NIGHT SKY

I was so pleased to receive a commission to create two small pieces in my silhouette series.  This is the 2nd piece.  The buyer expressed a desire to include a black lab in each....which was easy to do since we have our own black lab that we love. 

NIGHT SKY -  13" x 13"

Hand-dyed cotton, layered sheers, Ultra-suede, hand appliqued, hand embroidered, and hand beaded.

Note - this is the first one:   

SHOOTING STARS  - 13" X 13"

Hand-dyed cotton, layered sheers, Ultra-suede, hand appliqued, hand embroidered, and hand beaded.

COMMISSION!!

I've been hunkered down......working away on a commission for a pair of small art quilts...in my silhouette series. I purposely have stayed away from 'developing a series". Of course working in a series can be very helpful for artists looking for their own voice and to refine techniques and ideas. And honestly, I am sure I could benefit, it's just that after 30+ years as a professional in the quilt world, not to mention my age, it's not how I want to spend my time. My choice is to just get on with whatever ideas come into my head. My work is now made strictly for sale and it's clear (at least in this area) that one needs a variety of color, size, themes, style, and prices in order to stay out of the red.

1 of 2 is now complete and framed: SHOOTING STARS - 13" x 13" - Hand-dyed cotton, layered sheers, Ultra-Suede, hand appliqued, embroidered, & beaded. 

SOME STIRRINGS OF LIFE AGAIN

 Many of us are worn out by these last 6 months.....so I'm trying to focus on the positives.  Life hasn't returned to normal (will it ever??) but signs are pointing to our resilience.

Woolworth Walk Gallery, downtown Asheville, NC, where my pal Judy Simmons and I display our fiber art has seen a slow but steady return of shoppers helping to support the local small businesses.

I'm thankful to an unknown visitor who has given this piece a new home.

MARSH AT DAWN   20" X 15"

Hand-dyed silk noil, batik cottons, appliqued and machine quilted. 

 

 

RED GINKGO LEAVES

 "Red Ginkgo Leaves" is finished! I sure appreciate all the wonderful comments on my last post. Unfortunately, adding a narrow grey border to the quilted piece at this point wasn't feasible.

                                          

Next I attempted to incorporate grey piping or a flat flange to the edges, however, the addition of only a narrow strip of grey simply had no impact. In fact, no matter what fabric I used it became distracting.

 RED GINKGO LEAVES - 12.5" X 30" 

SOLD 

So I decided to bind it to provide a pronounced visual stop for the eye, rather than using a turned facing.

                                           

DETAIL

I'm very happy with the piece. I'm even more pleased and totally flattered to announce it's been purchased by a skilled fiber artist who has maintained a studio at Ginko Gallery in Oberlin, Ohio. I first met her as my student on one of my quilt tours/cruises and she's traveled with me countless times afterwards, becoming a good friend. As I said, I couldn't be happier..... thank you Nancy!

FAREWELL AND HELLO

Perhaps this should read....the tourists are coming, the tourists are coming.....

Leaf peepers throng to our mountains in the fall, and happily there seems to be a pickup in sales at Woolworth Walk.

I say goodbye to these two quilts.....Growing Strong is a favorite piece of mine.  If there had been a place to display it in our home, it would have stayed there!

 Growing Strong

Japanese Influence #3

 Sales tend to generate a lot of enthusiasm on my part to get cutting and stitching.  A dear friend gifted me a nice supply of Asian style fabric.  I've said it before (many times) patchwork is my least favorite construction style.  But heck, I have all this fabric to use......

I'm VERY persnickety about accuracy & workmanship.  In order to take advantage of fabric pattern designs, I literally cut each block with an eye to where they would be sub-cut.  Yup...they are all placed on my design wall to make sure I don't mix them up! FYI - The 2nd and 4th rows are spliced on the bottom and right side of their blocks.

 Not all blocks are sub-cut the same way.....so each of the setting strips and squares have been pre-cut. I worked on only 1 block at a time...no chain sewing.....I'm way too easily mixed up.  Each of the block pieces were arranged before stitching.

Of course I still found myself having to use the seam ripper.  I guess my attention roamed too far as I was enjoying some Project Runway binging at the same time.

Check out what other artists have created this week:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday,  Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday, and Crazy Mom Quilts.

THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE

It's such a validation when someone gives one of my pieces the honor of hanging in their home.  Thank you Eleanor!  

I'm preparing for a large, two month exhibit at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, NC which begins in April.  If like Eleanor, you've had your eye on a piece in my gallery.....consider making a decision soon..... many of the pieces will be unavailable shortly. 

THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE 15.25" X 25.75"

Artist hand-dyed, ice dyed, and deconstructed screen printed cotton. Machine stitched.  

Detail

TOUCH OF GOLD - MY MACHINE FUND!

It's certainly good to know there are readers/collectors looking at my gallery shop......and helping me reduce the deficit in my machine fund!! Thank you Janet!

" TOUCH OF GOLD" has a new home!

WHAT EVERY ARTIST HOPES FOR!

We all say it don't we?  The best validation we can receive about our work is when someone enjoys it enough to want to display it in their home.  This trio of felted wool consists of numerous layers of surface design techniques.  It's now residing in Wisconsin....and I can't think of a better place for them.

In case you missed my process posts, click here to get an overview of the steps involved to make one of these pieces.

If you are a collector, consider visiting my gallery HERE, perhaps a piece will catch your eye.

