Calico Fantasies

A Rainbow of Happiness...With one step into the fabric store, my body begins to tingle with excitement. My favorite wall, stocked full with calicoes, fat quarters, jelly rolls, and charm packs were welcoming me back with a wave of happy colors. How could one not absolutely love this?

I try to be good. Lord knows, I do; but, my weakness for these fabrics surpasses all of my good intentions to get just what I came in for. Ideas are popping up and swirling around in my head. These fabrics can go with these fabrics and so forth and so on. I don't want them to get all mismatched, so I have to place them in different directions; otherwise, I won't remember the color and pattern combinations I placed them in when I get home.

Exhausted, I carefully place my goody bags at the end of my favorite spot on the couch. As I go to make myself a comforting cup of hot tea, I kiss my husband as he tempts me with the wafting aroma of his grillin' from outside. The lure of his grilling skills is in close competition with those of the calico fabrics waiting so patiently for me inside. Since the salmon steaks and veggies still need time to cook, instantly, I go to grab my sketchbook and a stack of my favorite magazines to bring back with me as I carefully unload the contents of my finds from the day. What images will emerge on the blank pages of this sketchbook? What unborn spirits are trying to push through the colors and patterns from the fabrics I was drawn to? Pencil to pad, and the dream begins...

How About You?

Clipart from Clipartheaven

What Do You Make?
What Type of Artist Are You?
Is Your Art Acceptable to Society or Cast Aside as Something Unworthy to Behold?

"Oh, you're an artist, too? What type of art do you do?" When she heard I made art "dolls", I could hear the huge disappointment in her voice. The theater is "real art", which is what she is involved in...a small local theater but nonetheless a theater. One where kids and the community volunteer to put on shows. Her response to my form of art..."That's nice. Well, we all need an outlet." Can we get any more condescending? I wonder if it would have made a difference if I made a Theater of Puppets that danced and sang to the musical masterpieces of Broadway plays? If I tap danced on the street in baggy clothes and a ripped tee-shirt, would that not be accepted as art; or, would I need to be decked out in fine clothes, tails, and a top hat, donning the stage with a spotlight on me?

I find lately I've been stumbling when trying to explain my work, so I use multiple terms with a description. Why must I explain anything at all? Can't anything be left to one's imagination? What happened to people deciphering things for themselves? Perhaps I will begin carrying little wallet size cards of my work instead. Allow the visual images rise above the verbiage and speak to their inner child-selves. Funny thing, not one child has ever asked me these questions. They take a closer observation. They either like it or don't.

The term "Art Dolls" seem to perplex a lot of people. Art and Doll don't go together in many minds. "What is that?" When I say "Fiber Sculptures" or "Multi-Media Sculptures", a light clicks on and their interest is peeked. Why? I don't know. However, I find I receive a better reception when using these latter terms.

I make what I make for myself. Does that make it less than art? In my opinion, no. Some people like it. Some people don't. Does it really matter if it is valued more by some than others? Does that make it considered art or not? I would never put down someone else's creative endeavor as something insignificant or unworthy because I may not value, appreciate, or understand it as much as other forms of art.

Time Flies vs. Flying Time Like A Kite

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

How has all of this time passed since my last post? I almost fell off my chair when I saw how long its been. Gosh Darn-it! I bought fabrics up the wazooo and haven't shared any of this yet. My next posts will include my new projects and their progress.

It occurred to me today, after thinking how "time flies", what if we were to gain some control over time and instead fly it like a kite...over the beach...over the breaking waves of the sandy shores...over green plateaus...and over the tallest trees, trying not to get it mangled in the process? Sailing through the winds with the twists and turns, directing it, nudging it, and trying to get it to higher and higher realms? Wouldn't that take some of the pressure off? I think so. At least its more fun envisioning it this way. I wonder what a Time Kite would look like exactly...

Future story to be posted at a later date: My Life In a Ball