Blog

Excavating the Bulletin Board

Apr 27, 2011

For several years I have tacked to my studio bulletin board the gems of the day, things to be remembered, newspaper clippings, shopping lists for various paint stores and online supply companies.  I know this is my pattern because today–on a whim–not on my To-Do list, I stripped the bulletin board layering every slip of paper and photo in a pile–like an archaeologist.   Who was the woman who treasured this motley collection of trivia?

Interestingly the collection said a lot about me.  I value thank you notes; especially those from school children with pictures.  I must have an ego since every newspaper or magazine article about me or my work was at one time prominently displayed.  I found many of my “first sketches” of designs that I later carved in wood or linoleum.  (Nice to have them for posterity so someone can present them on Antique Roadshow in 100 years.)  There were many postcards from Art Shows I’ve attended over the years, addresses of friends I wanted to keep in touch with, and a poem I began about having seen Georgia O’Keeffe in Woodbine two years ago.

Another pattern emerged–my quest to organize my activities in various forms:  “Things I Must do – March 2009”, “Happy New Year Goals 2010”, and multiple lists entitled “To-Do.”  Most of the goals I eventually completed– or they simply weren’t worth doing.  One goal I wrote on every list was UPDATE BYRDCALL WEB SITE!  Well, that one was always tough–so much to add, so much to delete.  April 2011 was the month.  I’m almost done labeling every photo, listing shows on a calendar, and starting a blog.   It’s like turning over a new leaf.  I welcome you to check it out!  A whole new look–and I love it.  (Thank you, Jeannine Morber.)

Back to the bulletin board, sometimes we don’t realize how far we have come until we dig through history a little.  I wonder what you will find on your bulletin board.   I recommend the b.b. excavation if you are ready to reveal your patterns and see what’s on your old to-do lists.

Welcome to the Byrdcall Studio Blog

Apr 1, 2011

Hello, friends…  I am really excited to be restarting my web site  anew.   Now I am able to add and subtract images and text whenever I wish.  I am learning this month, so bear with me.  Just wait and see where we go together!   Stay tuned…

Here is a portrait of Oscar, my friends, Kara and Dave’s kitty.  Just finished it last week.  This week, aside from learning all the website maintenance skills, I completed what might be my last hand-knotted rya rug.  Backings are nearly impossible to find these days.  My grandparents, the Lundgrens, imported the fine craft supplies for many years, then had them made in the USA, but alas, they can no longer be found.  A local photojournalist, Ken Koons, has been documenting my work in photographs and video for the past month showing every step of my progress from design inception to completion.  Stay tuned for the link to youtube.com once it is complete.

I hope you will sign up to receive my occasional blogs, and share the link with friends who might be interested.  I plan on making it worth your while.  I will post a new photo of my projects each time.  Feel free to comment and tell me what you think of my work.

Enjoy the day!

Melinda