CLEOPATRA AND VIRGIN MARY
I can clearly remember sitting at my desk in 6th grade history class thinking about being famous. Really Famous. The only women I could recall were Cleopatra and the Virgin Mary. No chance for me!
Made 9/23/08
Recalling 1959
HIGH SCHOOL CHORES
When I was in high school, my job was to do the dishes every night. My brother’s job was to mow the lawn once a week in the summer. I can remember trying to talk my parents into making it more even. I’d gladly have mowed the lawn, but boys could never do dishes.
Made 2/17/2007 Recalling 1962-66
Made 2/17/2007 Recalling 1962-66
.jpg)
CHEMISTRY SET
I loved Mr. Wizard. I was fascinated with questions of how life came to be and what atoms were made from. I wanted to be a biochemist. Every year from age 10-14 I asked for a chemistry set for Christmas. Every year my parents didn’t get me one- too dangerous. I’d blow up the house. When my brother was 10, he casually mentioned it might be fun to have a chemistry set. That Christmas he got a great big three fold one. When I snuck in his room to use it, I got yelled at. When I left for college four years later, 75% of the bottles hadn’t even been opened.
When I showed the embroidery I was working on to my returning adult graduate student, she said, “Thank God you didn’t get it!” She was afraid I might have been a chemistry professor instead of her art professor.
Made Labor Day 2006 Recalling Xmas 1958-62
When I showed the embroidery I was working on to my returning adult graduate student, she said, “Thank God you didn’t get it!” She was afraid I might have been a chemistry professor instead of her art professor.
Made Labor Day 2006 Recalling Xmas 1958-62
MARIE CURIE
“We must believe that we are gifted for something & that this thing, at whatever cost must be attained.” - Marie Curie
I woke up one morning thinking about who inspired me to believe I could be more than the limiting feminine stereotype of wife and mother.
It was Marie Curie, a scientist, who made me believe I could have my own life’s passion. As a child I’d read her biography. I’ve made a FaceBook page, Inspiring Women, where I invite others to tell the stories or show their art about who inspired them.
Made 12/21/14
Recalling 1961
JOHN’S APPLE - JEAN’S APPLE
As a child my Mom picked two apples. One perfect, one bruised. Grandma took Mom’s apples and gave the good one to her brother and the bad one to her. Mom’s solution to the problem was clear. When she found good apples, she kept them for herself. But she kept the pattern for her children. My brother got the good ones, I got the leftovers.
Made September 17 2006
Recalling Summer 1930
GOING TO COLLEGE
When my sister and I went to college, my parents gave us train tickets.
When my brother went to college, my parents got him a yellow convertible sports car.
Made 10/2/06 Recalling 1966 + 1970
When my brother went to college, my parents got him a yellow convertible sports car.
Made 10/2/06 Recalling 1966 + 1970
NAIL COLORS
My sister had the most beautiful nails in high school. All even, long and perfectly painted. Hard as Nails brand had just come out. It was $1.00 a bottle when the Woolworth’s brand was $.39. Jonlee bought every color they made – all 12 – with her babysitting money. They paid $.50 an hour then.
She kept them on shelf in her bedroom. I loved just looking at them. I was amazed at the extravagance and luxury of so many colors. When I showed this embroidery to her, she was amazed. She didn’t remember buying that nail polish or even how spectacular her nails were. That was just normal for her.
Made Feb 21 2014 Recalling 1961
She kept them on shelf in her bedroom. I loved just looking at them. I was amazed at the extravagance and luxury of so many colors. When I showed this embroidery to her, she was amazed. She didn’t remember buying that nail polish or even how spectacular her nails were. That was just normal for her.
Made Feb 21 2014 Recalling 1961
.jpg)
JOB CHOICES
None of my friends' mothers had jobs. I was imagining what I could be. There were three choices, elementary school teacher, secretary or nurse.
