Capital of Texas QuiltFest

SAQA Studio Art Quilt Association
Annual Fund Raising Auction
Starting September 10, 2012, you can place a bid on individual quilts.  There are so many quilts, they have been divided into 3 groups, with an additional set going to the International Quilt Festival.  Each week a different group is offered.  See the details and dates of the reverse auction here. 

Meanwhile, the organizers invited the participants to pick their favorites and make a small virtual collection out of them.  I found it to be so fun, I made 10 collections (so far!).  And while making the little dream collections I found out a little about choices that affect curators and jurors.  Sometimes it is not about the quality of the piece that is rejected, but more about how it looks with others.

In making my collections I found myself drawn to pieces that I didn't notice at first.  However, when put into a collection the individual quilts, they weave a story together that they can't tell alone.  It fascinated me!  Especially because the works were made by individuals working alone.  And serendipitously come together with works by others.  It's the individual vs. the collective whole.  Magical!  I highly encourage you to look through all the offerings and find your favorite or favorites.  Many, many outstanding works of art this year!

Forest Stories

What the Blue Eye Saw

Super Lovely

Meadows

A Bit of Black

Blue Calm

Aqua Abstractions

In the Field

Abstract Journeys

Stories not Forgotten

Footnote:  There is a certain amount of regret in posting these, because in doing so, there are many others that weren't posted.  It gives me a whole new frame of reference when my quilts are rejected from a show.  And believe me, I do get a lot of rejections.  I think I have learned from this experience, that it is not always a bad thing if my work doesn't "play well with others".  It just means that it is an original voice and meant to stand alone. 

And no matter how much success I have, the rejections always sting a bit.  It is the one saving grace of blogging.  If I make some art, and it does not get juried into a show, I know it will at least have some audience with my readers and not be completely unseen.  So, thanks to you, my readers, for stopping by!

Quilting Makes the Quilt

Quilting Makes the Quilt

This is the title of one of the most influential books I used early in my quilting history.  It's by Lee Cleland, and if you haven't seen it, you should.  It will transform you.  One quilt pattern was replicated and quilted differently by 4 or 5 different people.  It is surprising and wonderful!

So when I design a quilt, the design of the quilting lines plays a prominent role. It's another layer of design that can truly enhance your quilt or merely hold it together.  I am often stumped at this point and will take a number of ideas to try out, and draw on a photo, or put tracing paper on the quilt and try out some different designs.

For example, see the blocks below.   Each of the blocks is a different color but essentially it is one design theme.  How to quilt them?

How would you quilt it?  What color of thread would you use? Would you quilt it in curves?  around the circles?  Straight lines?  stipple?  The fabric is so bright that you might ask if the quilting pattern will even show enough to make a difference....

That's when I decided to experiment using a different quilting pattern with each block, and a different set of threads.  (Don't forget to click on the pictures if you want a closer view.)  I don't mind changing thread colors, and I have lots of lots of wonderful colors from Superior Threads.  I also don't mind quilting patterns that have a lot of stops and starts, which is probably a good thing because it allows me to be freer in my design decisions.  If you were drawing a picture with a box of crayons, would you limit yourself to only one color, and picking up and putting down your crayon only once?? Not a perfect analogy because crayons are much easier to change than thread, but you get the idea.

I had a great time with this project because it never became repetitive and boring.  It was a fun challenge to do the over 70 blocks each with a different design.  And because I used black fabric on the back, you can really see the quilting designs and color choices.  And on the front, regardless of the quilting design, or thread color, it still makes a much more subtle look to the work than you might have anticipated, especially from a distance.  But step up close...and WOW!  It adds a new dimension that is fabulous and engaging!

I hope that if you are still stippling or stitching in the ditch with matching thread, you will be inspired to try something new!

Excitement in the Air!!

Excitement in the Air!!
Tomorrow the International Quilt Festival opens in Long Beach, CA for 3 days.  I have a new piece making it's debut there and it is a bit of a sentimental piece for me, Morning Commute with Sweet Jane (here, and here).  It is in the exhibit called Rituals curated by Dinner @ 8 artists, Jamie Fingal and Leslie Jenison.  It is sponsored this year by Moore's Sewing Centers. And even though I will not be able to attend the new opening of the show, it will travel to Houston this fall, and I can not wait to see it!!

Additionally the book, which has all the quilts in it, is available for purchase now.  You can click on the photo on the sidebar.  A preview is also available. I just LOVE the cover showing slices of a number of quilts.

Also in Long Beach, I will have a quilt in Tactile Architecture, Central Park, and a group piece called Artists' Village, an amazing collection of 3D fiber houses made by an incredibly talented group of artists!! It is fun!

