Introducing Pretty Hen Designs

I've been thinking about my mom a lot since starting my latest project, Pretty Hen Designs. She loved doilies and lace, chintz and flowers. I've been playing with my collection of those things and more: trims and buttons, interesting African fabrics with bold graphics, needlepoint and upholstery fabrics, etc. to create collage clothing pieces that are very modern, but mom mighta kinda liked, just for the originality of design. It's art to wear. It's cheep chic. I love it. It's the kind of thing I've made for myself and worn to great acclaim. I decided that I shouldn't be the only creatively dressed person around, and I'd like some company. Wear basic black or beige if you want for your core pieces, but then throw on one of these jackets or scarves, and you've made a grand statement!

The opportunity to show at the Holiday Spirit Store on the Commons was the impetus to get started, and I sold two jackets on the first full day of business there! That was just Saturday, November 7. The store is open every day through Christmas. So get down to see my stuff before it's gone! There are 20+ other artists and craftspersons there too, with really cool stuff. It's all in the old Plantations site smack in the center, near Petrune, same side. It was a dollar store last. www.holidayspiritstore.com.

Empty Nest

Well, my baby is off to college at SUNY Buffalo, and my oldest is a senior at Skidmore, and I am feeling pretty sad that a long chapter has ended. So as I always do, I work out my grief in art, and it usually makes those feelings into something beautiful and positive. So of course, I made a big empty nest. I've been cleaning out my attic and basement and finding all kinds of things from their childhoods to use in building it. I started with chicken wire and twigs from the backyard where my little ones played, and then I wove in all kinds of flim flam, just as birds find and collect stuff for building materials. I used a zipper from a dress I made my little Zoe, and a hairtie I found in the attic, and a little ripped piece of a hankie my mother wiped their tears with. I found yarn that I had used to knit a sweater for Canaan when he was just a toddler, and so on, mushier and mushier. I cried over it all day for several days, and now I feel a little better! Obviously this nest is personal, so it won't be for sale, but I could make one for someone else, using their personal items! It was fun, and I think I could make nests every day! I will be showing this from Sept. 30 through Nov 1 at the State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street, Ithaca. Go to www.soag.org to see the picture. Click on Art Trail show, then Artists. The nest is at the bottom left hand corner. Come see it in person during the month of October there at 120 West State Street, Ithaca. The opening reception is on First Friday, October 2 from 5-8.

I am also showing "Gorgeous Spirit" in the Rude and Bold Women Art Show Friday, Oct 2 6-10pm and Saturday, Oct 3 2-10pm at the Stephen's Square Building, 81 State St, Binghamton. This is an annual show held for just that one weekend, featuring cutting edge women artists from our region. There's always cool performance art too, this time it is "Guerrilla Girls". Check it out at www.rudeandboldwomen.com.

We had a wonderful time at the opening yesterday for the "Where the Winged Spirit Lives Show." I stupidly forgot my camera, but many people turned out, and wearing wings, too!! The readings by Katharyn and Eric Machan Howd were fantastic and well delivered. It was fun to meet many of their IC students, too. We consumed 10 dozen fancy cookies and many people discovered the happy flavor of fairy berry punch. This was a staple for my kids' birthday parties, and I'm always surprised that a lot of people have never had anything like it before! New dolls have been added, and the show looks great! Check it out before the end of September, when I'll be clearing out and making way for my own art to be part of the Art Trail. Also, costumes will be coming in all month.

“Love is the spirit that motivates the artist’s journey. The love may be sublime, raw, obsessive, passionate, awful, or thrilling, but whatever its quality, it’s a powerful motive in the artist’s life. –Eric Maisel
I love the quote, and often say that I am in the "love business" because no one does art but for the love of it! Also because people come into my shop primarily to buy gifts for other people, and it makes me so happy that my wares are used to show love. And when we find just the perfect thing for someone, it is so great a feeling. I've had customers with tears in their eyes more than once from finding the thing that will touch someone they know. It's so great to be a vehicle to do that. Last week a guy came in looking for a little vase to take flowers to a girl for a date. He was going to just go out and pick wildflowers (how sweet!) and I fixed him up with a vintage clear glass milk bottle that was printed with the words “from farm to you.” I’ll bet that girl goes out with him again!!

With that in mind, congratulations going out to Emily Steele Hurst, "Mon Chairie" on her marriage yesterday!

