Terence La Noue

The Papaver "Poppy" Kingdom, mixed media on canvas, 77 x 72.5 "
by Terence La Noue.
Lots to see out there by this artist. I liked this group.

From Art in America, Feb, 2002 by Edward Leffingwell. The tessellated passages of Terence La Noue's abstractions emerge from dense matrices of material riven into shards and exuberantly reassembled into complex, layered fields. (emphasis mine)
Remind you of anything? Imagine, cutting up material and reassembling it. Just thought I'd share.

Thanks Jane Ann, Gerrie, and Barbara for your comments. I have not been good about replying, but I do appreciate your good thoughts.

I have been laid low with a dreadful flu/cold/sinus thing this week but am back to work and feeling a bit better. I managed to find a nice jacket to wear to the wedding in a lovely swirly teal pattern that will look nice with my basic black sleeveless dress. I no longer go "sleeveless" if I can help it, but I like the way the dress looks with the new jacket. Now, if I could just find some shoes that won't kill my feet...

Ordinary Things

Waiting in the line of cars on the freeway onramp, I looked up at the beautiful clouds of early morning. The sunrise was so pink today (rain coming?) that the color was reflected in the west as well. I wonder how many people in their cars looked up for a moment to appreciate the sky.
It made me so happy to be right here, right now. Life is just so fleeting, I don't want to waste a moment. Even a mundane morning commute can be something to appreciate.

We had a scare this week when our little dog Nikki got very sick. She has some kind of doggie flu and couldn't keep anything down. At her fairly advanced age (13 next month) we always wonder if her health will suddenly take a turn for the worse. Two hundred something dollars later (worth every penny) she seems to be fine. Her anti nausea meds are working and she kept down the chicken and rice we cooked for her. We are so relieved, something pet lovers will understand.

I tinkered around yesterday with some small star blocks to add to a quilt I am working on and ended up with a mess. A small adjustment to paper pieced half square triangles fixed the problem. I just don't handle those tiny pieces well without some kind of paper piecing.

Tomorrow we will visit Mike and Anne. I don't know if she will be feeling well enough to talk with us, but we want to show our love and support.

Update

Colors like this are what I miss most here in California, even some thirty years after moving here. Thankfully our weather has turned a little cooler, becoming downright chilly overnight.

It has been a busy, busy time. We gave the wedding shower this weekend, and it was a great success. Determined to make it lovely and fun and special, we decorated, planned, and prepared food. I made two fabulous cheesecakes, pumpkin swirl and oreo cookie. I only tasted the tiniest bit of each one since they are the stuff of diet sabotage. I got to know my nephew's fiance Jean a little bit better, and she is delightful. She loved the quilt we made for her, and it made me so glad that we have that as a family tradition.
Our other nephew's wife Anne is in the hospital and things are not going well. We are heartsick about this, words just fail. Short of a miracle, we pray for peace and strength.

Carpe Diem

"A La Playa", by Margaret Fitzgerald. Artist's statement and more work here. I like this artist's work and I thought I would check in here to share it with you.

What have I been up to? Lots of planning for family activities, a wedding shower in early October which I am co-hostessing (is that a word?) and a big family party the next day. The gift quilt for the bride is back from the quilter, and I am working on the binding a little each evening.

In a stunning juxtaposition of joy and sorrow, one nephew is getting married at the end of next month, and another (his brother) is coping with the news that his wife's chemotherapy is not working. The family party is to bring our family and hers together. We will enjoy good food, each other's company, and the fine weather outside on the deck. Gatherings like this are her favorite activity, and what no one is saying out loud is that she may not be well enough to attend the wedding.
Carpe diem.

Another Artist to Share

"Engaged Conversation" by Sharon Booma. I really like this artist's work. If you do too, go see more.

Thanks so much for your supportive comments on the last post. Most of the time I try to keep it on the lighter side here, but once in a while it gets the best of me.

I had a really nice weekend and entertained my quilting group on Sunday. I was way too busy preparing to sit around feeling depressed. Jerry and I bought some "color" for the yard and spent a couple of hours sprucing things up outside. Later I hauled out all the indoor fall decorations and had a great time arranging things. Despite the 90 degree weather, I am trying to get in the fall spirit. At least the nights and mornings have been a little cooler.

