Day 211 - 365/2014 (and Sue update)

Day Two Hundred Eleven

I am back on the schedule of being at my sister Sue's house while her husband is at work.  Yesterday I took the big blue guy collage over there to work on but I never got around to it...I just wasn't into it -- hopefully today will be different.

Yesterday was Sue's second post-surgical doctor's office appointment. Xrays, new wrapping, boot, etc.  Sue has been the trooper she always is but yesterday she got the sutures removed and she actually looked at her leg and stuff started sinking in and it was a very emotionally draining day for her -- on top of the car trip to the doctor's office.  She is basically in good spirits but yesterday was just a tough day.

Sue finishing a cold compression treatment...the splints and big wrapping are off and she is now getting used to the boot.

Sue adjusting the boot.

Sue's husband took this photo at the doctor's office and printed it out -- this is a photo of the print out.  Sue has one long plate on this side of her leg with about 8 or 9 screws.  The other side (inside side) of her ankle area has another smaller plate with 2 or 4 screws.  She cannot put any weight on her foot for (at least) another FOUR WEEKS. 

My collage at Sue's house -- waiting to get worked on.

I am taking my sewing/embroidery stuff with me to Sue's today.  I'm also going to grab a deck of cards and maybe another game that we can play...we've been playing Yahtzee a lot (and we really love it) but we are thinking it is time to get some variation. 

Day 210 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Ten

Yesterday was an early day for Sue's husband at work and I was able to come home earlier.  Today Sue had her second post-surgical office exam...I still haven't heard from them and I think we may be going back to "regular" hours...so I am posting to the blog now rather than when I get home tonight (because I might not make my midnight deadline).

I've been trying to think of what this big blue guy wants to be.  After spending a lot of time with this collage this morning I think I may have an idea.  I am going to take the canvas with me over to Sue's today and start some prep work...hopefully.

Day 209 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Nine

I had a shorter day with Sue today, but I still didn't get a chance to work on anything.  But I did make a really delicious pot of soup.  It is hard to think this could be, but today I roasted vegetables in the oven for the first time (without them cooking with a roast).  And I also made a vegetable puree for the first time.  I mean...seriously?  I am sixty and this was a first for both things for me.  But man oh man -- that soup really was deeee-lish-ussss!  I made the soup base a couple of days ago and then finished the cooking of it today.

Mmm-mmm, soup!

And as I was leaving to go to Sue's and I was going to the front door to turn on the porch light I found Twink and Bootsy in the kitty bed...together...they hardly ever ever ever cuddle together.

Twink and Bootsy in the kitty bed by the front door.

Awwww.

Day 208 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Eight

I have been giving this guy (the giraffe guy's companion) a lot of thought today.  I finally just held my breath and put a few lines on him...I might have to change things eventually...but this is kinda sorta how he will maybe look.

The collage back on July 2...he was just beginning to surface.

Sorry for the soft focus -- I guess my camera couldn't see what I was trying to see.  This is the companion guy "before".

This is the companion guy "after" -- so far.  I might have to resort to adding more paper and undoing his look...I am just not so sure yet.

The companion guy with his shirt, collar, cuff, and arm also emphasized.

The only thing I know tonight is I just don't know yet.

Day 207 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Seven

I have the weekend "off" from staying with my sister (and her broken leg) but I am taking some personal time today/tonight...catching up on household chores (that I am actually enjoying doing), making a soup base from the chicken from last night...stuff like that.  I feel like I am accomplishing much.  Plus, my allergies are going absolutely crazy.

So...in the meantime...take a look a my friend Terri Light's super cool mini collages at her Etsy store as well as her Instagram photos and one of her blogs...and...have a look at one of my most favorite of Terri's collages "Great Great Aunt Lydia and Maxine du Mouseier".

Great Great Aunt Lydia and Maxine du Mouseier by Terri Light (from my collection).

Day 206 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Six

I am on my way over to my sister's to stay with her until her husband gets home from work...she is still in very good spirits but that darn broken leg is going to take quite a while to heal.  

In the meantime, here is my trusty astronaut cat by Robin VanValkenburg/The Runny Bunny.  I LOVE all of the wonderful pieces I have by Robin!  Click the link!

Day 205 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Five

YAY -- some actual activity to report after a few days of nothing.

This morning I dropped off Woodlee at Detroit Artists Market for the If You Build It, They Will Come.  (click the links for info)

I was greeted by Dalia Reyes, DAM's Program Manager.  Dalia and I looked over my paperwork and checked Woodlee in.  Dalia went to make me a copy of my paperwork and I looked around the DAM store area -- such wonderful artwork for sale. 

