New Website

Please visit my new website here: Kate McPhee Studio

I will post any future blog posts at the new site.

Painting commission

I recently had the chance to make these two paintings for a client.  I have been sewing so much it was a delight to use paint for a change of pace.

this dress is "da bombe"

I made this reversible dress and I am so pleased with it!  I'm always looking to improve the way I make something to be more smooth and well-formed, and to that end I tried tucking all the seams inside two reversible layers of linen.  And then, of course, there was a grand opportunity to play with color, which I could not resist.  The unexpected pleasure of it is the weight that the two layers have.  It is like one of those heavy vests they have kids wear to calm them down, and it works on me, too.  Plus the dance potential is great.  I'm definitely going to make more of these, and can't wait to mix up the colors.

handmade clothing

Since I moved to Vermont two years ago I took a slight break from supporting myself exclusively on my own work and I have had a few jobs.  One of these was as a seamstress making very fine, high-end clothing.  I learned a great deal and improved my sewing skills enough to now be able to make all (or most) of the clothes I have always wanted.  I learned to sew, knit, crochet, and embroider as a child and I have always made a few clothes for myself, or altered my store-bought ones.  With my newly enhanced skills I look forward to letting the artist in me come out in this medium more and more.  My love of clothes is really less about fashion in the sense of trends than it is a sensual delight in fine textiles, and the feeling of inhabiting the space of a well-made garment.

I have a small collection of garments now available for sale at my online shop here.  They are all pieces I have developed over the past year and form the foundation of my simple esthetic. I appreciate clothes made to feel good to wear, made of natural fabrics, and capable of wearing as casual, everyday stock or being dressed up for special occasions.  Check back often as I have many more pieces in the works.

last year's garden

Now that spring is finally here, my mind is on gardening.  Here are some scenes from last year's garden that I never posted.  Looking forward to a fresh start this year.

Spring textiles

I have been printing on fabric and sewing some zipper bags, hot pads, totes, and clothing that I will soon add to my shop.  I am about to launch a whole new look and feel to my shop that will feature much more textile work such as these and lots of clothing that I am excited to show.  It is such a long process photographing everything and I get impatient, so here is just a little tease.  Soon these and many more new items will be available in my shop.

Yearning for Spring

We are in the midst of another snow storm here, and I am yearning for spring.  I found this image of a painting I did many years ago based on the e.e.cummings poem, in Just. I posted this on facebook and learned that there is a Greek word that means a work of art that is a reflection on another work of art: ekphrasis.

[in Just-]

in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles far and wee
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring
when the world is puddle-wonderful
the queer
old balloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it's
spring
and
the
goat-footed
balloonMan whistles
far
and
wee

I have always loved this poem, and I did not make any typos here, this is how he wrote it, and how he wrote his name in lower case.  To make this painting, I commandeered my niece and nephew to step in paint and walk across the canvas as if they were splashing in mud.  We had fun making this together.  Now if mud season would only arrive...

Home sweet home

Weddings

I have been busy with some signs, calligraphy, and styling for the upcoming wedding season.  These aren't the best photos but they are what I have for now. More to come.

Menus and signs

I made the menu board shown below for Mercantile Dining and Provisions before I left Denver, but never posted a photo of it so here it is now. And recently I made a similar sign to use for the upcoming wedding season. I am working with a florist whose studio is next door to mine making delightful props and stylish decor for all the upcoming Vermont summer weddings. It's a glorious time of year!

Old Mill Mercantile

As I mentioned in my last post, I have a new shop name, and shop opening soon, called "Old Mill Mercantile".  Here are some photos of hot pads and linen aprons I made as part of this new direction.

Updates

It has been a long while since I have posted.  I am in the process of creating a new website with new shop and blog, but for the moment I am posting some information and images here to serve as a temporary catalog.

As some of you might know, it has been a very eventful year for me as I moved to Vermont in August.  This is where I have wanted to live ever since I attended school at Bennington College over 20 years ago.  Happily things came together for me making a move possible and I am thrilled to be living in the country again.  I am working on a shop here (mail order to start) that encompasses all the things I enjoy making and creating, including textiles, calligraphy, and housewares.  The shop name is "Old Mill Mercantile" and will serve as a place where I can create a variety of products beyond just my fine art, and possibly things I will source out to other artisans.  In addition, I will continue my "signature lines" that are more actual art.  Anyway, it will be a mix of interesting handmade things.

 I have finally stopped making the copper framed version of my Affirmation plaques for a number of reasons, but they are still available for special order if anyone needs one to fit in a collection.  Now I have a wooden version that I just love.  There are two sizes available: 2.5" x 3.25" that have a small peg as an easel back or can hang on the wall.  The larger size is 5.5" x 7".  The large are a nice wall size, and the small are an adorable gift size, perfect for a desk, dresser, or anywhere.  The wood is poplar, and feels nice to touch (it is 3/4" wide and feels substantial.)  Also, I have a small black and white (or natural wood) version that has a chalkboard back.  Here are some images.