Ideas to chew on...

I've been thinking that my blog needs more meaty thoughts about creating. I think it would be good for me to write a bit more about my process, my struggles and my moments of delight or success. And maybe good for you too? So, what I've been "chewing" on lately...

Last night I spent some time in the studio working on two pieces: my 12x12 gray piece and another piece that I've been slowly puttering with for over a year. I spent a bunch of time just standing and staring at them. There was a line in the most recent SAQA journal about the actual process of creating art being the very hardest part of the job of being an artist. The marketing, administrative stuff and documentation tasks of an artist are all comparatively easy. I hadn't really thought of it that way. But, it is so true. Creating an art quilt that meets the vision I have in my mind, says what I want it to say, feels how I want it to feel, and is created with appropriate and successfully mastered techniques is hard. That doesn't mean the work is unpleasant, obviously. I actually enjoy it... usually. So, I'm embracing the fact that it is a challenge and walking into that willingly.Last night, I spent a lot of time pondering ways to incorporate free motion stitching into my compositions. More and more, I think of my work as a collage.

Collage:

a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another, as newspaper clippings, parts of photographs, theater tickets, and fragments of an envelope.

an assemblage or occurrence of diverse elements or fragments in unlikely or unexpected juxtaposition

(I think that's a rather inspiring definition!)

I have a regular selection of images, techniques and materials that I include in my fiber collages: hand stitching, sheer fabrics, recycled fabrics, surface design, embellishments and free motion stitching. But, I haven't used much free motion stitching lately and I really want it to re-emerge in my work because it is so integral to the idea that I am creating an art quilt and not just a collage of stuff glued on a single surface.

Yes, I've been using the stitched arch at the top of several of my pieces lately. But, it's not even free motion stitched -- I'm using a regular foot for those lines.I don't want to use all over free motion quilting, rather I want to create a block of stitching that is part of the composition creating an additional shape and layer that relate to the other elements in the collage. I've done this effectively with simple stacks of straight lines, as in the purple lines in my 12x12 Passion piece.

But, I'm tired of the blocks of parallel lines. I want to find new collections of lines and motifs that can say something a little different.

Obviously, I need to pull out the sketch book and just doodle. Standing around staring at the needle and thread is not going to open up any options or ideas. I have to do the work. The hard work.

Sacred Threads Artist Night

I had such a delightful time at the Sacred Threads Opening and Artists Reception. I was greeted by Donna Desoto and Lisa Ellis.

Donna bought my quilt Encrusted Cairn many years ago. We have never met in person, but she follows my blog and greeted me right away! It was delightful to make a real life connection and to thank her personally for her early support of my art. Lisa Ellis (along with Christine Adams) organized the Sacred Threads show in its first year here in the DC area. Her passion, dedication, and hard work are unmatched. I was so happy to meet her.

The exhibit was breath taking and inspiring on many many levels. I did not have the time or the mental capacity to take it all in. Unlike most quilt shows and art exhibits, the pieces in this collection are specifically related to various spiritual themes. The artist statements that accompany each piece are an integral part of the experience.

Here I am with Refuge Radiant.
Aside from the stunning art and the moving messages behind it, I was delighted to see many friends and meet lots of artists!

Sue Walen is a local artist. She and I are members of several of the same groups.
Alice Magorian and Glenda Richardson are local SAQA members.
I did take some photos of quilts, but I am so eager to get the CD catalog of the show. It will be wonderful to re-view each of the quilts and be able to read each artist statement without the distraction of the excitement of the show opening. Of course, there is no substitute for seeing fiber art in person, so I'll have that memory to go with the images on the CD.

The CD will be available on the Sacred Threads website after the show closes. It would certainly be a worthwhile addition to any library. The quality, depth and variety of the work is quite notable.

I will share just these two pictures of a particular impressive part of the exhibit. It was called Walking in Love and is a fiber art and mixed media installation that you could actually walk through.

A brief introduction sign and guest book...

And just an idea of the scope and power of the piece. It's a spiral of hanging banners. Can you see the person in the center of the spiral?Read more about Lisa Brey's amazing project on the Walking in Love blog. I thought is was especially exciting to see a true installation piece included in the exhibit. Wow! Just imagine what can be done with art quilts!

Then we enjoyed a fantastic dinner. That's Sue Reno on the left.
I've followed Sue's blog and art work for years and it was so fun to meet in person. Sue was one of the juror's of the exhibit and it was fascinating to talk with her about that experience and about other arty things happening in her life.

Then I got to connect with more artists. Here are Vivien Zeph and Benedicte Caneill!
They are friends of friends... and now friends of mine. I'll be seeing them again in July when I meet up with some other artists in NY.

There is something quite powerful about making connections with people who share a passion for creating and for honoring and celebrating our ideas through art.

Of course, if you're in the area...

