PURPLE SUNSET

Nearly 3 weeks into this project and it's finally finished.  It was transformed from the initial concept of recreating a photo using fabric as the medium, to simply echoing the majesty of a purple sky.  Purple skies are actually quite rare, but they are a completely natural phenomenon.

Sonji M. posted this photo on 12/2/25 on the Heritage Placer Vineyard Facebook page.....it immediately inspired me. I don't recall ever seeing one quite like this.  

Though my vision for this piece changed after several creative construction pivots.....I'm very pleased with the outcome.  If you are interested in giving it a home....please connect.

PURPLE SUNSET - created by Mary Stori

14” X 14”

Artist hand painted cottons with water soluble wax crayons & 

pencils, gel printing, and Procion dyes.  Raw edge appliqué, densely

 quilted, hand embroidery, faced edges with hanging sleeve.

 

Photo credit Sonja Marino 12/2/25

PIVOTING

 Is the third time the charm?    

After two weeks, I have yet to capture the colors nor the desired airy appearance of Sonja's photo. So I'm pivoting for the third time. Now I'm considering Sonja's photo project as 'landscape inspiration', rather than 'fabric recreation'.

AND I'm totally okay with that!! No need to beat myself up by calling it a failure, instead this difficult project has evolved to a positive desirable outcome which utilized my depth of skills developed over 30+ years of quilt making.

THREE CHEERS!!! Reveal coming soon......

Thread painting partially completed

Background stitched

Background 'edited'

TRY, TRY AGAIN

 You know what they say....If at first you don't succeed, try try again......  In this case it might mean again & again.  

Using Water soluble wax pastels and pencils.....the background is now ready for some dense stitching which should further clarify the look I'm aiming for.....  stay tuned....

FAILURE??

 Geesh.....some projects are simply hair tearing experiences. I RARELY give up on a piece, in fact I can't remember the last time I did!

My current art quilt is now on its 3rd try! I spent an entire day gel printing purples/pinks and other "sunset" colors onto white cotton fabric. After overnight drying, the following day I was raring to tackle a scene depicted in a photo (thank you Sonja M.) posted in our community Facebook page. No matter how I manipulated the fabrics, the design failed to materialize. 

So I gave up working with those printed fabrics and decided to begin by creating a tree in silhouette form. It took me hours and hours to thread paint the shape onto water-soluble film. Once the film was dissolved I realized the stitching was too dense. Humm...will I make another thread tree or shift to fabric??

And finally more time was (perhaps) wasted as I attempted to 'dye-paint' the background fabric to obtain a less harsh appearance.

It has not been a joyful time in the Stori studio these last few days....stay tuned....I'll either solve the design problems or become bald. FYI: Sonja's inspiration photo is the last one posted here.....

TWEET TWEET

 JUST finished....30 mins. ago!!

Inspiration struck after noticing so many recent posts and references to bird nests.  Nature at her finest!

                                   TWEET TWEET - 15” x 15”

 AVAILABLE in online shop

Artist ice-dyed silk noil, gel printed cottons, rust dyed 

felted wools, batiks.  Raw edge fused appliqué, machine 

quilted. Double fold binding, hanging sleeved attached.

NEGLECTED BLOG.....

 I realized I've been neglecting this blog......so few readers access blogs these days, reverting to Facebook instead where I tend to post more regularly. My bad!!

I'm often asked where my design ideas come from. I don't have a written 'list' that I refer to, rather inspiration can hit from repeated images or a specific subject that I'm exposed to repeatedly, in a short amount of time, or one that begins as an itch and over time, needs to be scratched.

I wasted no time beginning a new project after the close out of our communities Spring Artisan Faire this past weekend. This theme was definitely a result of similar posts I've seen very recently. Can you guess where I'm heading??

NEW WORK - LADIES OF THE WOODS

 The redo of the silk noil from my previous post certainly was an inspiration for this new piece.

LADIES OF THE WOODS - 13” x 13”

$150

Artist dyed silk noil, mono printed cottons, Ultra-Suede, 

raw edge fused appliqué, & thread play. Wrapped on a canvas 

frame & secured in a black wood frame without glass. 

NOTE: White birch trees are so named because they 

are the first trees to leaf out in the spring.

I HEAR IT CALLING

 No sooner did the re-do on a piece of silk noil that had been previously dyed become dry.....it started calling me.

I wanted to add one more small framed piece to my inventory for the upcoming our Heritage Placer Vineyard Artisan Faire (May 2nd), happily that piece sold within hours of sharing it online.

Of course that was all the push I needed to hear the call of this newly revamped piece of fabric.  Here's another look at the fabric inspiration and a how I'm integrating it into a new design.  Watch for the reveal soon....

 

MY SISTER'S FAVORITE FLOWER

 A display of Lily of The Valley plants caught my eye recently and the images have stuck with me, mainly because it was a favorite of my twin sister.

Perhaps it will be one of yours too.  Now available.  SOLD YEAH....ANOTHER SUPER FAST SALE IN 5 HOURS....  

LILY OF THE VALLEY -  13” x 13”

SOLD

Genuine rare vintage Shweshwe & Kashmel Indigo cotton, printed in England & South Africa under names such as 3 Cats. Batik and commercial cottons. Raw edge fused appliqué, hand embroidery.

Prismacolor enhancement. Wrapped on canvas frame & secured in a white wood frame without glass. 

REDO

 This piece of Procion dyed silk noil has been quietly asking for its turn for quite awhile.  Despite fondling it numerous times, it wasn't connecting with any design ideas.

Often my designs are inspired by the fabric itself.....this one, not so much.  What the heck....the light areas were distracting...why not make them go away?

Out came several tan/brown acrylic paints which I diluted with water and "painted" the solution in the offending areas.

Now we are talking....I mean the fabric and me......