One Stone

When Massie and I moved here (in my case stayed) it was with the idea of creating an art space here at The Grail (or, rather, recreating, since there had been a wood shop, a pottery studio, and even a darkroom here at one time.  And the Grail in general has a long history of art making.)  We created Two Birds Studio in the attic of the Grey House and began the work of putting together the One Stone Collective at the Grail.  Friends from across the country have bravely joined us in our first endeavor and our first meeting was this past weekend.  Our jumping off point and the theme of the first show will be COMPASS.  In this year of new direction, we thought it a good place to begin.  We know that sometimes roads lead you to strange new places, but how do we find our way?  (I for one, have already begun the research.  The OED is nothing if not a beginning.)  Our goal is to have a show of work here in June and hopefully continue with other shows in the future.  There is still a way to go in creating a group of female artists who embody lines between craft and art, old and new, motherhood and creativity, city and country, desires to make change and desires to make art and all the little spaces in-between, but we hope to do just that.  This weekend was the start.  A point on a map.  

- Marcie    

Bakin'

We found so much stuff when all the houses were shaken out that we decided to have a yard sale.  Inspired by the baked goods at Blooming Hill and since it was time for mom's pumpkin bread anyway, I decided to add a bake sale to the long list of things to do.

The kitchen table (found at a yard sale earlier this summer) was dragged out on to the lawn to show off the goods, new bird socks from Target were donned and we even had hand sewn glassine bags for the goodies.  In the end we made a little to put towards the gray house and spent a fine autumn day out in the wide world.

There were pumpkin and applesauce muffins with burnt butter icing (everything is better with burnt butter icing.)  Butterscotch oatmeal cookies, molasses cookies, and homemade bread round out the options.

Oh, ya and homemade and canned applesauce, from apples picked the week before.

-Marcie

Fall, Quietly

We haven't written a post in almost a month.  We are ready to spend more time in the studio now that the work on the house is nearly done(and with a new president elect we breathe a little easier.)  Before and after photos of the resurrected furniture.  Red, brown and robin's egg blue paint covers what marks the past has made.  Corners have been swept clear of dust and cobwebs.  Only the kitchen cabinets left to finish in crisp white.   

Fall has shown her colors here and almost burnt herself out.  Nights come sooner then expected and we make up for it with more tea and hot chocolate.  For the first time I understand the need for winter.  For the ground to rest, compost to age, and for night to come because there are projects to finish.  The garden is ready to sleep with onions and garlic planted for spring and only Kale and the last of the lettuce to greet the first frost.  Apples have been picked and have become applesauce canned for the long winter or wait for Thanksgiving's pie.    

-Marcie
                             

I think I found Heavens on Earth....

Massie: 

My God! We went to the most fabulous, beautiful farmers market in New York this past weekend. Look at the lovely pumpkins & sweet lil'  ol' truck that was right in front of the market.

     Is it even possible to resist a sign like this??!

There are lots more pictures from the market but I am too tired to put them in in order. I already screwed up how I wanted this post to look. I am still learning. I will add more pictures tomorrow. Oh! Look at our house:

So, here it is! Our beautiful Grey House that we have been laboring over with great love & diligence, lo! these past few weeks. We sit on our front porch drinking tea & discussing metaphysics, great philosophical writings, & rocket science...well, actually, today we had a long conversation trying to figure out how to multiply &/or divide a simple fraction...it was a little sad how long it took to remember.

Workin' my Azz off

Massie:

For almost 3 straight weeks I have been busting my bustle trying to shine up this old Grey House. I spent a gorgeous fall Saturday afternoon painting our dusty wooden kitchen cabinets a slickery, shockingly clean white. Marcie & I spent many long hours setting up the attic studio; painting the old furniture cherry red & robin's egg blue & the floor a dusky chocolate brown. We set up our sewing tables in a corner facing each other & made a super cozy napping nook out of an old futon & some white shag pillows.

I went to my brothers happenin' square dance wedding in Chicago last weekend. I was whipped around the dance floor for hours while sporting my super stylish cowboy boots & black Marilyn Monroe dress.

I'm going back to put a final coat on the cabinets...I'm hoping to get the house done this week so I can start writing about all of our AMAZING art projects.

Spooky Piano Playing

So, I went over to the Phoenix today all by my lonesome. The Phoenix is a 22 bedroom mansion that was built in 1887 as a summer home for the fabulously wealthy Stillman sisters. The kitchen looks like the kitchen in some of the restaurants I worked in New York city and Chicago and there are fireplaces that you can literally walk into. It was a little spooky being there alone... I kept looking back over my shoulder as I played the theme song from "The Incredible Hulk" on the seriously ancient grand piano. Greg called from Iraq while I was practicing so I took a little break in one of the, I don't, know, 4 or 5 living rooms (or whatever you call them when there's that many) and had a chat about war, the presidential election and my brothers impending wedding...more on that next week when I get back from Chi-town.

A Room of Our Own

The adventures of Massie and Marcie are off to a good start.  The past week has been spent shaping up this four-story grey Victorian, cleaning out every closet nook and cranny (there are more then a Thomas' english muffin) and painting floors and furniture to get it ready for company.  Lamps, dressers, bookshelves and mirrors have all been resurected.  That is a photo of the lovely mauve color of the floor before we went over it with three coats of brown paint.  And this is a photo of the studio before we really got started. 

 

I have never had a space that was just for art.  That space has always been part of a bedroom, living room or entry-way.  Every apartment I have lived in has had it's share of projects strewn across the floor.  I am looking forward to working on a project and not having to clear it off the bed before I go to sleep.  Welcome to Two Birds Studio, prepare for after shots.

-Marcie