"one.promise"

On the eve of 2010, I want to thank you for sharing your time and your creativity.

I've just spent a few moments looking at where my blog was a year ago - what type of art I was creating, and how it has evolved.

A toast to all the promises of new year. My warmest regards and sincerest gratitude.

"approaching.mon.tauk"


detail

Back to work - the railroad line I ride commences at Penn Station and ends at Montauk at the south eastern tip of Long Island. The photographs sampled has no bearing to that place, but my quilt reminds me a bit of the winter landscape there. There are sparsely vegetated sand dunes and some pines along a barren shore with roads, all tinged in shades of pastels - a world morphed by blown sand and relentless sun.

The Montauk Lighthouse is a great place to see winter ducks including eiders and scoters.

In winter Montauk is fairly deserted, mostly locals, with all the Hamptons crowd being elsewhere during the cold weather.

"shore.line"


detail

This one is dedicated to my friend, Lisa. All my best to a kind generous talented blog artist. Sampled again mostly from here.

Today is the last day of vacation - two days of work and a three day weekend. It is windy and raining outside. Good day to stay in although my oldest son has a nine AM swim practice.

"one.warm.winter.day"

Yesterday was gorgeous, close to fifty degrees in New York City. It felt like spring and bore all that season's promises. Hope you are well. My best.

"one.mi.racle"

All my best to you during this special season. A very merry Christmas, if you so partake. Sampled from around this world.

"thoughts.alongside.a.lake"


"detail"

Stephen Baird was kind enough to allow me to sample his splendid winter scene. Stephen's blog, "Nikon Sniper", is approaching two thousand followers, a remarkable feat.

The work here is mixed with a poached lakeside photograph and some screenshot ramblings. I prefer the detail, particularly since I posted a small jpg version of ther entire quilt.

I may play with this some more, sometime. Here is a detail of the work before I added the lake scene.



All my best.

Tuesday's commute - Penn Station, subway stairs and nighttime at Bellmore.

I have been listening to the Monkees and to the Young Rascals on my iPod. I remember the delight being a child these last days of the year. Today I will go to Pearl Paint and get Alex some art supplies for Christmas. Possibly some good pencils and a sketch pad.

A gift that I hope he will never outgrow.

"Good lovin'.
Good lovin'.
Good lovin'.

I was feelin' somethin' bad,
I asked my family doctor just what I had,
I said, "Doctor, Doctor,
Mr. M.D., Doctor,
Now can you tell me, tell me, tell me,
What's ailin' me?"
Doctor.

He said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Yes, indeed, all you really need,
Is good lovin'.
Gimme that good, good lovin.
Good lovin'.
All I need is lovin'.
Good lovin'.
Good lovin', baby.

Baby please, squeeze me tight.
Squeeze me tight.
Now don't you want your baby,
To feel alright? Feel alright.
I said Baby, Baby.
Now it's for sure,
It's for sure.
I got the fever, Baby, Baby,
But you've got the cure.
You've got the cure.

I said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yes, indeed, all I really need,
Is good lovin'.
Gimme that good, good lovin.
Good lovin',
All I need is lovin',
Good lovin',
Good lovin', baby."

Wishing you all some good lovin'.....my best.

"tomorrow.in.spring"

On the first full day of Winter here, I am mixing images of early Spring and late Fall - with dashes from Europe and Japan.

For those who like holiday music, check out NPR's All Songs Considered Holiday Mix for 2009. A really odd Dylan song is in there, "Must Be Santa."

On the page you can listen to specific songs. I recommend Sufjan Stevens' "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Low's "Silent Night" and The Raveonettes' "The Christmas Song."

I will be taking a number of days off so today will be my last Penn BB's until almost New Year's eve.

Thank you, always, for your visits and for your kind supportive words.

Mariana with her Halloween witch's costume on - I finally took a lot of pictures of the costume yesterday including this one with the BB.

"a.winter.collection"


detail

I was not that happy with the earlier version - here it is retooled and retitled. The subject is COSMICaroline in her imaginative Halloween costume.

In late October we had dried leaves. Flash foward - we had two feet of snow to shovel today. I am not dreaming of a white Christmas. Our kids had fun, but my arms and back ache. Marie, my darling shovel buddy, also is very tired.

I am not sure how many of you know Debi Cates but she is a remarkable photographer and friend living in West Texas. Debi was one of my first blog friends and inspired me through her words and her actions. She allowed me to sample two years ago and if you click on her name under Labels you will see "old" work together. It seems like light years ago.

Debi and I will be working together, with my sampling (for the first time) some of her splendid full sized images and that is incredibly exciting for me. I really admire Debi's work.

Thanks, Debi. All my best.

"in.fashion.one.winter"


"detail"

Quick study - image already sampled....snow everywhere here.

I spent time yesterday at a Music Store. Greg was trying out foot pedals for his guitar and Mariana and Alex first playing the drums and then a wonderful sounding electric piano.

The fuzz pedal that Jimmie Hendrix used costs about $150. As I have stated before, with the loss of record stores here a few music stores like the one we visited have become my sanctuary.

"Angel came down from heaven yesterday
She stayed with me just long enough to rescue me
And she told me a story yesterday,
About the sweet love between the moon and the deep blue sea
And then she spread her wings high over me
She said she's gonna come back tomorrow"

Hendrix

Stay warm. Create.

Thursday and Friday's commute - Penn and subways and LIRR. Self portrait even - one has my accidental thumb on it but it still works and gives it a claustrophobic feeling.

Today we have blizzard warning. Let it snow, I guess.

Variations, drafts - summer (not) in the city. A northern girl, not a Northern Song.

Well East coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there

The Mid-West farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls

The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a french bikini on Hawaii island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand

I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states
Back to the cutest girls in the world

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls

I took out the last refrain. This song is magical.

Ask Santa to buy ya The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" in Mono if you do not have it. It is truly amazing.

My best.

"au.gust"

Simple Simon sampled - renegade quilt maker that I am. Recently I have asked for permission to use images from two blogs and I have gotten no response.

I am working on a sampling "partnership" with an exceptional photographer and I hope it will work out. I do not have time to take good photos nor do I own a good camera. Let's see. I need inspiration. I enjoy collaboration.

The new work would involve weeds or plants or fields or old walls and nature, possibly some birds. Many of my favorite samples have include nature.

I want to work with large image files and be able to blow up large.

I am tiring of the BB shots in part since I have done them a lot, almost every work day commute, since maybe June. Need to take a break.

I had thought of using the BB shots for samples but the quality is not there not sharp enough. We shall see.

Create. As they sang in the play Rent, "The opposite of war is not peace, it is creation."

Tuesday morning in Penn and E train platform.

Regarding quilts it is clear I need to sample, but what is less certain, and I am exploring options.

Thanks for your kind words and support.

"once.dreamnt.water.falls"

Another fashion blog sampling - I have written and asked the blog owner for permission to use some of her images. The photographs are taken in northern Europe and are quite sophisticated and striking.

Like some art blogs some fashion blogs are mundane. A few transcend the subject matter and celebrate life through joy and creation and beauty.

There is a difference between something, or someone, being pretty and being beautiful. Beauty has a depth and a passion. It is less ephemeral. There is integrity.



Earlier draft. If I get permission, I will link the blog.

Penn Station last Thursday. "I saw her standing there."