Friday, January 13, 2017

A little postcard ...

It seems I only get into my studio very rarely these days, and when I do it is a joyful occasion. Today I had two whole hours to myself and wanted to make a little fiber-art postcard for an old friend who I haven't seen in several years. He always remembers me on birthdays and holidays, and I'm not always so good. So this year he gets a special remembrance.

Collaged scraps from 3 different screen prints,
quilted and stitched onto a postcard backing.
I make my own little "postage stamps" for quilted postcards,
since they go into a clear envelope with a real stamp on top.
OOPS! I  just noticed I put "2007" instead of "2017" on it!
Good thing it's not mailed yet, still time to correct it.
Happy Birthday, my friend!

Thursday, December 22, 2016

A new art doll

I was inspired to make a Studio Doll for a sweet friend who always reaches out to others, and who shares her talents and kind advice so generously. Merry Christmas, Leslie!

Stuffed doll-body, acrylic paints, torn cotton and silk fabrics,
photograph, metal bird, champagne mesulet (metal cap).

Detail

Detail of back w/ signature

Sunday, October 23, 2016

What a lovely thank-you.

After purchasing Janett Rice's "Papa Quail" art quilt during the annual SAQA benefit auction, I received this little surprise in the mail. What a beautiful little thank-you note in the form of a fiber-art postcard.


Oh, no, Janett, thank YOU!

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

New SAQA Acquisition

Every year  I watch the SAQA on-line auction with deep admiration for these little (12" x 12") works of art, and wish that I could have many of them for my very own. This year I won Janett Rice's "Papa Quail", which she created with rust-dyed fabric, then hand embroidered and quilted using hand-dyed embroidery thread.


I received it in today's mail, and it is even more striking in person. The hand embroidery and quilting add a rustic touch that perfectly enhance the rusted fabric. Thank you, Janett, for your beautiful work and for supporting SAQA with your art donation.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

The Journey - Dinner at Eight, 2016

This is my 5th year to be included in the Dinner at Eight Artists exhibit at the Houston and Chicago International Quilt Festivals. (One year I was unable to enter, and one year my entry wasn't accepted.) I'm absolutely thrilled that my piece, "The Journey" has been accepted for 2016, and want to thank Dinner at Eight's founders, Leslie Tucker Jenison and Jamie Fingal, for their ongoing commitment to this wonderful exhibit.

The Journey, 40" x 40"
created for the 2016 Dinner at Eight "Patterns" exhibit.

Shadows stretch out from beneath our feet, up toward
something greater. The Journey must start somewhere.

From their annual interview of the artists, I've pulled a couple of my own answers to include here.

Although I'm a visual artist, I get most of my inspiration from literary sources ... songs, stories, and quotations. One of my favorite resources is my 93-year-old mother, who still sings songs from her long-ago childhood ... oftentimes, these songs or verbal snippets find their way into my artwork.

I think of myself as a whimsical artist because I love humor in all its forms, but I also love bold and mysterious abstracts. My style has developed so gradually and has morphed in so many subtle directions that it's hard to pinpoint when I "found" it ... in fact, I'm pretty sure I'm still searching for it.

"The Journey" began as several digitally manipulated photographs, printed on cotton sateen by a printing service, which I then painted, inked, thread-sketched, and machine quilted. I have been using a "faced" method of finishing my art quilts, rather than a traditional binding. Below is a detail shot of the quilt.
The Journey - detail
As Karey Bresenhan's Quilt Festival in Houston grows nearer (only a couple more months!) I get more and more excited about all the fabulous traditional and art quilts I will see. Miles of inspiration, all in one huge building ... I can't wait!

Saturday, June 04, 2016

Image + Text

Playing around with some old photos combined with cookbook pages ...








Thursday, May 19, 2016

Creating business cards

A friend had admired my business cards and wanted me to make something similar for her. Since my cards are reproductions of my thread-painted art quilts, I offered to simply create something for her in Photoshop. She likes land turtles, but wanted something whimsical.

Here's what I came up with, to give her a choice.

I called this one "Mother & Son"

but this is the one my friend chose ... I think
because of the "tortoise shell" glasses!

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

Just found a stash of pictures of some of the painted shoes I've done, and had forgotten about half of them!

These first two pair are art shoes, made for exhibit only.

Below is "City of Illusion," loosely based on lyrics of the song "City of Delusion" by Muse.






Here is "Treasure Hunt," festooned with jungly creepy-crawlies and a few off-road vehicles for searching out that treasure.




These next shoes I either painted for myself to wear, or are commissioned shoes for customers. They never fail to get double-takes and compliments.




First step - base coat

Finished shoes.
















"Tragically Cool and Incredibly Hip"
(and Awaiting Additional Inspiration)

This was my very first pair of painted shoes, but I still wear them sometimes.

Not much room for paint, but very fresh-looking.

Gold & copper painted Merrells, with faux script.

Remembering Oscar Silva

White Merrell slides, simply tangled.

And last but not least (because I can't remember if I posted pictures of it before), here is my favorite little purse I painted, starting with a plain canvas messenger bag.




I know there are some more painted shoes and bags lurking around here, I just haven't unearthed them yet!

Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Pajama Quilters

A group of old friends, we try to meet-and-retreat at least once or twice a year for relaxation, quilting, food, wine, and fun. Several of the girls do longarm quilting as a business, and all of them (except me) are traditional quilters. (They let me hang out with them anyway.  ;^)

Jody, Betty, Sharon, & Barb

Betty's star quilt





















Jody & Sharon, "oldest" friends.
Jody's great Singer machine.





















Barb's Illusion quilt layout
Betty's Bow-Tie layout





















Betty's Double Irish Chain
Sharon's Stack 'n Whack





















Sharon - Overachiever
Sharon's Blue Star Quilt




















Linda's Giraffe preliminary layout
Linda's Giraffe final layout