My daughter with her favorite Ishmael Soto sculpture, a giant purse! Outside of his studio in Blue, Texas. November 2020.
Clay compositions by Ishmael Soto. Date Unknown. In his studio in Blue, Texas. November 2020.
A special place. Ishmael Soto's studio in Blue, Texas. I spent many days here building sculpture working side by side with Ishmael. He was my friend, and mentor. He exemplified the sort of life I built and continue to build. I am so grateful for this time in my life and the ways he inspired me and continues to long after his passing in 2017.
Bud Soto, Blue, Texas. Date unknown.
My Recipe Book in progress.... This is a great recipe to have as we enter the cooler months.
Rock Shelter Illumination. Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee Mountains. October 2020. I traveled to a mountain top with my best friend Olivia in early October. Her Mother lives on a property where you can walk to waterfalls and this magnificent rock shelter. The idea came over me to create a Happening, so we traveled into town and bought up every religious candle we could find! And went back and lit the place up. One by one the light grew. It was reverent, and full of star seed energy.
fall '20
it always brings a new energy,
a new color,
even if the trees stay green in Texas until December
I feel this surge of new creativity
and have a lot of small projects in the pipeline....
stone jewelry made from crystals is One,
I have been working with crystals for years now,
a friend got me 'hooked' one day and something just clicked
"but they're just rocks!"
well so is a prayer card, or a religious candle,
or maybe a statue you like to sit with
or a window you stare out of
any object you set an intention with
has as much power as you give it.
for me, they guide my meditation
and help me remember all the key things to remember
....how to stay grounded in each day
as I work a hectic full time job that I love
and raise two daughters
I'll share where you can find them on here soon
I also started on a recipe book a few weeks ago!
This is mostly for me because my favorite recipes are fading
Don't be scared to make a homemade pie crust,
You can do it. My book will teach you!
making beeswax candles,
always making beeswax candles...
love these bursts of candle making
the gas flame burning all day
and the wax filling my home with such good energy
I love to give them as gifts too
Lastly, I took my daughters a few weeks ago
to Ishmael Soto's studio
in Blue, Texas.
I met his son Bud when I worked at the Dougherty Arts School
during my university years,
and Bud was the wheel throwing teacher there.
I loved that job! Made so many friends,
and met so many great artists.
I soon signed up to learn from his famed father
in a clay class at ACC.
Something just clicked with Ishmael and I...
he saw a talent in me and encouraged this loose building style
I had come upon,
he never told me what to do,
just guided me like an Alchemist
to connect with the material and flow.
Ishmael passed between our birthdays
Mine Feb 26, His Feb 28, His Passing Feb 27 2017.
I got to hug him in the December before,
he never changed.
That he allowed me to hang out in his studio,
fire my pieces for me, and let me see the life of a true working artist,
It was the unofficial apprenticeship of a lifetime.
Thank you to Bud, Robin and Cynthia for allowing me to
keep a home there, even if it's for one night every few years.
The Soto spirit stays with me,
in the month of gratitude, I am grateful.
And I am grateful for my girls, my family, my friends, for Love,
FOR ART!
Wishing you all a wonderful season of Thanks,
Ebony
Still Life, 2001. Oil on wood. When I look at this painting, I just calm down....
My Summer Garden, full of basil, zinnias, lizards and more
summer 20'
Not a whole lot of quilting or painting going on here
just a whole lot of surf and sun
and meditation.... and gardening
the Texas Gulf Coast saved our souls
during this strange time being kept from friends, gatherings, travel
grateful for the balm of the Sea!
I think we spent 11 weekends out of 12 down here
watching the light change
Hope you all are safe and happy,
and finding your own inner adventure
Ebony
Not a whole lot of quilting or painting going on here
just a whole lot of surf and sun
and meditation.... and gardening
the Texas Gulf Coast saved our souls
during this strange time being kept from friends, gatherings, travel
grateful for the balm of the Sea!
