Diddy-Wa-Diddy

Kelly's 2011 canning list

2012-01-11T07:27:00.001-08:00

The previous blog post was a compilation of this woman's daughter, Myrtle Buntin Winchester. This lady is Cora Barker Buntin, my paternal great grandmother. I like to think that her canning gene is within me as well. Cora raised twelve children and lived in Tennessee.

I keep a daily farm journal of my gardening , foraging, gathering, and cooking experiences. This has become a gem of information for me as I refer back to each previous year's journal to stay on track of what needs to be accomplished in a particular month and to see where the current year compares. In 2010 , there were three months that were swallowed up in canning of tomato sauces and salsas besides regular daily gardening chores. I regret not even keeping scraps of paper noting how many sauces I canned. There were 150 tomato plants that year and we didn't sell any tomatoes. I canned and dehydrated night and day. In 2011 there were considerably fewer tomato plants and we are still eating sauces from the 2010 marathon. Still delicious. Also from 2010 are many jars of pear butter. I developed three different spiced recipes and that year was a bumper crop of pears. I spent most of that fall canning pears.

Here is my list from 2011. I hope Great Grandmother Cora is pleased with the fruits of my labor. I am sad to say that I never met this lady. She was gone before I was born.

Apricot jam 88 half pints ( two trees in our yard )

Strawberry jam 19 half pints ( I pick these at a farm north of our place )

Peach jam 28 half pints ( these peaches came from southern Missouri and there are more in the freezer to be worked up)

Blackberry jam 7 half pints ( from our canes, more in freezer to work up )
Blackberry jelly 6 jelly jars ( 4oz. )
Blackberry vinegar

Mulberry vinegar ( from our tree )

Gooseberry jam ( from wild gooseberries I pick in our woods ) 4 half pints

Boysenberry jam ( from our canes ) 4 half pints

Elderberry Grape jelly ( from elderberries on our place + grapes from farmer couple in Arkansas ) 8 jelly jars ( 4 oz. , more in freezer to work up )
Pontak sauce 1 recipe
Elderberry shrub ( good medicinal )

Breakfast Pears 36 pints ( from one ancient tree in neighbor's yard)
Pear Mincemeat 13 pints ( an all fruit and spices recipe + rum, cellar it for a year to deepen flavor )

Still have raspberries, red currants, blackberries, peaches, mulberries, and gooseberries in freezer to work up into jams and jellies before spring.

Pickled Greens 7 half pints ( turnip, amaranth, and nettles, separately. The concept for this recipe is a good one but I wasn't thrilled with this particular recipe. Will create my own recipe and try again this year.)

Pickled Jalapeños 17 pints

Pear and Sweet Onion Chutney 4 pints
Major Grey Pear Chutney 9 pints

Apple Onion ale relish 8 pints

Pepper Onion relish 7 half pints

Cranberry Onion Jalapeño relish 6 half pints ( didn't care for this recipe at all)

Smokey Three Pepper Cucumber relish 9 half pints ( blue ribbon recipe)

Peperoncini 4 pints

Picked Sweet Green Peppers 4 pints

Bread and Butter Cucumber pickles 3 pints
Persian Tarragon cucumber pickles 2 quart jars ( fridge recipe, blue ribbon)
Pickled Green Tomato slices and Onions 1 quart jar ( fridge recipe, blue ribbon)

Tomato preserves 10 half pints
Bruschetta in a jar 10 half pints ( not crazy about this recipe, needs fixing )
Tomato salsa 18 pints
Tomato sauce 26 pints ( herbs + onions + chiles )

* remember the larder shelves are loaded with 2010 tomato sauces and pear butter( three recipes I developed )

The above list does not reflect the three large ( rather ) upright deep freezers packed to the point of bursting. Nor does it reflect the dehydrated cherry tomatoes, herbs, and greens stored in glass jars. Nor does it reflect the root cellared crops. Not to mention the barrels of black walnuts gathered from our trees, pecans gathered from our trees, and acorns , also gathered from our trees.

The funny part is that this is food for two people. We eat all of our meals at home.

alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696396713398199474" />

List from mid 1950s

2011-12-28T15:20:00.000-08:00

A piece of ephemera from my collection that hasn't a thing to do with the list below. Just something I wanted to share.

This list ( and people seem to make them at this time of year ) is from the mid 1950s. It came into my life from my second cousin's family folder. It is a list accomplished by my paternal Great Aunt. A list of foodstuffs that she preserved to feed herself and the six children still living at home.

4 and 1/2 bushels of sweet potatoes
1 and 1/2 bushels of white potatoes
Lots of dry peas and lima beans
85 quarts peaches
15 quarts pickled peaches
69 quarts black berries
70 quarts green beans
80 quarts tomatoes
25 quarts vegetable soup
55 quarts apples to bake
18 quarts apples for pies
35 quarts beet pickles
48 quarts cucumber pickles
10 quarts mixed pickles
12 pints apple jelly
32 pints pear preserves
10 pints peach preserves
5 pints plum jelly
14 pints blackberry jelly
18 pints blackberry jam
175 pounds vegetables in the freezer at the Food Locker in town ( lima beans,3 kinds of peas, okra, cut corn and several pounds of goat meat)

I have not compiled my list of preserved foodstuffs for the year of 2011 yet. Am still cooking fruit jams from this year's crops. Numbers are in the journal and soon I shall share.

Farm Report nine days before Winter Solstice

2011-12-13T14:21:00.000-08:00

carrot crop. planted 31 Mayo. dug 10 Diciembre.
scarlet keeper. atomic red. jaune obtuse du doubs. muscade. tonda di parigi.

rows of fall greens: torasan komatsuna. cima di rappa. giant red mustard. marzatica. kyoto mizuna. champion collards. golden ball turnip. rutabaga.
thriving with a simple plastic blankie when temperatures plunge into the teens.
fresh salad greens daily.

twenty nine half pints apricot raw vanilla jam
results from last week in the kitchen
raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, strawberries, peaches, red currants, and elderberries await alchemic act resulting in jars of jam and jelly
therapeutic nourishment for the soul.

as winter settles in
seed catalogs arrive in the mail
research book towers threaten to topple
reflection on lessons learned this past growing season
hopeful lists of fruit trees and nut trees, different varieties of heirloom vegetables, canning recipes, hoop house, adding bee colonies, saving and sharing more seeds.

rain is falling,
nine days before winter solstice.

Rabbits, everyday

2011-02-11T06:05:00.001-08:00

Lapi ( rhymes with happy) exhausted by its job painting eggs each spring reclined peacefully in chick's gondola, reflecting on past lives and future possibilities. Perhaps a career in vegetable gardening, though being an empathetic rabbit, perhaps nursing would be a good field with job security. Lapi's Dutch uncle had enjoyed the title patron saint (local only) of wounded hares, looked to in times of distress both mentally and physically. Perhaps Lapi could hop into Uncle's boots. Thankfully, Lapi knew whatever new pathway it hopped down it would be loved.

In honor of the Chinese Year of the Rabbit and since I was born in a year of the rabbit, I decided to create this small collection of everyday rabbits to be enjoyed and worn all year round. The images come in token (charm )size, pendant size and ornament sizes. In these photos the pendants are shown with nickel plated steel bead ball chain. They will all be available with linen ribbon if you so chose instead of chain. I work with vintage images, paint, beads, ephemera and my hands to create the original artwork which is then printed in an archival manner and safely encased in metal cases and acrylic lens created from flat stock, in Rhett's studio.

I will get back to you on where these can be purchased. In the meantime please feel free to leave comments or email me as to where you can find them for sale.

Year of the Golden Rabbit

2011-02-04T05:35:00.001-08:00

Hand sewn and painted , using vintage fabrics, rabbit hand puppet created on the eve of the new rabbit year by a rabbit ( me ).

2011
Year of the Golden Rabbit
began 3 Febrero 2011, ends 22 Janvier 2012
fourth sign of Chinese zodiac
rabbit is symbol of the moon, yin
(whilst peacock is symbol of sun) yang
according to Chinese tradition
a rabbit year should be spent in a restorative manner
bring calmness to your life
breathe deeply
center and focus.

A lucky red envelope
a magic wand of sorts
filled with blessings
red, an auspicious color
to carry red with you
wards off evil
gathers in blessings
red, a lucky color
the color to begin a new year.

I hand each of you in this new rabbit year a red envelope filled with moon dust to sprinkle upon your head. This magical moon dust will have healing and restorative qualities. Carry red with you this year and sprinkle a bit of lucky rabbit moon dust on others in need. Help others breathe deeply.

Mekong Giant Catfish, CR ( critically endangered )

2010-12-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

Mekong Giant Catfish
Pangasianodon gigas
CR ( critically endangered)

mixed media, hand sewn and beaded painted leather figure seated on hand made wooden chair
photograph by Bruce Mathews
in a private collection

Mekong Giant Catfish
Pangasianodon gigas
CR ( critically endangered)

In May of 2005, a 646 pound nine feet long giant catfish was caught in the Mekong River by a fisherman. This fish is the current record holder for the largest freshwater fish ever caught. Historically the Mekong Giant Catfish flourished in the Mekong River Basin. This catfish could be found in the freshwaters of the Tonle Sap Lake, Tonle Sap River in Cambodia, and the Mekong River which flows through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Local fisheries began reporting the disappearance of the species in the 1970s. Current population size is unknown for the Mekong Giant Catfish. The IUCN has qualified the species for Critically Endangered from estimations of past and current catch records over the last thirteen years which show a decline of more than 80% of the population.

Continuation of this species will not come easily. Fisheries in the Mekong Basin are on the rise. Loss and degradation of the catfish's habitat are serious threats also. Deforestation along the northern parts of the Mekong River area has caused increasing siltation of the Mekong mainstream. The rapids and whirlpool ecosystem within the "Golden Triangle" is the only part of the Mekong that the giant catfish use as a spawning ground. This portion of the river is slated to be reconfigured by a Mekong rapids blasting project sponsored by the governments of China, Burma, Thailand, and Lao People's Democratic Republic. With the removal of the rapids, navigation of the river channel will be easier for boats. Also the construction of dams along the river, like the Pak Mun Dam in Thailand, the catfish can not migrate back and forth to their historic spawning grounds.

Zeb Hogan, an American aquatic ecologist, leads the Mekong Fish Conservation Project in Cambodia. Their goal is to protect vulnerable populations of migratory fish in the Mekong River Basin. One of the supporters of this project is the National Geographic Society's Conservation Trust. As a part of this project, Hogan purchases live fish from Cambodian fishermen. The fish are weighed, measured, DNA samples gathered for genetic studies, tagged, and released back into the water. The record holding catfish caught in May of 2005 that was purchased from a fisherman was a part of this project. Unfortunately, the giant catfish died before it could be released. Optimistically though, this project should keep more endangered fish alive and allow scientists to gather valuable data about migration patterns, habitat use, and mortality rates. Hogan hopes this knowledge will lead to the creation of no-fishing zones and better management of Cambodian fisheries.

Pink-headed Duck , critically endangered

2010-11-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

Pink-headed Duck
Rhodonessa caryophyllacea
CR ( critically endangered)
12"x7"x7"
mixed media , hand sewn and beaded leather figure seated in hand made wooden chair
photograph by Bruce Mathews

Pink-headed Duck
Rhodonessa caryophyllacea
CR (critically endangered)

Unconfirmed sightings in the 1960s and again in 2004 in remote wetlands of the state of Kachin, Burma ( some call the country Myanmar) and the fact that large areas of Burma haven't been explored by ornithologists are the reasons why this duck is considered critically endangered instead of extinct. The last specimen in the wild was shot and killed in 1935 in Darbhanga Bihar, India. The last known captive duck kept in an aviary at Foxwarren Park, England died in 1945.

Historically the Pink-headed Duck's known habitat included northern Burma, north-east India, and central Nepal. Freshwater ponds, marshes, swamps, and wetlands surrounded by bushes, tall grasses, and subtropical forests provided aquatic plants and mollusks to eat and nesting areas. Swamps of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers in northern India have been drained, cultivated, and heavily populated, leading to the decline of the species in that area. Many forests in Burma are being heavily logged causing further stress on any of the ducks that might still be in this country.

The male Pink-headed Duck has a pink head and neck which has made it a sought after trophy by hunters through the years. The female has paler pink plumage on its head and neck. Not only does this pink coloration make this duck unlike any other duck, its pure white or pale yellow egg differs from all other duck's eggs by being almost perfectly spherical.

The Pink-headed Duck has always been considered as rare.

Our Lady of the Earth

2010-06-14T04:35:00.001-07:00

Our Lady of the Earth
2003
28"x15"x8"
photograph taken by E. G. Schempf
mixed media, beadwork

Our Lady of the Earth
Patroness of world's highest mountain peaks
Feast Day 29 May

The Inka conquered the Andean people in the fourteenth century.

The Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and his army conquered the Inka Empire in 1532. This conquest brought Spanish priests and missionaries along with their faith and the image of Virgin Mary to Peru.

A group of native born artists in Cuzco rebelled against the Spanish guild system, establishing an independent art guild in 1688. This guild was known as the School of Cuzco. It was the first indigenous organization of artists in the New World. The Cuzco artists blended European traditions with local beliefs and imagery.

In paintings and sculptures, the image of the Virgin Mary took on the attributes of Pachamama, Earth Mother. Her outer garment became a triangular form representing a mountain.

The Andean people realized that veneration of the mountains and earth along with the maintenance of earth's landscape were essential to their existence.

On the other side of the planet the Buddhist Sherpas of Nepal also respect their landscape as being sacred. The mountains are the sacred abode of deities and the protectors.

In 1953 on the 29th of May, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand along with Tenzing Norgay, a local Sherpa, conquered the summit of Mt. Everest. "Well George, we knocked the bastard off!" were Hilary's words to a fellow teammate after descending. The British Queen Elizabeth II later knights Hillary. With the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mt. Everest, I decided that this interpretation of the Virgin Mary would be rendered in the Cuzco School style. She would quietly remind us to protect mother earth.

As transient stewards of this earth, its landscape and environment, we must constantly protect and venerate.

Ghost Dance

2010-04-20T05:05:00.000-07:00

Black-footed Ferret
Mustela nigripes
Endangered
only ferret species endemic to North America
mixed media painted leather , hand sewn and beaded
2007

Since April is National Poetry Month, I decided to share with you my words that are a part of an artist statement written in 2007. This statement accompanied the Endangered and Extinct Intercessors created in 2006 and 2007.

( statement written in 2007)

Riding the Sixth Great Wave One Stitch at a Time

What an armchair journey this has been over the past two years. Extensive and intensive researching of endangered and extinct beings that have called Mother Earth home. It all began for me with the Pink-headed Duck. Well over two years ago I became distressed by the wholesale slaughtering of chickens and then ducks. Listening to a story about duck herders of Thailand on a National Public Radio news program, I was fascinated by this image. I googled duck herders of Thailand and was able to read other stories with images of ducks. I could not pinpoint the species though. Concurrently, I was pondering the direction that this particular body of work would head. I knew that I wanted to continue creating jointed leather bodied Intercessor figures and their ongoing story of aiding humans.