Made 7/17/08 Recalling 1959
Made 7/17/08 Recalling 1959
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
I was 20 when I got married. We moved to Berkeley for Jared’s graduate school in May. My idea of California was formed by Gidget movies. I took only my summer clothes, cotton shorts and shirts. When the rains started in the fall, I discovered how cold 50 degrees feels. When we went back to Illinois for Thanksgiving, I got all my sweaters and jackets.
Made January 2006 Recalling May 1968
Made January 2006 Recalling May 1968
.jpg)
SWEETS
I was trying to decide whether to leave my first husband. I kept having a recurring dream. In each of them there would be a huge array of treats & I couldn’t decide which to have.
Then I realized it was showing me there was a multitude of choices.
I didn’t need to pick just one.
Made 6/1/14
Recalling 1973
ISTHMUS AD
Divorced for years I decided to put an ad in Isthmus. It took a year for me to figure out exactly what to ask for. I put it in around Valentine’s Day.
I got 12 letters. Craig’s stood out, 3 legal size pages, he wrote a paragraph on each word I wrote.
Smart, funny and kind- I knew I wanted to be his friend. It was the only letter I answered.
First we talked on the phone 3 hours. We met at a coffee shop and talked for 5 hours. When we stood up to leave, I realized he was shorter and younger than me.
I never would have thought of him romantically, if I’d met him the usual way.
Made Christmas 2005 Recalling Valentine’s Day 1985
I got 12 letters. Craig’s stood out, 3 legal size pages, he wrote a paragraph on each word I wrote.
Smart, funny and kind- I knew I wanted to be his friend. It was the only letter I answered.
First we talked on the phone 3 hours. We met at a coffee shop and talked for 5 hours. When we stood up to leave, I realized he was shorter and younger than me.
I never would have thought of him romantically, if I’d met him the usual way.
Made Christmas 2005 Recalling Valentine’s Day 1985
WEDDING 1985
Craig and I were married in Door County in Mom and Dad’s backyard. A lovely, sunny day.
During the ceremony a sailboat drifted slowly by on Sturgeon Bay. We had a fish boil for the reception.
Made February 24 2006 Recalling August 10 1985
During the ceremony a sailboat drifted slowly by on Sturgeon Bay. We had a fish boil for the reception.
Made February 24 2006 Recalling August 10 1985
WEDDING PRESENTS
When I got married, my parents gave me a very nice set of dishes, handmade by Tricia Yu.
When my brother got married, my parents gave him 200 feet of waterfront property in Door County.
Made 9/24/06 Recalling 1985
When my brother got married, my parents gave him 200 feet of waterfront property in Door County.
Made 9/24/06 Recalling 1985
CAKES: BIRTHDAY & WEDDING
Aunt Mae would always make birthday cakes for my brother and me. Devil’s Food for my brother and Angel Food for me with that sticky 7-minute frosting.
When Craig and I got married, I had a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and he had poppy seed.
Made 5/1/08 & 5/3/09
Recalling 1956-66 & 8/10/85
.jpg)
KOREAN LUNCH
Riah was teaching in South Korea. I went to visit her and had lunch with a former student who lives there. We sat at a low table and the dishes just kept coming. Koreans love “side dishes.” They were so beautiful I took photos. When I started this embroidery, the next day, I’d remembered about a dozen dishes. Then I looked at the photos and saw there were 27!
Made 3/31/10
Made 3/31/10
Mt. KILIMANJARO SNOWS
Sitting on the balcony of the small hotel in Tanzania I was fascinated by the tangle of wires on the pole within arm’s reach. Down below was a Flamboyant tree and other ones flowering. Mt. Kilimanjaro was hidden in the clouds for most of the week.
I knew the snow had been going away, but I was surprised to see how much snow was on the old postcard.
Made 11/28/12
I knew the snow had been going away, but I was surprised to see how much snow was on the old postcard.
Made 11/28/12
JAPAN
My daughter Riah and I went to Japan with the Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors. After the 12 hour flight, just when we were to land in Tokyo, there was a typhoon. We were diverted north to the island of Sapporo and then south to Osaka. Hours later they let us out, then took us to a hotel for a few hours sleep before we took the bullet train back to Tokyo.
