The Morninglori Vine

Hello Hello...

I've got Chimians to show...

These guys and gals were made from that faux fur remnant I mentioned. Honestly, unless you had one made of the old fur for comparison, it would be difficult to tell the difference. I'm thinking I can get another ten or twelve out of that piece (to postpone the inevitable just a bit longer...I haven't even begun experimenting with alternative furs yet).

I've been quite the busy little bee lately. There are a few more plush in progress as well as ten new mounted heads and a smattering of custom projects.

I realize I haven't been around to visit many of you lately (and I've been missing all your shenanigans) but this whole "balancing time" thing really is a challenge for me. I do walk Sebastian every day and get the dishes done and the laundry pile is just a very tiny mound...I'm pretty proud of that. And, while I still haven't mulched the flower beds (yes, that is a little embarrassing), I have kept them watered and relatively weed free. Over the weekend we even made our way to Indianapolis on Saturday to celebrate Father's Day with Doug's dad then to the hills of Ohio on Sunday to celebrate with my dad and back home that night to be up bright and early for work. All in all, I'm not doin' half bad.

Once I get past these two back-to-back shows in July I should be able to chill out a little.

Until next time...

love and kisses!

Mounted Head Anyone?

Happy, foggy, Monday morning friends (it is eerily foggy here and I'm presently pretending I'm in the mountains...all dewy and lovely...sigh).

As promised, I've got mounted head photos to share.












A few of 'em have already found homes but several are still available. As I mentioned in my last post, it's likely they won't make it into the morninglori shop. They'll be joining me in Asheville, NC in a few weeks for The Big Crafty. However, if you see one you want please email me about it. I'd be happy to send one off to some fun and cozy place before it gets a chance to go to the show!

I've been busy cutting and stitching and stuffing Chimians and I should have some of those ready to show you shortly.
Until then...
xoxo

Fibber

OK, ok, I confess....I am a great big FIBBER. I say "I'll be back soon with more pictures" and I'm not. I say "I won't neglect the blog" and I do. Geez, what do I have to say for myself? Nothing really, just that "I'm a great big fibber." I don't mean to do it, really, I just can't seem to help it. I think there's a clinical term for that....hmmm.

So, A Day in the Country, my first show of the year, has come and gone and I didn't even mention it. I've realized that that is sort of trend for me. Usually I'll do a show then tell you about it when I get back...a lot of good that does anyone who might actually want to GO to the show. So I decided to post my schedule. There's a handy link at the top of my left sidebar, see it up there? Now anyone interested can have a peak and if I'll be in your area or if you want to take a little road trip you'll know about it BEFORE it happens.

The show was a lot of fun again this year. We saw some familiar faces...Chris Hubbard, whose work (and life) I'll always admire, as well as the Laster family with their incredible art. The exhibit that opened at the Folk Art Center this year was titled Rhythm in Relief and featured work by Kentucky woodcarver, LaVon Williams.

In keeping with tradition, I didn't take any photos at the opening of the exhibit or at A Day in the Country so these images are borrowed from the Folk Art Center's Facebook page.

The exhibit really was breathtaking. It was full...so many carvings. His pieces are all handcarved and most of them are HUGE. I had the pleasure of being set up back to back with him at the show. I met him; he was SO BUSY talking with customers, fans and collectors I didn't really get a chance to chat with him though. If you find yourself near Morehead, KY between now and September definitely stop into the Folk Art Center and have a stroll through the exhibit. You'll be impressed.

Now, I do have some more of my sculptures to show you...

Many of these, as well as those from my last post are still available for purchase. I'd like to say I'll have them listed in my Etsy shop right away but that....ehemm.....could be a fib. My next show is a mere four weeks off, then I have another one the following weekend so....I might not find it convenient to unpack them all, take more photos, measure and list them before having to pack up again. But if you see anything you think you want, please don't hesitate to send me an email or convo for more information.

