Some more recent work

Hello! My creative juices are flowing so fast that I can't seem to stop them long enough to really work on one piece. I want to try so many new things and practice to get better at others while also creating completed art pieces. My mind is all abuzz. I've got bits and pieces of things laying around. I've been painting, collaging, drawing, stitching. Most are too big to fit on my scanner. Here are at least partial pics of some recent watercolor pastel drawings.

Focus. Something I wish I had it, knew how to get it. It is what I struggle with more than anything. That and completing a piece once I start it. I create a lot of art and work as much as I can on improving my skills, listening to my muses, etc. But, sticking one piece, one technique, even one medium is almost impossible for me. I get bored really quickly. Focus is something I hope to find more of in 2008. Everytime I start to set some new goals for this year, like doing more outdoor art shows, entering certain exhibits, taking certain classes, etc. I just can't figure out which way to go. I want to continue my great start in my art journey. But, how to do it?

Any of you Project Runway fans? I'm totally addicted. I've been thinking about the difference between the art and the fashion world. Whenever I hear Nina say to the designer who does the draping (Rami?) that she wants to see what else he can do and he keeps responding about staying true to his passion, etc. I think, wow, I'm just the opposite of him and what is expected of me is the opposite too. For instance, you need a consistent body of work in the art world. Galleries want to see that you can reproduce similar pieces for their clients. In the fashion world, I guess a designer is expected to keep making something new and different. And, I can't seem to stick with one medium and master it but have to keep moving around. One day I might be making felted bowls. The next day making big stitches on a painted fabric piece. the next day painting on canvas with acrylics, the next day, making plexiglas etchings or carving stamps, painting papers to collage, etc. The choices seem limitless. Anyway, starting to ramble. But I remember that I was envious of Rami and his passion and mastery of his technique and vision, but then realized that it didn't fare well for him, at least not on Project Runway with the judges.

Yesterday I visited the Alcove Gallery and Foundation One Gallery in Decatur (some of my creative juices are coming from inspiring work I saw there). I almost didn't go and thought it would be a waste of time, but it was so worth it!!! I want to go again next week!!! I've been visiting the Alcove Gallery online for about a year now so it was great to see the work of all of the artists in person. It is a contemporary somewhat outsiderish, somewhat folky kind of a place. Foundation One had artwork from one of my favorite artists, Jesse Reno, but I also discovered a new favorite, John Tindel.

Okay, here are my pics. I need to either go to bed or go back to my projects that are drying and see if I can see my way to the next steps.

Happy creating!

heidi

Yesterday

A friend of mine came over and we played around with paints and layering. I had a ton of fun. Not sure if this is complete yet, but I was so excited with how it turned out I wanted to post the photo. As usual, I'm being lazy and just using my scanner. So, it only shows a portion of the piece and there is some shadowing from not laying flat on the scanner bed. It is on watercolor paper and we used acrylic paints, stamps, some phonebook pages. She used some magazine pages (can't wait to see her final result) for her "angel" and I used paints and my watercolor pastels. I think she is adorable. We worked with an article from Cloth, Paper, Scissors as a starting point. If you want to know the author/artist/article I can get it for you. I should post it anyway to give her credit. Anyway, on to more creating! I'm hoping to finish some projects this week!

Heidi

More Etching

I'm getting more comfortable with drypoint etching on plexiglass and here is one from a couple of weeks ago. The shadows on the paper are just from my scanner, so it's not a great representation. But, I like the image and that I was able to achieve some changes in value more successfully.

I'm also learning to enjoy the inking and printing process. I didn't have the patience for it at first but there is a rhythm to it. Sort of like when I am drawing or stitching. It's the part I don't have to think about as much and just be. You know what I mean? I think being the only one in class this week helped with that. I couldn't just talk my way through it. I paid attention.

Okay, on to a day with my family. Driving up to Dalton to let my kids play with their cousins today and to finally visit my Dad's grave in Chattanooga. I haven't been there since the funeral so I think this will be good for me.

