Smells like paint

Finally the earth smells sweet again and I want to make lots of paintings of those smells. I have a new landscape series I'm working on. Poppyseed oils on linen, juicy, juicy hues. I'll be selling them at my studio sale this summer. I'm part of the South Coast Artist Open Studio Tour this year, July 20+21. If you've never been it's worth jumping in and cruising my neighborhood. Not only a beautiful drive, but so many artists to choose from. I'll be showing in my little barn in Westport. So mark your calendar. If you see anything you want to snap up early let me know. My art can be found here on my flickr site.

I love having my work around as it develops.
I like saying good morning to them, having lunch with them,
 and test driving them in different light.

For this series, the linen measures 14" deep x 11" wide
and each painting is about 8" square.

Mornin Rumi

"Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground".

-Rumi

Light That Makes Me Leap

Once in awhile I have insomnia and getting out of bed in the morning can be a challenge. But all Paul has to do is put one of his amazing cups of coffee near my nose and say "the light in the dining room is beautiful right now". I leap. This past weekend I made curtains for the first time in (30) years and linen was half price so we have a few new tablecloths, too. Don't be too impressed. I just stitched around the edges, washed them and let them fray. I found this DIY at TwoTwentyTwo helpful for curtains. I love that her mom came for the weekend to help. I called my mom while I was finishing mine, because the last time "I" made curtains she came for the day to help. She was happy I could finally whip up a few on my own.

Feather In My Cap

I love the Curatorium on Wickenden in Providence. Owned (and curated) by industrial designer, Matt Bird, the store and Matt are always a delight, a surprise and inspiration. It is very difficult to leave his store empty handed. There is something there for E V E R Y ONE. I'm working on a few cloth hats for two spring weddings and these parrot feathers might be what I build them around. Naturally shed, (please, please birdies drop a few more) they raise money for the New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary. He doesn't always carry them and they go fast. I also thought you would like to see the work of Olympia Washington artist, Chris Maynard. Hmmmm I wonder what one of his feathers would look like in a hat?

Did I mention they are reversible?

Mighty Lighty

After comparing our lists for most important features in the new place Paul and I found light being top priority for both of us. Having gone from twenty five foot ceilings to some I can touch on tippy toes, lighting has been a challenge. In a small, short place, every bulb has to work hard. Lower placement, paint with high luminosity, and as many reflective surfaces nearby seems to be where we are finding balance.

Livingroom has a long way to go before we are truly living in it.

The flex light. So fun from
YLighting.http://www.ylighting.com/droog-flexlamp.html

We had our heart set on this for somewhere in the house.
It's a kit by Logan Hendrickson, taking off on the
classic Potence style design. Pretty affordable in comparison.
I found this on Remodilista. Might be too eensy.

From my peeps in Scandinavia. Found here.
They know about making the most of the little light they have.

Wonderful reflections with only direct light. Found on Stylefiles.

Uppercase Magazine No. 17 + ME!

My Uppercase Magazine interview by Lois Sturgeon (of 13Threads Blog) is out! Pretty wonderful to be in print but to be in the edition that covers scented ink printing is a big bonus. The folks at Uppercase offer my friends a great break on the subscription to this amazing publication if you go here and use the code "contributor17". Thanks Mr. Paul Clancy for providing beautiful photos of my face and legs. And Erik Gould for shooting my paintings so beautifully!

Atlas Sits Down (on her sofa)

This week I feel like I'm living in my new home. After months of being Atlas carrying every little bit of my stuff on my back, I can say we have a functioning kitchen, a nice room to wake up in and I know where my shoes are. The move was monumental. Like having a baby or throwing a wedding. I can now make more art.
I'm so grateful I was able to take every object I own from it's place on a shelf, hold it, consider it's value and decide if it's a keeper or something I send back out into the universe. It was lonely but also celebratory. I had so many friends help with the process and remind me of my Alyn-ness. 
Because the unpacked boxes in the house (I can't yet think about the toolshed) are really countable on two hands, I hung out here with one year old Wallace yesterday. Introducing tiny ones to things that are bumpy or  fluffy or  smooth or  shiny or  smell good and watching the reaction has always been one of the joys in my life. I've been reminded what it is that I love about things, especially beautiful ones. Someone made them. They thought about a need and used their imagination to dream up and produce an object for me to fall in love with. 
Thank you makers of beautiful things. Pretty nice I don't have to own to love.

“I love
all things,
not because they are passionate or sweet-smelling
but because,
I don’t know,
because
this ocean is yours,
and mine:
these buttons
and wheels
and little
forgotten
treasures,
fans upon
whose feathers
love has scattered
its blossoms,
glasses, knives and
scissors –
all bear
the trace
of someone’s fingers
on their handle or surface,
the trace of a distant hand
lost
in the depths of forgetfulness.”

From Neruda's "Ode to Common Things"

My favorite tiny vase. 
Card from Chrissy seems to  be the colors 
I want around me right now.

Rough Linen bed set crumples beautifully.

Almost parted with the manicurist
vanity and chair. So happy I didn't.

Fresh paint from Sunday.
 Finally back to painting. 

Baby Water World Print Give Away and Sale

Beebee Eau Monde No.1

It seems like it's time for those little babies to start arriving. The daffodil buds are teasing us, the first little peepers are starting to peep in the ponds and friends are becoming mamas and papas. My friend Hannah just announced the arrival of her little Tristan Skye. To celebrate Tristan and all the new beanies, I'm offering some of my Beebee Eau Monde watercolors as prints. Two paintings to choose from, in two sizes. Printed on acid free, mould-made Hahnemuhle German Etching paper, the prints come in 8" x 8" for $75. and 15"x15" for $125. Perfect gift for your new favorite wee one. Plan on a two week delivery time with your choice of shipping separate.
AND to make the arrival of green buds even sweeter, I'll give away an 8"x8" print to the person who brings me the most new blog followers by April 1. 

Beebee Eau Monde No.2

A Wee Dance For My Scottish Friend

We are about 2 weeks away from our big move out of the church and I thought I'd take a break to share some special news. 
I'm not sure how Scottish clothing designer Lois and I "virtually" met online. I think she found my paper hats and wrote a nice note about them on her blog, 13Threads.  I hired her to make me the loveliest whisper of a dress I wore at Brin and Alex's wedding. I'm the daughter of a seamstress and was taught the inside of a garment must look as good as the outside. Her craftsmanship is impeccable.
Her blog always surprises me with some quick little "Altoid" of style, that take me off in a new thoughtful direction. 
She's just been interviewed for Uppercase magazine about her blog and chose me to interview for the next issue. Ink on paper! Pretty exciting! If you don't know 13Threads or Uppercase take a break and check them both out. My next purchase from Lois? I've got a little crush on her exquisite turbans.

Interview with David Howard

Karen Carpenter as Pope Joan in Top Girls

For the last few years I've focused on my painting, and acting has had to take a back seat. I miss it. The particular type of community, trust and intimacy that is part of working on a theater production, I've never experienced anywhere else. A characters personality, relationship to others on stage, and their history can usually be seen in what they wear. Costumer, David Howard, is a master of stitching together a fabricated version of a characters soul. Energy off the charts, quick but incredibly thorough, diligent with homework, always a pro, David is genuinely kind from the beginning to end of a show. He manages being a professor of costume at URI, a resident designer at the Gamm Theater, and is often the glue that keeps us all together back stage and onstage. Here are David's answers to my usual interview questions and some samples of his wonderful work. To learn more about David's work and the upcoming production of Anne Boleyn, you can go the Gamm Theater site here.  

 What inspires you lately? Lately, I am caught up between Tudor history and modern looks. Two very different shows have my mind pulling in very different ways: it is strange. So, Hans Holbein and Alexander McQueen. Super Heroes and Daniel Mytens. I find myself inspired by a number of fabrics I already have and need to see the light of day, as they have been yelling at me to be used.

What was your first memory? One of my first memories was being fed eggs and crackers by my mother (1 year old, perhaps) and projectile vomiting. Never been able to touch eggs since.

Can you describe the best thing you saw on your last walk? The best thing on my last walk…I haven't had a good walk in a while, unless you count the walk I took around the Armory when I couldn't find an open door.

What are the five things that would make a perfect day of work?1) That you have enough material, and if not, Lorraine Fabrics still has more on the bolt. 

2) The serger doesn't break down

3) That I remember to clean as I go

4) It is awesome if something changes in my mind just enough to make the garment better…and it ends up working

5) I have enough time to eat something yummy

Can you describe the best pair of shoes you have ever owned? I own a lot of pairs of shoes. Sadly I only have 2 or three pairs that fit me, since most are purchased for productions. I did find (and still have) a great pair of grey sued and black leather two toned spectator wingtips that I got in Cleveland for $15. I used to wear them once and a while, but there have been many productions where they have found their way out of retirement.

What are you doing this weekend? This weekend: Well, we are starting up our first week of shows for ANNE BOLEYN at the GAMM, rehearsals and building clothes for METAMORPHOSES at URI, and classes began on wednesday, so it is a pretty packed work weekend. I did get around to cleaning my studio and packing up some of the extras from ANNE. I will try to take advantage of some sales this long weekend (gosh I hate shopping). Get my syllabi in order. I am going to try to get my laundry put away. Still some beading to do on ANNE. Researching LED lights for META.  

 All photos are of Gamm Theater productions, shot by Peter Goldberg