Monday, February 29, 2016

Dogs Vs. Stairs

Well, just had to share this though no sheep were involved in the production of the video.



Friday, February 19, 2016

These two sweeties just picked for group show in Damariscotta . . . ovines getting some fresh air!

River Arts Opening Reception for 
“Faces & Figures” Exhibition 
River Arts in Damariscotta is inviting the public to the opening reception of its newest exhibition “Faces and Figures (animals included)” Friday, February 19th  from 5-7. The exhibition includes 120 works in a wide variety of media by 70 artists from all over Maine and runs through March 26.
The juror for the exhibition is John Lorence. Lorence attended Case Western, the Parsons School of Design, Cambridge School of Design and the Cranbrook Academy of Art where he earned his BFA and MFA. He has been the recipient of fellowships at YADDO, the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, and the McDowell colony.  He has exhibited both his paintings and sculpture extensively in solo and group exhibitions in Europe, the Middle East and the U.S as part of the Art-in Embassy program.  Lorence’s professional interests include painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, art history, conservation and archeology as well as short films. He has taught at the Layton School of Art, Portland School of Art and the University of Wisconsin. He has had gallery representation in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and recently exhibited at the Courthouse Gallery in Ellsworth. Lorence now lives in Newcastle, but did have a house and studio on Great Cranberry Isle for over 20 years where he was one of the island group’s 14 artists.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

I seem to be dying to dye . . .

and find myself taking new (to me) library books out, and researching new dyestuffs (again, to me) like lichens . . .

Here's a site I found that needs further digesting (once again, by me):

Orchil, the poor person's purple

by Chris Laning


If anyone has any experience with Orchil, I would love to hear from you.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Fun in the snow south of us

Thank you so much to several entities for an especially delightful day yesterday in midcoast Maine.

Dandelion Spring Farm/Straw Farm in Newcastle. We've been buying produce, meat and eggs, and wool fleece from Beth for three years. At the weekly Rockland farmers market on Thursdays, She and her crew set up a tempting and bountiful stall, and it's become a must-do favorite. The farm(s) are situated on a rolling stretch of countryside, close to route 1 but enough away to be truly pastoral.

Tamworth is the breed name of these red russet piggies.







Lovely Jersey cows all, so soft and inquisitive.
Yesterday's visit was fortuitous -- weather, light and animals all cooperated, coming together to create a joyful experience for me (sorely needed) . I think the proof is in the porcine, bovine, and ovine faces.


Multi purpose sheep flock associated with a PenBay island flock the farmers also tend to. Their lovely white and chocolate wool has made it into our studio projects, including the raw fleece as well as the beautifully spun 2-ply hanks.


Prior to this pastoral pleasure, I attended a talk by Black Dinah Chocolatier founder Kate Shaffer at the Damariscotta Public Library. She is lovely! And, her words and tastes exquisite. Brought home a Valentine's gift box of heart shaped truffles for my own sweet Valentine, who ultimately agreed to share them. And popped into two art supply shops on Main Street: Attic Heirlooms and ABOCA Beads. All  in all, a very inspiring day.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Flax and Linen in New England

Linum usitatissimum image in Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen by Franz Eugen Köhler




New Group Discovery! Thank you Lisa for forwarding this website: http://newenglandflaxandlinen.org/. (Isn't it a pretty image?)

Okay, now I have to make room for something else in my tiny garden!