Habitat for Humanity Auction Update

Friday night the Habitat for Humanity "Salvage Art" auction was held in the Plymouth Center for the Arts.  Many artists participated in the challenge to take something from the Re-Store and make it into a work of art.  I have to say that the artist's came through on the challenge. Some pieces were more creative than others but on the whole the center was filled with wonderful art.  Habitat for Humanity is a great organization.  It is a global organization and it provides affordable housing for families who are in need.  Families do not just receive homes gratis.  There is an application process and review that occurs.  They must be able to pay back an interest free loan and they must put at least 250 hours of "sweat equity" into the building of the home. Habitat states it as "providing a hand up rather than a hand out".  Two of the families were at the auction and it was heart warming to hear their appreciation for this gift.  If you want to know more about Habitat for Humanity go to  http://www.habitat.org/.

I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the featured artists for this event.  The article was published online by The Patriot Ledger, a Boston newspaper.  Here is the link, http://bit.ly/maT7et I thought it was very well written and thank Teresa Dollfuss for writing such a great article.  As a side note, I discovered that her mother has family who live in Lewistown. PA where I spent my teen years. It's a lovely small town in the mountains of central PA. (Actually it seemed like a small town when I lived there but I think it might be bigger population wise than Plymouth where I live now.) It's rare to find someone who actually knows Lewistown let alone has relatives there and lived, herself, in a nearby town.  We discovered that we frequented the same pizza parlor, the best in town! Small world for sure!

So here are the photos of the finished pieces that Mike Ritter of Ritterbin photography took. (See post of http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2011/04/photo-shoot-of-habitat-pieces.html  to read about the photo shoot)  He took some great shots.  Thanks, Mike.


Front view "Warm HeARTs Make a Home"
by Judy Connor Jones




Back view "Warm HeARTs Make a Home"
by Judy Connor Jones  

    



"The Cottage"
by Judy Connor Jones



 "Beach House"
by Judy Connor Jones




Detail of "Beach House" 

  Once again I want to thank all the people who donated aprons for this project.  You made this a very special project.   I  received a few stories related to the aprons.  One woman wrote: "As long as I can remember my mother always wore some kind of an apron while doing her cleaning and cooking. In case company comes, just take off the apron, you always look clean and proper, she used to say". Another friend wrote," My mom spent a lot of time in the kitchen - she loved to cook.  She always wore an apron over her 'house dress'. She spent alot of time planning and preparing our evening meals. She passed away 2 months before her 90th birthday" and  "I know she would have been happy with your project. She was a woman of great faith and the thought that something of hers would be used for the less fortunate would be something she would totally agree with. She was always generous whenever there was a need".

The "Warm HeARTs Make a Home" piece is still available. It did not sell at the auction.  Unfortunately there were more art pieces at the event then art collectors or philanthropists.  The piece is valued at $1400.  I don't know what Habitat is planning on doing with this piece.  If you are interested in this piece and making a donation to Habitat, you can contact the local Plymouth chapter at info@hfhplymouth.org or call 508-866-4188.

All work is copyrighted by Judy Connor Jones, http://www.judyconnorjones.com/
All Photography is copyrighted by Mike Ritter, http://www.ritterbin.com/

The Old Tavern, Grafton, VT

My husband and I took an after Easter break and returned to one of our favorite places, The Old Tavern in Grafton, VT.  Through the years this has been our welcome respite place to return to and now that we live in Plymouth it is only 3 -4 hours away.  We can go more often! On our way there we love to take the back roads of New England and see what we can discover in the small towns.  If it looks interesting we stop and explore! We learn the history of the area but more than anything we enjoy the beautiful countryside.  This time we stopped in Jaffrey, New Hampshire and had lunch in a cute little cafe right on the main street across from the green. The hospitality was great and the homemade white and sweet potato fench fries were to die for! Jaffrey's claim to fame is that Ralph Waldo Emerson use to come here as one of the summer residents.  Mt Monadnock is nearby and he wrote the poem "Monadnoc" after climbing it.  Nothing else in particular about the town except that it is one of those beautiful little New England towns that we fantasize about living there.