Our hosts were incredibly kind and generous to us. One evening they took us to a special new Japanese restaurant in a building 400 years old. The food was all deep fried and served on skewers - 17 courses - each on little plates.
Made 2/5/2006 Recalling July 2002
Our hosts were incredibly kind and generous to us. One evening they took us to a special new Japanese restaurant in a building 400 years old. The food was all deep fried and served on skewers - 17 courses - each on little plates.
Made 2/5/2006 Recalling July 2002
ALL ISSUES
I went with a group of artists to the United Nations Conference on Women in China. We did presentations on our art at the Non Governmental Organizations section. On the road from Beijing to the conference site there were huge welcome signs and support for the conference. ALL ISSUES ARE WOMEN’S ISSUES. I came away believing the world would be ok- there were so many people working to improve every kind of situation.
Before the conference we traveled to several cities. At one pagoda, I was surprised to see a small building directly in front of the temple selling Kodak film. At Xian which is in the “Midwest” of China, there were corn and sunflower fields.
One amazing meal was at a dumpling restaurant. The waiter brought a towering stack of 12 bamboo steamers which swayed precariously as he came towards the table. Each steamer held one kind of dumpling. The outside noodles were in the shape of whatever was inside. Chicken inside the chicken shape. Duck inside the duck shape. Mushroom inside the mushroom shape. They were wonderful.
Made 6/14/2006 Recalling September 1995 Although active in organizing women artists groups since 1970 I had an inspiring experience at the NGO Forum, United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China in 1995. Click here for more info.
Before the conference we traveled to several cities. At one pagoda, I was surprised to see a small building directly in front of the temple selling Kodak film. At Xian which is in the “Midwest” of China, there were corn and sunflower fields.
One amazing meal was at a dumpling restaurant. The waiter brought a towering stack of 12 bamboo steamers which swayed precariously as he came towards the table. Each steamer held one kind of dumpling. The outside noodles were in the shape of whatever was inside. Chicken inside the chicken shape. Duck inside the duck shape. Mushroom inside the mushroom shape. They were wonderful.
Made 6/14/2006 Recalling September 1995 Although active in organizing women artists groups since 1970 I had an inspiring experience at the NGO Forum, United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China in 1995. Click here for more info.
.jpg)
GUARDIAN ANGEL
I was on a bus alone, going from Mexico to Guatemala. It stopped at a gas station. The driver said we’d be there 15 minutes, so I ran out to the bathroom. Moments later the bus drove off, taking my back pack, money, passport- everything. At a loss for what to do, another bus drove up. With my terrible Spanish I managed to convince the driver to take me along. In a few minutes we were at the border and there was my bus waiting in the customs line. I ran out and got my backpack and bags and walked into Guatemala.
Made in Florida Jan 2006
Recalling February 1974
BRITISH MUSEUM
My first trip to London – It was the rainiest June for 250 years. I went to a gallery. Walking down the same street afterwards, my eyes were awakened to beauty.
I saw pink flowers floating in the air. They were growing fuchsia in a flowerbox. Underneath was a black grid to catch the dead flowers. They were still brightly colored. They looked like they were hovering in space.
A few doors farther down were two small gilt statues of a man and his dog. It was a matched set on columns by the door - but the man had been broken at his knees in both of them - just above the top of the dog’s head. I had noticed none of this before.
Then I went to the British Museum and saw wondrous things. I held a 4000 year old alabaster eye-liner jar from Egypt!
I saw 6 foot long protector beings from the South Pacific. Polka dot leather dresses from Native Americans. The Rosetta stone and the Parthenon figures. Amazing!
Made 7/11/2007 Recalling 7/7/2007
I saw pink flowers floating in the air. They were growing fuchsia in a flowerbox. Underneath was a black grid to catch the dead flowers. They were still brightly colored. They looked like they were hovering in space.
A few doors farther down were two small gilt statues of a man and his dog. It was a matched set on columns by the door - but the man had been broken at his knees in both of them - just above the top of the dog’s head. I had noticed none of this before.
