Thursday, October 8, 2009
Match the Dirty Dozen Artists
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Our 6th Annual Exhibit!
Please help us kick off the
2009 Dirty Dozen Exposed! exhibit!
Opening Reception, October 3rd, from
@Boutique 4 Quilters
2945 W.
General viewing during regular store hours:
M-F
October 2nd through October 31st
The exhibit includes over 60 original fiber art pieces,
made with a variety of exciting materials and techniques.
In addition, two group projects will be featured.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Photo Challenge 2009: The Swedish Cafe
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Bev's Fruit Stand Challenge
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Jill's Fruit Stand Challenge Quilt
By Jill Brown
The inspiration for this quilt was the bananas! This quilt was a little out of my comfort zone for me - as I normally do not do abstract, nor do I work with orange or yellow colors / tones.
I thread painted my bananas onto my background with a variegated purple thread (I did get my purple in there!!). It scrunched up the fabric so much, I had to really stipple the background fabric it get it to lay flat. I then beaded "Going Bananas" across the middle two bananas. (The bead work is hard to see in this photo).
This was a fun challenge to do, and everyone's quilt turned out to be very different!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Barbara's Fruit Stand Challenge
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
2009 Retreat: Fabric, Friends and Fun
Does your quilting group have an annual retreat? If not, I’d highly recommend it! We just finished our annual weekend retreat and it was a blast. Our monthly meetings are great but it is hard to surpass the bonding that takes place when you spend two days together crammed into small condos, stepping around sewing machines, supplies and drying fabric. I loved watching my friends as they struggled with creative or technical decisions. I loved the help and insights that each person brought to bear on my dilemmas.
There is something from everyone in each of my projects from the retreat: fabric from Irene, paint from Paula, beads from Jill, yarn from Ruth Anne, Photoshop work from Martha and borders from Ellen. And though we worked a lot, we played too. We had a road trip to a bead shop, we took a post-midnight turtle walk on the beach, we dined together and we learned more about each other on a personal level. Did I mention we laughed a lot? We did.
There were so many hysterical moments that I began to chronicle them so we’d have a way to remember them all. Some you might enjoy:
- A glass of wine helps with free motion quilting
- Whatever problem you may have, there’s a bead for that
- Late night wisdom: don’t crop until morning
- Pass your purse to the person on your left (so you won’t spend too much at the store)
It’s only been a week and I’m already looking forward to next year’s retreat.
(the photo is of Irene Watson working through lunch one day.)
Friday, August 21, 2009
Paula's Fruit Stand Challenge Quilt
Monday, August 17, 2009
Ellen's Fruit Stand Challenge Quilt
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Group Photo Challenge Revisited
Although the goal was for each participant to be inspired by the image, exact replication of the photo was not expected. (But, certainly allowed.) Therefore, we wanted a photo with lots going on, and this one met that criteria. As you'll see in coming posts, some members reproduced the entire image. Others were inspired by the colors, the textures, or one particular element.
Watch for future posts to see the results!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Basic Business Acumen
I should’ve known better. Nonetheless, after 25 years of business and entrepreneurial experience, I violated a fundamental principle of agreements: get it in writing. When a quilt shop owner invited me to promote my book (http://www.quiltingwithaliens.com/) as the featured item in her booth for AQS Knoxville Expo, I was so excited I allowed my emotions to override reason. Over the three week planning horizon, the agreement changed so many times it ultimately became untenable. I’m saddened by the lost opportunity, but I am hoping that you can learn from my mistake and avoid similar pain in the future.
Three basic tenets to remember when selling your art or entering into any agreement:
1. Define your goals in advance (what you hope to achieve, what you will provide, what you require as consideration/compensation, etc.)
2. Clarify expectations (mutual responsibilities, time lines, communication)
3. Get it in writing
I find that I learn (and remember) the most from difficult circumstances and, for that reason, I am thankful for this situation. I hope you can also benefit from this lesson learned.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Playing with Molding Paste
I learned one thing: when it comes to molding paste, more is better. The subtle images that I attempted with stamps and such didn't show up very well.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Goldfish Blues
Sunday, July 12, 2009
What I'm Made Of
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Design Opportunity
From Irene Watson
I recently had time to play with the techniques in C June Barne’s book, Stitching to Dye in Quilt Art. I really like the pieces she’s done using her foundation technique so I ran out on a shopping spree and bought every white and off-white cotton and cotton blend in the area.
