Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Pate Conaway: Mixed Media Artist Pate Conaway Not only is Pate one of the talented artists featured in my book, The Fine Art of Crochet ~ Innovative Works by 20 Contemporary Artists , but he is a friend. Pate's gentle and endearing personality ensures that he makes friends wherever he goes. Chapter 4: Pate Conaway His method, installation and performance, draws Pate's viewers in as they try to comprehend what he is doing and how he is doing it. Using commonly found materials, he plays upon those looks of recognition as he cleverly transforms his mateials into their final state of artistic wonder! Not much time is left, but I invite you to attend his interactive exhibit September  27, 1PM-5PM or September 28 (closing reception) from 12 PM-4PM at the Roman Susan Art Space , 1224 W. Loyola, Chicago, Illinois. You'll be glad you went! Untitled Recently my chapter of the Crochet Guild of America invited Pate as a guest artis...

Monday, November 25, 2013 First off, Happy Anniversary to the love of my life, Alan Kinsler! A pictorial essay on our trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, recently. The photos pretty much tell it all! After a pleasant but chilly trip on the El to downtown, we stopped for hot chocolate first! Hershey's, Ghiradelli's?? Ghiradelli's, Hershey's??? We opted for Hershey's because we'd been to Ghiradelli's before. Delish! Dutes Miller crocheting with Coats pink "Pound of Love" He throws the yarn and does a "made up" single crochet Dutes told me that he and his partner Stan Shellabarger learned to crochet just for this project, but that they only know the one stitch they are using. Note: Red Heart "Pound of Love" under the chair. Close up of Dutes crocheting A very congenial couple, Dutes also told me that they started this project ten years ago as a symbol of their connection, their relati...

Tuesday, July 2, 2013 Art abounds in the world-class city of Chicago, my new home as of July 7! I consider gardening an art and we can thank former Mayor Daley for enhancing miles and miles of streets, medians and parkways with gorgeous plantings. In addition, businesses add to the floral profusion by sponsoring sculpture exhibits periodically among the plantings. Public art is a part of daily life as the many outdoor sculptures enhance an incredible skyline. "The Picasso" is thought of by residents as more than art; this untitled piece exudes pride and has become an icon that represents this wonderful city. Fiber art is an important component of the vibrant arts community in Chicago; and it is no surprise that I found 20% of the artists in my new book, The Fine Art of Crochet, living right here in the city. This past weekend, I was pleased to visit one of my favorite artists in the book, Pate (pronounced Patty) Connaway at a "performance" he was doing at t...