Then I went to the British Museum and saw wondrous things. I held a 4000 year old alabaster eye-liner jar from Egypt!
I saw 6 foot long protector beings from the South Pacific. Polka dot leather dresses from Native Americans. The Rosetta stone and the Parthenon figures. Amazing!
Made 7/11/2007 Recalling 7/7/2007
HO’OPONOPONO
“Hoʻoponopono (ho-o-pono-pono) is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness.” Repeating this silently helps me release those negative voices inside. It’s also good for the distressing articles in the newspaper. Embroidering the words embeds them in my memory.
Made 3 /17/2014
Made 3 /17/2014
.jpg)
.jpg)
GARDEN OF BLISS
“If on earth there is a garden of bliss. It is this. It is this. It is this.”
This is a quote I found in the Transition Handbook.
Made 6/18/2011
WILL THIS NURTURE ME?
When I was overwhelmed at work, my husband suggested I write this in my calendar & use it to decide what I said yes to doing. It was a big help.
Made in April snow 2007 Recalling 1998
Made in April snow 2007 Recalling 1998
ATIRA
Helen called to say our good friend Rae died. I started sewing this mandala as something to do with my grief.
Later I remembered her middle name meant star. I miss her.
Made 3/1/2009
Made 3/1/2009
HOT FLASH
The hot flashes started in my 40s. I still get them, but they’ve stopped being distressing. I can sense when one is about to start and I select some aspect of negative emotion or anxiety I want to release. I use the heat and imagine it burning away from every cell. Now when one starts I think, “Oh good” not “Oh dear.”
Made Christmas 2007
Made Christmas 2007
DROP THE BURDEN
In a guided meditation I saw two demon-dogs yipping by my knees. At that moment my SELF DOUBT fell away. The demons unzippered their suits and out rose huge angels on each side of me. I heard them grumbling- “Finally! We were getting cramped in there so long.” My self-doubt hasn’t returned.
Made 1/26/2006
Recalling Late Summer 2002
.jpg)
.jpg)
POD PEOPLE
I was finishing graduate school & looking for a teaching job. My boyfriend wouldn’t leave Madison. The future was unknown and scary.
I had been reading about the Senoi and lucid dreaming. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers had been remade. I’d often had monsters after me in dreams. In this one the pod people chased me underneath an overpass by Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. For the first time in the dream I turned to face them. They said “We’ve come for your fear.” When I woke up I wasn’t afraid. Soon I was hired to teach in Virginia
Made 5/3/14 Recalling 1978
I had been reading about the Senoi and lucid dreaming. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers had been remade. I’d often had monsters after me in dreams. In this one the pod people chased me underneath an overpass by Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. For the first time in the dream I turned to face them. They said “We’ve come for your fear.” When I woke up I wasn’t afraid. Soon I was hired to teach in Virginia
Made 5/3/14 Recalling 1978
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Six months before I turned 50 I started hearing about women who got themselves a fabulous 50th birthday present- a trip to Paris -a diamond bracelet. I knew I couldn’t do that, but I wanted to do something special to celebrate. I couldn’t decide which ONE thing was special enough. So I decided I could just say YES whenever I wanted something until I turned 50.
Things I would usually not allow myself to have. I got a second favorite pepper grinder so there would be one on the table and one by the stove. I got a Zen clock that had the musical alarm for waking up in the morning. I bought a lovely red linen dress for full price. Bath salts, studio time, raspberries, the good chocolate. It was amazing. I had no idea how much I had been denying myself simple, silly things.
When I said yes to myself, I was able to say yes to others. It was a wonderful shift. So when my birthday came I decided to give myself 6 more months of saying YES. When that 6 months ended, I knew this was a permanent change. I couldn’t go back.
Made 9/14/2006 Recalling 11/97 4/15/98 10/98
Things I would usually not allow myself to have. I got a second favorite pepper grinder so there would be one on the table and one by the stove. I got a Zen clock that had the musical alarm for waking up in the morning. I bought a lovely red linen dress for full price. Bath salts, studio time, raspberries, the good chocolate. It was amazing. I had no idea how much I had been denying myself simple, silly things.
