Christmas is Almost Here

My friend from DC sent me this modern technological take on the Nativity.  Someone went to some trouble putting this together.  I enjoyed it and I hope you will.  


Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA&feature=player_embedded   Córdoba, Argentina.

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Essays to Blogging - Reading to Forget

Todays New York Times had an interesting article about a women, Sara Bakewell,  who wrote a book titled "How to Life" which is a biography tying things back to the essayist Michel Eyquem de Montaigne.  He is considered the first essayist and the article talks about how he inspired a significant number of writers and in some ways could be the inspiration for blogging even though he was from the 16th century.

        http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/books/18montaigne.html

What I found most interesting about the article though was one of her favorite of her 20 items on how to live.  It was "Read a log, forget most of what you read and be slow-witted".

That definitely resonated with me since I love to read but forget most of it.

Bakewell writes that Montaigne always complained about his "monstrously deficient memory and that reading and forgetting "let him follow his own thoughts wherever they led".

Perhaps why I love to read.

Through the Portholes in Sienna

Lost Detroit

Lost Detroit is the theme of at least one of two recent photo books of some of the ruins of Detroit.  This Friday I decided to go down to the Boston Edison district to an estate sale.  The area has some beautiful houses but many of these large houses are under serious disrepair.  This house was advertised as being under three generations of hoarders.   I am sure their were many treasures there but it was so crowded with people and books that it was hard to look.  I did buy an old ring they said was from Italy and a plaster lion that is on my porch.  The people who lived there were readers, loved movies and were amateur  painters.  But it was very sad to see a house that had fallen into such disrepair.

The first picture is of the house next door, the second is what used to be the gutters on the house, the third the walls up to the attic and the fourth the basement window,

Vacation Book #1

One of the things I love about vacations - is spending the time in the plane or in the evenings reading.

The first of the books I read in Italy this month was "The Cellist of Sarajevo" by Steven Galloway.   I thought the book was very good.  I do believe you can learn allot from novels.  Premise was how people stay human in inhumane circumstances.   You can read a review at this link http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=hardcover:sale:9781594489860:15.36

I was taken by a quote since I am a pessimist and at work they say they only want optimists.  I say that there is nothing wrong with pessimism as long as you have drive for results.  Pessimists tend to be realists and address how to make things better.

"Do you know the difference between an optimist and a pessimist?...A pessimist says "O dear, things can't possibly get any worse.  And an optimist says "Don't be so sad.  Things can always get worse".

Maybe it is better to be a pessimist - you tend to do things about the situation.

Sunday in Florence

Since it is Sunday - I thought I would share one of the MANY pictures of the cathedral in Florence (which we visited last Saturday).  Very impressive.  Many of the facades of the churches in that part of the country are multi-colored.  This picture doesn't show that as well as others I took since it was a grey, misty day.

Under the Tuscan Rain

Just got back last night from a week long tour of the Tuscany region in Italy.  All the tour guides laughed and welcomed us to the "Tuscan Sun".  November is their rainy session and we had rain most days.  But it was still one of the best vacations I have had.  I loved the area.  I really felt like I belonged there.

I am still sorting though pictures but the one here is from region around San Gimignano.   Some very subtle fall colors.

Halloween Faces

A face that stands to greet those who come trick or treating to my door.  No pumpkins but a face in keeping with the Halloween tradition.   It is part of a metal candleholder on my porch.

In keeping with that tradition, the last book I finished reading is called "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" by Katherine Howe.  Not my normal type of book since it is a novel about the study of witches in Massachusetts in the 1680s but it was recommended to me at the "Bookbeat" where I usually go book shopping.

The author is working on her PhD is American and New England Studies and is a descendant of the people who were involved in the with trials.

It reminded me that women who were different or knew how to treat people with plants and herbs were frequently labelled as witches.  Not so sure today that we don't label those women who are different by todays standards as crazy, mad or call them witches.