I think we spent 11 weekends out of 12 down here
watching the light change
Hope you all are safe and happy,
and finding your own inner adventure
Ebony
The Mintaro Maze, Clare Valley, South Australia. April 2018.
summer '18
pool, rest, pool, rest
easing into summer to catch upon projects
that have been on the back burner...
like transforming our upstairs
into a meditation room and new classroom for me to teach in next year,
finishing quilt tops in preparation for fall and winter hand quilting,
making just one new dot painting for a friend
that returns to England soon,
and painting the interior of a cabin,
a subject I've never painted before (I'll share here soon)
I was also honored to present my slow stitch hand quilting to the Golden Needles Quilt Guild of Montgomery County on July 16th, 2018, a guild full of lovely ladies that is in its 31st year. It was a night of exchange, laughter, and sharing, as they gave me tips on quilting and I shared my love of sashiko with them. I employed my daughter to be my Vanna White, she was amazing up there and my true support.
summer, why do you speed by so fast?
holding onto your long sunbeam days as long as possible
wishing you and yours a playful summer
Ebony
pool, rest, pool, rest
easing into summer to catch upon projects
that have been on the back burner...
like transforming our upstairs
into a meditation room and new classroom for me to teach in next year,
finishing quilt tops in preparation for fall and winter hand quilting,
making just one new dot painting for a friend
that returns to England soon,
and painting the interior of a cabin,
a subject I've never painted before (I'll share here soon)
I was also honored to present my slow stitch hand quilting to the Golden Needles Quilt Guild of Montgomery County on July 16th, 2018, a guild full of lovely ladies that is in its 31st year. It was a night of exchange, laughter, and sharing, as they gave me tips on quilting and I shared my love of sashiko with them. I employed my daughter to be my Vanna White, she was amazing up there and my true support.
summer, why do you speed by so fast?
holding onto your long sunbeam days as long as possible
wishing you and yours a playful summer
Ebony
The beautiful Dolphin Bay, at Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. April 2018.
spring '18
a return to Oz, my Homeland
introducing my daughters to the sounds of the kookaburra
the sway of the eucalyptus
the untouched landscape and purity of the oceans
spending time with family, laughing with friends
camping on the Murray River
doing nothing with my Mum but existing
Our spring was spent in the final days of Australia's summer and into their fall. We were there for 10 glorious weeks. I sure did miss bluebonnet season. However being home reinforced the tones of my work and reinforced my roots.
I naturally dyed with wattle, eucalyptus, and rust, took many, many long walks without seeing a single soul for hours, and completed the hand quilting of The Curramulka Quilt which I surprised my Mum with. Visions of Murray River paintings are swirling, as is a quilt built with the colors of my country alone.
There's no place like home.
Ebony
a return to Oz, my Homeland
introducing my daughters to the sounds of the kookaburra
the sway of the eucalyptus
the untouched landscape and purity of the oceans
spending time with family, laughing with friends
camping on the Murray River
doing nothing with my Mum but existing
Our spring was spent in the final days of Australia's summer and into their fall. We were there for 10 glorious weeks. I sure did miss bluebonnet season. However being home reinforced the tones of my work and reinforced my roots.
I naturally dyed with wattle, eucalyptus, and rust, took many, many long walks without seeing a single soul for hours, and completed the hand quilting of The Curramulka Quilt which I surprised my Mum with. Visions of Murray River paintings are swirling, as is a quilt built with the colors of my country alone.
There's no place like home.
Ebony
My Mum wrapped in The Curramulka Quilt, down at Sultana Point, on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. April 2018.
Basting the quilt I will hand quilt in Australia at Blackwood Land Institute. It is built partially with my indigo wedding table cloths. You can see the unique stitch resist patterns, they're the strips that look very worn and vintage. 2018. Photo by Zuzana Leckova.
winter time '18
the scent of chai on the stove
staying warm by the fire
cuddling under quilts
pouring beeswax candles (my new favorite pastime! sorry quilts)
I spent most of the Fall completing a very special project for Houston Chef, Monica Pope. I used her Father's ties, feathers, vintage indigo, crystals, brass bells, old buttons, and a very special hand embroidered piece of cotton gauze I found in an old quilt Monica had given me.