There is nothing like time spent with friends to help you get perspective. The sad things are still there, but you remember to count the blessings.

Reflection

You may recognize this piece as one of Andy Goldsworthy's "Twig" sculptures. Here you can't quite tell the "real" twigs from the reflected ones, yet they are all part of a whole, transitory and beautiful.

It has been a sad week, making me think about the brief nature of our lives and what they mean. Monday was Sept.11th. Sad news of a more personal nature this week; two friends each facing bad news in their struggles with cancer, also the death of another friend's child during birth. When I got to work, I just closed my office door and wept. Then I went online to look for words of comfort.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." (Ps. 46: 1-2)


and this:
From the Daily Om:

Denying Your Feelings
Dealing with powerful emotions can be challenging, especially when we are going through chaotic, sad, or cruel experiences in our lives. .. Acknowledging your feelings can help you better understand them and help you recover naturally from change, stress, and grief. If you find that facing your feelings head on is proving too difficult during times of emotional distress, you may want to explore alternative ways of expressing them. ...Expressing your thoughts to friends or family can be helpful. ..You can also funnel your feelings into a creative outlet, physical exercise, or chores. Even just accepting and speaking your feelings out loud to yourself can be a healing release. In releasing intense emotions, it is most beneficial to acknowledge the feelings, allow yourself to feel them, and let the feelings go. Those who are willing to experience and release their feelings without judgment also find that their lives become less stressful. Breathing deeply, going for a long walk, or doing a constructive task can help you respond to your feelings in a healthy way. While burying negative or uncomfortable feelings can numb the pain, it also may inevitably dull your ability to experience your more positive and pleasurable feelings. ..In learning how to express your intense emotions in a healthy way, you are giving yourself the freedom to fully experience the more joyful emotions that come with being alive

Interiors/ Exteriors

This beautiful monotype is called "Interiors/Exteriors #5" , and was done by Katherine Chang Liu.

If you can believe it, I have started to post here on three separate occasions with no luck or cooperation from Blogger.

Life is busy and just flows along day to day. As far as I know, everything is fine, no sign of the big C. I am feeling good and making modest progress on my weight loss/ fitness goals. I'm not nearly brave enough to post one of those little charts, but someday in the far, far distant future, maybe you'll get a "before and after" set of photos.

Let's see, last time I posted I was about to go the San Diego Quilt show. I had a great time with my friends and only bought a few batik FQ that
I couldn't live without. That and some paper from "Golden Threads" to mark with quilting designs. I've never used it, but my friend Pam B. swears by it and she has lovely quilts to prove it works for her. About the show, it was a little underwhelming, but I keep in mind that it is a non-juried exhibition. It is a place for local quilting classes to share their work and for quilters of all levels, so what you get are a few knockouts but mostly what you have seen dozens of times before.

I finished quilting the blue, red and yellow quilt I was working on (see previous post), and now I need to bind it. Last Saturday I hosted a sewing day for some family members (sewing and non-sewing) and we made a "Turning Twenty" quilt as a shower gift. A few years back I started a family tradition of making a group quilt for every wedding, and I have learned that it is best to keep it very simple. The fabric is lovely, and I trust my longarm quilting friend to make it into something beautiful.
I chose a rose and vine pattern that I think will be perfect.

A Quiet Interlude

I am home this morning because I'm off to the doctor for a checkup in a little while. It's nice to have a little extra time to savor the coffee and do some blogging. I haven't been as faithful about writing and reading here as I used to be, but I still enjoy it when I get the chance. Things at work have been busy with the start of a new semester, and we have gone from a quiet campus to one that is bustling and insanely crowded. This fall we will have the highest enrollment in years, around 34,000. By contrast, my own little corner of the library is quiet, but with all the crowds and traffic it can feel like a challenge to get there.

I spent time last weekend sewing on another gift quilt to be given at Christmas and I have started a Christmas wall hanging. I am fiddling around with some brightly colored starburst blocks a la New York Beauty, except that they are fused. This satisfies my need for instant gratification, but I still want to make one the traditional way. Don't ask me why, I have no idea.

The holiday weekend is almost here. I will be going to the San Diego Quilt Show on Friday with my friend Joan. I remember seeing Cynthia England's work a few years back, and it was amazing. This will most likely not be the venue for seeing art quilts, but I will enjoy what is there. Then there are the vendors. You never know, there just might be some great fabric or thread that leaps into my hands and begs to be taken home.