Not all Fall Leaves - Some Flowers Hang On

Hadn't had the camera out in a while.  Took a few snaps in the back yard.  Not all fallen leaves - still some remains of the flowers

Both ends of the rainbow

I don't believe anyone really sees the ends of rainbows (always trees or houses in the way in this area).  But did see a full, gorgeous, brighter than I remember ever seeing, rainbow this evening on the way home from work.  Sun shining on the rain covered trees on the way to work - a full rainbow on the way home.

Can't ask for a better day.

10 10 10

I was reminded today that today is a 10 day.  It certainly is weather wise.  Sun is out - a bit cool but no wind.

Finished another book (I had 4 going at one time - now down to 2).  Another thrift store find by Jane Goodall titled "Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey".    It is a memoir about her life from the time she was a little girl to how she ended up studying chimpanzees to her current work.  She seems like a gentle person who I would like to know.    One of the quotes:  "Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives,  and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other."

Red Bugs

I was telling someone about the natural dye workshop I took this summer when I was in Albuquerque at the weavers conference.  I mentioned we started from the original substance instead of the extract.  That included grinding bark and "bugs".   I women I know said she had a book that I might like so she brought it in to work and lent it to me.  The title is "A Perfect Red" by Amy Butler Greenfield.  It is the history red dye - primarily from cochineal.  For those who do not know what cochineal is - it is a snail like bug that grows one type of cactus.  It was a fascinating book.  I enjoy reading about history in this way - how one factor influences history.

The picture is from one of my trips to Mexico.  A demo was given with the person just squishing some of the bugs and applying it to the envelope.

Windy Wedding

Just went through my pictures from my niece Jacki's wedding in Arizona.   Beautiful wedding.  I think it's best to have something to be able to talk about that didn't go as planned.  In this case - it was the sand storm that started just before dinner.  But it appeared that everyone had a good time.  

I liked this picture brother  Jim and Carol with the Jacki & Jeff.

You can see some of my pictures from the rehearsal at this link http://gallery.me.com/susanlolli#100201

....and the wedding at this link http://gallery.me.com/susanlolli#100193

The gallery is set up so you can download pictures from it.

Wealth

I get daily emails from a weaving list and one of the quotes after a respondents name is:

Wealth consists not  in having great possessions
But in having few wants.
E. De  Waal


An interesting quote.  What do you think wealth is?  I know my view is changing lately. 

Gorgeous Day

Earlier in the week, 90s and humid.  Yesterday, cold and windy.  Today, a glorious day.  Went out on my bike and took some pictures near the west branch of the Rouge River.

Psychedelic Weekend

Had two weeks of ridiculous hours at work that is not over yet.  So for the weekend, decided to get a way with a trip to Toledo to the art museum then to a early dinner at Tony Packo's.   The art museum had an exhibit of Psychedelic Posters from the 60s.    

http://www.toledomuseum.org/exhibitions/the-psychedelic-60s-posters-from-the-rock-era

If you get a chance - go there for the exhibit.

Both Frank and I really enjoyed it.  You could view the exhibit on many levels.  Since I had just finished a design class at CCS I was interested in how they used pattern, lettering, color and balance to convey a message.  Heard lots of comments from people "I remember that group....".    They had a room of black light posters (remember those!!!), along with video playing of concerts from the 60s.

I particularly liked the posters by Victor Moscoso --- primarily the one for The Doors http://www.victormoscoso.com/doors.html

He had studied with Josef Albers who was an expert in color theory and I loved his use of old photos in many of his posters.  

I also loved the posters of Bonnie MacLean who was one of the few female artist included.  She always had a "disconnected" face in her posters.

Great nostalgic trip!

Day 1 Convergence in Albuquerque, N.M.

OK - it is now day 5 but I finally have internet connection.  Here are my notes.  

Convergence is the bi-annual conference of the Handweavers Guild of America.

