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March 10, 2007
the longer i stay away, the harder it is to come back and write here
the all about me stuff
I wanted this web page to be a creative journal and a place to record my work in progress and my thoughts around that work, but when people started reading it and leaving me nice comments and becoming my friends and stroking my tender ego, somehow it turned into just another self absorbed diaristic wank session. I don't want that, and so when I have a week as rotten and stressful and unproductive as last week was, I'm going to do my best to just avoid this place rather than fall into the bad old habit of wanky autolocution. So, forget last week like it never happened; I'm just going to pretend that the transition between Peter's visit and spring break was seamless. And this week will be productive, and I will have things to say.
I'm babysitting a dog this week for a faculty member, so even though I'm spending the entire spring break working in the studio (and writing an art history midterm paper) it feels like a holiday because I get to stay in someone else's place and shake up my routine. Oh, the wonderful sleeps I'm going to have with no roommates coming home in the middle of the night and waking me up with the slamming doors and clonky shoes! That alone is worth cleaning up a week's worth of doggy poop.
the studio stuff
One of my goals for this semester was to do away with all of the ugly, horrible prints that I started during my first year of grad school, when I was floundering around miserably and ruining everything I touched (I was really grateful for that project grant at the time, but looking back I realize that having a free thousand dollars worth of paper made me reckless with it, and I have an entire print drawer packed full of wasted paper). Today I cut up a large portion of those prints (slightly more than half) and started making small books out of them. I'm going to start carrying them around instead of the moleskine to draw in. I put together eight or nine books today and cut and folded paper for about a dozen more; none have covers yet but I brought one home with me anyway to start drawing in. Each book has twenty two-page spreads and I'm going to shoot for filling a book each week.
I forgot to take any pictures of the (almost) finished books, but here's the before shot:
In the morning I'll put up some scans of the three pages I drew tonight.
Tomorrow I'm going to dye a big pile of fabric that's later going to be printed and made into clothes. I'm also going to etch my big copper plate this week, and finish up a bunch of print editions that have been left hanging for a while (an edition a week has fallen by the wayside, but I'm going to be caught up and a little bit ahead by next week, which is another week off because we're leaving Wednesday morning for the Southern Graphics conference.
the wonderful friends I have
Mama E sent me this lovely gift in the mail, some merino (my favourite!) to spin and a bag to carry my knitting in (it's the one from her shop that I wanted, too, and she knew without asking that this was the one I would like best). Thanks, Erin! I'm torn between greedily spinning up this fibre right away and setting it aside until I get a little better, especially with plying. I'll probably end up going with option #1, because I'm not very good at being patient.
And look how beautifully Margene's colourway co-ordinates with that quilt that I (ahem) haven't worked in in a long, long time. Receiving this fibre actually inspired me to get the quilt out from under the pile of prints and do some sewing on it. I wish I hadn't decided to do this thing by hand (see above re: patience, and me not having any).
the knitty stuff
I have lots of knitty show and tell just as soon as either my life quiets down to where I can take some time off (and thus be home during daylight photography hours) or the sun starts coming up earlier so I can get some decent photos before my 8 am bike ride to studio. I've got a Wicked sweater that y'all probably didn't even know I was making that's been languishing on the nearly-finished pile (right on top of Forecast) for a couple of weeks. I've got a couple of other sweaters on the go as well, but of course we're already past wool sweater weather in Georgia, so those may get tossed aside for a while yet. I got a good chunk of the spring Interweave lace nightie completed during Peter's visit, and hope to be finished and wearing it by the time he comes again. I'm at the part where I have to do some math, though, since I don't really want the deeply plunging back that we don't get to see a photo of.
Here is something I think I can show you now:
Two spring designs I did for JCA Crafts; the one on the left is Artful Yarns Flora, the one on the right Artful Yarns Marine. (photos courtesy JCA Crafts)
Posted by jodi at March 10, 2007 11:05 PM | categories: in the studio : knit design
Comments
Brilliant idea about the sketchbooks from extra paper. Also can't wait for your new knit designs :)
Posted by: nstssj at March 11, 2007 02:36 AM
What beautiful fiber and project bag! The geisha bag was the one I was coveting as well.. glad it went to a good home!
I can't wait to see your new notebooks.
Posted by: mouse at March 11, 2007 10:51 AM
Your newly published designs are lovely - I like the orange one especially. I hope your upcoming week is brighter and productive. I'd love to see the lace nightie you are working on -- I thought the design looked like something I might knit (with the adjustments you mentioned).
Posted by: Robin at March 11, 2007 11:01 AM
really trying to get my art practice together, having been out of college for a year and sick most of the time.
Been researching lino printing to get back into the swing and found your blog. have to admit to being reduced to tears.just in awe of your prints of bodies
most fantastic textures which speak so fluently of the crossover between print and textile.
Go girl
Posted by: rosy at March 11, 2007 11:30 AM
Jodi, might you be into doing a trade for one of the books you're making? Email me if you would, I'll think of something nice to make for you. I love the orange tank; I can't seem to get enough of the chunky lace. Your designs are always so sexy.
Posted by: Mandy at March 11, 2007 02:05 PM
"self absorbed diaristic wank session"
Hey, I resemble that remark!
Posted by: NWJR at March 11, 2007 05:58 PM
Doncha just love good mail? Makes me so happy. :)
Love those designs! Especially the orange shell.
Posted by: frecklegirl jess at March 12, 2007 02:08 PM