con·tem·po·ra·ne·ous

 /kənˌtempəˈrānēəs/

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adjective: contemporaneous

1. existing or occurring in the same period of time.
2. 
   

I am seeing light at the end of that downsizing tunnel I have been in these last 5 months or so. And, consequently have been spending less time trying to disperse belongings and more time in the studio with my creative cap on... finishing projects I had started, trying out some new things and in general, just taking a big deep breath in and letting it out slowly. Enjoying my moments. And. My contemporaneous activities.

Let me start with this. I stop at this sign practically every day if I leave home. I am not sure when the modification happened. It may very well have been there for a long while, but, if it has been, I have missed it in the addled brain state I have been in. So, I of course had to google Diana Ross and the Supremes when I got to my computer... This is a classic: Stop, in the Name of Love

On October 10th I spent the morning with a handful of others folks walking around Hartford, VT on a tree id walk with the Hartford Tree Board. It was just so, so nice to hang out with other human beings in real life for a change. It was sunny and warm. A perfect Autumn day. I got to brush up on my tree id skills and was reintroduced to Silver Maple, which I now realize I see often along my commute and never really new what it was! I remember Silver Maple getting a bad rap during my early days as a landscape designer, but the specimen we looked at on a historic property in the center of town was very impressive indeed. I picked up these leaves wandering around outside my studio. Can you identify what trees they came from?

Do you remember that I borrowed a loom back in March or April and was working on making place mats using my old gym t-shirts that no longer fit...Let's not talk about why the don't fit, ok? So, being my first time warping a real loom and not really knowing what I was doing I was about 1/2 way thru the first place mat when I realized I had things upside down and backwards. Maybe just upside down. Or, maybe just backwards. I'm not really sure. At any rate, this particular loom has little wood thingies on the sides that are meant to hold the heddle in place when its in the 'down' position. I think. Thereby making a gap (shed) in the strings (warp) to push the shuttle (holds the weaving yarn) through. Maybe go watch a YouTube video of weaving if this is not making sense to you, although, I will say I watched a YouTube video of loom setup and still got it wrong... so I don't know...

My first place mat turned out pretty good and I was anxious to use it, so, instead of weaving place mat #2, I CUT OFF place mat #1. Yes. This left all the warp threads dangling and in need of reattaching. (If I knew how to insert a little emoticon in blogspot I would insert here the one that has the big bug eyes and hair sticking straight up and is blue and looks like it is going to blow up.)

To make a long story, only slightly shorter. I did manage to get the warp reattached and the 2nd place mat woven with the last inch or so being very, very troublesome. (That emoticon again). But here they are. And it was time for a much needed cup of tea after tying all those strings to make that fringe. I did really enjoy the process of weaving; and found it relaxing despite the problems I created for myself along the way. Don't you love all the colorful fringe?!

You should know by now. I. Love. Willow. And, I am happy to report that I have a temporary relocation of my soaking tank so have been making up for lost time and weaving basket bases (they take up less storage space) and wreaths which I hope I might sell somewhere locally. I also have one student who is my guinea pig for me teaching basket making. We spent an afternoon last week for her to make a base and we will do the rest of the basket this week.

Also have been trying to use up some of my wool roving (dyed with kool aid with my after school kids last year!) felt, embroidery floss, beads and other embellishments. Here's some of my experimentation thus far.

 

And last but not least--in fact, saving the best for last. A thing of beauty. The Underwoodsman in England I was fortunate to spend some time with and learn from has been teaching courses on wood shingle making along with all the other traditional woodland crafts for 27 + years now. The last 10 years or so, he has been making and storing up wood shingles that are now beautifully displayed atop a roof!  A work of art. And, a testament to his traditional craft skills, perseverance and vision. Proper job John Waller. Hats off to you.

And that's all for now folks.

Love,

susie

(Recycled Plastic) ART IN THE PARK 'Something Fishy'

A few weeks back, on a beautiful Autumn day here in my corner of the world. I spent part of the morning with a few other artists installing sculptures on the South Royalton green.

The idea was to use recycled plastic, and while my piece is not entirely plastic, it is created from parts of previous sculptures that have been recycled. Multiple times.