When I said yes to myself, I was able to say yes to others. It was a wonderful shift. So when my birthday came I decided to give myself 6 more months of saying YES. When that 6 months ended, I knew this was a permanent change. I couldn’t go back.
Made 9/14/2006 Recalling 11/97 4/15/98 10/98
WEDDING RINGS
While I was engaged to Craig, I was concerned about losing my Self by becoming a “wife.”
After a rain I sat under a tree by the pond. Two drops of water fell from the branches at the same moment. The concentric rings began to expand and I watched as they crossed each other joining but continuing each as circles undisturbed. I knew then we could both have creative growth in our lives while being married.
Made 9/10/07 Recalling 1985
After a rain I sat under a tree by the pond. Two drops of water fell from the branches at the same moment. The concentric rings began to expand and I watched as they crossed each other joining but continuing each as circles undisturbed. I knew then we could both have creative growth in our lives while being married.
Made 9/10/07 Recalling 1985
.jpg)
THE STING
In 1969 NO women artists were included in our Janson Art History textbook. Some students and art faculty began meeting once a week to search the library for female artists. I was thrilled to discover a 1913 book, Women Artists. It was 1 ½ inches thick! It was lists of woman artists - hundreds of names and dates - but no pictures or other information. So frustrating!
In 1982 I read a MS magazine article on the Freedom of Information Act about the FBI infiltration of 60s radical groups. There on the list of groups with an informant was our little artist research group!
Thinking back, I remembered one woman who brought cocaine once. None of us had done it or had any idea where you could get it. She also knew who to contact to get pistol lessons at the Black Panthers’ secret shooting range. She wanted me to go with her. I knew I was too much of a pacifist to ever shoot anyone.
Soon after that - she stopped coming to the meetings. I didn’t think much about it at the time.
Made 06/6/06 Recalling Fall 1969
In 1982 I read a MS magazine article on the Freedom of Information Act about the FBI infiltration of 60s radical groups. There on the list of groups with an informant was our little artist research group!
Thinking back, I remembered one woman who brought cocaine once. None of us had done it or had any idea where you could get it. She also knew who to contact to get pistol lessons at the Black Panthers’ secret shooting range. She wanted me to go with her. I knew I was too much of a pacifist to ever shoot anyone.
Soon after that - she stopped coming to the meetings. I didn’t think much about it at the time.
Made 06/6/06 Recalling Fall 1969
DAD’S LAST DAY
I was holding Dad’s hand when he died. One moment he was there in the window light. Then he was gone and the world outside the window was reality.
Made 5/12/13 Recalling 5/12/12
Made 5/12/13 Recalling 5/12/12
GOOD PICKLE
Aunt Mae would make her own dill pickles. They were the very best. She would bring a jar for us on Thanksgiving. One time when they were all gone I complained to Dad that I didn’t understand why all pickles couldn’t be GOOD pickles. Dad explained that you needed the bad pickles to know which ones were the good pickles. At the time I thought that was pretty stupid.
Made 8/14/07 Recalling Thanksgiving 1957
Made 8/14/07 Recalling Thanksgiving 1957
FAREWELL
This spring was a time of farewells. My Mother went into the hospital in February. Just after Riah, my oldest daughter, and I came home from Korea. Mom passed away on Good Friday. Riah left for Africa in June for two years in the Peace Corps.
Made 3/17/11
Made 3/17/11
Hidden Photo
Mom had a tiny set of drawers covered with flowered wall paper. When I was eleven, I thought it would be perfect for my dolls. When I looked inside, I found a small black and white photograph, the old square kind with jiggly cut edges. It showed a doorway with a heap of naked bodies inside.
I knew about the Nazis in World War II and that Dad had been to France and Germany, but he never spoke about his experiences.
It was 25 years later that he told us he was in reconnaissance and was one of the first Americans to go into a concentration camp. The photos were sent to General Patton to show what they found.