The world's chickens, ducks, and migratory birds needed a leader to shepherd them to safety from the evil misguided human species. Whilst thumbing a book about extinct and vanishing birds of the world, I spied the words Pink-headed Duck. Oh! What a name and, I am very fond of the color pink. I turned pages to the chapter on this mysterious creature thought to be extinct. Here was a being that could lead bird populations of the world to safety.

Evolution of a theme. Creatures that had suffered at the hands of humans. Endangered. Extinct. Red listed. Each one specifically picked to come teach misguided human species a lesson. And, I would not depict the usual suspects. Species with specific messages from around Mother Earth. An image that haunts me is one of how cattle will circle round a cow giving birth, facing outward to protect. These same cattle will encircle a dead cow, facing inward, mourning. Translate that image to a bestiary of Intercessors facing inward, encircling Mother Earth ( depicted by a globe). Powerful message for misguided humans.

Each creature would have a red cross patch on its chest to signify that it is a pilgrim on a journey to teach lessons and cause humans to pause and contemplate.

Goal: Put on someone else's "shoes" for awhile. To gain empathy, tolerance, understanding.

Lean away so that others may breathe.

A sanctuary
of EN y EX beings
dance
a dance
a ghost dance
or maybe
a dance of
things as they are
but dance
they must
a dance
beyond us
a dance
around Mother Earth
twirling inward
twirling outward
beings
gather
to dance
in a circle.

Siberian Crane, CR ( critically endangered)

2010-04-11T04:43:00.001-07:00

Siberian Crane
Grus leucogeranus
CR, (critically endangered)
14"x6"x9"
mixed media, hand sewn and beaded painted leather figure seated on hand made wooden chair
photograph by Bruce Mathews

Siberian Crane
Grus leucogeranus
CR, (critically endangered)

Adult Siberian cranes stand five feet tall and weigh only thirteen pounds. Females generally lay two goose-sized olive green eggs which are incubated for twenty-nine days. Rarely do both chicks live. Siberian cranes are omnivores. Whilst living on the breeding grounds, they will hunt rodents,fish, insects, and gather cranberries. On migration and whilst living on wintering grounds these cranes dig up nutrient rich roots and tubers from the wetlands. The oldest living documented Siberian crane lived to be eighty-three years old.

Nine of the fifteen species of cranes worldwide are threatened with extinction. The Siberian crane with a rapidly declining population of less than three thousand is listed as critically endangered. Historically there were three populations of Siberian cranes.

The western population's breeding ground is in Russia just south of the Ob River and east of the Ural Mountains. They migrate southward to a single site along the south coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran. The crane's primary threat here comes from human hunters.

There is little doubt that the central population has been extirpated. This population once nested in western Siberia and migrated south to India, spending a resting period in Afghanistan. The last documented sighting of a Siberian crane in India during the winter months was in 2002.

The eastern population which makes up 95% of the entire Siberian crane global population locates its nesting grounds on the lowland tundra of northeastern Siberia near the Arctic Circle in wetlands, bogs, and marshes. These cranes winter along the lower Yangtze River (Chang Jing) in China. It is here, in China, where the species is threatened with losing its critical wetland habitat.

This wetland habitat is Poyang Hu lakes, a maze of small lakes and marshes filled with shallow water, wet meadows, and broad mudflats. During summer floods, this area grows into a single lake which shrinks every year becoming the perfect wetland habitat for cranes and numerous other migratory waterfowl. This critical habitat is in the lower Yangtze River basin in southeastern China.

Siberian cranes are threatened in these wetlands by commercial hunters and by farmers who are draining the pools of water, gaining new cropland. A growing human population also threatens this habitat. But by far the most imposing imminent threat to the very survival of this population is the manmade Three Gorges Dam. This hydroelectric dam spans the Yangtze River, upriver from the Poyang ecosystem. Below this dam, plans are to deepen and re-channel the lower river to improve transportation, agriculture, and industry. These changes will disrupt the seasonal flow of the river and change water levels in the lowlands. This dam also threatens other endangered species such as the Yangtze dolphins, Chinese sturgeons, Chinese tigers, Chinese alligators, and giant pandas.

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores ( Our Lady of Sorrows)

2010-04-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores
Our Lady of Sorrows
created in 2001
28"x15"x14"
photo taken by E. G. Schempf
mixed media, hand sewn and beaded leather figure

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores
Our Lady of Sorrows
Feast Day: 15 September

Our Lady of Sorrows represents the Blessed Virgin Mary mourning the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. She is usually shown with a dagger in her heart, symbolizing the piercing of her heart with sorrow. This image is based upon the Gospel verse: "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also," (Luke,ii,35). Sometimes she is depicted with seven swords piercing her breast denoting her seven sorrows. The first sorrow refers to the prophecy of Simeon. The other six sorrows refer to her suffering during Christ's life: the flight into Egypt, loss of the divine child in Jerusalem, meeting with her Son bearing the cross, the Crucifixion, receiving the body of her Son from the cross, and placing his body in the tomb. Other attributes traditionally associated with this depiction are the cross, nails, crown of thorns, lance, sponge, column, chalice, and washbasin. Our Lady is usually portrayed in a grieving attitude, head covered, usually with hands clasped and tears streaming down her face.

In my interpretation, the holy shroud is draped and the sacred heart is hung on the cross. Our Lady is holding the nails from the cross. Painted on the sides of the shrine are novenas in honor of the seven sorrows of Mary.

Arabian Oryx, EN (endangered)

2010-03-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

Arabian Oryx
Oryx leucoryx
EN (endangered)
15"x7"x7"
mixed media leather jointed sculpture
photograph taken by Bruce Mathews

Arabian Oryx
Oryx leucoryx
EN (endangered)

Around 1800 the habitat of these white antelope was the desert plains of the entire Arabian Peninsula. Nomadic herds composed of two to fifteen individuals followed the rare rains in search of grasses, leaves, and buds. During the heat of the day, the oryx would rest in the shade offered by trees and bushes. Their white coats helped also to reflect the desert's sweltering heat. The lifespan of an oryx could be as long as twenty years. Each birthing after a gestation period of eight to nine months produced a single calf. The jackal, a native predator, preyed on young calves. Humans hunted the adult oryx for their meat and hides.

World War II birthed new powerful human guided predators. The automatic rifle and the Jeep. Decimation escalated in the decades after this war until it is thought that the last wild oryx was killed in 1972. The main cause of extinction of the Arabian Oryx in the wild was overhunting. Bedouins killed them for their meat and hides. Sport hunters killed them as a trophy.

Thankfully, captive breeding had begun in the 1950s on the Peninsula. In 1962, several individuals were sent to the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona where the breeding program flourished. Oryx were reintroduced into the wild in Oman in 1982. In the following years others found the desert in Bahrain, Israel, and Saudi Arabia to be their new homes. The reintroduction population in the wild numbered 886 in 2003.

Sadly, poaching by humans has once again become a serious threat to the reintroduced oryx. Also the escalating temperatures in the desert are stressing these creatures.

Archangel Gabriel

2010-03-10T14:57:00.000-08:00

Archangel Gabriel
created in 2003
21"x13"x11"
photograph taken by E.G. Schempf
mixed media fabrics, leather and hand beading

Archangel Gabriel
Feast Day 29 September
Patron of telecommunications and postal workers, philatelists, diplomats, messengers, and ambassadors
invoked during childbirth

Gabriel is one of the two highest ranking angels in Judeo-Christian and Mohammedan religious lore. He is the archangel of annunciation, resurrection, mercy, vengeance, death, and revelation.

In the Old Testament, Gabriel interprets Daniel's visions, (Daniel 8: 15-27, 9: 20-27). Gabriel appears next in the New Testament to announce the birth of John the Baptist to Zachariah, (Luke 1: 11-20). Again within the book of Luke, (1: 26-38), he visits Mary in Nazarene which becomes the scene of the Annunciation.

It was Jibril (Gabriel) who dictated the Koran, sutra by sutra, unto Mohammed. In Jewish legend death and destruction to the sinful cities of Sodom and Gommorah were dealt by Gabriel. Court testimony of Joan of Arc states that Gabriel inspired her to take up arms in the name of the King of France. As a guardian angel along with St. Michael, he shares the duties of hindering demons from entering churches.

Gabriel is usually depicted as a winged, beardless youth with a nimbus. In the Annunciation scene he wears a long tunic. His attributes are a kerykeion ( messenger's staff), lily, a scroll with the greeting to Mary: Ave Maria, gratia plena ( Hail Mary, full of grace), and sometimes a unicorn.

I have chosen to depict Gabriel during the Annunciation scene. He stands at the right hand of Mary making the sign of Heaven and Earth with his left hand lowered toward earth and his right lifted towards heaven. This sign implies that he has descended from heaven for a brief visit and also calls on heaven and earth to witness what will transpire with Mary. Gabriel's eyes are also lifted towards heaven expressing his concern that the will of God shall be done.

He is clothed in a tunic, chlamys (mantle with clasp at the shoulder), and a diadem ( ornamental headband worn as a badge of royalty).

Annuncatio

2010-03-03T04:19:00.000-08:00

Annuncatio
( Annunciation )
created in 2002
28"x14"x14"
photograph by E. G. Schempf
mixed media

Annuncatio
Feast day 25 March

The Annunciation has been celebrated since the sixth century. Pope Sergius I set the feast day exactly nine months prior to the nativity of Christ. An existing third-century image of the Annunciation within the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome appears to be the earliest depiction of the event. Biblical and Apocryphal information about Archangel Gabriel's visitation to the Virgin Mary can be found in St. Luke's Gospel, 1:26-38, and Protoevanguelium of James, 11,1-3.

I have chosen to depict the Virgin Mary's response, "Ecce Ancilla Domini," Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.

Having dropped her spinning yarn, the Virgin Mary reaches across with her right hand to touch her left shoulder in a sign of acceptance. She sets aside the assignment to weave a veil for the Ark of the Covenant out of purple and scarlet fabric. Her eyes are raised toward the white dove hovering below a blue disk which symbolizes the Holy Spirit in the heavenly realm.

I have clothed the Virgin Mary in a red maphorian (long veil worn over the head and shoulders). Red denotes sacrifice. Her gown is blue which represents essential humanity. On the front of the bodice of her gown is a beaded gold circle surrounding the letters IC XC, (the one who is) which alludes to God the Son is in her womb.

The lily has come to symbolize Mary's purity.

In Russia, people used to set birds free from cages on this feast day.

Popcorn Bag

2010-02-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

Popcorn Bag ( design 55 pattern )
10" tall by 11 and 1/2" wide plus shoulder strap
felted wool hand knitted bag

It is a one hundred and ten mile round trip to Whole Foods. I make this pilgrimage a few times a year, stocking up in the bulk aisle. To make my trip count, I like to visit Yarn Shop & More in old downtown Overland Park, Kansas for inspiration and to pet and purchase the "pretties". Two examples of knitted bags caught my eye. A cotton version and a felted wool one. This bag was covered with knitted bobbles. Immediately I envisioned one of my charms sewn to the center of each bobble. The felted wool bag would be a showcase for my charms. Perhaps it might plant a seed in the imagination of fellow knitters. I bought the design55 Popcorn Bag pattern.

Using Lamb's Pride wool and mohair yarn (mustard and red) and a hand dyed wool yarn from Textiles A Mano (turquoise), I followed the pattern with the exceptions of adding stripes, change of bobble color in one row and length of shoulder strap. I also, after the bag was knitted, went back to beef up each bobble. The turquoise bobbles on mustard row have yarn "rings" round them. Chartreuse and coral. Sewn round each bobble before felting. I hoped this would help these bobbles stand out.

There are twelve bobbles per round therefore there are twelve charms sewn on the bag. I could sew a charm to all the bobbles but that might be overkill. Will meditate on this and see how the bag evolves.

If you are interested in purchasing this pattern, the designer is Carol Eddington. Her email address on the pattern says: design55@everestkc.net . Yarn Shop & More might stil have her pattern for sale too.

If you are interested in purchasing charms, please contact me.

Happy knitting !

Proboscis Monkey, EN ( endangered)

2010-02-21T06:05:00.000-08:00

Proboscis Monkey
Nasalis larvatus,
EN, endangered
11"x7"x8"
mixed media leather jointed sculpture
photo by Bruce Mathews

Proboscis Monkey
Nasalis larvatus
EN, endangered

"Dutchmen monkeys", as they were known historically by local people on the island of Borneo, live only on this island in the treetops of riverine and coastal forests and swamps. The male monkeys huge noses, which swell and turn red when angry or excited, reminded the locals of the Dutch sailors during colonial times. These Dutchmen and Proboscis monkeys also shared the characteristic of appearing potbelllied. These monkeys have huge chambered stomachs which contain healthy bacterias that aid the digestion of leaves, seeds, and young sour fruits that make up their diet.

One of Asia's largest monkeys, the proboscis, who lives in groups, can weigh up to fifty pounds and have a lifespan of thirteen years. After a gestation period of 166 days, a female will give birth to one baby. Twins are rare. Proboscis monkeys have long thick tails which help them balance in treetops and are excellent swimmers due to their partially webbed hands and feet. This ability to swim allows the monkeys to cross rivers which are the crocodile's habitat. Crocodiles and humans are the main predators of this monkey.

The population trend for the Proboscis monkey is unknown because their habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate. These monkeys need vast expanses of native forests in order to hunt enough vegetal material for sustenance. Native forests are being logged for timber, burned to clear the land, and replaced with oil palm plantations. Palm oil, a major ingredient of soaps, moisturizer, lipstick, and foodstuffs such as margarine, confectionery, chocolate, and ice cream, is one of Malaysia's top exports.

In Sumatra the tigers and elephants are also losing their habitats due to these plantations.

Saint Agatha of Catania

2010-02-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

Saint Agatha of Catania
created in 2001
26"x12"x17"
photograph by E. G. Schempf
mixed media

Saint Agatha of Catania
Feast Day 5 February
Patroness of Malta, nurses, invoked against breast diseases, fires and volcanic eruptions
Reliquary photographs by Megan S. Wyeth

This noble Sicilian virgin spurned the advances of a Roman senator, Quintianus. Agatha endured many torturous trials as he tried, unsuccessfully, to destroy her virtue. At one point while she was imprisoned, Quintianus ordered Agatha's breasts to be cut off. St. Peter interceded, appearing in her prison cell to apply a "celestial ointment" which restored her breasts. Quintianus was not moved by the miraculous cure to her wounds. He ordered her rolled on burning coals, to which were added broken potsherds. Agatha expired.

It occurred to me that in today's world, Agatha would teach women how to honor their bodies, particularly their breasts. She would be a doll wearing a mask. On the back of her head would be part of a phrenology chart.

