My Foto/Fiber Bonus Pack

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the first three “Red Carpet” fiber postcards will be part of the three Fiber Bonus packs I am donating to Virginia Spiegel’s Foto/Fiber Fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  But that’s not all, folks!  I’ve raided my studio and pulled out some of my favorite things to add to the fun and sweeten the deal. 

I love collecting vintage linens and using them in my work.  Some time ago I scored a set of quilt blocks embroidered with flowers.  I used most of them in a bed quilt top (it remains a UFO at this point) and have decided to share the rest and so am adding one to each Bonus.  With a little research I’ve identified the designs as  Eveline Foland’s “Memory Bouquet” pattern.  The patterns first appeared in the Kansas City Star newspaper from October 10 through November 11, 1930.  The quality of the workmanship in these blocks is really excellent, and they are in very good condition for vintage blocks.  They measure approx. 12” square, and  would be wonderful either framed or incorporated into a project of your own.  They are all different, but here’s an example:

But wait, there’s more!  In each pack I will be including one of my original cyanotype prints on cotton, made from a photograph taken in my garden.  They measure approx. 8” x 10”, and again, would be suitable for display as is, or used in your own artwork.  Here’s one of them:

Next up, a piece of my hand painted cotton fabric, measuring approx. 11” x 22”.  I have never offered either my cyanotype prints or my painted fabric for sale, so this a unique opportunity to own a piece of my work in this format.

Another one of a kind item--a strip of Seminole patchwork, approx. 16” x 4”, left over from my award winning quilt Sumac:

Whew!  I think it will all fit in the envelope, and if there’s room I may find a few other little treasures to tuck in there.

So mark your calendars for February 15th and 16th, and hop on over to the Foto/Fiber Fundraiser page for more details on how it all works.  There are many amazing artists donating their work, and 100% of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

New Fiber Postcards - “Red Carpet”

I’ve just completed a new set of fiber postcards/mail art pieces.  I’m calling it “Red Carpet”.  It’s based on the magnificent display my red maple tree puts on each year when the leaves drop to the ground, usually all within a day or two.

I did a set on the same subject, “Carpet of Leaves”, way back in 2005, and it was very popular.  Here’s a card from that series:

I thought it was a good time to reprise the theme.  Both sets were made in a similar fashion, starting with a length of white cotton fabric.  I painted the fabric with textile paints and arranged maple leaves on it, then put it out in the bright sunlight to dry.

A heliographic print resulted, as the paint wicked out from under the leaves and the image of the leaves remained.  This was layered with batting and stitched heavily with a variety of specialty threads.
After washing and drying, to intensify the texture of the piece, it was layered again with peltex (a stiffener) and a backing.  Individual 4” x 6” cards were cut, and the edges stitched to reinforce them.  Here are all 25 cards in the “Red Carpet” set:

Some of them will be going out in a swap with my fellow artists over at Postmark’d Art.  I’ve been a member of this group since it’s inception, and have swapped dozens and dozens of cards, but have been on hiatus for the last several swaps due to being overcommitted elsewhere.  I’m happy to be back on board and looking forward to the exchange.

And….drum roll please….the first three in the numbered series of “Red Carpet” cards will be part of my contribution to Foto/Fiber 2012 Fiber Bonus, Virginia Spiegel’s  Fiberart for a Cause fundraiser to benefit The American Cancer Society . I’m so pleased to be a part of this worthwhile effort that I’m raiding my studio for all sorts of goodies--more on that tomorrow!

Seasonal Palette, Update 2

I’ve been working joyously on my entry for the SAQA juried invitational exhibit, Seasonal Palette, that will debut at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX this autumn.  My season of choice when applying was summer, and happily I received it as my assignment.  Since so much of my work is botanically based, and I love making images of fresh plant specimens, I knew I would have plenty of material to work with, both conceptually and literally.

The Organic Garden

Of the works in my resume I submitted to the jurors, they particularly liked The Organic Garden, and requested that my new work for the exhibit be in a similar vein.  It’s a good choice, and one I can willingly riff on.  I’m not looking to duplicate it, but to capture the same kind of botanical exuberance and abundance, while using the saturated colors of high-to-late summer. 

The timing of the acceptance was such that I had a limited window of opportunity to make summery prints, so even before I was sure of the ultimate direction and composition of the work, I ordered some treated cyanotype fabric and got busy.  Depending on the type of plant, and the size of the print desired, I pinned the specimens to a board, or flattened them under glass.

Making cyanotypes is a fascinating blend of science and art--because I am dependent on the angle of the sun and the meteorological conditions on any given day, as well as the freshness of the treated fabric and other variables, the exposure time for a print is reckoned both by counting the minutes and by guesswork based on experience.  The cyanotype gods were with me on this occasion, and I got some wonderfully crisp and vivid prints to work with.

Part of the criteria for this exhibit is the documentation of the creative process.  I don’t like sketching and formal preplanning of my work, but I do love documentation.  I always take pictures of the work as I go, save fabric samples, and often do work-in-progress blog posts, so this is right up my alley.  I will be continuing to share parts of the process here, so stay tuned, and as always, thanks for reading!

