This Pisces is headed for the open road

It seems fitting that my new art quilt is fish related since it is the season of the Pisces. I am a Pisces as well as my mom, my sister, my son, my father in law , and several of my friends.

It is good to be a fish! So good!

I am busy preparing for my annual trip to the Atlantic Center for the Arts and the a Focus on Fiber Artists retreat where I will spend a week with a group of wonderful textile artists. I plan to screen print, dye fabric, and discharge some tee shirts. I am traveling with my sweet friend Rosemary with the best smile I have seen in a long time and I haven't seen hers for a year. We will drive a van full of goodies for our creative play. Chef Sue will cook our meals and we will play uninterrupted until we stop for yoga and dance each day.

The grounds are absolutely beautiful with dream studios for every kind of artist.

I will lead the dance in the afternoons and I have some raucous new music that will get everybody's hips shaking! I can't wait... Gabrielle Roth has done it again with her new CD's Jhoom, and The Zone Unknown. If I have enough room I will take my new Djembe drum and practice in the music studio. Let me tell you this the rhythm in my hips did not make it to my hands I am a terrible drummer!

I am busy making lists and packing all my favorite tools ...trying to be good and not pack too much.

I am so looking forward to some Florida sunshine, creative play, conversation with other artists, and some group dance. Dancing with my dogs watching is not quite a group.

Be well and know come Friday the 20th I'll be driving down the road Rosie by my side and we will be smiling and maybe even singing if Rosie doesn't mind the worst singer ever heard!

So now you know the truth I can't sing , I can't drum but I love it anyway!

These are the sweet years after all and I don't intend to forget it for a minute.

Jacque

Stormy Weather

Severe Storms in our forecast today. I love stormy weather!

Today we will get to see if our new French drain keeps the water out of the house.

I have been busy dyeing my spring line of scarves and trying out some new tee shirt designs.

My latest art quilt is finished and will soon be delivered to it's new owner.

Spring is around the next corner I feel it!

Enjoy the day and.... if it rains go puddle jumping!

Remember these are the Sweet Years even if you are soaking wet...especially then!

Dance and then dance some more that's what hips are for...hey that rhymed!

A Little Rain Must Fall

This little art quilt is titled Under the Sea it measures about 12 by 15 inches. It is for sale today in honor of the rain for 75.00.


Spring in February and we have the rains to show it. I love having 70 degree temperatures mid winter. I was able to get 18 shirts discharge dyed and 3 scarves dyed on Monday afternoon.

I used the microwave to steam the scarves and this is definitely a process that needs refining as my microwave runs too hot. The scarf colors came out beautifully in spite of my wonky microwave but I really had to alter the cooking time.

Our basement is wanting to leak again so we are holding the water back with a wild looking contraption my husband built. What fun! Brad was up all night on water watch ...I get the day shift at least.

Our contractor who LAST WEEK and now THIS WEEK is supposed to be fixing this flooding problem has hurt his knee ....so we wait.... and wait...and wait some more.

I am hoping the rains slow down so I can finish up my latest piece instead of pushing water around with a broom. I go to the photographer tomorrow afternoon and I really need this piece to be finished.

I have a goal to post new pictures by Friday night so you can see the new work.

Be well and remember these are the Sweet Years.... even when it rains and your basement leaks.

As requested...tee shirt pictures...discharge dyed and hand painted

These shirts have been hand painted using formosul a discharge chemical. I love the mystery of this process you never know how it will look until it has been steamed and washed. No two shirts are exactly alike.

I sell these shirts for 20.00 for a short sleeve tee and 25.00 for the long sleeve. This does not include shipping which usually runs about 2.50.

If you would like to purchase one you can find a selection at Oregon Trail Roasting Co. in Belleville, Illinois or at By Design Gallery in Alton, Illinois. Otherwise I can be reached at my e-mail jacque@jacquedavis.com to arrange shipping.

Stay tuned more pictures soon.

Okay girls you have your pictures!

Be well and remember these are the Sweet Years!

Jacque

Back to Work

Toward Home 2008



I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season... I had a great time visiting with friends and family. We hosted a New Years pajama party it sure was nice to be comfortable all evening.

I learned to knit a simple scarf and have one in process. My daughter is almost finished with her third scarf.... she is a very fast knitter. Today she is home sick after a fainting this morning mid shower. We suspect flu dehydration but will be seeing a doctor this afternoon to make sure. She is currently feverish and on the couch reading Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. I am enjoying the unexpected day off from my coffee shop job while keeping an eye on Savannah and doing some research on dyeing silk.

Saturday my husband and I sat down for a lengthy assessment of my work processes and I learned a lot and will be making some BIG CHANGES in my work space and work schedule. This was really interesting and also something I resisted a long time... now that we have started I don't know why I waited so long. Process improvement will only help me become a better artist and will determine my new work space requirements, and future investments in some remodeling of our home to allow me to work here rather than leasing a space. This is very exciting! Stay tuned for pictures. I am looking for contractors to begin work as soon as possible.

My line of discharge dyed tee- shirts continues to sell well and I am developing new designs for Spring.

The art quilt pictured in this blog sold just before Christmas.... I will miss it as it is one of my favorites.

I am hoping you enjoyed the season.

Be well and remember these are the " Sweet Years"

Playing Santa

Merry Christmas!

