Rain on the coast of Maine

Here on the island nothing but rain and more rain and a lot of wind. The pond across the way is full to the brim.

Ireland has standing stones and Holy wells  and I was curious to go see one set of stones in Derryenver. We set out by way of the stone man where M ordered stones for the driveway and he said take the high road. Well, as it happened we took the low road. A beautiful road that was close to the edge of the cliff and looking out onto the water saw the buoys for fisheries.

spectacular scenery

After we got to the end of this road ended up in a fram yard we turned and came back passing the same farmer on his tractor. When we took the high road we got to the stones only to find that the sign read No Entry and off we went. Was difficult not being in the driver's seat as I would have taken a photo or 2 as it was I did sketch a quick drawing so I knew what the alignment of the stones was.

Another trip took us to Kanturk and down onto the Dingle Penninsula. We drove around Slea Head and Ventry where M went into the potteres and I took some shots of the facinating cliffs.

                                           And from here we drove around Slea Head

Look at these cliffs

From Dingle back to Kanturk and the Arts Festival where I purchased a small painting. Then we headed back to Connemara and the welcome fire.

As soon as the weather lightens up here I will take photos of the paintings done in Ireland and a few done at home since I got back.

Next trip to Donegal and am hoping the photos will load better. I have been having the devils time getting them into photoshop to size and save.

On the road again

Did I say it was cold? This image is one I woke to all too often the first weeks of my stay.

iced over atlantic

We were headed to Omey Island Beach but a quick stop in Clifden allowed me to return a book I had already read and see the stores windows before the shops were officially open. Needless to say I was not there at the heighth of the tourist season.

 

This one was for Shanna and her fox

Back on the road

These sheep seem to always be going straight up

and the land was covered with rocks and ruins and more rocks and ruins

One of the ruins at the side of the road

and here is where I will leave you for now as I am off to a meeting of New England Wax and connecting with a friend in Portland rather shortly for the drive to Boston area ....

Over the pond and back in one piece

Lots of catch up.... I left Maine after a horendous storm that blew a hole in my roof. Lucky for me my neighbor was not only home but had time to patch the roof and alow me to leave in an ok place that the house would be here when I got back. Power had been turned on and was staying on so off I went to Logan to fly to Shannon, Ireland. An overnight flight went smoothly and I was met by M and her dog at 6:30 am. We got the rental car and were off to Connemara. The landscape was different than I had remembered from the time before when I was in the Beara Penninsula. I remembered, then it was all that lush green for miles. We drove through brown and just a hint of the green to come. Un known to me Ireland had just gone through and actaully was not quite done with the worst winter in 40 years. I was soon to find out.

We stopped to purchase a few things, go into an authentic butcher shop where the butcher cut the lamb chops from the hanging meat. The smell of blood flooded my nostrils in a fierce way bringing me up close to the food I was going to eat that night. Then we had soup at the pub. From Letterfrack we headed to Moyard and the stone cottage named Garryowen. Situated on the ocean at the end of a green garden gate facing Tully Mountain. This grew on me to become a favorite motif to paint.

    The Stone Cottage

Heated by one wood stove  in the kitchen area and an open fireplace in my bedroom it was a challege to keep warm in the below average temperatures and wild winds off the water. The garden was still sleeping but the moss and ivy covered alders were old and knarly and looked prehistoric in the evening light.

Ivy covered trees

and

Moss covered alder

Tully Mountain over the Green garden gate

And a dinner of lamb chops and mash I had a brief introduction to turf and the firestarters, filled my 2 hot water bottles, put on pj's, sweater, heavy socks and a borrowed bathrobe, turned on the matress warmer and tried to get warm as the wind howled down the chimney. Thus passed my first evening in the wilds of Connemara.

