marbling, music & miscellany

Even a mini-move is a project!

ColorTwirl Marbling — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:09:19 +0000

Today I am filling bags and boxes with household and personal items I want to have with me in Asheville. This week I start a part-time, temporary Interim library job at UNCA while they search for a new University Librarian. I’ll live in a small apartment on campus, which will house me 3 to 4 days per week. Love the convenience, though it has all the institutional charm you may remember from dorm living.Click to view slideshow.

Now someone who truly could practice simple living would probably just accept the place as is and use the random dishes, glasses, etc. that are provided. Not me. Cabin fever will set in quickly if I don’t make it more homey and beautiful. For once being burdened with an excess of “stuff” comes in handy. I’ve been able to cull out select pieces of art, pottery, glass, etc. that will go to Asheville without leaving gaping holes at home. The predominant color scheme of my 450 sq. feet is dark blue, blue/grey, grey and a cool white. As it happens, true blue (as opposed to blue-green, aqua, teal, etc.) is the color I am least likely to select in home furnishings. So I’ve had fun trolling good-will and second hand stores, and picking through the house for the very occasional blue item I can find (most belonged to my husband before we merged households seven years ago.) I’m going to post a few pictures of the “before” apartment. Any decorating suggestions are welcome!

Scenes from the Folk School

ColorTwirl Marbling — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:53:24 +0000

Here are some random shots of lower Keith House, where the dyeing and marbling magic happened last week. My favorite is the view of the hills! Will post some of my fabric results soon!

January in Brasstown

ColorTwirl Marbling — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:45:47 +0000

Part-way through a week -long class at the John C. Campbell Folk School, one of my very favorite places. We spent one long day learning a dyeing technique and producing a spectrum of 57 different colors, some dyed 2 or 3 times. Now we’re marbling for the rest of the week. Will have to post some photos. It’s a small class of experienced people, and we’re all learning from each other as well as the instructor. Even got to contra dance tonight for about an hour. Life is good.

Studio tour, November 2011

ColorTwirl Marbling — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:45:57 +0000

Books & boxes keeping me busy!

ColorTwirl Marbling — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:41:25 +0000

I’ve been busy working but slack on blogging. Here are a few pictures of what I’ve been up to. First there was a special order of seven boxes to be used as hostess gifts. Then more boxes, journals and address books, and a little experiment in mini-accordion books. Got to do more scarves after this Saturday open house is past.Click to view slideshow.

Theme shopping

ColorTwirl Marbling — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:20:58 +0000

Decided it was time for a new look here. This probably isn’t the final choice, but it’s a good start. Unfortunately when I activated this, it didn’t preserve my former header image, even though it appeared in the preview. It’s my favorite, but I’ll have to hunt and hope I still have a copy of it somewhere.

Open Studio November 12

ColorTwirl Marbling — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:24:26 +0000

We’re busy in production mode and looking forward to our open studio day on Saturday November 12th. Our home is a stop on the Art Around Caldwell studio tour – David’s stained glass, my marbling, and paintings by Pamela Smith, who is a neighbor of ours. There will be demonstrations throughout the day, light refreshments, and of course, shopping opportunities!

You can the brochure and map for the whole tour at the Caldwell Arts Council, or on this page of their website:

Start your day with us and then visit all the sites, any time between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Women’s Weekend at the Mountain

ColorTwirl Marbling — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:03:56 +0000

Here’s a fabulous event at the end of this month -with Amy Carol Webb!

Joy in Charlotte

ColorTwirl Marbling — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:44:40 +0000

I returned last night from five days in Charlotte at the annual General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We are a small denomination, so to see more than 4,000 of us gathered together for worship, governance, and celebration is a distinct privilege. I am grateful to be retired so that I didn’t have to break the spell by going off to work, but I hardly know how to reenter my daily routine. I have so much to process, to work on, and to figure out how to share with others in my congregation.

Some highlights included an interfaith rally with the Standing on the Side of Love campaign, which local folks may have seen in the news, music – of course – including singing in the GA choir, watching the Moderator of UUA, Gini Courter, do her magical job of conducting a business meeting with something like 1500 delegates in the room and 20-some more participating off-site via internet connections. And not to bypass my arty side, there was an exhibit hall which was heavily sprinkled with amazing fibre art – much of it in the form of hand-made ecclesiatical stoles and other accessories of ministry. Both inventive hand-quilted stoles in endless colors and themes, and some stunning hand-dyed silk stoles, robes, tunics, etc. left me gawking.

You can find video and audio recordings of much of the conference online now – and most of it is free. http://www.uua.org/ga/2011/index.shtml

Where did May go?

ColorTwirl Marbling — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 17:20:27 +0000

It was a busy month, with a second outdoor show (Music and Mud Festival, Newton NC), retirement preparations, and phase two of the special order. Have dyed some scarves in two new colors and hope to get to marbling them tomorrow. Four more days at the library next week, and then I am done with being an administrator!