Many of the ideas on my mental 'to-do' list seem to be pictorial. A category of wall art I love but am handicapped when creating by my lack of drawing skills.
This strange year goes on and on..... our fall here in the Blue Ridge Mountains usually features a prolonged stunning display of color. We've had some lovely days, but look....same place, same time of the day.....5 days apart and it's gone from not yet peak to almost over.
A project I abandoned twice before is now underway....determined to conquer this time. Came up with a way to transfer a (belated idea) design directly onto a motif without risking traditional marking pens/pencils. This little transfer wheel from my garment making days was used to perforate the outline of the design through tissue paper and onto the fabric. It was just visible enough to accurately add the additional motif.
Between the total frustration of 2 days trying to get my not that old printer to work with Mac's NEVER ENDING UPGRADES, I worked on creating new large and mini book covers. I'm trying NOT TO VENT!!! Why oh why can't they just stop all these constant annoying upgrades that inevitably cause more glitches!!!
I'm putting some serious time in the studio these days......ideas are flowing.
Hand ice-dyed cotton, appliquéd & machine quilted. Mounted on canvas covered frame with fabric back,ing, prepared for hanging or display on a table top easel.
After a social distancing local car club drive for breakfast to Hot Springs, NC, we headed off with friends for a hike.
Lovers Leap Loop trail is a semi challenging hike along the French Broad River which is adjacent to the famous Appalachian Trail in the Pisgah National Forest. Beautiful views along the way but you MUST watch where you are walking. Lots of tree roots and rocks to trip over. I'm happy I brought my walking stick....some of the steps were very steep. You slowly gain about 500 ft. elevation and according to literature, it can be hiked in about an hour. Make that nearly twice a long with slippery leaves and a 5-10 min. walk to where cars can park.
Spectacular fall day here in the mountains....here's some photos of our journey.
Gosh, the ideas keep flowing......here's another new piece I've been working on.
IN FLIGHT - 12” x 12”Hand ice-dyed silk noil, marbled raw silk, appliquéd & quilted with metallic thread. Mounted on canvas covered frame with fabric back,ing, prepared for hanging or display on a table top easel.
The black and white theme continues with this new companion piece, again featuring 3 birds.
Fall color is just beginning here in the Western North Carolina mountains. Unfortunately, we've had so much rain, causing the leaves to drop so rapidly that I fear it will a very short display and less colorful. However, we are enjoying mild days, despite the almost constant moisture (which if you have a well like we do, it's a good thing!).
More often than not, the mental vision that first strikes me for a new project, whether it's clear or fuzzy can have very little in common with the end result. I planned on using colorful polka dot fabrics for the birds, but after hours of trying to get a happy combo, I reverted to black and white and came up with this striking contrast.
Pieced & applique cottons, embroidered & machine quilted.
Mounted on canvas covered frame, finished fabric back,
prepared for hanging or display on a table top easel.
So darn happy that another piece sold via the internet from my online gallery. I've been trying to increase my visibility and not sure if it's just coincidence or the time I've spent teaching this old dog new tricks!?!
It validates what I'm doing and inspires me to continue.....thank you Canadian Karen!
With this narrow wall in my Woolworth Walk Gallery space in mind, I've been creating some smaller & narrow pieces to display. (Located in downtown Asheville, NC on Haywood St. in the historic Woolworth building, completed with original soda fountain.)
With so many homes now featuring open concepts, finding space to hang a larger art quilt may be difficult, however many of us have this type of area in our homes. Perhaps these pieces will find a new one!
 |
| After over 6 months of zero face to face connection with my PTA (Professional Textile Artists fiber group) with social distancing, we gathered on the driveway Barbara's home. Barbara's husband built a rock surrounded fire pit that kept us warm until the sun was able to climb over the mountain. |
We went on to enjoy our brown bag lunches, share recommendations of books to read and TV shows to watch, and concluded with roasting marshmallows for s'mores. We hope for a lengthy Indian Summer which will allow us at least one more outside meeting.
