buttons, beetles, and rust-colored fabric

I am officially between art projects at the moment. But it definitely feels like the universe is urging me to get a move on with the next pieces.

A friend dropped these off at the library for me the other day:

Buttons! I really need to develop an art piece using buttons.

An artist I admire greatly also recently got rid of some of her fabric and thread, including some fabric she dyed using rusty metal.

I just wrapped up two collages and two embroidery pieces so I've been in that weird in-between projects phase. I usually don't wrap up things all at once. I've started cutting papers for an abstract landscape based on three quilting patterns, and I'll begin painting papers for another collage project that's so new I don't know how to describe it yet. As for embroidery, one new piece is a flop and has gone into the timeout pile. It features three different beetles, each with its own pattern, and it needs something else, another layer. Another embroidery piece is emerging into something a little different than I thought it would be, but I'm tentatively loving it. 

I'm trying to give myself a little room to play when making things so I've allowed myself to wander off the path with the current embroidery piece I'm working on. I'm definitely trying to be a little more spontaneous overall, and it's so difficult. If I see something in my office that strikes me, I add it to a pile I started, no matter what it is - paper, beads, thread etc. The pile currently makes no sense, but it's a step in the right direction.

Here are a few tubs of my tea papers. Organizing them by color is a great way for me to brainstorm and let my mind wander. The collage in the picture is one I made for my home (it has also been finished since I took this picture). It's a beautiful piece but doesn't photograph well, which is why I haven't shared it. I used a lanyard hole puncher to cut out hundreds of paper pieces for the quote and black paper of different weights and textures for the background. I'm done with lettering and hole punchers for awhile, that's for sure!

I'm also still checking out a lot books! Thanks goodness for the library! I get a lot of inspiration from both words and illustrations. This was my haul from the library last Saturday when I worked in the branch. I'm still working mostly from home so my weekly library hauls are roughly three bags of goodies, including storytime books. I've been doing a weekly virtual storytime since early September. That's a different story, and one I'm not sure about yet.

I'm open to any ideas if you've got them! Especially if anyone knows what to pair with lonely beetles.

Tea Quails

I don't really have progress pictures of this collage because it was a two steps forward and one step backward journey for several months. At one point I ended up scraping off the entire background and starting over. I actually had to scrape it in sections because I knew if I did it all in one go I would be totally devastated. So I scraped a little, sanded it down, and added in the new background one small section at a time.

I just couldn't walk away from this piece though. I spent so much time bringing the quail to life, giving them personalities, and getting to know them. Each foot is comprised of hours of fiddling. I cut so many feet I started keeping them in a basket. Whenever I felt up to it I would try out new feet on the quail. Apparently one wrong foot can throw off the whole personality of a quail.

Here is a snapshot of what the disaster phase looked like:

This is also my first piece that is made only with recycled tea bags, tags, and boxes. 100% tea packaging materials!

Prior to the pandemic, a local tea shop saved me all their packaging. They did this really cool thing where you could buy single bags to try. So they went through a lot of boxes. I hope they are fairing ok during this bizarre time. I need to pop back in during a slow time and stock up on some hard-to-find teas I love like anything Taylors and PG Tips.

Here is a list of all the teas I used:

Ajiri black tea with ginger 
Ajiri black tea with lemon myrtle (my favorite black tea)
Harney and sons decaf ceylon
Harney and sons Egyptian chamomile
Harney and sons green with citrus ginkgo
Harney and sons raspberry
Pukka after dinner
Pukka lemon ginger and Manuka honey
Stash chai green
Stash orange spice
Taylor’s assam
Taylor’s mango and cardamom
Taylor’s sour cherry
Tazo decaf chai
Tazo lotus
Twinnings earl grey
Yogi muscle recovery (Yogi boxes are the prettiest. This was one of my favorite teas but has been discontinued.)

free spirit

I started this embroidery project in a weird way. Back when we had in-person programming at the library I did an embroidery workshop for teens. I thought I would spend most of the workshop helping them, but they didn't need as much help as I had anticipated. Another surprising thing happened. One of the teens knew quite a bit about embroidery and she seemed to be enjoying herself, fluttering around the room helping others. I didn't want to intrude too much, so I decided to make something myself. I chose a purple fabric square and orange thread. Little did I know that I would immerse myself in this project so deeply I would feel empty when I finished it.

