Texas Museum of Fiber Arts

The kids and I had a fantastic trip to Austin over Memorial Day Weekend. My quilt, Construction: Concrete and Stone, was a part of "Deep in the Art of Texas" a fiber art exhibit at the capitol building sponsored by the Texas Museum of Fiber Arts. That was the main reason we went, but the weekend was full of other delights including lots of fun times with my college friend, Andrea, and her family.

Apparently the Texas state capitol building is larger than the capitol building in Washington, D.C. Hmmm.

It was a wonderful exhibit. Tons of variety. Artists from all over the state. An inspiring collection! (This is the same quilt that was juried into Tactile Architecture. Yeah!)

While I looked at the art, the kids played hide and seek in an outdoor rotunda.

 

They did come in to see my quilt. Can you see how hot and sweaty they look?

We cooled off and enjoyed playing with all kinds of fibers at a table set up for kids (and grown ups too).

I hope lots of people found their way through the maze that is the capitol to see the art. It was in this long hallway.

  

The coordinators actually had to take the show down at the end of the day and put it back up in the morning for the three days of the show. Carol Ikard, the museum director did an excellent job!

I loved Ruthie Powers' piece of complex cloth called Dancing Around the Circle.

I also adored Linda Lewis' piece called Contestant.

I would love to hear about how she created those letters and the sheer quality of the piece.

Here is Ivy Jensen's piece called Santa Fe Sunset. It's luminous!

Here is my friend Linda Thiemann and Barbara Lugge. Linda's created the orange piece on the right, River of Life. It's a masterpiece of three dimensional felting and beading.

 

I missed taking a picture of Barbara's stunning embroidery, but you can see it on her website, here.

I wish I would have taken more pictures... there were lots of pieces that were really wonderful.

I was intrigued by this piece by Karen Smith, Peggy Sexton and Cathy Neiman. It's called Twist and Turn. The card says "Surface design. Dying techniques applied to paper, exhibited by twisted and turned wire with cartoons drawn of paper."

 

I believe you could call this an artists book! (See my previous post for my newest obsession.) I wasn't sure if I could touch it or not... so I can't tell you anything about those cartoons, but I was examined it closely from every angle.

We ended the weekend with a stop at Dairy Queen on the drive back home. Really, can you beat a Snickers Blizzard? Yum.

Book Arts

I have been so intrigued with book arts lately. Also known as Artists Books. Or Artist's Books. Or even Artists' Books. (Apostrophe Controversy.) I've even been drawn away from fabric in my explorations. (Horrors!) I'm not sure where it all started, but I did order this book from Amazon.

It's quite good. Very basic, but creative and rather edgy. I learned lots of basics from the book including using alligator clips to hold signatures together while you bind them. And to use a piece of scrap paper to protect the signature from the clip so it doesn't dent or scratch the pages.

I can hardly wait for this book to come out. It's totally on my wish list.

I had a wonderful creating day with some other fiber artists a couple of weeks ago. Flo had an amazing stash of paper samples and other goodies. We all made books!

 

Here is a simple little "journal" I made. I cut pieces from a sample catalog, bound them, then added some cream paper squares and rectangles onto several pages. The pages are full of beautiful images, cut-outs and interesting edges, so the cream paper provides a space to actually write thoughts.

Then I made an accordion book from one page printed with interesting bugs and animals. I followed directions from the book to make several cuts and folds and turn the one page into a long strip. I added "covers" cut from paint chips. 

Still obsessed with books... when we were at the Center for Creative Connections at the Dallas Museum of Arts, I made another accordion book at the open studio table.

  

I used various sizes of cardboard for the pages. I connected them with orange masking tape. Then I decided to edge the whole thing with the orange masking tape. There were no scissors at the table, so that encouraged some creative problem solving.

Then I used green masking tape to add an element to each "page."

The kids helped me add a verb to each page. Something that you might "do" with the element on the page. Tie with a string. Fly with a feather. Connect with a twist tie. Write with a pencil.

Find with a piece of a map.

Attach with rubber bands (and stretch with rubber bands on the other side of the page). Feel with a piece of velvet. Wrap with a piece of plastic.

