Commission

Just wanted to share some images of a recently finished commission piece. This was commissioned by a husband for his wife as a gift for her 50th birthday. The silhouette was taken from a photo of their 3 kids.

My favorite detail of the piece is the untied shoelaces of the son. materials: found silver platter, copper
size: approximately 14"x10"x2"

Childhood Pieces

Here are some in progress shots of some new pieces I've been working on. These are a big jump for me...much more playful and fun than a lot of my other work, which tends to read as a lot more serious. These are about the games of childhood, the little things we do, the games we play that shape us into who we become. It is during our childhood that we learn to dream...learn to create. I'm still working on these, but I think its a fun new direction for my work to take. I like that the pieces are becoming a lot more narrative...not so static. I am going to add back plates to these, shadows of some sort, but Im not sure what material I want to use yet, or what I want them to be. I have toyed with lazer engraved wood backgrounds, different fabrics, and etched metal, but at this point I have no idea how to finish them. The platter on top has come a bit farther now than it appears here, it is a scene of two children playing cowboys and indians.The photograph that inspired this piece is a picture of my dad with a toy gun, in 1958.

This one is called, "Little Brother's Superhero Dreams."

The photo that inspired this piece, my little brother at age 4 or 5...playing dressup. Its amazing the things we could do with that red scrap of fabric on our backs.

Hopefully I will finish these pieces soon...right now I am sort of stumped...if you have any brilliant ideas, please feel free to share!

New Work

I just finished some new work (sorry the image is so dark). I did a sketch of this image over the summer and am just finally done with the piece!

I am pretty happy with how it turned out and can't wait to make more like this!

The materials are a found silver platter, copper and embroidery. Measures about 14" across and about 5" wide.

Work in Progress and The Day of Reckoning

Finished drilling holes on a new wall piece. Hopefully I will get it all embroidered in the next week or so. In this piece I am using the embroidery more as a drawing tool than I have before...instead of just a decorative element. The two figures are connected by a chain. In some of my work I use the chain metaphorically...kind of an allusion to humanity. Each of us are links in a chain, connected to others around us whether we are aware of those connections or not. I think in my next pieces I will take the embroidery even a step further with the figures and not just have them be in silhouette. I will use the stitching to draw in some features, or maybe outline clothing. We will see. Oh yeah, and my 15 hour review (the day of reckoning:) is tomorrow. Wish me luck. I decided that if my committee hates these platter pieces, then I can always use the rest of the ones I have collected to just serve the food on at my opening reception for my thesis show (that is if I EVER get there!)

New Piece: Self Portrait

Just finished this new piece. It hangs on the wall rather than being displayed on a pedestal like the others in this series. I should have finished it days ago, but I don't like it so it took me much longer than it should have. These pictures aren't great but they will do for now. "Unsure" (A Self Portrait)

Altered Silver Platter and Embroidery
12"x5"x2"

Here is a view of it on the wall. This is definetly not a likely place for this piece (it really wasn't meant for my living room), but I just wanted to give you an idea as to the perspective.

Plenty of Work and a Weekend Trip

I spent today drilling holes in a new platter. Not only do I have to drill a million holes, but I then have to go over each one with a ball bur to take off the sharp burs because they tear my embroidery thread when I am sewing. Very time consuming...and I am probably doomed to get carpal tunnel any day now.

This one is going to be a wall piece, and its a self portrait.

I am running off to the high country (and cooler weather) to the family cabin this weekend. I should have plenty of time to get all the embroidery done on this piece. Hopefully I will have it to show you on Monday. I will also have lots of pictures from my adventures this weekend...I am going to a really beautiful place. Have a great weekend everybody!

New Piece

Here are some pics of my new work. This piece is in the Night Gallery if you want to see it in person. Check out photos from the show in the post below.

I feel like I am still experimenting at this point and don't really have all my thoughts formulated about the piece yet, so I will leave it up to you to interpret. Although I will tell you that the girls come from a photo of my mom and her sister as children. Please tell me what you think. I plan on making a few more of these in the coming weeks, so that is what I will be up to. I'd love to hear your thoughts...good, bad, anything! Critique me:)
"Shadow"

Altered silver plated platter and embroidery
10"x6"x1"