New Approach...

So this is a year of experimentation and I am continuing the small art quilts but now I am experimenting with creating my own image, ie silk painting/dying, and then I will explore how I want them finished.  Silk has such a beautiful sheen and it makes the whole piece look so rich!  Will probably be using some hand embellishment, ribbons, and textile paints.  We shall see.  I am already thinking of  another technique in the next batch that will rev the look up quite a bit.  Hopefully, when I try my idea out it will look like what I have in my head.  Always a journey...

Just came back from visiting two of my precious grandaughters in Colorado and guess what we did!  My eight year old is learning sewing and we made....you will never guess....American Girl doll clothes....it was a great trip....

Happy creating....

Whoops....down one

Out of my three pieces for this week, one has died as a big blob of black fabric paint splattered on the face of the walking umbrella man....oh, well...it is now a practice fabric for new techniques!  Here is my favorite of the two left....

Now a slight break as I have to make some doll quilts for an upcoming visit with my grandaughters...but will be drawing designs so I will be able to get back to work as soon as I return...

Silk painting is getting ready to be added to the processes....can't wait because I love to make art!!

These still have a way to go...

I still have a way to go BUT I am on schedule.  Every week I pick two images that must be in each block and then pick a background fabric for all three of them.  Then I get to work, trying different compositions, mediums, procedures, etc., etc.  These are not done so don't be too harsh, I will post the favorite of my the three in a couple of days.  Right now the bottom left is winning.  One never knows until they are done.....

This weeks images had to have buildings and umbrellas/parasols...of course that is a totally normal choice as I perceive it...ahhh, perception

Next three almost done!

 

I am on my way to having 30 quilts this medium size (for a small quilt), and then I need several smaller ones (which will probably be faces), and one large for display....THEN I will be ready for the Southern Highland  Craft Guild's show in the fall.  Whether all this is achievable, I will let you know in September. LOL...

 

Working on three at a time lets me be a little more efficient in pulling out fabrics etc, plus I just like the challenge of doing three that coordinate yet are different.  You can tell as the fabrics I am working with run out because I have to draw from a different palette, ie the red.  These three are about connection as per the cord/thread that connects us as human beings, families, and societies is represented in each piece. 

 

Just catching up on the blog....now I need to go quilt the one on the right and bind it....

I am excited about the next three the back will be a lovey soft color...we shall see, have a couple of ideas for the theme but am not sure yet....bye

Airbrushing

Went to Susan Shie's 'Turtle Moon Art Camp' in Wooster, Ohio last week and learned a lot of new techniques for painting on fabric.  This is the 'look' for airbrushing, (I am on the right).  The mask is a killer!! 

First Three Done....27 to go

I think the title for these three will be 'Crossing Over'.

it's a start!

There are just not enough minutes in the day...but here is the start of a long project...

Happy Dance!

Just was notified that the quilt I submitted for, "Light, Hope, Opportunity: Empowering Women through Clean Energy" exhibit,was accepted and will be showing at the Palais des Nations of the European headquarters of the United Nations in June.  Very excited, then it will be touring in the USA in various venues.  This show is abouting bringing awareness to the community/world about energy poverty and ways to be a part of the solution.  The show is sponsored by Solar Sisters...check out their website www.solarsister.org .  They are a good thing....

'Leftover' quilt

This quilt is a compilation of leftover boom blocks and a round robin gone awry!  It was fun to come up with a design solution with all the disparate parts...and I actually like it alot...I like working asymetrically...should do it more often! 

projects in the studio

Working on several projects!  The bird is a round robin that never became completed in the group process...so I am going to finish it now for me..the brown will be a contemporary art quilt with ladders and souls, and the floral is a spring swap piece...I am trying to tie up a few loose ends ( partially finished projects which luckily I don't have very many ...maybe 4 or five), no rush but like to plug along and get them finished... will post progress as it happens

The most important of the above is the brown.  I have bleach discharged part of the fabric and drawn out the images that will be involved...this will be a fairly complex piece, so wish me luck...argh

'A Hint of Green'

This is for a lady in Florida who collects teapots and likes black and whites.  This is for a March swap of small pieces with the theme 'A Hint of Green'.  When I first heard the theme I thought of the green of Granny Smith apples.  It is such a beautiful color.

Now, I have one more project to complete and then I am starting a series of small art quilts.  Have images in my mind for them but not quite sure of the underlying theme yet. I am still thinking....so while I have been thinking I did this small swap quilt.  Hope she likes it. 

Completed, Shown, and won an award

Finished image of quilt shown in process in previous blog.  
The official title is

"A Lifetime of Monograms"

A Cinderella Story?

