ONE page from the ONE fundraiser

Just to give you a little taste, I've selected some of my favorites (in no particular order) from the ONE Cause, ONE Wednesday, ONE Hundred Collages fundraiser.

Be sure to be there with your finger on the SEND key, at 10:00 a.m. CST -- that's THIS morning ... to place your bid to win one of the 100 collages by one of these artists.  (Bidding instructions are on Virginia Spiegel's ONE page, via the link above.)  Remember ... 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE, as your donation will go directly to the American Cancer Society.

Here's what you've been waiting for ... your TEASER for some of the collages that will be available.  Bid quick, or you may miss your favorite!

Bluebird - Judy Coates Perez

Escarabajo 2 - Jane Davila

Brazen - Lyric Kinard

Cottonwood Leaves 1 - Cynthia St. Charles

Peace - Karen Stiehl Osborn

Movin' On 2 - Wen Redmond

Passage - Laura Cater-Woods

Picasso Revisited - Pamela Allen

Remembering You - Jane Dunnewold

St. Pete Lace 8 - Natalya Aikins

Renewal 1 - Jeanelle McCall

Sentry III - Laura Beehler

Silence - Leslie Tucker Jenison

Still Waters 5 - BJ Parady

Traveling Companions - Linda Teddlie Minton

Sweet Tea House - Jamie Fingal

Three Birds - Gloria Hansen

Float Down - Virginia Spiegel

To Be a Fly on the Wall - Pokey Bolton

Yellow Circles 2 - Liz Berg

Written in Stone 10 - Jette Clover

Ice Cube Dyeing

Carol Tackett, of the QuiltArt list, has been experimenting with something new ... ice cube dyeing.  Here are some of her results, along with her comments:

These are the results of ICE CUBE dyeing.  I used ice cube trays and froze the dyes that were very concentrated with urea.

I put a wet soda soaked piece of fabric on a dye table, placed the ice cubes randomly around on top of the fabric, then place another piece of wet soda soak fabric over the top.

I used a hammer to break the cubes up just slightly, covered with plastic and allowed to sit and "batch".  It was quite cold outside, in the high 40's and the table is in the shade.  I left it all day.  These are the results.

The heavier dyed side is the bottom piece of fabric and the lighter piece with more white areas was the top fabric.

I need to do more experimenting but this is the first attempt.

Thanks, Carol, for sharing these results with us ... verrrrry interrrresting!

All 5 fiber/mixed-media collages

I thought it might be helpful to show, in one place, all 5 of my fiber / mixed-media collages that will be included in Virginia Spiegel's ONE fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ONE Cause, ONE Wednesday, ONE Hundred Collages).

Traveling Companions

Heat Source

In Search Of

The Reach

The Wanderer

Please go to Virginia's blog posting for "Tips and Techniques" on bidding for your favorite artwork.  And remember that the opening bid amounts are only minimums ... since this is a 100% tax-deductible fundraiser, higher amounts are certainly accepted and encouraged.  Here's a brief summary of how it will work:

On Wednesday, February 16, ONE Hundred Collages will be offered with a minimum donation for each collage of:

$160 for two hours (10 a.m. – Noon CST)
$80 for two hours (Noon – 2:00 p.m. CST)
$40 for two hours (2:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST)

Have fun!

Heat Source

We're getting close!  Virginia Spiegel's ONE fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ONE Cause, ONE Wednesday, ONE Hundred Collages) is happening next week!

Here is my fifth piece going up for grabs on Wednesday, February 16 ...

Heat Source

Heat Source, and the other four pieces (seen in earlier posts) are a part of my Journey Series, exploring new ideas, techniques, and personal philosophies.  Although these 5 pieces were created in a concentrated frenzy of creativity, I am also continuing the series in different formats.  There is much left to explore!

All 5 pieces are mounted on 8"x10" 140-lb. watercolor paper, titled and signed, and ready for framing if desired.

I think we have all been touched by cancer in our selves, our families, or our friends, and Virginia has done a tremendous job in raising so much for research and treatment through the ACS.  I don't donate money to many causes, and can't afford to donate my artwork at all ... except through Virginia and her efforts.  In recent years, Karen Stiehl Osborn has also been working tirelessly with her for the Cause.

I want to thank both Virginia and Karen, from the bottom of my heart.  Through them, I've not only been able to make a meaningful contribution to a cause near and dear to my heart, but have also been able to start and nourish a small collection of artwork by my favorite fiber artists.