Plane left Detroit 50 minutes late but managed to make my connecting flight in Minneapolis.   After arriving at the hotel and picking up my conference packet I wandered around the downtown area.  From the convention center it looked like an old train station in the distance and that is what it turned out to be.  It is now the transportation hub with Amtrak, Greyhound and the local bus system.

From there I walked down Central, which is part of the old Route 66 route.  Had a quick afternoon meal and found the hat store that Frank and I bought Kris and Chris cowboy hats when they were little. 

After a short swim, went down to the hotel bar for a light meal.  While I was deciding where to sit, another lady asked me what I thought of the menu.  I indicated that the bar had a light menu and when she said that sounded good, I invited her to join me for dinner.

She was enjoyable company.  She owns the Folkways Pattern company and had previously owned a local wool shop and worked at Fiber Arts before her current job.

Buried in Homework

Just saw that it has been almost a month since I posted to this.  Between work and the homework from the Design Class as CCS I have had no time.

But over the 4th of July weekend I tried to relax and do some reading and weaving.

On the Friday I finished the book "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz.  I had given it to Frank for Christmas and he enjoyed it.   It had won the Pulitzer Prize and I did like it - but I am sure he enjoyed it more understanding the Spanish that was heavily sprinkled about.  

On Saturday I started "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch.   I went on a reading marathon and finished it on Monday.  Compelling writing though I felt it could have used a few less different foster home horror stories as she moved from one to another.  A good story though about how her mother, who was in prison, still has such a strong hold on her and who she is.

DPChallenge #3

Going downhill on scores.  Last weeks challenge was "Take a photo in which two similar subjects are captured at once."


I titled the picture "My Eye is Fuller than my Vase" which is from a poem by Emily Dickenson.  

Received my lowest score of 20%.  


Two comments:
 1)  Nice Composition harmonious use of color.  The on camera flash is a big detraction.
2)  You got hit because the items weren't similar enough - but this is an exquisite shot. Beautifully done!


But despite the score - two people gave me a 10.  So I was pleased.  
(and no you cannot vote for your own)

DPChallenge #2

Did better on my second attempt at the DPChallenge.  This time the topic was "Family".  The instructions were "take a photograph that conveys the idea of family.  Your photo need not contain a person."  


This time I managed to get in the top 50% (barely - with a 53%).  The last time was a 15% (or they rated 85% of the other photos better than yours).  I feel pretty good about it. 


I titled the picture "Fading Immortality" and it is below:

Some of you may recognize who this is -- the snapshot is an old picture of my grandparents (my dad's parents).  The picture on the left is part of an encaustic collage I had made in a workshop I had attended.  It is a collage technique using colored wax.  The family tree on the left if from a copy of the Lolli family tree that my dad had done.


So far - I am having fun with this.  I have another picture I submitted yesterday for this weeks challenge - looking forward to see how I come out.  Looking at the other pictures - I don't think I will make the 50% goal.

More Views from the Back Yard

DPChallenge #1

A friend of mine talked me into entering the DPChallenge which is a web site that has a weekly photography contest based on a topic.  Last weeks topic was "Other Art Forms".  You needed to take a picture of another piece of art that you do.    I entered a picture of one of the scarfs I wove.  Ended up 125 of 146 with an average score of 4.8 (out of 10).  Why I really entered is to start trying to get more creative with my photos and also to get ideas about how to improve.  I received three comments and two were constructive (the third was a pat on the back).

One person suggested I crop it differently to concentrate more on the fringe against the black.  I tend to agree.

The other comment was "Looks just a bit low in contrast: there could be brighter color in your image to display those colors".  Now I have to figure out what she/he means and how to do that!   Life is a learning experience.

May Be Changing My Favorite Flower

I have always loved lily of the valley.  Those of who have seen my bathroom you would see that I have a lily of the valley them going.  But I find I have not learned how to photograph them very well.  My pictures always turn out to be fairly blah.

