Fairies to Edisto and a Dead Car

I've finished the last two pieces for the show at Fish or Cut Bait Gallery on Edisto Island. One is called Silver Fairy and the other is Blue Bird and the Enchanted Princess. I've included a detail shot. I'll be taking my artwork to the gallery tomorrow....in a rental car.



The Scion is likely "dead". I headed to Charleston after the SABA conference yesterday at 5 PM but only made it to the rest stop near Orangeburg. All sorts of dashboard lights had come on, including a blinking red flag. I had AAA tow me back home. This morning the car was towed to the Toyota dealership. "It doesn't look good," the service agent said over the telephone. We still haven't heard but Steve is looking on-line for a "Hot Off the Lot" deal.

Another In Box sale and the SABA Conference

One of the nearly 400 people who visited Vista Studios during the May 5-6 OPEN STUDIOS event emailed be this morning. She needed images of my In Box pieces. Thrilled, I fired back a grateful message and a link to this blog. By this afternoon, In Box XXIX was sold.

In the meantime, I spent the day at the University of South Carolina at the Southeast Association of Book Art Conference in a class conducted by Peter Madden. I've learned two new techniques, one of which I really liked. I had "homework" and I also conducted an informal presentation on my fiber arts for the Rosewood Art Guild in my studio...after the conference.

The conference continues tomorrow. I'll post images later.

Palmetto Hands

While I was busy in my studio rusting fabric and finishing two pieces (In Box XXXI and Fairy of Silver), Steve drove to the North Charleston Arts Center to pick up my entries in Palmetto Hands, a juried fine craft exhibit. He came back with an honorable mention ribbon and an announcement that two of my four pieces had been selected for the annual traveling show. One is an earlier piece from my In Box series. Unlike those I'm making now, the lowest layer of "boxes" was made from a pair of Alex's old, black denim jeans and a tattered, grey faux-leather jacket. The coloring is all in rust, ocher, and browns with golden accents. The other piece that will travel for a year was a collection of decorative spools and nuts and bolts displayed in one of my low-rimmed vessels. Yet, Steve didn't know which piece received the award. Today I learned that it was the In Box. Funny, I started the In Boxes well over a year ago. Now they seem to be taking off!

Rusted fabric

Since joining three different blog rings, I've spent some time clicking from one fantastic, fiber related blog to the next. I stumbled onto one with amazing images of rusted fabric. http://suzstuff.blogspot.com

While I don't have gorgeous, rusted dragons or fairies, I do have an entire candy tin full of rusted, square nails that I purchased from the antique plumbing shop in Murphys, California. I just had to try this idea. The more I thought about it, the more I knew this would be this weekend's experimentation. Also, things just fell into place.




I've got an idea now...a use for my thirty-one pieces of silk with rusted nail designs...an altered book: Nails in a coffin, 1861-85. I've got dozens and dozens of civil war era pages from Harper's Weekly. I've got an antique cover and binding. I have a plan. I'm excited.




Now, how did I do this. I followed the brief instruction from the other blog...sort of. I mixed about a half cup of white vinegar into a quart of water. I didn't measure. I soaked the pieces of cut silk individually in the solution and wrung them out...to what I'd call "damp". Then I stacked the fabric with the nails: fabric, nails, two pieces of fabric, nails, two pieces of fabric, nails....etc. I pressed the fabric down around the nails as I went and then used an extra large zip-lock bag of sand to apply pressure. I stacked everything in a sealable plastic container and placed it in the sunshine. Every hour of so, I continued to pour more vinegar/water solution on the top and around the side...just enough to keep everything "damp". I'm pleased with my results....after only six or seven hours.

Now...I've got to make the book!

A new computer and another In Box

Yesterday was one of those rare and wonderful times that I got to my studio in the early afternoon instead of at 5 PM after closing Mouse House. It gave me an incredible block of work time in which I finished In Box XXX. I also had this "brain storm" of sorts. I figured out how to sign my pieces....just free motion my initials and dates. Why I'd never thought of this before is a great mystery. I put "SCLD" (Susan Christine Lenz Dingman...all my initials!) and 2007 on all four corners.

Meanwhile, back at Mouse House. Steve was busy with Ben Fenner, an incredible guy with an amazingly patient temperament. As a result, I'm currently typing on a brand new computer in front of a 19" flat screen. Every function is quicker and the storage space (which had been dangerously low) has more than tripled.

Two new pieces done

Above is a detail from In Box XXIX, the only piece I now have for the solo show at Francis Marion University.....okay, okay....I actually do have earlier, smaller pieces in this series but they're more "studies". They are not what I want to showcase.



This is a photo of the entire piece. Click on it for a better view.