To quote from Virginia's own website for the ONE Fundraiser:

One Hundred Collages – Created for this event by an all-star team of artists: Natalya Aikens, Pamela Allen, Laura Ann Beehler, Liz Berg, Pokey Bolton, Laura Cater-Woods, Jette Clover, Jane Davila, Jane Dunnewold, Jamie Fingal, Gloria Hansen, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lyric Kinard, Jeanelle McCall, Linda Teddlie Minton, Karen Stiehl Osborn, BJ Parady, Judy Perez, Wen Redmond, Cynthia St. Charles, Virginia A. Spiegel.


Please join us for an exciting event of art viewing and collecting, on Wednesday, February 16.  Don't miss it!

Sharon Dixon, Guest Quilter

Sharon's on the right, and that's me on the left ... 2009.
(We simply must take a more recent shot.)
Thanks, Cathy, for sending me this picture!

My very dear friend Sharon Dixon has agreed to appear as my Guest Quilter today.  She is a wonderful machine quilter, with a business in longarm quilting for quilt-top makers, as well as creating one-of-a-kind t-shirt quilts for her customers, called Katy T-Shirt Quilts .  She uses a special soft interfacing so that her t-shirt quilts come out nice and soft ... "real" quilts, not stiff and icky like some I've seen.  She has also now opened a new Etsy store to sell her own pieced quilts.  She has many customers from across the world.

Sharon's funky new layout design for t-shirt quilts

Interview with Sharon Dixon:

Sharon, how did you get involved in quilting, and how long have you been quilting as a business?

I can thank my mother for my quilting career.  She taught me a love of fabric and quilting at a young age.  After making my first quilt at age nine, I pieced and hand-quilted several quilts through the years.  Then when I discovered rotary cutters and rulers around 1989, I became a prolific piecer.  Since there was no time to get the quilts hand-quilted, I had to explore other options.  My husband Tommy sold a tractor he refurbished and gave me the money to buy my first quilting machine.  By 1996, I was quilting for others.  I hadn't really planned to start a business.  It just evolved from a part-time hobby to a full-time business. 

The simplest t-shirt layout.

Do you still piece quilts?  How do you manage your time in order to be both creative and a successful businesswoman?

I'm usually so busy piecing T-shirt quilts or other special order quilts for customers that I don't find much time to piece or quilt my own.  But I try to sneak in one of my own every so often.  Time management is my biggest challenge.  It's so easy when one is self-employed at home to get distracted and not use time wisely.  But I try to work all morning and then take a two-hour break in the afternoon to rest and re-energize before working until about 8:00 or so at night.  It helps a lot that I love what I do.  And I have to admit that I don't follow a rigid schedule every day of the week.  Having flexibility to spend time with my grandkids and quilting friends is important to me.  I would be remiss if I didn't credit my husband Tommy with a great deal of my success because he does so much to help me which allows me time to concentrate on my quilting business.. 

A very cool pieced layout for t-shirts.

What awards/ribbons have you won, and what publications have you appeared in?

I've won several ribbons in the West Houston Quilter's Guild quilt shows, but the one I was most excited about was the Judge's Choice ribbon.  I've been fortunate to have quilts that I quilted for Bonnie Blue Quilts appear in McCall's Quilting Magazine and on the cover of Quilt Mania, a French quilting magazine that is published in several languages.  Cynthia Regone's book Colorful Quilts, A Journey Through Fabric featured several quilts that I quilted for her.  And four quilts that I quilted were published in Simple Strategies for Block Swap Quilts by Lynn Roddy Brown.  I have been told that Lynn is releasing another book in August that will have my quilting in it, and another Bonnie Blue quilt will be appearing in a magazine this spring. 

  

A t-shirt quilt made for the AWTY International School auction.

What advice do you have for customers who have never taken their quilt-tops to a longarm quilter to be finished?

The most important advice would be to find a reputable longarm quilter.  One does not instantly become a professional machine quilter when she purchases her first quilting machine.  It takes practice to develop longarm skills as well as customer service skills.

Texas Aggie t-shirt quilt

What would you do with a year free to do what you wanted with no responsibilities or financial concerns?

I would spend more time with my grandkids and maybe take each of them on a special trip.  I would also do some traveling with my husband and quilting friends.  But most of the year would probably be spent piecing and quilting my own quilts!

One of Sharon's own pieced quilts ... gorgeous!

Thank you, Sharon, for being my guest today ... 

Detail of the quilt shown above.

Please visit both Sharon's Etsy Store and her Katy T-Shirt Quilts website, for contact information and to find out about having your own t-shirt quilt made.  I sleep under one of mine every night, and have others as lap quilts and guest quilts.  The best use of old-and-treasured t-shirts EVAH!

In Search Of

Here's the 4th from my "Journey" series, which will be available during the one-day ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, created and sponsored by Virginia Spiegel.  I wish you could see the textural quality of these five mixed-media collages, I'm afraid my photos don't do them justice.  Each one comes to you signed and mounted on 8x10" heavy-quality watercolor paper, ready for framing if desired.

