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Healing Through Art

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As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, NAMI Lansing is hosting an art show in Old Town (https://www.namilansing.org/). I have two pieces in this wonderful fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Lansing office. Join me at Urban Beat in Old Town Lansing on Friday night, October 12th, 7:00-10:00PM! There will be an interesting variety of artworks expressing the beneficial properties of making art.

See you there!

Peace Sign Project

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Create your own individualized peace signs from paper, plastic, yarn and beads.  Draw peace signs on paper (or use stickers or clip art), laminate with clear plastic, hole punch the edges and crochet around with colorful thread or yarn.  Voila! You have a wonderful, unique ornament, pendant, earring, or good luck charm.

Materials:

Paper (I used white drawing paper)

Markers, crayons, or gel pens for drawing (I used fine tip markers and metallic gel pens)

Round Hole Punch (1/8” or ¼” diameter)

Embroidery floss or crochet cotton (I used sizes 20 and 3) for edging

1 skein embroidery floss for each tassel, optional

Clear plastic laminate for heat sealing (3 mil or 5 mil)

Laminator, electric (I use a “Scotch” brand laminator)

Large eye Beads, optional

Large eye embroidery needle

Small Crochet hook (I used B and E)

Steps:

  • Draw peace signs on paper—I ranged from 2-3” diameter
  • Cut out shapes
  • Laminate
  • Cut out peace sign shapes, allowing minimum ½” clear border around each shape
  • Hole punch around shape, within clear border area, spacing holes about 3/8” apart
  • With hook moving from front to back through punched holes, single crochet around the entire shape, creating a colorful border.  I usually make 3 stitches per hole—you may have to “fudge” a bit to make the crocheted border fit snugly around the curved edge.
  • NOTE:  I used a E hook for embroidery floss and crochet cotton #3 and ¼” holes
  • I used a B hook crochet cotton #20 and 1/8” holes
  • Upon reaching the first single crochet stitch, join with slip stitch to first single crochet stitch.
  • To create a loop, chain 25 and join with slip stitch to first chain.  Tie off and weave in end.
  • If desired, add tassel by making tassel from one skein of embroidery floss.  Refer to Crafty Chica’s instructions at http://www.craftychica.com/2014/06/colorful-purse-tassels-keychains/
  • Thread needle and string it through top of tassel, thread beads onto strand.  Cut and tie onto the crochet edging of peace sign
  • Embellish your peace signs as design with beads, tassels, or connect 2 or more together as a hanging
  • Alternative to crocheted loop—use large metal jump rings as hangers or connectors
  • Enjoy and have fun!

Coming in January-February, 2020!

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Guns: Loaded Conversations

Today we find ourselves living in a society in which gun violence feels commonplace. Yet an enormous divide exists between people who cherish their heritage of gun ownership and others who are concerned about the rising tide of gun violence.

Artists have been a catalyst for difficult societal conversations throughout history. Guns: Loaded Conversations seeks to engage viewers of differing opinions to listen to each other and to encourage community initiatives that may inspire action in seeking solutions.

Organized by SAQA, Studio Art Quilt Associates this exhibition features 33 art quilts by both national and international artists. The exhibition was juried by Dr. Vicky A. Clark, an independent curator and writer. She has assisted with Fiberart International exhibitions in cooperation with the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, and has been a visiting curator and lecturer in the Textile Department at Goldsmiths, University of London.
She is also a professor of art history at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, West Virginia University, and Clarion University.

January 15 – February 8, 2020 University Art Gallery, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/cam/uag/Pages/calendar.aspx

Reception– Wednesday, January 15, 2020 / 4-6 pm