Then we moved on and stopped in Keene, NH. This is a larger thriving town with many shops along it's main street.  My husband knows the owner of Monadnock Imaging so we stopped to see if he was there and while there I had some expert advice on getting some prints made of the photos I had done of the Habitat pieces.  Jeff's friend was not there but we had fantastic service and the images came out great.  I had personal service concerning sizing that would work with the "aspect ratio". (Only a photographer or one expert in this knows what that means)  I was glad I had help to know that one of the images needed to be 4 x 8, not 5 x 7.  I wouldn't have know that and would have been unhappy with the results if I had ordered the wrong size which would have cause cropping of the image. If you are looking for a good photo developing site, check them out at http://www.monadnockimaging.com/. They are in my favorites now!

So after a cup of tea in the local cafe, we continued on to Grafton.  The last time we were in Grafton, it snowed and upon leaving we hit a white out and ended up in a snow bank! This was in January. No serious damage was done but we were even more thankful when we realized that the alternative was to end up in the river on the other side of the road.  Entering Grafton we saw the spot where it all happened and were once again thankful that it was the snow bank where we landed!




Grafton in January



 

This time instead of snow (although there still were a few piles laying on the ground), the daffodils were in bloom. Although the weather was rainy and damp, it still was great to spend some time there again and to see the new life emerge after a long and snowy winter. Oh yeah, we couldn't leave without stocking up on our favorite cheese from Grafton Village Cheese Company (they make a 4 year aged cheddar that tastes like butter and lactose intolerant people can eat). We also had to visit one of the local farms to get our favorite maple syrup, Plummer's Maple Syrup.



A sign of spring at The Old Tavern!



Phelps Barn at The Old Tavern

So here's to signs of all things new and the hope they bring! 

Photo Shoot of Habitat Pieces

Had a great day Monday going to a photo shoot.  I was having the all the pieces of the Habitat Work photographed. I wanted to have professional photography of the work so that I can use them for publicity purposes along with good documentation of what I did. The weather was beautiful!  One of the nicest days we have had for a looooooooooong time.

Photo shoots are interesting.  They take the coming together of several factors. The photographer has prep work to do in setting up his studio for the type of work he is going to shoot.  He must think about, to name a few, where the items will be placed or hung, what type of background will they need, what lighting needs to be set up, and of course all the paper work concerning agreements, fees, and licensing.

On the artist's side, all pieces must be ready for the camera.  I always take along things like an iron to get rid of creases that may have happened during transit, pins or clips in case things need to be fastened or hidden, and a lint remover to get rid of all those unwanted white specks that always show up in the camera lens!

Communication between the photographer and artist is critical. How are these photos going to be used?  Are they for printed material, publicity, craft show jurying, or just personal use?  Do you want full shots, close-ups, or both?  If a model to used there are a whole other set of considerations. I talked briefly about this in an earlier post http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2010/04/photo-shoot.html.  All these factors make a difference in how the pieces will be shot.

I can't emphasis communication with the photographer enough! If communication between you and the photographer is not a two way street you may be disappointed in your results.  Take the time even in the middle of the shoot to make sure the photos are what you want.  Work with the photographer's limitations but also make sure that you are getting the shots you need.

OK, the fun part is watching how this all takes place.  It is a dance between photographer, work being photographed, model if present, and you.  Have fun at it! 

I took a few pictures of the photo shoot at Ritterbin Photography in Boston. Mike Ritter is the photographer.

If you are looking for a photographer, I highly recommend Mike.  Check out his website at http://www.ritterbin.com/.  I always enjoy working with Mike.  He brings a lot of his creativity to the table.  Thanks Mike.  I'm looking forward to getting the CD of the photo shoot.

Habitat for Humanity: Warm HeARTS Project

I've finished all 5 grids in this project!  Last night I added the hanging tabs which are made out of apron ties and I covered the backs of the pieces with black felt.  On the felt I sewed apron pockets and wrote the title of each piece on apron ties.  The final pieces will be presented with a copper tube and porcelain knobs for hanging and attaching to the wall.

I am so excited about completing this challenge.  It  took me out of my comfort zone but also gave me a chance to explore the artistic side of me and to play.  Will it be something I'll do again?  The challenge, yes.  the actual gird weaving project, maybe. As I was doing it my mind began to think of possibilities.  I have extra apron strips left sooooooooooooooo-------------why  not use them! 

