nine year accumulation of "stuff" in my business/home (some of which was still in boxes from the last house!) I've had to make some heartfelt decisions about what to toss, what to give away, what to consign to Bill Mishoe's auction (which is where lots of my "stuff" came from), and what to keep for basic living and for potential use in my studio art practice. It's hard! Of course it is! As an artist who finds inspiration in "found objects", I could rationalize that EVERYTHING IS NECESSARY. But, it really isn't. In my TEDx talk, I mention the fact that "sometimes, the best way to 'safe' one's precious possessions is to give them a chance with someone else". So, I've been "letting go" of plenty of things. </p><p>Yet, I couldn't "give away" my piano. No one wanted it. Of course no one wanted it. It was big, heavy, and unfortunately had a broken sound board which prevented it from being successfully brought up to perfect pitch. I learned all about such problems while stitching <b><i><a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2022/02/mandala-cxi-steinway-piano-key-mandala.html">Found Object CXI, the Steinway Mandala</a></i></b>. I learned that even a Steinway is more expensive to repair when its sound board is cracked than to replace. My piano certainly wasn't a Steinway ... and I have to admit that I haven't played it in years (and I was never very talented!) As sentimental as my piano is to me (which is a long, sad story of a lonely teenager finding solace in the basement playing my piano), it made no sense to move it to the church. (Bill Mishoe's auction refuses to accept pianos on consignment; they just don't sell and no one wants them "for free" either.) </p><p>So, I decided that I would dismantle my piano on Christmas Day. It was actually fun to do! Each flat head screw led to another flat head screw until I had lots of parts! Because I had already dismantled the Steinway, I knew it would take most of the day. I streamed Christmas music and by that evening was already stitching parts to this Found Object Mandala! My piano now has a "second life" as ART, and there will be more parts in future pieces! <br /></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-81695413495916795422024-01-07T16:00:00.003-05:002024-01-07T16:00:38.069-05:00Mandala CLXXV<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpCMze574U9_WYQkmsyiwMWTW4Ogkp2x5v7X7FVsal5rWKSA9V2wQw2doCfoZCrxBb0e9pzXDuaIevah-d_Z9uaAUm7mwuK7UPsde6rnd_ic5rincQwAdAniBbjHXAFAAuXAWVJV8jvGCKcIvmUBLR4H-5FAXVWwKMr-0ObSI4kj3Uw86DWC3/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpCMze574U9_WYQkmsyiwMWTW4Ogkp2x5v7X7FVsal5rWKSA9V2wQw2doCfoZCrxBb0e9pzXDuaIevah-d_Z9uaAUm7mwuK7UPsde6rnd_ic5rincQwAdAniBbjHXAFAAuXAWVJV8jvGCKcIvmUBLR4H-5FAXVWwKMr-0ObSI4kj3Uw86DWC3/s320/Mandala%20CLXXV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Mandala CLXXV</i></b>. Custom framed: 24 1/2" x 24 1/2". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include: A Tissot Sour Lemon Drop tin lid; six, gold flatware salad forks; artificial leaves for cake decorations; six, Dutch souvenir spoons; twelve Tinker Toy connectors; Heineken and Stella Artois beer bottle caps; four, vintage gold belt buckles; keys; green cocktail forks; chandelier prisms; four, white casino chips; assorted buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>This Found Object Mandala started with the Tissot Sour Lemon Drop lid and the Dutch souvenir spoons and grew from there. I was particularly happy with the way the Tinker Toy connectors worked out. I only drilled a single hole in them which was filled with a gold bead. Otherwise, I used the center hole for the five, blue stitches.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jlbv20laU6bvRYtsEE-NQJwp-Fx_ij2W5zKxQlJEGpgeMQp6Wyh4Q3NIXlkMAUg-_9VtHV_j77-FyzAk_T6EAhUy0RcL8sNVgywrkLhDbMI3PaNxW6grM0TtgSf0Em0Sg4i03V5DdCRAG3P3CCGNLx8GLjy7UafkmuDLlGWYHPGicqz7loNt/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXV,%20detail%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jlbv20laU6bvRYtsEE-NQJwp-Fx_ij2W5zKxQlJEGpgeMQp6Wyh4Q3NIXlkMAUg-_9VtHV_j77-FyzAk_T6EAhUy0RcL8sNVgywrkLhDbMI3PaNxW6grM0TtgSf0Em0Sg4i03V5DdCRAG3P3CCGNLx8GLjy7UafkmuDLlGWYHPGicqz7loNt/s320/Mandala%20CLXXV,%20detail%201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above and below: Details of <b><i>Mandala CLXXV</i></b>.)<p></p><p>This piece was one of five finished since Christmas but not blogged until now. Steve and I are really busy finishing the last few custom picture framing orders before our retirement! We are also in the midst of moving things to the Cateechee mill village church that is currently being renovated and also SELLING MOUSE HOUSE! Our fingers and toes are crossed for successful paperwork in the coming weeks that will find us closer to our big dreams!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuK8zGnto9qL9aQ-xtfDmfNAyH-umDrSIO6jaNfC2CaT6liKJX1vHD7cR4Ijg6awrawdECTANSZtUIbkebJVBPk9exiDTZiiOFSxidvlpgq0YGouUB1plFqZ_RsfcyGvkPusgIVFg70e8K3B05A35HpXs40QBXQ50x00hcVA0n4N6EqDo7Fh6/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXV,%20detail%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuK8zGnto9qL9aQ-xtfDmfNAyH-umDrSIO6jaNfC2CaT6liKJX1vHD7cR4Ijg6awrawdECTANSZtUIbkebJVBPk9exiDTZiiOFSxidvlpgq0YGouUB1plFqZ_RsfcyGvkPusgIVFg70e8K3B05A35HpXs40QBXQ50x00hcVA0n4N6EqDo7Fh6/s320/Mandala%20CLXXV,%20detail%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-88072164290796665322024-01-06T18:39:00.002-05:002024-01-07T15:17:26.183-05:00Mandala CLXXIV<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z4m4OfRtfvHB6JiWLQFvhU8k1QZNmBGv7Lu2as6VyyZttF_PwR5DkJWBhZg62Ni_DBjT12mkk6SlZxgn7ov9S3j5-84loJp_jKeUlQim4a3UBh1bqAE7jfBaCYHxN2yvqEf-j5_8e07rxY-jK6f_t1PqyFloFeWD3He90XPlliY2YCJH3vOZ/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXIV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z4m4OfRtfvHB6JiWLQFvhU8k1QZNmBGv7Lu2as6VyyZttF_PwR5DkJWBhZg62Ni_DBjT12mkk6SlZxgn7ov9S3j5-84loJp_jKeUlQim4a3UBh1bqAE7jfBaCYHxN2yvqEf-j5_8e07rxY-jK6f_t1PqyFloFeWD3He90XPlliY2YCJH3vOZ/s320/Mandala%20CLXXIV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Mandala CLXXIV</i></b>. Custom framed: 32" x 32". Found objects hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Objects include: A wheel from a rolling sewing tape measure ruler; four, red vinyl 45 records; four vintage aluminum gelatin molds; eight lobster claw clasps with D-rings; eight Singer sewing machine stitch dials; eight wooden clothespins; dominoes; ViewMaster reels; cabinet pulls; blue casino chips; red plastic lids; clear, plastic candle holders for a Xmas tree
or cake (?); colorful <span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto">tops from injectable medication bottles; vintage, brass belt buckles; buttons and beads. Click on any image to enlarge.)</span></span><p></p><p><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto">It seems like forever since I last wrote a blog post (and it has been since Christmas Eve ... quite a long while for me!) There is, of course, a good reason! Steve and I are crazy busy finishing the last of the custom picture framing orders that were dropped off at Mouse House before our final, retirement deadline. Plus, we are deep into our plans with the Cateechee mill village church that is being renovated into our home and my sanctuary-sized fiber art studio. Just last week, appliances were delivered! The sinks, toilets, and other "plumbing" things are on site too. Tomorrow we are delivering all the lighting units. These were sent to our home in Columbia in order to assure there would be someone to accept the delivery. The floors are being done and the custom kitchen cabinets will be installed on January 16th. Every time we drive to the church, we bring a van load of things ... from bookcases to garment racks to various pieces of furniture. It is all very exciting.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaHUcIxic2u4Yv9QueIQUCFmBpsvcBwJBcAoYAhrpoMjH5SyesC6g8TR4pKdKCbcRZE3W225CXC5DjS_mUNisW_KfiZvRIKIFisY67AMPduP_LXINEhyqQq3Y8xnDe5hrWM-oyQBojvephOhfg3L1Hshgtbv8JwPBN4ziuiFgEz-klwAw6djs/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXIV,%20detail%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaHUcIxic2u4Yv9QueIQUCFmBpsvcBwJBcAoYAhrpoMjH5SyesC6g8TR4pKdKCbcRZE3W225CXC5DjS_mUNisW_KfiZvRIKIFisY67AMPduP_LXINEhyqQq3Y8xnDe5hrWM-oyQBojvephOhfg3L1Hshgtbv8JwPBN4ziuiFgEz-klwAw6djs/s320/Mandala%20CLXXIV,%20detail%201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>Mandala CLXXIV</i></b>.)<p></p><p>One might think that I haven't been creating artwork but one would be wrong! The only way I can cope with all this is to take time after dinner for hand-stitching. Basically, I am keeping up with an active studio practice "for my own sanity"! I was just not getting around to photographing the works ... until yesterday. I snapped pictures of five new pieces. This is the first. With any luck, I'll get a little time late tomorrow afternoon to blog at least one more! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwwrGszFIpEvnP79yErDZHZeQhVGa_98TRdTzU3LX5Uc0h8lsfJwSC2sm4LGFtTIw3UU2NmsWP57ywRsmPA3_uEQQ7MI_lZ_gKNZj7gYaTjDIQCjByXxfdvqyw4asZrr-s0qA69ow4DuKoNy_jFBSk7F_SV5MY6LE-rlXPj5G06pYIzkL0IF4/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXIV,%20detail%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwwrGszFIpEvnP79yErDZHZeQhVGa_98TRdTzU3LX5Uc0h8lsfJwSC2sm4LGFtTIw3UU2NmsWP57ywRsmPA3_uEQQ7MI_lZ_gKNZj7gYaTjDIQCjByXxfdvqyw4asZrr-s0qA69ow4DuKoNy_jFBSk7F_SV5MY6LE-rlXPj5G06pYIzkL0IF4/s320/Mandala%20CLXXIV,%20detail%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of Mandala <b><i>CLXXIV</i></b>.)<br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-69384959852430483242023-12-24T18:53:00.005-05:002023-12-24T18:56:14.457-05:00Last Day of Accepting Framing at Mouse House and News from the Church!<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnOQvuVDShQKRYD-rHSF_zGBe12uTq7F6pN2tqgSHgfXml9CEp0SEWeqI3E7OqZhyQ0-Uiete0Ur0EyxStYBnRJgS0Ns4v8FSYM2LhKzwqEwSOrrvUNHEPqaLcArLFk5OfKODumKTA943mVlGCsIgKVLVKAhH4ApDiDpyQxQOVGIqevzm3XTf/s1800/Throwing%20out%20corner%20samples.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnOQvuVDShQKRYD-rHSF_zGBe12uTq7F6pN2tqgSHgfXml9CEp0SEWeqI3E7OqZhyQ0-Uiete0Ur0EyxStYBnRJgS0Ns4v8FSYM2LhKzwqEwSOrrvUNHEPqaLcArLFk5OfKODumKTA943mVlGCsIgKVLVKAhH4ApDiDpyQxQOVGIqevzm3XTf/s320/Throwing%20out%20corner%20samples.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Last Friday, December 22nd was the final day during which Steve and I accepted custom picture framing orders at Mouse House. The last week was CRAZY! At the end of the day on Friday, we threw out all our mat board and moulding corner samples. After 35+ years, we are finally in the process of retiring! Okay ... we now have a mountain of work to tackle, work that came in during the last few days. So, Mouse House will remain open with regular weekday hours, 9:30 - 5:00 until at least mid-January. Yet, every day brings us a little closer to moving into the Cateechee Mill Village church outside Central, South Carolina (which is about eleven miles from the better known city, Clemson!)</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJO1aqte55X6D0-m4LJH77tNUyjgCmJcgtqklrvrcbNZE-7qdUmA1CeTZAUz-NNDnhd9T1Mwfp0G_Y5p27-ROx3iAYrFg2wAK7Eo4qsnVT6DA5mDbw7yDF52OXA8wR2EuHFhdh5QWkXt585icGbMErCVr-4Ffq2H7FPS9HOqRvSjv0xhTVRcmj/s1800/Church,%20Christmas%20Eve,%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJO1aqte55X6D0-m4LJH77tNUyjgCmJcgtqklrvrcbNZE-7qdUmA1CeTZAUz-NNDnhd9T1Mwfp0G_Y5p27-ROx3iAYrFg2wAK7Eo4qsnVT6DA5mDbw7yDF52OXA8wR2EuHFhdh5QWkXt585icGbMErCVr-4Ffq2H7FPS9HOqRvSjv0xhTVRcmj/s320/Church,%20Christmas%20Eve,%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>I'm writing this blog post after Steve and I visited the church today ... Christmas Eve. We are truly grateful for this opportunity, for the many friends and clients who frequented Mouse House over the many years (decades!), for the abundance in our lives, and especially for the wide, open sanctuary that will soon be my sacred fiber arts studio. The floor is fabulous ... especially ...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxMJUw7QTC7cGt6KyHEx4pTk5CKBBigdRWMEmYlAyVm6CcRfBmB69hNjaX3wTlRfVv6zkN2vnEAhTuQJoVJTS9eAnbne82jJ6Q-sc1vFRZQwYCBr6NPV9BTxhGeBIMasGWb4MCqvtR9tzZoufk0rt20AZyZOmQCVur3b1RhxfaqiyFWge4ogB/s2048/409865943_10232409869414520_1159467853109290660_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxMJUw7QTC7cGt6KyHEx4pTk5CKBBigdRWMEmYlAyVm6CcRfBmB69hNjaX3wTlRfVv6zkN2vnEAhTuQJoVJTS9eAnbne82jJ6Q-sc1vFRZQwYCBr6NPV9BTxhGeBIMasGWb4MCqvtR9tzZoufk0rt20AZyZOmQCVur3b1RhxfaqiyFWge4ogB/s320/409865943_10232409869414520_1159467853109290660_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>... since all the pews found a new home! <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlHi_F8HkRveEtUpV6gJtAQtUIVA1Wn2G3OnNAO7HVHK60hagiEFccQTP6QxvE_Hqnq_Wc7D5AeEHTkLwRM-r3taSq_r4lJmWaTX4mUBLYK94UdhKDgOXQ32pDZBeL5lsDLNGCyaXhkZdLxyxCISq8vX5K7cqd-wPlDVCakdLEicU5t329dLb/s2048/409886946_10232409869654526_6335279321475117498_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlHi_F8HkRveEtUpV6gJtAQtUIVA1Wn2G3OnNAO7HVHK60hagiEFccQTP6QxvE_Hqnq_Wc7D5AeEHTkLwRM-r3taSq_r4lJmWaTX4mUBLYK94UdhKDgOXQ32pDZBeL5lsDLNGCyaXhkZdLxyxCISq8vX5K7cqd-wPlDVCakdLEicU5t329dLb/s320/409886946_10232409869654526_6335279321475117498_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>They all went to a wedding chapel that is being built outside Blythewood, South Carolina! It took a six man crew and five trailers to haul them away. (Okay ... I admit it! Steve and I kept the only two short pews. The others were all one-inch shy of fifteen feet in length ... except the ones in the loft which were twelve feet and eight inches long!) <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTw3o1b1cE6qJyorYL9ehyWqauXXTuCxnSJUQUj1xewN30GdWpM8CoYb5otDhrQQDst8YERaMdOvGTDIbTUMr8J_-24zACbBbA0naWZbcbn7YN_-v2IeU5-ZBR5gjybs8Vt6dC_7uHhb8ano3WvBRkDfLTWhF2_I2TtyZsz8CmTjUV6-dK_TaN/s2048/409201893_10232409869214515_6568170528804670754_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTw3o1b1cE6qJyorYL9ehyWqauXXTuCxnSJUQUj1xewN30GdWpM8CoYb5otDhrQQDst8YERaMdOvGTDIbTUMr8J_-24zACbBbA0naWZbcbn7YN_-v2IeU5-ZBR5gjybs8Vt6dC_7uHhb8ano3WvBRkDfLTWhF2_I2TtyZsz8CmTjUV6-dK_TaN/s320/409201893_10232409869214515_6568170528804670754_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The removal of the pews meant that Steve and I can move more and more things into the sanctuary ...