Busy Road

I'm working on a big quilt for an invitational juried exhibit. The theme is "the space between."

When the theme was first introduced, we were just moving into our new home. We have a lovely back yard full of animals and trees. Behind the trees and the fence is a busy road. It's a "take the good with the bad" situation. I love the yard, but the noise from the traffic is a bit disturbing.

I actually had a dream about working on this quilt. In my dream, I was focusing on "the space between" our house and busy road. Isn't that a surprising and interesting interpretation?! The subconscious dream state is full of potential, I guess. I couldn't ignore the dream, so I started taking some pictures.

Here's a bit of my inspiration. This is the gate in our side yard.

Here is a detail of my in-progress quilt.
I made tons of sketches.
Page after page. Looking at these pictures, it seems like I just kept drawing the same thing over and over, but I think I really was working out some composition challenges.
I think it's really important that the base composition is balanced. Then I can add all kinds of detail and frippery on top.
I'm at the point where I'm adding lots of hand embroidery. I did tons of stitching while watching the Oscars last night. I'm so thankful I had that as a distraction from the incredibly dull broadcast. Also very thankful for the fast forward button on the dvr.

Check Out In Stitches

I am so excited about the new issue of Quilting Arts In Stitches emag! I'm thrilled to be a contributor... but really the emag is packed with amazing stuff.

You will not find this magazine at book stores or Michaels or Joanns. It's only available as a download from Interweave, the publishers of Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors (so you know it's fabulous!).

Why do you have to download it?!

Because it is so much more than a magazine. It is full of tons of interactive goodies including slide shows, pop-up bits of info about supplies and special hints, and video demos, interviews and studio tours. (Even the images of the fiber necklaces swing about when you hover over them with your mouse. How fun is that?!)

Honestly, I've never seen anything like it. It's like a perfect combination of magazine, tv show and live presentation.

Just a few of the things I love in the current issue:

• Profile of art quilter Marianne Burr including many beautiful pictures of her work and studio.
• Lyric Kinard's discussion of resolving design problems using stitching and paint.
• Judith Trager insightful live interview about her amazing in-progress triptych.
• Even the bios for each contributor are full of wonderful info about their stitching techniques, inspiration and favorite fiber artists. There is so much personality in the bios -- way more than you get on the contributors page in a regular magazine.

Plus, there's my article about creating sheer silhouettes like this one.

The article includes images of several more small fiber collages that I created with this technique.

Ok, let's be honest. It's pricey. The download costs $14.97. That seems like a lot for a "magazine." But, really it's so much more than a magazine. It's like a taste of visiting a gallery, taking a workshop, planning a new project and chatting with other artists -- all in on. Plus, you are supporting artists and art quilting by purchasing In Stitches. I think it's important to encourage the enthusiasm, support and innovation bubbling up in our world of fiber art. In Stitches is taking it to the next level!

Check out the full list of the contents plus lots of helpful Q&A about exactly what you get with the In Stitches download here.

Hold off on a couple of trips to Starbucks or a yard or two of fabric and treat yourself to this cool new publication! I'm guessing it will be as stimulating as a double shot espresso and as inspiring as the latest fabric designs!

The Book!

I am absolutely giddy with excitement!
My contributor copies arrived last week. I gasped and screamed at the UPS man when I saw the label on the side of the box.
Sterling Publishing includes Lark Books. I snapped this photo with the Photobooth app on my computer and posted it on Facebook. I was the first of the twelve to receive the books. (The warehouse is in NJ and I'm here in MD, so I'm closest.)

I really did tear up a bit when I first got my hands on the book. It's been such an amazing project in many many ways.
Each of the twelves wrote a chapter about one of the challenges from our theme series. Each chapter includes a big, beautiful picture of the author's quilt from that theme. I'm the author of the chapter about the "twelve" theme.
We didn't necessarily write about the themes that we originally chose. (You might remember that I picked the "chairs" theme.) So, this really mixes it up and offers insight into new aspects of the experience.

Hey look, there I am!
The other 11 quilts from each theme are pictured throughout each chapter along with an artist's statement. You see Gerrie and Helen's quilts from the "twelve" theme on the bottom of this spread.

I've created a little mini-book or zine inspired by my experience with the 12x12 project.
It was fun to put together some thought and fold, stamp, color and stitch up some tiny books. The book is for sale in my Etsy shop and I'll include one of these little books with every order. Just a tiny little thank you gift for directly supporting the artist.

I hope you've been reading the Lark blog and enjoying their Twelve Days of Twelves. Even after creating art with these artists for more than four years and writing a book together, I'm still learning new things about them in these posts. Fun!

I'm Featured!

Lark Books has a great blog with all kinds of arty and crafty stuff about books, author interviews and give-aways! They are doing "twelve days of twelve" leading up to the release date of our book! I'm the featured art quilter today. Check it out!

(I even made a confession about changing one of my quilts after the reveal day! Don't miss seeing the before and after pictures!)

Here's another picture I submitted to be considered for the post on Lark's blog. I've been quite inspired by the bare branches in my backyard.

Check the sidebar on Lark's blog to read the Q&As from the other twelves. They are such inspiring women! I am honored to have my name on the cover of the book along with them.

Active Chaos?

I took a workshop with Lisa Engelbrecht years ago. One thing that stuck with me was her comments on "active chaos" versus "passive chaos." If you're working and creating and generating ideas, then the mess is ok. Right?
You might see...

• beads and jewelry bits because I am always drawn to the idea of creating mixed media necklaces. Pliers for that same purpose.
  
• a small pad of tracing paper, which reminds me that I need to shop for some larger tracing paper.
• a bit of my brown/sage/blue 12x12 piece in-progress.
• a bag of left over Valentines that needs to be stashed for next year.
• and empty box of Godiva chocolates because I like to use those boxes to store little beads and other goodies.
• a bit of purple ribbed-knit leftover from the circle skirt that I made for Claire. It has a yoga-style waist band.
• various bits of tulle, organza and chiffon because I am obsessed with sheer layers.
• my Christmas coffee cup that I painted for the Frayed Edges years ago. I use it year round because it reminds me of them.
  
• my iPhone on which I have been listening to The Story.

The mess is probably ok for another day or so. Then, I will need to get it under control.

Smalls

When we moved to Maryland, Diane Doran hooked me up with an amazing group of fiber artists. MetroThreads meets monthly -- and they have no membership requirements, no board, no rules or expectations. How nice is that?! I've been a few times and I've been totally impressed by the work, the enthusiasm and the community spirit.

After seeing the SAQA trunk show last year, MetroThreads decided to coordinate a similar exhibit. Members all created small art quilts that will be displayed behind mats with a 7.5" square opening and slide into a plastic sleeves.

Here are my contributions.

Abode Abundant

Of course, this is very similar to my recent 12x12 quilt. I didn't add the "swarm" of green cross stitches. Maybe I should?

Purple Construction with Lotus

They were really fun to make. Plus, I didn't have to actually put a back on the quilts or finish the edges since they will be covered by the mat. Bonus!

Hearts

Look! I made a little heart garland to decorate for Valentine's Day.
It's a bit subtle. But the kids liked it and I am totally not into gaudy glittery decorations.

I think it turned out really sweet. And it was super easy. I used pages from a magazine Jeff brought back from Korea.

I was inspired by the garlands in Bookity's Etsy shop.I didn't really follow a pattern or a tutorial or anything. I just kinda figured it out. All I used were the magazine pages, a paper cutter and a stapler. So easy! Well, plus a hole punch the ribbon for hanging.

Hope your home is filled with a bit of subtle whimsy and love this February -- and always!