Studio Under construction

Two of my capable nephews are building-out a new studio space for me in
a room adjacent to my kitchen.

Previously, it was where my mamma slept and then held extra storage
after.
I called it the Room of Whoa!
because it made me say Whoa! before entering the room filled with dreck.
hashtag#hoarders?

Now it is presently under construction.

When the ceiling was opened, we found a small ball of tatting/crochet thread
tucked in a corner
We think it was a sign from momma

A huge weight has been lifted

The fellowship I won has given me the funds to move mountains of 

both real and mental storage.

Next week, my guys are going to help move the bulk of what used to be in that room  

out of my house and out of my care.

Yeah!

More to come.

Sandra Brownlee Workshop in Scotland 2013

Artist, Sandra Brownlee will be teaching in Scotland at Big Cat Textiles

 in Newburgh, Scotland in August, 2013 and (big smile) I will be there.

See more about the workshop here.

I was introduced to Sandra's work through India Flint who will also attend this workshop, but not before she teaches a few workshops herself.

See more about India's teaching schedule in the UK here.

Artist, Lorraine Glessner posted about her work last February.

Mohawk Paper posted a wonderful description with images of her handmade book, Departures and Returns, which is the counterpart to her exhibition in 2009 with the same name. The book was a finalist for a Masters Arts Award of Nova Scotia

Also Karen wrote a series of posts on her blog about meeting Sandra during a workshop at Haystack taught by India Flint and about visiting Sandra's studio. (oh joy!)
Please, grab a cup of something warm and enjoy the journey through Karen's words and images. (sigh).


If you are willing and able, I encourage you to set out to Scotland this summer and take this class.  Just imagine, Sandra, me, India, and few other new good friends and maybe YOU...sitting and stitching. Meditating, eating, walking, learning...

 Alison Mountain at Big Cat Textiles and Cat in the Hat told me that she has a few spots remaining to be filled. 

Come join us, won't you? And do send me an email if you plan to go.

Intuition and the Creative Spirit

C. Mauersberger, Drawing using Intuition made on Sunday 1/20/13
while thinking about Elizabeth Duvivier.
Human Heart. Pixie Dust.

I am going to spend a long weekend at Squam Art Workshops  in June this year.

Before I spoke to Squam founder and director, Elizabeth Duvivier, today I began to meditate about talking to her. We've only had one previous chat and a few emails, but I felt that I knew her.

I began to draw 

The resulting image is what you see above.

At the end of our discussion, I told her that I made a drawing in preparation for our phone meeting.

And that I would email an image of it to her.

Then I realized that the drawing is all about her. 

Call it intuition or whatever you like... I drew a human heart with clouds of colored pixie dust spilling out of its arteries. My inner voice connected with my hands before my conscious-self understood the meaning.

And that is what Elizabeth does. She promotes creativity as a way of life and fabricates fabulous gatherings in the woods to train, inspire, heal and to expand our creative spirit.

The best way to describe Squam is by using her words from the Squam Art Workshop website:

"So, what is Squam?

Here are three things it has been for me:
a journey into greater, sustained joy; 
the beginning of an adventure; 
a life changing revelation and revolution (with all of the glory and none of the politics)."

Founder and Director Elizabeth Duvivier with her dog Daisy

photo credit:  Sarah Rainwater for Apartment Therapy

Learn more about the art retreats at Squam here.

Perhaps, you might find yourself taking a class or two at Squam this year...

If you do, let me know, because I want to meet you while I am there.

New Notes

Language, Notes
C. Mauersberger 2013

January blues

both G and I have had colds for over 12 days. 

I'm trying to clean out my studio, engage in fitness, eat well, and make art.

Pfooy!

DAILY Home remedy: Green drink

Home made juice: Kale, cucumber, apple, ginger, lemon, celery...

 Circle stitches

Ugh, even these don't appeal to me. 

Must be the fog between my ears.

Germs, Cold, Flu, or otherwise.
I am sooooooooooooooo
OVER having a cold.

Found
Location: W 117th Street, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: January 17, 2013

Prologue

It is the beginning of anything today.

Snow in my yard and sidewalk on January 1, 2013

wool skirt from thrift store, fall, 2012

Altered Skirt, as of Jan. 1, 2013

Altered Skirt, detail, 2012-13

Many Happy Wishes for You

Gingie house, 2012, Mauersberger

Since 2009, my friend Christy and I have made these sweet little gingerbread houses on or near her birthday in December.  This year we added a new twist and made a 3-D gingerbread tree to accompany the little edible dwellings. 

Gingie Tree with holiday deco and...the last bit of flame from a candle I've burned in memory of my mama.

See  2009, 2010, and 2011

I wish you happiness at this time of year.

Peace.
Christine

Salt and Stitches

C Mauersberger work in process, 2012

More musings on observation and stitching. 

Spread salt on black ground and create stitches upon observation.

C. Mauersberger work in process, 2012

C. Mauersberger, Photo:  Salt on black ground, 2012

I am still working on the sidewalk series seen here

Am amused that there are endless stitching compositions at my finger tips.
Literally.
Here a few salt pictures (of many).

C. Mauersberger, Photo: Salt on black ground 3, Detail

C. Mauersberger, Photo:  Salt on black ground 3, 2012

C. Mauersberger, Photo: Salt on black ground 4, 2012

C. Mauersberger, Photo: Salt on black ground, Cross road, 2012

C. Mauersberger, Photo: Salt on black ground, Circle, 2012

C. Mauersberger, Photo: Salt on black ground, Ho, 2012

My Friend

Nyx

© Terry Jarrard-Dimond 

47" h x 45.5" w and is hand stitched.

I try to keep tabs on all the blogs I follow. At times, I'm a few days behind...

Just now I saw that my friend, Terry Jarrard-Dimond, made a lovely post regarding the fellowship I was awarded. See it Here.

Thank you Terry.

I've written about Terry here and I remain Smitten, I think you will be too. 
See Terry's Here and be prepared to be knocked out.

Fellowship Announcement

Road Ahead, 2012
Work in Progress
Christine Mauersberger

I've been holding onto this information since October 17, 2012 when 2 events occurred:

1. It was my 52 Birthday and I was spending a splendid sunny fall day with India Flint

AND 
2. I received an official phone call to congratulate me for being selected  as one of twenty artists who will receive a $20,000 award each through the Creative Workforce Fellowship, a program of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC).


And today, I am allowed to post the official news

My husband, George Mauersberger, received this award in 2011. I wrote about it here.

We are 1 of 3 couples in the county who have won this award. 
Don't you wish you lived here?

I am humbled and have many more miles to go on my road.