The fire

To be continued tomorrow

All Packed and so Ready to fly

The past few days have been one of anticipation for my coming trip to Ireland and the aftermath of the Nor'Easter that hit the island. I lost power along with most of my neighbors here on Westport and the hum of the generators set the tone for several days. Not having a generator, or water, or heat and a hole in my roof the days quickley got colder and colder. As I left on the 2nd morning to go to get some hot coffee I glanced back at my house and there was a big ole hole at the top of my roof. The roof is not old by normal standards. I had it reroofed not 10 yrs ago. I was worried about the roof over the kitchenwhich continually blows off pieces of shingles. I called a neighbor who came over and assesed the situation. Meanwhile i had found some shingles from the original roofing job and he went to get his tools.Thanking the universe for an honest workman he went over the roof and did what he could nailing a bunch of shingles that had never seen a nail before. I was lucky it was a nor'easter because i probaly would have lost the whole roof if the wild wind had come from another direction.

My son Ethan brought me a propane grill and I heated some soup and hot water for tea and coffee. and Just as I was cooking a blast of snow and ice came down but did not last long. The same thing happened at night making grilled cheese sandwiches but this time the rain and sleety ice turned to snow and kept it up all night.


The lights did come back on in time to take a shower do a laundry change the sheets and then out again. Then an hour or so later on again. I woke to a cold house and went outside to heat the water again. Three hours later the electricty came back on but by now I was cold to the bone again and still can't seem to get warm. I went over my packing and took a few things out, every bag was getting very heavy. Then i realised i could not get my knitting and jounrnal into my purse so decided to sew together the carpet bag after all and here it is stuffed to the gills. Ready for whatever the next day's journey brings. Bon Voyage next post Ireland

The Rug Hookers' Class

Today was the last class before I leave for Ireland next Monday night. I thought I'd show what everyone is working on. The class is an open one where everyone chooses what they want to work on.

Susan's House

Charlotte's House

Catherine's Carpet Bag

Diane's Carpet bag  ready to sew together

and one more image Christine's Valentine Since she was not at class today, no image of her rug. 

 

Made with cotton and vintage Kimono fabric and Sashiko stitches.

Thanks for stopping by. I am packing my canvasses and oils for the big trip to Moyard near Clifden and I hear the weather is fierce and I was warned to be prepared. So back in go the wool mittens and hat along with wool scarf and maybe there will be room for my warm shawl. I am sewing together a sweater tonight or at least that is my hope and goal. I leave on the 1st of March and will be gone until the 24th not clear if I will have the internet near by to post on line or not. But lots of paintings to show when I get back. I have a room inside that I will use as a studio so all who ordered postcards from Ireland rest assured whatever the weather I have a studio to paint in. 

Catching up

We are waiting for a storm here on the coast. Rug hooking went well today, I gave the class Valentines well, all but Christine, I just did not manage to get hers finished will take a photo of it when done. Meanwhile here is a large cloth I am working on.

and a sweet story cloth for a friends child

I really admire the women who are able to remember to take photos of their work as it is being made as well as the end result. I seem to remember this right after I have given it as a gift or a rug that has been sold. One of my rugs is still hanging at On Board Fabrics. I must get down there to take a photo, it's of my all time favorite the Chain Link Islands off the coast downeast in Penobscott Bay. Now I am going back to work on Christine's Valentine. 

Slow start to the day

The air is still very brisk and it seems to have come inside slowing me down. I did manage to get some images off the camera and wanted to show what I am working on. the frist one is a WIP.

Blue and White


A few Valentines again hand stitched

Vintage fabric and a tea bag sewn onto wool batting and a flannel back

This one has scraps of batik from previous quilts, teabags pieces, hand stitching and words in ink. The heart is hanging separately.

This one was inspired by a dramtic black and white scarf wrapped at least 3 times around a neck.

I have begun working on a "cloth" made with tea bags slow going.  Will post once I figure out the orientation and if I think I can actually do this... 

