San Jose Museum of Art

Hi all,

I can’t believe that it’s been 6 months since I last posted!  My husband and I have been involved in a very complicated process of career change (his) and impending relocation to sunny San Jose, California.  My daughter relocated to Seoul, South Korea a few months ago, as well.  I’m afraid my head has been in a whole other world and I just haven’t had any mental room for making art or even talking about it. 

We are currently in the process of selling our home in Illinois, finding a new place in San Jose and getting ready to move.  I probably won’t be making all that much art this summer, but hope to drag the 3 people left who still read my blog along through our relocation via blog posts.  I’m sure I will have some amazing new art venues to post from California and other useless trivia to share along the way. 

A few other things.  I am moving to a smaller space and am trying to lighten the load a bit before the moving truck pulls up. To that end, I am selling my Gammill Longarm and am discounting almost all of my work by 50% until it’s loaded on the truck (+shipping).  There are a few pieces that I’ve decided not to sell at this time, but anything that is for sale, will be discounted.  Buy more than 1 and I’ll throw domestic shipping in free.    I will post more about that later in the week and have a link to a sale page, but if you have been contemplating a purchase of my work, now’s the time.  Feel free to contact me in the meantime, if there’s something you’re interested in. 

Given that I have never even been to San Jose, this is bound to be quite a ride.  I hope you’ll come along.

-Tracy

"Cave Series VII" (C) 2010 by Tracy McCabe Stewart

I know it’s been a while.  I have been busy with non-art stuff for a while and haven’t had much that really seemed worth writing about. 

I just completed the piece shown above.  It’s another piece in my cave series; all are based on the incredible images found on the cave walls of Altamira (Spain), Lascaux (France) and chauvet (France).  As much as I work with these images, they never cease to thrill me.  I have another piece on the boards, so it will be a lot less time before the next post!

Barb Harms, a wonderful art quilter with a great blog, has posted an interview with me on her blog. 

  Take a look here 

My fabulous guild, the North Suburban Needle Arts Guild is having it’s incredible annual show, “The Fine Art of Fiber” is happening at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.   I will have multiple pieces in the show and have work for sale in the boutique.

The show will run the following hours:

Thursday, November 4, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Friday – Sunday, November 5 – 7, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Come and say hi!

Hi all,

My friend Margie Trembly of Springfield Artworks is holding some wonderful classes.  check them out:

Springfield ArtWorks in Springfield,NE to Celebrate their First Anniversary with Special Events and Classes

Springfield ArtWorks, located at 183 Main Street in Springfield, NE  will be celebrating their first anniversary on November 4,5 and 6th by hosting nationally recognized fiber and jewelry artists and authors, Kay Kaduce and Rona Horn from Wisconsin. Kay and Rona’s popular book(also written by Judy Jacobs) “The Big Book of Needle Felting” is a popular felting book. They also have authored other art books as well.

The classes are as follows:

Thursday,November 4,   Rona Horn

First half day        –Knot right now bracelet    11am-3pm  class fee $65, materials fee $30

Knot Right Now by Rona Horn

Second half day  –Felted bead necklace         4pm-8pm  class fee $65, materials fee $25

Felt bead necklace

Lampwork beads will be available (but not necessary) for purchase for both of the half day classes.

Faux Freefrom bracelets by Rona Horn

Faux Freefrom necklace by Rona Horn

Full Day- Wet felt vessel  class fee $130,  materials fee $40 –  9am-4pm

wet felt vessel by Kay Kaduce

Friday, November 5, Kay Kaduce

Full Day-   Nuno felt scarf class fee $130,  materials fee $25   9am-4pm

Nuno scarf by Kay Kaduce

Saturday, November 6, Kay and Rona

Make and take it flower Nov 6 from 11:30- 4:30pm   $8

In addition to the classes, Springfield ArtWorks will be hosting a trunk show of Kay’s and Rona’s work entitled:  Wearable Art Trunk Show featuring Kay Kaduce and Rona Horn from October 28th from 1pm-6pm Tuesday-Fridays and 11am-5pm Saturdays until November 20.  Closed on Sunday and Mondays. Art pieces will be available for purchase at the trunk show.

