More ravens!

Someone once told me that the word "text" comes from the Latin textere meaning "to weave." I've been working on "weaving in text" in my paintings without it looking too obvious.

This is a raven I created using a collage/watercolor technique in Gina Armfield's on-line class. I can't stop painting ravens. . .they are amazing birds!

Padgett File Folder Bird Dolls

Here is the File Folder technique I was working on from Roxanne Padgett's class. I decided to use Bird Dolls. I found Rainbow Rick Rack at JoAnn's for 50% off (score!). Behind the left bird's head is a stamp called "Alpha Circle." It is now my favorite stamp. I sewed on the green polka dot house shape (cut from a file folder) to black paper. (It would have been better if the black was a file folder with a tab.) The rest is collage sheets, magazines pictures, and handmade painted papers. Way fun to have another format for dolls and collage.

Roxanne Padgett Rox!

Roxanne Padgett was just as wonderful as Shannon said she would be. "Go Figure" was a paper doll class where we (re)learned all kinds of techniques (e.g., stenciling, paste paper, Xyron stickers, washes, collage). We first made "fodder" and then started "Frankensteining" parts together. The possibilities are endless.

The first paper doll we made was a "postcard doll." It was very fun to create a collaged postcard to put an articulated doll on. The second was for the cover of a little book we made out of a file folder and a paper signature. I haven't finished the third (which will be placed on a file folder) and the fourth (which is on canvas). I'm hoping to combine my Lisa Englebrecht class (painted fabric backgrounds) with the Padgett class. Stay tuned!

Though we missed our fearless leader Shannon terribly, traveling with Jo and Roberta was very fun. It took all three of us to figure out transportation, food, and schedules. Roberta rented a car for us--a Dodge Charger. We named him Duke--definitely a muscle car and fun to drive.

Jo and Roberta are great storytellers. They both talk with their hands. Roberta drove us half way there and I think she only touched the steering wheel twice! They both learned quickly that I have no sense of direction and to go in the opposite direction I navigated them toward.

Jo's fearless passion for art, food, and life was contagious. Roberta's couscous dinner was fabulous! I was immediately fired from cooking when I accidently mixed up the vinegar bottle with the olive oil when frying the chicken. ("What's that smell?!) I think my contribution to the group was comic relief.

Teesha said that Artfest had 75 fewer participants this year. It did seem a little quieter. Rumor has it they are thinking about bringing Fiberfest back. I hope they give it another try. It is all good.

Artfest 2011

Artfest 2011: Just a sampling of images from this year. I hope that Liz and Roberta will add more. Missing is our traditional group shot on the steps of House 4E of course.  However, we were blessed with wonderful housemates, Stephanie, Laurie, Jody, Lynn and Deb. Roberta took classes by Syd McCutcheon, Jill Berry and Pamela Huntington. Liz took classes with Lisa Bebe, Lisa Engelbrecht and Roxanne Padgett. Joanne took classes with Patricia Seggebruch, Gina Armfield and Roxanne Padgett.

But first, a trip to Akamai for more supplies, followed by a traditional pitstop at the food coop

Welcome to Artfest. Tracy greets us!!

Creative caravan

Parallel universe: House 11E was our house this year

On the drive up, we had rain, hail and even a little snow. But then the sun came out and it was beautiful!

Day one: Encaustics with Patricia Seggebruch (Joanne)

Housemate Lynn's project from Tory Brokenshire's class "Santibelli Saints"

Housemate Jody's figure from Michael deMeng's "Pretty Vial Things"

A page from Liz's class, "A Boatload of Techniques" by Lisa Bebi

Lynn's "Wire and Clay Sculpture" in Tory's Brokenshire's class

A sample of teacher Roxanne Padgett's paper dolls "Go Figure". Liz and Joanne loved this class

Student sample from Jesse Reno class. He was a big hit this year

Student sample for Laurie Mika's class, "Wild About Tiles". Laurie was also in House 11E

Another student sample from Tory's class

Student sample from Lynn Perrella's class, (aka Anahata)

Housemate Lynn and her creations at show and tell

Joanne's encaustic pieces from Seggebruch's class

Terra made her debut at Artfest this year in Roxanne's Padgett class

Housemate Deb's pig gut and wire creation "Diablo" from Robert Smith's class "Spirit Doll"

We made a loop on the journey home, via the Tacoma bridge, and back again to Centralia for lunch.

May the force be with you

As Liz, Roberta and Joanne pack for Artfest 2011, just know that we will be thinking of all of you and will miss you. Our spirits and hearts are united as always and collectively we are sending great and powerful healing vibes up to Summit. Power on!!

More kissing. . .

Can't tell if this is Bert or Cecilia, but I think Shannon is holding Tricky. These animals obviously love their mama no matter what antics she subjects them to.

We love you Shannon!

Thinking of Shannon

I seem to have a whole series of Shannon kissing slobbery animals. Dolly Bacon was a beauty though. I can see how someone would like to kiss her. I think the problem was that Dolly didn't necessarily want to kiss Shannon. That's why she put a potato chip in her mouth. Problem solved!

Congratulations Carol!

In case you haven't checked out the Fall Festival website or blog or Facebook pages yet........Carol's painting, "Celebrating the Harvest", has been chosen this year for the Corvallis Fall Festival poster and T-Shirt image! Congratulations Carol! I can't wait to order mine!

for more see, http://corvallisfallfestival.wordpress.com/

Quilt Top

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The loose theme of the quilt is trees, leaves, then we added bugs, plaids, etc etc etc. Outer border will be (?) a limey green, perhaps picking up a bit of the red. We'll see where the muse takes us next.

Quilt Day

We ate, cut fabric, ate, sewed, and ate some more. At the end of the day, voila! A quilt top was born. OK, we couldn't decide on outer borders, but the top is very close to being done. A good time had by all.

Knit, Purl, ooh, ooh Weave!

Hi ladies, after finishing two small knitted baby blankets, I have officially been struck by the knitting bug! It's incredible how many hours I can while away quietly on the couch, especially while it's raining. On the way home from Seattle last weekend, Rachel gave me some scraps of yarn so I could practice my techniques. Actually I don't have any techniques, so I was anxious to get some! Up to now, it's been knit, knit. Now I can officially knit and purl! What's more I found that weaving and changing yarn every few rows is even more fun!! So below is my first personal FiberFest! I wish I could say that it actually lies flat, it's more like a tube when worn, but (hey) one technique at a time!

Oh, and back to baby blankets....Shannon has generously offered to host a Hacienda Posada Quilting Bee for baby Henney, which we just found out is a little girl!! We will figure out a date for getting together in the next 4-5 months. (Due date is Sept 23). Oh.. (she says ever so shyly...) if you want to see first pics of my precious new granddaughter visit: http://mclennanfamily.blogspot.com

Love to all, Jo

2 Down!

Finished my 2nd Artfest 2010 project, the Mosaic Shrine. On to my last project, Palatte-ability. I NEVER finish Artfest class projects. Must have taken inspiring classes.