In the 19th century, phrenology, a study of the conformation of the skull, was a popular method of determining mental facilities and traits of character. A rather inexact science which somewhat parallels how our culture treats women's breasts.

I chose to depict Agatha's breasts as reliquaries. A reliquary is any vessel in which relics are sealed and kept. Between her breasts over the fourth chakra hangs a medal of St. Peter. On her tray lies a lesson book for women to read in hopes that it will encourage them to take responsibility for their own health.

Siberian Tiger, CE ( critically endangered)

2010-01-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Siberian Tiger
Panthera tigris ssp. Altaica
CE (critically endangered)
photograph by Bruce Mathews
11"x7"x6"
mixed media sculpture, painted hand stitched and beaded leather

Historically the Siberian tiger, ( reverently called "Amba", Great Sovereign, by the Udege people of Russian Far East) inhabited the Korean peninsula, Manchuria, and the Russian Far East. There were thought to be between six hundred and eight hundred tigers in the Russian Far East prior to economic development of the area. By 1940 this estimate dropped drastically to no more than thirty with an unknown number in China and Korea. Approximately two hundred and fifty mature individuals live in the Russian Far East currently but the numbers are declining. Only twenty percent of this declining population can be found within the supposed safe havens of three small reserves.

The Siberian tiger can live to be fifteen years old in the wild and possibly to twenty if kept in a zoo. Males can weigh as much as 660 pounds and be almost eleven feet long. Females will weigh between 200 to 370 pounds and be eight and one half feet long. Their orange colouring is paler than other tigers of the world and their stripes are brown instead of black. In the winter their hair can grow to be as long as twenty-one inches, helping insulate them from frigid winter temperatures. Tigers live a solitary life for the most part. After a gestation period of approximately 110 days, a female will give birth to a litter of two to three cubs, though this number can range from one to six cubs. The Siberian tiger's diet typically consists of red deer and wild boar. Their habitat is mixed pine and broadleaf forest.

Humans are the predators of the Siberian tiger. In the early 1900s the building of the Chinese Eastern Railway aided in the slaughter of the tiger in Manchuria. Poaching continues to this day, in spite of it being against the law, because of unstable economic conditions, the demand for hides and body parts for traditional Chinese medicine. Commercial logging within the dense forests of the Russian Far East and the subsequent development of the cleared land has reduced the tiger's habitat. Humans hunting red deer and wild boar make it difficult for tigers to exist on their traditional diet, forcing them to range into open grasslands to kill cattle for food.

Captive breeding of Siberian tigers within zoos worldwide has been quite successful and their existence in captivity is considered secure. The same can not be said of their existence in the wild.

San Cristobal y Elian Gonzalez

2010-01-16T14:26:00.002-08:00

San Cristobal y Elian Gonzalez
created in 2000
20"x16"x12"
photograph by E. G. Shempf
mixed media and fiber, hand sewn and beaded

San Cristobal ( St. Christopher )
Patron of travelers, invoked against nightmares, peril from water, plague and tempests
Feast Day: 25 July
?third century

The only known fact about Christopher is that he was martyred in Asia Minor. A church in Bithynia, now northern Turkey, was dedicated to him in c.450. The rest is legend.

Offero, his birth name, was a man colossal in stature. He wished to serve the most powerful king in the world. A follower of Satan until a hermit wearing a crucifix, teaching Christianity, drew him away. Offero was assigned the task of living near a river and carrying people across. One stormy night a small child asked Offero to carry him on his shoulder across the raging waters. The child grew heavier and heavier as Offero reached the far shore. Upon arriving safely on the other side, the child revealed himself as Christ. He gave Offero the name Christopher ("Christophoros" in Greek means Christ bearer) and told him that he had just born the weight of the world on his shoulder. Christopher planted his staff by the side of the river where it instantly became a palm tree. He then set out to preach the gospel in Lycia, in Asia Minor. In Lycia, Christopher was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods. After spending time in prison, he was condemned to death and beheaded. It is believed that anyone who sees an image of the saint will not die on that day. Christopher is usually depicted holding the Christ Child and often a staff and is sometimes depicted wading in water.

It occurred to me that it must have been Christopher that helped Elian Gonzalez cross the "river" to the shores of Florida.

Christopher is dressed in a Baroque manner and wears a silk Cuban cigar band around his waist. Elian is depicted with a square halo since he is alive. A cross is planted on the shore to memorialize Elian's mother, Elisabeth Brotons. The globe that I fashioned has only Florida and Cuba. The maps and text came from an 1890s encyclopedia. Although these words were written over one hundred years ago, oddly they sound quite current. May pins are located at the spots Christopher picked up Elian and placed him. In Christopher's left hand is a safe passage key.

San Cristobal y

2010-01-16T14:26:00.001-08:00

Thylacine, EX ( extinct )

2010-01-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Thylacine
Thylacinus cynocephalus (pouched dog with a wolf head)
EX (extinct)

12"x6"x7"
mixed media sculpture, painted, hand stitched and beaded leather

April 1930
EW (extinct in the wild)
Last confirmed Thylacine in the wild was killed

7 September 1936
EX ( extinct)
Last Thylacine died in Hobart Zoo, Tasmania due to human neglect

A prehistoric survivor, the Thylacine, thought to have evolved over thirty million years ago, was the largest marsupial predator to have survived into historic times. Its historic habitat included the entire mainland of Australia and New Guinea, as well as Tasmania. With the introduction of dingos and dogs, both alien species, to Australia and New Guinea, Thylacines had competitors for prey. This competition caused the Thylacine to die out in these locations leaving them one last island on which to survive. Until the arrival of European settlers with their sheep.

Mistakenly called Tasmanian Wolf ( because it was wolf-like in shape) and Tasmanian Tiger ( because of its stripes) this hapless creature did not have a chance of survival against humans. Thylacines, nocturnal hunters, were at the top of the food chain on the island, preying on kangaroos, wallabies, small mammals, and birds. Unfortunately humans got it into their thick heads that Thylacines were sheep eating machines. Thylacine's habitat on Tasmania was in open gum forest and grassy meadows, never in the dense rain forest of the western mountains. Their lairs were in rocky outcroppings. As an adult, the Thylacine, would weigh approximately 65 pounds (German Shepherd dog size). A female carried her litter of two or three joeys in a backward facing pouch.

Van Dieman's Land Company was the largest of the wool growing operations to move to the island of Tasmania. Gum forests were logged, converting the land into pastures. Sheep were brought to Tasmania in 1824. They were settled into these newly converted pastures as well as the native grassy lowlands and savannah areas, forcing the Thylacines out of their native habitat.

Because of the ill-conceived notion that Thylacines were vicious livestock killers, the Van Dieman Land Company put a bounty out on Thylacine carcasses. The government also paid a bounty on each scalp that was brought in. From 1830 to 1909 thousands of Thylacines were killed. Their hides shipped to London to be made into waistcoats. In 1909 the government quit paying bounties.

By 1909 it was rare to see a Thylacine and the prices paid by zoos for live specimens rose. Trappers now tried to keep the Thylacines alive if they caught one. It is believed that this last Thylacine was captured along with two siblings and mother by a trapper, Walter Mullins, and sold to the Hobart Zoo in 1924. The mother did not survive very long in captivity and the siblings died during the early 1930s.

The story of the incarcerated animals in Hobart Zoo beginning in 1930 is a sad tale. If you want to know the whole story, I suggest you read Robert Paddle's account in his book, The Last Tasmanian Tiger, pg 174-195. The last Thylacine, a female, died because of human neglect. Temperatures in her concrete floored cage during the month of September varied from 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the day to below freezing at night for almost two weeks. One lone deciduous tree outside her cage had lost its leaves offering no shade during the day. The door into her den was bolted offering no escape from the bitterly cold nights.

The last Thylacine died during the night of 7 September 1936 unprotected and exposed to the elements.

On a final note, the zoos Bengal Tiger died on 24 July 1936, also a victim of neglect. The pair of lions survived another year until the zoo was closed on 25 November 1937. No buyer could be found for the lions so they were shot.

Steller Sea Lion, endangered

2010-01-06T04:36:00.000-08:00

Steller Sea Lion
Eumetopias jubatus
EN (Endangered)
mixed media sculpture, painted and stitched leather
12"x7"x8"

George Wilhelm Steller, a German naturalist, accompanied Vitus Bering, a Russian explorer, on his second Alaskan expedition in 1741. Mr. Steller was the first qualified observer to study and classify these northern sea lions. Thus the name Steller Sea Lion.

The world population is divided into two groups, the western stock and the eastern stock. This division occurs at 144 degrees W longitude (Cape Suckling) just east of Prince William Sound, Alaska. The western stock can be found in the North Pacific Ocean from northern Hokkaido, Japan through the Kuril Islands, Okhotsk Sea, Commander Islands in Russia, the Aleutian Islands and central Bering Sea. The eastern stock live off the southern coast of Alaska and south to the Channel Islands of California.

Steller Sea Lions spend time on land on offshore islands. Some are called rookeries where the females and pups live. The other islands are called haul-offs. The rest of the time is spent in the water hunting for food. Their main diet is composed of a wide variety of fishes, squid, and octopus. Some of the most important prey species in Alaskan waters include walleye, pollock, Atka mackerel, Pacific herring, capelin, Pacific sand lance, Pacific cod, and salmon. These sea lions have rear flippers that can rotate to help them waddle on land and they have external ear flaps. Their lifespan can be as long as twenty-three years. Males can weigh up to 2,400 pounds and be ten to eleven feet long. Females can weigh about a thousand pounds less and be seven to nine feet long. Females give birth to a single pup after a year long gestation period. Native predators are killer whales ( orcas) and white sharks.

Populations have dropped drastically within both the western and eastern stocks off the coast of Alaska and down the continental United States and Canada in the past thirty years. Exact reasons for the decline are not known but researchers believe that increased commercial fisheries are catching large numbers of the Steller Sea Lion prey. Drownings occur also when sea lions become entangled in the fishing nets. Pollock is the major prey fish consumed by the western stock. Current distribution of the Pollock fishery overlaps extensively with the distribution of foraging sea lions and their habitat. Commercial fishing for pollock within these waters increases during the fall and winter which further stresses the sea lions because their metabolic demands are greater at this time. Nursing females and young lean sea lions are most vulnerable during the harsh winter season. When Steller's have to swim further out to sea in search of food they are increasingly exposed to predation.

The Eastern stock has its own tale of woe. Open sea salmon farm pens all along the Pacific coast are cropping up in sea lion habitat. Shortages of herring, hake, and pollock as a food source has driven the sea lions to invade the salmon nets. In the past, salmon farmers have shot and killed thousands of marine mammals, including Stellers. Thankfully now the Steller sea lion is protected under the Endangered Species Act though this act does nothing to slow the commercial fisheries invasion of the Steller sea lion habitat.

El Santo Nino de Atocha ( The Holy Child of Atocha )

2010-01-04T14:53:00.001-08:00

El Santo Nino de Atocha
The Holy Child of Atocha
created in 2000
31"x15"x11"

Feast Day: 1 January
Patron of those unjustly imprisoned, protector of travelers and rescuer of people in danger

According to legend, a child dressed as a pilgrim of the day, carrying a basket of fruit and a staff with a water gourd attached, visited the Christian prisoners of the Spanish city of Atocha during the Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula (711-1492). Answering the prayers of loved ones, this child, Christ, took provisions to the prisoners who were forbidden to receive acts of mercy except from children. Miraculously after giving food and water to all of the prisoners, his basket and gourd were still full.
The Holy Child of Atocha is traditionally depicted in the pilgrim's robe and cape, brimmed hat with plume and St. James shell, and sandals. In one of his hands he holds a basket of flowers and in the other the pilgrim's staff with gourd. Usually the child is represented seated in an armed chair flanked by vases of flowers and is shown wearing shackles on his feet.
In my adaptation, the Holy Child is here to help Leonard Peltier who is imprisoned in the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. For this job, he wears the traditional garb except exchanging his sandals for Lakota moccasins. The Holy Child carried a painted rawhide container. His staff represents a sundance pole with claws attached to use during the offering. Cloth pendants are tied to the botton of the staff honoring the four directions. The staff also suggests a ghost dance pole.
Behind the prison bars hang prayer ties filled with tobacco, feathers, and a Ghost Dance shirt. (Birds are regarded as bearers of messages between the spirit world and a man. They also act as protectors from injury. Feathers act as wings enabling dancers to escape the dying world below.)
Lying on the prison floor is a bundle with pebbles and a bullet casing attached. Pebbles are a powerful symbol in one of Leonard's dreams. I found the pebbles , bullet casing, feathers and porcupine quill in South Dakota.
Hanging on the wall is an image of the prison on an old postcard. Across it are Leonard's prison number. Below this to the right is an old calling card with the words, "Think of Me".
Lakota words, "Mitakuye Oyasin" translates "All my relations." "He Leads the People," "Gwarth-ee-las," and "Tate Wikawa" ( "Wind Chases the Sun") are all additional names for Leonard. The other writings on the wall were taken from Leonard's book "Prison Writings."

Significant dates:
12 September 1944 Leonard's birth date
29 December 1890 Wounded Knee massacre
26 June 1975 Incident at Jumping Bull compound
6 February 1976 Leonard was arrested
1 June 1977 Sentence date
Year 2041 Scheduled release date

Please read "Prison Writings, My Life is my Sundance" by Leonard Peltier, edited by Harvey Arden.

Keep in mind that I wrote these words in the year 2000. Leonard Peltier is no longer incarcerated in Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, KS. He is in another facility in another state.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

2009-12-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Ivory-billed Woodpecker
13" x 6" x 9"
mixed media, hand painted, sewn and beaded leather, seated on wooden chair

The two largest species of woodpeckers in the world, Imperial Woodpecker (20% larger than the Ivory-billed Woodpecker) are both all but extinct. The Imperial has not been definitively sighted since 1956 in its historic range, the Sierra Madres of northwestern Mexico. Logging of dead trees that host the beetles which are its primary food source and hunting have wiped out this majestic woodpecker. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker's tale could be just as tragic.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Campephilus principalis
CR ( critically endangered)

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, two feet long from beak to tail, has a wingspan of two and one half feet. Its bill ( three inches long and one inch wide at the base), is used to scale bark off of freshly dead mature trees, with trunks up to three feet in diameter, in search of beetle grubs, their primary food source. This gigantic bill is also a tool used to excavate holes for nesting and roosting within these tree trunks. Ivory-billed Woodpecker's diet also consisted of persimmons, wild grapes, seeds from poison ivy and magnolia, and various berries. They are thought to pair for life and female will lay between one to four white eggs a year.

Once the Ivory-billed Woodpecker could call home million and millions of acres of pristine bottomland hardwood forests within the Mississippi River Valley, vast swamps and river bottomland forests that stretched across the southern states down into Florida, as far west as eastern Texas and northward into the boot heel of Missouri, then eastward across southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southern Ohio. The hardwood forests of Cuba were ( and possibly still are) the only other place in the world that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker inhabited.