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gq-u36OG60SU6I9m-aLJ4dTUL7Tn3r9gi7ymZWQ8N7wMiE51lUIWRKijiFNuitOUrEKXCy4OpDMxhP7u_cbwOr5wGSIN1tHEIYN34Ff7Mj9bBvysdGbXmlWGR4r13kZbHg1DVSiLAMoHwQAEI2jyzhyphenhyphenmtNVRKWamXBI_0SYH0dCXBYBzgAqb/s1800/Church,%20Christmas%20Eve,%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gq-u36OG60SU6I9m-aLJ4dTUL7Tn3r9gi7ymZWQ8N7wMiE51lUIWRKijiFNuitOUrEKXCy4OpDMxhP7u_cbwOr5wGSIN1tHEIYN34Ff7Mj9bBvysdGbXmlWGR4r13kZbHg1DVSiLAMoHwQAEI2jyzhyphenhyphenmtNVRKWamXBI_0SYH0dCXBYBzgAqb/s320/Church,%20Christmas%20Eve,%201.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... including tubs of yarn, the start of my <i>Cascade Installation</i>, <i>The Cocoon</i>, <i>The Clothesline</i>, three of our bookcases, dozens of boxes of books, and all sorts of other things. Everything, however, is being protected because there will be some work done in this space which will cause dust! After snapping the photo above, the wedding gowns were securely covered with a giant tarp. My hope is that during the coming year, all the wedding dresses will be transformed into a small circus tent. After all ... isn't a wedding a circus? LOL! My desire to work BIGGER is truly one of the more important reasons for this move ... plus ... I can't retire from framing and stay living above Mouse House. After 35+ years, people would still come and it would be SO HARD to say "No more framing"!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W2XSA0ZlcVxB5iWmCrDMzSHZ_O1BRKMRA_SgNiKOB_1KMTiqgNMBILRzWUJ-GYG3Ggk0kfbotH_im5AXBAOFbb7rZyjv8gG_CGe9LuEedlKzydtC3SIy22CT_DplYtxqEX4tJVky88fVxI6ASYHNBCj9XUYaNR3UIhudEF77yfRiCL2ejvgA/s1800/Church,%20Christmas%20Eve,%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W2XSA0ZlcVxB5iWmCrDMzSHZ_O1BRKMRA_SgNiKOB_1KMTiqgNMBILRzWUJ-GYG3Ggk0kfbotH_im5AXBAOFbb7rZyjv8gG_CGe9LuEedlKzydtC3SIy22CT_DplYtxqEX4tJVky88fVxI6ASYHNBCj9XUYaNR3UIhudEF77yfRiCL2ejvgA/s320/Church,%20Christmas%20Eve,%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The progress in the living area is also moving forward. Appliances arrive on January 2nd and the custom kitchen cabinets will be installed on the 16th. This past week included replacing floor boards! It is super exciting and I promise to blog more soon!<br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-58823113595011565032023-12-14T16:16:00.001-05:002023-12-14T16:16:45.999-05:00Kinsfolk, a new series<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxiyrFtgSzq3Wk1IK5sTLKuifnRDR3Mu_me3V6IaVMvvb4eXCkT6SsfzjYvDEi4LsFBJH9iCg0ocg5r6v4MwyBfrC1jtf4BrkLR0upbOKjvkHdYztfxkcHZSS7oa49Fj7-7GrFE7U6y_0rQB1NPwypoPkz2m4j9afzlDqh1nj3xuvAqGika0F/s2100/Kinsfolk%20composite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="2100" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxiyrFtgSzq3Wk1IK5sTLKuifnRDR3Mu_me3V6IaVMvvb4eXCkT6SsfzjYvDEi4LsFBJH9iCg0ocg5r6v4MwyBfrC1jtf4BrkLR0upbOKjvkHdYztfxkcHZSS7oa49Fj7-7GrFE7U6y_0rQB1NPwypoPkz2m4j9afzlDqh1nj3xuvAqGika0F/s320/Kinsfolk%20composite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Kinsfolk I - VI</i></b>. Individually framed: 25 1/2" x 21". Original, antique "charcoal" photographs surrounded by parts of an antique crazy quilt with embellishments and hand embroidery. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>Lots of people have portraits of long gone relatives that appear to be very accurately drawn in charcoal. They are frequently in ornate Victorian (often 20" x 16") frames or under convex glass (often 20" x 14"). Guess what? That aren't original drawings; THEY ARE PHOTOGRAPHS! Sometimes this type of photographic image is called a "crayon portrait" and other times it is called a "charcoal portrait" because they were enhanced after being photographically printed. The first step was photographic in nature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqQoW9p_pmAhfvfqTnFR-SrWk_DXRDIh4H8iARH7peukrYsmpkZO6uMjIBP0iGN49jbgtBJoCrzDJe-1aMWR0sf0K4_PEsX5MmRXDMs25Hp57Kl-be5e_BphRnsBrHR0joI57R3O9zTEI063jTlF-bxWkvQp-qf_2lvxHuksBgY7a0tehPGOh/s1800/Kinsfolk%20I.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqQoW9p_pmAhfvfqTnFR-SrWk_DXRDIh4H8iARH7peukrYsmpkZO6uMjIBP0iGN49jbgtBJoCrzDJe-1aMWR0sf0K4_PEsX5MmRXDMs25Hp57Kl-be5e_BphRnsBrHR0joI57R3O9zTEI063jTlF-bxWkvQp-qf_2lvxHuksBgY7a0tehPGOh/s320/Kinsfolk%20I.jpg" width="261" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: <b><i>Kinsfolk I</i></b>.)</div><p> These pictures were produced by a solar enlargement process in the late
19th and early 20th century. One needs to know a little bit about the
early days of photography to understand why these pictures became so
popular. Photography was largely experimental in the 18th century but
by the mid-19th century the process had evolved to the point where glass
negatives were placed in direct contact with chemically treated paper.
When exposed to light, an image was made.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQjCQQKkHDox1ZAq0-C85IJ3rGt7mQfSxi3iuuHo8kOTI38u2C1b_jGDngoMvEso7Wozf653iIIHUDlQzxEBT8tkluiKiCoLWnneCsXOwKPfnTrLuNHBpAvLdEhadKu_Dl16PK8jLDuSFggOve7MBxzklBZMEGTpzfrmEds1fxA9qoVhNL30v/s1800/Kinsfolk%20I,%20detail%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQjCQQKkHDox1ZAq0-C85IJ3rGt7mQfSxi3iuuHo8kOTI38u2C1b_jGDngoMvEso7Wozf653iIIHUDlQzxEBT8tkluiKiCoLWnneCsXOwKPfnTrLuNHBpAvLdEhadKu_Dl16PK8jLDuSFggOve7MBxzklBZMEGTpzfrmEds1fxA9qoVhNL30v/s320/Kinsfolk%20I,%20detail%201.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Detail of <b><i>Kinsfolk I</i></b>.)</div><p>Yet, this meant that the images were only the size of the negative.
Sure ... some of the glass negatives were 4" x 6" to 8" x 10" but that's
a rather bulky and expensive way to get a bigger picture ... especially
if you wanted the picture to appear like a proper, aristocratic oil
portrait. Many people in the growing "middle class" wanted LARGE portraits but didn't have access or the means for expensive oil paintings. So, solar enlargers were then invented. It was a way to use
sunlight to project the smaller negative onto a larger piece of treated
paper.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZFChLs2Th-VV12gPsKz8OEw8H75XVLWG8WHhc5W7-0s38F5shnlUuQ-LRCAey4B83IVCplau0_EUW9RNKTSGIPCVBq4jurOe8dHpSGSHMXB3AXlGtiHIaqvcw1Gn1UFfyiXz78W5rPh4JYTLIqNY_OzM6-L1itS4rhs12W1o-JnqByYMEQcK/s1800/Kinsfolk%20II.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1484" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZFChLs2Th-VV12gPsKz8OEw8H75XVLWG8WHhc5W7-0s38F5shnlUuQ-LRCAey4B83IVCplau0_EUW9RNKTSGIPCVBq4jurOe8dHpSGSHMXB3AXlGtiHIaqvcw1Gn1UFfyiXz78W5rPh4JYTLIqNY_OzM6-L1itS4rhs12W1o-JnqByYMEQcK/s320/Kinsfolk%20II.jpg" width="264" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: <b><i>Kinsfolk II</i></b>.)</div><p>Of course, there were problems with this process. Flaws in the glass were also
enlarged. The edges became blurry (just like enlarging the small number
of pixels on a Facebook picture if attempting to print an 8" x 10"
picture!) Early on, the resulting image was also prone to fading.
Adding crayon, charcoal and pastels became the norm. This also made the images look more realistic, detailed, and closer to the look of an oil painting. Even as this
process improved during the early 20th century, retouching them was
popular. The retouching provided superior detail and color.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmdKsp0s96dQ0r80Fymyx0wYY02LE4Jkb2zRizO-rvrt3RRXdJBJQHjJAL1RX4zTWYZGF_Zj-Avo0jtJ2iBzHLGVNyd22V9WZ3kObPYN-riMT3o3CQ3wsFgeJ6N43Ue02tcjtPxc5T0kVPbVFOuWJ2zhh_RM8T2aHh5m4371B8Q-wlHMXGLdi/s1800/Kinsfolk%20II,%20detail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmdKsp0s96dQ0r80Fymyx0wYY02LE4Jkb2zRizO-rvrt3RRXdJBJQHjJAL1RX4zTWYZGF_Zj-Avo0jtJ2iBzHLGVNyd22V9WZ3kObPYN-riMT3o3CQ3wsFgeJ6N43Ue02tcjtPxc5T0kVPbVFOuWJ2zhh_RM8T2aHh5m4371B8Q-wlHMXGLdi/s320/Kinsfolk%20II,%20detail.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Detail of <b><i>Kinsfolk II</i></b>.)</div><p>Before the retouching, the photograph-on-paper was first mounted to a
support made of thicker paper board or even canvas. Between 1880 and
1930, it was popular for the images to be mounted to convex molded paper
boards. Over time, all these substrata became brittle and were prone
to cracking. Over time, families often forgot the names of their then
deceased relative and/or the images were damaged ... frequently with a
water stain, a missing corner, or a crack that impacted the sitter's
face. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIVFNlCPkRulsnQA8z2oum7CUsZfDGHgk30nnPqiXyDI0OOBdNpQrdgVVZQp3RwwHJLC-x7LX6ahEdkLs3f3hA5DopQtUvToEOeP9XkVmhGVlcLK5HFgbun9zBr6bAT2vkbySXSu1k9VeCToUxTT-OvhTzCr4nVJHilU-gYPDt5rgBQ0V9ciA/s1800/Kinsfolk%20III.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIVFNlCPkRulsnQA8z2oum7CUsZfDGHgk30nnPqiXyDI0OOBdNpQrdgVVZQp3RwwHJLC-x7LX6ahEdkLs3f3hA5DopQtUvToEOeP9XkVmhGVlcLK5HFgbun9zBr6bAT2vkbySXSu1k9VeCToUxTT-OvhTzCr4nVJHilU-gYPDt5rgBQ0V9ciA/s320/Kinsfolk%20III.jpg" width="263" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: <b><i>Kinsfolk III</i></b>.)</div><p>I've used several such "anonymous" portraits in my installation <i>Anonymous Ancestors</i>. <i>Anonymous Ancestors</i>
is currently at the Morris Center of Lowcountry Heritage in Ridgeland,
South Carolina until February 17th. I haven't secured another venue for
it. Plus, there's already over 300 framed pieces. (Click <a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2022/10/anonymous-ancestors-at-city-gallery-at.html">HERE </a>for a
blog post showing how this installation looked while on view at City
Gallery at Waterfront Park in Charleston.) The truth is that I don't
need more pieces for <i>Anonymous Ancestors</i> but I couldn't resist these portraits. I knew I wanted to "do something" different ... but what? <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVQlPMDdHn-ygp3bw4QDPQTGki29GjAB1pq3UcvphGqSUvc4I8r69JT1JQPWQLvDpa373Rw3LVncj9NnvMwJQBKKBjQlY8XA_bAVkmFUJotjq00qqApryenGUB6i40C0Z_2IQrXdFuPuiGCX5r5NXX5wc6AesGWh2dZpTS-RrOyU5OCd7XDvC/s1800/Kinsfolk%20III,%20detail%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVQlPMDdHn-ygp3bw4QDPQTGki29GjAB1pq3UcvphGqSUvc4I8r69JT1JQPWQLvDpa373Rw3LVncj9NnvMwJQBKKBjQlY8XA_bAVkmFUJotjq00qqApryenGUB6i40C0Z_2IQrXdFuPuiGCX5r5NXX5wc6AesGWh2dZpTS-RrOyU5OCd7XDvC/s320/Kinsfolk%20III,%20detail%202.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Detail of <b><i>Kinsfolk III</i></b>.)</div><p>From the recesses of my brain, I remember the cover of Surface Design Association's Summer 2012 quarterly magazine. (Click <a href="https://www.surfacedesign.org/eye-of-the-needle-summer-2012-surface-design-journal/">HERE</a>
to see it.) I don't really remember the article at all, just the idea
of stitching on old portraits. Of course, I didn't want to copy this
artist; I wanted to stitch "in my own, personal way" but didn't know
what that "way" even was until the first of these four portraits (the
black-and-white ones) were donated to my stash. All of a sudden, I
knew! I even had the crazy quilt to use! Then, I got one of the
colored portraits at Bill Mishoe's auction and a framing client donated
the other, colored lady!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tCwTJLR49XX8R4kh-JT7LmyVvYnoaF3dvAIB-FGiol6NZMUI5vNB1lKFjVg_zV47Pw4snZV0WKt4siFRkEvzZA8fFk85XimCniFxaC2oajc_A68ILS0Ka_UiznQSdVRmGYFBHZKkLxHVfnABq2BP4ghPFYJF9zj_kLPWzdnsma_JIZOQealf/s1800/Kinsfolk%20IV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tCwTJLR49XX8R4kh-JT7LmyVvYnoaF3dvAIB-FGiol6NZMUI5vNB1lKFjVg_zV47Pw4snZV0WKt4siFRkEvzZA8fFk85XimCniFxaC2oajc_A68ILS0Ka_UiznQSdVRmGYFBHZKkLxHVfnABq2BP4ghPFYJF9zj_kLPWzdnsma_JIZOQealf/s320/Kinsfolk%20IV.jpg" width="263" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: <b><i>Kinsfolk IV</i></b>.)</div><p>Each of the portraits was fused to upholstery material in my dry mount
press. This was stapled to a stretcher bar. Next, I pinned a section
of the crazy quilt over the surface. Little by little, I cut from the
center to expose the head and part of the upper chest. A piece of soft
orange bridal tulle (fine netting) was then pinned over the entire
surface. This netting protects the fragile places in the crazy quilt
and gives the portraits a warm cast. I stitched flat, red African beads
cut from vintage vinyl records around the opening and then added plenty
of hand-stitching and embellishments. The original crazy quilt wasn't
particularly decorative. So, my stitching blends with the original and
integrates the netting into the surface. Finally, I pinned the pieces
to acid-free foam-centered board and put them into barnwood black
frames. I'm really please with this series and am now looking for a
couple more portraits because I still have enough of the crazy quilt to
