Blog
Gardening Goodies
“Blossom by blossom the spring begins.” Algernon Charles Swinburnethe If you’re interested in learning more about native plant gardening, I have some interesting links for you this week! Grow Native Massachusetts presents Evenings With Experts, A Free Public Lecture Series and this week it will be tomorrow evening, Wednesday, April 28 | 7:00 – 8:30pm… Read more Gardening Goodies →
Spring Begins
It’s always hard to resist going out to the garden to clean up when Spring is in the air but it’s best if you hold on awhile. To begin with, we should wait until we’ve had 5 days and nights in a row around or more than 50 degrees. Plants are still vulnerable to a… Read more Spring Begins →
Roots of Red Maple. Carved Art Process.
Sometimes you wish you’d left well enough alone…sigh. But of course, you only get to that after you haven’t. After years of virtually no carving, our carving group has revived, an unintended benefit of the pandemic downtime (not that I have any downtime in reality). So, I joined a swap in which each of the… Read more Roots of Red Maple. Carved Art Process. →
Motivation to Create Renewed
Having my art has been such a saving grace at this time of imposed seclusion. And Nick’s free workshop provided me with the stimulus I needed, inspiring renewed motivation and opening my eyes to an expanded vision, an ability to see my own work with more awareness as I work. Since the classes ended, I… Read more Motivation to Create Renewed →
Highlight of the Pandemic Era!
You know, it’s been fairly grueling to manage my overly full plate of things to do, especially added to all other aspects that fluctuate and tend to spiral at times out of control. I just told my cousin, Gary, to go jump in a lake (well, an ocean) if he wants to dramatically change his… Read more Highlight of the Pandemic Era! →
Blogging Challenge
This looks like a good way to test out my new skills to see if I can get this right! Writing My Life has a challenge posted and I’ll attempt to join in and see if I know how to pot it on the Blogging For Beginners site without publishing it to my actual blog.… Read more Blogging Challenge →
WordPress Blogging For Beginners Course
Hello My Friends! Although some of you have been travelling on this virtual road with me for 9 years, more or less, I’m taking this time to try to make this a smoother journey. Let’s take a look back and adjust course to move forward together. I begin my first assignment in the WordPress Blogging… Read more WordPress Blogging For Beginners Course →
SAQA Trunk Show Art Now For Sale
100 IDIMAGE TS-Doucette.jpg ARTIST:Janis Doucette TITLE In The Heart of a Friend TRUNKCARTIST STATEMENTMy work includes printmaking, photography and paint. These three mediums combined with cloth are the hallmarks of my textile art. This is from a series of Family Stories. TECHNIQUES The eco-printing process presses the pigment from a leaf by steam. The leaves… Read more SAQA Trunk Show Art Now For Sale →
Little Things Mean A Lot These Days
It’s the little things that make all the difference. We’ve all talked about the major shifts in our lifestyle as a result of the pandemic. But for many of us, living in our pajamas is a real change with less fuss about what to wear therefore, less laundry. Most of all, more time on our… Read more Little Things Mean A Lot These Days →
Holiday Greetings, 2020
Dear Friends and Family, It’s been a challenge for so many of us, to say the least, getting through this year! Some didn’t make it due to the Covid 19 virus. Their lives came to an end way too soon. The best part of this year is knowing that a positive change is coming on January… Read more Holiday Greetings, 2020 →
The Dirt On Fall Gardening
Too wet today to do much outdoors. I did collect some leaves yesterday and laid some of them out to press, but I wanted to get some more today…another day but not that many days left for the leaves to be viable for printing. I was able to get a lot of oak leaves from… Read more The Dirt On Fall Gardening →
SAQA Benefit Auction Starts Tomorrow!
It’s that time of year! SAQA Benefit Auction Starts tomorrow! There’s a new format for viewing and bidding this year so you may want to check out the Frequently Asked Questions.
SAQA Alphabet Slideshow, A to Z
It’s been pretty hard for a lot of artists to feel motivated to make art during this pandemic so SAQA challenged us to get into gear with a letter challenge. Here’s mine. Just click through the alphabet!
Alphabet Book Part 1
We’ve been having a Letter Challenge going on at the SAQA site, so I’m creating an alphabet book with mine. Lots of A shapes here in this seaside architectural marvel. I took this foggy evening photo while moored in front of it. I made and batiked this shirt when I was about 19 years old.… Read more Alphabet Book Part 1 →
CRACK!!!