Of that vast contiguous forest across the southern United States only small scattered pockets of timber remain. Tiny sanctuaries possibly too tiny to sustain the feeding requirements of this large bird. Timber and agricultural industries still threaten the existence of their compromised range.

If the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is extant and has adapted to these isolated habitats, we humans have been given a second chance at saving this species from extinction. Sightings of one woodpecker were made in February 2004 and October 2005 in eastern Arkansas. Intensive survey teams have scoured the Big Woods area, part of which is located in the White River National Wildlife Refuge, looking for the bird or signs of a nesting tree. Searches are also being conducted in the remaining forested mountains of Cuba where suitable habitat remains. The last confirmed sighting of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in eastern Cuba was in 1987.

I highly recommend reading The Race To Save The Lord God Bird by Phillip Hoose from cover to cover.

Paw Paw Panna Cotta

2009-10-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

Look in the center of this photo. See the green potato looking object hanging there ? This is a paw paw. Notice the large leaves of the tree. These turn a brilliant yellow and are quite easy to see in the timber. Large fans of gold. Last year's crop was better. More paw paws and larger fruit. I had piles of green orbs ripening in the kitchen. Leafing through cook books left me with few recipes to try. I came up with this version of a panna cotta. To keep the taste of the fruit, I found was best attained by using it raw. I wrote this recipe on the 28th of October of 2008. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Paw Paw Panna Cotta

yield 6 servings

1 teaspoon unflavored powdered gelatin
2 cups heavy cream ( I used Shatto cream from a local dairy)
1 1/2 cups plain kefir ( or use plain yogurt)
1/3 cup honey
1 cup paw paw fruit ( read note at bottom about getting the pulp out of the fruit)

1. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Let the gelatin soften for five minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a saucepan over low heat, warm the cream, kefir ( or yogurt ), and honey. In a blender ( I use a Vita Mix blender , though any will work ) place this warmed mixture and the 1 cup of paw paw pulp. Blend til mixture is smooth.

3. Pour the dissolved gelatin in water into the blender with the mixture. Blend this for a bit.

4. Pour this into six 8 ounce serving bowls or ramekins. Cover each with plastic wrap and chill until firm.

Note: For those of you not familiar with how to skin a paw paw once you have foraged for them in the woods, begin by cutting the skin off of each with a knife. A paw paw is ripe when it is a bit soft to the touch. It will still be green in color. As it ripens it will turn a dark brown and become very soft. Still edible though in this state. In this recipe, it is best to use fruit that is still green and just soft to the touch. While you have the skinned paw paw in hand, cut away the pale yellow pulp from the center mass which is mostly large dark brown seeds the size of large lima beans. Most of the usable pulp is between the green skin and this mass of seeds. The seeds themselves are toxic if eaten so I don't scrape the bits of pulp that cling to the seeds. Thus said, Rhett and I both sucked on the seeds last fall to get off every bit of luscious flavor and survived without incident. It was in later research that I learned the seeds are toxic to wildlife. Larger paw paws have more pulp , of course. It will depend on the size of your paw paws to determine how many it will take to get one cup of pulp for this recipe.
This is a photo of part of last year's haul from the timber.

Paw Paw pulp stains clothes, so plan your attire accordingly when headed to the timber in search of this fruit.

Chocolate mousse in Paris

2009-08-11T06:10:00.001-07:00

Sunday was my birthday.
am wearing Nancy's grass hula skirt,
memento from Hawaiian adventure in 1929 or 1932
am wearing a festive chapeau
gift from my aunt when I was three
am wearing a corpirate "beater" tank
skeleton on front.
When Nancy was queried as to celebrating her 80th,
she replied, "chocolate mousse"
"in Paris."
and off she went.
as I sit before Jeanne's bernina
familiarizing myself
I am thankful to have two strong women's
earthly bits and bobs
whispering advice
as I continue
my life's hula.

* I met Kat Ford last Friday. A fresh young talented lady artist . http://www.corpirateusa.com/ is her company.

Farm report

2009-08-03T15:47:00.001-07:00

photo taken by Nick Vedros of Kansas City , MO.
Rhett , Kelly, and April the Mealy Amazon parrot sitting on our front porch.

Farm report:

1. most all potatoes ready to dig
la ratte and rose finn apple
not as good a crop as last year
and digging ten days earlier
should have watered more.
2. after unseasonably cool cloudy weather
heirloom tomato plants are covered
with blooms and green fruit, should be ready to
handle a hot dry spell
time to cook and can sauces draws near.
3. lazy housewife beans and kentucky wonder pole beans
continue their ascent heavenward
I lighten the load by picking daily
saute garlic in olive oil
slice washed beans in diagonal one inch pieces
add to pan with two splashes water
cover pan and cook on low til tender.
4. spaghetti squash plants
happiest of all
dark star zucchini
close second.
5. hutterite soup beans and rattlesnake snap beans
weave green webs cross cattle panels
water and wait.
6. plant more carrot seed
tomorrow.
7. eggplant
giant easter eggs hanging
roasted on pizza.
8. stay tuned
for report from
other vegetable
varieties and fruit.

Good Luck horseshoe

2009-06-19T14:08:00.001-07:00

Howdy dear readers !

Please take a peek at Cactus Creek Daily to see Rhett's metal good luck horseshoe. It is available from our store on Big Cartel ( get there from my website store or from Cactus Creek blog post.) And take a look at the rest of Fancy's site.

Rhett has been busy with new designs. Keep checking for news about an upcoming show. Fun new stuff.

Glass beads round your neck

2009-04-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

A sneak peak at collection of necklaces I have been working on during spring time rainy days. On the third of Mayo, I will show my latest "pretties" at Missouri Bluffs, a clothing boutique, in Weston, MO. Please come spend a part of your Sunday afternoon with us. Play dress-up. ( noon to five pm.)

Each necklace in this ever growing collection is one-of-a -kind.
Evolution ( yes , even in Kansas....) of rock medicine.
19 inches long necklace

Whilst researching Crow Indian medicine bundles, an image of a rock bundle completely encrusted with glass trade beads lodged itself in my head.

The pendants on my necklaces do not contain rocks though each encased leather shape is a stitched hotch potch of glass beads from my collection. This bundle of beads is strung into necklace form for you to wear when feeling festive or perhaps when you wish to experience light-heartedness.
OLx3
18 1/2" long necklace

Imagery of Our Blessed Mother can be found in my artwork. From a collection of statuary, I photograph and then collage these images with bits of paper, lace, fabric trims, beads, words typed on a 1939 Royal typewriter and all is stitched down in proper order ( at least in my mind.) These collages are printed and encased , thus becoming tags and charms. Three of these tags, a.k.a. pendants, come together here with a hand picked grouping of glass beads to form a statement of gratefulness to OUr Lady.

Cross necklace
19 inches long

This encircling meditation includes a not quite three inch long beaded leather cross, four spiritual tokens, two pewter milagros ( angel & lamb) and various old glass beads ( though two are metal.) A sterling clasp keeps all confidently conjoined.
"Useful birds" necklace
18 inches long

The center pendant is a print of my collage highlighting an image of a Canada Warbler. An old Church & Dwight soda card caught my eye at a flea market, thus becoming the theme for this encircling meditation on our winged neighbors. On the back of the soda card are these words
"USEFUL BIRDS OF AMERICA"
For the good of all
Do not destroy the birds
(interesting words....what makes a particular bird useful? What makes any of us "useful" ?)

Two smaller pendants hold prints of other collages with bird imagery. A yellow throated chat on one. A cardinal on the other.

Certainly not a necklace for the shy or retiring sort to don. If you are feeling particularly "useful" or in the mood to share your knowledge of our feathered neighbors, please consider this encircling meditation.

Yummy chai biscuits

2009-04-11T14:31:00.001-07:00

Just had to share this delicious recipe with you , dear reader. It came from http://chaipilgrimage.com/ Our friend's Patrick and Jen's website and blogs. This is the second batch. Yum. First batch I baked a bit longer and they were crisp and perfect dunking biscuits. Second batch I pulled out sooner so that they would be softer. Both ways are delicious. I also played around with the flours , using spelt, barley , and whole wheat.

Now if Patrick and Jen were here to share them with us or better yet, if we were in New Mexico with them.

see if this gets you there:

2009-03-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/2009/02/kelly-buntin-johnson-on-creativity.html

http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/

Okay be patient dear reader, I think this second link will take you to my 'creativity soap-box sermon' . She says with crossed fingers.

Creativity continued

2009-03-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

Several days ago, Rice ( with two dots above the e ) asked me to respond to three questions:

1. In your opinion, what is creativity?
2. Where does it come from?
3. How can each of us access that creativity and make the most of it in our lives?

http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/2009/02/kelly-buntin-johnson-on-creativity.html

you can access my answer by clicking on her blog posting above.

It was a fun meditation and writing assignment and am most pleased that Rice ( with two dots above the e ) posted my thoughts. I , as usual, did not follow the usual pathway of writing traditional answers after each question. Please read past postings by other artists. And am sure there will be more thoughts on creativity to come on this blog. I didn't read anyone's version til I had written my own thoughts down on paper. Didn't want to be influenced.

Now, I want to share with you where the title to my 'creativity soap box sermon' came from.

Cows can be purple

It came from a true life story. My Dad is color blind. Can't see purple, red, or green. I doubt orange either though I need to ask him. Not sure about yellow. Most things are brown to him. But I digress. When he was a young boy drawing pictures, one of his sketched cows he colored with a purple crayon. His mother, my Gran, said "Cows are not purple. " To this day Dad is self conscious about his artistic abilities of choosing colors to express his ideas.

And yet, my Gran is a creative person. Quite a seamstress in her day. The dresses and coats that she sewed for me through out my lifetime are treasures. Even my wedding dress. She drafted her own patterns from sketches or photos she saw. And her knitting and crochet work. It pleases Gran and me both that I wear sweaters she knitted in the 1960s. Truly an inspiration to me she is.

So the whole point of the title to my 'creative soap-box sermon' is that we all need to be careful of the words that come from out of our mouth. Words can have huge impact, squashing and stomping like fire breathing Godzilla. What we say can have a lifelong impact on other's creativity. And in turn, we need to be careful of our thoughts as these too have the power to squash and stomp like Godzilla squelching our own courage to be expressive.

We need to live mindfully and listen to what Big Fly whispers to us.

and remember your new vocabulary words: garble and dross

test is Friday. ( and no, it is not open book)

Nuestra Senora de la merced en la frontera

2009-02-20T07:37:00.001-08:00

Nuestra Senora de la merced en la frontera
(Our Lady of mercy at the border)
26"x24"x10"
mixed media sculpture
leather, vintage fabrics,trims and laces, glass seed beads, human hair, metals, found wood pieces
Feast day: 12 Diciembre
It occurred to me that the European Our Lady of Mercy was needed at the Mexican/United States border though she should appear in the guise of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. As in her European depiction, Our Lady would spread her mantle wide open in a gesture of protection.

Now for a bit of history.

The "Cloak of Protection", a legal term, dates back to the Middle Ages. This term referred to giving protection and asylum to people in need of succor and to those being persecuted.

In the 13th century an image of Our Lady evolved from this legal term. Our Lady's new 'job' became "Virgin of Mercy". Within the Dominican and Cisterian orders this depiction prevailed. Mary stands with outstretched arms, mantle widespread acting as a shield for the souls kneeling below.

An Order of Mercy was established in the 13th century with its own unique scapular design. Two typical attributes of the "Virgin of Mercy" are this scapular worn in the usual fashion or held in her hand and the crown worn upon OUr Lady's head signifying her as Queen of Heaven.

Our Lady's 'job' followed her to the New World. Portraits painted by the School of Cuzco ( an indigenous art guild in Peru) are in existence.

In 1531 Our Lady accepted a New World 'job' when she appeared to a humble Aztec peasant, Juan Diego. Her thoughtful guise was as a person of his own background and she spoke in Juan's familiar tongue. Mary's new title became Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. This image is much adored and venerated in Mexico.

Then, in 1999, Pope John Paul II augmented Our Lady's assignment to encompass a greater land mass. her new title, "Our Lady of the Americas".

In my portrayal of Our Lady's ever evolving attire, the lining of her mantle is constructed of blue chambray fabric. The fabric of the working man's shirt. Sewn to this chambray lining are crosses commemorating the deaths of our American ( with a big A) brethren. These memorial crosses shall remind the viewer of the murdered women of Juarez and of the innocent ninos caught in a scenario not of their choosing. Our Lady's stern countenance might cause the viewer to reflect on the 'fence' which in my depiction she has bent into an arch or doorway.

To gain knowledge of this tragedy at our southern border, please add to your research, dear reader, any books that Luis Alberto Urrea has written on the subject. His first hand research will enrich your own meditations.

May I suggest: The Devil's Highway
Across the Wire: Life and Hard Times on the Mexican Border
By the Lake of Sleeping Children

and one by Diana Washington Valdez: The Killing Fields: Harvest of Women

Loretta's dress and hearts, an update

2009-02-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Where has Kelly been ? You might be wondering. What has she been doing ? Well, nothing terribly exciting. And I am not ready to share what I have been feverishly working on. In a week or two. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile. The first Saturday in February I journeyed over to the clothing boutique in historic Weston, MO for a mini trunk show of heart related artwork. What to wear was the BIG question. I opened the door to my closet to peruse my vintage collection. I spied this silk number given to me by my friend Gloria. In my memory , she told me that it belonged to her mother, Loretta. I hadn't worn it yet but it seemed the perfect answer to my question of attire. Of course I would wear my Acme cowboy boots with hearts appliqued on them . The little jacket to this ensemble would not do to wear out in public since the silk was starting to shred a bit . It wasn't repairable. But the sleeveless dress was still in sturdy condition. A denim jacket would do to wear over the dress. I thought of Loretta all day whilst wearing her frock.

When I told my friend, Gloria , that I had worn her mother's dress , she said that the dress had been rescued by her mom at an antique auction. Loretta had bought a trunk full of vintage clothing many decades ago. This dress had been rescued and worn by Gloria a time or two and then it had come to reside in a closet. forgotten. Loretta's birthday is next week and I am going to send her this image. I hope she remembers the auction, the dress, and is pleased that I am wearing the frock she saved.
This is a close-up of a beaded heart brooch. I have no idea now many of them I have beaded through the years. The heart image makes a nice present for someone you care about year round. A story to share with you about a particular beaded heart brooch now. One of my beaded heart brooches made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Last year, a lady carried it with her clear to the tippy top. I have a photo of her holding the beaded heart at the summit. This photo inspires me when I am feeling particularly like I can't make it through something. If this lady can make it to the top of the mountain, well then I can do ( fill in the blank ). And if I am feeling overwhelmed by a project, I don one of these brooches and it seems to help. If you would like one of these sparkly heart brooches for yourself or a loved one, you can find them at Missouri Bluffs in Weston, MO. (816-640-2770) And very soon you will be able to purchase them online from a store via my website. Stay tuned .
This heart and hand milagro ( a tangible prayer ) was fabricated by hand by Rhett. It is six inches long and three inches wide. Made of steel that has been antiqued. The heart with embossed word love is a separate piece that has been soldered to the fingers. There is a grommet in the heart which allows you to thread a ribbon through or hang it on a nail. His milagros remind me of the old ones I see in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rhett's artwork can also be found at Missouri Bluffs clothing boutique.