do at least two more!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw65LTpXRWI6keIxRuZcj78xOVwm841BqzQG4cIeGiGIoxKmnyX6Wmja2hCi8r0QnsFvitp6OSqv5uoBOwj9mVkEdx7tqgp5X2v084A50L7KSXzTnComPMcpPw9lUiqPadZwK1xEv-Cs0c1QqhNGrXRhtsZkggYJHLOrCcDqyM4-Tz_hQzXjKF/s1800/Kinsfolk%20IV,%20detail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw65LTpXRWI6keIxRuZcj78xOVwm841BqzQG4cIeGiGIoxKmnyX6Wmja2hCi8r0QnsFvitp6OSqv5uoBOwj9mVkEdx7tqgp5X2v084A50L7KSXzTnComPMcpPw9lUiqPadZwK1xEv-Cs0c1QqhNGrXRhtsZkggYJHLOrCcDqyM4-Tz_hQzXjKF/s320/Kinsfolk%20IV,%20detail.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Detail of <b><i>Kinsfolk IV</i></b>.)</div><p> Further below are more images of these new pieces! Enjoy!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBjdXpi4WSVR7JPqFnGrDXqZEtUNv236LXtQ2quSGOSMNRAuUMDQL5W_VmYbKnfZF9a9Dc7QMRM7znBFTXMGL69y7-3D_TeByzDgiXLkiFLbXawFEFCRuhzcigdonl3_ryma3MO1uPUL3XMKidUXblIGkykhQpJZQWR_r43Iu1Y235pF-HdKc/s1800/Kinsfolk%20V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1493" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBjdXpi4WSVR7JPqFnGrDXqZEtUNv236LXtQ2quSGOSMNRAuUMDQL5W_VmYbKnfZF9a9Dc7QMRM7znBFTXMGL69y7-3D_TeByzDgiXLkiFLbXawFEFCRuhzcigdonl3_ryma3MO1uPUL3XMKidUXblIGkykhQpJZQWR_r43Iu1Y235pF-HdKc/s320/Kinsfolk%20V.jpg" width="265" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: <b><i>Kinsfolk V</i></b>.)</div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aP0WzHZRRFa5eWEhl8CV7k2ND8KWYIczAFDOorQ666jb-PlHni4jfgsUUg-nUUNYY0J2MGqnzhf_WU2I2Vgmdbetf0rj8We3U-YMXThI0FYJwJjdCV0E4nuunVNQ8FZsfn5i0tleDXVM1nzRMhOzB6Vz_yiFd45IN_J1hNQ8PsZe7K-fge_5/s1800/Kinsfolk%20V,%20detail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aP0WzHZRRFa5eWEhl8CV7k2ND8KWYIczAFDOorQ666jb-PlHni4jfgsUUg-nUUNYY0J2MGqnzhf_WU2I2Vgmdbetf0rj8We3U-YMXThI0FYJwJjdCV0E4nuunVNQ8FZsfn5i0tleDXVM1nzRMhOzB6Vz_yiFd45IN_J1hNQ8PsZe7K-fge_5/s320/Kinsfolk%20V,%20detail.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Detail of <b><i>Kinsfolk V</i></b>.)</div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6xyMrWVJnd7IN-34YmtmguOXsgGC04Cijk1wf2g0geENlRc4UjOI6k7izv7o6v62TxrY_JJlXyoGkARxFx-uOecSOcnIXHmFIKnoSpesNugIpHLbE-fJqa25IvWh2XihsrPOoVGRgX9SQXmje8V3gOP90PbdQVw39E5rc6YNUo5y3mIVQDuK/s1800/Kinsfolk%20VI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1494" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6xyMrWVJnd7IN-34YmtmguOXsgGC04Cijk1wf2g0geENlRc4UjOI6k7izv7o6v62TxrY_JJlXyoGkARxFx-uOecSOcnIXHmFIKnoSpesNugIpHLbE-fJqa25IvWh2XihsrPOoVGRgX9SQXmje8V3gOP90PbdQVw39E5rc6YNUo5y3mIVQDuK/s320/Kinsfolk%20VI.jpg" width="266" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: <b><i>Kinsfolk VI</i></b>.)</div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OaEIT_PMrhZs6I5fpxxEUrSChcpk1dQiW5XmWjqskFm4ThGYfNWbelSeRDVUvIlY0dSmD9W1bcQn80E0a7Ph50C3uwR_j13nHnoINKubEXbWddn5eWhyK8cj6qtzy6ppdR6DByidiPamacC8ICGpoct9TLZLcX3d6kwegPhFEv-tBd7lLAju/s1800/Kinsfolk%20VI,%20detail%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OaEIT_PMrhZs6I5fpxxEUrSChcpk1dQiW5XmWjqskFm4ThGYfNWbelSeRDVUvIlY0dSmD9W1bcQn80E0a7Ph50C3uwR_j13nHnoINKubEXbWddn5eWhyK8cj6qtzy6ppdR6DByidiPamacC8ICGpoct9TLZLcX3d6kwegPhFEv-tBd7lLAju/s320/Kinsfolk%20VI,%20detail%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>Kinsfolk VI</i></b>.)<br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-655994959712168752023-12-06T18:15:00.005-05:002023-12-06T18:18:48.617-05:00Mandala CLXXIII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9uvqcalZ4-c7wYW-izCpJX9MKNpwUMyky9lEkQ2qCzqkgHfLgar1sANsZOgYwbhz29XI2KqVPldUGyecUSzA4EDkW7nrHLH5T-4eITWX1wxZJYrq_ZyanSrn-oo3N4Tf_CRUkAeGvX9hGeRh0bpcc0p352K0lK9RPYWlCTrcfjUKE8ygd_63/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXIII.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9uvqcalZ4-c7wYW-izCpJX9MKNpwUMyky9lEkQ2qCzqkgHfLgar1sANsZOgYwbhz29XI2KqVPldUGyecUSzA4EDkW7nrHLH5T-4eITWX1wxZJYrq_ZyanSrn-oo3N4Tf_CRUkAeGvX9hGeRh0bpcc0p352K0lK9RPYWlCTrcfjUKE8ygd_63/s320/Mandala%20CLXXIII.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Mandala CLXXIII</i></b>. Custom framed: 20" x 20". Found objects hand stitched to the back side of a vintage quilt. Found objects include: A red vinyl 45; vintage scissors; ballpark seat tags; red checkers; four, vintage diecast cars; gold and brass belt buckles; and assorted buttons. $325. Click on either image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>Lots of things came together for this Found Object Mandala. First, I had a stick of wide, black linen liner in the closet near my sales counter. Why it was in the closet and not the garage is anyone's guess. Recently, I cleared out the closet. After all, we will hopefully be moving into the renovated church at the end of January. It's high time to investigate closets, under beds, the pantry, etc. Well ... I asked Steve to cut and build it into the largest square possible. He did. Then, I started looking around for "something" that would be a great focal point for a Found Object Mandala that would fit into the liner. Because the liner is rather wide, I wanted something proportional, something "big". I wasn't having any luck until Steve suggested the red vinyl 45. He had saved five of them for a future Found Object Mandala ... but not in the mess-of-a-room where my stash is stored. Basically ... I started with two things that weren't in their proper locations. </p><p>At that point, I remembered the donated of ball park seat tags but couldn't find them. The nice lady who gave them to me came in person. We looked at them while standing beside my dry mount press. It was well over a year ago. I'd looked for them on several occasions and actually thought I lost them somewhere in that mess-of-a-room where my stash is stored ... but NO! I found them ... still right beside the dry mount. For over a year, I simply overlooked the Altoids tin in which they were put. So ... one more thing that wasn't in its proper place was used. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF5k-b4_7AQXA0AsXxzfd7JMDCRwzzWFYFyAfBspD4s07rSfW_cjqfuUEpD_AYpMD3mHLQrg96eM_23igrjNkhQmh7CU05R3e2dvUekndKcIbY32NSesQlaJpyJzK5Z_28WC-lgx0tffYr36FyiqNW_4Sh-gv45e6Ib2u46mf_q7Ql-XxJEyz/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXIII,%20detail.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF5k-b4_7AQXA0AsXxzfd7JMDCRwzzWFYFyAfBspD4s07rSfW_cjqfuUEpD_AYpMD3mHLQrg96eM_23igrjNkhQmh7CU05R3e2dvUekndKcIbY32NSesQlaJpyJzK5Z_28WC-lgx0tffYr36FyiqNW_4Sh-gv45e6Ib2u46mf_q7Ql-XxJEyz/s320/Mandala%20CLXXIII,%20detail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <i><b>Mandala CLXXIII</b></i>.)<p></p><p>I'm guessing that the ball park seat tags were "lost" because they were simply waiting to be used on this piece. I also used the back side of the vintage quilt ... all blue. The diecast model cars came from a thrift shop in Florida. They were well loved! The silver belt buckles also came from another thrift shop in Florida. I drilled holes in the black linen liner to stitch them in place. All in all, I'm rather pleased with this Found Object Mandala, especially since it incorporated so many "lost" and now truly "found" parts!<br /> </p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-46486473974560515232023-11-27T12:23:00.007-05:002023-11-27T12:26:35.970-05:00In Box CDXLII for an upcoming Quilt Show national tour!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZThHE1Db9D2Bsewjo6C3Mw8XwwHrPmihEtYbvB0AnT29qVmBvGFPHDmCcrPVIL0b6T0k23OFxp8PVLH0hs7hfWD5JoXLitAyL3KQ-gNJPONsoGQs1cqYOoOJBaBe2AcOzE4G6-VKwSEldYQkg2fDrBhnv1JXsE9OqeaHbwlbGIaRZNpxTQgG/s1800/In%20Box%20CDXLII%20for%20the%20Quilt%20Show%20Tour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZThHE1Db9D2Bsewjo6C3Mw8XwwHrPmihEtYbvB0AnT29qVmBvGFPHDmCcrPVIL0b6T0k23OFxp8PVLH0hs7hfWD5JoXLitAyL3KQ-gNJPONsoGQs1cqYOoOJBaBe2AcOzE4G6-VKwSEldYQkg2fDrBhnv1JXsE9OqeaHbwlbGIaRZNpxTQgG/s320/In%20Box%20CDXLII%20for%20the%20Quilt%20Show%20Tour.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>In Box CDXLII</i></b>. 30" x 30". Layers of polyester stretch velvet fused together on a substrata for recycled, black industrial felt with self-guided/free-motion machine stitching and unique melting techniques. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>Ordinarily, I don't make my In Box Series pieces quite this square or this wide ... but a couple months ago when asked for a piece for the 2024 Quilt Show tour to various, national venues but with a minimum 30" x 30" size ... well ... I said, "Yes! Of course!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68mN1c6FaRnSCTU-zOd6_5uihZUP0Ks8pgUGszAGrTJkbCCxWNkjdM4LBz-0m2GSEukaemmA8KK1qHu9eFMWfUzsCRiEQE-mPK_l8tNMFNPhzIg_KIWmb9h5I_xaBHjai70ki4zjDi8iFtpx-sSswgNK8_Zk02-psQHgymvLq77xxzbN8xRlg/s1800/In%20Box%20CDXLII,%20detail%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68mN1c6FaRnSCTU-zOd6_5uihZUP0Ks8pgUGszAGrTJkbCCxWNkjdM4LBz-0m2GSEukaemmA8KK1qHu9eFMWfUzsCRiEQE-mPK_l8tNMFNPhzIg_KIWmb9h5I_xaBHjai70ki4zjDi8iFtpx-sSswgNK8_Zk02-psQHgymvLq77xxzbN8xRlg/s320/In%20Box%20CDXLII,%20detail%201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>In Box CDXLII</i></b>.)<p></p><p>Ordinarily, I frame these works but that's not what The Quilt Show needs. Thus, this work has four, small rings stitched to the back of four upper edge squares. When this piece returns ... sometime next year! ... I'll go ahead and frame it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14ixuKmY3VCdd_L34T4Eym8fRgtnbfqhr2dSm86tGRTqObCZwkiQF5WDgCcRKCuFxm81Z1qDo7sAYsCyNEcLgpFFfr-qFLrfTXFiCXG1e2g8YdtdvzQn_7rvhcHfniEFUizt1YegfZAo6JxATGNpNtx9nlstwMjFSS-W8x4yKVBqsrqXlwLRx/s1800/In%20Box%20CDXLII,%20detail%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14ixuKmY3VCdd_L34T4Eym8fRgtnbfqhr2dSm86tGRTqObCZwkiQF5WDgCcRKCuFxm81Z1qDo7sAYsCyNEcLgpFFfr-qFLrfTXFiCXG1e2g8YdtdvzQn_7rvhcHfniEFUizt1YegfZAo6JxATGNpNtx9nlstwMjFSS-W8x4yKVBqsrqXlwLRx/s320/In%20Box%20CDXLII,%20detail%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of<i><b> In Box CDXLII</b></i>.)<p></p><p>It was fun to work in this large size. Who knows? I might develop a large square approach in the coming year!<br /> </p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-26356108505982595122023-11-23T16:05:00.002-05:002023-11-23T16:05:38.900-05:00Thanksgiving and a visit to our church ... our future home and studio!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-E641mb3a1FMXRA6VVfnA9wox3rmMjZBPSWSV9xkw5B8CjweVDRnabIw8XEcDgSo17QF7bjpEm8jAbSC2rK5YhUvnlithl4lCL2FAcUkX2FR6-gNwFFhFV27FntvZcJtXbzqYBaUJZtZV2r5HLA5JIcDnccjkJ4VJHfu4oh-t4K1rTFAyq44/s1800/Blog_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-E641mb3a1FMXRA6VVfnA9wox3rmMjZBPSWSV9xkw5B8CjweVDRnabIw8XEcDgSo17QF7bjpEm8jAbSC2rK5YhUvnlithl4lCL2FAcUkX2FR6-gNwFFhFV27FntvZcJtXbzqYBaUJZtZV2r5HLA5JIcDnccjkJ4VJHfu4oh-t4K1rTFAyq44/s320/Blog_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Selfie taken at the back of the sanctuary. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>To celebrate Thanksgiving, Steve and I went to our church to see progress on the renovations that will transform the space into our future home and my large, fiber art studio. Every time we visit, we have moved things ... things that can withstand the dust from the on-going work. Today, two of our bookcases were moved in. On other occasions, sealed tubs of yarn and vintage fabric were brought. Boxes of books are there ... but not all the books we have! LOL! We've moved my <i>Cabinet of Curiosities</i> and the four, old doors on which tagged keys once hung (and will hang in the future!)<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBb3NUnObAboUpvldQmrT7ceDT4UdSfgPCRQBQkw8RwaJjlryetM6SqX3MxUgzpp6vsc_OjyY7sLd3z4XRrUpB1cNL7s79GV872kkcG-cXwHaW25NbKZmD1o6SMuetAlNyP2_tX0ysfBOOAvJ-15uFPkYAADqKXd1yXbcfWCol0JR50Gc1vES/s1800/Blog_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBb3NUnObAboUpvldQmrT7ceDT4UdSfgPCRQBQkw8RwaJjlryetM6SqX3MxUgzpp6vsc_OjyY7sLd3z4XRrUpB1cNL7s79GV872kkcG-cXwHaW25NbKZmD1o6SMuetAlNyP2_tX0ysfBOOAvJ-15uFPkYAADqKXd1yXbcfWCol0JR50Gc1vES/s320/Blog_02.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />We are elated that the ugly old carpeting has been removed from the sanctuary floor and from rooms in the living area. The flea-bitten sectional sofa is now in the construction dumpster. Soon, the carpeting will be gone from the stage.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeYWKU5regFke-D7uGWovZ-GVFzCYa2Ik5g3jghL0-px8xpUntudUpyHWPAMj_oVVREzu6blJzqV1ANGzy9NpnXPhADP_jMDzye0cKd4D7bvymx-OleUIYpU31gzk8w_ZwmkM_rW7XcEyX0j4zCKqUVY-Bdt5khD1HesbxOe2SFDrdeATB_n-/s1800/Blog_04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeYWKU5regFke-D7uGWovZ-GVFzCYa2Ik5g3jghL0-px8xpUntudUpyHWPAMj_oVVREzu6blJzqV1ANGzy9NpnXPhADP_jMDzye0cKd4D7bvymx-OleUIYpU31gzk8w_ZwmkM_rW7XcEyX0j4zCKqUVY-Bdt5khD1HesbxOe2SFDrdeATB_n-/s320/Blog_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The exposed duct work is gone from our future bedroom. There are new windows throughout.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhW2XVMHH4v3wddoQIgTlpCzIhhgJFRTr7qQliIKZGJqIgz5wVC5D2gw70RGVeCHzTJOVQbZhmnhUtA3A-JKpfUWQz8sDOmAzQtkzVdor1XHuY1qAXdkYu0iLxqQC1XmFPWD5vr3qEVcaZRWI31tqvVXCD7hYaJF1fl1pDqFXgAliJ5JaL69fC/s1800/Blog_03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhW2XVMHH4v3wddoQIgTlpCzIhhgJFRTr7qQliIKZGJqIgz5wVC5D2gw70RGVeCHzTJOVQbZhmnhUtA3A-JKpfUWQz8sDOmAzQtkzVdor1XHuY1qAXdkYu0iLxqQC1XmFPWD5vr3qEVcaZRWI31tqvVXCD7hYaJF1fl1pDqFXgAliJ5JaL69fC/s320/Blog_03.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>Custom cabinets are ordered and installation is scheduled for the first week in January. Soon, this will be our kitchen!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg_GEG2dBzAP6PufOKdbARFJg9logVPo9cc_XTRseLQtUj37zCGQ63Tcl8ZXuhKcmZOIpNWA-wCW1tlOWPlew0ol0zDrtDOnXadwaAFW9U3xJo2EvmA9zjKbxWQdGmIZfaodXZxit0XgfIla81jrf0rZH-eNarOwjy1SC7WQbjsl1qEICri5x/s1800/Blog_05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg_GEG2dBzAP6PufOKdbARFJg9logVPo9cc_XTRseLQtUj37zCGQ63Tcl8ZXuhKcmZOIpNWA-wCW1tlOWPlew0ol0zDrtDOnXadwaAFW9U3xJo2EvmA9zjKbxWQdGmIZfaodXZxit0XgfIla81jrf0rZH-eNarOwjy1SC7WQbjsl1qEICri5x/s320/Blog_05.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>All the ceilings have been sheet-rocked. Most of the walls are finished too. The building has passed inspection for the wiring, plumbing, and duct work. HVAC units are in place! The photo above will be the living room on the second floor. The openings overlook the sanctuary and are supposed to get windows that will open and shut.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNHXhRWSTyQovrR-lu0om8hd8LnNHfdj1Sw_vg72k-CcuyZZGZVZnZW9gwQKVcvU4fwYDKhHswursZaLCtDgIX9rmFzuLBmJ1Kt6QruqYAibbrj1Du1tK8JZmx4I0odPPld8L0U59Ibz3bypK5FlR3TG98oWHpn_13zDJEdULxPvqcC5JloVe/s1800/Blog_06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNHXhRWSTyQovrR-lu0om8hd8LnNHfdj1Sw_vg72k-CcuyZZGZVZnZW9gwQKVcvU4fwYDKhHswursZaLCtDgIX9rmFzuLBmJ1Kt6QruqYAibbrj1Du1tK8JZmx4I0odPPld8L0U59Ibz3bypK5FlR3TG98oWHpn_13zDJEdULxPvqcC5JloVe/s320/Blog_06.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>There are five openings. The larger ones on the short walls will have the two stained glass windows that we already own. We had comes to terms with leaving them in Columbia ... until this plan was devised. Of course we are both very happy about this!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfJDJFF0T5rKJE2tfDENcMLbuzp-_3NEeWmjQVA2zMrOKtxrxDTQbavZLHwSTryTnFVSsPMY7PzN2kOoR1xQAkiNgdyOgzbifoRUEv7_jbypadMU7qFmRjGMJprz5PcwFnuz8fIpBAd_abdP8hTnKHlEhP1SqDy3LHK11vOyfOoBYFvW7V3AH/s1800/Blog_07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfJDJFF0T5rKJE2tfDENcMLbuzp-_3NEeWmjQVA2zMrOKtxrxDTQbavZLHwSTryTnFVSsPMY7PzN2kOoR1xQAkiNgdyOgzbifoRUEv7_jbypadMU7qFmRjGMJprz5PcwFnuz8fIpBAd_abdP8hTnKHlEhP1SqDy3LHK11vOyfOoBYFvW7V3AH/s320/Blog_07.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
This is the view from the living area ... down into the sanctuary ... which will become my STUDIO! Yes ... we are indeed thankful and excited for the coming year! Happy Thanksgiving!<br />Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-87739412238334658232023-11-22T16:15:00.004-05:002023-11-22T16:15:37.776-05:00Mandala CLXXII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLdezFcyR-6bCP2maXhJPjoT_Dfuo5qYbq4v_EoGZMO2_RJEmgoYOJaEx6vbZfhfFMC8I815uTvyzUf1ujshvr8btb0Wz44bugCqwzCq-86ILXDvonej3nnWLThr9dUGnP7PPt2hYxbUgqZGqTo1xxOOwLr7gSNcPUYr4B0BU84l3i1orOLPE/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXII.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLdezFcyR-6bCP2maXhJPjoT_Dfuo5qYbq4v_EoGZMO2_RJEmgoYOJaEx6vbZfhfFMC8I815uTvyzUf1ujshvr8btb0Wz44bugCqwzCq-86ILXDvonej3nnWLThr9dUGnP7PPt2hYxbUgqZGqTo1xxOOwLr7gSNcPUYr4B0BU84l3i1orOLPE/s320/Mandala%20CLXXII.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><b><i>Found
Object Mandala CLXXII</i></b>. Custom framed: 30 3/4" x 30 3/4". Found objects
hand-stitched to a section of a vintage blue-and-red bow tie quilt.