Have a great weekend! Oh, and did I mention I'm teaching two classes at Fiber on a Whim in the next couple of months-Wet Felted Bowls and Watercolor Crayons on Fabric? I think I did, heehee, but never hurts to mention it again! It will be lots of fun. I'm really excited!!

I still hate my hair. I can't think of any way to fix such a short haircut except maybe to get braid extensions or something like that. Then I would probably feel even less like myself. Maybe die it hot pink? I don't know. I'll give it a couple of days to grow on me.
Heidi

And, another class

in April at Fiber on a Whim on using watersoluble wax pastels on fabric. April 18th, Friday, 10-1. Can't wait!!!!

Check out the list of classes at www.fiberonawhi.com for more information.

Have a great weekend. I got a new haircut today and I'm trying to make the best of it although my husband is calling me "bro" and my daughter says I have "circle hair like my Miller" (her brother). My hair hasn't been this short since I was 3 years old. It will take some getting used to. No laughing when you see me!!

And, Paula, if you see this photo, don't worry, that's the original photo of the fish. There are beads added and it will be completed next week! It just makes a good example of the watercolor crayons on fabric. :)

I'm teaching a class...

on wet felted bowls/vessels at Fiber on a Whim (my favorite place in the Atlanta area) in Sandy Springs, Friday, March 28, 10am-1pm. For more information, go to their website www.fiberonawhim.com. Hope to see some familiar faces! We will have a ton of fun! Here are some photos of some of the kinds of bowls we will be making.

Angels on the brain

I guess I've still have more angels to get out of my system. Here is one of my latest drawings.

I'm excited to have more time (at least I hope so) to start being creative again. The PTA project that I chair is now over for this year with only a few minor things to wrap up. It was again a great success and I feel proud knowing I helped to bring so many artists to the school for one day. Hopefully I'll have some photos to post soon. And, I'll write more about the day and the artists then as well.

I also plan to start listing some of my finds on Etsy. Just today I found this shop and fell in love with this person's free form crocheting.

Etchings

So here is the photo of my first two etching prints. What do you think? I can't decide if printmaking is going to be for me or not. I LOVE the etching process. The same as I love drawing and carving. It is mark making. But, I really don't enjoy the inking process and printing, except to see the final result. I want to make the etchings and have someone else print for me. Hhmm. I'll give it some more time. It's still way cool to be in an art class and around other artists. And, a different set of artists with a different set of interests and skills.

And, I had the most wonderful weekend. I went out to eat at a great place in Midtown last night, Mitra, with my 2 sisters. And, we saw The Drowsy Chaperone at The Fox. Then, they spent the night with me and we had brunch today at J. Christopher's. That's the most time I've spent with them in a very long time. And, ususally it's on vacations with the kids or birthday parties. Not much time to talk. This was the first time since our Dad died in November that we could really be focused just on us. Very nice. We didn't talk much about his passing but I was definitely feeling the presence of it on all our minds. I wish maybe we had taken the opportunity to release and do some grieving together. But there will be other times. I think we were afraid to all go back to that place right now. But, I could be wrong. Anyway, the point is, it was great to see them and be together!!!! I love you guys!!!!!! More than words could ever express. :)

Etching Class

Last week I started my first real art class, Printmaking, with my friend Sharon Ahmed. Well, actually, it started the week before but I couldn't make it. Anyway, I really like it. We started with etchings in plexiglass. It is very much like drawing. Well, it is drawing, just on plexiglass rather than paper. I seem to be approaching it similarly to my other art projects in that I love the drawing/etching part, but find it hard to stay focused on the rest of the process (the inking of the plates, running it through the press). I'm just itching to go to the next one. I suppose it's my ADD, or just my nature. It's like magic when you finally see your first print of the plate you have made. I wish I had one to post but I had to leave the two I did last week in the class room to dry. I've made about 6 more plates at home this past weekend and can't wait to see how they turn out! I'll post pics as soon as I can.

