Little Hands Studio News - The Studio is Moving

Yes, Little Hands Studio is changing location, so it'll be topsy-turvey while boxes are getting packed and unpacked.  But it is altogether wonderful to handle all the lovely materials in the process of packing.

This embroidery is an old work in progress and worthy of some time and attention.

I've been mending these old black jeans for years, so this session I got out the bright silks for some dramatic applique and colorful stituches.

An old pal asked me for a favor and so I finished the yoke and neck. It was nice not to have to get through all that gray first!! I really enjoyed working with the bulky lopi.

 

Little Hands Studio News ; Drawing with pens and ink

Pens and ink are news in the studio. This drawing is made with gel pens and felt tip fine liner pens. 

 It seems like time to hunker down and put hours into learning how various mediums behave and how appropriate they are for my ideas.

In the mean time I'm packing materials for an upcoming move, so I'm going to pack the looms, yarns and other bulky materials and try to keep a slimmed down group of working stuff.

Although I have used a cross, I purposely want to set it off center and give it a bit more abstracted position and also add an asymmetrical setting.

It takes a lot of effort to keep the drawing relatively consistent so that the colors don't drift from shades into tints, and so that the color combinations remain vibrant.

Me and Frida and Little Hands Studio News

As the season of giving proceeds Little Hands Studio is gradually moving back into local galleries and pop-ups. The Petersham Art Center gallery member show is my first group show in many years and it's fun to get back out there and see what people think.  One of my textile pieces is in the show [the "whites" blanket https://thatknittingblog.blogspot.com/2022/08/in-studio-news-whites-afghan-continues.html] and displayed very well.  Many works are moving out into the world to live their own lives as capelets, scarves and shawls. I'm looking forward to showing works in more local galleries during 2023.

Me and Frida go back a long way and I am continually fascinated by her art and life.  During this past year I found a copy of her diary that is edited by Carlos Fuentes.  I began removing pages, thinking I would use parts of the images in my art journal. A few minutes into the process I realized that I could leave the book more or less intact and interact with the pages in wildly inappropriate ways. My path was set.  I've begun to alter the book in crazy ways to experiment with her images and diary ideas.  It's fairly mind bending and I highly recommend it. Below are a few of the pages of this work in progress.

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Little Hands Studio News - November 15, 2022

 This is the group of work I'm using to see if the Shelburne Arts Cooperative will accept my work for their lovely gallery in Shelburne Falls, MA. They ask for an email with photos of five works with descriptions and retail prices, a bio and statement of what level of membeship I'd like.

I'm not submitting any works involving paper at this time, although I am thinking about switching to more paper things or household items.  

Or should I do that for another gallery? I'm also looking at the charming gallery in the town next door as a possibility. I should probably concentrate on SAC first.

I've been preparing for a popup show and sale in my studio for the past month and things were busy in the knitting chair. Now I'm looking at different stitching possibilities, perhaps more like needle and thread. I saw some small fabric bowls that sent my mind spinning out into about a hundred design ideas. Then there are handbags and fabric jewelry that have piqued my interest all year.

Shelburne Arts Cooperative website: http://shelburneartscoop.com

In the Studio News: the "whites" afghan continues!

 

Yes, this work begun 12 years ago is still in progress, but now there is real progress. It's about 40 or so inches and I'm looking for about 72 inches in length to finish. 

Here are two previous posts about this work:

https://thatknittingblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/whites-afghan-is-still-growing.html

http://www.thatknittingblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/in-studio-white-afghan.html

 

In the Studio news August 1, 2022: Pastel silk and intense Freia wool ombre

Shawl, knitting, wool and silk, stockingette stitch size 6 cable needle

The humble beginning, way back a couple years ago

It's always a pleasure to see the emergence of color changes in yarns that are beautifully dyed. I'm using one ball of hand-dyed silk to knit a two-row stripe and then I will use two balls of this very colorful wool to knit a two row stripes.

 

Off the needles in July 2022 - a crochet  border will finish off the edges.