Hot off the presses, this review in Ithaca Times August 12-18, 2009. Piece by Piece "Hot on the Trail Eclectic and rich Art Trail Member show up now at the new CAP ArtSpace on the Commons" by Railey Jane Savage

The writer spoke about the new space, and when she began to talk about the art specifically, she mentioned mine first! She said, "Panning the room from left to right, my eyes scanned the dimensional objects--porcelain plaques" (that would be Gary Rith's) "to what looks like an Ithaca brand Maid of the Mist, to a kind of Styrofoam DNA chain--" (that is Elizabeth Gross Marks) "and I liked the variation of forms and colors. Undoubtedly Elizabeth Tilley's 'Gorgeous' is the most imposing piece in the space; a mermaid (or sorts) made from an ironing board, gleaming beads and an old dress, she sits in the corner of the space and regards the pictures on the walls with a serenely blank expression. She is almost aggressively whimsical, but silently cheerful and ultimately good at setting off the other pieces in the space simply by being so different."

That makes me sooo happy! I don't care if she particularly liked it--it seems faint praise-- but the attention I craved has been given! The only other pieces she discussed in equivalent detail was Ryan B. Curtis's and Sylvia Taylor's out of 25 pieces in the show. Her description of materials seems a bit odd, I mean, the piece is papier mache first of all, but whatever. I will be entering this in the Rude and Bold Women Show in Binghamton next, I think. The figure was first created for Godiva, who sat on my white horse, and was entered in the show two years ago. Her legs are now hanging out of a shopping cart in front of my store, and the rest of her has been reconfigured from Godiva to Gorgeous!

Artist's Market on Friday August 31

Thanks to everyone who came to the Artist's Market at the Ithaca Farmer's Market last Friday, it was a fantastic event. Customers on Tuesday were dismayed they missed it, and it IS too bad. I tried to let my email list know, and it was heavily advertised. Anyway, the booth came out really great, and I had a wonderful time meeting new people and inviting them to the birthday party the next day, and catching up a little with artist pals. I will definitely do this again next year, and NOT schedule another big event for the following day. I slept all day Monday, and I'm still whooped. I haven't slept that much in a day since the day after my 20th high school reunion (and that was the worst hangover I've ever had!) Anyway, the handpainted couch got rave reviews, and people wanted to hang out on it. A particularly puckish visitor was from the Ithaca Shakespeare Company!

Birthday Party and Art Garage Sale

"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe". That quote from Carl Sagan is the organizing thought for my booth at the Artist's Market at The Ithaca Farmer's Market. I always have so many ideas for projects, that I need a theme to structure around, and to prioritize. I have really been having fun with it and have a hand painted vintage couch to show, and a mural, and some funky pillows and several small paintings. I was doing some framed quilts, but I've decided to save those until I can do more and have a whole show on the theme that I began with with those: song lyrics from the 40s. Anyway, many friends will also be there, among them: Alice Muhlback, Mary Reynolds and Werner Sun. It is Friday July 31 from 2-8 pm. Hope to see you!

The very next day, August 1 is the shop's first year anniversary, so I'm calling it a birthday party, serving cake and employing a caricaturist to entertain you, and throwing an art garage sale out in the parking lot. It's going to be fun, please come!

The Alice in Wonderland opening went well, and the cucumber sandwiches and meringue mushrooms have all been consumed with relish! Don was a dashing white rabbit, Gary and Corinne did their own unique interpretations of mad hatters, and a tempestuous queen of hearts arrived, who had the appropriate attitude that only a 4 year old can convincingly convey! I truly thought she might have off with our heads! She left stormily, and her poor mother may be the headless one now!

I'm thinking my next project will be a giant Art garage sale, to reduce inventory and clean house. I'm going to invite a car club to show hot rods or antique cars in the parking lot too, and have a birthday party August 1 for the Kitschen Sink's first birthday. I really love any excuse to eat cake!

My sweetheart is helping a video student and found this very cool video that I just wanted to share. New concepts in art! http://www.veryshortlist.com/web/daily.cfm/review/1198/Web_video/noteboek-video-evelien-lohbeck/?vp

Alice in Wonderland show

The new show opens May 9 with a Mad Hatter Tea Party from 2-5 pm. Some of the artists will be in costume, and we'll be having a grand time! Please join us, in costume too, if you like (no costumes required)! This kicks off the installation of new work by Alice Muhlback that is very personal and fresh, and you're going to love it. Alice's insights always touch people's hearts and this will go even deeper down the rabbit hole! Find out for yourself. This installation will be here til November, at least.

I have made a quilt for the occasion, which will be on display, as well as some quirky "cheshire cats" and Janet Bunnell has been busy "setting the tea table" and collaging vintage book images and more.