January 12, 2008

Today was supposed to be spent in a Laura Cater-Woods class. Unfortunately, the class was cancelled. I was really, really bummed. So instead, I went to a teacher/volunteer training day at my church. Then, drove my good friend Toniann home. I haven't had a chance to spend time with her in awhile so it was great to hang out for that little bit. If you know Toniann or have heard me speak about here you know that she is my angel on earth. After that I was going to head home but decided that because I didn't get to take the Laura Cater-Woods class (which was supposed to be my Christmas present), and I missed the first night of the printmaking class I signed up for (as my replacement present) this week (husband had to work late and I was exhausted from PTA meetings and work)... yes, this is an incredibly long run-on sentence, that I would instead head to Barnes and NOble. I got a coffee and sat with a stack of art books for about an hour. It was great! Then, I stopped at the grocery store and since it was next to a salon, I decided to get my eyebrows waxed and a pedicure (in the middle of winter with my really hairy legs!).

I feel great now. I needed some time out of the house. Time away from the responsibilities and to do lists. I wanted to originally spend it doing something creative but this was just as good.

Right now I'm really busy with planning an art event at my son's school and that is using up a lot of my creative energy as well. I was overwhelmed by the planning but a team of volunteers have stepped up to help out so I'm excited again instead of feeling burdened. I'm also starting to feel better (since my father's death) and wanting to play with my fiber, fabric and yarn again. I don't have anything completed to show just yet. I'm still also trying to organize and take photos. For now, I'm still also drawing and creating art digitally. Here is a digital painting I made yesterday. Wanted it to be playful and childlike.

Valetine's is coming and starting a Round Robin Challenge

Whew, okay, done with Christmas and 2 birthday parties. Always fun but of course always a bit stressful. My kids are now 3 and 7. Wow, where does the time go. My son had a a blast at his party yesterday.






I decided to add a few items for Valentine's day to my etsy shop. Here they are (to see pricing information, go to www.hmiracle.etsy.com)


Also, my monthly meeting of my Fiber Art Fusion group is tonight and I'm sooo excited. I missed a few at the end of the year last month and the last one I made it to I was not to into it since my Dad had just passed.

But, tonight, i'm feeling like it will be energizing to get some creative inspiration from my artist friends. We will be meeting at a fabulous shop (that I haven't been to yet but heard wonderful things about), Rubber Stamp Fantasy in Marietta, GA. And, we are beginning a round robin that will last an entire year. 12 of us have signed up to create a 9 x 12 piece of fiber art that we circulate through all of us. Anything goes. Buttons, beads, stitching, quilting, painting, foiling. No rules! Can't wait to see how this turns out.

What are you doing today to tap into your creative spirit?

Happy New Year!

I haven't had a chance to really think about what I want from the year 2008. I just got home from Minnesota last night and my sons' birthday is this weekend. I'm hoping to get some time to really focus on what my artistic goals are (and life goals in general). 2007 was not a great year. At least the end of it. i'm hoping 2008 will be on the upswing again.

I'm sure my next posts will have pictures of a SpongeBob Cake, as that is what my 6 year old has requested.

I have been drawing goddesses lately. They always include spirals. I didn't even know the significance of spirals until my MIL told me they represent the grouse in Native American culture. And, also birth and rebirth. Isn't that strangely coincidental? I think the goddesses are to give me a sense of myself. Still working on why they are in my drawings at this time. Here are a few:

Happy Holidays everyone!

I just got through the first wave of holiday craziness this past weekend. I had my daughter's 3rd birthday party combination Christmas gift exchange with my family. We leave for Minnesota for Christmas with my in-laws this coming weekend. I love it but I'll also be glad when it's all over.

I'm still spending my creative time drawing and digitally coloring images. And, huge amounts of time on etsy promoting my artwork and my shop. so if you wonder where I am or what I have made recently, visit the shop and you will see it there.

Here is my daughter's Dora cake. Not to bad for a quick cake. She looks a little crazy in the eyes but my daughter was thrilled so that's all that matters right?