I usually do a lot of planning prior to any art project I tackle. I am sometimes guilty of planning things to death. This project was a good reminder for me to just go with the flow. Pick up a piece of fabric or paper on a whim and ride it out. It brought out a part of me I didn't know existed, and when I look at it, it's like looking into a mirror that shows that free spirit.

Favorite August Reads Part 3

 August Isle by Ali Standish (Juvenile Fiction)

 

 

There's an intense and rather heavy vein running through the story of August Isle. Miranda isn't sure her Mom, Beth, really loves her anymore and can tell her mom is pulling away from her. Initially I wasn't sure about such a heavy theme in a book about a thirteen-year-old, but it's sadly something some kids have to wonder about so it's a great book for kids struggling with this. I think Standish does an excellent job portraying the adults as people who don't have all the answers and who may be forever dealing with the choices they've made and/or the tragedy that's occurred in their lives. There are lots of fun moments though as Miranda learns more about herself while spending the summer with friends of her mom. She befriends two kids who are also dealing with heavy things in their life - racial prejudices and divorce, but they eventually open up and talk about these things with each other. I was surprised by lots of things, which doesn't happen too often when I read books for tweens. There was a plot twist that snuck up on me. And when the reason for Beth's behavior is revealed, I was truly floored. I was a little upset with the mom for how she handled her personal problems, but then I realized that just because we become adults, it doesn't mean that we magically know how to handle everything life throws at us. So yes, this is equal parts fun summer vacation and major family complications. It's not for everyone, but for the small group of people that it is for, I think it's incredibly reassuring and hopeful. I will leave you with a favorite quote: "'Sometimes,' he said, 'change is just discovering something that's been inside us all along...'"

 

After Squidnight by Jonathan Fenske (Picture Book)

 

 

Oh how I adore the mischievous, punk expressions on the squids' faces! The artwork is really something else. The colors are both emo and electric. I immediately started thinking of the squids as taggers, which gives me the serious giggles. The story is hilarious, the language is dynamite, and it's just so much fun to read aloud. I definitely want to read this for a storytime. I think it can get a bit creepy but my plan is to interject "oh those silly squids" every now and then to lighten things up.

 

Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley (Juvenile Graphic Fiction) 

 

 

 

Jen's reluctance to jump enthusiastically into farm life baffles me, but I definitely can understand how much she misses her city life and her dad when she moves from New York City to upstate New York. As always, I enjoyed Knisley's artwork immensely. She does an extra super duper cool thing by placing herself in a comic that she's reading. The comic that she's reading kinda just morphs into her life. It's one of the coolest things I've seen in graphic fiction. I enjoyed the characters, but never really connected with the almost-stepdad. His character doesn't evolve much, but I'm hoping that the sequel shines more light on his character. The best part for me though, was the note from the author at the end. The story was great. The artwork was ridiculously spectacular. But the author's note is what completely melted my crusty heart. I will be recommending this to everyone.

Favorite August Reads Part 2

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (Adult Nonfiction)

These simple yet powerful statements about friendship, kindness, and cake combined with magnificent illustrations give me the feeling of coming home to a place that only existed in my dreams. My favorite quote, one that I need to remind myself of often, is "One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things." Mackesy's book feels as if Brian Andreas and A.A. Milne invited Mackesy to a party down a rabbit hole. It's definitely a portal to a totally unique world.

Walking by Erling Kagge (Adult Nonfiction)

This is a meandering read, much like walking without a clear plan of where you're going. I enjoyed the observations and quotes and jotted down a handful of books to investigate further. 

