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

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!

Gone from me ...

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.

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!

Image + Text

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

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!

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!

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

Mom & Dad

My folks are 92 years old and have been married to each other for 72 of them. "Through thick and thin" is more than just a homily when it comes to their relationship. I'm so proud to be a child of Mattie and Jim, who have put their whole hearts and souls into being honest, faithful, and kind to not only each other and their children, but to everyone with whom they have ever come into contact. I love you, Mom and Dad.

Mom & Dad, November 2015

72 years of marriage