And, I bet you didn't know I'm also a chipmunk! Look at that face! I couldn't get the match to light!

And, here are a few of my latest little drawings.

I hope everyone is finishing up their holiday shopping and are able to enjoy the warmth and love of their friends and family this year. I miss my Dad but I'm happy to be surrounded by all the people I love.

What have I been up to?

Well, I wish it was being more creative. But mostly I have been working on the business part of my art career. I've put tons of hours into my etsy shop with over 100 items to choose from. Come and take a look if you haven't lately! Lots of inexpensive magnets and notecards of my original images as well as prints and originals available. Really, check it out and if nothing else give me some feedback. I love critique! Etsy shop link is on the right side of this blog or go to www.hmiracle.etsy.com

Art/Craft show this Saturday 10am-2pm at UUCA in Atlanta

I'll have a booth with my artwork including lots of items for gifts like magnets and notecards of my original images. I'll also have notecards with UU (unitarian universalist) inspired themes.

A couple of fiber art items.

Finally took some photos of some of my fiber work i've done recently. Here ya go!
A pin, a scarve and two felted bowls.

Sisters

are the best. I've been thinking of by 2 sisters a lot lately as we go through this journey of griefing the loss of our father. We are not alone, we have each other. Even though I drew only 2 sisters in this drawing, I was thinking of them both. I love you guys.



This image is available as prints in my etsy shop.

SALE!!!!!!

Check out my etsy site. I've lowered prices on many of my items. I'll be reducing more items as the holidays get closer.

Art Show Tomorrow! Artisans at the Etz.

Hi,

If you are in the Atlanta area, come on out tomorrow for some holiday shopping at Artisans at the Etz at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway, Marietta, GA , 30068. Myself and some great artists friends will all have booths there.

I'm beginning to at least sketch again and have been working on Santas. Here are a few with digital coloring. The last one is my son's, alien Santa with pig nose. :) It's 30 cents if anyone is interested, hint, hint aunts and grandmas reading my blog.

I have also been making felted bowls. Tons of fun! I'll take photos soon.

Take care and have a good day tomorrow,

Heidi

Feeling Much Better

Hello again,

I'm feeling much better with the passing of time. I have spent my days mostly at my computer doing family history/genealogy. I have discovered so much including a group of distant cousins that have online family trees with photos of my grandparents, great grandparents, great-great grandparents, great-great uncles, etc. I even got up the nerve to call a half-brother I have never met to let him know of our father's passing. My father had nothing when he died. Literally. I had a few photos, about 4 to be exact, of him from before he was married to my Mother. Learning some of his history is easing the pain and keeping my mind occupied.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. As I said in the previous post, the shining light in all of this has been finding out how much my friends care for me.

Heidi

My Father is Gone

I've debated about writing something so personal on my blog. My blog which I try to keep related to my creative journey. But, I must write about this and share it.

My Father passed away on Tuesday, November 6th, alone in a nursing home. It was not really expected. He was 76. I am making it through but it is the hardest thing to go through. I don't think I could have ever imagined this pain. I want to go back in time for anyone who has ever lost a parent and make sure that I have been there for friends and family. My biggest comfort right now are my friends, my sisters and my kids.

Writing things down is helping. Not sure why. The day he died I jumped out of bed when my sister called at 5:20 am and got in the car and drove the 1 1/2 hours to Calhoun, GA. I spent the day in a rushed blur of funeral arrangements and overwhelming grief. I got home that night at about 10 pm. I hadn't seen my kids at all that day and when Maggie, my almost 3 year old awoke the next morning I was busy trying to complete the remembrance cards/bulletins for the visitation that evening. I was overwhelmed with sadness and nervous and anxious about completing this task in time to get it to the printers and back up to Dalton, GA before the visitation at 5 pm. So, I called a neighbor and walked Maggie down to their house so they could watch her while I finished the bulletins.
As we walked down the road from our house, I realized Maggie may not understand that I was going to be leaving her there instead of our usual playdate where we all stayed together. So, as we walked down the road I said, "Maggie, you are going to stay with Ms. Betty and Joey while I go home to take a shower and finish up some things for Daddy J." Well, as soon as I said that I realized it might be confusing for her. I hadn't seen her the day before, the day my Dad died, and I knew my husbad had told her but hadn't had a chance to ask him how he explained it to her. So, I turned to her ready to try and figure out what to say to an almost 3 year old when their grandfather has died. But, she beat me to it. She said so sweetly and matter of fact "No... Daddy J died." and I teared up and tried to hold it together and I said "Yes, he died."