On Saturday, November 6, Glenn and Margie Trembley, owners of Springfield ArtWorks will be showcasing their private collection of glass art including works by Josh Simpson, an internationally recognized contemporary glass artist, best known for his infinity project, Margaret Neher nine time Niche award finalist and two time winner, best known for her glass botanicals, Newy Fagan a renowned artist in the kiln formed glass movement, best known for her fused horses. Diana East from the UK, best known for her award winning glass beads,Kevin Smolark, an up and coming glass artist,and Higgins Studio, best known for blazing the path for fused glass using window glass and glass powder and frit.  They will also have special pieces that they created for their own collection.  This event will be held from noon until 4pm.

The public is invited to attend the open house on Saturday.

contact: 
Margie Trembley
Springfield ArtWorks

http://www.springfieldartworks.com
info@springfieldartworks.com
402-301-9162–

The Studio Art Quilt Association (SAQA) begins their annual fundraiser today!  This is a great opportunity to purchase some great art work and help a really wonderful organization at the same time.

How the Auction Works

There are 288 Benefit Auction quilts donated by our members. The SAQA 2010 Benefit Auction will begin on Monday, September 20th at 2:00 Eastern Time and conclude on Saturday, October 9 at 2:00 Eastern.

Last year’s Benefit Auction raised $47,325. The funds raised through the Auction are critical to supporting SAQA’s exhibitions, catalogs and outreach programs.

How the Auction works:

The Auction is run in three sections (Section 1 – Pages 1a and 1b; Section 2 – Pages 2a and 2b; Section 3 – Pages 3a and 3b).

On the first day of each section’s auction, the price for all pieces in that section is $750. The next day (at 2:00 Eastern), the price drops to $550. The third day, it drops to $350, then $250, then $150, and finally $75.

The first section will begin September 20th at 2:00 Eastern.
The second section will begin September 27th at 2:00 Eastern.
The third section will begin October 4th at 2:00 Eastern.

On another note, I’ve been vat dyeing again.  This one below was made from a Procion dye that I got from Dharma Trading Company called Mild Wing Sauce.  It was an oops dye they were selling at a great price.  It was screened with golden yellow and scarlet vat dyes.

Scarf Mania! Scarf by Tracy McCabe Stewart

this one was created from another oops! Dharma dye called How Now Brown Cow.  I LOVE this color.  It was screened with scarlet vat dye as well.

More Scarf Mania! Scarf by Tracy McCabe Stewart

I a a fairly pragmatic person, but occasionally do have grandiose fantasies.   I wrote about my Fake Farmer fantasy in an earlier post.  One of my fantasies is to own a gypsy wagon.   My husband just shakes his head and changes the subject because usually they are in no danger of becoming real. 

Ha!  He may have to worry just a little more because now you can take a gypsy caravan vacation across Ireland.  You get the gypsy wagon and the horse and travel the open road.  You probably cover about 10 miles in the week and probably have a hard time pulling up to the grocery store, but who cares?  It’s a gypsy wagon! 

Vardo from Wikipedia

The fantasy lives on……..

I got a last minute chance to participate in a lovely art fair this weekend:  The Festival of Fine Arts in Wilmette, Illinois.  My incredible guild, the North Suburban Needle Arts Guild will have a booth of artists displaying their work over the weekend.  I will be there Sunday from about 10am until 1PM, displaying some of my work.  If you are in the area, stop by and say hello.  I would love to meet you.

Crane Series I (c) by Tracy McCabe Stewart

  You can find me in the North Suburban NeedleArts Guild tent, where I will be exhibiting fiber art with several other artists including Shelley Brucar  (there on Saturday), Cathy Mendola (there both days), and Women’s Journey in Fiber.

The Festival of Fine Arts is held Saturday 9/11 from 10am until 5pm and Sunday 9/12 from 10am until 4pm in the Metra parking lot, Lake Ave and Greenbay Road, Wilmette, IL.  Hope to see you there.

I am a huge fan of Gretchen Rubin.  She’s the author of the wonderful bestseller, “The Happiness Project” and the blog of the same name.

She has a great post on questions to ask yourself when making tough decisions.    It was the perfect advice for me right now as my family is considering some big changes.  Maybe it will be for you, too.

Enjoy!