CATCHING UP......FOR NOW

It's like they say in that commercial for life insurance or something: "Life comes at you fast!" Whether you buy what they're selling or not, you gotta give 'em that! In the past many weeks that I've neglected to keep up with this blog, I've been busy having a life, which in turn, has kept me from having a blog. I have been making artwork, yes indeedy, and I have also, with the help of my husband, made a baby. She was born almost four weeks ago, and obviously life will never be the same.....Which was the plan.

I don't tend to write much about my personal life here, as Magpie Makes Art is supposed to be about my work as an artist. I mean really, if I wanted my private life to be a matter of public record I'd be in Hollywood trying to be an actress instead of a textile artist on the southern Washington coast. That said, I will say for the record that the baby girl is easily the best, most beautiful thing I will ever make. It's a little overwhelming that she actually came out of me.

Enough of that. Besides making a human being, I've also finished several pieces since I last checked in, two of them being baby blankets, but that's beside the point. Below is a piece I made for the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts annual auction.....It's called "Luau Quilt", and it's made with commercial cottons and vintage Hawaiian fabric. It took forever to make, and so of course didn't sell. The powers that be believe one of my mixed media pieces would have easily sold, and I'm sure they're right. People don't value traditional crafts as much as mixed media, or "Fine Craft". I guess because they've seen their grandmother knitting or quilting or some such thing, they think it's common place and easy. But if something is constructed in the same way while made out of something people normally throw away, then it's art and to be taken seriously! (sigh) I can't complain. I am very grateful people respond so well the the funky stuff, and I was able to give the Luau Quilt to my mother in law, who is either a fabulous actress, or actually really likes it.