Totally fun project to just sit and build. There is something freeing about using only the materials you have in front of you and having so pressure for the results.

But wait... there are still more books. At the last meeting of the Dallas Area Fiber Artists, Deanna Woods did a program about artists books and taught a mini-workshop. We made blank accordion books.

She taught us some excellent techniques using real book making materials. Very clean and straight and smooth. These are not generally terms used to describe my artwork. So it was a good exercise for me.

I also discovered an excellent entry in Wikipedia about books arts, which lead me to an amazing e-journal called The Bonefolder all about book arts. (I even bought a bone folder recently, since apparently this book interest isn't fading.) The Bonefolder is a free download! Check it out.

I've got more book ideas and projects brewing...

Claire's Recital

Claire had her first piano recital last weekend. It was just delightful. Grpa T and Grma M came all the way from Illinois to attend. So sorry Jeff missed it. Of course, he's been hearing the piece at home for weeks and weeks. We feel so lucky to have found a really excellent teacher. She is firm, but encouraging. Kind, funny, talented and efficient. She also takes time to really get to know Claire and the things that are important to her.

The piece is "One Little Brave Toy Soldier."

Dallas Museum of Art

The kids and I had so much fun at the new Center for Creative Connections at the Dallas Museum of Art. It was our Mother's Day outing.

We went out to lunch after church. First we tried La Madeline, but the line was winding out the door, so we left. We decided to give Panera a shot. We've tried to go to Panera for lunch after church in the past and they refused to serve their full menu until noon. The Panera is located in a mall, so I suppose that had something to do with it. But still. Dumb.

Thankfully, they now have breakfast type stuff on their menu and were ready to feed us. We had scrambled egg sandwiches and a chocolate croissant. Yum. Claire and I agreed that they must be trying to compete with Corner Bakery. (Also yum.)

Then we headed south for the museum. The new Center for Creative Connections just opened. It used to be their "kids" section. Now it's just a creative, amazing, interactive wing for all ages.

The exhibit in the gallery in this wing was called "Materials and Meanings" and focused on why artists choose to use particular materials. Here are Claire and Benjamin studying a piece made of velvet.

Another notable piece was two molded self portrait busts, one in chocolate and one in soap. A bit odd, but certainly good for discussion. And for smelling!

There was a wonderful open studio area right in the midst of the gallery. Endless tape, cardboard, raffia, pipe cleaners, pencils, scrap material, shells, etc etc etc. They had a big wheel you could spin to help give you ideas about what to make. Why didn't I take a picture of that? I guess I was too busy making stuff.

There were boxes for building.

 

A whole counter with various textures on the surface on which to create rubbings.

And then we discovered another open studio area! This was a separate room that is only open on weekends. More supplies! Felt, wire, screen, modeling clay, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, markers, pom poms, hot glue, tape in many colors, yarn, etc. There was a museum staff person and a volunteer who welcomed every single person who entered. The idea was to create an imaginary creature based on the velvet "thing" in the earlier picture. But, they encouraged you to go your own way as desired.

I didn't take too many pictures. We were just creating and hanging out. Benjamin and Claire are very creative in very different ways. It was wonderful.

Can you read the sign? Take a stool and spend some time. Well, of course.

Tomorrow!

Hey, I'm speaking at the Denton Quilt Guild tomorrow, Thursday, May 15! I'm doing my program titled "From Start to Art: 76 Ways to Jump Start Your Creativity!" I'll be sharing tons of quilts that show my development as a fiber artist and relating tips and ideas for others to take into their own studios.

I've got my quilts all packed up and lots of other goodies too!

There is my handout for the evening, plus my Small Art Quilts: Designing a Series book and my 5 Artists: 5 Views collection. I made some more Interactive Journal kits and I have a few copies of the new Creative Quilting with Beads book. If you're in the area, I hope you'll come! Please come and say "hi" and tell me you read about it on my blog.