A few posts ago, I uploaded an image of this piece while in progress. I had just completed the free motion machine embroidery. Since then, I stapled it to stretcher bars to avoid shrinkage and used a fine tipped soldering iron on it. The soldering iron adds holes and little slits as decorative elements. Finally, I melted away the purple acrylic craft felt with a heat gun. This is a photo taken during the "melting" process. Half is melted; half is not. I do this outside to avoid the noxious fumes.



I also finished another piece in the ballet series based on The Sleeping Beauty. This series is stitched on water soluble fabric. This piece is Puss n Boots and the White Cat.

RED DOTS

I put four "In Boxes" into last weekend's Artista Vista show that hung through this past weekend for OPEN STUDIOS. Two sold the first weekend. The other two sold this weekend....FOUR RED DOTS! I'm astounded. My artist book, Which Came First?, was a real hit too.

Personally, I had a blast just being an artist all day on Saturday and Sunday. One lady said that her time with me might "possibly be life altering". I also got some great feedback, including excellent suggestions for future work and opportunities.


With the recent sales of the "In Boxes", I now officially have NOTHING done for the upcoming solo show at Francis Marion. I have lots of work to do this summer. At least I've already started. This photo shows the next "In Box"....free motion machining complete...ready to solder...then to melt the felt from the reverse.



This photo shows one young lady trying free motion embroidery during the Open Studio tour.



The finale for the entire Columbia Festival of the Arts took place an hour after OPEN STUDIOS ended. This gave Alex, his girlfriend Erica, and I enough time to pick up sandwiches and sodas at the grocery store and get to Finlay Park.


Benedict College's gospel choir was followed by the South Carolina Philharmonic. The 1812 Overture was played to an incredible firework display. We had a grand time.

Open Studios

The two day event is now over. Vista Studios had over 380 people peeking into our studios. We talked about art, inspiration, processes, and techniques. We made new friends too because lots of the people had never been to our location. Many were from out of town. Lots of parents brought older children in order to encourage their artistic interests. I had several kids try free motion machine embroidery. There were art students and couples ranging in age from the early twenties to the late seventies. It was great fun...very stimulating. I got lots of positive feedback and even some good suggestion for future ideas and opportunities. I'm posting some of the pictures I took of my fellow artists in the Vista Studios cooperative. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such diversity and talent.



This is Pat Callahan showing her figurative drawings and shadowboxes to a visitor.



This is Sharon Licata showing her sculpture to an interested couple.



This is Heidi Darr-Hope with a nice lady.



This is Laura Spong showing her oils to another nice lady.



This is Stephen Chesley and admirers surrounded by his landscapes.

Open Studios: Saturday

Yesterday was the first day of two in an art event called OPEN STUDIOS. Sixty-six artists in Richland and Lexington counties are participating...including eleven of the thirteen studios in the cooperative space where my studios is located. We had a steady stream of people from the 10 AM start through 6:30, even though the official ending time was 6 PM. It was an interesting crowd, not the same people that usually turn up to drink free, cheap wine in a plastic glass, nibble on munchies while looking at art. Most of the people coming into my studio were people who'd never been to Vista Studios and were interested in seeing the artists actually working in their individual spaces. I demonstrated how my "In Box" pieces are created and had various stages of my "Elements of Architecture" pieces out for explanation.

One lady was so fascinated that she bought one In Box XX. Thus, there are now three red dots in the gallery...all on my "In Boxes". I've got loads of work ahead since this series and the water-soluble series are to be my solo show at Francis Marion University. None of the work is done....except for the one "In Box" without a red dot. I keep telling myself that this is a good problem to have!

After the last visitor left, I raced home and changed. Alex had run Mouse House all day but had very few people come from the annual Elmwood Park Tour of Homes, as usual. Together we made it to the Koger Center in time for Columbia City Ballet's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The choreography is not what the rest of the ballet world might expect; it is William Starrett's. The production is quite short, the scenery is great, the costuming is beautiful. Barry Sparks' lighting is, as always, good. Victoria Cholkas danced the role of Titania and looked like she really loved every minute of it. Peter Kozak danced as Oberon. He was better than he'd been in Swan Lake. Unfortunately, he does not dance with ease. He shows the audience how difficult it is to execute each combination. He looks the part but cannot bring the role to life. One is constantly aware that he is trying to get through each passage. I couldn't help but to feel that he ought to retire....or at least step out of the principal roles. Jose Serrano, however, was great. The choreography is really just one trick after another. Many hate this sort of thing but it does tend to "wow" audiences, and this performance certainly did that. I was impressed, however, with the flow given between the tricks, the strong acting, how polished Jose looked. The girls in the corps did a nice job. I liked Kelly Whitaker and Regina Willoughby as Helena and Hermia too. I'm not sure if this performance sold well or not. It was a one-time event, part of the Columbia Festival of the Arts. It appeared to be less than half sold out, which is not a good thing for a company already in debt. Alex and I bought our season tickets for next year during intermission.

