All Spruced Up

Yesterday, while the rain poured down, the local news program Chronicle came to Western Avenue Studios. Nancy Tuttle of the Lowell Sun wrote up the visit. She calls us a "hidden gem."
How do you hide 150 artists?
Come to open studios this Saturday and see for yourself.

1.Dream Flag
2. dog for dave
3. paint pots at LFS
4. group shot small journals
5. me at work
6. Red Cat by Laura Gawlinski
7. sewing supplies at LFS
8. LFS door
9. a two hands
10. Gwen Stith
11. doll by Connie Wood
12. purses by Susan Webber
13. necklace by Gwen Stith

I'm in Studio 512. Come in the door that says "Hub Mills." Take the elevator to the third floor. Find a stairwell and come up two flights. We'll have water and cookies waiting for you at Lowell Fiber Studio, #512.1.

Forgetting Piece by Piece

This quilt is for my father, who died with Alzheimer's disease when my daughter was 4.

Trying to Remember, 2005

It is part of the exhibit, Forgetting Piece by Piece, has toured the country for almost 4 years. It arrives at the RiverWoods in Exeter, NH April 17, 18, and 19, and then travels to its final venue, the Shelburne Museum in Vermont.

The exhibit is part of the Alzheimer's Quilt Initiative, which has so far raised almost $400,000 for Alzheimer's research. On-line, she has auctioned off over 4000 pieces, all donated by quilters. That's a lot of stitches, a lot of time, a lot of love.

If you are in the New England area and haven't seen this show yet, go before it closes this fall.

painting

My little studio is way too crowded. But at least there's a view.

I started my day by sorting piles, filling bags to donate, sell or give away.
The brushes live side by side with the scissors and iron. The paints are under the table, with the interfacing and Mistyfuse.


Today I painted for an hour before leaving to teach. I worked from an old photo of my aunt. She died in childbirth:This week we're working in pure chroma, an uncomfortable but exciting place, so I asked myself what color placement did to the image,while I get used to the feel of the brush in my hand.


If I lived alone I would eat cereal and go right back to work now. I have ideas: text and texture. So much to try, so much to learn.