I haven’t posted much on books lately. That doesn’t mean I am not reading! Over the last several weeks I have read all kind of books on different topics. Below I have shared what I have recently read AND I list a few of the titles in my stack for summer reading.
I learned about this author from Color Online and boy am I glad I did.
Zahrah the Windseeker is a wonderful and very powerful book. The book is about Zahrah Tsami, a 13-year-old girl born with special powers. Zahrah is immediately identifiable as special and gifted because of how she looks — she has dada locks. Some people fear her or view her with suspicion because of her hair and assumed special powers. Only her best friend Dari loves and accepts Zahrah for who she is. Dari encourages Zahrah to stand in her own power regardless of what others think of her. When Dari’s life is at risk it is Zahrah who faces and conquers her own fears and the fears of others when she decides to enter the Greeny Jungle to find the ingredients needed to bring her friend Dari back to her. I am not doing the book justice. A must read. I have given the book to a few of my favorite pre-teens and sister friends.
The Shadow Speaker. Loved this one too. This book also centers around a young woman, 15 year old Ejii Ugabe from West Niger. Ejii has the ability to see into other people’s minds. Ejii travels across the desert to eventually become an apprentice to the woman who beheaded her father (I know, sounds wild but when you read the book it makes sense). Oh, I forgot to mention that Ejii lives in the year 2070. Part of her quest is to stop the world from falling apart again after “The Great Change.”
Okorafor’s most recent book is Who Fears Death. I have the book sitting on my reading table but I am “saving” it for now.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Thing Around your Neck. I read Purple Hibiscus and loved it. I admit that I was a bit resistant to reading this book because it is a collection of short stories and generally I don’t like short stories. I guess it’s because I always feel that just when I get pulled into the story I find that it’s time to leave. Also, I often found the conclusions of short stories often left me hanging. Not so with this collection. For one thing I am amazed by how much Adichie can convey in just a few sentences. I enjoy being dropped into the world’s of Adichie’s primarily female narrators.
Ruth Fine, The Art of Romare Bearden. This book has been on my shelves since I bought it at the National Gallery during the opening of the show. I have picked up this book many times and read sections for when I was looking for something specific. This is the first time I have read it all the way through. What a fascinating man. The complexity and color of Bearden’s work overwhelms me every time I look at it. I also enjoy the insight into Bearden’s creative process — how he worked and reworked concepts and ideas — why he did this.
What I will be reading next:
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, The Wizard of the Crow
Ben Okri, The Famished Road (I can’t believe I haven’t read this yet!)
Abdourahman Waberi, The United States of Africa
Thomas Chatterton Williams, Losing my Cool: How A Father’s Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip Hop Culture (not sure what to think of this one but the title tweaked me a bit so I decide to see what it’s about)
Another quick image from my iphone (hence the graininess). . . .
Whew! It’s been a busy month. Atlanta’s National Black Arts Festival is just around the corner. I am printing my last batch of cards and stuffing and dressing the last few dolls. I actually have thirty five dolls in various stages of completion. That is truly a record for me but I have enjoyed every moment. I also completed my first run of hand pulled (silk screened) and hand painted note cards. Readers of my facebook fan page have already had a sneak peek. If you haven’t become a fan please come on over. Here is how I did for June:
For June:
Continue working on inventory for the July show. Done/ongoing. I have the inventory I want. Just handling the final touches. Is it okay to have this much fun???
Begin drawing in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project! I just received my book today. I decided to save the fun on this one. As soon as the festival is done I am looking forward to working on my entry. I have a clear idea of what I want to do and how I want to start. Can’t wait to start!.
order new business cards with updated logo Done. My logo isn’t really changing. I am just tweaking my brand.
order new bags for the July show I decided that I have enough for the upcoming show. I will place a new order for fall by the end of the summer.
For July
Have a successful show and sell lots of note cards and dolls!! YEAH!
Finally begin my Sketchbook Project Sketchbook. Can’t wait!
Sew a couple of summer dresses
Develop new drawings for screen and block prints
Sit in my garden, day dream and make wild wonderful plans to make more art
That’s what’s happening/will happen at Deborah Grayson Studios. Peace be with you!