While Dalia and I were finishing up at the counter a man came over to say hello and look at Woodlee.  Dalia introduced us...it was Matt Fry, DAM's Director.  After a bit of conversation we all exchanged business cards and I was back on my way home. 

I really really like Detroit Artists Market.  It is a warm and welcoming place with a splendid array of all kinds of artwork.   I won't be able to make it to the opening for If You Build It, They Will Come but I will be going back sometime during the run of the exhibit to see all of the wondrous ways that so many artists used their five wood pieces.  I am SO excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this super clever show!

Woodlee holding onto his paperwork for me before we left.

Dalia greets us for intake at the Detroit Artists Market.

Checking Woodlee's paperwork.

Bye, Woodlee!

Woodlee, Matt Fry, Director and Dalia Reyes, Programs Manager -- Detroit Artists Market

If You Build It, They Will Come

August 1 - August 29, 2014

Detroit Artists Market

4719 Woodward Avenue

Detroit, MI  48201

(313) 832-8540

Day 204 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Four

Pretty much the same blog post as the last few days...helping Sue...keeping her company until her husband comes home at around midnight...

Day 203 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Three

Just checking in...I won't be able to make anything again today...helping Sue...posting now since I won't make the midnight deadline otherwise.

Day 202 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred Two

I am posting to the blog now because I most likely won't make it home before midnight.  I am helping my sister Sue again today...and it is much too early in my day to feel like making anything or working on anything.  Just checking in.

Day 201 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred One

I completed Woodlee today.  He is my submission to the upcoming exhibit  If You Build It, They Will Come at Detroit Artists Market. 

Today I put the finishing touches on Woodlee...mostly securing his tail in position.  Kurt Menhart tweaked my idea of the tail being able to wag by coming up with this ingenious little spring.  It makes all the difference -- thank you so much, Kurt for your assembly skills!

And now...for a little video demonstration.

Day 200 - 365/2014

Day Two Hundred (a day late)

I spent the late part of the morning and most of the day into evening with Sue at her house.  We watched several things on tv, played Yahtzee, and then her husband came home from work and I went back home.  I got three loads of laundry, two dishwasher loads, and one sinkful of pots and pans washed.  I must have fallen asleep in front of tv at some point after Benadryl and meds.  

I was "scheduled" to go back to Sue's today (Sunday) but Pepper decided not to go in to work...I get the day off, too. 

I will work on Woodlee in a bit and get him ready for submission to DAM...I will also see if there is some paperwork to fill out ahead of time.  The drop off dates are coming up later in the week.  Sue goes to the doctor on Tuesday -- Pepper is taking her and I am bringing her home from the appointment and Pepper will be going on to work from there.  Maybe I can get down to DAM before I need to go to pick up Sue...but probably not.  Probably a little later in the week before I go to Sue's.

Okay -- so I will post do today's blog post a bit later after I have finished up with Woodlee.

Day 199 - 365/2014 (half hour late)

Day One Hundred Ninety-Nine

My sister Sue broke her ankle and really did a number on it.  There is no regular blog post for today (Friday) because I was at her house from 2ish until almost midnight.  I am helping her out for the next (at least) few days until she can get around better.  She asked me to make cabbage soup, so that was my most creative thing for today.

That's Abby, Sue's dog, "guarding" the red Dutch oven of cabbage soup that I made.  And I also just noticed this photo is a sort of self portrait...you can see my legs/feet in the front door door of the stove...the teapot is my head...I'm a little teapot.

Day 198 - 365/2014

Day One Hundred Ninety-Eight

Tonight I re-stained Woodlee and his tail.  His tail is made from an old paint brush that I sanded all of the varnish and wording off of...the stain acted funny on the sanded wood, but eventually took some color and I think it matches the rest of him pretty well.  I still need to do the final 2-part epoxy to keep his tail securely in place.  

Ready to start!

Right leg re-stained, left untouched yet.

All re-stained.

Yep...all done with the re-staining...I am pretty pleased with Woodlee.

