Gravity is My Therapist

I got a lot of issues - who doesn’t? My textile design studio sells pretty things. I have been practicing textiles and bringing pretty things to market for almost 20 years... ( Yes, I started when I was 9 years old 😉). I have a "catch phrase" -- someone in the beginning said I needed that and so it became "Deliberate Luxury." When I first started to use those words, I thought it sounded fancy. Now, I'm feeling lucky I tossed those words together because the "deliberate" part applies to several aspects of the collection.

We "deliberately" make things in the USA.

We "deliberately" bring things to market as conscientiously as possible.

We "deliberately" celebrate the beauty of imperfection as a seed for thought and to support that each of us is beautifully imperfect.

I, personally deliberately try not to be clumsy in public and try to work on public speaking and further not show up to those engagements with indigo dyed hands... it's hard.

Gravity is about patience, process, and surrendering to things we can't change.  We have to wait for gravity to do her part in order to make this collection. The technique doesn't work unless you wait. So during that "waiting" time, we have a minute to reflect -- to engage, to think, to pause. This is hard for this girl that is often referred to as a "tornado." I normally have one speed. This technique for me is almost practice, a training, in slowing down and being in the moment.

On of my signature techniques is called Gravity. It came about as a color study on silk hanging from a line as a means for me to “rest” or take a break, release stuff even, and reset. Painting on textiles hanging on a line using only basics (a bottle of dye, the fabric, and water) is about patience, process, and surrendering to things we can't change. And further, letting mother nature take over. We have to wait for the force of gravity to do her part in order to make this collection. You cannot rush the pull of gravity traveling down from laundry line through silk. The technique doesn't work unless you wait.

During that "waiting" time, we have a minute to reflect -- to engage, to think, to pause. To watch the beauty unfold - and it’s not always what you want or expect. But each one is so beautiful.

Just like life itself. This is hard for this girl that is often referred to as a "tornado." I normally have one speed.

This technique for me is almost practice, a training, in slowing down and being in the moment. Letting what will be, be. Sheesh that’s hard. There’s that word “Deliberate” again. It has been a practice that I have been mindful of for years. Now I share this practice and paint with intention to share the experience everywhere I go. Art has set me free. I see that it fills people with light when I invite people to paint with me. This is the part where I encourage each of you that if you have a “super power” please share it. It doesn’t matter with who, or where, or when. Just share it and watch what happens. It fills someone with good vibes...and double those good vibes for you. Hooray! It’s a win-win-win situation!

If you’d like to join us for a live paint, please leave a comment. We have several future events planned for spring, fall, and winter of 2019 😀.

The gravity collection was born because it is how I "knit." Some of you may bake, or crossword, or needlepoint...mine is painting gravity. It forces me to be still. It's as still as I can be" -- and time stops. I am taken away and time stops -- when I stop there are smiley faces, pretty fabric, and time has passed. The lucky thing is that I go back to my "work" and somehow I've worked out how to finish my boards, or redo my showroom, or how to hang curtains where I can't put up a dowel.

I feel lucky that gravity keeps getting ordered. I'm not sure if I should be saying this, but it's the collection where I'm playing... I guess at this point it's not a secret that this textile thing is a passion and I love the practice of it all. Now I'm sharing that with live painting. It's my way of being inclusionary -- the gravity technique knows no borders of language, ability, ethnicity, or really anything... anyone can do it, and I have yet to see one turn out badly.

Some of you may know that I like to "Live Paint." I've done this as a "pop up" at the Fashion Institute of Technology, The United Nations, Hyundai Corporate Headquarters, The High Point Furniture Market, and my son's fourth grade classroom. All with very, very similar reactions from the audience when I invite someone to paint with me.

Oh no, I don't paint - I'm an attorney."

"I'm not creative..."

"You do it, I'll mess it up."

In the end all we have are sparkling eyes and happy faces.

Now we are thinking about having workshops in the studio this year!  

There is magic in art. That magic is not my years of practice. That magic lives within you. You just have to let her out. Join me, I believe in magic and I believe in you.