In a few days I hope to be able to share with you my updated website and a link to our online store. Please stay tuned.

Year of the Ox

2009-01-26T08:51:00.001-08:00

One last peek at Red Rat as the Year of the Rat ended yesterday. As you may remember this rat sculpture was fabricated by Rhett out of part of our old 1969 Chevy pickup. (May it rest in peace .) Rat Rat sits on our kitchen table. And so, with the first day of Year of the Ox , I have no photo of an Ox to show you. Neither of us have 'whipped' one up yet. Instead, I chose Lucky Bird to share with us pages from an imaginary Chinese pothi (pilgrim's handbook). Canaries are kept in cages and act as oracles for passing pilgrims by selecting scraps of paper in the bottom of the cage that have messages on them for each pilgrim.

The traits associated with someone born in a Year of the Ox are traits that we all could aspire to exhibit in the year ahead of us. Hardworking. Dependable. Calm. Modest. Unswerving patience. Tireless in their work. Capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaining. Filled with common sense with feet planted firmly on the ground. Not extravagant. Caring soul. Kind. What do you think?
And so, instead of a page from a pothi to remind us as pilgrims on this year's journey, Lucky Bird is suggesting that we wear a tag with the image of a hand on it. The hand of helping our neighbor whether across the street or across the ocean. A hand of peace. A hand of caring concern. No more either you are for us or against us. No more 'us or them' mentality. A 'we' mentality instead. The printed image on this tag which, of course, Rhett fabricated the case and lens for, comes from the beaded brooch you see in the image below. The tag is 1 and 3/4" across and comes on a nickel plated steel ball chain which is 24" long. These will be for sale along with a charm sized version of the image on my website in the following days but if you can not wait for that , Missouri Bluffs in Weston, MO has some for sale. Their phone number is 816) 640-2770.
This is the brooch from a collection I beaded in 1996. It measures 7" long and 4" wide. Beaded in glass seed beads on painted canvas with mixed media baubles hanging from the bottom. An old watch face and old pressed glass button made to look like a Chinese coin, and a pot metal lucky horseshoe are sewn to the beaded portion of the brooch.

Here is a close-up view of the printed version of the hand that I use for the tags and charms.

I hope all of our neighbors in China made it back home for the festivities with their families.
Happy New Year !

Amen, Amen, Amen !

2009-01-24T13:11:00.001-08:00

To quote words from the Benediction from Inauguration day.

I am being brave to show you my Inauguration outfit. No, I did not get to go to Washington, D.C. Sat in my living room in front of the tv ( most tv I have watched in a year ! ) knitting an ORANGE shrug, wept, and rejoiced in the inauguration of our new president. Hallelujah!

So....back to my outfit. Had been planning it for two weeks at least. Love pink and orange together. Am wearing a scarf that I knitted a couple of years ago. I call it my 40 hour meditation since each triangle of color took me an hour to knit. Rolling of eyes is permitted at this point. And my outfit is courtesy of a dear friend, Jeanne. It belonged to her dear friend Nancy. I am guessing the vintage is late 60s or early 70s? The label inside says that it is from Acapulco, Mexico. My two tone pink cowboy boots are Fat Baby by Ariat.

I was pleased to note that Miss Sasha Obama was also wearing pink and orange for the grand event !

Aretha's hat blew me away though. Classy. The deepest curtsy to you dear lady.

Rhett , my photographer and stylist insisted on the holding of all these flags. I was only planning on holding one. And for some reason, he also insists on me standing on this galvanized wash tub turned upside down for photos now.

I will be sharing more images of Nancy's wardrobe hand me downed to me via Jeanne in the near future. And other vintage clothing from my collection. Such fun to wear.

Am very excited about "44".

What's He Building ?

2009-01-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

No proper title yet given to me by the artist but it is some kind of a space car, it looks like to me. Rhett has been experimenting with die forming and metal fabrication in his studio these long cold winter days. This first from the 2009 line from Johnson Motors seemed appropriate to introduce to you during the time of the auto show in Detroit. This vehicle is approx. 18 " long and 8" tall. Constructed of steel, copper, and brass. All parts fabricated by Rhett's hands and from his imagination.
Before the space vehicle, came these more traditional airplanes. Two to date. Approximately a bit over 3 feet wingspread and just at 3 feet long. All fabricated by hand again from steel, copper and brass. The first two airplanes were embossed with the owner's names.
A theme song for Rhett in his studio could be What's He Building? by Tom Waits. Look for it on Mule Variations cd. Great song and think of Rhett when you listen to it.

Meanwhile the artist is working on the Johnson Motors line for 2009........stay tuned.

San Francesco de Asis

2009-01-08T09:32:00.001-08:00

San Francesco de Asis, 2002
18"x18"x13"
mixed media, leather doll with beaded face and nimbus, antique fabrics, lion is painted leather with dyed angora goat hair mane. Base is hammered aluminum.
Patron of Italy and New Mexico, ecologists, animals, reconciliation within the family
Feast Day: 4 October
Died 1226

Francesco was born in 1181 in Assisi, Umbria. He had dreams of becoming a troubadour or a knight but as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant he was expected to follow in his father's footsteps. While in his early twenties, Francesco took part in military expeditions. In an attack on Perugia, he was taken hostage and imprisoned for a year. Francesco returned to Assisi to recuperate from the first of many illnesses that were to plague him for his entire life. He had a calling to rebuild a derelict church of San Damiano in Assisi, to preach, and to minister to lepers. After wandering the countryside preaching with a few companions, Francesco made a pilgrimage to Rome. Pope Innocent III approved of his founding a brotherhood called Friars Minors.

In 1219 Francesco accompanied Crusaders to Egypt where he tried to convert the Sultan to Christianity. He retired from his leadership duties of the ever growing brotherhood of Franciscans to lead a life of secluded prayer. During a retreat in 1224 on Mount Alverno, a part of the Apennines, in preparation for the feast of St. Michael, Francesco received the five wounds of the Stigmata. These wounds never healed for the remaining two years of his life.

Francesco is wearing a well worn and patched habit, capuche, breeches, and a cord around his waist. He stands with his arms making the sign of regret.

In this interpretation, a lion is his companion. Traditionally lions are attributes for St. Jerome, Abbot Gerasimus, and the winged one for St. Mark. This lion memorialized Marjan, who died in a zoo in Kabul, Afghanistan earlier this year. ( 2002). I have named Francesco's lion, Ahimsa, the sanskrit word for nonviolence.

One lesson that I want to share from studying Francesco's life is of compassion, humility, courtesy, and reverence for all beings both animate and inanimate that inhabit Mother Earth. See no distinction between yourself and the natural world. All is equal beneath Father Sky. Have the courage to make it a life-long song

A Pride of Lions

2009-01-06T13:45:00.000-08:00

Wanted to share with you a trio of lions from my collection.This sweetheart which you may recognize from a previous post is pre 1900 mohair, with most of the hair gone, other than the mane. He is lying on a velvet, again with most of the green color gone, pincushion. I purchased him at an antique mall here in town.
This painted wooden lion is a wheeled pull toy. He was created by Iva O'Conner. Eons ago, at an art show in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rhett was selling his artwork and Iva was set up across from his booth. We spied this lion and then a rat dressed in clothing. Wanting both of them but settling for only one , we watched as Iva sold out her entire collection of painted wooden pull toys. Yeah for her ! This lion keeps me company in the kitchen.

This little grey ? Staffordshire lion I found at a farm auction . I was clerking the auction and it is not good practice to bid on objects if you are working the auction. I asked the auctioneer if I could bid on one piece. This lion. Thankfully, he came home with me. He too keeps me company in the kitchen.

Basket of vitamin C

2009-01-03T14:21:00.001-08:00

3 January 2009, mid afternoon , 56 degrees fahrenheit, overcast, humid . I was out for a walk and spied red orbs still on the wild rose bushes that grow along the fence rows of the farm. Plucked one and ate it. Still moist and flavorful. Back to the house for a basket and shears. An hour later and I have a basket full of vitamin C. Will carefully snip off each rose hip and lay them all on a cookie sheet to dry in a warm oven. Had no idea that the hips would have survived the sub zero weather of the past month. I will store them in a glass jar to be used for teas as needed. I want to make jelly with some later this year. A great start to the new year of foraging.

Sharing the gift of a talent

2009-01-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

Last year a couple of ladies passed away that made a big impact in my early creative life. I never took the time to tell them when I became an adult how much what they did for me meant. Eleanor Jackson was my art teacher when I was twelve years old. She invited our art class to her historic home in St. Joseph , Missouri. Mrs. Jackson walked us through the neighborhood of historic mansions and we were able to sit anywhere and draw what inspired each of us. And then she cooked lunch for our class. My mother called a couple of months ago to ask me what my art teacher's name was . She had been reading the obituaries in the St. Joseph paper. It had never crossed my mind to track Mrs. Jackson down and write her a letter letting her know what an impact her gesture of kindness had made on me. Then, last month, Velma Davidson passed away. She had lived to 102 and 3/4s . Velma had lived in our community and attended the same church as our family. She played the piano at church each week. And she had an organ in her living room and played for us when we visited . But the talent she shared with me was that of making bread from scratch. I was again, about twelve years old when my mother asked Velma if she would teach me to make bread. I am guessing that Velma must have brought her homemade rolls to church dinners . That would have been where I had tasted her artwork. Velma came to our home and shared with me the mysteries of kneading dough and baking rolls. I was hooked and have been baking our bread ever since. Again, I never told Velma how much what she did for me meant . What an impact she had on me in my early years of learning.

So these two ladies passed away in 2008 and I had been meditating on how I could honor what they had done for me and what could I do in my own small way to keep the tradition of sharing talents alive and well. Then Miss Hannah Marie entered my life. An eight year old budding artist. Her current talents are in drawing , painting and paper construction. I was visiting in her bedroom studio one afternoon and somehow it came up that she had never sewn or created with fabric. I told her about some old sock cats that were in my collection. Hannah's eyes lit up. Could she make something from a sock ? Ah........here was how I could share a talent. I invited Miss Hannah to my studio for a four hour session of creating a sock creature. Since her old sock had frogs printed on it, Hannah wanted to make a sock frog. And so we did. And we drank Earl Green tea. And we shared a sunset together from my big studio windows.
Mrs. Jackson and Velma, I hope you can know how much what you shared with me meant and I hope that I can honor these memories I have of our times spent together by continuing to help young artists in my own way. Thank you.

Generosity of a Stranger

2008-12-09T14:40:00.001-08:00

About three weekends ago or so, I attended a three day auction. Rarely do I leave the studio or house other than to run errands. But, Rhett talked me into going along with him to this five generation auction. I bought bits and pieces to use in mixed media artwork each day of the auction. Fabrics, paper, books, maps, wooden boxes, game parts, and other treasures. On Saturday, the little bedraggled doll on the left in the above photo was to sell. She was stuffed in a Victorian era chromolithograph Christmas design hinged lid box along with a single leather baby shoe.

As you can see from the photo, I collect old hand made cloth dolls. In the background are the spotted spring sisters whom you have met in a previous posting. In the middle is a lion lounging on a faded velvet pin cushion and on the right is a fellow , also of velvet, holding an acorn sized pin cushion. This vignette is on the stairway in our house.

So, back to the auction. I waited most of the day for the doll to come up to the front of the room. When she did, I asked one of the auction crew if quite possibly the doll could be sold separately from the box. No, the box and doll would be sold together. Big sigh. As I feared, the pair brought far more than I could give. I was a sad little monkey. Keeping an eye on the lady that won the bid, I could not ascertain which piece drew her interest. In a few minutes when all that I was interested had been sold, I moseyed over to her and asked if she was interested in selling the doll. I offered money. She said that she would GIVE me the doll. She wanted the Christmas box.

Thank you Lynelle. Thank you. Thank you. Big hug and thank you again.

Holiday Shopping at Missouri Bluffs, Weston, MO

2008-12-08T15:41:00.001-08:00

Anne's 25th anniversary party at Missouri Bluffs on Saturday night was a lot of fun. We are so proud of the evolution of her business through the years. The shop only gets better and is well worth the pilgrimage to the historic town of Weston. Rhett and I reconnected with collectors of our artwork and made some new friends. If you are looking for original artwork or Rhett's and my designs for Demdaco, Anne has a large collection. Missouri Bluffs is located in Weston , Missouri. The phone number there is 816-640-2770. The store is on the Main street right beside the St. George hotel. This is a painted cloth hand sewn angel with metal wings. She is holding a garland decorated with my latest design for charms, tags, and ornaments. Peace.
A peek of the table of "pretties" that we set up on Saturday evening. Charms, tags, ornaments, metal trees, necklaces, sculptures and brooches.
This is a view of the front window, packed with Rhett art. A creche in the middle surrounded by Santas and the tree is decorated with Santa ornaments and snow dome ornaments.

Another view of the front window. You can see a couple of the steel and copper trees that Rhett fabricated. They stand 8 inches tall and look great in groupings on tables or mantels. Anne has a full collection of our artwork and many designs that you can only find in her store.

Demdaco artwork and snowdomes at Missouri Bluffs gallery

2008-12-03T05:34:00.000-08:00

Wanted to let everyone know that Missouri Bluffs gallery in Weston , Missouri is carrying Rhett's full line of Santas and three part creche that he designed for Demdaco. The pieces are a cast resin facsimile of Rhett's hand carved wood originals. The phone number at the gallery is 816-640-2770. The line in the Demdaco catalog , which can be viewed on their website, is called Soon Would Be There. You can see all of his designs by using the name of the line or use Rhett Johnson.Santa on the sleigh is 8"x12"x3"
A little boy and girl give cookies and milk to Santa. Dimensions are 9"x9"x5"
The creche comes in three parts ( actually there are four individual based parts but sold as three pieces ). The boy and sheep ( on separate bases) are sold together. Then Joseph, Mary and Jesus are sold as one piece. The shepards are the third piece. Lined up all together , the dimensions are 11"x17"x8".
Rhett has fabricated these snow domes from flat stock. Flat metal and flat plastic which is transformed magically in his studio to this fluted edge case with domed lens. The imagery is from early 1900s which is printed from original artwork. Rhett even makes his own snow. The snow domes come in three sizes and there are a dozen different designs. Missouri Bluffs gallery carries this line.

Missouri Bluffs is celebrating their 25th year anniversary in business. We are going to be in the gallery this Saturday, 6 December 2008 from 4 to 6 pm.

Missouri Bluffs carries Rhett's and my artwork all the time and has for over a decade.

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

2008-11-20T14:47:00.000-08:00

Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
misunderstood being of the prairie
12" x 7" x 8"
mixed media hand sewn and beaded painted leather jointed figure seated on wooden chair.