Objects include: A bell shaped cookie cutter on two different plastic
lids; retail glove hangers;
corn-on-the-cob holders; assorted bottle caps; vintage brass belt
buckles; cocktail forks; casino chips; wooden clothespins; brass rings; brass
escutcheons; clear, plastic sewing machine bobbins; glass <span></span>prisms;
chess pieces; expired medical devices in clear/blue plastic containers;
long needle-like parts of prostate radioactive seed implant devices;
and assorted buttons. Click on any image to enlarge.)</span><p></p><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">This piece started shortly after a friend donated the cool retail glove hangers to my stash. Immediately, I had them laid out on the vintage blue-and-red bow tie quilt. Then, I hesitated. Why? Well, I'm really not fond of quilt patterns that run on a diagonal ... at least not for this series. Finally, I realized that I could cut the quilt on an angle. There's no good reason for always cutting with lines parallel to the edges! Sure, this might result in more triangular scraps, but these irregular shaped pieces could always be used for future unit in my <i>Patchwork Installation</i>! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrXFPCPRgm3mHpq5NEMd0m_9HhPer3lbyGlOPti5nJJAib4WGZ7BBgl83ZCgn_8maKgAroq07HZ-OUCzJZkiMBLW2QkKYP3GepG-cJwkWIrw0YxNB2U6_zAQ6P64_U7f8qDcRPSn2MEm3pwDZwbMEkC38YNLpkHINzOwXyu2QfDHfPDzq7449/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXII,%20detail%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrXFPCPRgm3mHpq5NEMd0m_9HhPer3lbyGlOPti5nJJAib4WGZ7BBgl83ZCgn_8maKgAroq07HZ-OUCzJZkiMBLW2QkKYP3GepG-cJwkWIrw0YxNB2U6_zAQ6P64_U7f8qDcRPSn2MEm3pwDZwbMEkC38YNLpkHINzOwXyu2QfDHfPDzq7449/s320/Mandala%20CLXXII,%20detail%201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <i><b>Mandala CLXXII</b></i>.)<p></p><p>I had fun arranging things around the glove hangers. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be due to the "thumb" leaving more space on one side ... but it all worked out nicely. I'm really pleased with the results!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-r0doVvPpH0cWAFeI2y_eYTqS5z2Ht8sqtC9uiELDymbWDWZEm-RPuPqeBBDxFK6SEMkVuqm4HEHvwCMeyWEf25m6Q2h8v2Z4FiWsvjrjpUbd7nujUFlBaCFt01mJP4EIVtqn6W-15ODHY5BFFCX5i9dYrQgvHKtNpfNRxDqZ7_A_aACU-hw/s1800/Mandala%20CLXXII,%20detail%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-r0doVvPpH0cWAFeI2y_eYTqS5z2Ht8sqtC9uiELDymbWDWZEm-RPuPqeBBDxFK6SEMkVuqm4HEHvwCMeyWEf25m6Q2h8v2Z4FiWsvjrjpUbd7nujUFlBaCFt01mJP4EIVtqn6W-15ODHY5BFFCX5i9dYrQgvHKtNpfNRxDqZ7_A_aACU-hw/s320/Mandala%20CLXXII,%20detail%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <i><b>Mandala CLXXII</b></i>.)<br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-58840362115819274562023-11-16T12:12:00.003-05:002023-11-16T12:12:46.425-05:00Patchwork 123, the result of a community crazy quilt activity<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAkdvMkAbxx0blz-3hCwFY7UsHzMk7DeidgnbuqSWX8ddf7o_hgTnT0mlqgxQIxxBZ9UHzEbzNquY_wlYkdGojBlOkEL-G5w8aNAm_9rh2keJp746DUMbrrWxXy6NHtkTC2jkbxSEt0P5Sm39mp0Cnmipd6uZAHtJK2JPsKW-D0caNevQz7qm/s1800/Patchwork,%20detail%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1800" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAkdvMkAbxx0blz-3hCwFY7UsHzMk7DeidgnbuqSWX8ddf7o_hgTnT0mlqgxQIxxBZ9UHzEbzNquY_wlYkdGojBlOkEL-G5w8aNAm_9rh2keJp746DUMbrrWxXy6NHtkTC2jkbxSEt0P5Sm39mp0Cnmipd6uZAHtJK2JPsKW-D0caNevQz7qm/s320/Patchwork,%20detail%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <i><b>Patchwork # 123</b></i>. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>This piece started as a community crazy quilt activity for ARToberfest at the <a href="https://bethanyarts.org/">Bethany Arts Community</a> in Ossining, NY where I enjoyed a two-week art residency. Though the weather was cool, people came and stitched with me. Mostly, people added the double layer of buttons. It was fun. With me, I had a vintage, pieced quilt top and an antique crazy quilt. So ... I got to explain my contemporary approach to crazy quilting ... using scraps of old quilts randomly put together on a recycled, black felt substrata. (<a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2023/10/artoberfest-and-other-events-during.html">CLICK HERE</a> for a blog post about ARToberfest and some of my time at Bethany Arts.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghC4e50W8X6wT-1fvITxhDg1Jkkbi1bWFl7MqntxH5JZwaU4Zv48ET5kgnmadrc9oMcbMpOCK1DT2CiVDobYKwrwt93b-5806GY0AfLeN0ebEqI66RO-1SJq-702xdaq29FZZPnsXUgSmAYelwYuXe-ZjlsbKCZ9JNVYf4c6HfuQ8zSdTpQueV/s2700/Patchwork%20123.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="950" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghC4e50W8X6wT-1fvITxhDg1Jkkbi1bWFl7MqntxH5JZwaU4Zv48ET5kgnmadrc9oMcbMpOCK1DT2CiVDobYKwrwt93b-5806GY0AfLeN0ebEqI66RO-1SJq-702xdaq29FZZPnsXUgSmAYelwYuXe-ZjlsbKCZ9JNVYf4c6HfuQ8zSdTpQueV/s320/Patchwork%20123.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Patchwork # 123</i></b>. 60 1/2" x 20 1/2". Scraps of vintage quilts hand stitched together with fabric yo-yos, layers of buttons, and a large piece of Battenburg lace on recycled, black industrial felt ... then upholstery tacked to a black frame over which acid-free mat board was previously glued.)<p></p><p>The piece was designed with two goals in mind. First, it is part of my Patchwork Installation! This series (minus this piece, of course) is on view in my solo show at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount, NC. (<a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2023/09/once-again-alterations-solo-exhibition.html">CLICK HERE</a> for a video!) I hope to have future opportunities to mount this work. If (or when!) I do, this new piece will be a focal point from which other work radiates.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZ8KDAOsPTPceG6EHAPXY3VkzHf460GPH-zDvxWszVD-PsLJ6T8E1YD2ehEhgjls4ScNeMO9p8rRocJ05g7KAH-LjF01FmMCqGpNlrnQvd8MsOglCY0Dn8v3wQsBeYa-x97TNmIEpkn1yD5Rqsbwg9_JTMGXV73Hc8QkTSq3PZFRpaGXBIAqx/s1800/Patchwork%20123,%20in%20house.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZ8KDAOsPTPceG6EHAPXY3VkzHf460GPH-zDvxWszVD-PsLJ6T8E1YD2ehEhgjls4ScNeMO9p8rRocJ05g7KAH-LjF01FmMCqGpNlrnQvd8MsOglCY0Dn8v3wQsBeYa-x97TNmIEpkn1yD5Rqsbwg9_JTMGXV73Hc8QkTSq3PZFRpaGXBIAqx/s320/Patchwork%20123,%20in%20house.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Patchwork # 123</i></b> hanging at Mouse House ... a photo to represent scale!)<p></p><p>This piece is significantly larger than any of the others. It can hang either vertically or horizontally. In my mind, I see more than just two smaller pieces coming in contact with it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP-9J4pCRGOHokW2Whg4PAxReD0S7GLr-V9prFUfknLzDKKFCZLmAjVj2yHjvI3LUaIpspB5Ich3s90WideB-5HuW9SXhZ20p66B_bUTxD2EDF01xTwvm2CNtuBA29VpolS_GJK7mTJjvlZLzkXCGMsdZs5f7RMempYi63Iv8Xxl2YHvibfbP/s1800/Patchwork,%20detail%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP-9J4pCRGOHokW2Whg4PAxReD0S7GLr-V9prFUfknLzDKKFCZLmAjVj2yHjvI3LUaIpspB5Ich3s90WideB-5HuW9SXhZ20p66B_bUTxD2EDF01xTwvm2CNtuBA29VpolS_GJK7mTJjvlZLzkXCGMsdZs5f7RMempYi63Iv8Xxl2YHvibfbP/s320/Patchwork,%20detail%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of Patchwork # 123.)<p></p><p>The other aim was to use the beautiful piece of Battenburg lace that was donated to my stash. Art quilters including <a href="http://quiltnans.blogspot.com/">Nancy Roberts</a> came to the artist talk at the College of Central Florida when three of my installations were part of a group show. They gave me this Battenburg lace, a bunch of tape meant for more Battenburg lace, and more of what was supposed to be part of this lace but still basted to its original patter.. All the fabric tape went into my <i>Cascade Installation</i> which was started at Bethany Arts. The lace still basted to its pattern was shared during ARToberfest. I'm very pleased that this never-finished lace has finally a place of honor!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5P81F-TFN-F0-1JjMhaHeG2ncMpG79YjnKn1scyLrdHsyAajry2nG0OVcy35CbAq27MObKr_ah9M7YecSSbSht1h7hYenEjZJyEhlgXG-je28RXYfScpfUf6LUNMQudzhyK5FTS3Ue8Roa1TJuMhySbWIwjFMEcHAXmX_sA9KLYVUFmPylhyphenhyphen/s1800/Patchwork,%20detail%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5P81F-TFN-F0-1JjMhaHeG2ncMpG79YjnKn1scyLrdHsyAajry2nG0OVcy35CbAq27MObKr_ah9M7YecSSbSht1h7hYenEjZJyEhlgXG-je28RXYfScpfUf6LUNMQudzhyK5FTS3Ue8Roa1TJuMhySbWIwjFMEcHAXmX_sA9KLYVUFmPylhyphenhyphen/s320/Patchwork,%20detail%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-36572624206854000032023-11-09T17:15:00.000-05:002023-11-09T17:15:01.024-05:00WIS Television segment on my upcoming retirement and future as a FULL TIME ARTIST<p><a href="https://www.wistv.com/2023/10/27/soda-city-living-mouse-house/?fbclid=IwAR3vtVfAvlAxQauz7CAvB0vBHcSaRDy--LMGAohFSd9P_-UDtaJN5SyC4uE">https://www.wistv.com/2023/10/27/soda-city-living-mouse-house/?fbclid=IwAR3vtVfAvlAxQauz7CAvB0vBHcSaRDy--LMGAohFSd9P_-UDtaJN5SyC4uE </a><br /></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-16427874373698413722023-11-01T16:52:00.004-05:002023-11-01T16:54:03.026-05:00Found Object Tornado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjXMH5n6slLLnd83BLvJIKAc1KDLwnXdvOjZEsdGDn3gT2lLE5eV7O-RFlBCLpsBPD0qi43U-lQf5Zi4B4V3ggaRpcjoWTGt647miwElGncVH-fEE_dkepII9t0f9yek5icPZ7eEI_XRkDvIN8cUlZXpmMb5fz9AU6ShlDfAumKyiFL4T_oX3/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjXMH5n6slLLnd83BLvJIKAc1KDLwnXdvOjZEsdGDn3gT2lLE5eV7O-RFlBCLpsBPD0qi43U-lQf5Zi4B4V3ggaRpcjoWTGt647miwElGncVH-fEE_dkepII9t0f9yek5icPZ7eEI_XRkDvIN8cUlZXpmMb5fz9AU6ShlDfAumKyiFL4T_oX3/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Found Object Tornado</i></b>. Custom framed: 40" x 40". Found objects and custom cording hand-stitched to a section of a vintage quilt. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>I started this piece weeks and weeks ago. It seems like this one took FOREVER to stitch and I did spend much more time on it than most of my other found object art quilts. Yet, the truth of the matter is that I started it before leaving for three weeks. Thus, it only seems like forever! LOL! I am quite pleased with the results. It was well worth the effort.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrPIh2o7tS37hrE0E6p77uBfMJfMY7sUaV7sY_Xo0HuZfB3-X6w_LtLmdLg3kehgpVi42Rz5xBKGGuh3K4ONhZ1X5m3FHCy5E0a6YvVver1STwnzHilw5Vc6L10VJh-kYHR6KrdW6vuaU-uPEoTG84zc57UEAnnRq82mIrp1utnfOVjPcj9xG/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrPIh2o7tS37hrE0E6p77uBfMJfMY7sUaV7sY_Xo0HuZfB3-X6w_LtLmdLg3kehgpVi42Rz5xBKGGuh3K4ONhZ1X5m3FHCy5E0a6YvVver1STwnzHilw5Vc6L10VJh-kYHR6KrdW6vuaU-uPEoTG84zc57UEAnnRq82mIrp1utnfOVjPcj9xG/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%206.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>The Found Object Tornado</i></b>.)<p></p><p>The inspiration for this piece came from several sources ... not the least of which was a donation of Barbie shoes and boots from the <a href="https://www.pixeladies.com/">Pixeladies</a>: <span>Deb Cashatt and Kris Sazaki. These dynamic artists have been collaborating since 2003. This year, however, Kris retired from fiber art to focus on her writing. Deb is continuing to make art quilts and has <a href="https://debcashatt.com/">her own website</a>. Apparently, these Barbie shoes and boots were found while shutting down their joint studio. They thought of my artwork and sent them to me! Thanks! Somehow or the other, these little items reminded me of the <i>Wizard of Oz</i> and Dorothy's ruby slippers. The idea for a tornado started to form.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO0hFNoa90U6D2KOspcLEFNOP8NnP2W51BCv4RAoo39iO5v6FnuMLCbJZAe5q_Q78_TFgo51DvKmbsGMUGRy-j7rztAuHRaNb_s6C7KsQEfEtqeOFQwxJXER07MsnVipkAnTNCj3EhtK8iXzQeiyqYw-dNEZsheDZgLwRPtAaQzzXO41rKT9D/s1800/Quilt%20from%20Ginny%20Merritt,%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO0hFNoa90U6D2KOspcLEFNOP8NnP2W51BCv4RAoo39iO5v6FnuMLCbJZAe5q_Q78_TFgo51DvKmbsGMUGRy-j7rztAuHRaNb_s6C7KsQEfEtqeOFQwxJXER07MsnVipkAnTNCj3EhtK8iXzQeiyqYw-dNEZsheDZgLwRPtAaQzzXO41rKT9D/s320/Quilt%20from%20Ginny%20Merritt,%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: The vintage quilt donated by Ginny Merett before it was cut.)<p></p><p>Another source for inspiration came from the gorgeous, vintage quilt donated to my stash by <a href="https://www.ginnymerett.com/">Ginny Merett</a>. It was very, very well loved. (Please read "threadbare"!) Star-centered quilts are actually difficult to use for a Found Object Mandala. I'm used to cutting at least four sections, each centered around a block. But a quilt like this is centered on a single focal point in the very middle. Yet, the undulating purple, pink, and blue ring was quite inviting. I could already imagine using part of this ring as the background of a tornado against a white middle ground ... with an upper left corner in the sky. So ... I went ahead and cut the quilt and stapled it to a stretcher bar.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGxDivaxZujHwa1T2zXUWXtOH9tWKqh4eWJ2fP8mOC65I5vgrbOKiES4pQ0-Scw4Ca4Ah0aIk9WeoAyk9tRoJE9Kdb4RA5K1j7UjoWzvnmziTqcNyWEUeHYC4ymknKHpWiSZIfReQVHfmhgv1k5gG8HT2BmIuwVJtFhbZGrpq5yxtn0vp9jAn/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20in%20progress,%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGxDivaxZujHwa1T2zXUWXtOH9tWKqh4eWJ2fP8mOC65I5vgrbOKiES4pQ0-Scw4Ca4Ah0aIk9WeoAyk9tRoJE9Kdb4RA5K1j7UjoWzvnmziTqcNyWEUeHYC4ymknKHpWiSZIfReQVHfmhgv1k5gG8HT2BmIuwVJtFhbZGrpq5yxtn0vp9jAn/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20in%20progress,%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: The section of the quilt stapled to a stretcher bar.)<p></p><p>Pieces of blue and purple bridal netting were hand cut in shapes to help define where the tornado would appear ... in the area where the pink, purple, and blue of the quilt seemed to be rising up and along the entire top. These pieces of netting were layered onto the quilt before I put a large piece of white netting over the entire space. This white netting is really important. It covers all the surface, protecting the threadbare areas.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_guxMVYDejJa4veG5_LHwCrqBtPhU5TDcbgQiet3HGy3rTn1QXvZR5WMSYUU_d9wBAgD3s2g_0HaBhKL2ChtkoggAXTb_uGmAzm8UfSHErnxDcEaFm98rARp_Kpidbhfsw-DuZPU4WpjgIhsU_7dT__8IbpOPNwElGnudCtMdTwq21wVQwys/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_guxMVYDejJa4veG5_LHwCrqBtPhU5TDcbgQiet3HGy3rTn1QXvZR5WMSYUU_d9wBAgD3s2g_0HaBhKL2ChtkoggAXTb_uGmAzm8UfSHErnxDcEaFm98rARp_Kpidbhfsw-DuZPU4WpjgIhsU_7dT__8IbpOPNwElGnudCtMdTwq21wVQwys/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of The Found Object Tornado.)<p></p><p>Next came the cording. It was made last year during an art residency at Catoctin