Lets explore possibilities.  I thought it might be fun to braid the strips into Mandalas and pass them on just for fun. Free art for anyone who will except it!  (Check out Jane Dunnewold's blog post http://existentialneighborhood.blogspot.com/2011/04/guerilla-acts-of-making.html ) Mandalas are sacred circles.  They provide a centering along the journey.  And who doesn't need some centering these days! 

Would love to hear your ideas on Salvage Art or how I might use the apron strips I have left.  What do you think I should do?

While you are thinking and coming up with ideas, here are a few pictures of the process of weaving the grids and the pieces.

Weaving Beach House



Close up of weaving



Third piece of "Warm HeARTS Make a Home" 



Felt backing for one of the grids in "Warm HeARTs Make a Home"



Attaching the felt backing with title and apron pocket

After using clothes pins to hold the glued felt down, I remembered that I had these clips that quilter's use to hold the fabric in place when  sewing on bindings.  They worked great and didn't leave an impression on the felt.


Beach House




The Cottage

I'm hoping to have the finished pieces photographed by my photographer friend, Mike Ritter of Ritterbin Photography, http://www.ritterbin.com/. I'll post final pictures after I receive them. 

You can see the pieces in person at the Habitat for Humanity "Salvage Art" Auction on April 29, 2011 at the Plymouth Center for the Arts in Plymouth, MA. Go to http://www.hfhplymouth.org/ for tickets and more information.

Hope to see you at the auction!

Habitat for Humanity Project: Grid #2

The second grid is completed and I am working on the third grid.  Hopefully it will be done by the end of the day.  I will then begin to connect the 3 grids together with apron ties.  These 3 grids will hang as one piece. 

My Mom who we visited in New Jersey a few days ago, liked what I am doing and was telling everyone at the home where she lives.  You gotta love moms!!!!!!!  I always know my work will be appreciated whether it is good or not!  She's a great moral booster.

Habitat Project: First Grid Woven

I completed the first grid which is actually the hardest one to do.  For those of you who are weavers reading this, at one point I had 7 wefts moving along at once! Can you figure out where that happened? Try to keep track of that when the fabric does not lay flat and cannot be beaten down into place because the grid warps are so far apart.  As I was talking to a friend of mine today, she suggested using clothes pins to hold the weft in place.  Great idea!  Why didn't I think of that!  Thanks to Bette I am using that technique on the second grid.  It does help. Here are pictures of the first completed grid and the next one I am weaving.

What do you think?  Can you recognize any of the aprons? Add a comment and become a follower of this blog and/or share it on Facebook or Twitter.

Weaving "Warm HeARTs, Warm Homes"

I've started weaving on the grids.  I am weaving by using tapestry technique in rag rug stlye.  Here are a few tools I used that have helped me:


Rag Rug Cutter for cutting strips of fabric



Rotary Cutter for cutting strips of fabric

I used both of these tools.  The rag rug cutter worked better for the longer length of fabric.  The rotary cutter was a little faster to use but harder to use on the longer lengths.


I taped the fabric colors on the cartoon as a weaving guide



Beginning to weave following the cartoon guide




Day one weaving progress



Let me know what you think.  Share a comment or two with me about this project and keep following to see the finished piece.  



Habitat for Humanity "Warm HeARTS, Warm Homes" Project

It's crunch time!!!  The Habitat project deadline is creeping up quickly!  Last week I finished painting the grids black and made 3 cartoons for the weaving. Yesterday I spent the day deconstructing the last aprons and organizing them in color piles.  Today I will choose the colors I will use and begin cutting the apron fabrics into strips.  Hopefully I will begin the weaving process tomorrow.  Here are some pictures of the process so far and a few more apron pictures.

Painting the Grids



Cartoons




Organizing Colors





More aprons:

 



Thanks to all who have sent me aprons.  I have enjoyed seeing all the varied designs and I love seeing the stains and well worn areas which tell a story of many hours cooking or baking for loved ones. If you have a great apron story please share it in the comment section.

Look forward to hearing from you.  Don't forget to share this blog if you enjoy reading it.