In 2016 the Woodstock History Center hosted a community event where we gathered for an afternoon of willow hoop making and me sharing about the amazing plant species Salix (willow). I then created a sculpture “Spirit” for Sculpturefest 2016, in Woodstock.

That piece remained standing until I disassembled it in fall of 2018. By that time the willow hoops had weathered, but were still strong; the plastic ties had almost completely lost their integrity.

Then, I reused the same hoops, with new plastic ties to create another sculpture “Blobert Revisited” for Sculpturefest 2018.

And another reuse of that same sculpture last year for LandArt Lab 2019 at the King Farm in Woodstock “Blobert Revisited 2”. The balls are encapsulated in 100% wool netting, hand-made in the same way fisherman have created netting thru the centuries. 

Do you know about 'the great pacific garbage patch'? Here's a link to a national geopgraphic website about it...

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

And another link about an innovative ongoing cleanup effort.

https://theoceancleanup.com/updates/wilson-update-tweaking-the-system/


I had originally, in my mind's eye the idea of a pod with the ball inside as the 'seed' (think GMO). But when all was said and done, and much to my surprise, there was no mistaking the shape that emerged was definitely animal not vegetable.

To create 'Something Fishy' I took apart the previous sculpture in large sections and then lashed them together using fresh willow withies to encapsulate the pink ball.

My intent, in this piece, and all the works before it is to provide an opportunity for people to think about their relationship with plastic vs. natural materials.

What words come to your mind about the plastic parts? What words come to mind about the willow? Are your thoughts based on the way they look? Their durability? Some other factor?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment!

I will close with some pics of the other Art in the Park...

'til next time. Love to you, susie

  

A thought i'd like to share...

In the process of sorting through e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g I own and selling or giving most of it away, I found this little star I bought from another artist many years ago. Definitely a keeper.

It was a timely reminder for myself and I hope for anyone reading this.

Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name, George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. That quote is attributed to her. She also wrote this poem... which is another good reminder that even the smallest act of kindness goes a long way.

Count That Day Lost

If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went—
Then you may count that day well spent.

But if, through all the livelong day,
You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay—
If, through it all
You've nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face—
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost—
Then count that day as worse than lost.

💗until next time-

susie

Somewhere over the rainbow

June 23, 2020

and July 5, 2020

Two things, no... three, that will cause me to stop what i'm doing, drop everything and run outside: the sound of geese flying over in the fall or spring, the first snowfall of the winter and when the sun is shining and I hear rain falling on the tin roof -- because I know there's a good chance there's a rainbow.

I have never seen so many rainbows in my life as I have since living here... up in the mountains in Tunbridge, VT. And not just rainbows, but double rainbows.

One might think, with all the time I've had on my hands since March 16, when, thanks to covid19 life as I knew it came to a screeching halt, that I would have been blogging away all these months, and not in fact, just getting around to my first post since last September.

But, I have been occupying myself with worthwhile tasks like sorting, organizing, selling and giving away 'stuff'. Downsizing it's called these days. Inspired in part by some videos i've watched these last few months.

The first was a BBC show called "Victorian House of Arts and Crafts". In it, several modern day artists and crafts people spent a month working together creatively on projects using traditional tools of the trade and methods from the Arts and Crafts Movement period (1880-1920) inspired in part by designer William Morris. The program ended with a quote by Morris, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

And then there are the abandoned building exploring videos. Who knew this was such a worldwide thing?! I have 2 favorite explorers, both in (my beloved) England. (If you want to check out some of their videos for fun, here are the links to their YouTube channels: Stare   AND  Abandoned World Explorer)

Sometimes, the abandoned places they are exploring are homes where seemingly every single possession of the family has been left behind. It made me think "who in the world is going to have to deal with all my 'stuff' when I leave the planet?" I mean, if I have not used my KitchenAid mixer in 2 years, do I really need it taking up space in my cabinet? Hence, the major clean out occurring in my home and studio. If it has not been used in the last year, or I do not foresee using it this year or believe it to be beautiful, it is going, going gone. 