 

The quilt placed 2nd in our guild challenge and now it is out that I have been married more than once, oh well....

Finished!

Just finished the quilt that is celebrating the use of solar power in underdeveloped nations.  Whether it is accepted into the show or not, is now in the judges hands.  It was a really fun quilt to make and I have to admit I like it.  For me it is full of hope and joy.  If the quilt is accepted it will be shown at the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, which would be absolutely awesome!  The quilt is done, letting go, and what will be, will be!  Wish me luck.....

Great News!

This past week I was notified that one of my quilts was accepted into SAQA's "Metaphors on Aging" show, which is premiering in Birmingham, UK at the Festival of Quilts and then on to the Johannesburg Quilt Festival in South Africa.  The show will be traveling from 2013-2015.  Very exciting.

How 'Happy" is this!

This is the start for a small quilt to enter in a show about solar power.  The show is sponsored by  an organization called 'Solar Sisters'. One of their missions is to help African women to improve their life standards by using solar power to energize lanterns that the families can use to be productive at night... children can do homework, read, etc.  It is so just that 'light begats light' both literally and figeratively.  My parading women will each have a lantern (the lanterns are actually red, how cool it that), and there will be a sun,  houses with lite windows and we shall see what happens from there.  For more information about the show go to www.quiltforchange.org  .
                                                      

Something more traditional for a change!

This is a mini "doll" quilt for a swap.  The theme is 'Stripes and Strips'.  I had just purchased the book "String Quilt Revival" when I saw this swap...so  it must have been meant for me to participate.    The quilt is going to Arizona  (I think) and my swap partner shared that she liked pink and purple.  There are almost 300 pieces in this 18 x 18 inch piece.  Note to self: do not make your own pieced stripe fabric ever again!  Hopefully my swap partner  will like this piece.  If not, she can send it back.  Just kidding.....sort of...  :-)

Having fun with "Bottles"

"Bottles"

My quilting bee is doing a project where we  draw out of a paper bag, a subject, a color palette, and a size for fun.  This one is bottles, cool colors, and only 6"x12".  It was really  fun to do and since it isn't very big it wasn't too intimidating!  Tomorrow I get to see what everyone else came up with.  These are 'play' and I really enjoy the challenge....and I get to try out different techniques, so it is allll good.

 

next project on the way....

 

This has to do with a challenge of "Monograms".  Started to think about it and I realized I have had four monograms in my life!  Which one is me?  At first I was leaning towards my maiden name intitials but then I realized that I am a product of all the initials I have worn in my life.  Hence this project. Each row of initials is composed of the years that I carried them.  The pink hand embroidered areas say, I Do, I Do Not, Who Am I, No No No, Do Do Do, etc....This possibly suggests that I am conflicted about relationships.  Just a guess!!!!

 Not quite done yet but soon.  Have some embellishing to do and don't know what else yet.

The title of the piece is "A Lifetime of Monograms, A Cinderella Story?"

The base of what it is really about (I think) is how different our lives turn out than what we expected....

I think too much....



 

Doll Clothes...it's almost Christmas!

Oh my....I was blessed with three sons, who have now blessed me with three grandaughters!  Sooooo, guess what I am making for Xmas?  American girl dollclothes are being produced as quickly as possible for a mailing deadline of December 17th.  I really thought I would not enjoy making things this small but it is actually fun.  Images of them dressing their dolls, and 'making believe', dance in my head and love is put into every stitch.  Christmas is such a wonderful time of year especially when little girls are all excited.  Love is a child....smiling grandma...

Tea Party stage III

I am in a panic as this piece is due Dec 9th!  I still have to square, bind, embellish, and work on the composition some more.  I am hating it at this point but that is typical of me.  Some space away from the piece and then I can assess it more objectively.  Right now, I feel it is way too busy which is something I do not like normally..  we shall see....

Army Brat

This the is quilt that was accepted into Houston's Festival Gallery of Art Quilts competition, Memories of My Childhood.  My quilt's title is "Army Brat" .  I grew up living  20 places in 16 years as a military dependant.   The first thing that came into my mind upon reading the theme of this competition was moving vans, displacement, and my father's recommendation that I bloom where I was planted (for the moment). This picture was taken by a friend that was fortunate enough to attend the show and kind enough to send me a picture of it hanging with the ribbon.  I used multiple techniques and like the piece because of the personal connection that I have to it.

Finishing UFO's

Finished up this Round Robin piece and a sampler swap quilt this week!  Felt good about that.  Am having three bathrooms remodeled and working on an art piece featured below.  Other than that haven't done a thing!  LOL  Talk at  you next time....

