Work in Progress

I'm making slow but steady progress on my newest needlepoint canvas. I feel like I should have more to show for my effort, but that's not the case. These two images which I've posted show how the purple hull peas are starting to take shape in the washtub. If you go back to the previous post, you can read up on the project.

I'm working on 18 count canvas, a teeny-tiny mesh. So if I stitch one square inch of canvas that's a total of 324 holes (per square inch)!! It takes me about one hour to stitch one square inch . . .that's if I'm not interrupted by a phone call or a by a crazy woodpecker banging away on the soffit of my house. I'm at my wits end trying to keep the little winged devil from damaging the wood. Why my house? Geez. Today I noticed where the paint has been chipped away and a circular pattern, about the size of a half dollar, is showing exposed wood. I'm not happy about this. Enough is enough!

Setting the Bar a Wee Bit Higher

The 44th Annual Bluff Park Art Festival has come and gone. It was wonderful . . .and more tiring than previous festivals. But, I survived it! The venue marked my one year anniversary as an exhibitor on the art festival circuit. I have met so many interesting people. It's worth the time and effort (and money) just to get out there to meet them. Last year I stayed close to home; next year I hope to stretch my legs a bit by traveling out-of-state. I'm in the process of applying for juried festivals for 2008. I haven't received any notices yet but I'll post my show schedule as the dates roll in. Also, I'm FINALLY working on my ideas and images for a website. My friend, April, has promised to assist me. She's waiting for me to stop procrastinating.

The composite that is posted with this entry shows the original pencil sketch, linoleum block relief cut and the beginning stitches of a needlepoint canvas that I'm working on, of the same design. I'll post larger progression images of the needlepoint over the next few months. The title of the block print is "Mississippi Purple Hull Black Eye Peas." It's lyrical, don't you think?

Needlepoint is my first love. I'm taking a few months off (away from block printing) to stitch new canvases in preparation for a one-woman show August 2008. Some of the linoleum block prints which I've created this year will be converted to needlepoint. I think that I want to exhibit the original sketch and the block print along with
the needlepoint canvas. It'll be a striking and powerful presentation.

44th Annual Bluff Park Art Festival

I really need to bring 'yall up to date on my work and my most recent art venue which took place last Saturday, October 6th . . .but I'm still too tired to think thru what I need to post. I sit at a computer all day at my "9-to-5-job-with benefits" and it's VERY difficult to come home and look at another monitor for an extended time. I'd rather sit on my den floor and cut a lino block or sketch a design. But . . .having said that, I can see that I need to make the commitment and just do it! And so I will. . .this weekend.