Temperature's Dropping!

This particular thermometer is actually showing a rather high temperature compared to the last several days!

So cold, the lake has been steaming - the old timers say the lake has to steam seven times before the ice will make.

There's a bit of ice in the harbor, but not enough to stop the boats just yet (but every trip across has the potential of being the last!

And there's a thick coat of ice on the boat itself.

The few remaining horses are still at work, wearing frost beards!

We even have some snow, which has been in short supply the last couple winters - it goes a long way towards making winter on Mackinac more enjoyable!

Self - December 2012 Bead Journal Project

A few days late, but 2012 is complete!

My December rune stone represents the force of self-knowledge; if we are willing to evaluate and embrace both our strengths and faults, we can become forces in our own future and lives.

My found object is a small beveled mirror, salvaged from an Edwardian purse - it is quite flawed, only allowing a true reflection in bits and pieces. Our self-knowledge is usually equally flawed, distorted and glimpsed in tiny, isolated portions.

Bands of peyote stitch bind the mirror to the stone - just as we are bound by our flawed perceptions.

2012 is complete, but I don't think I'm finished exploring this concept; expect more rune stones in the future.

A Winding Journey - Update

This was a project I started back in October of 2011 - a way to document my beading projects; as I complete each project, I stitch a few beads on this canvas mat printed  with a labyrinth design.

There are currently 26 different projects represented and the beading is about a foot in length.

I seriously doubt I'll ever finish, given the the total path left to be embellished!

Looking Back - A Creative 2012

Time goes by so quickly, it's easy to forget just how much you've accomplished. So here's a look back at my 2012 projects, large and small.

A major project was my submission for the annual Manoogian Art Museum juried competition, the theme was Grand Hotel. I spent a full six months creating a three dimensional, life sized white pine stump, as Grand was built of white pine and originally used some of the stumps as the foundation (I was able to view a couple that are still under the hotel).

Not only was "The Foundation or In the Beginning" accepted into the show - it won Best of Show!

In the fall, it also was accepted into the Northern Exposure show at the William Bonifas Fine Arts Center; only artists living in Michigan's Upper Peninsula are allowed to enter.

Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, Michigan hosted a fabulous show featuring 24 Mackinac Island artists. 

The curator chose several  of my pieces, even a couple that were still in progress! I was also asked to participate in their "Coffee at Ten" lecture series; it was a wonderful opportunity to discuss how my beadwork started as an effort to recreate the past and the unexpected directions it seems to be going in - where's it going next?

"Cycling" , a large mixed media sculpture was accepted into the New Fibers '12 juried show, sponsored by the Fiber Arts Network of Michigan. The show was reviewed by Fiber Art Now magazine, and a photo of my piece was included in the article. 

The International Society of Experimental Show was in Gloucester, Massachusetts and we spent a lovely week out there, combining our vacation and visiting the show. "Ripple Effect" was chosen for the show; it seemed ideal for a show along the shore.

 I also took a pin-press printing workshop; it's an interesting technique that I need to spend more time exploring.

The Mackinac Art Council offered a series of workshops this past summer, a couple were fiber related, I took two - needle felting and indigo dyeing - I'm sure both techniques will be showing up in future projects.

This was my third year participating in the Bead Journal Project; this year I created rune stones representing forces. Each stone incorporated an actual Mackinac beach stone, as well as beads and a found object.

I had a number of historical projects too.

I spent a fair bit of time researching mid-19th century bathing or swimming, created bathing costumes for both my husband and I, and hosted a period bathing party.

I also experimented with period instructions for making paper flowers:

And used them by the dozens on this "fancy dress" costume - we went as a "Rose Garden" and "the Thorn Amongst the Roses".

Our trip to Gloucester allowed me to press some "Flowers of the Sea" or seaweeds, again, using period instructions.

I only managed four submissions for the monthly Art Bead Scene challenges: they post an inspiration image, and participants create something incorporating an art bead - usually jewelry. I find these challenges really cause me to think "out-of-the-box", especially due to the time constraints, as I either need to order or create an art bead; I can't visit a local bead store.

And there's the photography; this is my second year with the 365 Project - a photo a day, everyday. 

It really forces you to look at your surroundings and consider the possibilities, but it takes a huge amount of time.

If asked, except for my stump project, I would have said I hadn't accomplished much this year - WRONG!!!

Winter Berry

"Winter Berry" is my submission for the final 2012 Art Bead Scene monthly challenge. Here's the inspiration image,"Sleeping Beauty" by Erté, circa 1983:

Erté is perhaps most famous for his elegant fashion designs which capture the art deco period in which he worked. One of his earliest successes was designing apparel for the French dancer Gaby Deslys who died in 1920. His delicate figures and sophisticated, glamorous designs are instantly recognisable, and his ideas and art still influence fashion into the 21st century. 

This particular design reminded me of bright red berries, topped with snow, against a bright blue sky - a familiar winter scene here on Mackinac.

I was most inspired by Beauty's skirt - swirls of red, white, black and grey. I created a very long "beaded bead" in twisted tubular herringbone; the swirls are also present in the trio of hollow glass beads.

I found the clasp on Etsy, created by McDaddio. It's made of anodized aluminum and is the perfect complement to my beadwork - it's also very lightweight.

This is the second month in a row that I've ended up creating rather modern, somewhat stark (for me) necklaces - is it the start of a trend?

Available for purchase here.

Tumbling Turtles - 2012 Christmas Card

It's become a tradition over the past several years, for us to create a turtle themed Christmas card; they're a real labor of love we send out to friends and family.

Each year we start with a basic design - never traditional - and preferably modular. In this case, an old fashioned bicycle and tumbling turtle snowflakes. Each element is a separate, hand carved linoleum block, which we use to create hand-pulled prints. We cheated a little this year, only the bike is hand pulled, the turtles are done more rubber stamp style. A swipe of white, sparkle ink grounds the design. Currently, we print approximately 70 cards (more really, if you count the rejects) and every year we intend to start earlier, but you know what the say about intentions....

Each one of these blocks can be reused for non-Christmas projects; we're starting to accumulate quite a library of turtle designs! 

Enjoy your holiday!

A World Transformed

It stormed this week, after hours of rain, Mackinac was blanketed in snow and we awoke to a world transformed.

The previously unremarkable became incredible when covered with a coating of white.

And sometimes even unrecognizable, abstract natural forms.

We were surrounded by scenes that are Christmas season cliches - but every cliche has a nugget of truth

The everyday became something new.

Familiar settings changed, subtly renewed in a seemingly magical act of nature.

Everything has been altered, slightly moved from it's proper position - trees which should be upright, curved and bowed by the weight of ice and snow. Branches hang, blocking the paths with frozen white fringes.

A storm like this is devastating in most places - vehicle traffic slowed or halted, accidents, planes grounded, power outages, etc. But here on Mackinac, without cars, snow makes it easier to get around. We had some problems, 80+ trees came down and some brief power issues. It never lasts long, wind and sun will quickly deposit the sun on the ground, returning us to a normal winter scene - but it's just so completely glorious while it lasts!