Last week I threw caution to the wind and decided to dump that bugger in a bucket of dye. I made two mistakes. The first was dyeing on a day when I was fighting a virus. I sneezed while holding the dye container over the bucket and spilled a good amount of dye into my solution. The second was ignoring the first mistake. My little golden yellow piece is now lovely neon orange. The color in the picture is not true. It’s a really eye burning orange.
I haven’t decided whether to view this as a challenge and work with it as is, to overdye it with bronze or a light red to try to tone it down, or to bleach the heck out of it to remove some of the color. I’m leaning towards bleaching it. If it ends up with holes, it’ll just be another design opportunity. Right?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Reward for a Morning Walk
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Abstract from Realism
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Fun Play Day
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Brevard Live Magazine Featured Artist *NEWS FLASH
Once you download the June issue, scroll down to pages 56-58 to see my article. I'm so jazzed!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Asian Fusion: Take Out With a Twist
Here is my take on the Brevard Art Museum's challenge using the white take out box. I started with a bright oriental themed fabric and another coordinating fabric. I matched two colors of fusible glass with my fabrics. I then created a "dome" out of the fused glass to fit over the take out box, placing the metal handle through the dome. I quilted the oriental fabric, cut it into strips, then wove it into the glass dome, leaving spaces to show the white take out box below. I then added my bead "steam" on the top of the box.
The dome and box were placed on an oriental style plate, with a pair of chopsticks next to it, ready to enjoy the hot steamy meal inside!
The place mat underneath was woven using the oriental themed fabric, and the coordinating green fabric. They were cut on the bias, at a 45 degree angle (in opposite directions), woven and then quilted.
Bon Appetit!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
The Thinker
Doll making has become my passion, and using Tyvek is one of my favorite techniques. So, when given the opportunity to enter the Brevard Art Museum's Take Out Exhibition, it was a no-brainer for me to combine them to create The Thinker, Outside the Box. Her body is made from a piece of hand dyed fabric I made in a class, and later stamped during a program at a Dirty Dozen meeting. Her hair is a few natural silk cocoons, topped with a Tyvek kerchief painted to match her body fabric.
First, I covered both the inside and outside of the container with fabric made from painted dryer sheets, Angelina fiber, and tulle. Using recycled Tyvek, I painted and heated small pieces and covered the outside, taking care that the edges were also covered.
I made sure there were a few spots where the liner would show through. I made a few beads and curly-q's to form the vines and stalagmites, then polished it off with some hot-fix crystals.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Class Results
As mentioned in the previous post, I found this class to be challenging - in a good way. My project is shown, in progress, below. Eventually, it will resemble prickly pear cactus, but I think it has quite a way to go yet. But, perhaps, you can see some of the 3D effect that was created by shading with paint.
Class with Leslie Gabrielse
Monday, May 25, 2009
Quilt National
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Small Pieces, Big Ideas
Thursday, May 14, 2009
I applied fusible web to both pieces of fabric, opened up the box, sandwiched it between the two layers and fused it all together. I made sure the fabric extended a little beyond the cardboard, knowing I had to satin stitch the edges.
I folded the box back into its proper shape, then had to figure out how to get it to stay together. I ended up using an awl (with my husband's help) to poke holes through all the layers, so I could sew buttons on it. Kind of a four hand job. Then I decided it needed more embellishment on the inside, so I foiled each flap (after I had sewn it together, mind you.)
I foiled some more fabric, cut it into strips, then wove the little placemat, Then I fused it to a background fabric and quilted it with metallic thread. For a final touch, I added beads to the metal handle. At this point, my box became a little tipsy. So I ended up balancing it on the handle, hence the name of my piece is "Balancing Act."
I'm happy to say "Balancing Act" was accepted for the exhibit, and is sharing a table with Jill's piece. Drop by Brevard Art Museum if you have a chance - you will be amazed at all of the imaginative and beautiful creations.