A member of the Rodentia order, the Black-tailed Prairie Dog is a large burrowing ground squirrel. Its habitat for thousands of years has been the Great Plains of North America. Misunderstood from its initial encounter with pale faces in 1742, when Louis and Francois Verendrye, French explorers, called them petit chien ( little dog ), the Black-tailed Prairie Dog's fate rests in our hands.

What was once the largest prairie ecosystem in the world, the Great Plains spanned from southern Saskatchawan, Canada, across Montana, North Dakota, southward through New Mexico and Texas into northern Mexico. These vast uninterrupted grasslands provided habitat for herds of migrating bison and pronghorn antelope. Amongst these herds on this short grass prairie and in semi-desert country, the Black-tailed Prairie Dog did dwell. Pronghorn antelope grazed on weeds amongst the mounds and bison found respite within the dust wallows. Within the colony of multi-chambered burrows just beneath the surface of the earth, other denizens of the prairie coexisted and depended on the Prairie Dog for their survival. Rabbits. Rattlesnakes. Lizards. Burrowing Owls, as well as other birds. Insects. Toads. Salamanders. Spiders. Badgers. Swift fox. The endangered Black-footed Ferret. Just to name a few of the species.

From historic accounts written in the nineteenth century estimates of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog population reached five billion. One particular colony in Texas contained 400 million inhabitants and covered 25,000 square miles it was calculated. A head count of Black-tailed Prairie Dog today would be a number less than 2% of these historic figures. Their status is locally common in some areas though have been extirpated from eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.

Black-tailed Prairie Dgs are herbivores, eating an occasional insect. Life span in the wild is about four years. Females produce one litter in the springtime with usually four to five pups in a litter. An adult's weight will average between one and one half to three pounds and are between thirteen and seventeen inches long. They do not hibernate but remain dormant deep within their burrows in a nest during the harshest days of winter. Black-tailed Prairie Dogs molt twice a year. In the spring, molt begins at the head working its way to the tail. In the fall, the molt works in reverse from the tail to the head. And the tail only molts once, in the summer, when the spring molt is completed.

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are highly social animals that prefer to live in large colonies. They dig elaborate burrows with entrances angled to catch cooling summer breezes. Mounds built just outside of these burrow entrances act as vantage points to keep a watchful eye on predators.

Predators of the Black-tailed Prairie Dg are coyote, bobcats, hawks, and golden eagles. Add to that list humans. In particular farmers and ranchers, predators also of the Great Plains ecosystem. Human persecution through government funded poisoning, mindless shooting, urbanization, and the conversion of habitat to cropland and feedlots for cattle has taken a toll on a healthy Black-tailed Prairie Dog population and other species that depend on them.

Sylvatic plague caused by a bacterium ( Yersinia pestis ) brought to North and South America in the late nineteenth century made its way to the Plains on the backs of animals carrying the diseased fleas. This plague is deadly to Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and to its endangered predator the Black-footed Ferret.

Please become knowledgeable about and respect our brethren of the Great Plains who's existence is so important to a healthy ecosystem. Please do not let happen to this species what happened to the Thylacine of Tasmania and Passenger Pigeon of North America due to human ignorance.

I created my interpretation of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog during an artist residency at the Johnson County Central Resource Library in Overland Park, Kansas in 2007. I sewed and beaded every day in a setting where patrons could watch and ask questions. I am working on an ongoing series of endangered and extinct beings from around the world. Researching the plight and story of the species chosen and then interpreting an image with leather, beads and other materials and then writing a message. For this month long residency I chose to work on species from the state of Kansas that are having a hard time. The Black-tailed Prairie Dog and its predator the Black-footed Ferret.

My Black-tailed Prairie Dog now abides at the Johnson County Central Resource Library and is a part of their art collection. Young readers can visit him and learn about his message. ( older readers are welcome to visit him also)

Remembrance Day

2008-11-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

photo by E. G. Schempf
Our Lady of the Nations
23" x 13" x 18"
mixed media
2003
Feast Day 13 May
Invoked for world peace

This representation of Our Blessed Mother was inspired by an icon of the Theotokos which hangs in Diveyevo convent, Russia. I wanted my interpretation to appear as if Our Lady had stepped out from behind a pearl encrusted riza. She is standing on an historic map of Russia, the pivotal country for world peace according to the Fatima message of 1917.

A message became clear to me as I pondered the concept of PSYOP ( psychological operations ) and centcom leaflets. I held a few of these leaflets and thought about the information printed upon them. What images would Our Lady use on leaflets to shower down upon us? What would be her message? The answer was simply the dove of peace.

The Blessed Mother holds a rosary of nation flags emerging from the womb of a partial globe. A globe layered with historic maps of countries in which there is no peace due to the failings of human beings. Palestine. Somalia. Afghanistan. North Korea. Iraq. Cuba. This rosary of global meditations is currently unending.

What each of us as human beings on this planet must learn is to be understanding, to have compassion, to be respectful, to seek harmony, and to have patience. These qualities must be mutually held by all in order for any hope of lasting world peace.

This was the flag that hung in the window of Rhett's paternal grandparent's home whilst his grandfather, Andrew Johnson , served his country during World War I. My maternal grandfather, Andrew Etter served during WWI also. Both of you are being thought of on this day of remembrance.

Cyber tagged continued.....

2008-11-06T12:22:00.001-08:00

Okay dear readers, I shall continue the cyber tag from previous post. I am to add 7 folks at the end of my post by leaving their names and links to their blogs.Maura Çluthe, a talented artist that I am honored to call friend. Please check out her website as well as her blog. You can see her blog at http://blog.frag-ment-ed.com/ . The image above is a close-up of one of her paintings that hangs in my studio. (Maura kind of does live in my neighborhood for real. Yeah. )
Tomie dePaola, another talented artist and dear friend that I wish lived closer. Tomie has a great website and a new blog . Am so excited that Strega Nona has a new pop up book debuting in a day or so ! You can read more about Tomie's adventures at http://www.tomiesblog.blogspot.com/ The painting of red horse on watermelon with pears was painted for ME by Tomie. It hangs in my studio. Yeah !!
Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw, yet another talented artist friend that I desperately wish was my next door neighbor. Yes, that is me wearing one of my vintage ensembles. An Odd Fellows coat from the late 1800s. The chapeau is French and I added the painted stuffed cloth eye milagros. I wore this to Jen's book signing at Reading Reptile bookstore in Kansas City earlier this year. AND I am holding her debut children's book My Travelin' Eye. Blue ribbon story and artwork. You can find out more about it on her website. Check out her blog here http://dancingelephantstudio.com/visualart/blog/ and be sure to check out her other blog Chai Pilgrimage where you can see her giclee prints. Tea Diva, I am oh so lucky to own. Next I want Ganesha.

My Next person to check out is Rice ( two dots over the e , please) Freeman-Zachery. Yes, yes another talented artist/writer that is a friend and yes, could she be a next door neighbor too? I met Rice ( don't forget the dots ) when she wrote an article about me for Art Doll Quarterly and then she asked me to be a part of her book Living the Creative Life. You can find out about that book on her website. Her blog can be viewed here http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/

Next on my list is a lady who's work I have admired for years. I have not met her but wish she too were a neighbor. ( My pretend neighborhood is filling up ! ) Teesha Moore. I was honored to have some of my artwork in one of her zines. Someday I would like to teach at one of her artist retreats ! Okay, here is her blog http://www.teeshascircus.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Hartman is the next person I want to share with you. She is an herbalist that shares a great deal of knowledge via her blog. I go to her often for information about what is growing in my world and how to use it. I have never met her but again wish she were in my little imaginery neighborhood. Learn much by visiting her blog http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/

Hah, last but NOT least is my "token boy". Chipper Thompson. WOW, To have him in my neighborhood. What a talented musician whom I have met and hung out with off and on through the years. If you are not familiar with his music, get thee to his website now and ORDER cds !!!! Meanwhile, his blog can be viewed here http://www.banjosnake.com/

Whew, I did it. Here are seven people that I want to share with you. Enjoy!

I've been cyber tagged !

2008-11-05T15:26:00.000-08:00

I've been cyber tagged by Kerin of www.kerinrose.blogspot.com. Please check out her artwork. A kindred spirit is she.

To be cyber tagged is a fun way to network and explore new blogs.

Here are the rules:
-link to your tagger and list these rules
-share 7 facts about yourself ( random and unusual are okay)
-tag 7 folks at the end of your post by leaving their names and links to their blogs
-let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

My 7 facts:
I bake and cook from scratch daily and raise a lot of vegetables in a garden and forage for food stuffs in the woods. (Fresh fig and Mars grape clafouti )
My studio has become a home for wayward sock monkeys.
I am a voracious reader.
I research and learn hourly.
I adore the art and meditation of knitting and aspire to finish a turtleneck shrug I started last year and learn to crochet. ( sleeves done, now the neck part ! )

I prefer to wear vintage clothing.

I play mah jongg though not as often as I would like.

I am tagging a handful of talented people that I look up to for inspiration and friendship. Look for this list in my next posting. I want to add some images and am not clever enough to do so at this point in this post. And now it is 6 pm. and dark, so will wait til tomorrow to take the photos.

Grizzly Bear Intercessor

2008-10-14T04:25:00.001-07:00

Grizzly Bear
Ursos arctos horribilis

"It was verry large and a turrible lookiing animal, which we found verry hard to kill."
William Clark 20 October 1804

The Grizzly bear has been extirpated by the human species in all but three or four states south of Canada.

Within the lower forty-eight states and Mexico, the Grizzly bears historic range began at the eastern edge of the Great Plains in about the longitude of the one-hundredth meridian sweeping westward to the Pacific coast. To the south, their range extended into northern Lower California and to Durango, Mexico. Moving northward beyond the contiguous states, grizzlies were common in British Columbia and western Alberta, Canada, Yukon, and Northwest Territories, and on into the southern central parts of the Alaskan Peninsula and the Arctic coast.

Grizzlies were common across most of North Dakota. In the mid nineteenth century they were plentiful in Nebraska and Kansas. By 1900 the grizzly bear was extinct in these states. Humans eradicated almost 100,000 Grizzlies in the western United States between 1850 and 1920.

The last documented Grizzly bear was killed:
In Texas 1890
In New Mexico 1917 ( one of the last grizzlies)
In California 1922
In Oregon 1931
In Arizona 1935
In Colorado 1979

The Grizzly bear's current range is less than 1% of its historic range in the lower forty-eight states. They can be found in the Rocky Mountain region in the states of Montana and Wyoming. Some wander into Idaho and on rare occasions on into Washington. Grizzlies that live within Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks are somewhat protected

A healthy habitat for Grizzly bears could be found in dense forests interspersed with open meadows, rivers, and lakes in mountainous areas with lots of open rugged country and along the western coast. A habitat devoid of logging, energy exploration, mining operations, roads, 0ff-road vehicles, and intolerant humans who come to recreate and build residential developments, raise livestock and grow crops.

Protected habitats have an umbrella effect in that what is good for the grizzlies is also beneficial to harlequin ducks, bull and cutthroat trout, lynx, pine martens, wolverines, mountain caribou, great gray owls, and gray wolf , just to name a few species. Threatened plant life such as water howellia also flourishes when areas are protected from logging, mining, road building, and the drainage of wetlands.

Grizzly bears must roam over vast areas searching for food with a high nutrient content in order to build up their fat reserve to get them through a long winter's hibernation. In spring they feast on cutthroat trout, which are indigenous to Yellowstone Lake and are being threatened by exotic lake trout. In the summer months grizzlies will climb in the mountains above the timberline (to elevations above 10,000 ft.) in search of army cutworm moths. These moths migrate to this tundra in search of sub alpine wildflowers that provide nectar, their food source. Grizzly bears will eat thousands of these moths. The army cutworm moth is itself threatened by pesticides used on its host plants in the valleys below and in the Plains states. Also global warming is taking its toll on the wildflowers above the timberline. In autumn another high nutrient food source is the white-bark pine nut. This food source has declined within Yellowstone Park since the forest fires of 1988. A disease known as blister rust is also stressing remaining trees in the forests within Yellowstone.

Berries, grasses, roots, tubers, sedges, ants, ladybugs, and meat from ungulates, and small mammals also provide nutrition for grizzly bears within the Rocky Mountain region. Along the coastline, salmon and other fish provide nutrient rich food sources.

For the most part Grizzlies live in solitude. Cubs ( and twins are common) may live with their mother for up to three years whilst she protects them fiercely from predators and teaches them how to forage for food. Grizzlies will wait to mate until five or six years of age and females will have litters only every three years. Life span for a grizzly in the wild varies from fifteen to thirty-four years.

Currently the Grizzly bear is protected under the Endangered Species Act. It is listed as threatened and endangered. There is some pressure by lobbyists representing oil and gas and livestock industries along with big game hunters and land developers to de-list the grizzly.

Gaining knowledge about this species hopefully will lead to empathy and tolerance and halt the impending extinction of the Grizzly bear from the lower forty-eight states.

St. Therese of Lisieux,

2008-10-12T07:04:00.000-07:00

Charite
St. Therese de l'enfant Jesus et du visage saint
born 2 Jan 1873
died 7:20 pm. 30 Sept. 1897
feast day 1 Oct

2007 International Missionary Year
Sister Therese
armchair missionary
her mission
share lessons
of charity,
tolerance,
grace.

charity: to love, be kind, and show compassion to all people of the earth

tolerance: to be open-minded, broad-minded, to be sensitive, show no prejudice, to be understanding; to allow the existence of beliefs, practices, or habits different from ones' own, to not be a bigot

grace: mercy, forgiveness, leniency, compassion, good will, manners, thoughtfulness, tact

Each of us can
lead a more graceful life
day to day
on mother earth
by meditating
on the Little Way lessons
of Saint Therese
and becoming
a missionary

'My nature was such that fear made me recoil; with love not only did I advance, I actually flew.'
(pg. 174 Story of a Soul)

fly
charity
fly
St Therese has many lessons to teach us today. Fortunately there are many books about her life and her own words to read and reflect upon. I created my interpretation of her in 2007. My Muneco Santo, holy doll, stands 17 inches tall. All is hand stitched and beaded. Her body is leather with wire armature and her face is beaded with glass seed beads. I spent an entire month researching , reflecting, fabricating my interpretation and writing my words.

Little Way lessons are relevant for us today.

Guardians of the homestead, part 2

2008-10-07T08:57:00.001-07:00

Here are the other two life size human figures that Rhett fabricated out of steel and other materials. They will reside on the porch til the barn swallows return or someone chooses to "adopt" them as guardians at their own home. This one holds a staff in his right hand and is in a crouched position.
This figure is in a seated position and holds a longer staff in his left hand. This one is also up for "adoption".

