Sherri Woodard Coffey

Amidst all the stuff I have been doing related to estate details, closing of a business, payroll taxes, sales taxes, etc. I would really like to decide what I’m going to weave next. Seems that just a few weeks ago, there were lots of ideas floating around in my head, but there was no time. Now the time issue has eased but there are no ideas. I really, really don’t like what I cut off the loom. It will never see the light of day! I need something to weave that will be somewhat consuming, but that does not require too much of me mentally, and that does not require lots of dyeing right now. I want to get back to dyeing, just not now. So I decided to do another swirl piece. The cartoon is already done and is ready to go. And it’s a type of weaving that does not require exactness, kind of freeform. Since I already have yarns dyed in teals, blues, and purples, that’s the way I’m going. Here is kind of what I’m aiming for, but the colors are not exact. I’ll post a picture of the various yarns later this week, but they are all laid out on the floor, and it appears that there are enough colors. Yeah!

Later I want to do the same idea with blacks and browns. Just not sure how to get enough different colors from browns. But I need to do some experimenting for another idea I have, so I will be dyeing lots of colors in various dye strengths—eventually! And I’ve been fascinated with optical illusions of curves for a while, so I may need to try a couple of those, all of which requires dyeing.

I finally did it. I had been thinking about it for a while, had actually looked in a few stores, including the Apple store, but there were none to be found. Yesterday I made a quick run to Walmart (is that an oxymoron—can a visit to Walmart be done quickly?), and decided to just walk by the electronics department and check to see if they had an iPad. They had one—and it was exactly the one I had been thinking of getting! Last night I got a few free apps (can’t believe I’m even using that word!) and one not-so-free. I had read about an app called Brushes on the blog My Life is But a Tapestry. Looked like fun, so I sprang for it. There’s also a free Photoshop app, but I haven’t tried it yet, since I don’t have any photos on my iPad yet. At some point during the week, I’ll figure out how to get my calendar and contacts from Outlook to iTunes and then to my new iPad.  Guess today I’ll spring for a cover. If only they had purple! It’s not like I have anything else to do.

When I sell one of my pieces, 10% goes to a charity. Those charities have run the gamut from women’s centers to children’s issues, but this year my focus is on hospice. I first experienced hospice care with my father. They arranged for everything he would need to be in his own house where it would be easier for my mother to be with him. Upon arrival, they immediately did two things that made his family feel better: shaved him and mouth care. He then seemed more like himself.

My second experience with hospice was with inpatient care. Inpatient care rather than at-home care was chosen simply because medications would be more quickly available. In both hospice situations, the caretakers talked to and treated the patients with respect. Even though the patients did not seem to be hearing, they always explained what they were doing and why. The patients were treated gently, with great care. These caretakers definitely are angels. Think about it—their patients don’t recover, they don’t go home. Caring for these patients takes a special person. So, this year my contributions will be going here.

Take a look at the pages about the Roberto Capucci: Art into Fashion exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. These dresses are absolutely amazing! But—not only would I not want to wear them, I wouldn’t know HOW to wear them. How do you sit? How do you go to the bathroom? Just how…? Below is the ad that caught my attention to even investigate this exhibit.

I recently had my tires rotated, balanced, etc. Since I had had no lunch or breakfast, I walked over to Taco Cabana, where this stack of sacks caught my attention. I love the colors, but of course, I only had my phone camera with me. (I keep telling myself that I need to carry the good camera, but, well, it’s just so darn big and heavy!) The colors here on these sacks remind me of another recent experience. I was driving by the Container Store when I noticed their plastic hangers in the window, arranged according to color. I thought it was quite striking and again, wished for my camera. When I commented on what I saw as a great picture, my friend told me that now he understood why I feel no need for cable television. Guess that means that I’m easily entertained! That in turn reminded me of our trip to Belize last year. I quite frequently stopped to take pictures of things that nobody else was interested in. Gary would just shrug and say, “She’s an artist.”

I still think these pictures of tree roots and vines is interesting. And just look at the colors in the bark of this tree.

And the shadows of the fronds in the sand are still wonderful in my book. Someday these pictures will coalesce into the weaving. And I may just go back to the Container Store with my “good camera.” What do you take pictures of?

Here are a couple of pictures from the doors at each end of the gallery at the CAC. I was aiming for views of the overall space; I’ll go back and get details another day. I really like seeing all of Pat’s masks. One of the details that I want to get later is the pins that she makes and then puts on canvasses. You can wear them or hang them. Very clever.

Mythical bird teapot. Buff and green stoneware (contemporary) Collection of Phoenix Art Museum; Gift of James T. Bialac in honor of the Museum’s 50th Anniversary, 2009.229.A-B. Photo by Mark Hendrickson.

I love the shape of the teapot above. I might start drinking tea just to use this teapot! And this exhibit of contemporary teapots is in Norman, Oklahoma.

What are some things that are particularly appealing to you because of their shape or lines?

Okay, after this week I’m running away. Seriously.

• Sunday-load pieces for show in car
• Monday-hour drive to Denton to pick up pieces from Materials: Hard & Soft. Then on to the CAC to hang the exhibit
• Tuesday-probate court. Hope this is cut and dried. I’ve never done anything in a courtroom before!
• Wednesday-Business meeting
• Thursday-Plan reception, by supplies for reception, haircut
• Friday-Reception prep, the the actual reception at 6 PM

When I look at the above obligations, my first thought is when do I weave. Maybe after court and before the meeting on Wednesday. There’s always the weekend. Of course, there are other things that must get done. The tomato plants are taking over the windowsill in the kitchen!

Here’s the link (Link is no longer valid.) for the exhibition on the CAC calendar.

If anyone is interested, the Channel 11 video of the Fort Worth Weavers Guild is here. (Link is no longer valid.) It’s in the video section on page 3. There doesn’t seem to be a direct link to that one video—sorry.

Showing my ignorance here, but I was only familiar with Gauguin’s paintings. To see a different view of this sculpture, go here.

Paul Gauguin’s “Jeune tahitienne”, a sculpture carved during the artist’s first trip to Tahiti between 1891 and 1893, is seen at Sotheby’s in New York. The intricate wooden bust is expected to sell for as much as $15 million when it is auctioned on May 3, according to Sotheby’s. It depicts a young, unidentified Tahitian woman and includes jewelry which Gauguin made himself using seashells and pieces of red coral. REUTERS/Mike Segar.

My sisters and I are taking turns staying with our mother, so, combined with all the other multitude of tasks that need to be done, I have not been weaving. I am planning on changing that soon. The doctor prescribed a round of prednisone (the wonder drug, as far as I am concerned) for Mother. She has done a 360 and is like herself again. Combine that with the plan to find someone to come in and stay, the “sisters” should be able to function at a more normal level. Of course, there is that show that will get hung next week, a trip to pick up some pieces before hanging, and probate court. Oh, and I insist on getting a haircut before the opening reception! I am not even going to say anything about preparing for the reception. And need I mention taxes? Nothing done in that area. Let’s see, maybe weaving again in what century?

Legoland is coming to a city near me—well, kind of near me. I’m sure we all remember Legos in one form or another, but they have taken the interlocking blocks to new heights in recent years.

At Legoland, I hear that there are reproductions of both Fort Worth and Dallas build of Legos, and other special tourist attractions like Cowboy Stadium. I’ve heard that there is even a fireworks show over one of the displays. In the news segment I saw, children were constructing buildings that would withstand an earthquake. All of this doesn’t come cheap though. Tickets are $19 for adults and $15 for children. And I know that I will be spending that money this summer when the boys come for a visit.