Look for Deborah Grayson Studios at the National Black Arts Festival, July 15th thru 18th, Centennial Olympic Park. There will be good food, good music and LOTS OF ART. Y’all come! For more details concerning time and location click on the Upcoming Exhibits and Shows tab at the top of this page.
(c) 2010 Deborah Grayson Studios, Alma, cloth doll with hand painted features and beading.
I took this photo with my iphone so it’s a bit grainy.
Okay, I will spare you the “I can’t believe that it is June already!” comments. Yes, I think we are all surprised to look up and see that we are already half way through the year. For those of you who follow this blog regularly you may have noticed that I missed posting my goals for May. I have a good excuse. May was AMAZING! I attended a fantastic, I MEAN FANTASTIC workshop with other artists who really helped me to sharpen my vision for all areas of my work. I completed the Bakery class (see below) and I had a successful show. What can I say, I feel very blessed. I also feel like I am receiving confirmation that I am on the correct path. Happy Happy Joy Joy. Here is progress from my list from April followed by what I plan for June.
Dye more fabric! I need a wider palette of solid colors for my work. I love the depth of color that hand dyed fabrics provide. Done. I will continue fabric dyeing throughout the summer and into fall.
Sew more. I bought a few patterns for spring tops and bags. Looking forward to making these. Kinda done. Finished a tote. Hoping to do a few summer blouses. Time, TIME
Continue to work on my ufos (unfinished objects) slow but steady here
Work on inventory for May my upcoming sale and show (click on the upcoming shows link at the top of the page for more details) Done. Now I am working on a big show I got into for July!
Take the Bakery class! (I am already signed up. I have heard so many positive things about this course). Done! It was FABulous. I have completed new business and marketing plans. I am also refining the way I use social media in my work and in my business.
Complete new doll styles. I have the sculpted bodies completed.
Develop sketches for two new pieces for shows I would like to be juried in to. Done. I am already working on one of the quilts.
For June:
Continue working on inventory for the July show.
Begin drawing in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project! I just received my book today.
I love that I get to make and share art. What a blessing! Over the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to travel to share with artists and designers from all over the United States. I was truly inspired by their creativity and generosity of spirit. I came home a bit tired but fired up and ready to go. I am already half way through a brand new sketchbook. The ideas just won’t stop coming. The FAVA show opened today. I am sorry that I could not attend the opening but I do encourage anyone in or near Ohio to stop by. I am excited to have a piece in this show. Also, me and the girls (the urbanwildflowerdolls) will be in Buckhead this coming weekend for a show and sale. My first two customers will receive 10% off. Honey (pictured above) has been my muse since I returned home. She decided to leave us before the show but some of her friends have stayed behind to accompany me to Buckhead. Hope to see you there. We will be at
2133 Piedmont Rd
Atlanta, GA 30324
(The Old Buckhead Design Building).
I happen to dye fabric. Now that the weather has been consistently about 70 degrees lately I have been able to work in my garden and dye fabric (though not at the same time ). I dye what I think I will need for the summer and winter months when it is just too hot or too cold to be bothered. Pollen has slowed me down a bit (had to move the operation inside) but I have still managed to dye about 30 yards of fabric over the last couple of weeks. I have been using Kona pfd (a 50% off coupon bought me a bolt from JoAnn’s and then I orderd a 35 yd bolt from Dharma). I have also been dyeing Essex linen which is linen cotton blend. The Kona takes the dye well. It s a bit stiffer than the print cloth I often use but I I like the hand for what I am doing. The essex linen dyes beautifully but dyes consistently lighter than the Kona. It has a very soft hand with a nice washed out look that I like for quilts, dolls and even summer skirts and bags.
My Technique
My technique of fabric dyeing has evolved from a number of sources on the web and from books. I like Robin’s flat dyeing technique for solids but it wasn’t working for me because I could not stand outside breathing in the pollen. I will us this technique for more decorative effects on fabric but I think I will stick with my big dish and refrigerator tubs for solids. When I use the tubs I am squishing and massaging the dye into the fabric. It’s quite soothing really. For the ins and outs of this technique see Melanie.