Love having the cabinet space freed up to be able to more conveniently put away the things I am keeping. Less is more.

Also. Please, if you are an artist/maker let me know if you concur with this... I cannot be creative in a disorderly space. I. Just. Can. Not. Do. It. I am not talking about  the mess you often make in the creative process, that I can handle; I am talking about the dishes in the sink or the laundry that needs folding and put away or the dust bunnies hopping around under the drafting table, or the art and craft supplies piled up in the corner because there is no other place to store them away.

Some people tell me it is procrastination-that need to clean before I create. OK. Maybe. But then please answer me this. Why does procrastination get such a bad wrap, when it starts with a prefix that has a positive connotation? (A blog far another day, or another year perhaps, in my case).

All that said, while I have not managed to weave any willow lately (my first love), I have managed to do a wee bit of painting. For the first time in quite a long while. Like this card I made for a friend who loves peas:

Did you know that watercolours in tubes can be re-hydrated? I had some  that dated back to my college days - yes indeed, they are older than the hills and were totally and completely dried out. Thanks to the wonders of technology and more YouTube, I found out how to extract them from the tubes and re-hydrate them. It's like a miracle!

Oh the therapy of arts and crafts. Just the act of putting on some peaceful music and playing with paint for a few hours has such a healing benefit to the body. Or even just doodling with pencil and paper. Anything that does not, I repeat not, involve a screen but does involve your hand, a mark making tool and something to make marks on. I highly recommend it to you if covid19 life alterations are making you feel stressed out.

That brings me around to my inspiration for writing today. I am feeling incredibly blessed. All my extended family, as far as I know, have remained healthy. These last few months I have had the time to reflect on what is important to me and been able to simplify my life by sorting, consolidating, organizing and getting rid of things that no longer serve me well but will be very useful to someone else. I have become even more frugal in spending than I was before. In many ways, for me personally, the life alteration caused by covid19 has been a blessing in disguise.

But. I do not say that without the ever present realization that for so many it has been a time of devastation and loss. I have several friends who have lost loved ones. Three of the 566,790 (as of this moment) whose families have suffered loss worldwide. My heart goes out to you and my prayers are with you and with all the healthcare workers who have tended to the sick and dying.

Rainbows are commonly recognized as a symbol of hope. If you are struggling, with loss, or life changes due to covid19, please do not give up hope. Please try spending just a little bit of time doing something creative that you enjoy doing-  a little reprieve from reality; and may you find a measure of healing in it.

Here's a song for you from Judy Garland...
Somewhere Over the Rainbow

With love-
susie

Coming up... Sculptural Visions

Sculptural Visions at St. Gaudens - Cornish, NH
Saturday, September 28, 2019

11 - 4:30

It is looking like a beautiful day weather wise tomorrow! I will be enjoying the day weaving willow as I participate once again in Sculptural Visions taking place at the beautiful St. Gaudens - National Historic Park in Cornish, NH. You can read more about the event here:

 https://www.nps.gov/saga/planyourvisit/sculptural-visions.htm
Come out for a drive, see the beautiful fall foliage and visit us at St. Gaudens. Hope to see you there!

I was looking for a word

that describes when you love to do a particular task or job so much that it baffles the brain to understand why there is such a pull towards that thing.

Willow (salix spp.) weaving is like the for me-- but even more specifically, I LOVE peeling willow bark off the wood, and this is what I have been doing these last couple days.

This task is best done this time of year when the sap is rising and the new leaves are just popping out-the bark is loose from the wood and comes off easily, leaving pure white willow rods behind.

I will be using the bark to make cordage, for basket making and (hopefully) will do a bit of fiber dyeing too.

I have been splitting or riving the willow in half, this too seems to be very easy at this time of year. You can tell if you've done a good job because you will see some of the pith on both halves. I seem to be doing a very good job of it! Splitting is accomplished by making a small cut in the center at the butt end of the willow then carefully prying the 2 sides apart. If the split gets off center, so you have a thicker and thinner side, you just need to bend the thicker side and it will go back to center. It helps if you keep a hold of the willow below the split so you have a bit more control to keep it in the center.