National Park in Maryland. This cording just never got stitched into a fiber
vessel. It was pinned on top of the white netting in lines representing the ground and the tornado. After I stitched it down, I started with the shoes and boots ... and then amassing lots of other objects on the "ground" and in the sky.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RxS4ZdI0cDYpZeOvGF4LSwAed8OX3iIV-zS67xeqg6tiPS12wzVclv9BomNvjYiYhyphenhyphenj3EKSsGIjseQWBcvXT5hBbboe_qodmA-wHhMwOLZj_14kjEmeZTIpO-53Rdz_xL73El49XxFMaKH6gXZzqpyGWpobrnAbleHfKYaaPUmBSV0XfPfiM/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RxS4ZdI0cDYpZeOvGF4LSwAed8OX3iIV-zS67xeqg6tiPS12wzVclv9BomNvjYiYhyphenhyphenj3EKSsGIjseQWBcvXT5hBbboe_qodmA-wHhMwOLZj_14kjEmeZTIpO-53Rdz_xL73El49XxFMaKH6gXZzqpyGWpobrnAbleHfKYaaPUmBSV0XfPfiM/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>The Found Object Tornado</i></b>.)<p></p><p>Thank you to everyone who has donated to my stash ... because lots of the items that went into this whirlwind came from too many people to list! It was great fun to stitch all the game pieces, dice, Scrabble tiles, keys, pull tabs, clothespins, dominoes, and everything else to this piece. As I stitched, I thought about the abundance of my life and what it might look like if hit by a tornado. Over the years, I've seen too many news reports from disaster areas. I've seen too many people picking through the remains of the homes, people who have to start all over again. Thankfully, many can start over. Thankfully, there are services in this country to help. Thankfully, I don't live in a war zone ... like some of the stories being covered in the news about people who aren't able to recover like I would if I were hit by a tornado. I also thought about climate change ... because at the rate civilization is going, there's bound to be more and more occasions when a tsunami, a hurricane, a landslide, a forest fire, or a tornado causes another disaster. For me, this piece really is about the abundance of my own life and how fragile the world is due to climate change.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY6ItU2SIH-UEheScIE8ZGgdoveiVmz9FrY49S9RfKuOGYXqp8gIgMidgAVM-4yvrIM3AI414tmxEKZSWGCNfVNwoR35O0JtiweCsx9PVftfTkcXGumQeOhZ2K3-Vu4oG7wzwe6SGfYXa2c8z5ZFedyzIcEKOXpOkpCRBthooACNim3MN3wgX/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY6ItU2SIH-UEheScIE8ZGgdoveiVmz9FrY49S9RfKuOGYXqp8gIgMidgAVM-4yvrIM3AI414tmxEKZSWGCNfVNwoR35O0JtiweCsx9PVftfTkcXGumQeOhZ2K3-Vu4oG7wzwe6SGfYXa2c8z5ZFedyzIcEKOXpOkpCRBthooACNim3MN3wgX/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>The Found Object Tornado</i></b>.)<p></p><p>While I was stitching all the found objects in place and thinking about climate change, I also turned my attention to the area that didn't include the tornado. I knew I had to "do something" there. Climate change weighed on my mind. I thought about tornadoes and storms until the idea of rain hit me! This is why this piece took the length of time it did. Perle cotton running stitches in four different shades took a long, long time but the results are perfect!</p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_nr-ng2Zy_XezuA8aWTyPeFQakxr9302_9OgaE8ni8Xj7n2I9QXbLdaU22VOtC8eIUDKkyp8A5LD10GhipmYQXRg_hvBuqNp0C6ZwyNIS_tloYl64aIU2SddgsvFuRk-WtvfvemRQxSW_spch-_vAClVcqHSiJNClckq156n1mSdtE0nOqzo/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_nr-ng2Zy_XezuA8aWTyPeFQakxr9302_9OgaE8ni8Xj7n2I9QXbLdaU22VOtC8eIUDKkyp8A5LD10GhipmYQXRg_hvBuqNp0C6ZwyNIS_tloYl64aIU2SddgsvFuRk-WtvfvemRQxSW_spch-_vAClVcqHSiJNClckq156n1mSdtE0nOqzo/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Detail of <b><i>The Found Object Tornado</i></b>.)<p></p><p>Finally, I was satisfied with the piece. Today, I mounted, framed, and photographed it! Yes ... this one was definitely worth the effort!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4mPUWYg8mvcrFY2r6Oj2xp6SpCFYl39uaNs-uyvcSDvty_L_01hz3YYHc2Yu7IwLCoRsLrFMmRU4_-s0BipZRMRKptNl0HHXGxwGaoW_Xm6C3ZUJtWLJuiLbQgfCDDj9FqbKmVrsCs9_rG3d7JNO_ir4MwkrfPntukWf0_8J61QIYTXnEdn3/s1800/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4mPUWYg8mvcrFY2r6Oj2xp6SpCFYl39uaNs-uyvcSDvty_L_01hz3YYHc2Yu7IwLCoRsLrFMmRU4_-s0BipZRMRKptNl0HHXGxwGaoW_Xm6C3ZUJtWLJuiLbQgfCDDj9FqbKmVrsCs9_rG3d7JNO_ir4MwkrfPntukWf0_8J61QIYTXnEdn3/s320/Found%20Object%20Tornado,%20detail%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-78212134971006202082023-10-30T11:59:00.001-05:002023-10-30T11:59:11.408-05:00After a really busy week back at home!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZCgmPaEMTkS_P3jLKA37nydx3WotdybikkuQZcFNhnnpz9HaC2jDVTFqj5Em1-15go89-zQ-IC0N0hAck1xxVtIifi1Ja76JyiNoxSe1OCrelxpO0aWiFt58Jh1hdXWWNJH7Go7sBvMq8_Ew-Bm_Q8FPH5VAfyoU9-eOkEWaUTW_VxYKuyoQ/s1800/Selfie%20with%20hand-stitched%20In%20Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZCgmPaEMTkS_P3jLKA37nydx3WotdybikkuQZcFNhnnpz9HaC2jDVTFqj5Em1-15go89-zQ-IC0N0hAck1xxVtIifi1Ja76JyiNoxSe1OCrelxpO0aWiFt58Jh1hdXWWNJH7Go7sBvMq8_Ew-Bm_Q8FPH5VAfyoU9-eOkEWaUTW_VxYKuyoQ/s320/Selfie%20with%20hand-stitched%20In%20Box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Selfie with the newest hand-stitched In Box piece. Click on either image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>Generally, I dislike photos of myself, especially selfies, but it seems to be one of the best ways to actually present the scale of an artwork and the framed presentation. So ... here's another picture of me with another hand-stitched <i>In Box</i> piece. With all the traveling and the trips to the church we are having renovated for our retirement home, I will likely have more of these colorful creations. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUqn8uNd_MAzf0H6NMbeWLuXmDLMVKV4lvDc2uI5mQFsiQ7hdbgQoD9GmhrVsgYNtUK7Ytc_a4XeLzMJJdztsc8N3_-yknrH9NYK6AruxpPy_0Ktyfw0UHLPbHgGu9OX5M6QgmiuMAt4GAudavJGnlS7OKgSdhv-ZnGN0UDGrn6CzhXwxWS7d/s1800/In%20Box%20CDXLI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUqn8uNd_MAzf0H6NMbeWLuXmDLMVKV4lvDc2uI5mQFsiQ7hdbgQoD9GmhrVsgYNtUK7Ytc_a4XeLzMJJdztsc8N3_-yknrH9NYK6AruxpPy_0Ktyfw0UHLPbHgGu9OX5M6QgmiuMAt4GAudavJGnlS7OKgSdhv-ZnGN0UDGrn6CzhXwxWS7d/s320/In%20Box%20CDXLI.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>(Above:<i> <b> In Box CDXLI</b></i>. Framed 19 3/4" x 15 3/4". $375. Layers of polyester stretch velvet
fused to recycled, black industrial felt with hand embroidery. 100%
cotton embroidery floss. Melting technique.)<p></p><p>This piece was stitched while I was riding in the cargo van on the way to my art residency at Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, NY. It didn't get framed, however, until this past week. Lots of things got framed this past week! It is amazing just how many client orders were dropped off with Steve in my absence. It's almost like a month of work piled up in just two weeks. Most of the last few days have been spent designing presentations, cutting mats, and just "catching up". All the while, I've been thinking/planning/hoping and looking forward to the coming year when we will finally be RETIRED and I will finally be a FULL TIME ARTIST. </p><p>I have been stitching this past week (mostly in the evening after dinner), just not finishing anything. Soon, however, the Found Object Tornado will be complete! It was started over a month ago but had to stay here in Columbia while I was in New York and conducting a fiber art workshop in Kentucky. More might have been accomplished ... except that I am now spending time packing and moving lots of things! I hope to snap a few photos and write a blog post after our next trip to Cateechee, our future church home!<br /></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-75864015852507187042023-10-24T14:09:00.005-05:002023-10-24T14:09:40.732-05:00Back home!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I861EUzVC-d8cg8QP5oMVSsVvhdJ64OubGFhLMR3ScJzPtt2BCapoqabaqNkJVs4rZazGeunIhPC42J7kIOT9yEDumWbOP_BAnl4E2frDVVyEg6QzW7fz3Y3Y8Vey6eo-bI_VLUQ5o-qYxLADdDImzTuYQqLgSHZjmlqreaBEhljSHxAyb4G/s1800/Me%20with%20Relic%20CDLXIX%20and%20CDLXX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I861EUzVC-d8cg8QP5oMVSsVvhdJ64OubGFhLMR3ScJzPtt2BCapoqabaqNkJVs4rZazGeunIhPC42J7kIOT9yEDumWbOP_BAnl4E2frDVVyEg6QzW7fz3Y3Y8Vey6eo-bI_VLUQ5o-qYxLADdDImzTuYQqLgSHZjmlqreaBEhljSHxAyb4G/s320/Me%20with%20Relic%20CDLXIX%20and%20CDLXX.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Me holding the finished demonstration pieces created while conducting a very successful, private workshop in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>I was a little sad to leave my two-week art residency at Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, New York. The time I had there was wonderful and so very, very productive. My new installation is now underway. Thanks to my friend <a href="https://www.nancygcook.com/">Nancy Cook</a>'s suggestion, the installation is now titled <i>Cascades</i>. Yet, I also left with a sense of excitement. Why? Well, I wasn't on my way home. I was on my way to a private workshop in Shelbyville, Kentucky. The experience was GREAT! <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN0gouIAuhkRKrE6Nj3dVmaMoCQz8shaJ0elegg8Nf2mLfLqXToinqAyHj0shPJMiLiZWJd4aSaQEaqXDnArGscaRrXMPv4KLt_iiAf1ad_eu2AN-ro5w5XDWaqRWZIJzBG-24IA-YDopWORw9hBxJPjDlfME91QRRYMVOU-28SVuHjfiD1zF/s1800/Relic%20CCLXIX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN0gouIAuhkRKrE6Nj3dVmaMoCQz8shaJ0elegg8Nf2mLfLqXToinqAyHj0shPJMiLiZWJd4aSaQEaqXDnArGscaRrXMPv4KLt_iiAf1ad_eu2AN-ro5w5XDWaqRWZIJzBG-24IA-YDopWORw9hBxJPjDlfME91QRRYMVOU-28SVuHjfiD1zF/s320/Relic%20CCLXIX.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Relic CCLXIX</i></b>. Framed: 15 1/2" x 13 1/2". Layers of polyester stretch velvet fused to upholstery fabric with beading and hand-stitched embroidery. $165 plus sales tax and shipping.)<p></p><p>Every time I conduct a HOT workshop (Heat Activated Techniques for Contemporary Stitch), I give demonstrations and finish the artwork. This is what I made on the first day. I bring all the materials and supplies for everyone in the workshop. After my demonstrations, participants get plenty of time to create something using the same approach and materials. This first day is meant to get everyone familiar with fusing polyester stretch velvet, applying strips of chiffon and/or netting over the cut shapes, and doing some free-motion stitching in addition to the beading and hand embroidery.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK0u8x5CZfzc24Ej1M0eFPDumWE6z_V08n8ddZ8NtczbFaA4aCGRc_omY-iyDuFsmnlPC0pCyinp2XaNLy3ATD-NLsh0wjJl9GvVCwIacLq7X5x_mJPMn1YZp9eO7tcM_mK7qgwXXgP8VKRJQbkGExSHTRSs4QTPWRbnDd0ublwLAK6Vy1szl/s1800/Relic%20CCLXX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1443" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK0u8x5CZfzc24Ej1M0eFPDumWE6z_V08n8ddZ8NtczbFaA4aCGRc_omY-iyDuFsmnlPC0pCyinp2XaNLy3ATD-NLsh0wjJl9GvVCwIacLq7X5x_mJPMn1YZp9eO7tcM_mK7qgwXXgP8VKRJQbkGExSHTRSs4QTPWRbnDd0ublwLAK6Vy1szl/s320/Relic%20CCLXX.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>(Above: <b><i>Relic CCLXX</i></b>. Framed: 12" x 10". Layers of polyester stretch velvet fused to recycled industrial felt with free motion embroidery and melting techniques. $60 plus sales tax and shipping.)