'Tea Party' in progress

I am working on the left side of my 'Tea Party' quilt (see start below).  Hopefully by tomorrow these items will look like they are in a cupboard. I want to put dancing legs on the cupboard but we will see, as these came out a little longer than expected!  This tea party is going to have floating, dancing, and magical things happening.

This is a project a bee I am, in started last year.  We all choose a theme and then each person made an 'art block' for every other person in the group.  Now, we all have to put our individual blocks together into a quilt that reflects us.  I am incorporating their blocks into my piece.  We are showing these quilts in three shows starting in January, so the 'pedal is to the metal'!  It is really challenging...so keep your fingers crossed for me.  Will keep you posted.

What Am I Doing?

I am trying to postpone working on this!!!!

It is going to be a 'tea party' with a grandma and three grandaughters.  I am sure you can tell (LOL).
I have been doing a lot of it in my head and I can assure you this is far from what it will look like when done.  So while I am 'head working', I have been doing squares for a boomswap which is fun, mindless design. Fortunately or unfortunately, I am almost done with the swap blocks and am now going to have to attacked this more complex project.  Why do I put people in my quilts? People are sooo much more difficult than say, turtles.  I am whining already....

ANOTHER LITTLE QUILT SWAP

Just finished my swap quilt for "Another Little Quilt Swap".  It is a swap that is organized by Kate North, a women from England and is truly international! In the last swap my quilt was received by Kate and I received a quilt from an artist in the Netherlands.  You can find the info on the swap by googling 'Another Little Quilt Swap'. I really enjoy participating in it and the way it is set up is awesome.  Check it out.

Promo done...onto my piece...

I am determine in the next 12 months to utilize the odd bits that I just can't seem to throw away into worthy keepable pieces.  The criteria for the swap this time is just that the piece must be 12"x12".  I had a silk painted face that I had done without any resist, just as a lark when the dyes were out, that was just about the right size. The face was somewhat irregular but something just kept me from throwing her away.  Lord knows I tried, but I just couldn't trash her.  So here she is reworked.  She looks a bit tired so I gave her a chair to rest on.  Hence the name of the piece is "Time to Rest"!

I won an award!

My Houston quilt "Army Brat" won 'honorable mention', so I am of course thrilled!  Still can not post a picture until after the show opens.  Happy dance, Happy dance.

I AM IN !!!!!!!

I recently found out that my piece I was working on for Houston, was accepted.  I am not allowed to post a photo until after the show opens.  Will do so then.  Yay, for me.  If you are able to go to the show, look for my piece, "Army Brat" in the Festival Gallery of Art Quilts section.  Am very pleased.  It was a challenge to say the least because of mechanical problems with my machines.  But I perservered and it was worth it.

Grandkids Turn

So, this is the time of year that I do the 'fall collection' for my grandaughters.  Three weeks later, I think they are going to be surprized and very, very, happy.  At least I hope so.  Of course, I had to make some matching outfits for their doll/babies.  All in all, it was a fun experience and now I will get back to other things.  They will soon be too 'old' for Grandma's clothes and I will miss getting to provide a reason for their smiles. 

checking in....

I have been working a 'bazillion' different things pertaining to round robins and swaps.  I also finally finished the competition piece I have been working on as it was due June 6th.  I am almost caught up except for 4 things I am obligated to do and then I get to pick and choose the next project I will work on.  Hopefully, I will then have more pictures to post.  So, being a picture person, today I am posting a picture of one side of my 'studio'.  It is halfway clean so I am willing to show it today.

Spring has sprung!

Haven't posted in a while but still working, working. Doing several group projects and swaps (isn't retirement grand :-) )...The yard is blooming and am trying to divide my day into sewing time and yard time. Still am working on the competition project but my machine is in the shop this week and I can't post pictures. So, I will post a couple of swap blocks I have done.. for your enjoyment of course! LOL

Create on.....life is about the journey

Hello 2012

Had a wonderful Christmas with all our family together and then took a well deserved break from everything. Now I am refocusing and defining what I need to do this coming year.

I spent the last several years trying to be commecially sucessful and I feel that I lost the 'art' part of what I do. So, having said that, this year I am going to work on thematic exploratory pieces. I have already found a themed competition that intrigues me. The two pictures are the first two steps of the piece. I wish that I could post pictures of the progress and process but the competition states that the quilt can not be published on the internet or shown at any other quilt show. So, after I am accepted or rejected I will post the final project.

