A First for Me and Others

Today a group of friends were on a bus to Bishopville SC and saw a sky phenomena that none of us had ever seen before. It was astonishing and lasted for hours. One friend Googled it and found that the phenomena is called variously "Sun Dogs" or "Sun Rainbow". there was a rainbow around the partially cloud shaded sun. The photos below give a bit of the impression they made.

I have seen the small chunks of rainbow in the clouds called "sun dogs" before, but never a large section of a rainbow. But this entirely circled the sun!! Wow!

Have you seen one of these? Have photos to share?

Nancy

Sneak Preview of SAQA Donation Quilt

I have been working on the 12 x 12 inch piece for my donation to the SAQA.com auction. Member artists donate quilts to the auction to raise money to support SAQA exhibitions and member services. Great place to find artwork from outstanding quilt artists. It is a reverse auction with pieces starting the first day at $750 and going down each day until they are $75. There is always a bit of nervousness when one puts one work out for the auction as to see what it will sell for.

There are collectors who regularly add to their collections during the auction, knowing that the money benefits many people through the organization.

Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue Book Review and Give Away

Lark Crafts has published a fascinating book on Japanese Beadwork by master bead artist Sonoko Nozue. They sent me a copy to review and give away.

The book starts with a Beginning Chapter that has good definitions and illustrations as guides to interpret instructions for the 25 projects in the book.

While some basics are given, unless the reader is a quick study, with good hand dexterity, this probably not a book for beginners. For the beader who is looking for a different group of challenges, this book will be a good addition to the library.

The projects are both challenging and very wearable. They vary from elegant simple ropes to very complex evening wear designs. 

Nozue's artistry is apparent in the colors chosen and the variations of designs in different colorways. The book has a nice gallery of the artist's work as well.

If you would like to enter a drawing for this book, leave a comment by May 25 and a way to contact you. Check back on May 26 to see who won the book.

Nancy 

Metal Clay Fusion - Book Give Away

Lark Books sent me a copy of their Metal Clay Master Class book by Gordon K. Uyehara titled: Metal Clay Fusion to review.

While not a beginners' book, I found it fascinating even though I have not worked in this medium. The idea that precious metals can be worked like clay and then hardened by drying and heating is very intriguing.

The beginning chapter covers tools and materials, metal clays, fundamentals, firing practices and includes troubleshooting tips.

The next chapter is titled Intermediate skills including stenciling, scoring and breaking, repairing, carving, using a drying form to build in curves and form, paintbrush skills, and safety.

There is a chapter on designing that includes practical aspects and what will happen during firing.

The next twenty two chapters detail techniques for a variety of projects using the initial information.

Throughout the book there are lovely examples of jewelry created with precious metal clays by a number of artists. The photography is excellent, with emphasis on information as opposed to artistic layouts that are good as eye candy, but of little use to the learner.

I found the use of a leaf to create a mold with silicon that is then used to put a leaf texture on precious metal clay to be particularly intriguing.

If you are interested in working with precious metal clay, this book would be great to add to your library.

If you would like this book, leave a comment by Friday May 18th. I will randomly draw a name from those who leave a comment on this blog by Friday May 18. Check back to see who the winner is. And good luck!

Nancy

ReCOLLections Exhibitions featuring McColl Alumni Artists

Summer Split is one of my quilts in the two month exhibition at MoNA Gallery opening Friday May 4, 2012 7-10 at 1200 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204.

ReCOLLection is an exhibition of art of a number of outstanding regional artists who are alumni of the McColl Visual Art Center.

MoNA has a great reception, so hope to see many friends there on Friday. And if you can't come out Friday, MoNA is open Tuesday through Saturday. 704-970-9676

Nancy

Do you Have a Favorite Weed?

Having created art inspired by tree and shrub seeds for several years, I find myself drawn to seed forms in all kinds of plants.

This little weed I found in my herb pots has a bright yellow flower and three part leaves and a really interesting seed pod. The pod is very angular even the stems that hold the pods go off on their own direction.

If memory serves me correctly, it is a form of oxalis. The little pods taste like pickles.I remember eating them in childhood.

Do you have favorite wild edibles and weeds that you enjoy? 

Nancy

What's that tree with the purple blossons?

Friends often ask me really interesting questions about birds, from my former life as a hard-core birder, and now about trees given my current series on tree seeds. My friend Susan asked the question about the tree in bloom with the beautiful purple blossoms. She also brought me a twig of seed pods from last year. Yummy new inspiration for a quilt. The tree goes by a variety of common names, including Empress Tree and Princess Tree.

This tree is an alien and imported for its lovely blossoms that are unlike any other tree in the US. It escaped from gardens and is now found scattered around the southeast in waste places. It is a relative of our Catalpa tree, but has a very different seed pod. I like the little rotund shape of the pod that splits into two sections. When the pod drops off it leaves a star shaped calyx that is quite intriguing. 

I often change the color of the dark brown seed pods for greater interest. What colors might be interesting for the pods? 

Nancy