I am hoping (to finally) have plenty of time this summer for basket making, and will use this split willow for that purpose. The pure white will make a great contrast pattern!

I still have a small harvest in a bucket, here at home waiting to be peeled and split. Hoping I am able to harvest again before the bark attaches to the wood... mid to late June.

This is such a satisfying thing for me. The willow sap smells so deliciously sweet. I'm in heaven!
I hope there is something in your life you love as much as I do this!
till next time,
susie

Olathe, Kansas - Living willow play structure

...leaves already popping!

An exciting thing happened recently. An old college buddy invited me out to Kansas to help with the installation of a living willow play structure at the new Natural Playground that is being built at Lake Olathe Park. Just part of a huge renovation of the entire park.

It was an awesome experience from beginning to end.

I adore flying. The trip out was sunny and practically cloud free so I could see the changing landscape below. From the forested and snow covered mountains and valleys of Vermont with its curvilinear arrangement of roads; a unique perspective in the winter months when the trees on a mountain look like whiskers on a big mans chin. And then there's Kansas. The other extreme. Roads and fields organized on a grid for the most part. I love seeing the checkerboard of different greens--early crops already growing contrasted with fields of brown grass or dark tilled soil. It's easy and fun to spot the watersheds from above, they are fingers of green, native trees and shrubs know to grow where the water is. From far above you can see the rivers where all those waterways lead, winding their way along to the distant horizon.

Just to see Mike and Jean (who graciously hosted me during my visit) after so many years, since our time studying Landscape Architecture at KState, and to meet their children and grandchildren. That was, by itself so heartwarming. Especially after the long, cold, solitary winter of hibernation up here on the mountain.

The living willow installation was scheduled for Friday. Thursday we had thunderstorms. I had forgotten what it is like to experience lightning strikes in the wide open spaces. It is pretty awe inspiring. In between the downpours and lightning Mike and I managed to get the structure sited and staked out. Friday's weather was supposed to be more of the same, starting at noon. Mike and I met the rest of the crew on the site at 8:30, I explained what we would do, showed them how to make the holes, how to plant and how to make a clove hitch and they were on it!!! (and that truly does deserve 3 exclamation points too :-) We were done by 11. "Many hands make light work!"
The rain started at noon.

And a few pictures:

staked out

Tanner  in background, Chad, Isaiah and Michael clovehitching!

Mike B., Liz, Moi, Johnny

Jim and Michael sorting and prepping willow

Johnny and Moi-- clovehitching

halfway there!

Jim and Tanner

Liz, Johnny, Jim

Jim and Mike B

working on the last joins at the top

finished! view from wheel chair accessible end

What an absolutely phenomenal group of people! Tanner (maroon hoodie) Isaiah (with beard behind tanner), Chad (brown hat), Jim (away at the back!), Michael (yellow raincoat), Johnny (crouching), my buddy Mike Latka (yellow vest), Mike Burson (black sweatshirt) and Liz (grey hoodie).

The project finished, the rest of the trip was relaxing and fun. Jean and I visited the Heritage Center Museum and Mahaffie House (https://www.mahaffie.org/) where we saw a newly born lamb about 5 minutes old.

Mike and Jean took me to Kansas City and out for bar-b-que. We visited as many of the other Olathe parks as we had time for that Mike has either designed or had a hand in as Parks Project Coordinator over the years he's been in Olathe. We three spent days and evenings talking, catching up, and
reminiscing. We laughed our heads off...  and that truly was a good medicine.

Sunday we met up with their kids and grandkids for brunch. It was great to finally meet them all and put faces with the names. The biscuits and sausage gravy was the best I've had since I lived in Kansas oh-so-long-ago. Here's the whole Latka crew!

The one thing I hoped to see while I was there was the Redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) in bloom. They are so beautiful and one of my fondest memories of my time in Kansas--there is nothing in the world like them. I missed them by a couple weeks, they are blooming now. Mike and Jean have both sent me pictures so I'll include them here.

somewhere in Olathe, Kansas

Redbuds in full bloom at Seaton Hall-home of the Landscape Architecture Department at Kansas State University!

until next time-
peace out