I'll have some mounted heads to share with you (I'd say soon, but that might be a fib too). I will be back though, and that, I assure you, is NOT a fib.

xxooxxoo

 

Balance?...sort of

Hello dears.
I do realize it was a mere two posts ago that I promised to better balance my time during this show season...and try really hard to NOT neglect my little blog and blog friends. Well, I am trying.

Fortunately, I've got some fruits of my labors to show you....

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I'll have more to share with you very soon!

Aside from the apparent blog neglect, I have been doing well at working in time for friends, family and fun. I can prove it...the past two weekends we've taken road trips. Have a peak...

 

We visited Madison, IN for the Ohio River Valley Folk Festival. The Festival was fun but not quite what we expected (or hoped for). But the Clifty Falls park is just outside of Madison so we had nice hike.

For Memorial Day weekend, we took a trip to Asheville, NC. We went a couple of years ago for the first time and it was so wonderful we had to go again. This time a little exploring through the Pisgah National Forest added a whole new level of wonderfulness. Goodness was that BEAUTIFUL!!!

On the way home from Asheville, the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park was the perfect stopping place for a picnic lunch and another little hike. When we walked up to Pinnicle Overlook for the incrdible view, we crossed the border from Kentucky into Viginia. Thet was kind of funny so we took a picture of the borderline.

Ok, now I've got a pile of mounted heads to get started on. I'll try not to stay away quite so long this time.

xxoo

Zooming In

Doreen, Octavian and a sprinkling of toadstools are part of the Zooming In exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute's Experiencenter. I'll be driving to Dayton, Ohio in the morning for the opening. I have a "Meet the Artist" event scheduled for 11:00. I'm not really sure what exactly will happen there...I've got a few things to show, props to illustrate my process. And I guess I'll just talk about my work and inspirations and what not. Honestly, I'm hoping the kids aren't too shy and just ask good questions.

I'm looking forward to the exhibit and seeing all of the other work, including that of Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami and Hisae Iwaoka...I'm beyond honored to have my work shown among those ranks!!!

The exhibit opens tomorrow, May 9 and runs through April 18, 2010. If you get a chance (within the next year) stop in and take a look. And, if you can make it tomorrow by 11:00 a.m., you can see me.

Signs

All of the signs are in place.

Poppies are in full bloom, their long and lanky stems bending toward the sun...their delicate, crepe paper petals rustling ever so gently in the wind.

Fiddleheads are unfurling. The pink and fuzzy newborn ferns waking a little more each day.

And the very first Clematis bud offers a wee glimpse of what will be exploding like fireworks over the next several weeks.

This can only mean one thing...well yes, Spring is here and in full swing, but the garden isn't the only place where new wonders are emerging...

The Morninglori studio is brimming with brand new Drethren in various stages of completion. Yes, you guessed it. My show season has begun! And goodness gracious I'm excited. Oh how I love the hustle and bustle, the non-stop flow of creative energy that will run from now through the end of the year. Of course, it can be stressful at times; I won't lie. But the rewards of living the dream...well, the stress just shrivels and dies in that shadow. It's true, the late nights, the early mornings, the solitude, even the anxiety dreams I've been known to have in the final days leading up to a show, it is all so worth it.

I LOVE my life!!!

Now that I got that out of my system...This year I plan to try really hard to better balance my time. Last year family and friends, yard work and housework, my shop and the blog all fell by the wayside while I let my little world of creating and traveling and peddling my wares take center stage. Wish me luck . It's hard, especially because I really do enjoy being locked in the tower, making, making, making. But balance is good. It's important. I'll do my best.

Weekend Getaway

We had a brief stretch of incredible weather in these parts. It was sunny and in the 80's for a few days so we took a little road trip up to Hocking Hills over the weekend. As a kid, I went there a lot with my family...about once a year until I was a teenager. I hadn't been back since I was fourteen and Doug had never been so this was a nice adventure.