But I love how iris's come out.  I have printed up one of my iris pictures from last year and hung it in my other bathroom.  Here are a couple of my latest pictures from my yard.

Not Allot Of Light

I have been on a reading kick.  I just finished "By the Light of My Father's Smile" by Alice Walker.  Another of my thrift store books.  I had high hopes for this book since Walker won awards for "The Color Purple."   One site on the internet called it a stunning, original work.  But I checked out the NY Times review and they seemed to agree with me.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/10/04/reviews/981004.04proset.html

Now I know why the book looked almost new, including the dust jacket, when it was over ten years old.

Glass Castle

Frank has been giving me a hard time that I haven't been reading when I picked up two books at the thrift shop last week.  He couldn't understand why I needed to add more books to my pile.  It is not that I have not been reading - I had three different books going but none of them were grabbing me.

So to show him I started reading one of the new books,  "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/books/review/013COVERPROSE.html

Interesting book.  It is a memoir of growing up with very unconventional parents.  A very nomadic existence with not enough food but being positively influenced despite an alcoholic father and a mother who pretty much ignored the kids.

Tulips are Still Out

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine looked out on my web site and commented that I hadn't been out much with my camera.  She was right.  So I have been trying to get out a little more.  The second group of tulips have recently come out in my garden.

I Just Finished Registered for School

I am taking the plunge.  I want to attempt to get into the certificate program for Web Development and Design at College for Creative Studies (CCS).  This program is less about the tools and has a significant design emphasis.  Before you can get into the program - you need to have taken a college level design class.  I decided to try to understand the competition by signing up for the design class at CCS.   Starts in June on Wednesdays.  Back to homework.  I now the class with be a stretch but it should be interesting.

Nature and Hallucinogens

Monday there was an article in the NY Times titled "Seeking Medical Uses, Doctors Tune Back In to Hallucinogens".  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/science/12psychedelics.html?scp=1&sq=hallucinogens&st=cse

No I am not going to try to sign myself up for the study - but I did like some of the comments made by one of the psychologists who participated in the study.

"...an improved outlook on life after an experience in which the boundaries between the self and others disappear......I wasn't any longer attached to my performance and trying to control things.  I could see that the really good things in life will happen if you just show up and shar you natural enthusiasms with people.  You have a feeling of attunement with other people."

Wonder if you can get the same experience from smelling the blossoms that are flowering currently?

Where is the Soul

I am currently reading the book, "The Hero's Journey" by Joseph Campbell.  I now know he was very popular in the 70's and 80's but I had never heard of him.  I am finding the book quite insightful and starting yesterday - I began underlining passages in it.  Now I NEVER underline in books, just like I never write notes in books.  But there were quite a few comments I wanted to refer back to.  So today, as I read I see the passage

          "Joe, what kind of meditation do you do?"  I said, "I underline sentences."

I guess I am following in his footsteps as a type of meditation.

The next paragraph has the following quote:  The seat of the soul is there where the inner and the outer worlds meet.  The outer world is what you get in scholarship, the inner world is your response to it.

I don't think about the soul much but to read two passages about it in one evening is a coincidence.   The other book (my purse book) that I am reading is "The View from Castle Rock" which is stories by Alice Munro.   In the story recounting her ancestors coming to Canada from Scotland, the character is asking where the soul leaves the body at the time of death.  Most say it hides in the lungs and leaves with the last breath.  The joke is that one character was so dirty it emerged from his "arsehole" with a large explosion as he died.

That definitely made me laugh and you have to laugh when you start thinking about the where is the soul - what is it that makes you who you are and what is important to you.

Finally Getting Out with My Camera

Trying to get pictures of the tulips before the rabbits get them.  This one was whole in the morning - my the afternoon the rabbits had destroyed it.