“I’m Not Crazy” - Call for Entries

I’m very pleased to announce that I will be serving as the juror for the upcoming SAQA exhibit “I’m Not Crazy”.  The exhibit curator is Kathy Nida.  I’ve admired Kathy’s work for many years and am excited to be working with her; her work shows great originality, and she is bold and fearless in her artistic expressions.  Her theme for the exhibit is excellent and provides the framework for a variety of interpretations:

Theme: Mental illness carries with it a stigma; many of us have experience with disorders, temporary or permanent, curable or not, that in the past and in some cultures even today would be labeled as crazy. That stigma can make it difficult to admit its effect on our loved ones or ourselves. Disorders as common as anxiety or depression, or less common, like schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder, can have a devastating effect on families and friends, and on ourselves. Negativity towards those who have these disorders often causes many people to keep the diagnosis hidden from friends and family.

• What does “crazy” look like?
• What does it feel like?
• How does the world look through the eyes of someone experiencing a panic attack or depression or other mental disorder?
• How does loving or caring for someone with a mental disorder look and feel?

We’re looking for work that covers these experiences: from the eyes of the caregiver, the friend, the family member, and, of course, those who have experienced any of these disorders themselves. Your work can reflect the disorder or the chaos it holds on our lives, it can be humorous, it can be sad, it can be crazy or incredibly calm.

Please go read more about it on Kathy’s blog, or go to the SAQA Call for Entries page.  You need to be a SAQA member to enter, but membership is very worthwhile for anyone working in the art quilt/fiber art field.  I’ve been a member for many years, and a Professional Artist Member since 2009, and value the many opportunities membership provides.  “I’m Not Crazy” will have a lot of visibility, with 7 venues already booked through the Mancuso Quilt Festivals, and others possibly to follow.

The online entry opens May 1st and closes May 31st, so you have time to produce new work or consider which of your current work would best fit the theme.  I know this is going to be a great show, and I’m really looking forward to reviewing the entries--I hope yours will be among them!

And since I always like to have an image in my posts, here’s a gratuitous photo of one of my favorite calm and peaceful places, the Susquehanna River as seen from an overlook near Lock 12:

York County Ramble

We had a glorious New Year’s Eve hike.  We crossed the Susquehanna River and drove on increasingly narrow roads to a spot near Cuffs Run.  The weather was mild for December, into the low 50’s (F), the wind was gusty, and the sky was blue.

Our goal was a rigorous scramble over rocks and through ravines, but the fallen leaves and wet ground made the going treacherous.  Discretion being the better part of valor, we retreated to ramble a series of dirt and paved roads through the woods and the countryside.  Wonders abounded, like this tree covered in burls:

There were many hawks, or perhaps eagles, riding the currents aloft:

We passed a vineyard in stasis:

A farm gate with a reminder of our mortality:


And a spectacular dry stone wall:

That stretched off into the horizon:

We came upon a weathered barn with cool gothic shutters:

And the road seemed to roll out before us endlessly:

When it was time to retrace our steps I spied a fallen branch sporting the dried husks of tulip poplar flowers:

On our drive home we stopped at the John Wright Restaurant in Wrightsville for a late lunch. 

The food was good and the ambiance pleasant, but best of all was the view of the river and the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

Just as I never tire of the river, I always admire the beautiful form and proportions of this bridge.

Several years ago I made a small art quilt depicting it:


Nearby there are some historic lime kilns:

The stonework and masonry are fabulous:

May the New Year bring us all peace, good health, and prosperity, and may our travels, near and far, take us to places of beauty and wonder.

Craft Forms 2011 Preview Party

On Friday evening I attended the Preview Party for Craft Forms 2011 at the Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA.  It was a first class event from start to finish, and my husband and I had a wonderful time.  Here I am by my art quilt, Watt & Shand #8.  To the left of it is Mama Rebel, by Catherine Winkler Rayroud; to the right is SemiAquatic by Clay McLaurin; on the pedestals from left to right are Serving Set by John Huckins,  Folding Stools by Dan DeVos; and Platter by Fred Herbst.

Above is the  view looking into the left side of the gallery.  The artwork was of very high quality, IMO, and the buzz was that this one was of the best Craft Forms exhibits in memory.  In the foreground is a wood laminate sculpture, Mitosis_1 by David Knopp.    On the back wall (the blue section) you can see the large installation piece The Politics of Porcelain by Stephanie A. Rozene, flanked by two art quilts by Kathleen Loomis,  the large red fiber piece in the left corner, Stronger Together than Apart, by Amanda Ladymon, and a crocheted grouping, Terrain, by Donna Lish, in the right corner.  Just out of camera range on the right is another art quilt, Bluestairs, by Cynthia Friedman.  I got to meet Cindy and chat with her about art and art quilting--always so wonderful to put a face to a name!  Meeting the other artists who were in attendance and having the opportunity to learn about their inspirations and working processes was one of the high points of the evening.