Quilt Camp

"Is it morning?" I think I need to sleep some more...

Carla and Gayle are binding by the pool. Barbara is in the sunshine working on layout and a border.

Here is Joan a bit later in the day, sewing away on her Featherweight.

Pam T. working on applique.

And here I am with about one third of the quilting done on my cheerful gift quilt.

Morning at "Quilt Camp"

Here are the early risers, enjoying their morning coffee.

In southern CA. we often have cool, marine layer skies that change into bright sun as the day advances. This was one of those days. As you can see from my lovely hairstyle, I am fresh out of the shower. Although, come to think of it, with all the swimming I probably looked this way most of the weekend.
I like these pictures because of the casual, comfy way we are all curled up with cozy quilts.

The Fairmont Way Day Spa

This past weekend was a lovely time spent with girlfriends, lots of good fun, food, sewing, and laughter. I did, in fact, remember the camera, so there will be pictures. Don't you love this lounge chair cover? Pam's neighbors made a set for her as a thank you for using her pool.


She actually made each one of us a lovely personalized towel set. We really did feel like we were at a spa.


I loved jumping in the pool for exercise and to cool off. I took my Aqua-Jogger belt and got some real exercise, and we all brought healthy food. Fresh fruit, wonderful salads and Weight Watcher desserts. We all felt so virtuous!


Here is our hostess hard at work in her studio area, which is mere steps from the pool. She is working on quilting a raffle quilt for her guild. I love the kaleidescope blocks on her design wall. You can see various background fabrics being auditioned there.


This pineapple block table topper is very traditional, but I love it. The scrappiness appeals to me, I think. Not sure how much more Blogger will let me post right now, so stay tuned for more pictures later.

Elizabeth Berg and a Sewing Weekend

Here are a couple of books I just finished, and I've decided I like this author very much. I have a couple more books ordered from Amazon, and one more from the library. In "The Art of Mending", the main character is a quilt artist. The story is primarily about family relationships and not art quilting, but that aspect intrigued me. There are a couple of scenes I can really relate to, for example when she's in the fabric store or in her studio. In "Say When", the wife uses the excuse of going to a quilting class when she is really going to meet her lover.

I am getting ready for a weekend of big fun, some quality girlfriend time spent with my quilting buddies. Pam's husband is off fishing, so we are all spending the weekend at her house. We are sharing responsibility for food and will keep the cooking to a minimum. We plan to sew, eat and LAUGH a lot. Pam has a lovely swimming pool, so there will be water aerobics to cool off and get exercise. I am going to work mostly on my machine quilting, but I have a couple of other gift projects to take along. It's always hard to predict how much work I will actually complete during one of these get togethers. If I remember, I'll take pictures.

Art and sadness

"Lake Edge" by Emily Mason

Loved these cool,deep colors, it feels almost like you could just dive in. I love, love, love this artist's work. I don't know why achieving this kind of feeling in my own paintings is so elusive. It looks so simple, but it isn't at all.

I've been reading more than sewing, although I have some gift quilts I am working on.
Sewing this way is relaxing, especially when I listen to a book at the same time.

I've been struggling lately with too much sadness. I finally had to stop listening to the news. The tragedy of war is so overwhelming and I had a terrible sense of foreboding and sadness that I couldn't shake. The feelings seemed to affect my ability to create art as well. I'm more the "make a joyful noise" type when I make art, and I don't seem to be able to express the darker emotions that way.

Focusing on the positive now. Look at the beautiful spirit in this art.

Mini Quilt Show

Here are some simple but pretty quilts that were shared at our last quilt group gathering. All of these were former UFO's finished by my friend Pam.

The next quilt is a simple flying geese quilt, made by my friend Gayle for her husband. Each block is a different fabric, representing his various interests. I thought it was a great idea. Gayle said that she had made so many quilts for her children and other family members that it was high time she made one for her husband. It will reside in his den when it is finished.

There are a few more quilts to share, but Blogger doesn't want to let me post any more right now. I'll save them for another day.
I'm working on three Christmas quilts and one art quilt. Not far enough along to share pictures just yet.