Made 1/16/07 Recalling 1959
I knew about the Nazis in World War II and that Dad had been to France and Germany, but he never spoke about his experiences.
It was 25 years later that he told us he was in reconnaissance and was one of the first Americans to go into a concentration camp. The photos were sent to General Patton to show what they found.
Made 1/16/07 Recalling 1959
.jpg)
I LOVE YOU
I love you, I’m sorry, I forgive you, Thank you is a Hawaiian family healing mantra.
It’s helped me as my Mother’s health declined. I would repeat it silently for her. Sitting with her as she slept and when I woke up in the middle of the night.
The last time that I saw her she said to me out loud, “I love you, I forgive you, thank you, I’m sorry.”
Made 9/8/2010
It’s helped me as my Mother’s health declined. I would repeat it silently for her. Sitting with her as she slept and when I woke up in the middle of the night.
The last time that I saw her she said to me out loud, “I love you, I forgive you, thank you, I’m sorry.”
Made 9/8/2010
VALENTINE - COAL
I visited my Mother in the nursing home the day before Valentine’s Day.
She’s not well at all. Sadly her heart still has this hard cinder of anger and hurt. The next day I imagined it burning away with love and caring.
Valentine’s Day 2011
She’s not well at all. Sadly her heart still has this hard cinder of anger and hurt. The next day I imagined it burning away with love and caring.
Valentine’s Day 2011
.jpg)
VALENTINE - DIAMOND
I woke up thinking instead of burning away the coal (hurt & anger) holding it tightly would turn it into a diamond. It was the process Dawna Markova taught. Turning your handicap into a challenge, then realizing that it was a gift.
The last time I saw Mom she said, “All I’ve taught you was anger.” It was that anger that allowed me to refuse her suburban housewife role and find my own kind of life. A gift.
Made 4/24/11Embroidery on my Mother’s wedding handkerchief
The last time I saw Mom she said, “All I’ve taught you was anger.” It was that anger that allowed me to refuse her suburban housewife role and find my own kind of life. A gift.
Made 4/24/11Embroidery on my Mother’s wedding handkerchief
OLANDER BLUE
My Mother and her favorite cousin, Evie, were Olander girls in Milwaukee. Their favorite color was blue. So Olander Blue was ANY color blue that an Olander girl liked. At Mom’s memorial service Dad asked us each to wear one of Mom’s crazy hats. Kaylee dyed her hair Olander Blue and wore a bright red feather spiral. My brother told some very funny stories about our Mom. My cousin said they watched all the feathers bobbling as everyone laughed and laughed.
Made 7/11/11 Recalling June 3, 2011
Made 7/11/11 Recalling June 3, 2011
MRS. REUHL’S HATS
Mom had a friend who used to be very wealthy. Mom would visit her bringing groceries as a present. Mrs. Reuhl would give her a hat as a thank you. Mrs. Reuhl had incredible hats, one-of-kind art works by Bes-Ben of Chicago. One had two white birds with real feathers on a black velvet ring. There were rhinestones on the tip of each feather. Another had red and yellow onions with green stems that crisscrossed over the head. An orange velvet cone with a turquoise poof ball of caribou feathers on top. A large straw garden party hat with fake red peonies all around the rim. Two pink flamingos with real feathers sat on each side of your head, the claws at your temples. They kissed over the top of your head. A Queen Anne one, pointed over the forehead, was made of huge plastic jewels. Black woven bull’s horns were covered in matador beading. A large flat pancake shaped hat covered with silk violets.
Two black velvet stars holding a cluster of pearlescent roses. A black velvet spiral covered with tiny, winged bees. They were amazing hats.
Made 06/26/06 Recalling 1930 – now
Made 06/26/06 Recalling 1930 – now
.jpg)
KILLER CLOWNS
Kaylee made these amazing killer clown masks to wear for Halloween. With 4 friends she won 3 costume contests.
Made 2/4/14Recalling Halloween 2013
Made 2/4/14Recalling Halloween 2013