Here are a few of my favorite quotes/moments: 

"Journeys of discovery are not something you start doing, but something you gradually stop doing." I think this is something we're all definitely struggling with at the moment - keeping that sense of wonder alive while rooted firmly in one place. 

I also hadn't ever heard of Arne Naess' formula for joy and was wowed by the simplicity of it. It's a reminder that a small increase in your "glow" or joy can outweigh a lot of pain. 

 

Kagge's book was also my first experience with shinrin-yoku (tree-bathing) and how phytoncides from certain trees can benefit humans too. 

I've heard of and firmly believe in the Hippocrates quote, "If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk.” But I didn't realize there is a similar Inuit tradition of walking in a straight line away from your home and then marking the spot in the snow where your anger leaves you. I've been thinking about how this could be cathartic for people in my life, myself included and maybe a great way to tie in kindness art. For example, walk until I'm no longer upset and then leave a rock with a kind message for another person. There have been a few times I've been walking off some grumpiness and have seen a piece of kindness art. Sometimes that's all it takes for me to turn my mood around. Perhaps the people who left these nuggets of kindness have read Kagge's book. Who knows? 

Kagge's book is a great celebration of an activity that we all do. It's an inspiration for the mind, heart, and feet.

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn (Teen Fiction)

I smiled so much while reading I Love You So Mochi that my face hurts. I appreciate Kimi's outlook on life and her enthusiasm for pretty much anything silly and beautiful. Kimi wasn't the only character I enjoyed. The boy she falls in love with, Akira, is sweet and thoughtful. Both her grandparents are kind of kooky, with their own interests and personalities, and easy to love. Though Kimi’s friends are across the ocean for most of the book, they are equally important and unique. Kimi's mom is also an interesting character. Kimi wants her mom to be proud of her and wishes her mom could understand her passion for making clothes. But Kimi also thinks her mom understands her better than anyone she knows and admires her mom for who she is. Though the book is about Kimi, it's not just about her issues and her journey. It's also about all the people she loves. I'll often read books where the entire focus is placed on the main character's journey and life, and the other characters are just there to support the main character's journey. I Love You Mochi is not that book. All the characters matter in Kimi's world. I also loved the setting and all the details. I have never been to Japan, but I felt like I was completely there with Kimi, experiencing it for the first time. The attention to detail is incredible. So many new foods, clothing, and places I have never heard of. I was googling just as fast as I was reading. I can't say enough positive things about I Love you So Mochi. I could go on and on, gushing about what a fantastic read it is.

* Fun Fact: Sarah Kuhn is one of the writers who gushes about Claudia Kishi from The Babysitter's Club on the super short, super fun Netflix documentary, The Claudia Kishi Club.  

Favorite August Reads Part 1

When I look back on 2020 I hope I immediately think of August, and what a delightful month it was for reading. One of the best reading months I think I've had actually. Nearly every book I picked up was good, and most were excellent.

This will be a triple post. Be prepared for exciting new words, punk squids, and a journey to Japan.

 Saturday by Oge Mora (Picture Book)

  

Ava and her mom have a really special Saturday routine. It's the only day Ava's mom has off and they make it count. The excitement and joy shown in the illustrations gives me a thrill like I'm heading off on an all-day Saturday adventure. Unfortunately everything goes wrong one Saturday. Does their excitement or joy dim though? Absolutely not. They make the best out of each small disaster and focus on what's most important - spending time with each other. The biggest disaster at the end was actually my favorite moment of the whole book. I won't give it away, but I think that it's a Saturday Ava will remember as one of the best Saturdays ever.

The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman (Adult Nonfiction)

 

 

I enjoyed every moment of this book. I learned so much about not only bird behavior, but also human behavior and I’m definitely more observant after reading it. Ackerman’s writing style is simple and engaging, with poetic observations woven throughout, much like the snakeskins flycatchers weave into their nests.

Here are my favorite moments:

* When a zebra finch nest hits a temperature above 80 degrees, mom and dad zebra finches will chirp this information to the unborn chicks, who will curtail their growth and come out smaller, which is an advantage in the heat.

