Tag Archives: Modern Mrs. Darcy

Back and Forth

The more I juggle between stitched pieces and drawings, the more I appreciate the power of their influence upon each other.

I thought it might be interesting to see 5 stages of both a drawing and a stitched piece, side-by-side as they progress. The drawing begins with a very hard lead so I’m afraid it’s a challenge to see here, a fact amplified by its reduced size. You can see its details much more clearly in this post.

It’s definitely an ongoing challenge to give each its due in a given week, and I’m sure that fact delays my progress in each. But the strong similarity between the way an image is built in one discipline really helps me work through the hurdles I encounter within the other.

The drawing is 24 x 18 inches, whereas this stitched piece is about 10 inches square

The upside is it’s a two-way street: having two objectives may slow me down, but working both mediums in tandem ultimately seems to push me further than if I were pursuing only one.

I like working in layers because it lets me build up an image gradually.

I’ve written before about artists I admire who work across disciplines, but only by doing so myself have I been able to truly see the returns materialize.

There is definitely a lot to be said for the oomph of color that comes easily with dyes and thread. Yet I am also attracted to the subtlety of line which I feel conveys just as much, albeit with a quieter voice.

Advantages weave back and forth between the two, each lending a fresh perspective on the qualities that interest me: texture, color, value, pattern…and not to be forgotten, all-important composition – whether encased in an imaginary frame defined by the edges of the paper or within a framework of shibori pattern that is as much a part of the overall piece as the subject.

And then you reach a point where it feels like everything that can be, has been said.

❖

Summer Reading:
I love the premise behind this list of 20 books featuring seasoned female protagonists from Modern Mrs. Darcy. I’ve read and enjoyed a handful of them, so I know her recommendations are reliable.

My mother was a great reader and an inveterate article-clipper, as perhaps yours is, or may have been, as well. She never missed an opportunity to share something she found interesting or that she thought I should read. And it seems I have inherited that gene, as my kids will attest. But the happy flip side of that is they also share articles and book titles with me!
If you’re looking to liberate yourself by taking control of your devices, rather than letting them control you, check out Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism, courtesy of my son. It’s a speedy read, but very wise and equally as worthwhile.

Frida Revisited

Almost twenty years ago I made an art quilt about Frida Kahlo, hoping it would be accepted into a show at the then Thirteen Moons Gallery in Sante Fe, NM, which at the time was the premier gallery for art quilts in the country. I did a lot of research about Kahlo in preparation and, like so many others, became fascinated by her story, her strength, and her art.

Making the piece was more than a little challenging, earning its share of blood, sweat, & tears. It was a lot of tricky work to figure out how I could best combine machine and hand-work in order to achieve the effects I was going for, and I learned a tremendous amount in the process.

The happy ending is that it was accepted into the exhibit and became the first textile piece I ever sold.

Week before last, our model at life drawing came dressed as Kahlo. She is an unabashed fan, making no secret of her admiration for the artist while setting a striking likeness.

But as the session wore on it was Kathryn’s spirit, not Frida’s, that had us all under its spell as we drew and talked about the mythic painter.

On A Different Note_________________________________________________________________________

I appreciate the sentiment of this blog post from Modern Mrs. Darcy and think you might too. It’s so easy to keep one’s nose to the grindstone, making each day a perpetual puzzle of trying to fit more in around everything else, maybe it’s time to rethink that approach.
Plus, her helpfully annotated Summer Reading Guide 2018 is now available.

Are You Ready for 2017?

In preparing to turn the page from the old year to the new, I like to use this week between holidays to get myself organized. I think it’s a really healthy exercise to go back over the events of the past 12 months in order to take stock of both the accomplishments and the areas where I want/need to concentrate more effort in the year ahead. In addition, if I can get a leg up on some preparatory computer tasks, such as clearing out obsolete files, setting up new folders, and outlining my goals for 2017 in a somewhat organized way, it’s then possible to jump right into my routine on January 2 with a sense of control and purpose. It may be something of an illusion, but I like the feeling of getting a fresh start.

2016 brought with it the discovery of some wonderfully useful tools, many of which I have shared in this blog. As the year closes out, here is a short list of three more gems that I hope might add some value to your practice going forward. They have all helped me to feel more organized and better equipped, resulting in more time to make art…and isn’t that what we all want?

Amy Lynn Andrews’ Knowtbook: Last June, in my post A Worthwhile Plunge, I recommended Amy as a fabulous resource when starting a blog. She shares an amazing amount of information for free on her website, blog, and in her weekly Useletter, but this fall I decided it was time to invest in her $24 “Knowtbook”. It is essentially a reference manual comprised of her extensive notes on a ton of online information, including the finer details of creating a website, understanding traffic and SEO, social media, networking, time management and productivity. Straight talk delivered to you via Workflowy (see below), it really is her notebook, so you continue to receive her changes and updates in real time, at no extra cost to you.

WorkFlowy: If you are a list maker this is an unbelievably convenient and easy way to keep on top of all your lists, in one place and accessible online from any device. I guess the one downside is that you need to be connected in order to make any additions or changes, but everything can be easily printed if you choose. I’ve found it’s extremely handy for staying on top of tasks, especially when I’m already at the computer and ideas / items pop up.

Bullet Journal: Admittedly I use several different platforms (Asana, Evernote, Workflowy) to keep myself organized in a big-picture kind of way, but so far the Bullet Journal, “the analog system for the digital age”, has absolutely been the most successful way for me to stay on top of my daily/weekly tasks. You don’t have to buy anything — although you have that option. I started one last March with an old notebook filled with graph paper and it continues to work perfectly. Once you get a handle on the basic theory, you’ll see that it is completely customizable. It’s made a huge difference for me and, while I continue to juggle more than I probably should, it has kept me on the straight and narrow and I find less things fall through the cracks now.

And finally, a cherry on top for the avid reader:

Modern Mrs. Darcy: I was so happy to stumble upon this blog last week! It was the perfect discovery during the holidays, or anytime for that matter, when you’re in the mood for finding a good book. It’s kind of like the semi-annual NPR books shows that feature booksellers from all over the country. The reading lists and recommendations inspired me to map out a list for 2017. Can’t wait to get started!

Were there any systems that you adopted in 2016 that made your life easier/more productive? Personal experience is the best reference, so please share your feedback.

As always, thank you for joining me here at Eye of the Needle; I appreciate your time and ideas! Happy New Year…may it be one of your best.