seriously shiny skirts

Zella strikes some serious poses in her twirly skirts - made from upholstery fabric remnants. 

pink twins

I started this one shortly after finishing Bubblegum and Kryptonite for ArtPrize.  Color field painting is a very new area of exploration for me, playing with softer edges, layers and glazes - doing less with drawing media and almost everything with a brush.  It feels like I'm teaching myself to paint, figuring out what works and what doesn't.

(not so) petit fours

Saying adieu to summer is such sweet sorrow, but a glorious autumn day is hard to beat.  This painting is from a current series of abstracted large-scale sweets.  (80" x 36")

the thrill of the hunt

Okay, I didn't sew this skirt - but I can tell from the nicely hand-stitched hem that someone else did.  I'm not sure if it's old or new - the sweet print and maxi length could be seventies, or just as easily more current.  The green velvet jacket is Charlotte Russe, but I picked up both pieces at Valueland for about seven bucks.

dining and living revamp

A fresh coat of paint in "leapfrog" on the dining area wall is a great backdrop for Shelly Klein's painting and John De Hoog's table.  Marc and I found a sectional sofa for the great room (very comfy), and we hung one of my pieces for a punch of color.  Dinner and drinks, anyone?

bubblegum and kryptonite

These are the finished pieces for ArtPrize 2011.  Each is 6 x 4 feet, they will hang side by side as a diptych.  Next week Marc will help me install at my venue host, Fifth Third Bank.

A Dress with Pockets

I look so happy because I am with Marc in our old stomping grounds (downtown Grand Rapids) celebrating eleven years of marriage.  And there is the fact that I got props for my dress while shopping at Urban Exchange on Fulton Street.  It's a grey/black print rayon with a button bodice and a side zip and the sleeves are left unfinished, so they're a little frayed.  I made this one after several unsuccessful attempts at finding the perfect lightweight summer dress.  When the weather gets cooler, it will look great layered with leggings and a sweater.

Chiclets

mixed media on panel, 80" x 36"

four orange candies

mixed media on panel, 4 x 4 feet

New Nests

Those who know me well (or any of the De Hoog clan) can attest to the fact that we are champion sleepers.  We catnap, doze, rest our eyes, grab some z's better and more often than most.  Having said this, you can understand why bedroom revamps somehow snuck their way to the top of the summer project list. 
Marc and I began by upgrading from a full size mattress to a king.  We built a new tufted headboard, set off by lovely dove grey walls.  The painting is mine (on a 24 x 80 inch door panel).  The kids each scored new loft spaces, and bright white walls.   A collaborative piece by John and me hangs in Gus' room.  Zel has a triptych of Janet Teunis paintings in hers. 

All in all, everyone is happy in their re-feathered nests, and as for me  (yawn), I might just need a little nap.

variations on a line

Well, shame on me.  I haven't posted since April?  That seems hard to believe.  Life has a way of flowing swiftly forward, the current slowing for neither insignificant details or great milestones.  Summer is here at long last, bringing all of its familiar lovliness.
These are 3 paintings from my Variations on a Line series, to show that I haven't been idling my time away.  I did 12 pieces in the series and I quite like them.  Marc has built 2 LARGE panels for me (4x6 feet each) for Artprize.  Now I just need to fit them in my studio and I'll be off and running.

reversible jacket

I couldn't resist having a go at the reversible Avalon jacket from Sewing Clothes Kids Love (which is a fantastic book).  Z. hasn't worn it yet, but I am wishing the pattern came in my size.

sewing nook

This is my new sewing nook.  I painted the large wall pale lavendar which looks great with my painting and the yellow chairs.

utility meets a slice of rock / victorian goth

It may seem like I sew a lot more than I paint.  For me, painting is what I do for work and sewing is what I do for fun.  Spring is here (although it's hard to tell from the weather) and I'm in the mood for a wardrobe shift.  Inspired by a skirt I saw online, I decided to have a go at making it.  The inset panel is layered black lace over a pinkish brown fabric which contrasts nicely with the dark khaki.  I also included a little phone pocket, positioned lower on the skirt ( the waist pockets are always so hard to get phones in and out of).  Since it's cold out today, I added knee-highs, my new favorite shoes (see earlier post), and a vinyl biker jacket ($5 sale rack at Meijers).

blue stripe on mustard

This is a new painting which I rather like, currently hanging on a dark brown (pumpernickel) wall which I also like.  Previously it had been a painting with bad "ju-ju", oriented horizontally with other imagery.  It made the rotations through all the galleries, with no bites.  Sooooo . . . after sanding it down one more time, I flipped it 90 degrees and re-worked it (again).  With some tips from Marc's Quadrivium book, we figured out where it would be "pleasing to the eye" to divide the mustard ground with the blue line.  I'll send it up north to the gallery in Glen Arbor at the end of the week.  If it comes back to me at the end of the summer, it can take up residence on the brown wall again.

Shoes from Valueland (I spent $6 for all four pairs). 

I love the sweet details - bow and perforated patterns on the grey ones.  (Hmmm, I think they might be perfect with my newly finished spring dress).

Do I need more shoes?  Now that's just a silly question!

I love to shop at my local thrift store, Valueland.  And I also love that thrifting is now a verb.  I couldn't resist picking up this copy of The How-to-fit Book for 25 cents.  Published by McCalls in 1973, it's full of swanky outfits, and great tips (including illustrations) on how to adjust patterns for a custom fit. 

Pirate Day today for G.  He was pleased with his outfit, so Mom gets a smiley face sticker.

This charming mushroom print was irresistable, so I made some pants and a jumper/vest for Z.  The applique was inspired by a book on 1960's European graphics.

bicycles

I've been working on a series of bicycles (greeting cards) for my friend's store in Madison.

This reminds me that my bike is in sad shape and needs some repair, on the list for spring chores.  Z and G have wasted no time, a few stubborn patches of snow remain, but they have been out on bikes (slightly wobbly without training wheels).

spring painting, spring dress

The colors from this painting are informing my spring wardrobe.  The dress is sewn from 2 patterns frankensteined together, with some improvisation along the way.  Aren't Simplicity's Project Runway patterns fun?

a spring fairy

lemon drops

first day of spring

The first day of spring is chilly and grey here on the west coast of the mitten (Muskegon, Michigan - to be more specific).  Hmmm, why start a blog?  Simply put, I would like to keep a record of projects I am working on and things that inspire me.