Denton Quilt Guild

Thursday, May 15 at 7 pm

Denton Visual Arts Center

400 E Hickory, Denton

 

I know it's super short notice. I could really be doing a much much better job of "marketing" myself. I have plans in the works for a super fantastic e-newsletter full of ideas, news and creative spirit. I'd like to have a regular e-newsletter and a local e-newsletter. In the local version, I'd be able to get in touch with all you North Texas people about events that are happening right here in our own backyard. (We'll, not really our back yard... but if you'd like to come over for some burgers on the grill, I'd be happy to see you!)

If you're interested, please send me an email. Let me know if you want the regular e-newsletter, the local e-newsletter or both.

Sign up for Deborah's Newsletter!

Hope to see you in Denton tomorrow!

Springy!

As usual, every Spring I get itchy to make clothes. Sometimes I am able to resist the urge. Sometimes not. Last spring I made a cute simple skirt out of some fabulous fabric. We won't talk about the times I've cut into a pattern and ended in complete failure.

I really wanted some new blouses this year. Something unique and flattering. Nothing which could possibly construed as maternity -- which is so "in" right now. Ug. I shopped a bit at Anthropologie and found lots of really arty pieces and I even considered the spendy prices, but nothing was just right.

I skimmed the pattern books at Joann's when McCalls were on sale for 99 cents and picked out this one.

I knew I wanted try a patchwork look by mixing some fabrics. I found several lines I liked on ReproDepot and settled on this line called ZaZa! So here is the finished blouse.

My mom helped me with every step along the way. She and my dad were visiting last week. We did lots of fun stuff including getting this shirt made. I don't like to follow a pattern, so it was very helpful for her to keep me on task. Thanks Mom.

We played with the sleeves a bit. The pattern has a sleeveless option and another option with 3/4 length sleeves. I didn't like either. But I did like this shirt I found online at Nordstroms.

It was easy enough to replicate that cute cap sleeve. I think I like the neckline better in the Nordstrom blouse. The band on my blouse actually sits up on my neck. Very Asian. I like the deeper V in the white blouse. But plain white? How boring!

I'm not sure if Benjamin liked the blouse or not. But he wanted to join in the photo shoot.

So excited!

I am so thrilled to announce that my quilt, "Construction: Concrete and Stone" was accepted into Tactile Architecture 2008: Modern Art Quilts with Architectural Themes.

Tactile Architecture is an annual juried show that debuts as a special exhibit at Quilt Festival in Houston. I'm not sure how many years it's been going on, but I was so inspired and impressed by the exhibit in 2007 and 2006 when I was in Houston.

The quilt was also accepted in a show that will be in the Texas state capitol building over Memorial Day weekend. It's called Fiber Art: Deep in the Art of Texas. I packaged it up today and a friend is driving it down to Austin.

The Tactile Architecture show will travel to other IQA shows through 2008 and 2009. Maybe you'll have an opportunity to see it.

I am so thankful for my fiber friends here in Texas and the Frayed Edges and many many blogging friends. The inspiration, enthusiasm, support, encouragement and camaraderie from all of them is a big part of making these exciting opportunities a reality. So, thank YOU!

Pretty Pillow

Remember those composition exercises I did in the Katie Pasquini-Masopust workshop a couple of weeks ago? I actually "finished" a little piece. Here is the new pillow on the bed in the guest room.

Just in time for my parents, who are visiting this week! Nothing too fancy, but a nice little addition.

Katie had tons of pre-fused fabric for the workshops -- which was wonderful for efficient work!

She used Heat and Bond. Now I remember why I prefer Wonder Under. Of course, these projects were meant to be just exercises. In fact, most students fused them to paper. I fused them to parchment paper, because I just hate the idea of "wasting" potential art by fusing it to paper. Since my little compositions were fused to parchment, I was able to just peel this design off the parchment and fuse it to some batting. I added a bit of quilting and then sewed it to the pillow fabric.

I didn't have quite enough extra fabric around the composition to turn under the edges. I think it would have looked better with a cleaner edge. Oh well. I'm also not complete confident that all the teeny tiny pieces will hold with the Heat and Bond.

But, I like the blues. I like the very simple, serene composition. I like the piping I added to the edge. (Not my favorite tedious sewing process.) And I like that it's done!