Color Recipes
Like everyone else I use Fuchsia, turquoise and lemon yellow as my primaries to dye an additional color wheel. For variation I play with endless combinations of primary and secondary colors to build my palette. My trusty color wheel is never very far.
I do keep a notebook with notes of what I did. Sometimes I get distracted and wonderful accidents (and horrible mistakes! happen). I record these too.
Happy day, happy day. Our first 80 degree day in Atlanta. The sun just energizes me. As you read this post I invite you to sing or hum Dream Come True by the Brand New Heavies (click on the link and scroll to hear a sample). Just wanted to share my happy day by sharing some happy soul music. I promise that you won’t be able to keep still when you hear this song.
After class today I went in the back yard and had my first fabric dyeing session of the season. I changed up my process a bit. I tried flat dyeing. I think I am going back to using my tubs LOL. I got as much dye on me as I did on the fabric but it was fun (I danced to The Brand New Heavies while working. My neighbor across the way heard the music and he started dancing too!). I realized that flat dying will require me to tweak my process. Still, in just peeking at the colors I am excited about most of the results. I dyed 12 yards of fabric today. Whew! And now you know my first goal for April . In addition to fabric dyeing I hope to build on the momentum of the last few months.
Dye more fabric! I need a wider palette of solid colors for my work. I love the depth of color that hand dyed fabrics provide.
Sew more. I bought a few patterns for spring tops and bags. Looking forward to making these.
Continue to work on my ufos (unfinished objects)
Work on inventory for May my upcoming sale and show (click on the upcoming shows link at the top of the page for more details)
Take the Bakery class! (I am already signed up. I have heard so many positive things about this course).
Complete new doll styles. I have been studying the work of early American doll makers through books and workshops. I have also been wanting to do more work in cloth and clay. This style of doll has been fun to work on so far. Since I took this picture I have added clay to the head and neck area. Sculpting the features is next.
Develop sketches for two new pieces for shows I would like to be juried in to. (think positive thoughts!)
Ongoing
Read more books! (Right now I am reading Ancestor Stones and Made to Stick. Both books are excellent so far.
Paint and draw everyday (I have been painting with encaustic. This work is meditative. There is something about working in layers that’s very enjoyable)
That’s my list for the month. Let me know what you think. I would also love to hear what you are working on. Go forth and make beautiful things!
My goal for March was COMPLETION! Here’s how I did. . .
Continue my declutter project. It is so freeing to just let stuff go. ONGOING I discovered something wonderful in my studio in March: THE FLOOR! I have completed another large section of the big declutter project. I didn’t know that I would get into this so much. At times in my life I have been blessed with such abundance ( a fancy way for saying I have a lot of STUFF). It’s been great to share and donate items I was no longer using.
Complete Pisces Woman quilt TABLEDI decided to table this project for a while. I like what I have done so far but I kind of lost interest half way through the project. I have decided to put it away for now. I have turned my intention instead to working on sketches for three different shows I am interested in entering this summer.
Complete one ufo (unfinished object) from my project list or let it go. ONGOINGI created two piles. The first pile of quilts was a pile of quilts I had lost interest in OR I learned what I needed to learn from the process of making the quilt and could move on. I donated some of the blocks and fabrics. Th rest got cut up and tossed into a bin for future projects. The second stack of quilts is a stack of quilts I want to finish. I completed 2.5 tops this month and have almost completed quilting a quilt I have owed my friend Vanessa for quite some time (it’s embarrassing). I am confessing this long overdue project here to make myself accountable. My plan is to finish the quilt by the end of next month and finally give it to her. Here are the two completed tops. They need to be layered and quilted.
Take new photos of finished work and work in progress DONE! See above and below. More to follow.
Continue reading challenge I completed four books this month. New reviews coming soon.
collect homework photos for workshop in May DONE. I have also collected most of the fabric for my workshop as well. It is going to be 80 degrees this weekend. I am planning on dying several yards of fabric for my class. Can’t wait!
Lots of fun things happening around here. I am sooooo looking forward to spring. It has been a long hard winter. I feel guilty complaining since I currently live in Atlanta. Still, it snowed here three times! YUCK. The cherry blossoms and daffodils are finally bloomind and I am already sneezing. Still spring is just toying with us. We went from the mid 70s to 39 degrees today and yes, I am pouting. Great weather for reading, though.
