I have been working on lino cuts again. The one on the right is Fearless Fanny. I made her a while ago and recently I made the one on the left Frank the Beeman. I finished up the cutting and printed them on valentines day. Together they are the birds and the bees. I have also printed Fanny on pillows and clothing. They are good sized prints, actual image size about 12″ x 14″. I have a feeling there is a story here, a little book maybe but so far it is only a vague idea. I need to scan them into the computer proper and start to play with movement maybe, again not sure. It will float around in my brain and eventually grow into something. I am thinking of making them a garden. Also should Frank have red cheek circles too, I have printed him both ways, any ideas on that?
Oh no this is not for me. I have lived most of my life in the north and sometimes in very harsh northern climates like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Loved the snow, “winter wonderland” a term I often used. I have lived in North Carolina for only four years and yesterday it snowed and sleeted and everything is frozen and covered with ice. Let me tell you I am now very spoiled by this near south living and this winter frozen stuff is just “not for me” anymore. I am actually angry about it and I want it to stop. It is about to get even colder, my cacti, my flying dragon tree are all at risk, I can pile all the covering I can muster on them and I think when the mercury hits zero the gig is up. So I would like the snow and cold and ice to go back where it belongs, way north of here. Please, please go now.
Yes I would have to call it itchy, that need to dig in the dirt and it just is not spring yet, makes me crazy. This past weekend it hit 65 and sunny and I transplanted things from one place to another that did not really need to move and it was probably to early to move them anyway but move them I did. I tried just weeding and it did help but ultimately I wanted to plant. I noticed some coriander had reseeded itself from last year and was up so of course I rushed into the house to get the seed I had saved from last year to satisfy my desperate need to plant. It will probably freeze when the temp goes back to normal but luckily I have a lot of cilantro seed. It is a strange need and no matter how many years I garden it comes rushing back to torment me way too early in the planting season. I saw this photo of garden onions I took a few years ago and of course I started wondering if it was really too early for onions. Yes it is and I need to get a grip, have a glass of wine, take a cold shower.
It is back to the garden for this angel. She came inside to help with the holiday cheer but now she is back to watching over things in the garden. She is a fave of mine, if you put a light inside her eyes glow, love that. I think I will try to make this one again. Of course it will not be the same I do not seem to be able to actually repeat anything but the figures evolve, morph, sometimes for better sometimes not. Right now the garden area needs another effigy, a little more watching over. there are now many sightings of coyotes in my hood and I have a lovely flock of chickens so I hope she can work some magic. Probably need about six more, one is never enough.
Hard to believe I am thinking about flower seeds and the garden. I don’t want to think about murder, mayhem ,terrorists ,tragedy ,vortexes and all the many issues that seem to be falling out of the sky like heavy rain on a dark day. Yes it is cold outside and everything is frozen and yet I have some siberian iris bulbs that are shoving green leaves up thru that rock hard ground and the leeks keep thriving and the garlic, just amazing. I have a pile of garden catalogs, a hot cup of tea and I am dreaming of spring in the garden, trying to put some positive vibes out into the universe to part the clouds.
Louie [Louie is reluctantly in the Santa hat]and I wish you a Merry Merry Holiday Season, sugar and spice and all that’s nice.
I do feel good. The Boylan Heights Artwalk was very good to me.
the validation from all the charming people that came by and especially those that purchased my work feels real good. My friends that helped set up,take down and worked with me the whole day, giving buckets of emotional support were amazing and they were really cold by the end of it all, good friends to have for sure.My son who hauled all the crates up out of the studio and the remainder back down. I had a really good team. The great home owners that own the porch we took over even provided us with hot tea and were very supportive in every way, a lovely space to be in. I cannot say enough good things about the artwalk team, very kind, thoughtful and well organized.
sure by the end of the day I was cold, tired and my body hurt but also very elated and pleased to have been a part of it all. Thanks yu’all.
Yes I will be at the Boylan Artwalk again this year. The artwalk is Sunday Dec 7th from noon to five. I will be in the same location as last year, on the porch at 711 Mc Culloch, Look forward to seeing you there.
These are a few of the pieces that will be there.
Tonya Delborne will also be on the porch with her fantastic photos, this is her fabulous house, so happy to be sharing her charming porch again this year.
Yes we have persimmons, the tree is loaded this year with beautiful giant orange fruit. To me they are so delicious, we have had a few ripe ones so far. The frost expected tonight should cause them to fully ripen. We mostly just eat them fresh when the inside is a translucent jelly like consistency. When we have lots, like we should have this year we make persimmon sorbet, very easy, very yummy. We skin them, put them in a blender, add a little sugar [very little] put that mix in a glass pan, put the pan in the freezer and when it starts to freeze stir it up then let it freeze some more, when it is more firm but not frozen solid give it a quick buzz in the blender again and eat it. 
Happy Halloween To All. this is my favorite little witch, I really love this figure, she just speaks to me. I am alone in my adoration, most find her ugly, twisted and generally not fun to be around. She is tiny, eight inches but to me she has a tough edgy, “I will not give up” attitude and her presence gives me strength. She popped up out of a mind empty, playin with clay afternoon from some scraps of porceline and I was shocked to see what emerged but when this piece came out of the kiln I thought, this one I will keep, she is my little witch.
