Sarah's Amazing New DVD Workshop!

I'm so honored to join in a blog hop celebrating the release of my friend Sarah Ann Smith's new workshop dvd. I'm especially excited to offer a give-away of the fabulous dvd. Keep reading.

I had the pleasure of viewing the dvd and I want you to look at this picture.

See all that stuff on Sarah's work table? She does an absolutely incredible job of talking about every single item you see on the table. She offers tips, ideas, options, expertise and inspiration about how to use all these tools and supplies. 

You will not believe what she does with that iron!

But, in addition to all the tips and unexpected bonus info, Sarah also walks through a beautiful project that you could recreate with your own photograph, fabric and thread work. (It's the quilt on the cover of the dvd.)

Whether you're new to art quilting, or you've been creating for years, I promise you will learn something new that will open new doors for you in your studio.

Quick, quick! Go download it. Or check out Sarah's sales page.

Leave a comment here on my blog by Thursday, September 26 for a chance to win a copy of the dvd.

Lots more giveaways, reviews and info from all the other artists participating in Sarah's blog hop. Check them out too! There are even more prizes and giveaways on Sarah's blog.

September 19:    Jamie Fingal      http://jamiefingaldesigns.blogspot.com/
September 21:    Deborah Boschert    http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/
September 24:    Vicki Welsh    http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/
September 26:    Leslie Jenison  http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/
September 28:    Terry Grant   http://andsewitgoes.blogspot.com/
October 1:          Gloria Hansen    http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/
October 3:          Diane Perin Hock    http://goingtopieces.blogspot.com/

November 14:     Marie Johansen   http://www.musingcrowdesigns.com/
November 16:     Brenda Gael Smith   http://serendipitypatchwork.com.au/blog/
November  19:    Jaye Lapachet    http://artquiltmaker.com/blog/
November 21:     Susan Brubaker Knapp   http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/
November 23:     Lisa Walton    http://www.fibreinspirations.blogspot.com/
November 26:     Daphne Greig   http://daphnegreig.blogspot.com/

Blue Chair Details

When I was working on my Blue Chair Mantra piece, I sent in-progress images to a few friends for their suggestions. My friend Sarah suggested that the transitions between the different fabrics I used on the chair were too abrupt.

This made me think about why I created the chair with different fabrics in the first place. I wanted the chair to be "blue" but I didn't want it to be too flat or dull. I thought an interesting solution would be to combine a few different fabrics -- including both fabric with some personal surface design (the circles) and a commercial print. I tried to choose blues that were all very close so the chair would still appear as one shape. I didn't want the different fabrics to follow the lines of the parts of the chair because I like to walk a line between realistic and hodge-podge.

On the left is the image I shared with Sarah where she commented on the choppy feel of the fabrics. I knew that I would be adding lots of hand stitching that could help the transitions blend a bit, but I kept Sarah's comment in the back of my mind.

On the right is the same area of the quilt from my finished
images. First, the photography is way better. The in progress picture above was snapped in my studio without any concern about lighting. But you get the idea.

I hand stitched an outline on several of the blue circles in an orangy color (to tie in the orangy mountain horizon). In some spots I continued a circle from the printed fabric onto the adjacent fabric. This was a big key in smoothing those transitions.

I also added a bit of paint to the area that would be the front part of the seat where the printed circle fabric meets the commercial print. Do you see how there is a darker blue section right at the transition point? I gently sponged some white paint over that area, then stitched that orange circle. Much better, right?

I think it's quite interesting to think back over the many many many small and large design decisions that must be made as I'm working on an art quilt. Some come easily and some take much more consideration.

Little Houses

Just one last holiday project that I haven't yet shared...

I made several of these sweet little white felt houses embroidered with trees and wreathes.

I sent one to each of the Frayed Edges... Sarah, Kate and Kathy. My dear Maine friends who still support and inspire me in so many ways.

Several went to family members. I did keep one for myself, but it's not stitched up yet... just cut out and embroidered.

