frenchtown fiber

Chris Mundy and Kate House try to make art while navigating the crap life throws at them.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

I've Signed Up for a Class

Pete's Valley Craft Center is way up in the north west corner of NJ near the Delaware water gap. From May through September they offer craft workshops that run from 2-5 days. I signed up for a 3 day class over Memorial Day weekend called Mixed Media Textile Surfaces. By the time I was done with fees for the class, on-site lodging and the meal program, I was out $511. Joe highly encouraged me to do it. He usually goes off with motorcycle friends that weekend.  (He takes the opportunity to ride very, very fast, which, at my request, he does not do when I am on the back) I don't resent it when he goes, I take the opportunity to stay up late, watch movies he would not like, listen to music he doesn't like, eat food he doesn't like, and I usually tackle some heinous project around the house. Last time he was gone for the weekend, I painted the stairway area that leads to the basement. I swear, it had not been painted since 1932. He considers that kind of thing a waste of time, he said that part of the house had a "great patina." I'll say it did. You should see the linoleum that is still there. I can't bring myself to get rid of that.

Hey, but Instead of some heinous project, I'm taking a textile class!  I have an associates degree in fine art, but I have never had a class like that. I used to take classes at Women's Studio Workshop. I took a mosaic class and a book making class up there. I remember it well: there is no house to clean, no dinner to cook, not even any people to love. (Let's face it, it takes a lot of time to maintain loving relationships.) The only thing you really can do is make art, with a bunch of people who want to make art. I'm really looking forward to it. It is 10 weeks away. A month before the class, I will get a packet of info and a materials list. I can't even wait for that! 

I've been spending a lot of time ferrying Kate a round this week. Yesterday while I was waiting for her, after running some errands. I managed to sew around 20 beads to the quilt I'm working on, sigh. I hope to finish it this weekend. Then I can show you. And, move on to the next thing.

4 comments:

Quiltplay said...

This sounds fabulous. I have done some quilt retreats and found the first day took a bit to unwind and then suddenly you 'open' up. Not having to clean up, make meals etc is also a big plus.
I know its very pricey but in the end so worth it.

Marty Mason said...

Hey, money should be no object when the husband says yes....you'll have a great time. I envy you the opportunity to have such a great workshop in your area.

The Idaho Beauty said...

Oh, my, you're channeling my motorcycle experiences again! We had non-verbal signals, one of which if I thought he was going to fast, I'd beat on his back til he slowed down. VBG I could almost count on him coming home with a speeding ticket if he went out riding with friends.

I've run across something even creepier than the photographing of corpses. From the diary of female portrait painter Abiah S. Warren, dated March 11, 1837: "Went into the tomb & drew a portrait of Mrs. Eloisa Fox,...she had been dead six weeks and 2 days. I visited the tomb occasionally for several days and compared my picture with the corpse." Yikes!

Chris said...

OH MY GOD you must be joking! Can you even imagine going into a tomb of a freshly dead person to sketch?? Didn't it stink??? I am so freaked out!