It sure is getting easier to play Santa! My kids are still sleeping at 8:45 am and the stockings were filled in bright morning light.

We always have Calzones for Christmas Eve dinner and Cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning my bread machine gets a workout one day a year. My brother Tim gave me the bread machine 13 years ago for Christmas and it has held up nicely to this yearly ritual. The Cinnamon Rolls are rising and will be spilling over the pan by the time gifts are opened. The way it is looking today they might spill over the pan before the gifts are opened. We are making noise and taking no special care to be quiet.... I wonder how late they stayed up last night.

Today I am determined to learn to knit while we watch It's a Wonderful Life.

My daughter and I will cook Jamabalaya for dinner. We will play Nerts this evening.

Enjoy the day ....be grateful for gift of this day spent with family and reach out to those who are spending the day missing a loved one. Life is a present we get to open everyday.

These are the Sweet Years ..... live them with enthusiasm!



Jacque

Snow Days Hold so much Possibility.

We are having a snow day....not much snow but it was icy enough to call off school. I took the day off work so I could enjoy the time with my kids. It is an opportunity I don't get very often and as they get older and closer to college it is not lost on me what a gift this day is.

It will be a pajama morning... a lazy day...my daughter is cozied up in my bed with the book Edgar Sawtelle. My son has a cold and is full of chicken soup and under a blanket on the couch behind me. They both finished papers for school last night and are happy they don't have any homework today.

I will do some quilting on my latest piece and give my Bernina a test run to try out a new update and see if it is a happy machine after it 's recent cleaning.

Making stamps is one of my favorite steps of discharge dyeing. Usually I use things I find in nature or bits and pieces of metal I find in the shed that the previous owners left behind. I have these great big sheets of Styrofoam I want to burn with a woodburner so I can make make my own designs. Perhaps if they get the ice cleaned off the road we will have an adventure and head to town for some lunch and a woodburner for me to use. If not I can always get out the lino tile and carving knives and do some this way. My son will love doing this with me and I will use his stamps in my work... he has great creative talent. My daughter will enjoy using the stamps with fabric paint.

It is starting to feel like the Christmas season.
We found a lovely tree yesterday it has a wonderful scent. My husband says we are late bloomers when it comes to Christmas . I think we don't like to rush into it! We keep our tree up a long time so we don't want to get it too early. After Christmas and New Years a house really needs the cheer of tree lights to brighten up the rest of the winter.

A unexpected day of doing whatever we want... what a treat!

Be well and enjoy your day!

Here.... we are grateful for a snow day!

Work Delivered

I have recently delivered work to the New By Design Boutique, Gallery, and working studio.

By Design
136 Front St
Alton IL 62002
618-433-1400

My newest discharge dyed tees , hand dyed scarves, and wall art are available for purchase along with the textile work of numerous textile artists from the area.

Lillian Bates owner of this shop is a clothing designer and has created a beautiful space to work and play.... I am guessing she would call this play as she certainly seemed to be having fun when the artists gathered for a photo shoot. Photos are not my favorite thing but the beautiful boa I wore from the shop helped a lot! The photos and Lillian's clothing can be seen at her website in a few days.

http://www.lillianbydesign.com/

Be well and remember.... these are the Sweet Years!

Time for a Cool Change

Remember the song by Little River Band... I do it is an old favorite.

This line keeps going through my head the past few days.

If there is one thing in my life that's missing it's the time that I spend alone....

I know it is necessary for my well being to have at least an hour alone everyday. How about you do you crave alone time? Find it hard to find the space in your day?

The holidays make it harder because everyone is home...nobody goes to work or school. Hosting guests is both enjoyable and tiring.... preparing a house is a lot of work but pleasing when it is finished. Not much time for silence and I feel it in my impatience with conversation and noise.

Tomorrow we all go back to work and school and the routines in an everyday week.

The cool change for me is about making time for silence and creativity both things necessary to my well being. If I can be silent and creative at the same time this is an added joy.

So my goal before the new year arrives is to better define my goals as an artist and build a better schedule for my time so that the alone, creative and silent time I need is present everyday.

How about you .... do you get enough silence?

Be well.... be silent and see what arises?

Current Events

Main Street Art Gallery
Opens Friday November 7 through November 29
239 N Main Street
Edwardsville, IL
Group show this show will run until November 29th this is a beautiful gallery!

Next up in my schedule is an opening on November 28th.

Art Coop's Fire Sale 7-11 2720 North 14th Street this is a silent auction with an opportunity to buy work from 33 artists. I will have 3 pieces of art to sell.


My hand dyed silk scarves and discharge dyed t-shirts are selling like crazy let me know if you want to purchase one for a Christmas gift. I will start working on some special Christmas orders as soon as I get a day that the temperatures get out of the 30's.

Don't forget the SAQA auction this is a great time to purchase an art piece and support SAQA !

http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares08_2a.aspx


Friday, November 21st - Price drops to $550
Saturday, November 22nd - Price drops to $450
Sunday, November 23rd - Price drops to $350
Monday, November 24th - Price drops to $250
Tuesday, November 25th - Price drops to $150
Wednesday, November 26th - Price drops to $75


All for now! Enjoy the weekend!

Be well and dance knowing you are living Your Sweet Years!

Jacque