One of my favorite things to do is make things. When I'm feeling down, all I have to do is go into the deep dark bowels of our house, where my work shop is located for the moment, sit at my bench and work on any of the numerous projects I have started. Sometimes I just sit there and dream.

I always come away with a great sense of accomplishment. Something has sprung from my brain into reality. I created something.

 I do stained glass and mosaic work, painting, mail art, artist trading cards and quilting, and lots and lots of other things too.  

It occurs to me that this feeling to create isn't exclusive to me. That the joy of making something can help even people in some of the worst situations.

I'm thinking now of the Quiltmakers of Gees Bend. In desperate poverty they took what they could find and used it to make blankets to fill a need for their homes, but they also made beauty. 

I wonder if these quilts made them proud, If they spread them out and looked at them occasionally and admired what they had done, or did they not realize their worth until the outside world told them?

In writing up this post I was searching for images and I came across the gallery that represents these interesting and colorful women. The quilts ranged in price from 20,000.00 to 25,000.00 dollars. Now I think that is the world showing these women their work is worth something, wouldn't you say?

Another way the world is tipping it's hat to the quilters is by releasing these:

The ladies now have the high honer of  their work commemorated on stamps. I can't wait to run to my post office and buy some.

Just looking at their quilts makes me feel good. If that isn't the true sign of a successful creation or creator I don't know what is.When the thing you make inspires other people or instills feelings in them, that's success.

When the feelings and joy that you get creating a thing conveys itself to other people. I hope that someday I can accomplish that.

I have no doubt that these women had no idea at the time they were making these quilt that they would ever mean anything to anyone other then themselves, and yet they took the time and made the effort to make themselves beauty.

What do you do that makes you feel good?

Is there something that you do that you take pride in?

Well, It's early in the morning and I can't sleep. This sucks.

*sigh*  Don't I wish.

Okay all... Can you name the artist? His images are very distinct.

Alphonse Mucha

 Just because I like them.

Well here are some pictures. Ben took them all and I'm not sure he knew how to quite use my camera. The first two are at the scene of the crime, the third is at the junk yard my car now calls home until they rip her apart and sell her bits and pieces. The last one is from the inside looking out of the windshield. I just thought it was cool looking.

The tow guy said that he had five more calls in the same spot that day, one of which was a four car pileup involving a police car.

All right moving on to brighter subjects. In the hospital, I was in the newly constructed emergency room area. It was very impressive, but what was the most fun was the art work. One of my favorite local artist's has done several things that are in the hospital. His name is Glenn Wolfe and  I have been seeing bits and pieces of his art since I was very young. I can't find anything more on him to show you but at the hospital they have a beautiful new work, it huge, probably 4ftx6ft. And they wheel you under it as you enter the wing. I was addled and I still said WOW...  Ben took a picture of it for me but it isn't a great picture and I'm not sure even if it was you would get the full effect of how BIG and BRIGHT it is. I still wanted to put it up.

What do you think?

Hope every one is well. Thanks for all of the well wishes. The Noggin is still tender and I'm pretty sure my brain is a little rattled, but everything here is good. Ang

This is a lamp mosaic I worked on when I was pregnant and couldn't work with lead.I was going for the over grown Iris look.

 It has been sitting on my work bench for a year, mocking me because I didn't feel like finishing it. Well I've finished it. Isabelle and I grouted it with a moss green grout the other day. There is more color variation in the green glass it doesn't show in the pictures very well. It's really quite pretty.

So now I just have to install the wiring and it'll be good to go. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. I think it screaming "Sell me on Ebay!"

Most definitely.

Ang

Maxfield Parrish

The Frog Prince

This is one of my favorite Illustrators. I have this print hanging in the bathroom... Where else does a frog prince go?

Here is a link to another painting that I found recently that I really LOVE. In the past I haven't liked this artist. His paintings always seemed cold and sterile to me, or worse, lonely and full of sorrow.  If you check the catalog on his site you'll see what I mean.Although there are only a few samples of his work.  

It's hard to believe this  is by the same artist.  It's Andrew Wyeth.  The Carry.

Tell me what you all think.

*************************************EDIT**************************************

This is called boredom... maybe I should repost the finger spelling from my last post...

I think I'll post one of my favorite poems instead. I already put up some ART so I may as well... I know you all are going to beg me to go back to sperm and snot posts soon...

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

I know that I shall meet my fate

Somewhere among the clouds above;

Those that I fight I do not hate,

Those that I guard I do not love;

My country is Kiltartan Cross,

My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,

No likely end could bring them loss

Or leave them happier than before.

Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,

Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,

A lonely impulse of delight

Drove to this tumult in the clouds;

I balanced all, brought all to mind,

The years to come seemed waste of breath,

A waste of breath the years behind

In balance with this life, this death.

                                    William Butler Yeats

I'm thinking again... It hurts. 

 So I'm going to share some ART by one of my favorite artists Jasper Johns.

This is one of my favorites. I believe its untitled but sometimes I find these things and save them and lose names.

Jasper Johns. Fig. 8

  Jasper Johns. Flag in Orange Feild

 Jasper Johns... 0-9

 He is probably most famous for this. But it is probably my least favorite thing he's done. I prefer this one

I think I'm done sharing. Hope you guys like them.

Ang

EDIT*********************************

Who's your favorite artist? or type of ART?

Okay so I received the most comments I have ever gotten, on a post where I mention setting myself on fire... Hmmm... What does that say about you guys.

I haven't got much today so I'm posting a picture of the moon that I took from the kitchen window of our house a few days ago. When you have something like this to look at, it almost makes doing dishes enjoyable. Almost.

This is my recently purchased piece of art. I know defiantly different... but I have eclectic tastes. When I saw the title I had to get it. "Eggs, Germs and the Angie Tree"

What do you think?

I'm feeling more like myself. I'm smiling and laughing and it feels good. If I could just get rid of this cold... *sigh* One thing at a time.

Thought I'd share some pictures by artists I like. Why? Just cause I want to.

Pop art first, the names are there... need I say more.

These are by James Christensen. An Artist from Utah.

My favorite poet, he never grew up, so why should I

Just a few things that make me happy and I thought I'd share.