<p></p><p>After a full day of using these materials, everyone is ready for Day 2 ... during which polyester stretch velvet shapes are fused to recycled, black industrial felt before being free-motion stitched with 100% black cotton thread ... then melted with both a soldering iron and an industrial heat gun. It is fun and everyone was absolutely successful. Believe it or not, most participants finish at least four pieces during the two days. Some finish even more! I also bring all the mats and backing boards. Below are just a few of the photos of participants and their artwork!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxm7jVdp6P9Zw0L4wDR0Oj4BoizzrMCkUB7KV_F0F0aQnVM7yX5MyM3BwyyTlma700T84b0tj3UXnvnqHMzRwGMmhyeESa4W5nSRd1L3ng05eCG1E7MtlKUcAYuqtPisN6VrYGg4Qm9yqvetKTWBVf6KAY8ZVnHKBh4U_6o8PZ0Tg5Q81Rws-/s600/Shelbyville%20workshop,%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxm7jVdp6P9Zw0L4wDR0Oj4BoizzrMCkUB7KV_F0F0aQnVM7yX5MyM3BwyyTlma700T84b0tj3UXnvnqHMzRwGMmhyeESa4W5nSRd1L3ng05eCG1E7MtlKUcAYuqtPisN6VrYGg4Qm9yqvetKTWBVf6KAY8ZVnHKBh4U_6o8PZ0Tg5Q81Rws-/s320/Shelbyville%20workshop,%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawhMT7mgfseBUoqFF8lOBxRBTLYcR17CayrUm4o1GRb7f0G1NUjnvrbrVNhild9hIZ5NjwPHfzzkW-NbxGKYW6KILGf-C90Axaeq0uHOL9r8tQWPqS5kNaRW5fbcAS_5mVIcfNBuMuFPL1PMYee9kw5zWCzOsQl0DiNp2g7fuaZpvxHp7XanY/s2048/Shelbyville%20workshop,%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawhMT7mgfseBUoqFF8lOBxRBTLYcR17CayrUm4o1GRb7f0G1NUjnvrbrVNhild9hIZ5NjwPHfzzkW-NbxGKYW6KILGf-C90Axaeq0uHOL9r8tQWPqS5kNaRW5fbcAS_5mVIcfNBuMuFPL1PMYee9kw5zWCzOsQl0DiNp2g7fuaZpvxHp7XanY/s320/Shelbyville%20workshop,%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIB4Isgd1sOp0SKd122sAzZd3wJiyIJeLGMgvtMsIoXsbADKzkkuBKz7A7sHskdHOpDNDCRyl8O21LPRxb_ZzMfJP_EyPWo_aOtMATGfHuntb-5KU_zuK442f8RnZugwngS0CoJrHBjYEQOFqc2qYBK4zHAoxmVx_721KelE1zLfVOidUlqTM/s2048/Shelbyville%20workshop,%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIB4Isgd1sOp0SKd122sAzZd3wJiyIJeLGMgvtMsIoXsbADKzkkuBKz7A7sHskdHOpDNDCRyl8O21LPRxb_ZzMfJP_EyPWo_aOtMATGfHuntb-5KU_zuK442f8RnZugwngS0CoJrHBjYEQOFqc2qYBK4zHAoxmVx_721KelE1zLfVOidUlqTM/s320/Shelbyville%20workshop,%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzQWx42ah7dFZD1GK1u6iCocQH7A2t3fk1C5PioAAok4JIMfme-seUcmtqGnCgc9Ztc_w4VOPZydFSqpkrucjz5RZTtMOuXUsw0_xiswaSLOJoJZv8winhx7IAE9s5octW5qwJ2opuaWQltaFckSEiPt2JM1QuUFolCcZxj55JxgBLlHG81HZ/s2048/Shelbyville%20workshop,%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzQWx42ah7dFZD1GK1u6iCocQH7A2t3fk1C5PioAAok4JIMfme-seUcmtqGnCgc9Ztc_w4VOPZydFSqpkrucjz5RZTtMOuXUsw0_xiswaSLOJoJZv8winhx7IAE9s5octW5qwJ2opuaWQltaFckSEiPt2JM1QuUFolCcZxj55JxgBLlHG81HZ/s320/Shelbyville%20workshop,%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2Uarpp3w8vsAWGUiaHv8dii7gix43Txpo7VMy4HTptMCHMukSIC4eAcL5JlPW1QE6e4kcFkFckMB-y7otAruIMQKnw6gSO7oICZp0gdaDKJoNp_8PnF9k1s0IRUtTU0NpUt1LlTq9OdVqlYpB1XwVbE_X9UIcTg_5PX2xLJtcaZ4irPklTwj/s2048/Shelbyville%20workshop,%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2Uarpp3w8vsAWGUiaHv8dii7gix43Txpo7VMy4HTptMCHMukSIC4eAcL5JlPW1QE6e4kcFkFckMB-y7otAruIMQKnw6gSO7oICZp0gdaDKJoNp_8PnF9k1s0IRUtTU0NpUt1LlTq9OdVqlYpB1XwVbE_X9UIcTg_5PX2xLJtcaZ4irPklTwj/s320/Shelbyville%20workshop,%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pyyHr9pGa2uCkyPvcwhrbqarX60Uw1qI2J8W-V2c4zCNhL8zNCiPU4i8LWlLQil4suiDeLEZk3AwM4EqiTW4LQzp7Kcdnl1csJArcnRe6WmETLmRlJQ4oULI9B6dPBQ77b6xtJ-Qyb4KHSddjkilkF_BNyhInORDXNxEfS4GBIQoOHPiu2e7/s2048/Shelbyville%20workshop,%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pyyHr9pGa2uCkyPvcwhrbqarX60Uw1qI2J8W-V2c4zCNhL8zNCiPU4i8LWlLQil4suiDeLEZk3AwM4EqiTW4LQzp7Kcdnl1csJArcnRe6WmETLmRlJQ4oULI9B6dPBQ77b6xtJ-Qyb4KHSddjkilkF_BNyhInORDXNxEfS4GBIQoOHPiu2e7/s320/Shelbyville%20workshop,%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHveYGZvs7EkXhtJmRQRt6vzULDwHxLfGjzxkMkVTjSZs1Gqg6zu7UjAa63x67uA4sZwcRSxe7NCy4IwGOnhkL2mho_V_9s2AjmYFn4f5xvntm6z4GVEN0hYI3bBfpRP_DWE7Au0a_75CztZug9A4Utkmo14U3WsGJz7GMhFR87e0keAeIWpwt/s2048/Shelbyville%20workshop,%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHveYGZvs7EkXhtJmRQRt6vzULDwHxLfGjzxkMkVTjSZs1Gqg6zu7UjAa63x67uA4sZwcRSxe7NCy4IwGOnhkL2mho_V_9s2AjmYFn4f5xvntm6z4GVEN0hYI3bBfpRP_DWE7Au0a_75CztZug9A4Utkmo14U3WsGJz7GMhFR87e0keAeIWpwt/s320/Shelbyville%20workshop,%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw2vJ1T2bJkfGXC5Cevn-NdQQzleK8D-MnggGLyDvQq0IfybhtFc1Ra0Gzz9EY-UMlISMCRokEwJAO5wKT0VVFFBKSg9Fk1sCmDPsdf4B8IpQybAoE5Brl9ZL7uL4T0GivbEZ9d8v_bg7A4prWRLHoxmwA13kGdLDY24I9JSQEvpiq5IELtik/s4032/Pocono%20Pines,%20Grandparents%20house,%20Oct.%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw2vJ1T2bJkfGXC5Cevn-NdQQzleK8D-MnggGLyDvQq0IfybhtFc1Ra0Gzz9EY-UMlISMCRokEwJAO5wKT0VVFFBKSg9Fk1sCmDPsdf4B8IpQybAoE5Brl9ZL7uL4T0GivbEZ9d8v_bg7A4prWRLHoxmwA13kGdLDY24I9JSQEvpiq5IELtik/s320/Pocono%20Pines,%20Grandparents%20house,%20Oct.%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: The house my grandparents built in the early 1970s in Pocono Pines, PA.)</div><p>On the drive to Shelbyville, I made a slight detour off I-80 to Pocono Pines, PA. Once upon a time (early 1970s), my grandparents built this house as their retirement place. Unfortunately, grandpa had a fatal aneurysm at age sixty-one and grandma couldn't keep the place. Still, I have so many childhood memories of deep winter snow and warm spring days of canoeing. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-ywIooIfB29Uitw2EHhCgRUNHTdtz2YIr7pUjFHzuqCekhtFiqSZBshBgMa8sJmVd6Q3U6QUa84wlouPxP5J_3DHO6XjrAu38gVrjtX7ZH-yGq39UU2zioFHCUVr4hw6ibJwR2J5PQ5n9dl9LU3_QYwVEqWDBoXHFxMyhaXBytXy4Z9Yls6L/s6758/Pocono%20Pines,%20Lake%20Naomi%20panarama,%20Oct.%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3920" data-original-width="6758" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-ywIooIfB29Uitw2EHhCgRUNHTdtz2YIr7pUjFHzuqCekhtFiqSZBshBgMa8sJmVd6Q3U6QUa84wlouPxP5J_3DHO6XjrAu38gVrjtX7ZH-yGq39UU2zioFHCUVr4hw6ibJwR2J5PQ5n9dl9LU3_QYwVEqWDBoXHFxMyhaXBytXy4Z9Yls6L/s320/Pocono%20Pines,%20Lake%20Naomi%20panarama,%20Oct.%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: A panorama view of the beach at Lake Naomi.)</div><p>My three cousins and three younger sisters used to play on this Lake Naomi beach. We made sand castles with moats and dug an indentation which we called the Nile River. Good times. Good memories.<br /></p><p><br /> </p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-6651299404306126822023-10-14T11:56:00.006-05:002023-10-14T11:57:33.781-05:00Approaching the end of my art residency at Bethany Arts Community<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV_TllKIcSVx_dXYKeiSw9cUDVciCKu6PfSeubdR8b7ftCPf8liRsUex68m0sos2oCmXdUsI5HykoLzD3njJfWRMGS_6bEvfiJQAQpQkEmvd14k9zO5heGi-9vDLcrrWwMICaf6dyMDyKgFYQO-S4YmlJrhF6MD9AHT0iUrGcnZP0smzBmvEk/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV_TllKIcSVx_dXYKeiSw9cUDVciCKu6PfSeubdR8b7ftCPf8liRsUex68m0sos2oCmXdUsI5HykoLzD3njJfWRMGS_6bEvfiJQAQpQkEmvd14k9zO5heGi-9vDLcrrWwMICaf6dyMDyKgFYQO-S4YmlJrhF6MD9AHT0iUrGcnZP0smzBmvEk/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%201.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Detail of my new, lacy installation. Click on any image to enlarge.)</div><p>The time here at the<a href="https://bethanyarts.org/"> Bethany Arts Community</a> is flying by. Because this is only a two-week art residency experience, I haven't blogged as often because I seriously want to spend as much time stitching on my new installation and also absorbing the many events and places around me. As a result, I have plenty to show for my efforts. It seems that I intuitively brought the perfect amount of materials on which to work in the time I have. I took the image for this blog post a day or so ago. Since then, at least another suspended strand has been finished. All total, I have upholstery cord for fifteen. I have today will see the fourteenth done. I have tomorrow for the last one. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9Q7vfsFwfm1WZyGwzooWgPMoAPbL6dOPUqtVP4Pulv14NkEcssBqTzkp3UwwCpfej8jgNNgGewbKwaG3ZlGkAhGwiLX3oihTmgG4zMo5hSGnKOEHdfGsOJqaFPekGBUwLf8s-RFWs96kc-IuYVR6M9W7j5S6vACOCqF4caHyP2Mza-eKDRvr/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9Q7vfsFwfm1WZyGwzooWgPMoAPbL6dOPUqtVP4Pulv14NkEcssBqTzkp3UwwCpfej8jgNNgGewbKwaG3ZlGkAhGwiLX3oihTmgG4zMo5hSGnKOEHdfGsOJqaFPekGBUwLf8s-RFWs96kc-IuYVR6M9W7j5S6vACOCqF4caHyP2Mza-eKDRvr/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%202.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: The start of the suspended installation.)</div><p>I'm not going to type out the inspiration for this new installation again. I wrote about it last week. <a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-start-of-art-residency-at-bethany.html">CLICK HERE</a> to access that blog post. In that post, I mentioned and provided an image of my 2011 piece, <b><i>The Canopy</i></b>. So, I'm still calling these things "bedposts" and I still need a better name! Anyone reading with ideas? If so, please share! I can't keep calling them by this term or by the other source of inspiration! I can't keep saying I'm created a lacy "kelp forest". What's a better title?<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT92-FSE7_p0UIQu5IAgwqVEs80Z8EdmDoE4XyoLduuUJk_W6T_QBMvRgzmiTerUhCyZd1cNwuEjwizk37ItW24s0mj7B6oVTiREW8yZoOWTubWjDpSDhtD_r3VIczo4svoP8NA0NH6hcnRTmkjrOJwT9thqDviWJ2l-3n96afGEmh2psSBc_E/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT92-FSE7_p0UIQu5IAgwqVEs80Z8EdmDoE4XyoLduuUJk_W6T_QBMvRgzmiTerUhCyZd1cNwuEjwizk37ItW24s0mj7B6oVTiREW8yZoOWTubWjDpSDhtD_r3VIczo4svoP8NA0NH6hcnRTmkjrOJwT9thqDviWJ2l-3n96afGEmh2psSBc_E/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%203.jpg" width="180" /></a> </p><p>(Above: Detail image of how these "strands" are stitched.)</p><p>To stitch these things, I first cut up my stash of lace, doilies, crocheted bedspreads and tablecloths, and other fabric with embellishment. All these things came from auctions, thrift stores, and through the generosity of others donating to my collection. Then, using a chenille needle and perle cotton thread, I'm stitching the pieces to the one-inch upholstery cording, I start at the bottom and work my way up to the loops I've previously stitched as an end.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2jb9j60Q4FvbjPv89Fp6aMDxmWCirJv3t7-m89VVw3FEvUyxHMzVXvuwy_x3xEuFnaZPfUJnj8c5taSp60nm8qCF2cKvSL1hfcE93a0vADfHwLuFMpr7xyJ0dYrqW5FjemcIGSUu4zNsycZ7P1wW8Lh8-skFiqw4te40vF36mm040NpiZTdr/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2jb9j60Q4FvbjPv89Fp6aMDxmWCirJv3t7-m89VVw3FEvUyxHMzVXvuwy_x3xEuFnaZPfUJnj8c5taSp60nm8qCF2cKvSL1hfcE93a0vADfHwLuFMpr7xyJ0dYrqW5FjemcIGSUu4zNsycZ7P1wW8Lh8-skFiqw4te40vF36mm040NpiZTdr/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>(Above: Natalya Khorover in her Port Chester studio.)</p><p>I could easily spend two weeks holed up in my studio stitching this installation but I haven't done that! I've had a few wonderful experiences ... including a visit with <a href="https://www.artbynatalya.com/">Natalya Khorover </a>in her Port Chester studio. We had lunch at a cool Peruvian restaurant and talked about art, life, recycling, installations, family, materials, and epoxy! <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqwXFEpmAWzR3p3SiSHKmDXT2P2lJZ607ECF21BpAftFLY4jKmQ-3xSp0bwMwFzzuP5bXn5OJE281X7QR1_Fl1GdLDTTnXgSq1VaT044kHeZGaJ9LqSD2AVBCH6Nuc0QKxjXv0mduitanJ4fnXQz-rP_wkjSff-em7FQOzvU2V6YP-o9PPnLX/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqwXFEpmAWzR3p3SiSHKmDXT2P2lJZ607ECF21BpAftFLY4jKmQ-3xSp0bwMwFzzuP5bXn5OJE281X7QR1_Fl1GdLDTTnXgSq1VaT044kHeZGaJ9LqSD2AVBCH6Nuc0QKxjXv0mduitanJ4fnXQz-rP_wkjSff-em7FQOzvU2V6YP-o9PPnLX/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%205.jpg" width="320" /></a> </p><p>(Above: Selfie with SAQA regional-rep Linda Stern (left) and Ossining resident/SAQA member Tamar Drucker.)</p><p>Last Tuesday I gave my HOT workshop Zoom presentation to the NY/NJ regional <a href="https://www.saqa.com/">SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates)</a> meeting. Within no time, I had a lunch date with Linda Stern and Tamar Drucker. They visited my provided residency studio and took me into Ossining for a fabulous lunch at a great Turkish restaurant. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjCWUSxhddKySOnfCstOitVEMq-ohiG8W8Jku8StRakg0cLL1c7v6phpPcn2eFY_jM-0Lsr1_dNoLqDolaI9cdqtsfskZkMm3zLQwVeCgyNXRxbas7zK5D-bEHjbXzu3mJoFgv_CZ-xm0Tq_BCEpFU68pNjBW0ATIfz1dZfVKgFAAJ2UCzi1S/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjCWUSxhddKySOnfCstOitVEMq-ohiG8W8Jku8StRakg0cLL1c7v6phpPcn2eFY_jM-0Lsr1_dNoLqDolaI9cdqtsfskZkMm3zLQwVeCgyNXRxbas7zK5D-bEHjbXzu3mJoFgv_CZ-xm0Tq_BCEpFU68pNjBW0ATIfz1dZfVKgFAAJ2UCzi1S/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%206.jpg" width="240" /></a> </p><p>(Above: The crossing bridges and Ossining aqueduct.)</p><p>Both these talented art quilters live in the area. They took me to see the Ossining aqueduct with its double bridge ....