Below is a view from the other direction.  In the foreground is 2368 by Lily Liu.  The circular object on the wall to the right is Implosion #3 by Beth Barron, a quilt-like construction made primarily out of band aids.  On the back wall to the left is a woven tapestry, Wind Turbine Mania, by Catherine I. Theodore.

Another view of the gallery--so many treasures!  I wish I had pictures and links for all of them for you.  These pictures were taken early in the evening, before it got crowded with throngs of art patrons who paid for the privilege of attending the Preview Party.  There’s a good article here with all the particulars of the evening and a list of the prize winners.  I want to particularly thank the juror, Elizabeth Agro, for being so open and accessible during the reception and her Juror’s Talk and the Meet the Artist event the next day.  She was very gracious about sharing her perspectives on choosing the art, the themes that developed, and the state of fine craft in general--very illuminating! 

To add to the ambiance and good mood, there was great food.  Scrumptious strolling appetizers were followed by a large buffet with a paella station, a dim sum dumpling station, and much more:

Desserts included gourmet cupcakes:

There was a wine bar and also a martini luge bar:
And live world music and jazz by Phylis Chapell and Siora:

In an adjoining gallery the Art Center is concurrently exhibiting Green  from the Get Go: International Contemporary Basketmakers.  It’s a stunning survey of world-class basketry with work by many of the big names in the field--really wonderful. 

And all throughout the Art Center is the exhibit Philagrafika, an invitational portfolio of printmaking, also wonderful.

At one point in the evening I did a brief 5 minute video interview for a local television channel, where I talked about my piece in the show and the inspiration behind it, and was hopefully coherent and articulate enough make the editorial cut.  I’m not certain when and where it’s airing, but will update if I find out. 

All in all, a fun evening filled with fabulous art, creative and interesting people, and superb food and libation.  My sincere appreciation to everyone who made it possible.  The exhibit is up until Jan. 21 and it is well worth your time to attend if you are in the area.

12/29/11  A few addendums--there's a well written and thoughtful article about the show from the Philadelphia Inquirer up online here, and a set of pictures up on the Craft Forms website here.  I'm in a picture on the second page; to my right in the pic is Camila Bryce, whom I struck up a conversation with because of her beautiful mud cloth coat, and on my left is Diana N’Diaye, who had beautiful work work in the show.

1/4/12  The exhibit is also featured on the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman blog, with a handy listing of all the PA artists included. Read it here.

Publications, Exhibits, and Gratitude

By any measure I’ve had a great year, and I am both humbled and immensely grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way, and for all the people in my life who make it possible for me to be living the dream.    Here’s a partial survey of where  to see my work right now, starting with the newly published book The Studio Quilt, No. 6: State of the Art  by Sandra Sider. 

The cover image is by Melisse Laing, Seeing the Light (2009, photo by Bill Bachhuber).I’m waiting for my copy to arrive and will post more about it once I’ve had a chance to enjoy it; based on the artists involved, I know it will be just excellent.  It’s available on Amazon.
My Groundhog and Green Bean was selected for inclusion.

Also recently released is Portfolio 18,  the latest edition from SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates)  documenting the art quilt movement.

Portfolio 18 contains 241 full-color plates of SAQA Professional Artist Members' works, with geographical and genre indexes.  I’ve had work in the last several volumes and am pleased to be a part of this one as well.   It’s available in the SAQA Bookstore.

This next publication came as a happy surprise.  International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene 2011 is an annual special edition magazine, a collaboration between Quilting Arts Magazine and Quilts, Inc.,  with  feature articles, projects, and beautiful photography celebrating the best in contemporary quilting. I was thrilled to discover that this year’s edition features my Watt & Shand #6, representing the special exhibit Tactile Architecture. 

That’s a peek of Cynthia St. Charles’ beautiful Springtime in the City on the facing page.

In exhibit news, The Art of Fiber opened at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA last week, and I’m hearing a lot of good buzz online about it.  It includes two of my Watt & Shand works, #4 and #9.

Also just opened is Art Quilts XVI: Something to Say at the Chandler Center for the Arts in AZ.  This is a  highly regarded show, and I’m thrilled that Watt & Shand #3 is a part of it: 

And last but definitely not least in my embarrassment of exhibit riches is Craft Forms at the Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA:

Watt & Shand #8 is a part of this international exhibit featuring fine crafts in all media.  The opening reception is tomorrow night (12/2) and I will be attending--I am really looking forward to it as it sounds fabulous! 

I will also be at the Meet the Artists event the next afternoon, and welcome the opportunity to share my work and the story and inspiration behind it.

Lest you think I’ve been resting on my laurels, assuming I had laurels and the time to rest on them, be assured that I am currently hard at work in the studio; a lot of what I’m working on needs to stay under wraps for the time being……..but stay tuned for further adventures and updates.  And as always, a huge thank you for reading and commenting!