Quickly, the sky turned very dark and the wind picked up. I went to the back door and peered out. Thunder sounded ominously and the wind began to whip leaves at the house and there it was – CRACK! It was so loud I jumped back away from the door. I knew lightening had hit… Read more CRACK!!! →
Summer Bounty 2020
Hello All! There won’t be any radical changes in any of my gardens this year. Arthritis and age is cracking its whip on my body seriously limiting what I can physically do. I’ve stayed away from doctors and hospitals during this pandemic but I’ve headed back to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and soon will have… Read more Summer Bounty 2020 →
Face Masks Continue to Adapt
I’ve been experimenting some and continuing on a learning curve in this whole process of face mask making. Your comments and evaluations on the following research article article are welcome. I refer you to this article that’s well worth reading: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252?fbclid=IwAR1WpO46p8GZq1nQbrlGJi0Lp5Jg0jyYc3GjKQhzfmFVcLAvecN_qs4JMsQ “Electrostatic interactions are commonly observed in various natural and synthetic fabrics.(36,37) For instance, polyester woven… Read more Face Masks Continue to Adapt →
Covid 19 – More Facemasks!
I’m still making facemasks and my pattern keeps evolving. The changes I’ve made are mostly to make them closer to a one-size-fits-all. Not being a natural born seamstress, I also want them to be as easy a sew as possible. Although the size of the initial cut of fabric has varied, in the end, the… Read more Covid 19 – More Facemasks! →
Pray a Little…
I’ve been immersed in making face masks for my family for a week or so and posting some of them on Facebook. Here’s a pic of my DIL Melanie, who stepped in as a model when my grandkids were asleep…thanks Mel! Mostly, I’ve been using some of my not too scrawny scrap stash and have… Read more Pray a Little… →
At The Loading Dock!
The Artist Reception at The Loading Dock on Western Ave. in Lowell yesterday was a really pleasant event! It was well attended with friendly, interested people who truly appreciated our offerings. As you can see, we had some stunning works of art to show! The exhibit will be at the Loading Dock Wednesdays through Saturdays,… Read more At The Loading Dock! →
Joined By Stitch At It Again!
I savor chunks of time, attention and interaction that takes place during the monthly meetings of the fiber art critique group that I belong to and that belongs to me – to each of us. The threads of thoughts, ideas and shared moments stay with me as I work and as I rest, informing my… Read more Joined By Stitch At It Again! →
A Brief Peek
Hello to anyone still hanging in there with me. It’s been awhile since my last post and this will be brief. I’ve finally started work on a new piece with a March deadline for an exhibit you’ll be hearing more about. It’s been through all of the regular stages of beginning with 1.) I know… Read more A Brief Peek →
Slowly…
It’s amazing how much time one can spend looking after oneself! Doctors, dentists, rest and sleep – geesh – it just flies! Well, I have been working on some pieces and here’s one single clip to prove it. So much drying time in between layers is exasperating, but slowly, it IS coming together. Will post… Read more Slowly… →
Another Journey Shared
Hello there! This comment today lit a fire under me to write today’s post: AnnIsikArts commented on Doucette_Liminal State. Liminal State. 31 x 40″ Eco printed, painted, fused, appliqued; calligraphy. Cotton. $1000. I like this a lot Janis. The doorway – two posts and a lintel. And the poetry running across the top. I read “… uplifted… Read more Another Journey Shared →
Textures Exhibit at PAC
It just occurred to me that I missed posting this piece here! So, while there’s still time to catch it, you can see Dream Dispersed at the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative! The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative is located at 560 Mineral Spring Avenue 1st floor in the Lorraine Mills Arts/Business complex in Pawtucket RI. The Textures Exhibition… Read more Textures Exhibit at PAC →
So Much Going On!
On Tuesday night, I gave a presentation and talk at the Nimble Thimblers Quilt Guild and I think we all had a great time. These gals are a friendly bunch and were loaded up with great questions and lots of enthusiasm! I slept for a day and a half afterwards! The following day, our SAQA… Read more So Much Going On! →
Wen Redmond Collection
Ayer’s Loft in Lowell, MA, just kitty corner to the NEQM, is the perfect small and intimate exhibit space. Wen Redmond is showing a new collection of mixed media photo collage that is superb! It’a a fine showing of the rewards of a fine artist’s eye executed with fine-honed excellence in craftsmanship. Without further ado,… Read more Wen Redmond Collection →
Ah, For a Quiet Mind
Good summer morning my friends. Here on the East coast we’ve been in the midst of a scorcher and the only thing I’ve gone outdoors for is to water the gardens as needed. Overall, it’s been a year of struggling to deal with my own health issues as well as Bill’s. Finally, I’ve decided to… Read more Ah, For a Quiet Mind →
Happy Fourth America!
This night, we need to treasure those values we hold dear that have made our country the democracy that has been guided by the shining light of the Statue of Liberty! May we restore our land to its’ native biodiverse heritage – PLANT NATIVE! A few places that help guide your way: Native Plant Trust… Read more Happy Fourth America! →
Backyard Dye Garden and Edibles
Most of my garden is loving all the rain we’ve been getting but we could use more consistent sun and warmth. Still, a lot of work would have been best done earlier than now, so I’m playing catch up with putting things in that I ordinarily would have had in a month ago. The strangest… Read more Backyard Dye Garden and Edibles →
