To Freeport

To Freeport, 6 x 6" ©2011 Kim Hambric

Even though I very recently returned from New York City, I am once again feeling the need to go somewhere else.  I'm feeling the need for something new.  Perhaps, for the sake of my wallet, it is best to travel vicariously through my art.

This piece is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Decision Making Time?

Some of my "shtuff"

This seems to be the time of year when people think of the future.  I don't think that's working so well for me right now.  I seem to be stuck in the past.  Most of my holiday moments are spent thinking about what was going on with my mother during those holiday moments of last year.

December is usually a slow art month for me.  My family loves loads of Christmas decorations, cookies (which I have NOT gotten to), advent calendars, beautifully wrapped packages, etc.  My artwork often gets pushed aside and I can deal with that for a few weeks once a year.  I'm really itching to complete a piece right now, but that will have to wait until the lighting gets replaced in the attic.  Hopefully that will be tomorrow.  My track lighting has been slowly failing, and now with the pesky winter clouds settling in, I need new lights before I can see to work.

By January, I will be chomping at the bit to get back into the studio full time.

Right now, I'm into collages and have been treating my fiber art much as a bad Disney stepmother would treat her stepchildren.  But, too often, I can't help wondering if I'm headed in the right direction.  I have been a fiber artist for 15 years.  What the heck am I doing?  Am I flushing it all down the toilet?!?  Am I showing my fiber art blogging friends complete disrespect?  Am I destroying my following?  How can I not show allegiance to "my brand?"

But the little voices keep talking.  They think that I should start putting together a portfolio of my new collage work and check into which art galleries would be appropriate vehicles for their sale.  Do I have to forsake my fiber art to do this?  Can I do both?  Do I want to do both?  I'm finding it a bit hard to take myself seriously as an artist while just exploring and doing little to sell.

I feel the need to make a New Year's resolution.  But I have previously resolved never to make any resolutions.

I'm just going to burn a few cookies, hang a few more balls and deal with it all later.

The Hush of Dusk

The Hush of Dusk, 12 x 12"  ©2011 Kim Hambric

Night falls on the outskirts of the city.

This piece is created from nine pieces of gesso board, individually collaged and then glued together on a 7/8"-thick cradled wood board.  The sides are painted black.

Gosh, I love making these pieces.  An even larger piece is in the works, but I have my doubts that it will show up before the holidays.

This piece is for sale on Etsy.

Vagabond Shoes -- back home again

Ah, New York, New York.

Yes, I can make it there.  For about three days.  Then the wallet dries up and blows away and the credit cards turn brown and curl at the edges.

Love this photo of one of the windows at Bergdorf Goodman reflecting the Plaza hotel across the street. In my opinion, the Bergdorf windows blow the socks off of any other windows in town.

Another Bergdorf  Window -- all about paper.  I wish I had better photos, but the gorgeous, sunny weather created quite a glare.

However, the little glowing windows of the buildings at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden rivaled the department store windows.  The Christmas Train Show at the conservatory was about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

An eight-foot-tall Empire State Building (made out of natural materials)

Brooklyn Bridge made out of sticks and bark!!!

A finger puppet show in beautiful Bryant Park (the Devil and Sweet Brown Bunny).

A recent purchase (ha).

If I can't go back soon, I'll just die.


If I get all stressed out about the upcoming holidays, and the travel, gift buying, card writing, cookie baking, etc., I'll just go, in my mind, to my happy place -- the sea lion pond in the Central Park zoo.

So Fine

So Fine, 5 x 5" ©2011 Kim Hambic

This piece represents blue skies and a general feeling of well-being.

Right now the skies are gray and threatening to spit snow.  I am experiencing a lovely head cold.  Perhaps if I stare at this piece long enough, I will feel much better.

Yes, to me this piece is bright and happy.  To others, it is probably too dark and grim.  What's your take?

Always a number

Are you one of the 99% or the 1%?

Always a Number, 6 x 6" ©2011 Kim Hambric

Were you first in your class?  How many marshmallows do you like in your hot chocolate?  How much do you weigh?  What time is your flight?

Some numbers we must embrace.  Some numbers we could do without.

Lately, I've been watching my daughter do her math homework.  I'm hoping that she will continue to feel the joy in mastering numbers.  I lost that joy in the 8th grade and never got it back.  It looks like I'm going to get the chance to learn everything again.  Maybe once again I will find the joy in what numbers do, and not just what they look like.

Right as Rain

Right as Rain, 6 x 6", ©2011 Kim Hambric

Today, my newest piece matches the weather.  Rainy and bright at the same time.  The best kind of rain to have in my opinion.

This piece is now in my Etsy shop.