At the moment I am just working on the background and the quilt will be quite different when it is done. I can tell you that the title of the piece will be "Hello-Goodbye".

So hello again to you and good-bye for now. di

Fantastic Show!

Southern Highland Guild Show is done and successful! What a fun (and tiring) event. Lots of people and energy. The artwork/crafts at the show were just amazing. Could not have done it without my hubby's help! He does all the stuff I don't like to do as in lighting and lifting.

Would of course change some things next year, absolutely need a rug on that bare concrete but all in all, the experience was a very positive one and didn't have to bring home too much inventory.

Above is the new owner of "Not your Mother's Housecoat". What a delightful lady and she looks fabulous in her new apparel!

Peace and Liberty

I am finishing up different projects for the show in Ashville, This is 'Peace and Liberty'. The main image reminds me for some reason of the Statue of Liberty and the doves of course are a universal symbol for peace. I am now satisfied with this art quilt and hope that it speaks to someone at the show.

Runaway Chairs

This is a little quilt I made for "Another Little Quilt Swap" online. It's title is "Runaway Chairs" and it is only 19.5x20.5 inches. It is done with a raw edge applique technique out of thin strips of leftover fabric.

I thought it came out rather cute and am anxious to see the quilt that I will receive for it in the trade. It is so much fun to swap and this swap is very international. So who knows where it will end up? It will be fun to find out.

There is less than two weeks until the Southern Highland Guild Show, so most of my energies are presently directed at that. After the show, I will be able to do more artsy work and life will be grand. If you by chance come to the show be sure to stop and say 'hey'.

Christmas is coming!

Still sewing on some of the baubles...but I am almost there! My goal was to make a fall quilt and a Christmas quilt. Welllll, here's the Christmas one!

Hot off the Press..."Giving Praise"

Well, this art quilt is done and it's title is "Giving Praise". For some inane reason when I get an image in my mind it seemes to always include these little arm uplifted figures. I seem to have a need to 'praise' in my artwork. So, one must go with the flow and here is the latest wall hanging. I am happy with the intensity of the colors and the outcome. The rings around the orb are chenille, so that adds a tactile quality to my piece and there are little gold dots emitting from the hands of the ladies. They represent 'joy'. If you didn't know what joy looks like, you do now!

I really am working....

I haven't just been playing! My goal was to make 500' scrappie star' ornaments for fall shows. Well, that goal has realistically been modified to 250 and I am almost done except for putting on the hanging ribbons.

The starz were an interesting project in that I promised myself I would spend no extra money on the making of them. I took all my scraps and sewed them together into long strips of ribboned fabric. However, I ran out of material too soon. So then, I recruited scraps from fellow quilters, and batting, and buttons. What a great group of friends. I told three people I needed buttons, lo and behold, I was gifted with over 10,ooo shirt buttons. I was afraid after that to tell anyone else I needed anything!

Every star is different and somewhat funky. I must confess that if I see another scrap anytime soon, I will run in fright. Now back to purses.....

Just for fun!

Am participating in a 'Holiday" block swap. I have done 6 Christmas, and one Halloween so far. Three more Halloween to go and one 'patriotic' block. Then I am done with crazyness and back to work.

Its a nice break from the regular stuff.

MULTI TASKING!

My world!

Sitting at my computer, looking at the projects I am working on and decided to take a pix! This is my design wall and is always busy! After I finish the piece in the middle, I am going to be making more fabric (out of fabric), and trying some large purses. I make small ones out of the coat fabric scraps but have had several requests for large purses. So am going to try the market with large purses. Also, need to make more vests and coats, so me and my production team (Marlys) are kept busy. Just a peek into my world for you. I would show you the rest of the studio but you would take up a collection to get me a maid.....d

One of Three

One of the new vests that has just 'come off the press'...these are made so that you can easily slip them over a sweater. Do not have readily available the photos of the other two...but of course, each is unique. Am sort of getting into the 'dove' image...must be because of the political issues that the world is facing. I suspect you will see more doves. In these photos for some reason, the photo bleached the colors out a little. The colors are magnificent! Just sharing, haven't posted for some time. I am here, I am working, and that is the sum of it. Blessings!

New Coat Done

This coat has been a long time in the making. The cloth was half finished before I had to leave for 6 weeks. I returned and finished up the second panel and sent it to Marlys, who sews the fabric into beautiful garments.

I think you have to admint that this coat came out beautifully and hopefully it will fit its new owner with no problems.

Those of you who have known me a long time will recognize my little ladies of my painting days, rejoicing as always.

As a side note, my coats and purses can now be purchased at the Arrowcraft store in Gatlinburg.

Life is good!