After the ballet, Alex and I headed to Suzy Scarborough and Andrew Webber's for an "After Open Studios" party. Her converted garage/studio is truly awesome. Her new, abstract work is quite interesting. We left by 10:15 and heard from Steve while he was waiting outside Chrysler Hall in Norfolk for Mathias. He said that Birmingham Royal Ballet's The Sleeping Beauty was incredible. I wish I could have seen it even though Mathias had such small parts.

Friday: Running the Shop and Playing on the Web

Yesterday evening was our Audubon exhibit at Mouse House. Only about 75 people trickled through the images and there were no sales. I was quite happy nonetheless. Those that came were friends and friendly people. We all had a good time. I know that I'll sell each and every picture, perhaps within the next six months.

This morning before 7 AM Steve headed up the highway to Norfolk. Later, he called from Max's and Erma's restaurant. He was with my parent and Mathias. Everyone was happy; the weather was beautiful; and they missed me.

I had to be in Mouse House all day, but I promised myself I wouldn't cut a single mat. The shop looks perfect, cleaner than on any other day of the year. The show is set up and ready for tomorrow's annual Elmwood Park Tour of Homes. I decided to play on line.

I updated images and some biographical information for two other Vista Studio artists. It is always a thrill when the pictures change on the Vista Studio website. I created "pages" and added to "indexes". I read the "html codes" and resized photos into "thumbnails". I feel almost like a proper "geek" doing this.

I finally decided to do something for myself: get over my fear of web rings. I joined. At this very minute there are three attached to this blog....and two are even operational! Hopefully, the other will work too. I had a blast, as always, surfing from one exciting artist to the next.

Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award Art Sale and Luncheon

The downtown Marriott was again the location for the annual Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award Art Sale and Luncheon. The art was displayed beautifully on pedestals and sectional walls in the lobby just outside the ballroom. John Whitehead of CMFA always arranges the installation. Alex gets to work--loading and unloading all the displays and boxed artwork. One wall had my four selected embroideries from the Elements of Architecture Series. At first I was nervous, red dots seemed everywhere...but not on my pieces. Then, a nice man purchased all four! What an awesome relief! What a compliment. There was no keynote speaker this year but the Folklife awardees were also honored at this event. Marlena Smalls won the individual artist award and entertained the packed room with several songs, accompanied by the voices of other Hallelujah singers...her two daughters. It was quite meaningful.

Blogging anniversary

Tomorrow is the annual Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Awards and Art Sale. The award is South Carolina's highest recognition in the arts. The Art Sale and Luncheon is a prestigious event hosted by the South Carolina Arts Foundation. I've had pieces in it for the past several years. It is an honor....and the lunch is always first-rate and I've always come away with a worthwhile thought or idea after listening to the keynote speaker.

Somehow, I vaguely remember starting my first blog at about this time last year.

I just checked. I began on April 28. So, I've past my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY as a blogger. Sure, the other blog still has more "hits"--3577, but that's because of the International Ballet Competition in Varna where I inadvertently became the only person in the world reporting in a timely manner! This blog is about to hit 3000. I am thrilled. I love the image capabilities of this server.

As a blogger, I surf various fiber related "rings" but haven't yet figured out how to join one. I write regularly and read two other blogs almost religiously.

Heat Activated Paints and a New Bernina

Over the weekend I had a blast with all the people coming into my studio for Artista Vista and Art Day. Yet, lots of work was accomplished too. I finished the two commissioned, small In Boxes...which really aren't too much smaller than the ones in the current exhibit. The client came by and seemed quite excited too.



In preparation for OPEN STUDIOS this coming weekend, I decided to paint out all the rest of the heat-activated paints I had mixed up a year ago. I painted mostly with my hands and wadded up pieces of paper. I was a mess but there's certainly plenty with which to work! Stephen Chesley, a great painter/my mentor/the artist whose studio is across the hall from mine, took these photos. I will use this paper to demonstrate heat processes this coming weekend.


I also bought a new Bernina 220 today. It is my third. The reason for the purchase is more than a little stupid. I bought a free-motion couching foot that won't fit either my 1630 or 1008. I really see potential in this new foot and the 1630 had to go to the shop for repairs. Also, my sewing center was having a clearance sale. After just over 22 years as a Bernina dealer, the company decided to give the representation to another shop. He wasn't selling enough machines. It is terribly that his remarkable service and repairs didn't count for much. The machine I bought was at a nice discount but for a very sorry reason.