The more popular spots have some man-made stuctures...bridges, steps and little walls. They're mostly made of stone and blend in nicely with the nature adding a fairytale, storybook sort of quality...

There are loads of waterfalls and little pools like this one...

We saw a snapper in one of 'em...

A big part of our hike was through the Hocking River gorge area so we saw all kinds of rock formations and walked through little caves and tunnels...

And when we weren't hiking through rock formations it looked pretty much like this...

It's amazing what Mother Nature can do when she's left alone.

Luckily for Sebastian, a stream ran along the biggest part of the trail. It was hot and he got thirsty...

After about five miles, we came to a beautiful lake nestled in woods...

I'm looking forward to going back and doin' some fishin' in that.

I'm glad we got out and enjoyed the weather while it lasted. The rain is back today and it's supposed to stick around for a whole week. That's probably best. I've got to get some work done. I've started working on a collection of sculptures and I really oughta stay focused.

By Golly...

They're ready!!! And it's about time!

I know, I know. Two and a half months is much too long. And I don't really have an excuse. Well, I've got excuses...plenty of excuses...like this...

and, of course, this...

But no really good excuses (not that those are bad). You know what I mean.

I'll be listing all three of the new Stagmies in the shop throughout the day today...sporadically mixed in with playing with Sebastian and practicing the fiddle and baking bread and hopefully, a little yard work.

And by the way, THANK YOU all for the piggie love! You're the best.

It's time to unveil...

The Pig.

(Actually, I should have unveiled him last week when the issue was released....but...I can be sort of slow about these things. Better late than never).

Every year here in Cincinnati our local, hip, arts and entertainment newspaper, CityBeat, hosts a Best of Cincinnati awards event. Readers get a chance to vote for their favorite restaurants, bars, galleries, local celebrities, festivals....you get the idea. Then the paper puts out a special issue announcing the winners.

For reasons I'm not entirely sure of, our city mascot is a pig. And, this year I was given the opportunity to create a plush piggie to be used in this year's Best Of Cincinnati issue. This little fella ran all over town with photographer, Cameron Knight, posing for pictures with the winners. Here are of few of the shots...

The main cover

The cover of the special edition insert.

 

 

With some dirty, pretty things from Pure Romance.

 

 

Gettin' some grub at Tucker's Restaurant. 

 

 

Rockin' for a cause with local musicians.

 

 

Standing strong with ACORN.

 

 

Getting in tune with his creative side at Funke Fired Arts.

 

 

Being bullied by some jock at UC.

 

Taking in the view from the hills in Mt. Adams.

Of Doggies and Mud and the Power of Cuteness

Howdy friends, good Monday to you. How was your weekend? Mine was...damp...yes, damp, cool and drizzly. And you know what we get when it's drizzly...yes, mud. Sebastian went out yesterday morning, as usual. But when he turned up at the back door, ready to come in, he looked like this...

Just look at that face...covered in mud but still cute as a button. So, he got a bath. I love snuggling him right after a bath. He's so soft and smells so good. Well...that couldn't last. This morning he went out as usual and when he turned up at the back door, ready to come in, he looked like this...

Ummmm...yeah, those are blades of grass stuck between his toes. If he weren't so dang adorable he might be a pain in the butt. Luckily, cuteness prevails.

And speaking of cuteness...

Over the last week or so, I added some new Sayers to the shop. I'm very sad to say, this will be the last batch made with that fur. It seems that the fake fur I've been using on their backsides for the last year and a half (or however long it's been since I first designed them) is nowhere to be found. And these guys used up the last of my stash. I've got a remnant of something similar, the hairs aren't quite as long and the gray is a little cooler, but I'll be able to get a handful out of that piece. After that, I'm not sure what I'll do. That might have to be all the Sayers to "make it through the portal". We'll see. I've got some experimenting to do before anything is final. If you know of any great faux fur suppliers, pass 'em along. I'd be grateful.