6 more Weeks of Winter

Time passes rapidly and I am closer now to the date when I fly to Ireland. I have a new rolling duffle. My chiropracter put me onto a good buy and I went to check it out and came home with a shiny green and black bag. Tpday I began loading in the art supplies. I had to change gears when I realised I could not take the sizes of canvas I had ordered. I gessoed canvass, no stretchers and will take them in a roll. I had done this before and it works ok. And my back will appreciate the lightness. While going over my list and what I had in mind to pack in the bag and what to take in my backpack, I came across my pack of post cards, I always appreciated the artist who offered an affordable original from their journey. I will have a limited number to offer at $18.00 which includes postage. This will be a first come first on the list. What I can tell you is it will not be encaustic but will fall under oils, watercolor, collage or drawing. Please email me to learn of the avaiability and to preorder and pay for this limited number of "post cards from Ireland".

Since this year I am working with integration I wanted to add a few of the hooked rugs that I have made over the past few years.

This one started me back into the hooking.

This one was for my room.

And this one was from last November

These little gems are the Artist Trading cards I made for our hook in and that is it for today. 

I will take photos of the Valentines I am making in slow cloth mode, having great fun but am also ready to get back to the paint.  

A New Year

Here on the island the day is bright, full of sunshine and bitter cold. I began the new year with 8 days of silence and solitude. The retreat was so wonderful that I hated to end it. I was able to slow way down, take or make time for meditation, daily walks in the woods, beautiful salads, steamy soups, journal writings. But what surprised me the most were the dreams. They came tumbling on top of each other making an epic dream by the end of the retreat. And because they were so "real" they appeapred to go on whether I was asleep or awake. I remembered most and was able to jote down notes on others. I had chosen the word attention for this year but along came a second word integration both showing up in dreams and Tarot readings. Was a bit unnerving on some levels....

I thought this 8 day retreat was going to be full with paint and visual images. That did not happen but in fact the path was made for me to follow that ended there later. By the end of the retreat I was looking over some bits and pieces of fabric, looking on line and stumbling into the slow cloth movement. From that point I went through all my trunks of fabric and unfinished objects and began a journey with small Valentines...

This one is made from vintage chenelle pieces, and cotton sewn onto flannel,

with some Sashiko stitches and a Valentine made with continuous beading.

 

This small quilt has a fabric image , vintage whose leaves reminded me of Valentines. The leaves are placed on top of a tea bag and then becomes a part of the quilt.

My plan is to post more often in this new year and integrate more of what it is I do, whether in paint, wax, or fabric.  Diane

Storm Over

I decided to add the quilt I am making for a grand daughter. All done but the binding and I hope to do that tonight. It was on the docket for last night when the lights went out.

Happy Thanksgiving to those that celebrate it, Diane

Here on the island we had a hellascious storm blow through all day yesterday and then power outage all night into the morning. We have been lucky there are over 37,000 people without electricity still tonight and will go into tomorrow. I was just going to post a few paintigs done over the past few days. Here they are.

Almost Done

Well, the rug hookers are close to the wire now in finishing their own specially designed rugs. They not only created the design but sought out the best colors and fabrics. Some recycled woools, some not but all lovely. Its been one of the best classes yet. I suppose a lot of teachers say this but once they were over the hump of the basic learning curve they could slow down create and enjoyand this class has some beautiful rugs to show for all their persistence.

Now I am busy making small stars as prises for star students.

will post them tomorrow along with a view of my grand daughter's quilt to be. The top is done just need to iron again.

Have a creative day, the sun shine is wonderful and even seems to have some heat. Cold weather coming soon though, Diane

Day 9

This one is for Day 9. Clouds after the storm. We had heavy rains last night with all the resident buckets pinging away. The sky tried but never quite cleared off the heavy grayish cloud cover . A couple of times the sun tried its best to poke through and then the clouds covered it over with bright colored sunspots. A slow day here as I feel like my body is trying to catch a cold and i am not willing to let it.... Got a lot of wool cut for the next rug which is a plus for class tomorrow.

Hope you all had a cozy Sunday, Diane

Mr Blue

Here he is! Finally.