<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHveFugr6v9MtJq2TZz5-NvmqgtNz9hRrBGSpeYWCMwSR2hHMmgcF1418d4qGuZoENtIDBWcgnwNL9449VKUUuG9uVmApiuu0KA3QdLxeMxK8OdTM2q70Mcnktjok6ZwUL7wOSg0qBYJRbLGyI9NV0BwUMFMHrMDWWdOWVBeVdBpP5ApJULSXY/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHveFugr6v9MtJq2TZz5-NvmqgtNz9hRrBGSpeYWCMwSR2hHMmgcF1418d4qGuZoENtIDBWcgnwNL9449VKUUuG9uVmApiuu0KA3QdLxeMxK8OdTM2q70Mcnktjok6ZwUL7wOSg0qBYJRbLGyI9NV0BwUMFMHrMDWWdOWVBeVdBpP5ApJULSXY/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>... and the Croton Gorge dam. Although it has been rather rainy here in the Hudson River Valley. The sun shone that day and made it a very memorable outing! THANKS Linda and Tamar!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvqGGhHir-NeDEeHstTJ4fXLo0JiLLunG3z5dLlvx6bOWsHc2ob38k66D_ZqNOTO5bZAE1qJi6Pd5LV_Y8ngT3xJXBBwiccGEQDQi06I6mpAxAuuVpmEjD9S52DPcNgpCssxc8uXiWav8_poGZ9Y6g3cmjjdT37SCxKeUhsh-8-g653lu_lzp/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvqGGhHir-NeDEeHstTJ4fXLo0JiLLunG3z5dLlvx6bOWsHc2ob38k66D_ZqNOTO5bZAE1qJi6Pd5LV_Y8ngT3xJXBBwiccGEQDQi06I6mpAxAuuVpmEjD9S52DPcNgpCssxc8uXiWav8_poGZ9Y6g3cmjjdT37SCxKeUhsh-8-g653lu_lzp/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%208.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Above: Bernard Brown's residency trio.)</div><p>There have been activities here at Bethany too ... including a tremendous dance and original music performance by a trio under <a href="https://www.bbmoves.org/about">Bernard Brown</a>. The evening included the audience dancing too!<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bizGnbQFBOoyG0dG87MTzq0irS70vhJ9yN9XudvErXPZpfiVki6fSd56iCQXpjQ7fyPwcntS9Fi-uME0D1IiTK2Dv6fBWiwxtwg3y9hNLpUq8BeDfjw9OyrTdsVGm0uV1BO6Nx62H6E91M68IuQ2Qqbd391qkPZTeUNxoUtkF_X7FrAxXPQL/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bizGnbQFBOoyG0dG87MTzq0irS70vhJ9yN9XudvErXPZpfiVki6fSd56iCQXpjQ7fyPwcntS9Fi-uME0D1IiTK2Dv6fBWiwxtwg3y9hNLpUq8BeDfjw9OyrTdsVGm0uV1BO6Nx62H6E91M68IuQ2Qqbd391qkPZTeUNxoUtkF_X7FrAxXPQL/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%209.jpg" width="240" /></a> </p><p>(Above: Open Mic at <a href="https://www.hvbooksforhumanity.com/">Hudson Valley Books for Humanity</a> in downtown Ossining, New York.)</p><p>Last night, Bethany Arts Community collaborated with the Hudson Valley Books for Humanity for Open Mic. Maya, a young atist-in-residence (a three-month program for artists under 35) read poetry and introduced those who read from their upcoming novels and poems or sang original works. It was a magical evening. Now ... scroll down for a few detail images of my new installation ... which needs a proper title!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i80jfOYAmztBJTZ59ktwPQ6G9ZsJLlAPLHTGFiPM4YN7oGyZxtozbmaBfV3L_-0R3tZgE_-PGIU7z13Rhvq4KvCwxweYIEhgLFD-1_f7kSG6WzJ4BdEVDwO4AVg324izvhjqpwhmX9RZ7lNDyDIeObZBxwPzE4YnFLpgiqHa83kUUo0wmDQ6/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i80jfOYAmztBJTZ59ktwPQ6G9ZsJLlAPLHTGFiPM4YN7oGyZxtozbmaBfV3L_-0R3tZgE_-PGIU7z13Rhvq4KvCwxweYIEhgLFD-1_f7kSG6WzJ4BdEVDwO4AVg324izvhjqpwhmX9RZ7lNDyDIeObZBxwPzE4YnFLpgiqHa83kUUo0wmDQ6/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%2010.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDJQUJFqOmc3y2SyTQcCya0jLfzPtXWKW8YRELdB8Ee-xbOw_5sni9wYbVtv125ZU8MKoiaCNd9gnj8CsPlPaUQPzG2XObqNHpqhD8mZyLp0klCyjFvjO5ahMh9sKu8bhHUYPSh_xrP3t50ERhnxRMLH4UiSAy7fx6XbXuNW_vAn-qxBkZC_t/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDJQUJFqOmc3y2SyTQcCya0jLfzPtXWKW8YRELdB8Ee-xbOw_5sni9wYbVtv125ZU8MKoiaCNd9gnj8CsPlPaUQPzG2XObqNHpqhD8mZyLp0klCyjFvjO5ahMh9sKu8bhHUYPSh_xrP3t50ERhnxRMLH4UiSAy7fx6XbXuNW_vAn-qxBkZC_t/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%2011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPIqtVYFsMKScy53zZOeCQNFN96dcf09pRckA_6d-nK_Y1QbpCwBzS__0sukudKkvjJr5NJC5jxwoWLNibIqM5ea4TStUMrWAG47rS5yzmzsMmh9K6SFl7wxug5SfY9nM-6fINjwRuy4Zf5HbyWWqEBsJIbr2gVga_kFPnuV8_sRUMPfxHHqL/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPIqtVYFsMKScy53zZOeCQNFN96dcf09pRckA_6d-nK_Y1QbpCwBzS__0sukudKkvjJr5NJC5jxwoWLNibIqM5ea4TStUMrWAG47rS5yzmzsMmh9K6SFl7wxug5SfY9nM-6fINjwRuy4Zf5HbyWWqEBsJIbr2gVga_kFPnuV8_sRUMPfxHHqL/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%203,%20image%2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p>
Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-54865301323175838022023-10-08T17:21:00.001-05:002023-10-08T17:21:10.739-05:00ARToberfest and other events during the first week at Bethany Arts Community<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWoaQBNkpx1CV1nUMeTqxm21FMMnkr6hP2XWVOe_Qy8DlQoaOaNmy_JnmZoyy0u_DqkKbozEJ0c9DFCsR3f2YGswNMBDTxOExhgTq9d7yk0jV0aOADPzfKEcJPRmIg9QcOngoL_DJovXhz25ViuYt7fW1_uMBusUsWSSAwNTOhQtol0a23d2w/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20bookmaking%20workshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWoaQBNkpx1CV1nUMeTqxm21FMMnkr6hP2XWVOe_Qy8DlQoaOaNmy_JnmZoyy0u_DqkKbozEJ0c9DFCsR3f2YGswNMBDTxOExhgTq9d7yk0jV0aOADPzfKEcJPRmIg9QcOngoL_DJovXhz25ViuYt7fW1_uMBusUsWSSAwNTOhQtol0a23d2w/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20bookmaking%20workshop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: One page bookmaking workshop at Bethany Arts Community. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>This past week has flown by! One of the reason has everything to do with the many opportunities to converse and share with some of the other, talented artists who are also in residence. For example, Jennella Young shared her one-page bookmaking process. It took place in the Bethany Arts Community's garden. We folded pages from discarded library books into one page books, glued several of them together, made pockets and had the chance to alter them with paint, markers, and other supplies. Although I've made several artist books, I'd never before folded a single piece of paper into a booklet. It was cool ... especially as a way to use pages from books that were otherwise headed to a landfill.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07jWA-xUnkk-xtxieqRtCP6fRtEjTisGrJwSV4iPQ8xs7k6sva9XVOGrvjJhG3KzoM6R_SFR4K25puNihCofGTFQN8elywlC-GFA0e5pPz2rYh6Wt1WEPnU8Lwoy2f47Or5T-gI6jEU8tF0AiycXTYOiiEuFLAmuvU4xD1rmDriumijRSPCZc/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20Tessa%20Brinckman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07jWA-xUnkk-xtxieqRtCP6fRtEjTisGrJwSV4iPQ8xs7k6sva9XVOGrvjJhG3KzoM6R_SFR4K25puNihCofGTFQN8elywlC-GFA0e5pPz2rYh6Wt1WEPnU8Lwoy2f47Or5T-gI6jEU8tF0AiycXTYOiiEuFLAmuvU4xD1rmDriumijRSPCZc/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20Tessa%20Brinckman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Tessa Brinckman's performance.)<p></p><p>On another evening, <a href="https://tessabrinckman.com/">Tessa Brinckman</a> gave a most fabulous performance and artist talk. An internationally acclaimed flutist and composer, she played works that showcased unique sounds made on and through her instruments. She accompanied a short film created in collaboration with two animators, spoke about her early life growing up in New Zealand, and shared her insights and inspirations. For the final piece, Tessa led the audience in an extremely fun exploration of personal music making.</p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPR6YspGYoChIPV_jblk8JPDYQ8xE-VbqYgKypxrGJGJroncmveIztpyHbF1UyBFzax0wm7KlwZGhiDBia179Bw9ApEq07mLRJmjXleMFPjQoKUik0eCD7MYMe3PSoa3QZlrG401BYNDnbmWbeT7VWlGk48N0NBCmuoxugkI3tpAE2kqzy4w0/s2400/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20community%20quilting,%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPR6YspGYoChIPV_jblk8JPDYQ8xE-VbqYgKypxrGJGJroncmveIztpyHbF1UyBFzax0wm7KlwZGhiDBia179Bw9ApEq07mLRJmjXleMFPjQoKUik0eCD7MYMe3PSoa3QZlrG401BYNDnbmWbeT7VWlGk48N0NBCmuoxugkI3tpAE2kqzy4w0/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20community%20quilting,%201.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>(Above: Me ... during today's ARToberfest!)<p></p><p>During the first part of the week, the weather was wonderful. By Thursday, the forecast looked bleak. Wisely, the Bethany Arts Community staff postponed their 4th Annual ARToberfest from Saturday until today, Sunday. It was a good move. It poured rain almost all day on Saturday! Today, it didn't rain but it was COLD! (At least it was cold to me! Coming from South Carolina, I'm just not accustomed to high 50s and low 60s!) Nevertheless, the Community Crazy Quilt project was a success. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb91Zjao4u38YYRQHj3-KJZjHWV8rKuoESJGjFfoJvO6UoKxF0D5q5YiPtvtqnsAbY6dPjWAtmBoJxGxaq-VJLJgnhri8sMgFy9QGidwHszxgiTf9XSPEvJMemflGHihkJvC6jTZR17M_o9oG4xGwvl5vJVAPOWAwDBFe6x142QSDK7wywPzPw/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20community%20quilting,%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb91Zjao4u38YYRQHj3-KJZjHWV8rKuoESJGjFfoJvO6UoKxF0D5q5YiPtvtqnsAbY6dPjWAtmBoJxGxaq-VJLJgnhri8sMgFy9QGidwHszxgiTf9XSPEvJMemflGHihkJvC6jTZR17M_o9oG4xGwvl5vJVAPOWAwDBFe6x142QSDK7wywPzPw/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%202,%20community%20quilting,%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Jennella and a young participant stitching on the Community Crazy Quilt.) <p></p><p>Lots of families, local neighbors, other artists, and friends came to learn a little about quilting and take a few stitches on the piece I brought. The piece will eventually become part of my Patchwork Installation. This piece is special ... not just because it was made for this special place and opportunity but because a section of the unfinished Battenburg lace that was donated to my stash is spread across the patchwork of vintage quilt scraps. Outlining the lace is a row of stacked buttons. Most of the people who participated in the activity helped with the buttons. I've got a long way to go in order to finish this work but it got a good start here! <br /></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-84296197393770295852023-10-04T13:41:00.008-05:002023-10-04T13:50:15.327-05:00The start of an art residency at Bethany Arts Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFO3WN_5DSYXxNOAfVQX8fTVaZ_Vk_Z-1dVGczLs32rUVUUZkRyLoilkoj87IsDRUS4jT2wFjCNAKzJM08MGTu8RU5501gU3NoEKHjo2Kk-RAz6tewHm0cu3-mWMU5-_M84CrdEXDxD6c3XkGV_dh8xU4OrnJHyo8jNXeR6EloQMYM-9WJj_3/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFO3WN_5DSYXxNOAfVQX8fTVaZ_Vk_Z-1dVGczLs32rUVUUZkRyLoilkoj87IsDRUS4jT2wFjCNAKzJM08MGTu8RU5501gU3NoEKHjo2Kk-RAz6tewHm0cu3-mWMU5-_M84CrdEXDxD6c3XkGV_dh8xU4OrnJHyo8jNXeR6EloQMYM-9WJj_3/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%201.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Above: The main entrance to the <a href="https://bethanyarts.org/">Bethany Arts Community</a> just outside Ossining, New York. Click on any image to enlarge.)</span></div><p><span style="font-size: small;">Bright and early on Sunday morning, Steve and I started out on this adventure! We drove the cargo van to Allentown, PA that night and were up early again on Monday. Because check-in at the Bethany Arts Community was scheduled for 2 - 4:30 PM, we had time to spend in Sleepy Hollow. The tour of the cemetery was great! By 1:30, I dropped Steve off at the Ossining train station. He went into NYC, saw <i>Six</i> on Broadway and flew home the next day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, I arrived for my two-week art residency! Above is a photo of the main entrance. Originally <span>owned by the Maryknoll Foreign Mission Sisters of St. Dominic, this place was once a convent. </span><span>It was expanded in 1951 and now has an interior space of 44,000 square feet! The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers took over the
