Friday, November 30

You want me to WHAT?

today in the studio: my wrist with pincushion.
I subscribe to The Writer's Almanac so that every morning when I check my email I can say "Oh for fuck's sake I don't have time to read a POEM." Then I read it anyway. Then I think, oh, that wasn't so bad. It's a little ritual I enjoy - it really sets the pace for the day.

Saturday, November 24

viva la fickle-fest


I made the piece on the left about six months ago. I sold it. Then lots of people asked me to make them another. I said no. I'm kind of a jerk ... or maybe just stupid. But I'm always propelled forward by the next work that wants to emerge from that tenuous combo of my brain and the materials - I can't help it. Back-tracking is a drag. It feels like trying to recapture a moment we should have just savored, and I can't get energized by that. Bear in mind that you're talking to someone who didn't have pictures taken at her own wedding - see I'm not just a jerk to you, I'm a weird purist who is interested in experiencing without sentimentalizing.  It's nothing personal.

(I just watched this TED Talk on the different ways we account for happiness, and how much of it hinges on the difference between how we experience things and how we remember things. Daniel Kahneman explained this in a way that made so much sense to me. It also explained why I don't like vacations. And also, he talks about colonscopies and happiness! I recommend it.)

My point is:  look, I made another one! More or less. Does this make me more of a jerk? Don't answer that. A few days ago I looked at the purple one and suddenly another version made all the sense in the world. The new red one has a sculpted collar but it's pretty much the first of cousin of the purple one. And no, I won't make you another one. Unless I do.

Sunday, November 11

Secret Lentil Holiday Sale 2012 - is coming


So, this is happening! I'll be opening up my studio and the teeny Superette shop down the hall for a holiday sale. I'm in Syracuse New York. I'll have lots of clothes, tons of handwarmers to fill out your gift list, snacks, gift certificates, and hopefully there will even be some oddities to pick through in the sale bin.

And it's not just me - a bunch of other artists and makers in my building will have their doors open too. Painters, photographers, sculpters, beaders, surface design people, printers, glass workers ... plus there's an art gallery downstairs. Come in and walk the creaky floors of the Delavan Center.

If you want to you can rsvp on my facebook event page. It's optional but if you do it I get to squeal and say "Oooh! Someone's coming!"  I hope to see you there - helen

Saturday, November 10

capricious hamster


Hey I made a new fairly repeatable design. It's called the Flounce. Viva la Flounce!

Repeatable for me means each piece has the same basic details but is still made without a pattern. Plus they're made from different fabrics in different colors. I have to keep the hamster brain engaged or else nothing happens. It is a capricious hamster.

So, I made ten of these! In all different colors. I'll be listing them tomorrow here.  They will be 99 dollars each. The whole idea was to make nine at ninety-nine, but then I made ten. The hamster told me to.