Each house also has a little battery operated tea light.

Aren't they fun and a bit magical?

I actually was inspired by an image on Pinterest!

Maine Landscapes

I'm getting ready to work on a new small art quilt --- a landscape, I think. I'm taking inspiration from these images from my trip to Maine.
Remember the green bridge?
This is a path at Sarah's new home.
I love Maine's coastline!
This may be my favorite... with the grasses in the foreground.
No, wait. Maybe this is my favorite (though it's more about he sky and the sunset than the landscape).
Another angle of the green bridge.

More Maine

So many lovely moments during my stay in Maine...

Indigo dying on Sarah's lawn.
Taco lunch with Kate and her kids.
Delicious paninis at Sarah's home.
A visit to the amazing Beattie Chicks Makery!

A nice reminder on a park bench.

Excellent art quilt exhibit at Maine Fiberarts including works by Elizabeth Busch, Susan Carlson, Mary Allen Chaisson and Stephanie Green Levy.
Walking on the beach.
So impressed by Hannah's inspirational energy at Beattie Chick's Girls Art Camp.
A few more travelog pictures later this week.

Frayed Edges Show!

The primary reason for my visit to Maine was to attend the opening of the Frayed Edges show at the Camden Library. And of course... to see my friends!

It was a great day. Here's Kate, me, Kathy and Sarah in the gallery.
My long landscape quilt, Over and Beyond, was perfectly placed over the display case that held smaller pieces.


Table decor with flowers from Sarah's garden. So lovely.
We decided to create an original collection of quilts especially for this event. We each made a triptych art quilt based on the theme "Letters."
This picture is a little dark, but you can see all four triptychs and each of the artists. Sarah has an excellent blog post showing each triptych and more description of the project here.

Lots of visitors came to enjoy the snacks and the art.
After the artists' reception, we walked over to Kathy's house for mojitos on the deck!

I really feel so very lucky to be in the company of such wonderful artists and delightful friends.

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.

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.

Layers

Here's a peek at a section of a quilt I'm working on. It's for a show at the Camden Library this summer. The Frayed Edges (my small art quilt group in Maine) are exhibiting together. Part of the show will include a set of four triptychs on the theme "letters." This is part of the center panel of my triptych.

I'm thinking about things like envelopes, packages, door steps, walk ways, openings, messages...

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.

More Snow

Well... not really snow, but cute little snowmen!

I made these funky creatures for the Frayed Edges for Christmas. They had their holiday get-together earlier this week, so they should have opened them and I can share them with you!


For the past several years, I've participated in an ornament swap. But, I didn't sign up this year. I still wanted to do a little hand-made something and I had several ideas. Eventually, I mixed up a bit of fabric, floss and buttons and these guys appeared.

I love their wild little sprouts of hair.

I only made four. Not even one left over to keep for myself, but I might make a few more. They'll be fun all through winter, not just for Christmas. Doncha think?

Houston Randoms -- and some lines

Continuing with Melly's line challenge. Circles and crosses. It looks somewhat planetary, doesn't it? That wasn't intentional.More circles. I like the effect of the ink skipping. This wouldn't always be desirable, but it's kind of cool. Oh, hello, Lincoln!

A few more snapshots from my Houston trip.

Purchases! Clockwise starting at the scissors: applique scissors from Famore. Lovely weight and blades. Perfect for cutting away layers of tulle or other sheer fabrics in my newest pieces. In the box: stack of 2x2 hand-dyed fabrics. Lots of Janome bobbins. Two sets of fat quarters from Marcia Derse's new fabric lines. I'm completely in love with these fabrics. Old keys. A small hand carved hedgehog and dragon for Claire and Benjamin.

Sarah and I had a delicious dinner at Ninfa's!
The Beneath the Surface artists enjoyed this dessert-apoolza! Yum!
I had salmon before the dessert. We all brought our Beneath the Surface books and passed them around the table for signatures.
Here is the fabulous Marcia Derse. Seriously. I'm gobsmacked!