property in 1958. By 1979, the building was used for the missionary program. Finally, Bethany Arts Community purchased the place September 2015 as an art residency. There's now two, large dance/performance spaces, permanent studios for local artists, an independent pre-school, a cafeteria, offices, art galleries, and lots of small rooms that serve as art studios and bedrooms. Plus ... twenty-five acres that are mostly woodlands!</span><span><br /></span></span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-syEw8W_6CDO7DZpxbXBaAG-kSPMrDWl0DB9G758M54LXAqQTMZgOTLVtjI8tLciv9LgUsK8kX21hixQy2LtUYOyJK6Ci1dlphPihcWYddqnmlwUd-lVBQx4JfAwP7b1FsQ98c0WF_5z149Qz3y1TFreO8FC9ND-WkVvPandMu_dyWMIuvvr/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-syEw8W_6CDO7DZpxbXBaAG-kSPMrDWl0DB9G758M54LXAqQTMZgOTLVtjI8tLciv9LgUsK8kX21hixQy2LtUYOyJK6Ci1dlphPihcWYddqnmlwUd-lVBQx4JfAwP7b1FsQ98c0WF_5z149Qz3y1TFreO8FC9ND-WkVvPandMu_dyWMIuvvr/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>Upon arrival, I was greeted by the friendly staff and shown both my bedroom and studio. A proper orientation for all arriving artists-in-residence was later that evening, followed by a wine-and-cheese reception and welcoming dinner. After nightfall, two of the artists that arrived a week earlier conducted a public engagement program of song and poetry around a nice bonfire. (The residency program staggers arrivals and departures so that everyone gets to meet more people! There are dancers, writers, composers, poets, an opera singer, a flutist, and a couple other visual artists here with me!)<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRWxnsBL-gH_WvNeeaH-mH_BquMknkMKamUijWv3Tovl0tGdP_OFXaUQudSpkCmc9nMnTP_6mh1ocldPqktsC_-u2X2EjA96CzDWmAnc6I3dX3XtDmCQwsdpRzVy_mS9mETmrhjZsQZlZOcTGzHgGDqfwBq3e59ndbjJbrAZf2OCVUI8jxrk1/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRWxnsBL-gH_WvNeeaH-mH_BquMknkMKamUijWv3Tovl0tGdP_OFXaUQudSpkCmc9nMnTP_6mh1ocldPqktsC_-u2X2EjA96CzDWmAnc6I3dX3XtDmCQwsdpRzVy_mS9mETmrhjZsQZlZOcTGzHgGDqfwBq3e59ndbjJbrAZf2OCVUI8jxrk1/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>I was eager to bring in my stash of "white things". For years I've amassed a collection of vintage lace, crocheted doilies, damask tablecloths, and ... well ... you name it ... I probably have it. Believe it or not, I didn't even bring all of it ... just "more than enough".<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeS6_4WvNluR57XdaFe591eemIsKGz4OM3GC76XHi1EL9glr3TmLvPkC0KHGbdREjMvNORZinPj_IY7NPmUI6gdqZMHiyMx3cAqcU8Ne0NPy8rzSBV0ABOnUYk8fhfyNs99UCrjONj5TIZykINjpkNC_x1rif12BL4OvmKJRmuKVNacO88l4A/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeS6_4WvNluR57XdaFe591eemIsKGz4OM3GC76XHi1EL9glr3TmLvPkC0KHGbdREjMvNORZinPj_IY7NPmUI6gdqZMHiyMx3cAqcU8Ne0NPy8rzSBV0ABOnUYk8fhfyNs99UCrjONj5TIZykINjpkNC_x1rif12BL4OvmKJRmuKVNacO88l4A/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>I also brought my Grandma Lenz's sewing box in which I've kept balls of #5 white and off-white DMC embroidery floss. I didn't buy any of this "new". Almost everything I brought came from auctions, yard sales, thrift shops, and as donations from generous people. The only "new" item was the one-inch upholstery cord that I got wholesale from <a href="https://www.uphsup.com/">UPHSUP Upholstery Supplies</a>. <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4dWsp8kp465D4qahK1nzYGHlZWiSjUSldkZny1A3ii8GD8BF8IZoCCkRmSuFuQxODJJgJ3S7qJm5vuqxVnDFgz7b1n3zsF3mVkXY7ClV3lRNaJlhhlnxwO-svAaOUU49Y1YvVxkj5-wGnlZGcxcCZM9usX453UclHXb633uLm3tZFkX4oVp/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4dWsp8kp465D4qahK1nzYGHlZWiSjUSldkZny1A3ii8GD8BF8IZoCCkRmSuFuQxODJJgJ3S7qJm5vuqxVnDFgz7b1n3zsF3mVkXY7ClV3lRNaJlhhlnxwO-svAaOUU49Y1YvVxkj5-wGnlZGcxcCZM9usX453UclHXb633uLm3tZFkX4oVp/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%205.jpg" width="180" /></a></p><p>Soon, I was at work. Now, the photo above might not look like anything recognizable ... but let me explain! I've been thinking/wishing/dreaming/planning/hoping to build this new installation for years! It all started back in August 2012 when I built <i>The Canopy</i> at an art residency in Galesburg, Illinois. <a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2012/08/reception-for-canopy-and-wrapping-up.html">CLICK HERE</a> to see the reception for <i>The Canopy</i> that concluded this opportunity. <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKL92dlL58SN3rivtqr05-o-fJaZD6sw-8Q_K1nsR3vl3iJV5buC7xCHk9nB5QGE-8_Gf711AkdRAbbieX7Af6ibrYZQVPkleCd5mxU9HaAhJ3ta1kbEE6SKTw2nkbzr2E6erGFyyWWrf_2f8x06xdDYSgqp0Kb1JRJSKxozNFzcza3Vh9lrg/s2400/9_The%20Canopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="2400" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKL92dlL58SN3rivtqr05-o-fJaZD6sw-8Q_K1nsR3vl3iJV5buC7xCHk9nB5QGE-8_Gf711AkdRAbbieX7Af6ibrYZQVPkleCd5mxU9HaAhJ3ta1kbEE6SKTw2nkbzr2E6erGFyyWWrf_2f8x06xdDYSgqp0Kb1JRJSKxozNFzcza3Vh9lrg/s320/9_The%20Canopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>The next year (2013), <i>The Canopy</i> was part of the inaugural ArtFields competition in Lake City, South Carolina. The photo above shows me stitching in the Jones Carter building in front of my <i>Canopy</i>. Though<i> The Canopy </i>was hung in several other venues during the next few years, it really was more recently "in storage" for quite a while ... until ...<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d42UhbRqIe992fdr5FWS1V-c6ZnwJEUbptdRDu7L-WRl68Rrngx4pJmRthg7RS4bTNbm-ICTLAEl3jWSnKhDwmDreiwRBwnfp_dTlyBmGXF5xjn9LUNbO_yF5AgX6BR0evfT1j4kvJsACQnpyE7xlAeMwVGQmjqW1LNmM8AHAb56XAzEXZY9/s2048/Good%20Shepherd,%20The%20Canopy,%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d42UhbRqIe992fdr5FWS1V-c6ZnwJEUbptdRDu7L-WRl68Rrngx4pJmRthg7RS4bTNbm-ICTLAEl3jWSnKhDwmDreiwRBwnfp_dTlyBmGXF5xjn9LUNbO_yF5AgX6BR0evfT1j4kvJsACQnpyE7xlAeMwVGQmjqW1LNmM8AHAb56XAzEXZY9/s320/Good%20Shepherd,%20The%20Canopy,%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>.... 2022 when it was erected at Good Shepherd Church in Sumter, South Carolina. Seeing it again made me remember my earlier hair-brained idea for a new installation. I wrote a proposal and submitted for this art residency ... and now I'm getting to make this new installation! The idea came from The Canopy's "bedposts". I couldn't help but to wonder how it would feel to walk through dozens of these long, skinny creations ... all suspended from the ceiling. Would it feel as if swimming in the ocean waters off Southern California ... through a kelp forest? (Yes ... I've been to the Monterey Aquarium and was mesmerized by these giant plants!) Yet, I've never had the time to act on this idea, and it took about decade to amass enough lacy and crochet to attempt pulling it off.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IR1T0X6Y6F_crY3aPIQkxihtoMhTHF_sPBYm5x-uUOvvvrHavdQlditfmNbb8VGSueS7QuiB-OvKVR100KHOGOWqOVCA39FJcF5FNboWFflciONYcrU5NPHryU7sw0gSuVbtBQFAdMREgBjV8LbRrtx5-fqSyVy7GOazig7Sgbkhosi19cHU/s1500/canopy%20fiber%20bedposts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IR1T0X6Y6F_crY3aPIQkxihtoMhTHF_sPBYm5x-uUOvvvrHavdQlditfmNbb8VGSueS7QuiB-OvKVR100KHOGOWqOVCA39FJcF5FNboWFflciONYcrU5NPHryU7sw0gSuVbtBQFAdMREgBjV8LbRrtx5-fqSyVy7GOazig7Sgbkhosi19cHU/s320/canopy%20fiber%20bedposts.jpg" width="180" /></a></p><p>So ... once I arrived here at the Bethany Arts Community, I pulled up my earlier blog post to relearn how I stitched these "bedposts". The photo above is one taken back in 2012, in Illinois, at the start of that art residency. (<a href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-canopy-and-its-fiber-bedposts-start.html">CLICK HERE</a> to read it.) I've already completed the first one. I'll blog more as the work progresses. There's no way to finish this idea in just two-weeks but at least this installation is underway.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW3-xTJc2_m6R45Rgl4RZMVnn7_JxpnNulL0pWPJZ2czrulBVRLOq6D5neS2WziOCENokL2nzbEZvzmIMO-Ndqs7ln1gmMBe9UK4iitkOPPaMfrfw4q7qX4a-2f-2CvBVAXl4I8oZPRFX5OO5QAx0vrjuBl84Q1FjdSKKyNTME_D5J0nq6zT0/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW3-xTJc2_m6R45Rgl4RZMVnn7_JxpnNulL0pWPJZ2czrulBVRLOq6D5neS2WziOCENokL2nzbEZvzmIMO-Ndqs7ln1gmMBe9UK4iitkOPPaMfrfw4q7qX4a-2f-2CvBVAXl4I8oZPRFX5OO5QAx0vrjuBl84Q1FjdSKKyNTME_D5J0nq6zT0/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>As easily as I could spend all my time with a needle and thread, I will take time to walk the trails here ...<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVNuPMXgDK1EwuOMlIDYFnnTMQ7daWHrNh6xmX6hC2dIdVDmFlknpLEdzhnozx3GXI1pMha3l6Vcal3dTZTqdyyZxsmFPzkrNjw9gE4q1OqXZXW0op_HcT6m28Syg7CfekStArVnxN9K01WZalSgqg5CTxFzQHmppgyl9rNlijZ6zJaQGaYW5/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVNuPMXgDK1EwuOMlIDYFnnTMQ7daWHrNh6xmX6hC2dIdVDmFlknpLEdzhnozx3GXI1pMha3l6Vcal3dTZTqdyyZxsmFPzkrNjw9gE4q1OqXZXW0op_HcT6m28Syg7CfekStArVnxN9K01WZalSgqg5CTxFzQHmppgyl9rNlijZ6zJaQGaYW5/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>... stare at the blue sky ...<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFpDA7EDj0mW47BqBxNpWjv8WZ_j2t8vMIHkvhfux8oCZ6Q0dUAiXZoLI8xFdiGSis22mpUF2FFiKEPsZXXQtgQcq8rr5_0rDiHHBugy3nHGmH2CBrJqiBLw2DcDpdiANfYcPwqO7x4DGhuOK1JYfk2LSYMO8GH8lhsI-MT3mYAW_z4uTankS/s1800/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFpDA7EDj0mW47BqBxNpWjv8WZ_j2t8vMIHkvhfux8oCZ6Q0dUAiXZoLI8xFdiGSis22mpUF2FFiKEPsZXXQtgQcq8rr5_0rDiHHBugy3nHGmH2CBrJqiBLw2DcDpdiANfYcPwqO7x4DGhuOK1JYfk2LSYMO8GH8lhsI-MT3mYAW_z4uTankS/s320/Bethany%20Arts,%20blog%20post%201,%20image%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>... and even meditate in the garden. Plus, this Saturday is ARToberfest here at Bethany Arts Community and I'll be conducting a community crazy quilt activity from 10 - 4:30! If you are in the area, come see me!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwT3C4ch9A9sSEVLf2N-wf9NOvwV4QLX7E3fnDl5eOkkQN3LtZtiQxreb5cgH8Uwv1iFpUW72K-C-FA3MMbE-vBDsCElInx4qaVSRVJCP8QwaH44AkSv5OSYvp2e1kI6jM1xQ_3FqJJh0mfSI1KWR8A0c80GukE3WHV0sf538dO54NvC6ldVn/s940/ARToberfest%20at%20Bethany%20Arts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwT3C4ch9A9sSEVLf2N-wf9NOvwV4QLX7E3fnDl5eOkkQN3LtZtiQxreb5cgH8Uwv1iFpUW72K-C-FA3MMbE-vBDsCElInx4qaVSRVJCP8QwaH44AkSv5OSYvp2e1kI6jM1xQ_3FqJJh0mfSI1KWR8A0c80GukE3WHV0sf538dO54NvC6ldVn/s320/ARToberfest%20at%20Bethany%20Arts.jpg" width="320" /> <br /></a></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32540525.post-21511687564642023172023-09-29T14:32:00.007-05:002023-09-29T14:33:02.714-05:00The Cocoon and The Clothesline at SQTM in Carrollton, GA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwPTsYD1PuVPSEZJDSW4LCGeFwvNB-TnF-ds1wBhWSSwFEuET66k8iPLxtP043CDgwwJZyPSWZvpiXrphtB-5T_wohu5ahrWAyU8iTR-PDHt-0Vt6jPkzMpb-BbOXTE3cMs6pC7Vd9UqLOyAVUsYOhgM2CNIbOsk9nBSWI4v3Z1ExAlEesYFq/s1800/blog_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwPTsYD1PuVPSEZJDSW4LCGeFwvNB-TnF-ds1wBhWSSwFEuET66k8iPLxtP043CDgwwJZyPSWZvpiXrphtB-5T_wohu5ahrWAyU8iTR-PDHt-0Vt6jPkzMpb-BbOXTE3cMs6pC7Vd9UqLOyAVUsYOhgM2CNIbOsk9nBSWI4v3Z1ExAlEesYFq/s320/blog_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: Selfie with Executive Director Joanna Browning at the <a href="https://sqtmuseum.org/">Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum </a>in Carrollton, GA. Click on any image to enlarge.)<p></p><p>Yesterday was WONDERFUL! There wasn't even any traffic while driving through Atlanta. Steve and I arrived at the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in Carrollton, Georgia with more than enough time to unload, install, have a nice lunch at a local brew pub, and return home before dark! The installation went so smoothly because of the generous help from volunteers and staff. Within a couple hours, <b><i>The Cocoon</i></b> was in place and <b><i>The Clothesline</i></b> was installed around the walls in the workshop room where a wall-mounted television set will loop the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2AjGEdyJSo">ETV video</a> featuring <i><b>The Cocoon</b></i>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg48iLR26oxtK7mUezLspLGReugSUMKunBzwuUVOu5U9SrbISVBiO52QUYdWox97EuIZ8Wb-iaFGRjX7LnQI6JEpbWsB5vXt-r2ZuZjekhwtlJyXO078K9WTWzovfAY3nRr1VyMOpUKwR1nelfaH46sVv0TBO8lQDThzzUCmFY-EhSzpT9TGq/s1800/blog_04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg48iLR26oxtK7mUezLspLGReugSUMKunBzwuUVOu5U9SrbISVBiO52QUYdWox97EuIZ8Wb-iaFGRjX7LnQI6JEpbWsB5vXt-r2ZuZjekhwtlJyXO078K9WTWzovfAY3nRr1VyMOpUKwR1nelfaH46sVv0TBO8lQDThzzUCmFY-EhSzpT9TGq/s320/blog_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Above: One of the board members of the museum who was invaluable during the installation of <b><i>The Clothesline</i></b>.)<p></p><p>Below are a few of the images from the exhibit. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIz0LGXaI1c">CLICK HERE</a> for a video walk-through of <b><i>The Cocoon</i></b>. I'd post more pictures but TODAY IS WONDERFUL TOO! Why? Well, it's "hunter-gatherer" day! On Sunday we head north to the<a href="https://bethanyarts.org/"> Bethany Arts Community </a>where I'll be an artist-in-residence for two weeks. I will be participating in the organization's 4th Annual ARToberfest with a community crazy quilt activity on Saturday, October 7th from 10:30 - 4:30. If in the area, please drop by and take a few stitches with me. I'm following my residency up by conducting a private, two-day workshop in Kentucky! Plenty of things need to be loaded into the cargo van now that the show in Carrollton is hanging. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVO7tlp6SnGjBFgMRaNy6kcNpAzcAMrL3eQSCKDKbUnnvcznPGkzb-MbvKTM53fue5egX5WFYh8vC2LnQSJYmDGEwo87yp9I_gxIkC3ibx8rqZZKqf6rRQH5jI8hsWIKHaPN9Q7JnjBm-Dk5gaKVW9vs-j90Txg_28HbWQLw4Ysdmkh3RADzuv/s1800/blog_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVO7tlp6SnGjBFgMRaNy6kcNpAzcAMrL3eQSCKDKbUnnvcznPGkzb-MbvKTM53fue5egX5WFYh8vC2LnQSJYmDGEwo87yp9I_gxIkC3ibx8rqZZKqf6rRQH5jI8hsWIKHaPN9Q7JnjBm-Dk5gaKVW9vs-j90Txg_28HbWQLw4Ysdmkh3RADzuv/s320/blog_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWFpNy7OPNZDgxyirisAB-pkhDhfOq5ozqS2o8IVmaY0uBvt4jrrDz-YT6J2U7Niv35jBgQ5A7ycPXHgNiXukELrUgy07n1EAxJTv1bRY6al18VYkO0qgwSdYGQTHdzlYbcPbc0HzNZzvrErJ-02PrbGRULY6eOrkUFXUsJZRBjoqWNSjMmZV/s1800/Blog_03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWFpNy7OPNZDgxyirisAB-pkhDhfOq5ozqS2o8IVmaY0uBvt4jrrDz-YT6J2U7Niv35jBgQ5A7ycPXHgNiXukELrUgy07n1EAxJTv1bRY6al18VYkO0qgwSdYGQTHdzlYbcPbc0HzNZzvrErJ-02PrbGRULY6eOrkUFXUsJZRBjoqWNSjMmZV/s320/Blog_03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1