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Sunday, November 23, 2014

A New Learning Curve


I've returned from Bali on fire with interest in textile art (thank you Sue Stover!) We stayed up late into the night discussing bojagi, indigo, boro and more. All these things link to one of my past lives as a batik artist and silk dye painter. To my study of yuzen dyeing on a trip to Japan I made back in the '70's.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.


I have a dye kit for indigo and look forward to making another one of these.


What is it about Thanksgiving week that finds me so inspired to work in the studio when I need to be cooking and cleaning? It's a phenomenon.


This is my month for 2 separate cataract surgeries. One down and one to go.


I'm a horrible patient. An impatient patient. My hands need to be busy.


Folded paper and sewed up this journal with curved needles and coptic stitch. The stitch looks different than the one made with a single needle, thicker. Now I've done both kinds and loads of long stitch journals and a few with the pamphlet stitch. I'm trying to find the perfect book form for me. I'd be curious to hear about your searches. Do you like one kind better than another and why?


Have spent days in the studio experimenting.


This is what I do when I'm bored or uninspired.


And the journal of course. Always the journal.


Wishing everyone in the USA a cozy and safe Thanksgiving week.Wishing my friends down under a balmy and beautiful spring. Stay creative and keep in touch.

11 comments:

huntla1 said...

Hi my Judy! Hope you and john and family have a delightful thanksgiving! I've bee living vicariously thru your travels. I so wanted to go to Bali. Ahh, next time... I don't know how you can help not being inspired by sue stover fabric dyeing, I am and I wasn't there. Just what we did at encausticamp this summer had me very intrigued. Add that with trish's class from two summers ago and I really would love to dip fabric in indigo. But no dice until I actually get my wax station up and running on the patio. getting close.

Kim Mailhot said...

Perhaps that is what Thanksgiving is all about for you, Judy Blue Eyes, wanting to play instead of prepare and clean. That sounds much more inspiring than the usual Thanksgiving doing !
Wishing you swift and easy healing so that your patience doesn't get tried too much !
Happy Simple Thanksgiving to you and yours!

VickiRossArt said...

Judy, you made me giggle with the phrase" bored or uninspired". Love this post...and your art inspires!

Kelly Kilmer said...

Judy, lots of healing thoughts your way.

As far as the "perfect journal", I make each of my books by hand and each one is different than the ones before (either in size, shape, stitch, construction, etc...) Having a new book pushes me to think outside of my comfort zone each time I sit down to create. Others I know prefer all of their journals to be exactly the same. It's all about finding what works best for you and your needs.

♡.

Sue Stover said...

Aww, Judy! I miss you! We had so much fun! You continue to amaze and inspire! I'm wishing you speedy recovery!

Unknown said...

Amo la tua arte!!

Jackie PN said...

Very inspiring Judy!
I lol at the burning boy label! Crazy!
healing thoughts and well wishes are being sent your way!

Seth said...

A wonderful update Judy. Thanks. And a very happy Thanksgiving week to you and yours as well!

Jan said...

Judy, I am leaning more towards binding that allows the book to lay flat when open. Coptic stitching allows that. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you for always being an inspiration!

iHanna said...

Wishing you good health and all well.

I love making and binding my own journals, and I have now made my second one with what I think is called a "diamond stitch" - so pretty and makes a sturdy book. Here is a link if you want to take a look:

http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/2014/11/diamond-stitch-neon-stars/

Lynn Cohen said...

I'm always inspired when I visit your blog, see your journal pages, learn what new/old things you are now creating!
Hope the second eye surgery goes well. And that you can assure me this is an easy ride when I see you next, (as I know it's to be in my future) soon I hope (seeing you, not my eye surgery!) . Will message you possible dates soon. Fingers crossed.