Kinship in Color and Wool

Dancing with our Daughters

I have been taking classes with some of my daughters -- and it is a wonderful thing!

The Truth is....

I haven't been rug-hooking.

This has caused me turbulent feelings about this blog. Kinship in Color and Wool is the name of this website, it is meant to represent my love of color in painting and how it found its kinship in wool. For the last 10 years I having been rug-hooking more than painting -- until recently..... I realized I did not start or finish a rug in 2012 (except for my Karen Kahle chairpad!). The two rugs that I started in 2011 are still not done.

Am I still a rug-hooker?

I have a following of rug-hookers and textile artists... and I have not been working in this media for a long time....

So, what do I write about?

Things that have endured the whole 7 years I have been blogging: My love of Color. My Commitment to Living a Creative Life. My Family and the central role it plays in my life...

Things that are new: Belly Dance! ---and...

A new commitment to paint non-objective paintings.

I hope you'll stick around and see where this path take us!

Thinking about color

I love color! - Happy New Year Everyone....

Taking a Break...

I am officially announcing a Blog Vacation for myself. I have been feeling overwhelmed lately and have been neglecting this spot... Hopefully in the New Year I will be back and refreshed and with a renewed vision! In the meantime my husband Rick and our eldest daughter Rose are still blogging regularly -- take a look at their blogs! Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers -- it means so much to me....

Blessings,

Brenda

Never too late!

Belly dance class at East Prince Senior Initiative: photo from mahinbellydance.com

This Blog post encouraged me recently, follow the link and make sure you read the comments!

I am enjoying bellydance --still! I would encourage you to try it... If there is more than one teacher in your area, try out a few, because the teacher and the vibe in the class can vary, and finding a place that suits you can make all the difference. Maybe you have no interest in bellydance, but have been wanting to try yoga, or pottery or learning to play guitar... go for it! It is not too late!

Once upon a time...

'The Folk Tale' by brendabeerhorstshop

Somewhere the fairytale has escaped the page....

Oval Recycled Rag Rug sockmonster $79.00	Be Kind - Linoleum block pri... fawnandfable $5.00
Missoni fabric padded hooded... SHLITZ $170.00	Vintage Uzbek Saye Gosha Seg... UberKuchi $44.95
Greeting Card annwilley $4.00	Made To Order One of A Kind ... gypsecouture $135.00
HARBINGER Leather & Upcycled... HarbingerLeath... $220.00	Mustard Yellow Tribal Turban... MaeluDesigns $18.50
Woodland Branches Headband -... lovemaude $28.00	Sugar in my bowl pants...Mix... cocoricooo $49.00
Vintage Folk Art Embroidered... 5gardenias $32.00	Wood Laser cut Brooch starry... TheTwentyFinge... $12.50
Jovie the Elf Cat Hat Christ... scooterKnits $18.00	Garden Bouquet Fine Art prin... CatherineNolin... $21.00
Ethnic Hobo Boho Asian Embro... LannaThaiCreat... $24.99	Traditional Byzantine style ... microuniverse $50.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

The Dark Side

I once heard a performer say "when I am sad, I write songs, when I am happy -- I play golf."

For many, creativity can be a tool to help us deal with negative and unhappy feelings. Sometimes they become so entangled together, that an artist can feel overwhelmed. When I was a teenager -- it was a horrible time in my life. My emotions were negative and my thinking was muddled. I was melancholy and spaced-out at school and crabby, weepy and disrespectful at home. My interior life was scary. I held high expectations on myself and others. I failed my own tests and no one else passed either. I was self-destructive and alone, and so very unhappy. I did find a measure of peace in making art, although so much of my subject matter and feelings expressed came from an unhappy place. Later in my twenties, I went back to school to study "Fine Art", I already had a "commercial art" degree, but I thought the "purity" of fine art would somehow be more heroic and more important. Things emotionally were still messy, but a bit better. The problem came with finding subject matter for my canvases. My interior self was so unpleasant and unhappy, spending time trying to communicate from that place got harder and harder. I could feel myself wanting to leave that dark place, and for a long, long time I left painting behind with it.

Now I see my son in that unhappy-teenage place. It is horrible to see your child visit that place of darkness.... Please pray for Shepherd Ezra Beerhorst...                                               self-portrait by Shepherd Beerhorst

 

Throwing Glory - New CD from Wealthy Orphans

My husband Rick's band the Wealthy Orphans is having a CD release party this coming Saturday! (Throwing Glory is the CD title...) It is an all ages, Family Friendly, (kids 12 & under get in free) Daytime show and there are 3 musical acts, plus - dancers, puppets and video created specifically for the Wealthy Orphan set --- and even FREE PIZZA! It is very exciting -- and the way it has all come together has been so sweet... There is even a Letterpress Poster available at Rick's etsy shop!
Yesterday a few of the Wealthy Orphans did and acoustic set for the Lamp Light Festival -- it was such a moving performance and a wonderful event... So many amazing things happening in Grand Rapids! If you can be at the Pyramid Scheme on Saturday at NOON -- you will not regret it!

A bit of Glitz - Happy Halloween!

'Wonder and Sparkle and Color!' by brendabeerhorstshop

Every once in a while the spotlight shines on sequins, glitter, glitz and fanciful color!

Audacious Hoops: Lo... AudaciousHoops $35.00	Hexagon Recycled Ra... sockmonster $70.00	Vintage burlesque P... ShopGlammasAtt... $25.00	1930's Rose Fac... fallaloft $15.00
Seuart in Color Blo... DolorisPetunia $405.00	Emilie - 10x15 Prin... coconutarrows $35.00	SUSI SUNFLOWER Hand... mistypondprimi... $36.00	XS Lime Ruffle Shor... HarmonicThread... $28.00
children's wall... inameliart $89.00	Hand Dyed Felted Wo... ThreeSheepStud... $35.75	Louise Heirloom Tia... SLCDesignsUK $350.00	Muted Peachy Rose M... primitivespiri... $14.00
Tattered Blue Flapp... delightworthyn $195.00	Rainbow Carnival Gl... cynthiasattic $59.00	Victorian Tattooed ... crankbunny $20.00	Mary Flanagan Textu... DuckaDilly $28.50

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

It feels good

The Show Opening at HyperOptik was really fun! The owners Rob and Chris Conens are great to work with, (they provided wine and cheese!). I am happy with the show, I like the way it looks in the shop and I am proud with the work I did....Thank you to all who came out and those with encouraging words... also thank you to Rick, for all his work and support and thanks again to the guys at HyperOptik! -- it will be up until November 28, 2012