Christmas Gifts

Before I started working on gifts I took a picture of the materials. I am happy to report that everyones gifts are finished, and turned out rather well. I will post photos of the actual gifts after Christmas.

Labor of Love. A Side Effect of Loneliness

This years Christmas projects are labor intensive, and time consuming. I don't mind most of the time. I can settle in with some tea and just work. However, I find as we approach Thanksgiving, and more holiday gatherings are coming and going, these projects are keeping me form going to the social activities I am used to attending. These projects are fun and easy to work on, but if I don't spend at least a few hours at a time working I don't get anywhere. On sunday I spent 7 hrs sitting in my orange crushed velvet chair sewing. The result of my 7 hrs was one gift completed. I turned down two invitations from friends to complete this gift, and I have not spent much time with my friends since I started them. Sacrificing social interaction is not a big deal, but in about the 5 hr I do get a bit lonely. I think it is because I know that the next evening I will be back in my orange chair.
Lately I have been feeling like a bit of a bum when I am in my studio. I fumble around, and work on small studies but haven't been able to commit to making a larger painting for a while. Once, Christmas is over and I am back from my vacation I plan on spending a few nights a week in the studio, and I imagine that this will also cut into my social calender. As a result I am hoping to advance my work. I am sure that the side effect will again be loneness.

Late Start

Normally I am well on my way with my Christmas gifts by this time of year, but I was distracted by one thing or another and have gotten a late start. Finally, yesterday I started making my first set of gifts. I didn't get as far as I wanted to but I am trying not to get discouraged. I just keep reminding myself that as long as I stay focused I will be able to finish in plenty of time. In the past, I have kept tract of my projects on a calender. When I use the calender I have a visual representation of exactly how much I need to do, and the amount of time I have to complete it. Just like a school project. This year, I haven't do that yet, maybe I should start. Also this year I am going to be participating in my first holiday craft fair. On top of these things I am going to be trying to keep my paintings going, and increasing my work out. Add it to the pile! I am excited to be busy.

window coverings

This project is a bit further along that the picture show. So far I am happy with the result I am getting from these plastic weavings. There is a noticeable difference in temperature when I move my hand form one side to the other. Moreover, I still have plenty of light to work with during the day, and the light in the evening isn't glaring. Mission soon to be accomplished.

Plastic bags

The widows in my studio are currently covered with paper drawings. The drawings are masking taped on, and are mostly sketches of projects I am working on. It's not a large space-to say the least- and I like that about it, but lately I have been wanting to clean up the way it looks. While sketching about a week ago I came up with the idea of making window coverings out of white plastic bags. These bags would serve two functions: First, they continue to obscure the window, so people who pass on the Freeway won't be able to see in. Second, the while plastic will block out some of the hash light in evening, but still let in enough so that I will not have to turn on a light.

I have tried a few projects with plastic bags, and they never turn out the way I planned. Actually, most of my planned projects fail. This time I am working with an idea, and trying to make something that serves my needs. Thus far it looks like a weaving, and the first square of woven plastic bags has turned out better than I expected. Weaving them seemed natural because, curtains are fabric. I am interested to see the end product. More to come..

Solo Exhibition

somewhere out there, a solo exhibition by kara nelson
april 6th 2010
6-8pm

Moishe House Oakland
636 Santa Ray Ave.
Oakland, CA, 94610


My first solo exhibition is set in a house off of Lake Shore Ave in Oakland. I am excited to be presenting new work, in conjunction with some older work. Paintings will span two levels of the old house, evoking the feeling of home.

Costume T-Shirts

New Hobbie! This October as I started my annual brainstorm for personal, and meaningful Christmas gifts I came up with a (in my opinion) brilliant idea! Costume-T shirts.
Giving gifts to the men is my family almost always brings me to the same question: What can I make out of my old clothes, and bits of paper that is masculine? Although my gifts in the past have always been appreciated, the time it takes me to come up with an idea leaves little time for execution. But not this year! This years idea gave me such great enthusiasm that making them was a blast, and happened in a flash.