Dew Point

Dew Point, 5.5x4", fiber ©2013 Kim Hambric

Another little dark one.  And there are a few more I need to photograph.  And even a few more that will never see the light of day.  Their reality just didn't match up to my vision.

These little pieces are now in my Etsy shop.

Summer of Fabric

Nightblooming, 5.5 x 4", fiber ©2013 K.Hambric

A summer return to State College, PA.

A respite from the summer heat in Charleston, SC.

Today's temperature in Pennsylvania - 89.  In Charleston 84.

I'm sure the proper order of things will come about soon.


I'm back to using fiber for the summer.  The vast majority of my paints and paper, and most other necessary items, are still in Charleston.  My fabrics, threads, beads and sewing machines remain here in Pennsylvania. I've chosen to work mainly with scraps this summer and create very small pieces.  I would rather be working with my paints and papers and be creating with happier colors, but here we are.

I'm trying my best to have fun with these pieces.  Sometimes fun for me can be a bit dark.  I'm not creating as readily and prolifically as I planned.  Perhaps it is the result of having only darker colors to begin with?

While I am enjoying a quiet summer here, I'm trying my best NOT to count down to the end of summer.  Exactly one month.  School starts down there for my daughter in mid-August (yes, southern people ARE crazy), so we will be thrust back in the land of heat and bright color in just four weeks.

I'm trying to convince myself to go into the studio and play around with my dark, earthy fabrics.  It is quite hot. Especially in the attic studio.

Tomorrow.

What to do with those pesky magazine subscription cards

Glue them onto a cradled wood board

Start smearing on paint with a credit card

Add more paint

Carve a stamp

Stamp repeatedly

Draw some flowers

Add more paint and some stamens

Debate whether the piece needs anything else.

Start another.

Abner

Abner Ben Yoder King Stoltzfus, March 2000-May10, 2013

Abner, dog of many names (not all good)

Abber

Abnerito

Abernito

Abenair

Pup

Puppito

Idjit

DogDog

Fool

F#*@monkey

Stinkbucket

Littledawg

For the Love of Pete

Damnit

Sir

Son

Ate his last stick on Friday afternoon.  Well missed.

The Littlest Thing

Somehow the photo of this little guy did not make it into the last post.  This might just be my favorite little "lost" plant.

I wonder what will become of it.

Charleston. The Little Things. Part 1

I've had my new Canon Rebel camera since Christmas.  I have done so little with it.  I'm somewhat intimidated by it.  I am easily intimidated.

Today I decided to take a short walk with my camera.  My plan was not to take "big" pictures.  I am most fascinated by the little things in my new town -- especially the small bits of foliage that have carved out hostile places to live.

I can somehow relate to them.

Take to the Sky

Fish are Jumpin', Cotton is High - in progress

Recently, I was shuffling through some unused drawings I had cut out of textbooks and never used. Two jumped out at me at practically the same time -- the yellow cotton piece and the jumping green fish piece.  Immediately, the song "Summertime" jumped into my head and this collage began.  I have no idea how many recorded versions of this song are out there, but to me, only one stands out.  Way out.  No one can top Janis Joplin wailin' out these words:


Summertime, 
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Oh, Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky

But until that morning
There's a'nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing by

Summertime, 
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

Songwriters: GERSHWIN, GEORGE / HEYWARD, DU BOSE / HEYWARD, DOROTHY / GERSHWIN, IRA

Janis puts a certain kind of melancholy and desperation into this song that completely resonates with me.  The sky is yellow with heat.  There's joy and release in letting everything that's inside of you out into the air.  The menace of sorrow and rain is a wide ribbon of black on the horizon.