Flower Garden close up of French knots

Artist Village

Next on the list, I have had some recent publicity, which is always good for the ego!  In the International Quilt Festival Houston Class Catalgue, there is a picture of my quilt, A Few of My Favorite Things, used to promote the exhibit of Lone Stars III book.  Awesome!  It's on page 48!

And, last, our new collaboration to sell small works of art in groupings of 8 or 4 is almost sold out!! I am so happy that this has been so successful so quickly!  New works are in the making to restock our offerings!
Check it out!  Art Box csa (community supported artists)!  or you can click on the link in the sidebar too!!

Art Box csa

Purple Passion Patchwork

Purple Passion Patchwork
60" x 73"

I made this lap quilt for a friend of mine who loves purple.  She has been a long time friend and great supporter. This is a surprise for her and I can't wait to give it to her.  Fortunately, I can post about it here because she doesn't use a computer.  And, it is SO FUN to return to patchwork, if only for a while.  It is so peaceful. The top is completed, but it still needs quilting.  Luckily, she won't need it for a while since it is so hot here!

Great News: Art Box csa!

Great News: Art Box csa!
community supported artists
Update: this site has been closed.

Today is the official launch of our new creative endeavor, Art Box csa!  Eight artists have joined together to create small works of art at affordable prices.  The art is grouped into boxes and available as a full set of 8 pieces or a half box of 4 pieces.  I am so proud to be included in this distinguished group of artists!
We are:

Jamie Fingal

Judy Coates Perez 

Lyric Kinard

Deborah Boschert

Leslie Jenison

Desiree Habicht

Kathy York 

Sue Bleiweiss

The idea sprang from community supported agriculture; paying a fee and having a basket of vegetables and fruits delivered to your doorstep.  However, instead of produce, you will be getting small works of art from us!  Each artist made 8"x 8" pieces that are framed or wrapped on a canvas the same size (and 1 1/2" deep).  See mine here.

I was inspired by watching grackles in my yard.  Ready to play with a new technique of putting dye directly in the soy wax, I got busy and made a number of fat quarters.  It was so fun!  I just love doing this!  When you draw shapes with the wax, you are painting the color on at the same time!

Then the background was hand painted with thickened dye, and the piece was steamed to set the dyes.  After that I boiled the piece to get the remaining wax out, and completed the process with a wash and dry!

Next I cut the fat quarters into 4 pieces, pieced an aqua border around the central motif, sandwiched with batting and backing, and then machine quilted.  Last I added a lot of embroidery to the bird, which I just LOVED the texture it created, and did some hand quilting to finish off the piece.  Last, I stitched the corners and snugged it into a canvas, stapling on the back.  Click on the photos to see them larger.

side view

front view

Sorry, there are a limited number available.  You can purchase these directly from our CSA website.

Coming soon!!....sneak peek

Coming soon!!....sneak peek

I was invited to participate in a very special project a few months ago.  I am so excited to tell you about it, but our launch date isn't until tomorrow.  Until then, just a few photos for you! Please come back and visit tomorrow!!

A tisket, a tasket, a kitten in a basket.

A tisket, a tasket, a kitten in a basket.

All grown up.  This is my kitten before he was my kitten.  Weeks after discovery and when we were still looking for homes, for ALL of them.  He looks so cute in the basket!

 Same basket, 4 years later.  He's the biggest cat in the bunch, weighing in at 18 pounds.  And both of my human kids, at ages 15 and 11, are now taller than me too.  How did this happen so fast?

Lovebirds

Lovebirds
15" x 36"

I have finished my commission and wanted to share it with you.  I was contacted by a third party for this commission.  They had a client, a hospital, who wanted a piece for their new children's reception area.  I was very excited to work on this project!  After agreeing upon terms, I set out to design something to fit the size they wanted.  I immediately knew what I wanted to do, they had a theme of "Home" in mind, and I made a quick sketch.  This sketch was later drawn full scale, which was a real help when it came time to construct it.

After the client approved the design, they wanted to see it with colors.  The contract said that they wanted it done in pink and blue, I think because that was the paint colors of their walls.  This became a real difficulty for me because I don't work in pastels, or even just two colors.  However, I pulled out a fabric palette of lovely pinks and blues.  I then scanned them in and set them as a "design" in Photoshop.  Then I selected the shape and filled with the fabric choices.  In this way I was able to get a pretty good idea of what the fabrics would look like cut to their specific shapes and collaged to make the quilt surface.  I was not excited about the piece anymore.  Color is just so important to me, that I really struggled with this.  Many of the fabrics I initially chose were replaced with others as I continued to audition the fabrics.  Very time consuming and ultimately not ideal....in my mind.