Sacred Threads

June 22, 2011 - July 4, 2011

Church of the Epiphany, 3301 Hidden Meadow Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20171

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays: 10am - 5pm

Thursdays: 10am - 8pm

Sundays: 1pm - 4pm

Special Hours on July 4: 1pm - 4pm

Frayed Edges Show

I'm packing up my quilts today!

art quilts inspired by the theme
"Letters"

Camden Public Library, Jean Picker Room
Camden, Maine
July 1 to 31, 2011
Artists Reception July 9 from 2 to 4 pm

The show will include work by the art quilt group The Frayed Edges made up of Sarah Ann Smith, Kate Cutko, Kathy Daniels and Deborah Boschert.

The piece pictured is Green House Mantra. It is part of a collection of four triptychs premiering at the Camden Library show.

Kristofer's Quilt

Several months ago I pieced this quilt for my new baby nephew. Then a few months later I finally quilted it. Then I eventually gave it to Kristofer (and his mom and dad) when we visited them at Easter. They requested blue and brown -- and it was a palette I really enjoyed.


In the bottom right panel I stitched his name. Can you see it in the picture above?

I haven't done any machine piecing in a long time. I improvised this "pattern," and it didn't come together as easily as I would have expected.

We all think Kristofer is just the cutest thing ever. He's not a chubby faced Gerber baby, he has his own super cute baby look.
I really enjoyed picking out the fabrics. I think it's a fun mix of patterns and tones.

I loved this scribbly fabric for the back and I tried to make it a bit more interesting with that pieced bar. Very modern, right?

Sacred Threads

My quilt, Refuge Radiant, is part of the upcoming Sacred Threads art quilt exhibit.


Sacred Threads is an exhibition of quilts exploring themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing.

Sacred Threads
June 22, 2011 - July 4, 2011

Church of the Epiphany
3301 Hidden Meadow Drive, Herndon, VA
Artists Reception: Saturday June 25 from 2 to 5 pm.

Check the Sacred Threads website for details.

I am especially thrilled to attend the artists reception. It's going to be so great to see all the art, meet other artists and revel in the beauty of expressing these themes and ideas in art quilts.

If you're going to be at the reception, please come say "hi!" I'm eager to meet you!

If you've got a quilt at the exhibit, but you won't be there, I'd be happy to take a photo for you. Just let me know.

Green House Mantra

I am so happy to share this piece with you!

Green House Mantra

triptych: 12x12", 36x26", 12x12"

(Click any of these images for a larger view.) I created this triptych as part of the Frayed Edges show at the Camden Public Library this summer. The Frayed Edges is my small art quilt group (and wonderful friends) that began when I lived in Maine. The theme of our show is "Letters." As a special part of the exhibit, we decided to create triptychs on the theme. Each of the triptychs will include a 12x12" quilt on the sides and a 36" wide central piece. The central pieces can be any height. Mine is 26" tall. There are just four of us in this exhibit. I can't wait to see all the triptychs hanging together.

Yes! I am going to Maine for the opening of the show!

When I began this quilt, I knew I wanted to further explore the landscape/house/shrine motifs I've been working on lately. I am loving strong bands of horizontal fabrics as the background and I thought it would be interesting to carry those bands across the three pieces.

Here is the center piece.
A close up of the house collage including a sheer envelope and just the suggestion of a letter inside.
The collage of fabrics and shapes leading up to the house might represent a porch or doorstep. There could be packages waiting or a message whispered through the windows.
Here is the left side piece. It was a challenge to get everything lined up and make sure that the side pieces would hang on the center line of the triptych, but still match up with the central composition. (Did that make sense? Anyway... lots of measuring.)

To further explore the theme, I thought about letters, words, stories, voices and ideas in books. Tiny books are nestled in the leaves of the tall plants on the side pieces of the triptych. It’s as if the leaves are unfurling a message of growth.


To create these "pages," I fused bits of text from pages of magazines to a very thin off white fabric. You can see the letters through the fabric, but the overlay obscures them enough to make them blend with the leaf shape. Each leaf has a stack of three pages that I stitched down the middle.

I've used many of my favorite images, motifs and techniques in this piece. The sloppy paint stamped circles, the hand stitched wildflowers, the tall stalky plants, the variety of fabrics and unexpected materials, handwriting as a graphic element and the machine stitched arched embracing the whole composition. I love repeating these elements in my work and I love the meditative process of creating them. It's like a mantra.

After finishing the final details and taking the photographs, I actually hung Green House Mantra in our entryway.

FDR

A couple of weeks ago, Claire had a soccer game outside of DC. We decided to swing through the national mall area on our way home. It was too late to go to a museum, so we walked through the FDR memorial.

Eleanor's green shoes.
Benjamin and Claire did some climbing...


It was a beautiful day.
We're still facing the same challenges...



Mini monument? Or giant Benjamin?

The visit really did give me a lot to *think* about.

Spice Reveal!

Today is the reveal of the latest 12x12 Colorplay Challenge: Spice.

Mine is titled Savory Scatter.

You can read more about it on the 12x12 blog. And of course see the eleven other spice quilts!
I was especially delighted to use that tiny bit of embossed metal. I made it in a Dallas Area Fiber Artists workshop in 2009. Check out this blog post where you can see the same bit of metal. Blog history comes full circle!