Guardians of the homestead

2008-10-07T08:07:00.001-07:00

Rhett created these life sized human figures out of steel which he coiled on a "machine" that he built himself. The faces began with wooden faces that he hand carved and then a mold was taken and this face was poured into that mold. The medallions hanging from the figures are shards of pottery , glass and stone that he has dug . Read an article written by Bill Hankins at http://homepage.mac.com/kellybuntin/files/Rhett_screen.pdf on my website. Bill talks in depth about Rhett's archeological endeavors to find art supplies. All of these figures ( and there are four) were part of a museum installation entitled "Marooned". After the show, the figures moved back to the farm. This one sat by the pond for a summer.
This figure is now seated on the freshly refinished front porch of the house where he will reside til the barn swallows return next spring.
Here is a close up of one of the faces. I will show the remaining two guardians in a future posting.

Continued Restoration

2008-09-28T05:43:00.001-07:00

Here is a view of the front of our home with the upper story sheathed now in corrugated galvanized steel. Rhett fabricated "shutters" for the upper windows. The cedar lap siding on the lower story has been protected from weather, so we scrubbed it and applied a clear weather proofing to protect it for a few more years. The shutters on the lower windows came from an old torn down home near another small town in our area. Part of our collection of architectural salvage. Rhett wants to put galvanized shutters on this level too in time. And a better front door.
An early morning shot of the front porch with a new arrangement of Rhett's artwork and the furniture made out of pony horseshoes from Fort Leavenworth, KS. These are antique pieces.

A close up of the shutters Rhett fabricated. He wants to add shutters all round the house but this project will have to wait for rainy indoor studios days. Too much to do right now outside on the farm.

VOTE

2008-09-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

Big Fly whispered in my ear. Quite annoying, though I knew he was correct.

I gessoed and then painted fabric to create a background. Printed my message, cut out the words and applied them to the fabric. Rhett encased the message in metal with a plastic lens. A pinback was glued on. All was fabricated on a hilltop in Platte County.

Hopefully the message will be spread across the country during this all important season of fact gathering. Hopefully each eligible voter will make an informed decision on who should lead our nation for the next four years.

If you would like to purchase one of these pinbacks, please snail mail twenty US dollars. I will take care of shipping and sales tax. The pinbacks are 1 and 3/4 inches across.

If you are wondering about Big Fly, please refer back to a past posting.

Labor Day weekend report

2008-09-13T08:12:00.001-07:00

How we spent our Labor day weekend. Residing the south side of our house ! Twenty years ago we put up cedar lap siding. Wanting it to weather and turn gray , we didn't put any preservative on the wood. Well, life lesson learned: it split and cracked through the years and now we were faced with replacing it. Cedar lap siding was too expensive for our piggy bank, and Rhett was itching to work with metal. Decision was made to reside the south and west sides which bore the brunt of damage. The top east side will be replaced also. Corrugated stainless steel with a two inch corrugation pattern was chosed. 29 gauge. Friday we started tearing off the old siding ( sad pile , you can see in left hand corner of image). Saturday morning we were exposed to the elements. No turning back! Worked all day Saturday , Sunday and Monday, just the two of us, hanging 20 ft long sheets of steel.
This is how it looked Monday evening. Rhett has been designing elements to hang alongside the windows as "shutters". Those will come in a week or so. It has been raining all week which helps the level of water in our pond come up and our bruises to heal but we are itching to get back at the siding project. Looks like next week will be sunny. Back to climbing the scaffolding!
This shot shows the metal details Rhett fabricated to fancy up the corners of the window trim. Larger metal details to sides of window to be added later.

Harvest

2008-09-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

Jewelweed. This patch was growing along the back field. I gathered enough to make an infusion . Ate some of the seeds which are like little bullets that explode in your hand from the seed pods. Taste a bit like an English walnut.
Wood nettles. This patch grows just inside the wooded area alongside the old railroad bed ( no tracks , just a wide pathway). Where Rhett had mowed the pathway were foot high new growth nettles. I picked these as I wanted to jump and saute them . Then the nettles ended up on that evenings pizza.

Yellow pear tomatoes. A sorry looking plant but loaded with yellow orbs. I gathered a five gallon bucket full and dehydrated them for winter time eating.
Pears. What variety, I know not. The tree is well on to a hundred years old. It and another wizened scrag of a tree are all that are left from the orchard that stood where our house is now. Gone many decades ago, the orchard. The trees bear every other year and this year they have outdone themselves. Lots of cider to squeeze in the coming month.
A view through wild posies of my favorite field on the farm. Someday I hope to be able to bring this twenty acre field back to a small prairie oasis.

This was how Gus , the dog, and I spent last Sunday afternoon. Gathering in medicinals and food stuffs for the long winter. Warm sunny fall day.

Barn Swallows

2008-09-11T09:45:00.001-07:00

This is a Majolica pitcher that sits on a shelf in my kitchen above my sink. It reminds me during the long cold winter days when there are no twitters or song coming from the porches of our house, that each spring, our migratory neighbors will return. Most of the flock has headed southward now to Central and South America for the winter. I spied one lone barn swallow flying this morning high above the house. Two nights ago there were three huddled together in the eaves of the porch but none last night. Last year, they left on the 10th of September except for the last family which left on the 18th of the month. That set of parents had three "batches" of babies that season. Whew. Usually, there are two "batches" of babies a season. The leaving of the swallows is the harbinger of fall for me.

Twenty years ago when we began building our house, we only got the walls up and the roof on. There were no windows or doors. Since we didn't have to hurry with the building of the house, we could add elements as our piggy bank allowed. During that year a pair of barn swallows ventured inside and built a nest of a beam in the central room. Raised their families and left for the season. We left the nest of the beam for good luck. It is this first family of swallows that began the northward migration to reside on our porches each year. Each year the flock has grown and it is such a delight to watch and listen to them in the summer.
This male barn swallow is sitting on the staff of one of Rhett's metal, and mixed media sculptures that sits on the porch outside of my studio. His nest is just above on a beam.

Safe travels southward, dear neighbors. I will be watching and listening for you come springtime.

Belted Kingfisher

2008-08-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, during my afternoon siesta on a raft in the middle of our pond, I awoke to a voice not heard in thirty years. I opened my eyes to see flying past me a bird I had not seen in thirty years. Was it, could it be, a Belted Kingfisher? I asked myself. Fully awake by now , I learned forward to watch its flight and landing on one of Rhett's steel and glass sculptures that sits in the pond. this sculpture is about seven feet tall and a perfect perch for birds that are looking for dinner in the waters below. The male Belted Kingfisher sat there for a bit. Chattered again. I realize that he was most likely letting me know that this was HIS territory and to back off. He then flew to an old dead oak tree alongside the pond and chattered a bit more at me. I was able to get a good look at him and memorize his markings and voice. I paddled ashore and headed straight to my computer to look him up and listen to his voice. Yup. It was a Belted Kingfisher. I felt most rich at seeing this bird on our place and knowing that he was appreciative of our new pond which shall provide many a dinner for him. It is time to stock the pond with fish. Will start with fat head minnows this fall and then add bluegill and channel catfish next fall. In the spring of 2010, we will add large mouth bass. Until then the frogs have full reign of the pond.

I spent many a summer day during my teenage years exploring round a lake near our home. That is when I spied a female Belted Kingfisher . I never saw her again and never forgot her.

Vegetable gardening adventures

2008-08-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, dear reader, I am going to be very brave and show you this image of my "vegetable garden". This is what happens when an art project deadline looms front and center for the entire month of June and I am unable to even glance at the garden. June , here in Platte County, MO, USA was cool and cloudy. Seems this is perfect conditions for vicious farm weeds to prosper. Rhett brought me a few loads of good dirt from down by the barn last fall and this was working into the existing soil from last year's garden. Sleeping soundly in this dirt were the seeds of these evil weeds. So, July came and "Mr. Hopewell" was delivered to his new home at the museum. I was free to dig in the dirt and see what was left vegetable-wise in the so called garden. A few hours a day were spent on the end of a shovel digging patches of weeds and their roots from my garden. Little by little, I was able to uncover feeble rows of vegies. Here you see Lacinato, and if you squint and look carefully to the left, there are carrot fronds sticking up amongst the weeds. To the right are lima beans ( which I am nursing now into new life). Here and there across the garden are stalks of amaranth. Thankfully. It came up volunteer from the row of three varieties that I grew ( successfully, I might add ! ) last year. Amaranth is SO good for you and we have been able to eat the greens all summer. I jump them , in the Italian fashion and saute then in olive oil with garlic and pinch of chipotle ( from Chimayo, NM). Have been freezing the jumped amaranth also for ribollita this winter. Oh, forgot to mention that the garden is 30 feet x 30 feet this year. I have about ten more hours of digging weeds to uncover the entire garden. Carrots survived just fine, all six varieties. Lacinato can be coaxed into a fall crop to freeze for ribollita also.
Rhett weed eated ( not a real word ) our watermelon crop. Cute isn't it. He also managed to chop up the Black-eyed Susan's and lily of the valley and ferns. Then he tells me that he lost his glasses whilst weed eating. Hmmm.
This is our first venture raising potatoes. Two rows of La Ratte fingerlings. Purchased from www.seedsavers.org .

Quite confusing for a first time potato farmer. From dried up plants come over a bushel of tubers such as these. And delicious, I must say. Next year, more rows of other varieties.

Back to digging weeds now. Stay tuned.

Tote Gote

2008-08-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

1963 Tote Gote

Never fear, I am still among the living , though I haven't posted in a spell. In the next post you shall see what has taken all of my attention and energy and is still an ongoing process.

But.......Saturday was my birthday and I decided that I would ride the "Gote". Rhett bought two Tote Gotes at a consignment auction the past weekend and spent the week resurrecting this one, a 1963 model. The mini bikes were manufactured in Provo Utah and were mainly used by hunters in the mountains. Rhett has added the metal saddle bag on the back and is continuing to modify the look. After a quick lesson about using the clutch instead of the brakes to slow down, I was off. I had never ridden a mini bike before and I can see how it would be fun to ride around the farm, though it can't go off road into tall grass like my mountain bike.

Stay tuned to read about and see photos on my vegetable garden disaster. Thankfully it is raining today and I don't have to dig weeds in the so called garden.

Big Fiy is tap tap tapping.....

2008-06-07T07:34:00.001-07:00

Remember dear reader from past posting that Big Fly whispers rights and wrongs to us if we listen. Big Fly is tap tap tapping .

I wrote these words on 4 May, 2008. Today seems an appropriate day to share them with you. Big Brown runs later today.

A Memorial for Eight Belles:

Eight Belles,
a filly,
died for our sins
3 May 2008
euthanized
( politically correct term)
makes it all nice.

Steroids,
a worshipped drug,
also silently causing
fragility of bones
in human population.

"There are no side effects."
Doctor blatantly lied to me
whilst looking me full in the face.
I knew differently
tore up the prescription.

Eight Belles, a filly,
did not have this choice,
she ran her heart out
and died
whilst humans drank mint juleps
and cared not.

Eight Belles,
a filly,
died for our sins.

2008-05-28T05:48:00.001-07:00

Archangel Raphael

2008-05-27T08:33:00.001-07:00

Archangel Raphael, mixed media, 57 cm x 36 cm x 30 cm

Another figure in my Munecos Santos , (holy dolls), body of work. I have already created Michael and Gabriel, ( see the gallery section of my website for images, www.diddy-wa-diddy.com). Last fall I began research and creation of Raphael. A local photo journalist asked if he could document this process from start to finish and then publish the article in the Landmark newspaper ( from Platte County, Missouri). We worked on this project through the fall and winter. You can read Bill Hankin's article on my website. You can read the nitty gritty background part of the materials I use within this article. What is not in this article is the "words " that I write to accompany the figure. Part of these words are hand embroidered on the nuclear waste symbol shaped doily that drapes over the nuclear waste canister ( not a real one....) that Raphael stands upon. My intention is to create a handmade book this summer that contains all of my "words". I was inspired by passages in the Bible, the Koran , the Book of Tobit, and the Book of Enoch in researching historic information about Raphael and his "job" here on earth.

Archangel Raphael. Feast day 24 October. Intercessor of healing. traditional attributes- pilgrim's staff, fish, gourd, young man ( Tobit), dog, jar. typically depicted as beardless youth clothed in pilgrim's garb. updated attributes- red cross pilgrim's badge, staff transformed into brush to remind us to walk gently on Mother Earth sweeping away our traces and footprints, nuclear waste canister, symbol, right hand raised in oration, silence, pay attention, become aware, one of the Watchers bringing succour to Mother Earth, coral ( from a dying sea) dangles from loros, one of Raphael's Byzantine imperial garments. In the book of Tobit, Raphael arrives as a disguised traveller called forth to aid Tobit's family. Tobit has lost his sight. Son Tobias peregrinates in the company of Azarius ( Raphael) to a faraway town where his father's confidant, Raguel resides. Along the path Raphael instructs Tobias to catch a fish which has curative powers both for Sarah and Tobit. Tobias meets, falls in love, and marries ( whom he has not met yet) Sarah, daughter of Raguel. Within the chapters of Noah and of the earthquake in the Koran, we reflect on what happens when a lack of awareness or disregard brings forth retribution. Book of Enoch, hidden for a thousand years safe in Ethiopia, resurfaced, freshly translated. A message within tells of the Watchers, of whom Raphael is one, observe carnage to Mother Earth and amongst the two-legged inhabitants. Raphael, bade forth to heal. In the Book of John, an angel ( Raphael) troubles the waters of Bethesda, a sheep pool. Enlightened beings cured of ailments suffered.
On each of the lobes of the doily are hand embroidered passages from the Bible, Koran, the Book of Enoch and the Book of Tobit.

"I did not know that there were sparrows in the wall above my head, their hot droppings fell into my eyes. This caused white spots to form, which I went to have treated by the doctors. But the more ointments they tried me with, the more spots blinded me, and in the end, I became completely blind." Book of Tobit

When the earth shall be shaken and the earth shall cast forth her burdens; and a man shall say, "What aileth her ?" And Raphael was sent to bring remedy. Chapter of the Earthquake

Raphael, one of the Watchers, " I have come to these parts to look for work." come to restore Earth? Stir the waters? Pull fingers from our ears? Or blow into our eyes, apply whale gall to remove film of ignorance. Or guard repositories of life and/or death.

Purify the earth from all oppression, from all injustice, from all crime, from all impiety, and from all pollution which is committed upon it. Exterminate them from the earth. Book of Enoch, chapter 10.

And a being stirred the waters but our fingers were in our ears, lack of awareness, and sonar testing muddled migration and plots of Arctic Sea were auctioned and trawling nets shattered thousands of years of growth and more beings became endangered and drilling into Mother Earth continued to extract , to conceal, to guard. And our fingers probed deeper in our ears and the film over our eyes grew thicker.