However, I sent the photos with several choices and waited to hear back so that I could continue.  Weeks passed.  ACK!! What is happening? Did they change their minds?  No, they didn't.  They rejected my color scheme of pink and blue, and said they really wanted something in my more typical color palette.  Add some more colors.  And use brights!  REALLY? Okay!!!  I dashed to the studio, and pulled out an entirely new set of fabrics.  Within an hour, I had the whole thing colored in with colors I craved!    Sent the new photo and it was accepted really quickly.

What I learned from this commission is that people are drawn to my work for many reasons.  If I am going to make something for someone else, it has to stay true to my sense of design and color, at least to a certain extent, otherwise, it won't look or feel like my work.  Interesting!

Here is the complete quilt:

And there are always a few minor changes when moving from the drawing to the fabric stage.  For example, the birds' shapes have changed slightly, and I used multiple fabrics for the background which doesn't show in the drawing.  Here's a few closeups of the birds and the decks.  That baby bird is just so darn cute!  I love the little tufts of embroidery floss on top of his head!

And because kids LOVE rainbows, I knew I wanted some element of the quilt to have rainbows, so I used some of my hand dyes to make the greys in the pole, and for the multi-colored ribbon going up the pole:

And for the weathercock, I had to add a fish, because I just love the ocean and fish, I needed a small representative of myself in the quilt.

And last, you may remember this little quilt, The Blue Birds and their Orange House.  This was a quilt that I donated to the Alliance for American Quilts.  It is very similar to this quilt.  I made it first and it really helped me as a prototype to learn to construct this house for the commission.  Seems like I am drawn to birds again, which I have worked on before (see the Art Quilt:  Bird Series on my sidebar, in the Labels section.)

I really have had so much fun making both these little quilts that it would not surprise me in the least to dream up another bird quilt!

Organizing Threads

Organizing Threads
I have a simple system of organizing my embroidery floss.  One box (the blue one) has the cool colors and one box (the yellow one) has the warm colors.  The only problem is .....it is not working very well.

It is not impossible to get what I need.  I can sift through and pull out a wad or skein of color I need for a project.  I put a piece of fabric on the arm of my couch and lay out the thread, thimbles, scissors, etc.  When the cats are annoying (when aren't they??), I fold the excess fabric over the threads and then the cats will not leave their fur on my threads, or steal the threads and take them all over house playing, "chase the mousie". 

In this case I used a large range of colors, and so it looks pretty.  I honestly wish I were more organized so that the task of looking for what I need would be easier.  Then I saw Laura Wasilowski's post and realized that it IS possible.  And if you follow the link, you will get the added bonus of seeing Laura and Frieda playing with thread on their heads!  :)  It is however, unlikely that I will organize the big mess in my two box system.  I might however, start using their method for the new skeins that I purchase.  The seed has been planted...  :)

The Blue Birds and Their Orange House

The Blue Birds and Their Orange House

I made this piece for the Alliance for American Quilts.  I have recently joined this group, and decided to make a quilt for their fundraising efforts!  The contest is called Home is Where the Quilt Is.  Even the title is inspiring! It will tour first and then be auctioned off, I think eBay?  You can see more details here.  It is their annual contest with really awesome prizes.  I am dreaming big and keeping my fingers crossed for that grand prize of a Sweet 16!  It could happen, right? Well, here is my entry....

I just LOVE how sweet this little quilt is.  Flag blowing in the breeze, flowers on the front deck.  The baby bird with his mouth open, presumably chirping for food as the parents meet in mid air above him.  It's just sweet and very appealing to me!  Here is my statement about the quilt:

For me, home is all about love and family. In this piece, a pair of blue birds greet each other while their hungry baby chirps below. With a garden deck and a green door, the orange house provides ample room for their family with room to grow!

And, one very special thing about the Alliance is that after you submit your entry, they have you record your own voice reading the artist statement.  I think that's pretty cool!  Also, the Alliance has many other cool projects, one of which is interviews with quilters, Quilter's SOS, Save Our Stories.  The interviews are available for listening, or reading the transcripts.  I recorded one last fall, but it hasn't been transcribed yet.  It was part of a project to record the oral interviews of quilters published in the book Lone Stars III:  A Legacy of Texas Quilts. They interviewed so many of the quilters, that it is taking a while to process them all!  I say the more the merrier!!

detail of the blue bird family

detail of the deck and flowers

my cat, sleeping in front of the birds, lol!