I had a fun day off today, mostly spent shopping. I found some pretty shirts in lots of colors, and they actually fit which is even better. I tend to buy several of the same item if I like it and it fits. I bought shirts in purple, teal, pumpkin, and pale green.

I will probably spend the rest of evening enjoying a good read.

Butterflies, fabric, and rain

Well, once again I have been away from my computer, busy with company and summer activities. I am loving the part time hours at work, something I will enjoy for just a little longer. You would think that with all the extra time I would have some wonderful art of my own to show you, but it just didn't happen. I have been sketching and fiddling around with fabric, so hopefully something will come together soon. (Gratuitous picture of tidy stash above, it looks nothing like this at the moment.)


I recently discovered that I don't have the patience to be a wildlife photographer. Right now I literally have a yard full of butterflies, and you would think I could get a decent picture. We have seen more butterflies this year than ever before, probably because the passiflora vines are so prolific.

One of the pond fish came over while I was taking the picture, curious or hoping to be fed.

Lots of people have been talking about the adventures in weather we have been having lately (triple digits, hot, hot, hot). Can you say global warming? Yesterday, like an answer to a prayer, it suddenly turned cool and rainy. I am loving the gentle sound of the rain, and I have the window open to enjoy the breeze.

Happy 91st Birthday CR!

This past weekend we celebrated my father-in-law's 91st birthday. He is kind, funny, and thoughtful, a wonderful man. I am grateful to have had him in my life for the past 30 years. As you can see, our photographer had a hard time getting us to focus. The jokes were flying and we were laughing too hard to settle down for a picture. That's my husband in the green shirt standing next to me, and that's my handsome son right behind us. A totally unbiased opinion, of course.

Don't you love the birthday crown? We have used it, or some version of it, for years. Even when we go out to a restaurant, the birthday honoree has to wear it. I remember being mortified the first time I had to wear the crown in public, but over the years I have come to appreciate it. No one sees it without smiling or laughing. Aren't birthday traditions fun?

More Traditional Quilt Content

All of these quilts were made by my friend Cindy. As you can see, she goes for the dark, warm colors and the primitive look. Of these quilts, I like the top one the best. Although the colors are subdued, the fabric is brushed cotton and is very cozy. It will be great next winter for those cool rainy days. The stitcheries in the second quilt are all angels of some kind. Cute and charming.

I have had so much fun with these women over the years, we even travelled across the country to go to the Paducah show together. We may or may not do that again, but we had the time of our lives. We've also been several times to the Road to California show. We meet once a month, supposedly to sew, but laughing and eating sometimes take priority. Every year we draw names and make a quilt for that person to exchange at our Christmas party.(Check out the December 2005 archives to see last year's exchange).We have a variety of tastes, but our delight in fabric and quilting holds us together.

Quilt Content

This child's quilt can be used to play "I Spy" or the "Match" game since there are two of each square. It is going into my friend's "hope chest" for a grandchild that hasn't even been thought of yet (at least not by the future parents). That's what I call prepared!

This is the "Egg Money Quilt", made using the book by Eleanor Burns. Based on traditional quilt blocks and made from 30's reproduction fabric, I think it looks very fresh and "spring like". Made by my friend Andine.

This was a "mystery quilt", made by my friend Gayle. You know I love those warm autumn colors.

I am enjoying having a few days off this month, although I am going in to work for a little while this afternoon. Not much new on the art front, but I have been sewing away on some UFOs. Who knows, I may even finish something.

Bright fabric, Dear Jane

Here is what I've been doing with all that bright fabric.


I liked it better before I added the "scribbly" quilting, so I may be adding some more pieces to it. On the other hand, it might be best just to start again and go for a simpler composition. At least I'm working.

Here is a picture of what one of my good quilter friends is working on.
Now, I think it is safe to say I will never do this, but I am fascinated to see it. These are all hand pieced "Dear Jane" blocks. I think I have mentioned my friends's interest in Civil War quilts, and this is the latest manifestation. There are actually hundreds of "Janiac" quilters who are making replicas of this quilt, originally made by Jane Stickle.
The blocks are small (4 1/2" I think) and are often pieced by hand.



This is what you end up with, or something similar.



As I said, not my cup of tea, but isn't it amazing?

