July 9, 2009 - As of today I am a regular contributor on a group blog called What Women Write. Many of my posts will talk about my book about Carl, my research, and my travels related to the book. Stop by and look for my posts. Even better, become a 'follower' of the blog. (You'll need a google account, but they are free.)
Recent News
July 1, 2009 - Thanks to this website, I have now located just under 300 works of art. Thanks to the generosity of many collectors, I have permission to post images of many paintings. So many, in fact, that the thumbnail images on my oils and watercolors pages were miniscule. I decided that the time had come to divide the paintings not by medium but by period of Carl's career. There are now pages for early, middle and late works of art. As before, you may click on any thumbnail image to see a larger image and details about title, medium, size, date, and any interesting tidbits about the history of that particular piece.
3/4/09 - The 2009 issue of The Fra, a magazine put out by the Roycroft Campus Corporation, mentions Carl in the article about the current Roycroft Potter, Janice McDuffie. Article found on page ten.
10/25/08 - There are still copies of the 2007 Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume available - the cover article is on Carl.
12/23/07 - I have added a COLOR ENHANCED photo of Carl on my family photos page. Click here to see what the artist looked like in living color according to details about hair and eye color and complexion given by his wife.
5/17/07 - I have returned from Ontario after speaking for the Waterloo Historical Society on April 28th.
1/18/07 - The Waterloo Historical Society annual volume for 2006 will be released on April 28th, 2007. The front and back covers of the volume will feature headshots of Carl at various ages and there will be many photographs in both black and white and color throughout. The article itself is about 7,000 words. I have been asked to be the guest speaker at the launch, which will be on the same day as the volume's release, at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery in Kitchener, Ontario. Please e-mail me if you would like to order a copy of this volume.
9/13/06 - I have just returned from East Aurora, NY, where I visited the Roycroft campus, an important location in the history of the arts and crafts movement around the turn of the previous century. Carl Ahrens founded the pottery here around 1900. The place has special significance to me because it was where my great-grandparents met. On this trip, I was privileged to meet my cousin, Martha McGowan, a descendant of Carl and his first wife Emily Carroll. It was the first ever meeting between members of Carl's first family and second family. Many thanks to Janice MacDuffie, the current Roycroft Potter, for letting me stay with her.
To hear more about the trip and see photos please go to the Roycroft Journal.
July 24, 2009 - In the interest of having a book title that reflects it is the story of both Carl and Madonna, I have changed the title of my novel again. It is now The Oak Lovers, because he often painted oaks entwined like lovers, and the image represents them so clearly.
October 16, 2009 - I have just received a copy of the 1911 book published in conjunction with Carl's
exhibition of the Mercer Collection. This book includes small black and white images of all but one
painting in the collection. I have added those images to the information on each of the paintings.
December 5, 2009 - I have recently received several photographs of Carl Ahrens' first wife and
their children and have added some to the family photos page. While I was at it, I added more photos
of Carl himself, Madonna, and their children.
December 19, 2009 - Check out the winter issue of Canadian Art (magazine). In it, there is an article
by Ross King called White Feathers and Tangled Gardens. Carl receives a fair amount of coverage.
November 1, 2010 - After getting several paintings back from the conservator's, I have added a section
to the website where visitors can see 'before' and 'after' photos.
July 21, 2011 - The memorial bricks for Carl and Madonna Ahrens are in place on the Roycroft Campus.
January 11, 2012 - I have six to seven thousands words left to go before the manuscript for The Oak
Lovers is complete! Thank you for your patience!
March 20, 2012 - The manuscript for The Oak Lovers is now complete. I will be submitting it to
literary agents soon.