In Search Of

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16 ... 

the ONE day you can grab collect your favorite collages 

by your favorite fiber artists!

(I think you will be able to take a preview peek

on Tuesday the 15th.)

Digital Montage Studio

I've signed up for another short Photoshop workshop with Cynthia Powell, called "Collaged Illusions".  Even though it's for beginners and I've been using Photoshop Elements for several years, I find that I always learn something invaluable in Cindy's workshops, and they are always lots of fun.

Having been self-taught in Photoshop, I often find that I have leaped ahead into some more advanced techniques, while having bypassed some of the basics.  It's such a relief to find easier, faster ways to do some of the things that I've been unnecessarily struggling with.

The link to her Studio is here, and in my sidebar.  It starts Feb. 15 ... come join me!  (No affiliation, just a happy student.)

The Wanderer

Another in my series of five mixed media fiber-art collages for Virginia Spiegel's ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  All 5 of these fiber-art collages are very textural, consisting of stitched canvas, rusted silk, paints and inks.

The Wanderer

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16 ... 

the ONE day to collect your favorite collages by your favorite fiber artists,

and contribute to a most worthy cause at the same time!

The Reach

Here's the second in my series of five mixed media fiber-art collages I'm donating to Virginia Spiegel's ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  I will be posting an image of another one each week leading up to the event..

The Reach

This event takes place ONE day only:  Wednesday, February 16th!

Please mark your calendars and join us for the excitement.

100% of the funds raised will be donated to the ACS.

ONE Fundraiser ... I'm the featured artist today.

Virginia Spiegel, famous for her very successful Fiberart For A Cause fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society, has featured me today on her blog.  I like the fact that she has titled my feature, "A Fearless Journey".

Here is the article, as taken directly from Virginia's blog.  Thank you, Virginia!  Another image of each of the 4 remaining collages will be featured each week on my blog, until the ONE day, Wednesday, February 16, 2011.

Linda Teddlie Minton: A Fearless Journey

Linda Teddlie Minton is known throughout internet-land for her compassion, kindness, and upbeat attitude.  If you share some good news, you can bet that Linda will send you a little note of congratulations and encouragement.  In her art, Linda is fearless is trying new materials and techniques.  She is always going forward, but always keeping to her aesthetic of texture and earthy colors.  Linda’s blog reflects her wide-ranging artistic interests and her extensive networking with other artists.

1.  Why are you participating in the ONE fundraiser for the American Cancer Society?

I’ve been inspired by Virginia’s fundraising efforts for  the American Cancer Society from the beginning, and have gained a great deal of personal satisfaction in participating over the years.  My husband, Jim, died of colon cancer in 1999, and this is my way of honoring his inner strength, deep humanity, humor, and determination.

In Search Of by Linda Teddlie Minton.  This artwork will be available during the ONE fundraiser on February 16.

2.  Tell us about your collages for ONE.I’d been wanting to expand my exploration of the theme, Journey, and this was the perfect opportunity.  I love mixed media, and yet had not been taking the time to delve into it in a meaningful way until now.  These five Journey collages incorporate many techniques and materials  that I have picked up over the years, such as using stitched canvas as a base, and being fearless in working with unusual materials such as black gesso, tea bags, coffee grounds, hand-painted and rusted papers and silks, plus various types of paints, inks, and powders.

The title of each Journey collage reflects a portion of  my own life’s journey … The Reach, Heat Source, Traveling Companions, The  Wanderer, and In Search Of.  I hope that they will inspire others in their own Journeys, artistic or otherwise.

Digital work-in-progress by Linda Teddlie Minton

3.  What are you working on in the studio now?My Houston-based fiber arts group, FiberVoices, has  several challenges and group projects going forward this year, and I am concentrating on them at the moment.  Then I also have two more  early-2011 deadlines to be met … one of which I haven’t even started  yet!  (Deadlines are my friends … without them I don’t know if I’d ever  get anything finished!)

My current passion is for digital collage and manipulation, using Photoshop Elements.  I often use my resulting digital artwork as the basis for my fiber art.  It’s an exciting Journey for me,  and one which I intend to pursue further.

4.  Do you collect art?  If so, how do you know a piece is right for  your collection?When I have the financial means, I do collect art …  passionately!  I know when a piece speaks directly to my heart and have  learned not to hesitate, if I can possibly afford it.  The only way I can explain it is that “it grabs me”!  Too many times, I’ve had to  walk away from a work of art that I felt very connected to … only to  still regret, years later, that I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity when it existed.

