a slight pause.

Well, I"ve got 6 weeks to examine my gracefullness (NOT!) and a new canvas to create on..

After a lovely afternoon of boating w/the hubby, I managed to step onto an extremely slick boat ramp and well, here I am..

It's ok, and it could be worse. July. or August or snow or or.. I can still move around w/crutches, and just how lame is my upper body strength, anyway. (pretty lame)

Here's a little mental break, then, some more beauty to ponder..

last of the summer blooms

a nesting sort of mind..

two very graceful people, who know not to step onto a slippery, muddy boat ramp. I believe this is Heathcliff and Cathy..

I need some peace so..

Here are some images that make me happy.

A great wabi sabi tea bowl

Anselm Kiefer's work

Jane Campion's wonderful movie "Bright Star"

My hand dyed silk scarfs hanging out to dry. Peace.

Baltimore Inner Harbor Art Festival

My last outdoor show of the season is tomorrow and Sunday in Baltimore. The tent is set up, 4 brand new quilts going up, a slew of new hand dyed silk stuff, and no bad weather predicted.. all is well :D.  If you find yourself in B-town stop by and say Hi.. 

Yeah!

Going to Sierra Leone!

I registered some of my quilts with the "Art in the Embassies" program, and low and behold they want one! How cool is that? So "Ancient Light" will be on her way to Sierra Leone soon.. Bon Voyage.  Read here about the "Art in the Embassies" program..

A wave of color

Like a wave of the sea..

One of my submissions to "Quilt National" that got passed over.  I really enjoyed making this one and spent hours and hours on it. Definitely going to persue the 'water in motion' theme in the future.
Hand and machine made with hand dyed cotton and silk. Hand and machine quilted, appliqued, embroidered and embellished. 40x38"

Inspiration Monday..

And This Too...

Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach

If you fancy a nice day out and are on the East Coast.. I'll be at The Neptune Festival, in Virginia Beach this weekend, with new work. Tent #2224

reflections

An interesting thought on jurried shows. I tend to get the 'yes's' from unlikely sources. From outsider shows, from non-art quilting venues and publications. I only just realized this, going through my submissions and rejections (I keep both!) files. Almost universal 'no's' from anything traditionally art-quilt related. Shows, publications. I wonder. Anyway I'm happy for the yeas, and for those who read this and have said no to me, it's all good. I do really appreciate the constructive comments. If it's no, then I like to know why. Presentation? workmanship? filled the quota? Feed back is always helpful.

So do you submit your art to shows? galleries? publications. I've noticed publications in particular are very subjective to the editors' taste. I know picking art is VERY subjective, one's blue ribbon is anther's 'no'.

I've also noticed publications' tendencies to stick with certain artists and their techniques or styles. I guess editors can explain it as cohesiveness, or sticking with a theme.

A nice and very interesting newish magazine is "Hand Eye" .. have you seen them yet? Check it out, especially if you are interested in hand work, ethnic arts and travel!

Enjoy your weekend!

done!

A lovely commission done and off to it's new home in Ca.. Based on Shakespeare's character Ophelia in "Hamlet".  Hand dyed and commercial cotton and silk, hand embellished and embroidered.

Also finished submissions to a couple of shows. I swear, I spent hours on the technical aspect of taking/uploading/processing photos of my art as much as making it! It's a learning curve.

In Remembrance

late summer madness

Well, a long intense period in the summer studio is drawing nigh and it has been a good one. Very productive. I'm wrapping up a big submission for an art quilt show, the competition is tough, so we'll see.  

A few calm seashore items to end the hottest summer on..

into the studio

Ahh the smell of turpentine in the morning..smells like 'victory' *bad robert duvall impersonation*

Various states of undress and undone-ness.. going on though

hunkered down

Is that even a real phrase? Anyway, some lovely shots of the garden, which I have not done much to, and have surrendered it to the summer...

And instead have sequestered myself in the studio stitching ..

and painting.. in the cool

Submitted!

Ok, this is how it eventually turned out..the 'bird's eye view of the Rappahannock River", I showed no color restraint what so ever..

Over 45 fabrics, hand dyed and commercial, machine and hand sewn, quilted and embellished.

With some of Glennis' hand dyed shibori ribbon for good measure.. about 32x28" finished!

ebb and flow

This season seems to be a regrouping of sorts. Many works on the table and on the easel, waiting to be finished. It's OK, I like the cycle of creation as much as I like the creations themselves.  A few unadulterated shots of things in progress..

This is a piece for the 'Uniquely Fredericksburg' show due very soon.. a bird's eye view of the Rappahannock River that flows through Fredericksburg. In the stage of 'ug' right now. I am calm, though as all art goes through this stage, I'm sure.

With help from Google maps for the course of the river..

Trial and much error

and of course taking a little time to harvest from the garden!

a colorful summer..

pinkest pinks..

fresh fruit..

inspiration for more..

LibertyTown first Fridays..

There is a new art show at LibertyTown, here in Fredericksburg. The theme is birds, and a piece I made got in! LibertyTown is an open studio gallery, where over 40 of us artsy-types have studios, and work. It's open to the public, so folks can come and talk and shop and see the art being made. Come out and see the new show!
This piece is again, a literary theme, based on Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven". Hand and machine quilted, pieced and embellished. I used actual book pages on it as well.

Pieces for the King George Art Show..

This is another 'rural' work, with hand dyed silk and cotton and commercial fabrics..

A preview of what is going to the King George Art Show, opening on Thurs...

monochrome beach

a storm had come through and left little but gray at the beach..

still beautiful .

preview of 'Adam'

work in progress to with 'eve'..

eve

eve
Originally uploaded by Lorie McCown

eve is getting an adam! started the underpainting to adam this weekend..

literary ladies..

Ophelia, her watery grave..

Jo from 'Little Women"

Mixed media pictures from an ongoing series