BACKGROUND MEETS FOREGROUND

Between head banging trying to figure out my new Brother Cut n Scan machine, time has been spent creating a background for a new project that will feature a machine cut tree. 

Though I normally use my own hand-dyed fabrics, this piece uses a combination of commercial and my ice-dyed cottons.  As is typical for my landscape art quilts, it is constructed on a stabilizer.....(Pellon non-fusible light weight)

Finally, I managed to cut a usable tree!!  

                                         

A few clouds are just the beginning of the many additions I'm planning on adding.....stop back to see how this develops.

PLUGGING AWAY

 My quest to understand this new tool (Brother Cut n Scan) continues.  I now know though the machine can see and scan thin channels like branches, that doesn't mean it can cut useable ones.  

The tree was cut.....but in most skinny areas, it simple fell apart. 

This one was better (not my first attempt LOL)

SOMETHING FISHY

Yeah!!! So happy to have finished art quilt #2 in 2023....a fun whimsy way to begin the year and ignore the rather wintery January weather we've been having.

SOMETHING FISHY - 25" X 17"

Available here

Appliquéd cottons, embroidery, & machine quilted. 

Bound edges.  Fabric hanging sleeve.

PERSISTENCE!!!

 Talk about a learning curve.....I'm embarrassed to share just how long it took for me to scan and cut two words of text and 1 skinny tree using my new Brother Scan n' Cut machine. None of the steps are intuitive...at least for me. As the photos indicate - my first cutting was a total failure. Leading me to learn how to mirror image the scanned words, make them larger, & create more space between letters......

I still can't figure out why my line drawing of the skinny tree scanned correctly but after saving, only a few lines showed up. Over and over I repeated the process.....finally after retracing it on new paper it worked. But the cutting was a mess....maybe the motif branches were too narrow. So at the end of the day I accomplished what I set out to do......in what I thought would take an hour!! Persistence!!

LOVE SEEING THE HOMES MY PIECES NOW HAVE

 It's rare to learn who purchases one of my pieces from the gallery....although sales directly from me fill in those blanks.  To actually see where they now reside is a true gift.  Learning the story behind the new owner's passion for a specific piece is even better.  That an inspiration I had converts to such happiness is a thrill.

From the buyer who has purchased a number of pieces from me over the years: 

 "Once I saw that art quilt, I just KNEW it was mine. It was a treat for me to spend 2 weeks in the summer at my grandmother’s farm.  If I wanted to play with the tenant’ s daughter, I had to help her with her chores.  One of them was plucking the chickens.  From that, a collection was born with your art quilt the last addition.

Thought you’d like to see the quilt in its’ new home."

From Mary:      Thank you for sharing with my followers.......and I know we can all say....we love your collection of funky chickens!

ALMOST HEAVEN - new work

Once I got the evergreen boughs cut, I became obsessed and in a finishing mode.  So my first art quilt of 2023 is now complete!

                                                 ALMOST HEAVEN

26” X 17” © Mary Stori

Artist hand ice-dyed cottons & batiks, appliquéd, 

thread stitched, & densely quilted by machine. Edges finished with hand stitched double fold binding. Fabric hanging sleeve attached.

This piece will be in my home inventory for the time being.  If interested contact me directly.  

FUN WITH A NEW TOOL

Unlike many quilters, I don't embrace all the new tools that flood the shops & shows.  Seems there is a nifty specialty ruler introduced every week.  

My Christmas gift from son/family was a Brother Scan n' Cut machine.  Our small Fiber Frenzy group was introduced to it in the fall and I could really see how helpful it would be for me.

Now, my head is spinning thanks to my pal Kathie who gave Judy Simmons and me a comprehensive lesson on our new Scan n' Cut Brother machines. WOW....so much to learn. Both of us did videos as we went through the many options of the machine....lots of stops/starts talking over each other & mistakes that helped us learn. 

I came home with evergreen boughs to add to my new landscape art quilt. Here's a sneak peak which of course needs to be appliquéd before adding final touches to the art quilt.

CATCHING SOME STUDIO TIME

 Some much needed studio time was finally accomplished.....short bouts of indecision as I shuffled fabric here and there.  I feared I  lost my creativity.  Determination is my middle name so I came away with an art quilt background that awaits the focal motifs I have planned. 

Here's some in progress views......

Building layers on Pellon stabilizer

All pinned and ready to stitch

Notice here how I blended the spottiness of the ice dyed fabrics away (above photo) with the aid of fabric colored pencils.

Detail of some stitching that's been added.

Please visit again to see what comes next.

DARN IT!!!

Congrats. to the Lions....they came to play despite their playoff status. Packers didn't! Hoping Love can fit into their starting roster next year. I'm still a fan and will always be a fan.....

GO PACK GO!!!

 As the entire state of WI holds its breath tonight, so will millions of fans like me, glued to their TV, or devices to cheer on the green and gold.....

Hoping #12 and #25 (among others of course) led the team to a winning game and onto the playoffS!   GO PACK GO!!!

OVERDUE UPDATE

 2022 has been a rough year for 'the husband' with 5 hospital surgery/stays.  We closed out the year in mid. Dec. with what we hope will be a final one.  Estimated recovery 8-10 weeks (before the complications set in!)

That brought my studio work again on hold. Now that 2023 is beginning to look more positive, I'm itching to get back to work.

That brings me to what I consider a very flattering note left in my space at Woolworth Walk by an anonymous visitor.  One actually I agree with, but when one is competing for sales in an area that is overflowing with artists the value of our work is sadly often reduced.....  

I appreciate the thoughts.......and say to you readers......why not go to my online gallery and pick up a bargain!?!?  ha ha..