"The Prayer Flag" was a project far outside my usual work. I loved every minute. Sometimes a commission can really surprise you. I'll be sharing more about it on my blog over at Campfire Quilts in the coming months.
Quilts are being finished, new ones are being built.
I will take my newest quilt to Australia, and spend the final days of their Summer and most of their Fall hand quilting it.
It is built using the indigo linen from my wedding table cloths, as well as organic linen and shot cottons I've collected over the years. The most charming thing for me about the fabrics is the use of the stitch resist that was lying hidden inside the tablecloth hems. The patterning is unique, and tells a story of a magical night in my life.
Stay warm, always
Ebony
the scent of chai on the stove
staying warm by the fire
cuddling under quilts
pouring beeswax candles (my new favorite pastime! sorry quilts)
I spent most of the Fall completing a very special project for Houston Chef, Monica Pope. I used her Father's ties, feathers, vintage indigo, crystals, brass bells, old buttons, and a very special hand embroidered piece of cotton gauze I found in an old quilt Monica had given me.
"The Prayer Flag" was a project far outside my usual work. I loved every minute. Sometimes a commission can really surprise you. I'll be sharing more about it on my blog over at Campfire Quilts in the coming months.
Quilts are being finished, new ones are being built.
I will take my newest quilt to Australia, and spend the final days of their Summer and most of their Fall hand quilting it.
It is built using the indigo linen from my wedding table cloths, as well as organic linen and shot cottons I've collected over the years. The most charming thing for me about the fabrics is the use of the stitch resist that was lying hidden inside the tablecloth hems. The patterning is unique, and tells a story of a magical night in my life.
Stay warm, always
Ebony
detail of "The Prayer Flag", hand embroiderer unknown. Project completed in 2017.
summer charm '17
days of play
gardens filled with blooming flowers
trips to new places
swimming in spring fed rivers, and mornings at the pool
This summer I am building new quilts in preparation for fall/winter hand quilting, building with clay, painting a little, and doing what summer calls for best - taking it easy
stay cool
Ebony
Chalk drawing for Great Oak School's Fifth Grade Classroom, after Georgia O'Keeffe's 1942 painting "The Grey Hills". May 2017
Photo by Zuzana Leckova
a spring of peace
It feels as though winter never came this year,
despite having the odd fire....
the Indian blanket wildflowers in my ditch
tell me spring is here
I do love spring,
seeing my garden come alive
long hikes in the woods,
baking hot cross buns,
making flower crowns with my girls.
This spring I am offering two indigo shibori workshops.
You don't need to know how to sew to enjoy them!
You'll go home with a linen itajime (fold and clamp) dish towel, and a beautiful arashi (pole wrapped) silk scarf.
Workshop fee includes supplies, Afternoon Tea, and magic
Indigo is a color that thousands of years ago spoke of royalty,
then in more recent days, of hard work ("the blue collar worker").
For me, it speaks of peace.
I hope you'll join me for one of my workshops.
Happy Spring,
Ebony
It feels as though winter never came this year,
despite having the odd fire....
the Indian blanket wildflowers in my ditch
tell me spring is here
I do love spring,
seeing my garden come alive
long hikes in the woods,
baking hot cross buns,
making flower crowns with my girls.
This spring I am offering two indigo shibori workshops.
You don't need to know how to sew to enjoy them!
You'll go home with a linen itajime (fold and clamp) dish towel, and a beautiful arashi (pole wrapped) silk scarf.
Workshop fee includes supplies, Afternoon Tea, and magic
Indigo is a color that thousands of years ago spoke of royalty,
then in more recent days, of hard work ("the blue collar worker").
For me, it speaks of peace.
I hope you'll join me for one of my workshops.
Happy Spring,
Ebony