"Is that you Ed ? "

2008-05-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday afternoon I was in the midst of my third day of marathon vegetable garden planting, both seeds and plants. Busily filling plastic jugs with water, I was startled by a homing pigeon that was pecking at one of the jugs within twelve inches from my hand. A rather handsome and tame fellow wearing a blue bracelet. I stopped filling the jugs in order to give the pigeon a drink. Pigeon wouldn't let me hold him but stayed by my side for a bit. Then flew to the peak of Rhett's studio and proceeded to spend the afternoon watching him weld and bang around on the old pickup. Not at all plussed by the loud noises and sparks a flying. Hours later came back over for a drink and a look see at my progress with the garden then back to the peak of the roof . At cocktail hour we sat on the back porch of the house ( just up the hill from the studio, still within view). Pigeon was invited to join us but declined. He instead flew down to the overturned pickup seat that was perched in the pile of junk in the truck bed. Sat there for a long while. It was at this point that Rhett suggested that it was Ed ( the original owner of the pickup , now reincarnated ), come to inspect the resurrection of the Chevy. After a bit, Ed circled the studio and flew off. Thanks for visiting us, Ed.

Sunday evening I finished planting the vegetable garden. Whew.

Missouri Bluffs show report continued

2008-05-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

This image is a close-up of a couple of Rhett's peep sculptures. They can hang on the wall or can be displayed in these metal stands created especially for the peeps. Also you can see the peep tags with western images that are available at Missouri Bluffs now.

The back side of one of Rhett's Resurrection figures. Created from a blue glass bottle that he dug from a privy. Stay tuned to future posts in which I shall share other images and stories of these archeological digs.

1969 Chevrolet pickup tail gate. We pulled "Red Ed" up to the front of Rhett's studio this afternoon so that he can start dismantling it. Stay tuned......

Missouri Bluffs trunk show report

2008-05-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

12 Mayo 2008 showing of jewelry and sculpture at Missouri Bluffs boutique in historic town of Weston, Missouri. This is a view looking out into the street. Rhett's rock, steel and glass sculptures and recycled metal birds provided eye candy to lure passersby inside. These sculptures are available at Missouri Bluffs on an ongoing basis.

Rhett Johnson ,( my husband), and I showed our latest line of jewelry, ornaments and magnets.
I used vintage ceramic planters as props to hang necklaces from and toy refrigerators as canvas for my magnets.
Ornaments created by Rhett hang from the pink tree. The recycled metals are die formed into the shape of hands and hearts. Then there are charms in the center with vintage images of angels, Mom and baby, and baby in crib.
The Hail Mary sculpture is a collaboration . Rhett fabricated the stand , cases, wings and hand out of metal and it is my imagery inside the domed cases. This sculpture is now available at Missouri Bluffs.

1947 Pontiac continued

2008-05-08T09:46:00.001-07:00

There were enough parts to create a second face from this 1947 Pontiac. This one is available for adoption to a good home.

Close-up of the face.
Skeleton of the car sent to the scrapper for recycling.

Next project is our 1969 Chevy pickup. Red. Stay tuned.

1947 Pontiac

2008-05-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Rhett has transformed the hoods of many a vintage car into human faces that hang on the wall. A lady saw one in a client's home and inquired if Rhett would be interested in working his magic with her grandparent's 1947 Pontiac which was still sitting on the family farm out in Kansas. Her grandparents , every evening after dinner, had gone out to the car to sit inside where they could speak in their native tongue, German. "Yes, " was Rhett's answer. The car was towed to his studio where we then admired it for a couple of weeks and where Rhett could ponder how best to use the different parts of the car.

A close-up of the front grill.
The finished face. Recognize the grill ? ( now upside down)
A close-up of the details.

In progress on the studio floor.

Hail Mary

2008-05-08T09:21:00.001-07:00

Hail Mary full of grace ornament is one of the designs that I will be introducing to the public for the first time at our show at Missouri Bluffs Gallery in Weston, Missouri this Saturday, the 10th of May from 11am to 7pm. I have seven new designs honoring Our Lady that will be available this Saturday at the show and through Missouri Bluffs on an ongoing basis.

These images and "cases" are fabricated in my and Rhett's studio. Rhett creates the steel or aluminum cases and lens all from flat stock. He developed his own dies in order to do this. I photographed a statue of Our Lady from my collection of statues and placed this photo on a piece of old wallpaper and snipped out a nimbus of other paper. The words were typed on old paper using my 1939 Royal typewriter. The stars are mother-of-pearl beads stitched down and the ring of pale blue glass beads are sewn round the edge. This original piece of artwork is then photo copied and pressed into a hand formed case with lens.

Foraging continues in the woods

2008-05-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Stinging Nettles, front and center in the photo. Wear gloves to pick and long sleeves. I snap off the top 10 or 12 inches from the plant , leaving the rest for re-growth. Pull carefully as the root system is shallow and you can pull out the entire plant before you know it. Avoid doing this. I spend an hour in the woods gathering two big plastic bags full of nettle tops. Then it is a two hour session in the kitchen to pull the leaves off of the stems and to par boil the leaves so that I can freeze them for winter time eating. I set a big pot of water to boil on the stove whilst de leafing the stems. Fill bowls with the leaves. When all the leaves are off of the stems and the water is rolling, I add approximately four cups of leaves to the water at a time. Press down with a wooden spoon and let cook for about two minutes. Remove wilted leaves ( now the sting is gone) and pile into another bowl. Continue this process until all the leaves have been cooked. Let the wilted leaves cool in the bowls on the counter. Squeeze the liquid back into the kettle of "pot likker" and now I am ready to place wilted leaves in freezer bags. The "pot likker " is nutritious also. I freeze this in containers to cook beans in, for soups. Remember to wear gloves and long sleeves until all the leaves have been par boiled.

I am currently enjoying reading the book: The Forager's Harvest, A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer.

Mr. Thayer says that nettles are high in vitamin c, vitamin A, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron.

I plan on drying some leaves in the dehydrator to use in soups and teas this winter.

Here they are, morchella esculenta ( morels). Can you find three ? This has been an excellent year for morels in our neck of the woods. The season started late and Rhett is now finding the big yellow ones which herald the end. Maybe a few more days of foraging in the week ahead.
There are two morels in this photo. The one on the left is bent over. The top caught on the adjacent twig which caused it to grow down towards the ground.

I saute the morels in a bit of olive oil. Cut them in half first and lay them in hot oil in a big cast iron skillet. A pinch of black pepper and sea salt. Flip morels over when lightly brown to cook the other side. Throw these earthy , tasty morsels on a salad of water cress and twice roasted red beets. Also good on top of sauteed nettles tossed with pasta and roasted garlic.
The buckeye trees are flowering now. There is a grove of buckeyes down by the creek.

Woodland adventure report

2008-04-25T08:10:00.001-07:00

This is a false morel, a helvella. Poisonous to some though not to all. We err on the side of being cautious and just admire these pretties on the forest floor.
Ah, a morchella hybrida, or half free morel. These are the harbingers of the rest of the morchellas that will come out in a few days. These are tasty though fragile, so I dehydrate these mushrooms for wintertime eating.
This is a dog-tooth violet , also known as a trout lily. I found an entire hillside covered with these beauties. It was hard to walk without stepping on them.
These fragile pretties are called Spring Beauty. If you are so inclined, later in the year you can dig the roots and cook like potatoes. I just admire them.

I know you are thinking.....so where are the rest of the morchellas-the black morels ??? Well, we didn't find any on the day that I joined Rhett and Gus, the dog. Rhett found some , a few days later. I will join him again in the middle of the week to hopefully get a shot of a black morel or more likely the yellow ones that follow . Nights have dropped off into the 30s and this is not good for the hunting season.

I sauteed some of the black morels for dinner a couple of nights. Nothing like them. Did pick some stinging nettles for a couple of evenings dinners. Sauteed with garlic, chili pepper flakes and an anchovie in olive oil. Yum.

Will continue picking nettles this week and look again for ramps. Hopefully the Dutchman's breeches and Jack-in-the-Pulpit will be in bloom. Also the May apples will be blooming soon.
And yes, the ticks are awake and biting in full force. The wild turkeys are strutting their stuff now too.

this is how the photo was supposed to look....

2008-04-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

this was the entire photo that you were supposed to see in the last blog. oops!

"Trunk show" at Missouri Bluffs Gallery

2008-04-23T08:05:00.001-07:00

winged heart design exclusively available through Missouri Bluffs

Rhett and I are going to unveil new designs during a "trunk show" at Missouri Bluffs Gallery in Weston, Missouri on the 10th of May. I will be there from 11am to 7pm. Rhett will join me at 4pm. Please come visit with us and take a peek at our artwork. I am excited about the new designs and am eager to get feedback.

Anne Bollin, the owner of Missouri Bluffs has carried my artwork for over a decade now and as a small token of appreciation I created the above design exclusively for her. The leather winged heart is hand sewn and beaded and is encased in metal. The background is painted leather with embroidered french knots to create texture. This image is their current postcard and the circular piece is the image that will be available for purchase in the shape of charms, pendants, ornaments and bag tags.

Rhett spent many months developing the dies and other machinery to create these metal cases and lenses that encase original artwork as well as color prints of our artwork. These peep tags and charms , as we call, make up a part of this trunk show.

The giant photo at the top of this post was supposed to go here but......( I am new at this stuff ). This is a new variation of the winged heart theme with the addition of the blue cross. You may have seen these as brooches but now you can wear them as necklaces too! I strung the hand sewn and beaded leather stuffed winged hearts on a nickel plated stainless steel bead bar chain. Funky new way to wear your badge of peregrination. These will be available for purchase at Missouri Bluffs in a few weeks.

Okay, I should climb the stairs back up to my studio to continue sewing more hearts now.

This afternoon, Rhett, Gus, the dog, and I are headed to the timber on the back of our farm to search for morel mushrooms, ramps, and nettles. Am taking my camera in hopes of a shot of morel and at least some wild flowers.

adios for now.

Big Fly, Navajo mentor

2008-04-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

Big Fly, mixed media sculpture
34cm x 32cm x 30cm
wooden base with wire armature

Big Fly
a mentor,
takes earthly being form
of horse bot fly.

He too is blood red.
Danger.

Perched
on an ear
to whisper
instructions,
answers,
forecasts of the future.

Deafness
necessitates
entering
host's mouth,
to bellow.

Dance
Big Fly
dance,
break free
of
mounted specimen pins.

Okay, I can sense that quizzical look on your face. "What is Kelly drinking on this fine Earth Day?" The answer is dandelion tea, to be truthful. Big Fly is one of the Intercessors that I created two years ago. From Navajo readings I meditated and then fabricated Grandmother Spider, Yellow Rat, and Big Fly. With each , I write "words". I hesitate to call it poetry because I do not care for labels and I do not want to be encumbered by the rules of the game.

" So, explain the words ! "

Thankfully in the book about Navajo religion there were no images of Big Fly. I could imagine anything that I wanted. I thought about Big Fly's "job" here on Earth. A big job, getting humans to listen. I imagined that no one was listening to Big Fly and that in desperation he had taken the form of an earthly species . A fly that gets attention in a big way. The horse bot fly.

The last "paragraph" refers to the cigar box science lesson that teaches kids to kill insects and pin them in a cigar box for a good grade. Big Fly has broken free of these pins.

The red cross (which you will come to see appears on all my Intercessors) lets us know that the Intercessor has come down to Earth to help misguided human species.

Big Fly is created out of leather which is painted , sewn by hand, and then stuffed with a wire armature and cotton batting. The wings are of old copper wire window screen . Many of the seed beads used were recycled from a bedraggled Victorian era dress. The base is another recycled piece, a wooden form. Big Fly holds an old hat pin which represents the specimen pin.

I have decided that Big Fly will appear within this blog when I feel the need to post "the emperor hasn't any clothes on once again" soap box "sermons". Big Fly will tap tap tap us with the specimen pin to remind us to listen to his gentle whispers. If we don't listen , he will have to take on the form of the horse bot fly.

back to my dandelion tea and sewing tiny beads to leather......

Year of the Rat

2008-04-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Olla, dear reader. Yes, I know that Year of the Rat has commenced and that this is not a timely image. But, I had fun setting up this scenario on the appropriate day using Red Rat and the "spotted spring sisters". I share the diorama with you now. The "sisters" are members of my ever growing tribe of old hand made dolls and animals. Red Rat is from my Intercessor series of figures. He is fabricated from painted leather and is hand sewn and beaded. His limbs are jointed. Rhett, my husband, created the chair and table from rescued bits and pieces of wood found in junk heaps.

My goal through this dialogue is to provide a glimpse into Rhett's and my life, our artwork, and from time-to-time may feel the need to step upon my well-worn soap box to voice concern over issues. "The emperor hasn't any clothes on once again." I promise to keep the soap box sermons concise. Hopefully my comments will cause us all to step away from the tilt-a-whirl ride of life, to reflect, and to take action.

So, (deep breath) this ends my first entry. Surely in a few days I will be able to share an image of a morel mushroom in its natural habitat. Tis the season, according to the calendar. Barn swallows are returning daily from their winter migration. Cricket frogs are singing in the pond. Spring has arrived on this hilltop in Platte County, Missouri.

500 Handmade Dolls

2007-11-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

As a contributing artist chosen to be a part of this book I have been anticipating the arrival of my copy for months. Yesterday it arrived. Blue ribbon to Akira Blount who had the task of selecting the artwork. What a thought provoking congregation of imaginative interpretations of the human form. This volume, I predict, will be a dog-eared favorite of anyone in the least bit intrigued by this art form. It is a visual feast from which no one will leave hungry. I am honored that my holy dolls are a part of this collection.

Image taken from Amazon.

now showing: Tangible Meditation

2007-10-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! My current exhibition, "Tangible Meditation" is now showing at Beverly & Sam Ross Gallery at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. The show runs through December 6 so if you're in the area, come and check it out. For more information and/or to read my artist statement for the show, please visit their website.

Reception tonight!

2007-09-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

As part of my artist-in-residence position this month, The Johnson County Library is hosting a reception for me tonight! If you're in the area, I'd love to see you. The reception, being held at The Central Resource Library at 9875 W. 87the Street in Overland Park, KS, is from 6:30-8:00 pm tonight. RSVP is encouraged. Please call 913-495-2484 to let the folks at the library know you'll be coming, if possible. Thanks - hope to see you there!

Living the Creative Life

2007-09-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Well, it's finally been published. I'm honored to be included in Living the Creative Life; ideas and inspiration from working artists written by Rice Freeman-Zachary. Published by North Light Books. Available from Amazon (right here) and hopefully from independently owned bookstores near you in the future. Rice carmelized the words of fifteen hand picked artists into a smooth read. Lots of eye candy too. Please check it out.

Artist-in-Residence

2007-08-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hi! Thanks for checking out my blog.

During the month of September, I will be an artist-in-residence at the Johnson County Library. During my month there, I will be creating a black-footed ferret Intercessor out of leather, beads, buttons and metal from start to finish. If you're in the area, please stop by for the opening reception on Thursday, September 13 from 6:30-8:00 pm. For more information about the reception and a detailed schedule of where I'll be during my residency, please call (913) 495-2466 or visit the Johnson County Library website. Thanks! I hope to see you there.