Maggie: "He's gone."
Me: "Yes, he's gone."
Maggie: "He's not coming back."
Me: "No, he isn't coming back."
Maggie: "We need to go and get him."
Me: "No, we can't sweetie. He's not coming back. He died."
Maggie: "We need to go get a 'nutter one."
Me: "No, we can't get another Daddy J. There was only one of him. But, we have a Grandpa and a Nate."
Maggie: "Yea, Daddy J died."
Me: "Yes, he died."
Maggie: "He's not coming back."
Me: "No,he's not sweetie."

Long pause and we walked some more.
Maggie:"We need to get a 'nutter one DAddy J."

Me, tears won't stop.

Words of a 2 year old. If only we could. I want the same thing.

There are so many more things I want to write, so beware, this blog may not be the usual things you are used to for awhile. Hopefully, I will find a way to release this pain in my artwork sometime soon. For now, it is just coming in words.

In remembrance,
J.C. Miracle
We love you Daddy J
June 11, 1931-November 6, 2007

Print Gocco Rocks!!!

I made a impulse purchase recently and bought a Printo Gocco machine. What in the *(!#$ is that you say? Well, it's a little machine that allows you to make screens for screenprinting on paper, fabric and more. I tried it today and making the screen was SOOO easy. Now, I just have to master using the inks and such. I can't wait to start using the screens. I played around a little bit on paper and it worked great. It's very small and each screen is very small so it will only be for small projects but how cool is that!!!! I'll post pics soon of some Print Gocco artwork. Anyone out there with experience with this gadget, please send me some ideas!!!

Heidi

Two Upcoming Craft Shows this Month

Hi guys,

Anyone who is in the Atlanta area the next two weekends should come out and start their holiday shopping, hint, hint. I'll have a booth at the Bizarre Bazaar this Saturday, November 10th, 710 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock at the Arnold Mill Elementary School. I've got all kinds of goodies ready to go including lots of magnets, two coloring books of my artwork, new felted items (bowls, pencil holders, small bags, pins, coasters) and all of my drawings and pastel art on paper and canvas.

The following weekend, on Sunday, November 18th, I will be at Artisans at the Etz at Congregation Etz Chaim Temple, 11am to 6 pm, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway in Marietta. There are fun things for the kids to do and I have heard great things about this show.

Hope to see you there!

Heidi

Today's Drawing

Well, actually it is yesterday's drawing but I scanned it in today and added the digital color. Here is the original and with color. I call it A Mother's Joy.

Journal Quilt 2007

Here is my Journal Quilt, Let Them Be. It is my first time participating and this is the last year so I suppose this is my last Journal Quilt as well.

And, here is the text from my Journal Quilt statement:


Creative Quilting techniques used: water-soluble pastels on fabric (p. 72); large hand stitching (p. 72); beading (p. 72); hand-dyed fabrics (p. 79); felting (p. 150).

The text (part of a poem by Kahlil Gibran) touched me as it so fully represents my thoughts regarding children. The full text of the poem is below:

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness; for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

I began my quilt by drawing my image and the words with a Pigma pen on white cotton fabric. I then “painted” the cloth with Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels, acrylic pearlescent ink, traditional tube watercolors and Crayola spider writers. I extensively hand stitched on the piece with cotton, rayon and metallic embroidery floss. I used two layers of batting because I wanted to create texture. I needle felted the bottom and added grass blades using pieces of my hand-dyed fabric by simply stitching them down with the floss. I then beaded the wings and the antennae.