* Black-capped chickadees use the “dee” part of their call to ask other birds to assist with mobbing a predator. When there are more 'dees' at the end of a black-capped chickadee's call it means that there is a "greater menace." So, if you hear a black-capped chickadee singing one dee then everything is probably a-ok. Three dees, however, roughly translates to "oh crap, oh crap, oh crap."

* Black-capped chickadees, as well as other types of birds, also use compositional syntax just like humans! For example, if the "dee" were at the beginning of the black-capped chickadee's call, it would mean something entirely different to other birds. In addition to using compositional syntax, birds are also affected by emotional contagion, which is another thing they share with humans. If one raven is disappointed by a food choice he is offered and a second raven witnesses this, the second raven's "interest in food diminishes." The first time I started thinking about emotional contagion was at a long-ago work meeting when someone said that we’re building a culture of appreciation rather than a culture of criticism. I’ve been working on it ever since that meeting, but it’s a tough thing to do, especially when I’m cranky! The word contagion definitely gives me greater pause when I’m in a fowl mood though (I couldn’t resist the pun).

* Lyrebirds have different dances for different moods. "Just as humans waltz to waltz music and salsa to salsa music...'so a lyrebird will dance a side step in time with a weird buzzing spew, spew, spew that sounds like a laser gun or 1980s video game, and then, with his tail narrowed and wings flapping, jump or bob deeply while singing his more quiet plinkety-plinkety-plinkety song.'"

* Turkey vultures help locate leaks in natural gas lines. "...Engineers figured out that if they introduced ethyl mercaptan into the line, they could locate leaks by the concentrations of turkey vultures circling above the line or sitting on the ground next to it." Why, you ask? Well, ethyl mercaptan is the same chemical that animals emit shortly after they die.

* I learned a few bizarre words and phrases I hadn’t heard prior to reading The Bird Way. The Antbird, as well as other types of birds, is kleptoparasitic, which just means that it steals food that was "caught, collected, or prepared by another." Other birds like raptors start fires so they can feast on the prey fleeing the fire. This is called pyric-carnivory. Meanwhile ducks engage in "coordinated loafing," which sounds a little like what happens with humans when the Chiefs are playing.
 
* When putting on a show for a potential mate, bowerbirds imitate many sounds including other birdcalls, the rasping of branches, and the rolling of thunder.

* Sparrows use cigarette butts as a nesting material, and it is believed that the "nicotine may drive away parasites..."

* Magpies hold grudges and about 10% of the males are hyperaggressive and attack people. One researcher says that, "if it were higher than that, I don't think Australia would be habitable."

* I also appreciated the moment when Ackerman wrote about externalizing internal emotions, which is something else birds have in common with humans. I am watching the TV show, Numbers, right now and there is an episode about looking for someone’s “tell” when playing poker. I realized that’s what I had been doing since I read Ackerman’s marvelous description about externalizing internal emotions. I was looking for humans’ and birds’ tells. Does this person do something when they’re happy? Yes, they sing! Ok, when they start singing, I will talk to them about cleaning up their bathroom. I also have two barred owls who have a nest in the tree outside my office window. I’ve been studying their “tells.” My favorite tell involves finding the mate. Once I’ve spotted the first owl, I pay attention to where they look up. If they’re looking up, it’s usually for their mate, who is usually no more than a few trees away. What an eye-opener for someone who isn’t the best observer!

Ackerman writes, “Just for a day I’d like to experience the world the way they do, to see leaves with ultraviolet light baked into their greens, to hear and understand the minute musical differences and quick shifts in the acoustic structure of their complex calls and songs… To witness bird behavior in its full range is to glean some perspective on our own behavior.” 

123: Early Learning at the Museum (Board Book)

 

This is a great storytime book because there's not only counting but also lots of moments to ask kids and grown-ups questions about colors, patterns, and what something looks like or what we think something is. This book opens doors in so many ways and it's incredibly beautiful and easy to get lost in.