Gallery 53 - Opening Reception this Saturday April 14th

If you have some free time on Saturday afternoon I suggest you stop into Gallery 53 in Meriden to see this show

"ALL THINGS CONSIDERED"
​Reception: Saturday April 14th, 12-2 pm
Refreshments served, free parking in garage across the street.

This is what they have posted on their website with pictures - looks
great: http://www.gallery53.org/textileshow2018.html

On Exhibit: April 14 - 27

See how regional artists exploit the creative potential of textiles to
create new, exciting and meaningful works. Many of the exhibitors are
members of ​SAQA ​(Studio Art Quilt Association) Connecticut, a group
dedicated to supporting and promoting professional fiber artists and
teachers as well as quilters working to develop their fine art skills.
This juried show will be judged by well-known textile artist Clara Nartey.

These stunning layered, stitched visual works are an eye-opener: from
its roots as a practical craft, quilting has evolved into an art form
in its own right. Don't miss this exhibit!

In addition, Gallery 53 has a lovely gift shop filled with goodies to delight and surprise!

Local Color 3 Catalog Available

Thank you to all my old and new friends who came out to the opening reception of the SAQA-CT Local Color 3 exhibit in Westbrook last week.

If you would like to have an exhibition catalog that has images of ALL the works, I have great news. It is now available to order on Amazon. It features full color images of each art quilt in the collection, detail images and artist statements. Participating artists include: Dawn Allen, Kathleen Bagioni, Hope Barton, Christina Blais, Meredith Brooks, Rita Daley-Hannafin, Cher Hurney, Cathey LaBonte, Mary Lachman, Barbara McKie, Clara Nartey, Evelyn Oliver Knight, Judy Ross, Phyllis Small, Kate Themel, Anna Tufankjian, Catherine Whall Smith and Diane Wright.

Here is a link:

https://www.amazon.com/Local-Color-Inspired-Science-Connecticut/dp/1983487074/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517753096&sr=8-1&keywords=local+color+inspired+by+science

You might even consider ordering two! One for you and one for a friend!   

Good day friends.

But first, a bit about the weather. This is the view out my window.

The beautiful thing about it is I didnot go in to work today. The 53 mile drive on the parkway is simply dangerous. And although I might have done it 10 years ago, times have changed and so have I. Now I don't take as many risks as I once did. The weatherman said 6-9 inches of snow with 40-50 mph winds and I decided to stay home.

This morning I did a little upgrading of my website MaryLachman.com and this blog. Check it out and tell me what you think. I am always trying to make it easier to read.

Now let me tell you about my knitting.  I am rediscovering my mojo after several months wearing a wrist brace for tendonitis. This is not what one wants when one enjoys knitting as much as I do. The experience made me wonder how would I be creative if I couldn't use of my hand

.

I finished a simple triangular scarf. One skein of a mohair blend on a U.S. size 9 needle using garter stitch.
It is started with a simple cast on of 3 stitches, then turn.
Row 1: Knit 1, yo, Knit 1, yo, Knit 1.
Row 2: Knit 1, yo, Knit 1.
Row 3: Knit 1, yo, Knit 3, yo, Knit 1.
Rows that Follow: Continue this pattern for as long as you wish or until you have just enough yarn left to bind off. My scarf is 12" deep and 42" long.

How to Enjoy a Blizzard

Happy New Year Friends!

To start the New Year off, first a bit about the weather. This is the view out my window.

The beautiful thing about it is I didnot go in to work today. The 53 mile drive on the parkway is simply dangerous. And although I might have done it 10 years ago, times have changed and so have I. Now I don't take as many risks as I once did. The weatherman said 6-9 inches of snow with 40-50 mph winds and I decided to stay home.

This morning I did a little upgrading of my website MaryLachman.com and this blog. Check it out and tell me what you think. I am always trying to make it easier to read.

Now let me tell you about my knitting.  I am rediscovering my mojo after several months wearing a wrist brace for tendonitis. This is not what one wants when one enjoys knitting as much as I do. The experience made me wonder how would I be creative if I couldn't use of my hands. I will share my projects with you later this weekend.

I spent the day reading the rest of Wolf Kahn's "America", an artist's impressions of the landscape, making chili, and packing off the Shirtail quilt to my longarm quilter in Maine.

In the end we had 14" of snow and a big drift at the garage door. Many thanks go out to my dear husband for snowblowing so I could go to work Friday!

And now on to the weekend!

Mary

Jane Peterson exhibit at the Mattatuck Museum

On Monday, after work, I drove to the Mattutuck Museum in Waterbury to retrieve my artwork, "Knight and Day" from the #IBelieveInWaterbury exhibit which just ended. The show's curator, Chelsea Garth, was a delight to work with and I hope you have the chance to meet her on day.

The new exhibit in the 2nd floor gallery is impressionist oil, pastel and gouache paintings by Jane Peterson. Below are a few examples of her work. She painted subjects in the United States and abroad, hence the show is titled, Jane Peterson: At Home and Abroad.

Live a simple creative life!

~Mary

Knitting as Meditation

Although friends and family have encouraged me to meditate I have not adopted the traditional practice with any consistency. This is despite acknowledging the benefits for the body and mind, attending a Buddhist meditation retreat (that the DH and I attended at my son's request following his college graduation) and having friends send me 'Calm' app links.

But I do something that is in itself a form of meditation. I knit.  People have knitted for centuries. While nowadays it is often considered a woman's craft, military men throughout history knit socks and hats and sweaters.

One stitch at a time. Remember you don't have to create anything big or serious. And it doesn't have to be perfect. Stitch by stitch. One at a time.

Five favorite times to knit:

• as a passenger on a long road trip
• rainy day (with or without a glowing fireplace)
• watching Netflix series
• sitting with someone in a nursing home or hospital
• waiting for anything

Live a simple creative life

~Mary

Pots and the Wheel

This summer the DH and I signed up for our first ceramics class at Wesleyan Potters in Middletown. It was a mixed level class and we required a lot more assistance learning to center on the wheel than others.

The DH hard a work 

Ready to fire

Live a simple creative life

~Mary