JUMPING AHEAD

 Looking back I see none of the in progress posts about this piece made it to my blog.  I'm sorry as there were many step-by-steps......I feel it may be too confusing now to post.....so I'm jumping ahead to the finished piece.

My long time (1960's roommate who married 'the husband's roommate) sent me a photo of a watercolor she painted.  I was awed and though I've only tried to recreate a photograph a few times before, decided to have a go at this. 

 It was HARD!!!!  The construction method was quite different from my norm.....but as you know, I do like a challenge.....so here's my piece. It's available for purchase. Contact me for further details.

ADOBE BY THE SEA 

17” x 14.5”

Artist’s altered white cottons by ice-dyeing, grunge gelli printing, hand-dyeing, Prisma colored pencils, wax pastels, distress inks, thread drawing, appliqué & machine quilting.  Inspired by a watercolor painted by Sandy Smith, used with permission. Faced edges with handing sleeve attached.

Watercolor inspiration by Sandy Smith

NEW PROJECT UNDERWAY

Today I thought I'd share with you material choices....which for me can make or break a project. You might be surprised at the amount of experimenting/testing that is required as my pieces move along in their various construction phases.

The photo I posted yesterday is an example. Comments have been made about the success of the sky and water......that's all the fabric folks! It did the work for me. The sky was a piece of my hand-ice-dyed cottons. The water was gelli printed cotton, made using a 'grunge' approach where Alcohol Resist created the texture.

This work in progress started with a line drawing cloned from my good friend Sandy S's watercolor painting. It was enlarged on my home computer in sections, taping them together for the final 'pattern'. Using my window as a light box, I pencil traced onto my main fabric that had been altered with dyes/inks to provide just the right color. That was followed by VERY slow and VERY careful straight stitching. Some areas required a more pronounced outline, so testing the stitch settings on scrap fabric provided a documented guide for future use as the piece progresses.

To obtain accurate "templates" of other details....for instance this door. I traced just that section onto a stabilizer, then transferred the shape to wonder-under which was fused to a piece of blue hand-dyed cotton fabric. Once in place, details were stitched onto the door. You can see how something as simple as adding a door requires many steps.

I've come to depend on my gelli plate to provide unique textured fabrics with just the right colors for the desired motifs. Creating 'grunge' prints are my favorite!! BUT the real advantage is that similar to batiks, these fabrics do not easily fray, perfect for raw edge fusing of small detailed motifs.

I hope this overview inspires you to try some 'new to you' techniques and further reveals the length of time that is required for me to create one-of-a-kind art quilts. Keep watching for further views.

HALLOWEEN FUN!

 I am reminded that not everyone checks in with my posts on Facebook.....I apologize....I've gotten a bit lazy and neglected to post here as well.....so here's a couple of belated posts.  **This is for you Kris!!

Goofing around, having fun figuring out how to make a Platypus Halloween costume for our 11 year old Grandson. (Who for some reason is fascinated by this odd looking animal.)

Silly pictures of me trying it on....the hood didn't sit correctly for the photo (and of course 'the husband' didn't notice the eyes weren't showing!!) You'll get the idea anyway and I'm sure he'll have fun wearing it.

RIPPING!!

 After spending most of the day testing various approaches for some thread painting on my new project.....it only took 45 mins. to rip it all out.  Sometimes it just goes that way!!!

CONE FLOWERS

 Cone flowers are one of my favorite flowers.  The textured top knot, colorful petals, stately posture & long lasting blooms makes them a worthy art quilt subject.

DM if interested......my smaller, modestly priced art quilts tend to sell very quickly.

CONE FLOWERS  -12” x 17”

$165

Artist hand-dyed cottons, commercial & batik cottons, machine 

Appliquéd, & quilted. Double fold binding, hanging sleeve attached. 

SO MANY POSSBILITIES

 The final fabric selection for my next small art quilt.  For me, anticipation is always high once the subject and fabrics are chosen.  Even if this palette is rather limited, I can't wait to dig in.

 Don't we all feel that way?!?

 

FALL ARTISAN FAIRE

 **** UPDATE - ALL THE BOOKS ARE NOW SOLD.  THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INTEREST.  

After some scheduling concerns we got word that our Community Fall Artisan Faire will be held Oct. 24th at the new clubhouse.  Yeah.....thank you to the committee who have worked hard to keep this tradition going strong and better each time.

I was able to get an indoor space reserved and am now revamping my inventory/display approach. The space is considerably, by 50% smaller than previous.  Still I'm grateful to be indoors since borrowing all the equipment for outdoor use was simply not practical....nor was the set up and take down.  Without girlfriends I could never have managed the spring event alone!

That brings me to this post.  Due to space limitations, I'm  discontinuing my fabric book covers, which include a wide lined composition book.  My loss is your gain.  Take advantage of 20% - 30% off on the following:

*****. UPDATE - BLACK AND WHITE COVERS ARE SOLD!!    

DM to reserve yours.....  locals come by and select your favorites, shipping available for non-locals.

THE SECRET SAUCE

 Let your materials work for you......here's an example.  Various shades of grey fabrics become feathers.  Great right??

Now merge those fabrics, add texture, and visual interest by stitching with variegated rayon thread.  Even better, right?

JUMPING AHEAD TO THE FINISH LINE

 There are some projects that move along without hair pulling.....happily this was one.  Occasionally a few Egrets and Herons wade in a marshy area of our community in the (too short) period of time when the retaining basin fills.  Our last rainfall was early April, we haven't seen a drop at our home since.

I trust this guy is fishing elsewhere and will visit us again in the fall.

GREY MARSH HERON - 12” x 14”

SOLD

Artist ice-dyed cottons, batiks, felted wool, appliqué, hand embroidery, dense thread painting, machine quilted, faced

edges, & hanging sleeved attached.

LET THE FABRIC DO MOST OF THE WORK

Finding just the right fabric to express a theme or subject can sometimes create a happy dance.  The lower section of this ongoing small piece does just that....surely you can recognize the direction of the design.