I'm curious.....since I'm in need of a sewing machine.....what are you sewing on???  What's your dream machine?

ENCOURAGEMENT

It's such a compliment when a fellow artist and follower of this blog purchases a quilt!  Really, it is.  I'll admit to becoming somewhat discouraged at how difficult it is to find a market for my work now that I'm no longer on the quilting highway. 

I investigated Etsy and was shocked when over 2,500 items came up when I searched for wall art quilts.  Yikes.....  Over and over and over I've been told photos do not do my work justice.....embellishments make that difficult, even for professional photographers.  So, placing work in galleries is helpful.  However, most not only charge 50% commission, but some also charge a rental fee for their space.....  That certainly elevates the price of ones' work!  What's a gal to do??

Well....I'm going to pull up those big girl panties and keep working at finding venues!!

SEA SHELL  

Thank you Lucina for selecting this quilt to purchase as your own birthday present!!

Preparing my quilt inventory paperwork and updating my shop has been on my 'to-do' list for awhile.  I've added quite a few more pieces to my online shop.....here's a sample of just a few.  Jump over there to browse.......

I LEFT SOME QUILTS IN MD & DE!!

Among the many highlights of my teaching trip is the food.  Both groups so thoughtfully arranged dinners at interesting restaurants.....  We are quilters after all......food is always on our minds!

My first experience at a Persian restaurant......it tasted as good as it looks.

With lots of giggling on my last night, I was told we'd be going to "Wrinkles".....Hummm...what a strange name for a restaurant.  Well...it was the nickname the group calls this establishment due to all the seniors who eat here beginning at 4:00 PM.  

I'm all smiles and so are the new owners of a number of my pieces. I'll admit to having separation pangs, but in my heart, with my retirement getting closer and closer, it's a necessary step.....made easier seeing the happy keepers of these designs.

 I'll conclude with this picture of Casey and myself......

HOME

My week long teaching & add on 'girlfriend art camp' has generated many new friends and lots of memories.  I'm now HOME.....thankfully arriving between yesterday's daytime storm and another BIG one that's breathing down our necks.  I must admit though, it's a winter wonderland outside and to quote a local pal...it looks like a snow globe.  So home is a good place to be today.

Numerous small pieces of my work now have new homes too......(sorry Nan, I missed taking a picture of you and your two new pieces!)  I'm grateful to the following.......   

Seems like most everything I had planned for this week is going to be cancelled and that should give me plenty of time to catch up on my blogging. I'll be chatting with you again real soon.  

SOLD, SOLD, SOLD

Though I'll probably always teach (I love it so much).....as some of you are aware, I've been cutting back on the number of invitations I commit to.  Instead of so much time traveling, my attention is turning more and more toward selling my work.

It pleases me so much when I have the opportunity to get acquainted with the 'keepers' of my work....  During my trip to the AQS show in Lancaster, 3 pieces were sold and will now be living in PA, NY, & GA....

 Olivia purchased "A Tisket, a Tasket" - the original quilt which appeared in my book, "Embellishing With Felted Wool".  Others from that book are available here.

 Nancy took home "Captured" - a newer piece made with felted wool and bamboo rayon felt.  The making of this piece was featured in past blogs.

And last but not least..... O.V., who loves angels....promised to love and cherish "Let's Go Left".  It's a hand appliqued, hand quilted and 3-D applique quilt featuring angels turning left toward Paduch (oh my...instead of right toward heaven!!)


You can view other pieces for purchase in my shop.....many of which have been published either in books or magazines and exhibited in quilt shows.  

FALLEN LEAF

YEAH......it's about time for some more good news.....well....good news for me anyway.

It's so rewarding to realize that one of your designs is coveted and appreciated by someone else......

Fallen Leaf 15" x 13" SOLD

Bead embellished on Woolfelt (R), machine stitching & hand embroidery

Detail

I'm thrilled that this piece has a new home.....it gives me a reason to keep creating!!

FLUTTERING BY

I've mentioned my quest to find homes for many of my show quilts and pieces that have been published in my various books. Happily, some are already being enjoyed, instead of being folded up in my pie safe and other storage places in our home.

Recently, someone who has traveled with me on several of my quilting cruises, and who I now call a friend, expressed interest in the 'cover' quilt of my DVD.

The quilt utilizes batik fabrics, reverse applique, machine quilting and lots of beading.

Like most authors, I never considered selling a quilt that was so prominently featured, but after some thought.....it seemed so right that Joyce add this piece to her butterfly collection!

.....so the 'Fluttering By' has flown off and will be enjoying mile high living! I couldn't be more pleased.

If there is a quilt in my collection.....that you'd like in YOUR collection......don't hesitate to email me to discuss the possibility.....prices are competive and fair.

FAREWELL QUILTS & COLORADO

I could say I left my heart in Colorado......

Well....perhaps so.....but I also left a few quilts which now have new homes! This 'bead appliqued' wool felt quilt is titled "Heartfelt" and is one of my very first wool quilt designs.

This button star wool quilt is the original quilt project featured in my book, "Embellishing With Felted Wool". Now, Cheryl will be displaying it in her home.....

She'll also be giving '3 In The Wind' a new home.......

Gwen now owns 'Fall Approaches' which is one of my very newest pieces and a favorite.

It's a real treat to be able to see completed work that was inspired by 0ne of my workshops. 'Vertigo' features a silk painted figure with bead embellished streaming locks. This is why we quilt instructor get on airplanes!! Thank you, thank you!!

Detail