New Inspirations

Have just stumbled upon an artist new to me: Valerie Seaberg.   She does the clay by hand, as well as the weaving.

"Wyoming artist Valerie Seaberg describes herself as “an ocean child” destined for mountain life. Her mixed media vessels are like great, tumbled beachcombing finds, undulating clay forms encircled by pine needles or horsehair. They are high country marriages between an ancient ocean and raw land. Valerie Seaberg's works are muscular, sensual and convey a deep sense of time, earth, and element."   (http://valerieseaberg.blogspot.com/)


 Her work is so inspiring that I just had to share!

                                  

    

Dragons & Winds

At long last, after many hours of false starts, re-designing, re-making, changes, and then weaving and re-planning....Dragons and Winds is done!  It is woven on an oval ash base with hand-dyed rattan spokes, cane, and waxed linen.  Top opening is 19" X 10".

Thinking about, planning, and reworking this basket has been so much a part of my life, that I'm feeling a bit of a let-down now that it is done.  

Ply-Split Coasters & Basket

As I try to take it easy and not make my wrist work at all, I'm getting caught up on reading.  Since all I can creatively do is ply-split, I'm learning quite a bit about that.  Using cotton garden twine is not the most elegant meduim, but it's what I have at the moment.  I did dye a spool to have add some color into the mix.

Salish Lady

For the past few months, a group of textile artists from the San Juans have been doing a round-robin:  we each started with an "object", which was then passed to the others in turn, to which we added our own embellishments.  Some included a small notebook for participants to impart the what and why on their additions.

After much fussing, creative stretching, and laughter, we "revealed" our treasures in a joyous regathering last month.

My simple little Salish Lady began her life as a gourd with a pottery face.  Her resplendent reappearance fills me with delight - hair, hat, beads, shells, stand - I love it all!!   She also gained a "pet", and I plan on decorating her sea horse with Zentangle art.  Her little notebook is now lovingly Salish appropriate, as well.

Yes, perhaps we are crazy.  But in this case, it is definitely a good thing.