Sherri Woodard Coffey

Weingart Center uses art to help break the cycle of homelessness on Skid Row
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I think it’s time I made a little trip to the museums for some inspiration. What I would really like is to take a small vacation, but when I start thinking like that, it really means I just want to run away.

In the meantime, here’re a few things I’ve taken note of. Oh, and by the way, I cut the latest piece off the loom. Still thinking about what’s next.

A protest movement works. The cynical side of me says maybe.

Source

Magnificent, mysterious designs in American Folk Art revealed in African iconography
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Santa Fe Folk Art Festival is soon. I would love to go, but for me Santa Fe is always crowded. Can you imagine what a festival would be like?

Shawls made by Afghan women who sell their intricate, traditional embroidery through the Kandahar Treasure cooperative as a way to fight poverty. The shawls will be among the wares from around the world for sale at this year’s art market July 13-15 in Santa Fe, N.M. AP Photo/Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, Bob Smith.
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The photographer has come and gone—almost a week ago—and I still have not done any weaving. And, yep, you’ve seen this picture before. What’s my excuse? I have no idea. I have had the car serviced while I wait, which took considerable time. My “toys” always go with me on those occasions, but my sketchbook never made it out of the bag. I have also painted many more samples for the walls. They’re all thumbtacked to the wall so that I can make a decision about paint color. Like that’s going to happen any time soon! Other than not being able to focus on the weaving because of other things going on, the fact that I don’t know what’s next many be a factor. Now, to find the solution! Later…

After today, I should be back to normal, whatever that is. Well, except for all the painting of walls and bookshelves and replacing the floors in two rooms. Oh, and taking an itty bitty computer lesson so I can help my mother. But at least I can get back to weaving. There are only about three inches left to weave on the current piece, and I’d really like to get that done. However, a photographer is coming to take studio pictures, and I kinda figure there should be something on the loom for pictures. And why haven’t I been using this down time wisely by planning the next piece? Well, because I have been reading. Novels. Pure escapism. And proud of it! Not really, there’s a smidgen of guilt about it. In the meantime, sunflowers in an old blue-glass Mason jar makes me smile.

but these classes sure do look interesting. And even though I’m not a quilter, I have heard of Nancy Crow and seen pictures of her wonderful quilts. Now, if one just didn’t need a sewing machine—I really hate getting that thing through security! Here’s the link for all the information. Take a minute or two to read class descriptions. What do you think?

5 weeks of stimulating 5-day art retreats will be offered at the Crow Timber Frame Barn during Fall 2012.
Click on teacher’s name (in red) for bio & class description [skill level]

– Week 1 | September 24-28, 2012

> Carol Soderlund | Color Mixing for Dyers: Part I [beginning to advanced]

> Nancy Crow | The Best of Sets & Variables I & II [intermediate to advanced]

– Week 2 | October 1-5, 2012

> Carol Soderlund | Visions and Re-Visions: a Master Class for Dyers [inter. to advanced] New class!

> Nancy Crow | Sets & Variables III [intermediate to advanced]

– Week 3 | October 15-19, 2012

> Sandra Palmer Ciolino | Machine Quilting: Inspiration, Design, Critique [exp. machine quilters] New class!

– Week 4 | October 22-26, 2012

> Jan Myers-Newbury | Just Clamp It! [beginning to advanced] New class!
> Nancy Crow | Master Composition: Finding your Voice [advanced – 2 week class]

– Week 5 | October 29-November 2, 2012

> Jan Myers-Newbury | A Pole & a Piece of Fabric [beginning to advanced]

> Nancy Crow | Master Composition: Finding your Voice [advanced – 2 week class]

Canoe filled with brightly colored glass balls (Beck)

The boys flew home Saturday, leaving me to come home to a really quiet house. I’m sure I will adjust, but for now…it’s really quiet. The departure took quite a while, since I learned my lesson last year. That time, when they boarded the plane, I left. A few miles down the highway, I received a text message from American that the flight had been cancelled. What a panicky feeling! Of course they were fine, well protected by the employees at the podium, but still. So this year I stayed until I was assured that the plane was on its way to their home. Now it’s time to tackle the walls and floor in the living and dining rooms. Plus, there’s a photographer coming on Friday to take pictures for an article in a local magazine. As much as I would like to be madly weaving, something needs to be on the loom for that.

But first, a few pictures of the Chihuly installation. All of these were taken by the boys. I love the mist coming up from the stream that Zane caught with his camera. And it shows you just how hot it was that day!

One of the first things I found out after Zane arrived—he wanted a Dallas Mavericks jersey. He would be spending ALL of his money to buy this shirt. And this is from a little boy that does not spend his money freely. Don’t ask—I have no understanding of this desire, except that both boys play b-ball and really like it. He said that he feels so good in this shirt!
Beck tried out the loom and wants more. He also enjoys taking my leftover butterflies, knotting them together, and making a ball of yarn using the ball winder. He’s probably the only one that can reach the treadles on this loom.

The nasal mucous explanation by the runny faucet. 

We also went to the Grossology (picture above) exhibit at the Museum of Science and History, which of course, is rated ….

Give a kid a camera, and you’ve got lots of interest in the things around him. We went to the Dallas Arboretum to see the Chihuly installations. I could hardly keep up with these little boys as they tried to get their best shot, not only of the glass pieces but also of dragonflies and each other (in accidentally inappropriate poses, of course—they are little boys). But no matter, I was glad to see them interested in arty stuff.

After a hot, muggy walk through the arboretum, we drove back to Fort Worth for some rice and beans at Benito’s (no website for them). The staff loves to see these boys come in because they really, really love their rice and beans with tortillas.

The boys are helping me do a few things while they are here. One thing we did was clean some bookshelves, sort books, and put the oh-so-many children’s books on these easily accessible shelves. While sorting through a basket of stuff, I found snapshots of the first weft-face piece I ever wove. It was to be a saddle blanket for my father, dyed with cochineal and indigo. That blanket is now faded and well-worn, so I am glad to have this picture. I had never woven anything weft-faced before, so with this weaving, I fell in love with this type of weaving, and still am to this day.

Driving the mower by himself

My son and daughter-in-law arrived last Thursday, with plans to spend time with their nephews, who arrived from Charlotte on Saturday. It’s been busy ever since! Monday was zoo day, always one of the boys’ favorite things to do. I loaned a camera to each boy to record their own version of the zoo visit. We haven’t had a chance to upload their pictures, but soon. In the meantime…

Map reading is important at the zoo

The artificial termite mounds…notice the picture-takers at the fence

Here’s the kind of pictures I tend to take at the zoo—patterns, interesting shapes and shadows.

The color on the walls of the room above is Mango Punch. Scary, but I think this is the color. Thinking I may acutally weave myself some panels for the wall and a rug for the floor. What a concept, weaving for myself! Now if I could just figure out what I’m going to do with the floor. Below is a very bad picture of the current floor and couch. I’ve never gotten tired of the carpet color, but, gee, they don’t seem to make it anymore. Most wood nowadays comes prefinished, and good luck matching what you have. The other option is get it unfinished and have both the new finished and old refinished. What does one do with the furniture during the week or so that all this finishing is going on? I don’t think I’m up for the disruption.