Day 197 - 365/2014

Day One Hundred Ninety-Seven

Today my sister Sue had her ankle surgery -- it turned out her ankle was a lot worse than her doctor originally thought.  He said it was the worst break he has seen since January.  He was originally going to put in a plate with six screws and also use special sutures to reattach a smaller bone that totally broke away from the larger bone and also do cartilage clean up while he was in there.  After the surgery he told Pepper that Sue needed two plates and that he will tell them more of the results when they go back for her next visit on Tuesday...but he did let them know that she will have rapidly developing arthritis in her ankle area over the next year.  The doctor temporarily blocked the nerve(s) to Sue's foot so that she would not have any pain.  At least there is that.  I will be going to her house every day/night that they need me so that Pepper can go to work and I can help Sue get around and do some cooking/cleaning/dog letting out for her.  Man.  (And tomorrow is my EMG for my legs.)

Tonight I worked on Woodlee doing sanding clean up where the saw nicked up his legs.  I did this by hand with very fine finishing sand paper.  And of course what I was somewhat "afraid of" happened -- as I handled the wood I got more and more obsessed with making it smoother.  I was only going to touch up the nicks and re-stain them and stain the tail and attach it...but I got carried away with the tactile sensations of the smooth wood.  I ended up fine sanding the insides of the legs (where the wood would not accept the stain) and then the fronts of the legs, too.  I HAD to make myself stop at that point...my hands and arms were cramping up...plus this could have gone on forever.  I had to draw the line and be content with things being this smooth...but NO more.  I still need to stain again.

Saw nicks on the feet/legs...before.

After.

Before.

After.

Inside of the legs where the wood will not accept the stain...before.  It was smooth enough but I "needed" to make it even smoother.

After.

Another "after" shot.

And then I "had" to sand the fronts of the legs, too...man.  Now I have a lot of staining to do.

Day 196 - 365/2014

Day One Hundred Ninety-Six (updated/edited)

My sister had an accident on her bike on Saturday...she is having surgery on Wednesday.  I just now made it home (didn't make my midnight deadline).  I spent the evening with her while her husband was at work.  I am beat.  I will post this entry tomorrow...Kurt helped me assemble Woodlee today.

Post Update:  I spent a couple of hours at Joanne + Kurt's house where Kurt was doing the skilled assembly part of the process for Woodlee for me.  I originally thought that we could use long thin wood screws at the various joins for the base/legs, legs/body, body/head, and head/ears.  And I thought we could use two little screw eyes to attach the paint brush handle tail.  After working with Woodlee for a few minutes Kurt realized that little wood dowels would be better and actually follow along the theme of the project better, too.  Here are some photos of Kurt at work on Woodlee's assembly.

Woodlee set up on Joanne and Kurt's dining room table.

Bella, their dog.

Woodlee in pieces in the workshop.

Cutting the legs all to the same size on the saw.

Kurt setting up the drill press.

More set up.

Drilling the holes in the legs.

Drilling the holes in the base.

Adding the dowels instead of using screws for assembly.

The first dowel and wood glue.

The legs are attached to the base.

Putting in the dowels at the tops of the legs for the body.

I absolutely fell in love with this tool -- Kurt said it is called a cat's paw -- but to me it looks like a little goaty foot.

Awww...see?  Little cloven goaty foot.

And ta-daaaa -- Woodlee is very securely assembled...Kurt in the background returning from the basement with the surprise for the tail.

Then it was time to attach Woodlee's tail.  I had originally thought two little screw eyes would allow the tail to "wag".  Kurt liked the idea, but suggested a nail with a big head in a hole that was slightly larger than the nail was thick...which worked for me, too.  Kurt needed to go down to his basement for that and when he came back up to the workshop he had a bit of a twinkle in his eye -- he came back with a spring that could be inserted in a drilled hole and then 2-part epoxy'd to be secure -- and the tail would freely "wag" with very little effort.  SO cool!  I still need to stain the tail and add the epoxy but Kurt drilled the hole and fixed it in the tail for me.

It won't stick out this far when it is all done, but what a genius idea to use that kind of a spring to make the tail "wag"!

Woodlee in the backseat of my car for the ride home.

Thank You so much, Kurt -- I enjoyed watching you work with the tools and assembling Woodlee.  I enjoyed collaborating and tweaking my ideas.  I couldn't have done it without your help -- and the spring in the tail was pure genius!

A little while later I went to Sue's to keep her company and help her until her husband came home from work.  We had a reasonably good time watching stuff on On Demand that Sue wasn't familiar with, we ordered dinner in, we kept her mind off of her ankle and the upcoming surgery (as much as possible) and we played Yahtzee (Sue on the sofa, me in Pepper's recliner).  Fingers crossed for a successful surgery.


 

My poor sister Sue and her very badly broken ankle...being brave.