Another Foggy Day

This is the view from the bridge. The island is surrounded by 3 rivers and they are tidal. Watching over the rail of the bridge the leaves were in a swirling dance moving with the current. This actually happend after the morning walk and the painting but I could not position the photos below they kept wanting to be first.... All day I was very aware of the leaves as they fell from the trees like rain. They were all differnet, some were softly clattering and others never made a sound adding to the quiet of the foggy morning.

Here are the leaves are moving swiftly

up around the tip of the island.

I woke early this morning to a world softly wrapped in fog. The backyard looked beautiful with the pear tree's colors vibrating out from the fog. I just knew it would be a good day and would go for a walk as soon as possible. Here is a photo of Mr Blue all scrunched up on a tree branch. He stays so long in the fall and ends up spending a lot of time in this tree.

Here is the outlet to the pond.

After walking a bit I came back and got to painting.

This Day 8's AEDM for today. Susan's Garden.

Have a grand day, I just lost the image of the blue heron may post it separately... Diane

Day 7

This is the seventh day in AEDM and I am beginning to see a pattern here. I have my easel set up. I have even begun several paintings. But I find myself gravitating to any unfinished project except the painting.... This avoidance has got to stop. I want to paint. What is stopping me. I guess I'd better journal on this so I can wake up in the morning ready to paint. No more equivocating.... Sounds good sounds strong now to do it...

Today I had the usual host of errands and got back home around 3 listened to the chat with Obama. Took out the knitting needles and finished the leg warmers for a friend. They are fun and quite funky but will keep her warm on her daily walks. Here they are!

Does anyone else have trouble sticking to what they think they want to be doing. I do want to paint and yet find all sorts of "other stuff" to do..

Make it a great Day!!! Diane

One of My Favorite Things

Today I drove to Port Clyde, its about an hour north of me. Once a

month, I meet with a group of women. These same women have

been meeting for many many years. Maybe over 20 years now. There are only 5 of us left from 30 plus at one time. We used to meet and spin on our wheels but over the past few years it has become more knititng, chatting and just enjoying each others company as you do when you have known someone over many years. We meet in each others home, bring our lunch and whoever is the hostess makes a treat for the morning and desert. Today it was one of the members birthday and she opted to make her own cake. And we also had another knitter with us who brought new pattern books and some show and tell to wow us all. Leg warmers was the topic as several have dogs and are out in all kinds of weather and another spinner walks long distances daily. The leg warmers for show and tell were made from Noro a lovely Japanese yarn in varigated colors and the knitting was done circular so no seams to sew and fun to see all the color changes. I brought a small hooking project to work on. When I woke up this morning it was early, dark, and foggy so I got my coffee and sat down to begin this little mat. And because I had a good start I was able to finish it tonight. The incentivce to be creative every day is not new to me but to pay attention everyday and include that conscious bit of creativity as a normal occurance is just wonderful. I would like to be able to maintain this after the month of November is over. How is it that a challenge temps one to get to it when in the regular dailiness of evry day living this does not often happen. Between work, errands , getting the hosue prepped for winter,(which seems non ending) there are always more things to do in a day than the 24 hrs allow. So here is a photo of the snowman mat for a daughter in laws November B-day. Well I still can't seem to make the photos go where I want them and this one looks too yellow. The wool is white and the twig branch arms seem to have disappeared but you get the idea...

Make this an extraordinary day, Diane

Day 4

Yes, I voted and when I came back home felt a bit jittery so knew not to paint. I need to be somewhat calm when I begin painting. And even though I have a good start on a painting of my friend Susan's garden, I thought it best to finish something i have been working on in my rug hooking class. A Lobster Welcome rug. It was small and I felt i could get it done quickly to be an example for my students. But instead it was taking forever and i

needed to be done with it. And since I was just filling in the black background I said today this is what i can do!

The top image is with the rug begun but nothing done in the background. Here is the finished rug all but the steaming and hemming... This is my AEDM for today.