MAY IS ALMOST OVER AND PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE!

Yes, May is almost over but much has been accomplished. I think I just might have enough pieces for my July show to look like a show of

new work. Here are the two pieces that were in progress in the last post. The large one is entitled "JEWEL" and is 42"x40" and will be priced at $3,800.00. The other is 14"x 40"and is entitled "AQUEOUS". They are from my new series " Fractured Squares" and for me they represent a bit of that scattered and fractured feeling you get when you are pulled in every direction at once and how to bring all the pieces back together harmoniously, juggling making art, marketing art,and teaching art while the everyday chores get done when you can and the needs of the family get done when they are needed and then don't forget a little R&R ( what's that?) But luckily I love what I do , and my family ( most of the time) and even the mundane chores remind us to breathe. The winds have died down and the heat is on so the pool beckons at the end of the day.

The orchids were my gift to the studio after I finished the April orders and they've been blooming beautifully all month. The Mum was given to me by my son, I guess because I'm his Mum.

These are two shots of the new piece in progress right now, another "Fractured Square , this time a larger panorama to fit in the space above a headboard in the bedroom. You can see all the ends I still need to sew in soooo Back to the loom I go!

IT'S ALL GOOD or WHY I'M MAhttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aaQuBwuqFQc/S-hM4KckCJI/AAAAAAAAAI4/0FcQeiJUj_U/s320/new+red+skinnies.jKING FRIENDS WITH THE WIND

IT'S ALL GOOD, that's the lesson I'm learning as I try to make friends with the wind here in Albuquerque which is gusting as I write to 35mph. As long as it's going to blow I might as well get something out of it. I watched the too heavily laden fruit trees get hit last week by the 65 mph gusts last week and now the remaining fruit is bigger and happier looking. ( Can fruit look happy? or is it merely my anticipation of their deliciousness, apricots, plums and pluots, my faves) So pruning is the lesson and balance, and beauty and truth.

After reading what I may have mistakenly taken as a disparaging diatribe against my favorite subject and inspiration and tool in much of my tapestry work, Mathematics, which sent me into a bit of despair since much of what I do with math as my subject is to undo the ingrained math phobia I see all around, Lo and behold Amazon delivered my newest Math treasure, a book by Malcom Stewart called the STARCUT DIAGRAM, filled with luscious pictures and interesting insights and new inspirations. He brings the mystery and magic to the forefront and invites all to have fun with it, something I hope my tapestries in the UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE SERIES does as well (see my website and go to galleries button) and I know I have fun with it. So pruning out my despair and adding new magic and inspiration and information tome and my readers, ...check this book out, it's FUN.

More pruning was necessary when a tapestry study group I was in decided to study what is decidedly non tapestry techniques. This is a hot button issue with me as I have labored long and hard to educate my clients and the general public on just what tapestry is and what it is not. These were tapestry people!Since we meet so infrequently ( only once every 2 months) a e mail discussion was begun and met with strange results, facetiousness, lack of participation, attempts to shut the discussion down, all very strange to someone who is used to doing almost all my professional communications by e mail, press releases, entries,other group discussions etc. Why so calcitrant? But then the wind spoke of pruning and all was understood. Those windstorms are not always pleasant but they are useful. Wouldn't a group of truly support people with the same goals and who liked to have fun be more fun? After the wind knocks things over you build again.

A quote from one of my all time favorite authors is apropos here "Always do right. This will

gratify some people and astonish the rest" - Mark Twain And another , "Be who you are and say what you feel 'cause people who mind don't matter, and people who matter don't mind" _Dr Seuss

Now to the work , here are the "SKINNIES " completed, they are 43"x 9.5" and have been delivered to the Tapestry Gallery in Madrid and are available for $650 each. The red have already been special ordered for a 9 foot long version, some proportion work to come !

Speaking of fun , Here is a picture of two of my "Play

" pieces from the "FRACTURED SQUARE " series both in progress though the smaller panoramic turquoise piece is finished but not yet steamed or photographed.

I'll post finished pictures later.

The wind today is keeping me from swimming which is my summer ritual but

I'll get more work done on this fractured squares piece which is all about movement and balance, SO it's all good.

I'm leaving this week to pick up my daughter from college for her summer here, so no work for a few days, but a vacation, my only one til October (when I will be teaching a 5 day workshop, Beginning / intermediate Tapestry at the TAOS WOOL FESTIVAL. Go to their site to register if you are interested.) and my lovely daughter will be home , SO it's all good and so is going back to the LOOM!