5.  What advice do you have for artists who are seeking their unique voice or direction in their own artwork?Although inspiration from other artists’ work is exciting, I’m only just now learning that I need to step back from the huge crush of information available to us about “how-to-do-it”, new  products, and “innovative” techniques.  I find that I sometimes am overwhelmed by conflicting advice and sales-motivated “new” techniques and  products.  I’m learning to somewhat close myself off from all the “noise” and concentrate on my own ideas for the work.

6.  What would you do with a year free to do what you wanted with no responsibilities or financial concerns?I’d probably take a sabbatical into nature … no  telephone, television or internet, and only taking a small amount of  supplies and making do with what I had or could devise for using in my  artwork.  It would be so exciting for me to be totally alone and free to concentrate on nothing but art!

Patty-Cake Cats

Best Voice-Over Cat Video EVER!

(be sure to listen carefully to the voice-over ... these guys were so clever!)

Traveling Companions

From my "Journey" series, here is the first of 5 collages I'm donating to Virginia Spiegel's ONE (One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages) fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  I'm very honored to have been invited to participate in this Fiberart for a Cause event.

Traveling Companions

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16 ... the ONE day you can grab collect your favorite collages by your favorite fiber artists!

New Blog Title

Don't be surprised when you see a new title here ... I've been thinking about changing it from FiberReflections to my own name for some time, and finally got around to it, after reading some of the pros and cons on the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) list.  The whole idea of a blog is for people to be able to find you, and even though I loved my FiberReflections name, I thought it was time to get a little more professional with it.

Stay tuned for some sneak peeks at some of my collage work for the One Cause fundraiser.

ONE Cause

Deadlines ... what would we do without them?  I just finished sending in images of my 5 fiber art collages for the One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages fundraiser, created and organized by Virginia Spiegel and Karen Stiehl Osborn.  This was an Invitational to 20 hand-picked artists, and the deadline is January 1.  I was so relieved to get my collages finished, photographed, and entered, with even a few days to spare!


The goal is to raise $8,000 in one day to add to the $205,000 already donated to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.  Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 16, 2011 ... in fact, you should probably start checking it out a day early.


There will be a direct link from Virginia's page to all the collages at least one day prior to Wednesday, February 16 for a preview and all the details about how to acquire your favorite collage(s). Collages will be featured periodically on her blog and Facebook Fan Page prior to February 16.


Don't forget ... you can do some fabulous art-collecting, tax-free!  All donations for artwork will be made directly to the American Cancer Society online through FFAC here on Wednesday, February 16 and donors will receive an immediate receipt from the ACS.


Be there, or be square, as we used to say ... most of us have had people in our lives who have been touched by cancer, and this is a tremendous way to honor a either survivor (even yourself!) or someone you love who has died from this disease.  Plus ... ART!

"Under the Dome" by Stephen King - a review.

Under the Dome by Stephen King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I just finished "Under the Dome" tonight.  I'm struggling with what rating to give it ... between 3 and 4 stars, as I was quite disappointed that it did not move me like "The Stand" did.

A lot of Stephen King's writing has either gone downhill, or has just stagnated.  I had quit reading him when he moved from innovative horror to gore-for-gore's-sake, but had high hopes for "Dome".  It is much improved (i.e., less gory) over his work in the last few years, but still very dated-sounding in his supposedly "hip" references.

I guess all this can be considered nitpicking, since I must admit that I was tied to the book for the last third of it, wanting to find out WHAT or WHO created the Dome.  I was slightly disappointed at the ending, but I got some enjoyable hours (and I do mean HOURS) of reading out of it.

Somewhat Recommended, IF you can commit yourself to a 1,072 pages (in paperback format), as well as trying to keep track of dozens and dozens of characters with similar-sounding names.  Also, the denouement at the end was sort of wimpy and anticlimactic, in my opinion.  After all that you go through to get to the end, you sort of want something more amazing or exciting than ... what it was (no spoilers here!)

View all my reviews

Guest Artist

Peaceful Pond, by Carol Poplaski

Carol is a "former lurker" on the QuiltArt list, and I had told her I would post a picture of this artwork, as she didn't have a blog set up.  Since then, she has set one up, at http://carolpoplaski.blogspot.com/.  She describes the above piece:  "the reed leaves are trapuntoed, the cattails are unique threads, the water lilies are folded origami and the border is beaded to give it a subtle shimmer in the light, like water gets".  Thanks for sharing this, Carol!

Happy ... ???

I always want to wish my friends a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, or Happy Hanukkah ... but how to do it all at once, or if you're not sure of what to wish?  I found this phrase a couple of years ago, and appreciated its combination of genuine good wishes and humorous take on political correctness.  So I created my own Holiday cards in Photoshop this year ...

Happy HanuKwanzaMas to All!