MidTown Saturday

After the club walking practice on Saturday - Frank wanted to go down to the Detroit Public Library main branch to look for a specific book he couldn't find at the local library.  After that - a trip to the DIA.  I was surprised to see a weaving demo at the library.  I knew one of the weavers.  It was good to see so many people stopping and asking questions.

Took a few pictures at the library which is a beautiful building with great ceilings and stained glass windows.

Then across the street to the DIA.  A very interesting photo exhibit from the 50s of pictures taken in Detroit.

Scarf of Many Colors

On Friday I attended the second day of the two part workshop given by Debbie Cooper for the Michigan Weavers Guild on woven shibori.  I missed the first part on the weaving when I was in Ohio for a funeral.  One of the others in the workshop was nice enough to weave my samples for me.  Between the January workshop and Friday - we were to complete our scarf and then learn Debbie's dying techniques.  I had no particular colors I was interested in so decided to do I multi colored scarf in the jewel tones I gravitate to.  A bit colorful but a great reference for some future combinations.  Weave structure was monks belt supplemental warps with 10/2 mercerized cotton.

Day 3 Indoor-Outdoor

New tree on side of house - believe it is witch hazel but need to look at my landscape plan.  I decided to use my small camera and then crop it since I cant get as close as I wanted.  The "indoor" picture was without cropping when Frank suggested I take a picture of the "dead dog"

Day 2

Thought I would try a picture of the day for a while.  Today is day 2.  I am not happy with either one of them.   The outdoor one is a house they are demolishing in Birmingham.  I need to look at it closer once I take it - I cut of the top of the window and the others I took of the house were not very interesting.  The indoor picture is of a scarf I like the pattern on.  I need to learn how to photograph material better.  It is good to have goals.

Indoor/Outdoor Pictures of the Day

Haven't gotten the camera out in a while so thought I would get it out and try an outdoor picture of the day and an indoor picture of the day.  Of course to get one picture to post you need to take more than one.  The outdoor picture shows what kind of weekend we have add.  The picture is from the "pond" in the street in front of the house.  The indoor picture is from a basket I purchased at an estate sale a month or two ago.

The State Champion!

I am the official Michigan Indoor 3KM Racewalk Champion for 2010.  Of course it was very easy - I was the only one racing that distance.  The race is usually a 3KM but this year they added a 5KM Regional Championship.   Everyone else did that distance.  Frank suggested I walk that race since it was a "bigger medal".  Too much work and since I am usually last I decided I didn't want to be out there so long.  So.....
I was able to be the winner.    You can see the results here.... http://www.pegasusac.org/Pegasus_Walkers_AC/2010_Race_Results.html

Another Encaustic Monotype Workshop

Took another workshop in encaustic monotypes with Leslie Sobel.  I believe I like this technique better than the other type.  I found the following description on the internet.


The Encaustic Monotype is an innovative, contemporary process and a painterly approach to printmaking. This process is experimental, freeing, and has been used successfully with a range of imagery and styles. The encaustic monotype combines the ancient painting medium of encaustic with the popular monotype process. Encaustic sticks (beeswax and pigment in solid form) are used to draw on a heated metal plate. The wax melts instantly and is manipulated with brushes and other tools. Absorbent paper is laid on the plate, the back is rubbed, and the image is transferred to the paper by hand.


I decided to try a couple pieces with color combinations that I do not usually use.  You can see a sample of what I did.

If I Can't Travel - At Least Read

Just finished "The Best American Travel Writing".  It is my "purse" book which is one I carry around in my purse for when I go somewhere and am waiting, stuck stopped on the freeway with the car stopped (that has happened to me), or at a restaurant by my self.

It can never be a novel - it may not be opened for a month and that to long for me to remember what has been happening.  So it is usually essays, and once and a while short stories (which I am not a great fan off but I do read a few authors.

The two stories I found most interesting were one about a delivery in Antarctica and the one with the best title "A Keilbasa Too Far", about being sick on you travels.  May you never experience it.

What if You Were a WPA Artist Today?