Many people compare this book to Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. I don’t quite see this. If I were going to compare Durrow’s novel to a Morrison book it would probably be Song of Solomon and maybe Beloved. Also, I couldn’t help but think of Nella Larsen while reading this book. I am not one of those people who has to see the tradition of American/African lit as linear (where one author has to supplant her literary foremother). In other words, I think there is enough room for every body. Durrow’s book is a coming of age novel about Rachel, a biracial daughter of a Danish mother and an African American G.I. father. Unlike Pecola Breedlove, Rachel has blue eyes. At times she wills herself to be invisible as a way to cope with others’ expectations and narrow definitions of her. Her aunty and a boy from the neighborhood are the only people who seem to really see her. Eventually Rachel pushes back — rebelling against narrow ideals about beauty, identity and community. I liked this book.
I love this video about the author’s grandmother. . . .
This is my last contemporary slave narrative for a while. It is just too hard to read about the abuse of women in this way. I had some mild knowledge of the tradition of enslaved women being used as concubines the way the novel describes. Perkins-Valdez crafts a compelling story. Once again I was reminded how things aren’t just black and white. The world we live in is much more nuanced than that.
As an artist, I know how hard it is to create and put yourself out there for the world to see. I suppose that this is the risk we are willing to take. So I ask myself, did I really compare this book to George Schuyler’s Black No More? Now granted, I made this comparison when I was only about 50 pages into the book. At that stage I was still mildly amused by the story. As I kept going I realized how wrong I was. Horse carriages with rims? Enslaved boys with “pants on the ground”? The white slaves referred to as “wiggers”? The historical and cultural references were all over the place. Satire? Not for me. As much as I wanted to I just didn’t feel the story. Maybe that’s my limitation and not the author’s.
I am really ready for spring. I am getting over my third yucky winter cold and I NEVER get sick. ugh. I have a feeling that March is going to be a pretty magical month when it comes to creativity. Below is my list of what happened in February followed by what I hope to do in March.
February 2010
complete tax prep I got as far as scanning receipts and renewing my business license. I also converted to a new ledger that I found on the Bakery site. Theirs is similar to one that I had already created for myself but I like theirs better.
draw/paint everyday for the most part I maintained this. I still paint for 2 to 3 hours most evenings and on weekends. I am taking some design classes for the next several months so I will probably have to cut my hours back some during the week. I experimented a lot with encaustics this month. I also drew and collaged a lot in my sketchbook.
create a piece of art in celebration of PISCES women everywhere!! I have made a lot of progress on this piece. Preliminary photos were posted here. The Pisces woman quilt will be a part of the water spirits series I have been working on. More pictures coming soon.
update business and marketing plan still working on these. Didn’t get as far as I wanted but I am a lot closer than where I was !
develop a new pattern Done! I developed two new doll patterns. These dolls are larger than my standard and there are more pieces for better posing. Pictures coming soon.
declutter studio! LOL, well, this became an enitre house declutter. I found wonderful containers from Target, Ikea and Craigslist for all kinds of things. I managed to create more wall and table space by reorganizing the studio. Pictures coming soon.
New photos of work for website. As you can see, I didn’t stop much to take pictures. More visuals are coming.
continue reading for reading challenge. I completed three books last month for the reading challenge. I even heard from one of the authors of one of the books I reviewed. How exciting!
Goal for March: COMPLETION
Continue my declutter project. It is so freeing to just let stuff go. From books to unused art supplies to just stuff you are saving for someday. It takes up too much space in your brain and your place if you are not using it.
Complete Pisces Woman quilt
Complete one ufo (unfinished object) from my project list or let it go.
Take new photos of finished work and work in progress
). I dye what I think I will need for the summer and winter months when it is just too hot or too cold to be bothered. Pollen has slowed me down a bit (had to move the operation inside) but I have still managed to dye about 30 yards of fabric over the last couple of weeks. I have been using Kona pfd (a 50% off coupon bought me a bolt from JoAnn’s and then I orderd a 35 yd bolt from 
Grayson Studios is the dreamworld created by Deborah R. Grayson, an artist, voracious reader and writer. Visit