 |
| View from the Foyer |
 |
| Front View |
 |
| Side View |
 |
| The Overwhelmed Artist |
October 19-2016: It's UP!
We hung the installation in the Gallery upstairs at the Lacombe Memorial Centre this morning. Thanks so much to Maureen and Shirley from the City of Lacombe Art Committee for their hard work to achieve a beautiful display!
October 10 - Preparing for an Installation III
Ten days. That's all that remain until Mark on the Body is hung in the second floor open gallery space at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.
Ten days. I can hardly believe it.
And yes, it's ready to go.
The MOB III stump socks have been stuffed.
The MOB II squares -- 27 and counting -- have been assembled into a mobile. (Below is a sample; we're going to spread them out a bit at the actual exhibit so they'll be more visible.)
And MOB I is now complete. Here it's hanging in the only spot available in my house to show it in its entirety -- over my bed:
Posters have been sent to and put up by various friends and neighbours -- in the local post office, churches, store fronts, pharmacies, libraries, quilt shops and doctors' offices. Postcard invitations have been sent to "my" galleries, friends, family members, JDRF and CDA offices and at least two researchers at the University of Alberta, where some of the finest research into the origin, treatment and cure of T1D is happening.
My speech for the Opening Reception has been written. (I'm used to public speaking but need prayers I won't collapse over that one, okay?)
Meet the Press...
Publicity is beginning, too.
There's been at least one radio 'spot', and the newsprint is starting. First up was the publication of the poster image in The Chautauqua, a locally-produced newspaper that serves all the mall communities in these parts. A free publication, it's paid for by advertisers and donors...and has a fairly wide reach.
And now there's been an online tribute...from a friend who lives so far from here that she won't be at the debut...my Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and long-time cyber-friend, Linda Miller. To read her beautiful post about this project, please click HERE...and then read her other posts and take in her fine artwork. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you, Linda. Thank you, all my SAQA friends and colleagues who've contributed your time, your stitching, your encouragement and your dollars. Thank you Lori, and Anna, and Gwendy, and Andrea, and Shawna and Shirley at The Shop. Thank you Terry and Laura at the libraries. Thank you Karla at the Post Office. Thank you Caroline at Homespun Seasons and that other gal, the one who owns Wildflower Creations. Thank you Deb and Denise and Andrea and Gracie at "my" galleries. Thank you Lee at St. Cyprian's, Lacombe. Thank you, Beth at The Chautauqua. Thank you to all who've bought books online because you can't get here to see the exhibit in person.
There are many more people I could, should, and will thank -- but you're all in the book's Acknowledgments...
Ten days. I can hardly believe it.
And yes, it's ready to go.
The MOB III stump socks have been stuffed.
The MOB II squares -- 27 and counting -- have been assembled into a mobile. (Below is a sample; we're going to spread them out a bit at the actual exhibit so they'll be more visible.)
 |
| MOB II: Making My Mark |
And MOB I is now complete. Here it's hanging in the only spot available in my house to show it in its entirety -- over my bed:
That's definitely a better view than I gave you in my last post, eh?
Posters have been sent to and put up by various friends and neighbours -- in the local post office, churches, store fronts, pharmacies, libraries, quilt shops and doctors' offices. Postcard invitations have been sent to "my" galleries, friends, family members, JDRF and CDA offices and at least two researchers at the University of Alberta, where some of the finest research into the origin, treatment and cure of T1D is happening.
My speech for the Opening Reception has been written. (I'm used to public speaking but need prayers I won't collapse over that one, okay?)
Meet the Press...
Publicity is beginning, too.
There's been at least one radio 'spot', and the newsprint is starting. First up was the publication of the poster image in The Chautauqua, a locally-produced newspaper that serves all the mall communities in these parts. A free publication, it's paid for by advertisers and donors...and has a fairly wide reach.
 |
| From The Chatauqua Oct. 7-2016 edition |
And now there's been an online tribute...from a friend who lives so far from here that she won't be at the debut...my Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and long-time cyber-friend, Linda Miller. To read her beautiful post about this project, please click HERE...and then read her other posts and take in her fine artwork. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you, Linda. Thank you, all my SAQA friends and colleagues who've contributed your time, your stitching, your encouragement and your dollars. Thank you Lori, and Anna, and Gwendy, and Andrea, and Shawna and Shirley at The Shop. Thank you Terry and Laura at the libraries. Thank you Karla at the Post Office. Thank you Caroline at Homespun Seasons and that other gal, the one who owns Wildflower Creations. Thank you Deb and Denise and Andrea and Gracie at "my" galleries. Thank you Lee at St. Cyprian's, Lacombe. Thank you, Beth at The Chautauqua. Thank you to all who've bought books online because you can't get here to see the exhibit in person.