Simplicity

I'm trying to take this quiet selling season time to get caught up on my journal reading. As I was looking over my June/July 2010 issue of American Craft (I'm really behind!) I came across an article on "The Cult of Simplicity" by Akiko Busch.  I was struck by the idea presented in this article that things seem more simple than they really are.  You have to go beyond the obvious to discover the complexities. It made me think about the triangular shawls I have been weaving.  They are based on very simple weave structures, that of plain weave, basket, or twill.  In my case I have only been using plain weave which is a simple over/under weave. (Remember when you made pot holders as a child.  This is a simple over/under weave.) The equipment used to weave these shawls is very simple in design. And the actual weaving is not all that complicated.  However if you go beyond the obvious you begin to see the complexity of yarn choice, the color choice, the design possibilities, and the finishing techniques.  When you begin to push on these elements such as doubling the yarn or adding beads or embellishments you increase the complexity and decision making.  What started out as simple is now a thought process of complexity in motion.  How many yards of a yarn do I need?  How will these colors work together? When will I change the color pattern? What length will the fringe be?  Can that yarn hold up over repeated washings or dry cleanings?  Will the finished piece drape appropriately for the use?  And so on and so on and so on! 

My 4th shawl in the series is finished.  In an earlier post, Beads, Beads, Beads on February 5th, I showed pictures of the yarns I was going to weave.  I doubled up the wool and silk yarns with the rayon boucle yarn.  This created a thicker yarn but also added the movement of the variegated colors to the piece.  The shawl is very light weight and lacy looking.  The silk/wool yarn feels very soft to the touch.  It's another lovely shawl on a cool summer night or just to wrap up in by the fireplace in winter. Here are some pictures:

Cutting the fringe



Close up

I'm finding that same simple/complex factor in working with the Habitat project.  There is so much more than simply weaving strips of aprons into the grids to form a simple design.  As I spend time deconstructing the aprons and thinking about which ones will work and which will not, I am also thinking about the end product and how it will be hung. The hanging is the last step but needs to be thought about at the beginning. It may affect how I construct the piece. I've decided to paint the grids black so they will recede into the piece and not show as much. This is another beginning process that affects the end look. Painting will be my next step along with sorting the apron color strips that I am cutting.  Then I will begin to work with the hanging system as I decided that needed to be done first.  I'm thinking of using the knobs as part of the hanging system.  Not only do I need to think about how this will look and be applied but I also need to think about the weight of the piece and how it will be safe to hang on the wall.  This is my thought process so far.  There is more to come.

Here are a few more aprons I have received:

I encourage you to look at the things around you that seem so simple.  Begin to think about the process that went into that item and the complexity to make it seem simple.  How about your I-phone for starters or that GPS that you just plug in the address and the voice that leads you along your way!  Where does that woman live anyway?!!!! Comments welcomed!  

The Journey of an Apron

I woke up very early this morning.  Believe me that is unusual!  I am not a morning person.  I started thinking about the Habitat project and my mind began to race.  I decided to get back to writing my Morning Pages.  Those of you who have read "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron know what morning pages are.  They are the first thoughts you have when you wake up in the morning.  You write continuously until you fill up 3 pages of a notebook.  These are the thoughts that you address as soon as you wake.  You get them out there and then they do not hang over you for the rest of the day.  Sometimes it is just plain therapy to get them out there.  Sometimes it is creative inspiration to get them out there.  And sometimes it is just waking your thoughts up for the day and making lists.  

Today I made lists.  I began to think about the process of working with these aprons. My list went like this:

1. Draw out design.
2.Wash all aprons.
3. Deconstruct aprons.
4. Possibly dye some of the aprons or use fabric markers, fabric crayons, and/or Shiva paint sticks.  Play with these ideas.
5. Cut aprons into strips.

And that's as far as I went today.  I'm sure there will be more steps but this is as far as my thought process went today.  It's a beginning.

This listing the process helps me organize what needs to be done and begin to alot the time needed. This is the first part of the journey.

When you have a project you are working on, what is your process?  Do you make lists?  Do you organize your thoughts and work time in any special way? Or do you just plunge in and hope for the best? I'd love to hear how others begin their creative journey.  I welcome you to pass this post on and share your thoughts in the comment section.

Here are a few more pictures of aprons that have come in: