I was in my studio (currently the safe room for our newly acquired cat Samantha from the Humane Society joining Morris also newly acquired by about a week) doing a little clean up and organization. I have a box of stitched pieces and prized possessions that I decided to sift through. Two of my most precious items are the hand made dolls that my grandmother Mary McCord made for me when I was around the age of 6 or 7. At one time I had many, even an entire family (I think the dolls represented the Father's Knows Best tv family - betty, bud, kitten..) but now I only have these two which I should probably name (any ideas?). Then I thought of these dolls with respect to the stitched "doll" I made a few years ago titled "Sun Salutation" - my doll is hollow inside (is that a metaphor??) whereas my old dolls ("O.D") are stuffed with cotton and have faces drawn with a ball point pen. I would like to make more of these - I'm fascinated with the feel, texture and stiffness of a totally stitched surface and how I can manipulate it - my doll is basically front and back stitched together. I'm going to return to this idea and maybe commence after I finish "first second third".
Also posted here is the very first embroidery that I stitched probably going back to 1978 when I was a grad student at Northern Illinois University. I basically reproduced a photo with stitches. This one is titled "Debbie and Bob" as it depicts Debbie and Bob - Debbie a classmate of mine from grad school in Springfield Illinois (Sangamon State University - community arts management program)...This is a source that informs me of where I started and how far I've come at least in my own way of approaching my work...that sounds a bit pretentious!
As I stated in an earlier blog, Pen and Ink on paper is a tool that I love and that I keep close by - a security blanket - it's proximity provides me the ability to jot down ideas, make sketches, take info - all with my lovely thin line of continuous ink. Every time I'm in an art supply store, I gravitate towards the small drawing notebooks with the lovely paper and envision it's place with the cadre of notebooks on my studio shelf - and let me not forget the one that goes in my tote bag or purse each and every day. Here's an image from Edward Gorey - ("The Gashlycrumb Tinies") - I'm a huge admirer of his pen and ink drawings and technique. Hmmmm, some might see the cross hatching as stitches - I've always made that connection. I also look to old masters drawings and also contemporary drawings - first it's the line over subject that usually grabs my attention.
Well, on that note I should get back to my studio - remove the cat carrier and extra litter box to see if Cat No. 2 has adapted to her surroundings. At least Cat No. 1 and Cat No. 2 have only just hissed at one another and Cat No. 2 seems to be the wimpy one - once dominance has been established (by the female natch!) then the world will be a brighter place for the felines in my house.
Also here