There are many more people I could, should, and will thank -- but you're all in the book's Acknowledgments...
See you at the Opening, eh?
September 29, 2016 - Preparing for an Installation II
Mainly visuals this post...as it is coming together...
The books arrived last week and have begun to be distributed -- first to two of the area libraries (Mirror and Bashaw)...and in the next few days to two more (Alix and Stettler). Nine have been sold online and another by mail order directly from me. And one has been 'drilled' so that it can be attached to the podium for the duration of the installation.
Meanwhile in the 'sewdio'... MOB I is finished. Here it is on my design wall. Trust me, it'll look better hanging from the ceiling and viewed on both sides! :-)
And here is a close-up of the "syringe fringe" -- twenty insulin syringes donated by a friend who now uses an 'insulin pen' instead -- trimmed of their needles, and secured inside the hem through grommets to the outside.
Yesterday, the labels for the twenty-eight MOB II squares received thus far were turned into tiny quilt 'sandwiches', in preparation for being suspended on twill tape so they can hang on a mobile:
Press releases have begun in the form of radio 'spots' (public service announcements) and soon (I hope) in print, as Maureen, my contact at the City of Lacombe, has been working hard to put these out. The best news thus far? Lucibelle Tan, the Fund-raising Coordinator for JDRF's Calgary Office, is including information about the Opening in their October newsletter.
Onward and upward!
The books arrived last week and have begun to be distributed -- first to two of the area libraries (Mirror and Bashaw)...and in the next few days to two more (Alix and Stettler). Nine have been sold online and another by mail order directly from me. And one has been 'drilled' so that it can be attached to the podium for the duration of the installation.
Meanwhile in the 'sewdio'... MOB I is finished. Here it is on my design wall. Trust me, it'll look better hanging from the ceiling and viewed on both sides! :-)
 |
| MOB I on the design wall |
And here is a close-up of the "syringe fringe" -- twenty insulin syringes donated by a friend who now uses an 'insulin pen' instead -- trimmed of their needles, and secured inside the hem through grommets to the outside.
 |
| The "syringe fringe" close up |
Yesterday, the labels for the twenty-eight MOB II squares received thus far were turned into tiny quilt 'sandwiches', in preparation for being suspended on twill tape so they can hang on a mobile:
 |
| "Sandwich" in the making |
 |
| Stacks of MOB II squares. |
Press releases have begun in the form of radio 'spots' (public service announcements) and soon (I hope) in print, as Maureen, my contact at the City of Lacombe, has been working hard to put these out. The best news thus far? Lucibelle Tan, the Fund-raising Coordinator for JDRF's Calgary Office, is including information about the Opening in their October newsletter.
Onward and upward!
August 29, 2016 - Preparing for an Installation I
As you who've been following know, hand-stitching on MOB I finished almost 3 weeks ago...
Since then, I sent my hard-working sewing machine off to the "spa" for long-needed TLC...and started in on the manuscript of the book that will accompany the installation.
The draft of the book has been reviewed by my mentor, and today was transferred to the self-publishing service, Blurb, for publication as a soft-cover trade book.
Permission has been procured to sell the book at the opening -- as well as afterwards -- and to divide net proceeds between the JDRF and the CDA, and a final planning meeting with the debut venue coordinators is forthcoming. We are hoping that JDRF and CDA representatives will be able to attend.
The hosts of the exhibit are on track to produce posters and other publicity, while I will be creating postcards for distribution as well.
Now that my sewing machine is back, the finishing of MOB I and the parts to assemble MOB II will be completed shortly.
As for MOB III...eight of the stump socks are finished and stuffed...
I continue to thank you, Gentle Readers, for your support and patience as the process of developing this piece into an installation takes place. Stay tuned!
Since then, I sent my hard-working sewing machine off to the "spa" for long-needed TLC...and started in on the manuscript of the book that will accompany the installation.
The draft of the book has been reviewed by my mentor, and today was transferred to the self-publishing service, Blurb, for publication as a soft-cover trade book.
Permission has been procured to sell the book at the opening -- as well as afterwards -- and to divide net proceeds between the JDRF and the CDA, and a final planning meeting with the debut venue coordinators is forthcoming. We are hoping that JDRF and CDA representatives will be able to attend.
The hosts of the exhibit are on track to produce posters and other publicity, while I will be creating postcards for distribution as well.
Now that my sewing machine is back, the finishing of MOB I and the parts to assemble MOB II will be completed shortly.
As for MOB III...eight of the stump socks are finished and stuffed...
and the ninth is under construction.
I continue to thank you, Gentle Readers, for your support and patience as the process of developing this piece into an installation takes place. Stay tuned!
August 9 - 2016: Anniversary
Once again, it is time.
The last stitch mark on the piece, MOB I, was made this morning...the journey that began in November 2013 is concluded.
Working now towards assembling this piece for hanging, I will be shadow quilting a bit around the exterior of the body shape, trimming the piece and bordering it with navy panels so it can be seen more easily -- and from both sides.
I have one stump sock left to knit for MOB III; the other eight are in place thanks to help from Ann, Bev, Lia, Sharon and Shalaya.
I continue to collect squares for those who are "making their marks" for MOB II. As mentioned in earlier posts, this is the ongoing portion of this entire project, and kits are available for any who wish to participate. Simply contact me by e-mail, and I will send you one!
I remain ever grateful for those who follow this wee blog and who've expressed their support and encouragement over the past 32 months...and continue to do so. Next posts here will be more of process, leading up to the debut of this installation in October. I hope you'll continue the journey with me; stay tuned!
And today remembering the man who inspired all this -- on the forty-first anniversary of our marriage, and the tenth anniversary of his death...
The last stitch mark on the piece, MOB I, was made this morning...the journey that began in November 2013 is concluded.
 |
| Abdomen |
 |
| Left Hand |
 |
| Left Shoulder |
 |
| Left thigh |
 |
| Right Hand |
 |
| Right Shoulder |
 |
| Right Thigh |
Working now towards assembling this piece for hanging, I will be shadow quilting a bit around the exterior of the body shape, trimming the piece and bordering it with navy panels so it can be seen more easily -- and from both sides.
I have one stump sock left to knit for MOB III; the other eight are in place thanks to help from Ann, Bev, Lia, Sharon and Shalaya.
I continue to collect squares for those who are "making their marks" for MOB II. As mentioned in earlier posts, this is the ongoing portion of this entire project, and kits are available for any who wish to participate. Simply contact me by e-mail, and I will send you one!
I remain ever grateful for those who follow this wee blog and who've expressed their support and encouragement over the past 32 months...and continue to do so. Next posts here will be more of process, leading up to the debut of this installation in October. I hope you'll continue the journey with me; stay tuned!
 |
| My Silent Partners... |
And today remembering the man who inspired all this -- on the forty-first anniversary of our marriage, and the tenth anniversary of his death...
 |
| Me and my Howard Engagement Photo Summer, 1975 |
July 29 - 2016 - MOB I: On the Home Stretch
With the last stitch taken July 29, I realized there are only 11 days left...11 days till and including August 9, when I'll take the very last stitch in MOB I. The anniversary of which I first spoke will have arrived -- ten years from Howard's death from Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
And then...
On August 10 the work of "assembly" of the now-in-three-parts installation will begin.
MOB I will have additional quilting done around the body shape, and the will be mounted against a dark background to make it all more visible.
The MOB II squares I've received to date will be mounted in a mobile attached to a grid, enabling each one to be viewed alone and as part of the whole. There are still several squares out in the world, yet to be stitched and returned. I suspect some of them may have been lost...or set aside because "life happens"...but this is the ongoing part of this project. My dream is to have several grids -- several mobiles -- of hanging squares, made from the kits that will be available at the exhibit when it opens in Lacombe in October and at every venue at which it shows.*
As for MOB III...there is one stump sock left to knit, and then they will be "stuffed" to give them shape and form, and prepared for display.
There will be periodic posts -- likely monthly but perhaps more often -- as the assembly process moves forward. It's not long before the installation, and there is much work to be done. Onward and upward!
 |
| July 29 - 2016 - One thigh |
Oh my.
And then...
On August 10 the work of "assembly" of the now-in-three-parts installation will begin.
MOB I will have additional quilting done around the body shape, and the will be mounted against a dark background to make it all more visible.
 |
| July 29, 2016 - Outside a shoulder |
The MOB II squares I've received to date will be mounted in a mobile attached to a grid, enabling each one to be viewed alone and as part of the whole. There are still several squares out in the world, yet to be stitched and returned. I suspect some of them may have been lost...or set aside because "life happens"...but this is the ongoing part of this project. My dream is to have several grids -- several mobiles -- of hanging squares, made from the kits that will be available at the exhibit when it opens in Lacombe in October and at every venue at which it shows.*
As for MOB III...there is one stump sock left to knit, and then they will be "stuffed" to give them shape and form, and prepared for display.
There will be periodic posts -- likely monthly but perhaps more often -- as the assembly process moves forward. It's not long before the installation, and there is much work to be done. Onward and upward!
 |
| July 29, 2016 - Left hand |
Next Stop: August 9, 2016...
*If you wish a kit in order to 'make your mark' for MOB II, please contact me directly by e-mail. And thanks for your support!
June 29, 2016 - The Saga of a Stump Sock
This month has seen the arrival of some precious gifts...
First, the socks! MOB III is now nearly complete. My hope was for nine socks, and seven are now finished, thanks in large part to my knitting friends from Ravelry and SAQA.
Here they are so far...with particular thanks to Anne, whose sock arrived some time back and wasn't acknowledged...and with thanks to Bev, whose sock was sent twice before it found its way here! Oh...and the three in the back row? These are the ones I've finished so far. With another being knit by a friend from Calgary, I need to knit only one more to complete the set. :-)
Here's the story of Bev's sock, which boggled my mind!
First, the socks! MOB III is now nearly complete. My hope was for nine socks, and seven are now finished, thanks in large part to my knitting friends from Ravelry and SAQA.
Here they are so far...with particular thanks to Anne, whose sock arrived some time back and wasn't acknowledged...and with thanks to Bev, whose sock was sent twice before it found its way here! Oh...and the three in the back row? These are the ones I've finished so far. With another being knit by a friend from Calgary, I need to knit only one more to complete the set. :-)
 |
| Collected stump socks - June 29-2016 |
Here's the story of Bev's sock, which boggled my mind!
- Sent to me the first time...landed at Customs on May 5...and was sent back to her as "undeliverable" -- even though the address was correct. Sigh.
- Sent again June 2:
- Departed Post Office in Colorado - June 2 at 6:26 p.m.;
- Passed through "USPS Origin Facility" - June 2 at 10:45-10:47 p.m.;
- Passed through "USPS Facility" in Los Angeles - June 4 at 10:14-10:35 a.m.;
- Processed at "ISC" in Los Angeles - June 5 at 10:43 a.m.;
- Arrived Los Angeles (location?) - June 6 at 1:06 p.m.;
- Departed Vancouver, B.C. - June 7 at 8:11 a.m.;
- "Processed Through Facility" in Canada (probably Vancouver) - June 7 - 10:43 a.m.
- "Customs Clearance" in Canada (Vancouver?) - June 7 - 10:43 a.m.;
- "Customs Clearance processing complete" - June 7 - 11:10 a.m.;
- Arrived Mirror, Alberta Post Office - June 10 - 12:03 p.m.
Seriously? Colorado is just about straight south of Alberta...well, southeast but not "east" by much... so it's anyone's guess why the sock had to travel here via the west coast of the continent (LA and Vancouver, B.C.). Bev and I are both relieved it finally arrived!
Another gift surprised me on Tuesday this week: I was given a box of unused, still wrapped insulin syringes. I had been longing to add syringes to MOB I...but had no idea how to acquire any, as I am not in need of them myself and had returned all my husband's to the pharmacy when he died. (Unused and still sterile, they were donated to those in need.) And out of the blue -- ! So now to plan exactly how to use them tastefully...I believe they will add impact to the statement of this piece.
As for the "main event" -- MOB I -- here's how it looked after stitching yesterday:
Next month's report will be the last before the finale of MOB I (August 9)...stay tuned -- and thanks for your continued support!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)