I started several journal quilts but none wanted to be finished as much as this one. I also tried several new techniques as a result of this challenge including painting on lutradur, monoprinting, dyeing fabric (first time outside of a class) and creating digital imagery using Corel Paint Pro. Although not all of these techniques were used in the final quilt, I learned so much from pushing myself to try new things. In addition, I learned it is okay to let a piece tell me what it needs and not to work too hard to include something new. There is a balance between trying new approaches but also staying true to your own artistic voice and vision.

More Colorized Drawings

Starting to get the hang of this. Oh boy is it ever addictive.
I've shown the original and then the colorized versions for the first two. The last one I just uploaded the colorized version. My son named the funny shapes I've been drawing zoogerzogs. So here is Zoogerzog I and Zoogerzog II. :)

Enjoy.

heidi

Colorizing Digitally is Awesome!

I'm going to have to read up on this or take a class. I want to learn so much more about using Corel Paint Shop Pro to enhance by black and white images.

Okay, now I'm really off to sew on my
fabric piece. Or see a movie. ;)

I have my computer back!! Yea!

so now I can upload the photos of my recent drawings. still mostly in black ink on paper right now. playing around a bit with markers on paper too. having lots of fun. avoiding my piece i need to quilt. hopefully after I upload some of these black and white drawings i'll be ready to tackle it. Hope you enjoy looking! I'll try and upload these and some more to my etsy shop tonight. Check it out if you haven't already (link on the right side of this blog).

Try this experiment. Take a cheap Bic pen and plain white piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Doodle on the paper until all of the ink in the pen is gone. It's fun!

Heidi

Computer Woes

My computer died a few weeks ago and I"m going crazy without the ability to download or scan photos of my artwork. I can't add items to my Etsy shop, I can't post photos on my blog, I can't send pictures of works in progress to friends for feedback. Thank goodness my husband was able to set me up temporarily with internet and email capabilities.

I just wanted to post to let you all know why you haven't seen any new photos lately. I am still drawing lots of angel figures in black ink. I hae also been working on one on fabric with my watercolor crayons.

I recently attended a meeting of the Georgia chapter of the Surface Design Association and met some really talented and inspiring artists. I'm excited to get more involved with the group.

I'm busy planning the 2008 Art at the Mill event for my son's school. I co-chaired it last year and it was a ton of work but a huge success. I'm looking forward to making it even better this year. so, if you are an artist in the Atlanta area, send me an email if you are available February 5th, 2008. We are looking for new and exciting mediums/techniques/artists to include in the event.Seriously, if you have questions send me an email and Ill give you more information.

I'm hoping to have something finished by Saturday for the Form not Function exhibit. Not sure if I'm going to make it yet.

Go out and have some fun today. Have a coffee break and do some doodling! Dig in your garden. Just do something creative! I promise, it will make you feel good.:)

Heidi

Angels are Everywhere!!! And, new Etsy shop!!!

Hi everyone,

Well, I am totally stuck on pen and ink drawings of angels now. I shouldn't be surprised. They have been showing up in my sketch book since I first started drawing a year and a half ago. They have a very personal meaning to me. They represent my growth. I have an image that I haven't quite been able to portray artistically of an angel cradling me, I'm an adult but somehow a baby too, but if you look closely the angel is me also. I WANT it to be angel, someone else who can handle all of the pain and chaos of life. But, it can't really be, it has to be me. When you are an adult you have to learn to be the one to take care of yourself. Well, it gets more complicated than that. Maybe I can't quite get it artistically because I haven't quite gotten it in real life. Still working through it. Here are a few more.

And, I am super excited to announce that I have opened an ETSY SHOP!!!


Check it out!! I'm very excited to have a new and easy way to get my artwork out their easily and quickly. Check often because I plan to try and add an image a day.

Off to Charleston for a few days. Hope to have fun with the kids and fit in some pool side sketching time.

Take good care and do something CREATIVE today!

Heidi