Last Sunday Frank needed to go down to the library at Wayne State to check out a book he wanted for his class.  I decided to go with him and he ended up not checking out the book he wanted and I ended up checking out two books to use to research weaving from Guatemala.

Afterwords - we walked to the Detroit Institute of Arts for lunch and a which visit.  Their current exhibit is:

                Government Support for the Arts: WPA Prints from the 1930s

I realize they plan these exhibits many years in advance but I find the topic interesting during this time.  During that depression the government wanted to put people to work including artists so funded this project to provide them work.  Seems like we could use that type of project now.

To try to make their exhibits more relevant, the DIA has taken to providing postcards with a challenge that the ask you to reply to.  This one stated:
     "WHAT IF YOU WERE A WPA ARTIST TODAY? You'd be paid to capture the "everyday American Experiences" of your own time.  On the back of this card, draw or write about the kinds of images you would create."   They had pictures of some of the examples.  What would you draw or write?  I am still thinking about it but you can see some of the examples at this link:

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitinstituteofarts/sets/72157622901746919/

A Bright Day

Woke up this morning to the sun - finally.  Seems like it has been grey for too many days in a row.  I broke out the camera to try to capture something other than grey skies.

From there I went to the Michigan Weavers Guild meeting.  It was one of the better meetings we have had in a long time.  One of our members,  Lois Bryant, gave a talk on inspiration.  It was interesting to see some of the early art work she did in grade school and college and how she has come back to themes or a look she had 30 years before.

After her presentation she did an exercise with us where she had us cut blocks out of magazines then mount them.  She uses them as a starting point to spark an idea - whether it is a shape or a color palette.   It was interesting how each of our "cut-outs" were so different.  An interesting exercise would be to do it in another color pallet that you normally are not attracted in.

Disappointing Olympics

I am an Olympic junky - but it is hard this year.

I was shocked when I turned on the TV for the opening ceremonies and it was not on my faithful channel 9.  I am used to the Canadian station covering the Olympics.  How can they not cover the Olympics in their own country????  Turns out it is on a Canadian station we don't get.

So instead of my fix of cross country skiing, biathlon and other sports you don't usually get to see (yes - even curling!), we get too much snow-boarding, too much short track skating and not enough long track skating.  And also - all the interviews instead of just covering the sports.  

Did get to see one cross-country race (probably only because a US guy was supposed to get a medal which he did).    So I sit here with my computer, with the TV on - as I troll the web trying to find what I want to watch.

May just have to try to go to London for the next Olympics if I can't get Canadian coverage.

Grey with Warmth

The day was grey but kept to my plans to break out the camera on my day off and go to Belle Isle.   I was hoping that the Belle Isle Conservatory would not be closed for the holiday and it was not.    Very damp and cold day but I soon had to take the coat off as I took my pictures.  You can also check my web page to see some of todays pictures.

Snow is Back

Winter snow came back earlier this week.  Before work I went out to take some pictures.  Not particularly happy with them ---- trying to hurry too much.  Here are a few.

Not What You Expect to Find at the Optical Store

Tonight I was on my way to the Roots store to buy my traditional Winter Olympic hat and I saw a loom in the window of Optiks on Maple in downtown Birmingham.  I go in and they have two different fund raisers for different weaving project.
The Namtegna Project is sponsored by Cranbrook Kingswood Weaving Studio. They assisted in building a weaving studio in Namtenga Africa.  Their weaving for sale their is in cotton and of simple patterns.  They can be worn as scarfs but I may go back and get one as a table runner.  They also have some beautifal wool scarfs and shawls made with vegetable dyes and woven in India in a village in the Himalayans.  You can tell they have been weaving longer than the African group but they are both interesting.  I will try to bring a sample of the scarf I purchased to the next guild meeting.  If you are in the neighborhood - stop by and take a look and perhaps support one of the groups.
The window design is quite clever so I thought I would share some pictures I took of the display