Pretty Colors

These are some wonderful fabrics I bought this weekend, along with a nicely fused stack all ready to work with. The colors really do glow like that. One of the shops I go to very nicely sent me a gift certificate in appreciation for past patronage. Of course I used it and a little besides.Although I do love hand painted and hand dyed fabric, I also love buying it already done. So much less work. In July I will have a little time off, so there may be time to paint some more fabric. As hot as it is, it would dry in about 5 minutes. In the meantime, I have these lovelies to play with.

Fran asked if there was any curved piecing in the last work I shared, and the answer is no, it is all done in the tradition of the Chicago School of Fusing. I also
wanted to say that reading Nancy's book is NOT stressful in any way, except that it is so inspiring you want to drop everything and work on art 24/7 like she apparently does. The book is a wonderful retrospective of work, and also talks about some of her inspirations.
It is well worth owning if you love art books as much as I do.

I read about her classes on another email list. What is "stressful" to me is that she requires a lot of work in a short time, and she wants it to be large. Although I understand the idea of "loosening up" and working more intuitively, I do not want to put time or size constraints on my work. Deborah blogged about art and size a couple of days ago, and I agree that the size of the work should be what it needs to be, not artificially imposed. (An obvious exception would be a commission meant to hang in a specific area, like the one Gerrie just completed.)

Off to work (the paying kind) now, I hope to have more to share with you soon.

New work and a new book

I recently finished this piece, "One More Day Up In the Canyon". It's about 15" x 18". I love the colors of earth, sky, and water, it seems to be a recurring theme in my work. I'm really happy with the way this one turned out.

Like quite a few others, I finally received my copy of Nancy Crow's new book. I have already spent hours looking at it. What an inspiration! If I could work faster, I might save up to take a workshop from her, but from everything I've been reading about her teaching technique, I don't think it would suit me. I am not being critical of her, I just know I wouldn't thrive under that level of stress. I told my husband we needed to buy about 60 acres with three barns on it, and he looked slightly alarmed until I told him I was only joking.

Sort of.

Breakfast, Books and A Dog Wash

Our weekend was a typical one. We had the usual chores (laundry and cleaning) and a few extras like bathing the dogs. This is NOT their favorite activity and we pretty much get as wet as they do in the process. They feel great afterwards, though, and run around barking and rolling on the rugs. It
was pandemonium for a little while there.

Other than chores, we had a couple of nice breakfasts, particularly on Father's Day. Breakfast means oatmeal, toast, fruit or yogurt during the week, but on the weekend it's something special. Although we went out this weekend, often we cook at home. We make spectacular omelettes, fried potatoes, the works. Sometimes its homemade
breakfast burritos.

I haven't been sewing much, but I have been reading. Summer weather has me feeling
lazy, and I love to relax under a ceiling fan with a nice breeze blowing in the window. One of my favorite authors is Jodi Picoult. I just finished these two this weekend. I always like a good story where the author makes you care about the characters. The topics are contemporary and the plot moves right along. One of her methods is to write from each character's point of view, and you really get a chance to get inside their heads and see what's going on. Anyway, if you are looking for a good summer read or two, check it out.

A New Phase and Random Thoughts

This painting is by Jay Milder. From Abstract Art Online. I love the color and energy, and even in an internet picture I can get a feel for the "cake frosting" quality of the paint. Great fun.

Lots of things going on here. Work is busy, busy, busy because a) I am still playing "catch up", and b) everyone is bringing me their summer projects for binding and repair. I find that I am absolutely wiped out at the end of the day, even eight weeks out from surgery. On the other hand, as Jerry reminded me, I used to be wiped out after long work days BEFORE I had surgery. I have been working out how to cope with the symptoms of my new phase of life. I attended a "menopause" class, and am trying the black cohosh for relief from hot flashes. I started exercising again, which I hope will help with the stress and emotional upheaval. This has probably been the most disconcerting part. I find myself weepy at the drop of a hat (hearing a song, for example, will set me off). This is very unlike me, and I don't feel quite like myself. I have not made any decisions yet about turning to medication.

We also have a house guest, a friend of Jerry's who has been living in Egypt for the past year. He is a photographer, and he has amazing pictures, both of Egypt and of Darfur. Take a look, they are incredible. What strikes me so forcefully are the beautiful smiles on the faces of some of these people, even after so much suffering. It seems absurd to ever complain about anything when so many have so little. It gives you a lot to think about.