Small Works

Most of the piecing and embroidery were down while on a trip to and from visiting my grandchildren.  I am so grateful I can stitch in the car!   These are a part of a seemingly never-ending love of doing beach scenes.  These are 6 x 6" and attached  to gallery wrapped frames.   Just plain fun! 

I'm entering these in "Small Works" an exhibit in my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit.

Yippee!!!!  I won an Honorable Mention!

Morning Tea and Healing Doll

 "Morning Tea" is my entry for the Nouveau Art exhibit entitled "Everyday Stuff" being held by my local Island Art Association.  Last minute is NOT the way to go.  I enjoy my tea each and every morning using an old teapot my old nursing school roommate gave my eons ago.  I thought of that teapot as soon as I read about the theme.  The background is a not-so-great deconstructive screen print I attempted with my sister.  I tore it in strips and did some weaving.  I rather like the effect.  Lesson: never give up on something.  I photographed my teapot and used the outline to stitch upon an old tea towel I embroidered as a little girl.  Just love it.  All stitched down, stretched on stretcher bars, photographed, then realized the teapot melts into the background.  If I had more time, I would have taken it apart and machine stitch or something to bring out the teapot.   Since time ran out, I handstitched around the edge - better, but not great.  Oh well.  Lesson: spend more time in the design!

The next project was a healing doll for a friend of mine just diagnosed with breast cancer.  The whole poem or rather a song of "Deep Peace" is quite moving.  I'll post the source later.  Hope the words I chose and the doll itself bring comfort and peace to this dear friend.

  

Some of my latest.

"3 Faces of Beryl"

"3 Faces of Beryl" is another piece I put in my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art exhibit entitled "Black and White."  I was experimenting with monotype drawing of the faces - all fabric.  I chose the title as we were in the mist of the topical storm "Beryl" when I was working on it.  It didn't win anything but was accepted into the show, so I was pleased.  This is the same show my book won "Honorable Mention!"

The following are 3 fabric collages that I now have hanging in the Butterfield Garage Art Gallery in St. Augustine, Florida along with several other older pieces.  Butterfield created a really beautiful room for a bunch of us fiber artists.  Two of us are "wall" artists and the others are wearable art folks.  The Opening is this Friday night!  I'll upload some images after the opening.

I spent some time this afternoon collaging old book pages to future leaf printed cards like the one in the middle.  I'll be printing soon.  How I love to print leaves!

The following image, though sideways - sorry, are some of the notecards I made for a very loyal client!  Sieta orders cards every so often!  I'm lucky!  I collage papers and images printed on fabric and then stitch a little.

Lastly, this image is one I've been working on - first on the computer with  Picasa- sharpening it, posterizing it, etc.  It's of my great nephew and my grandson.  Michael took Max's hand and led him to the bubbles!  Ever so cute.  I've done a lot of stitching, working in the faces a bit.  Next comes the background and machine quilting.  I'm trying to talk myself into entering it into a fancy fiber show.  We shall see once I get it completed.  Of course, I ask for some feedback from friends and family. 

Til next time!  Create something, anything - play - it does your heart good!

So Tickled

The Language of Leaves IV won Honorable Mention at my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit entitled "Black and White!"  I'm pleased to say the least.  I thoroughly enjoyed the leaf printing - some monotypes involved and some stitching.  No fabric, only paper.  More bookmaking is in the future! Check the last post for more images of the pages.

Latest, very latest work

The following two pieces are mixed media:  the top one is a collage of different papers:  the second is a painted background, collaged moon, and nature printing.  Both for for the upcoming Nouveau Art Exhibit at my local Island Art Association.  The theme is "And let there be light."  I was majoring stuck with this theme using my favorite media - fabric and decided to work with paper.  I had a ball.  Hope the two pieces are accepted into the show.  Time will tell.

Bright Beacon, 15x11, matted and framed by Diane Hamburg

Full Moon, 12x12, framed by Diane Hamburg

 Last week, I taught a nature printing workshop at the Art Association.  The "students" printed shirts, dish towels, and notecards.  I introduced collage to the notecards first then leaf printed.  Here's an example of the notecards I did.

An example of leaf printed notecards and envelopes

The above is my "caterpillar" bracelet.  A good fiber/bead artist, Ronnie Melnick, taught this technique to my local "Itching to Stitch" group:  artists, quilters, crafters.  It took me awhile but it's done.  I love it.  And I plan to create at least one more - a sea/beach theme.  It's absolutely a hoot to wear!

Another Fabric Portrait



One Plus One Equals Three by Diane Hamburg

This fabric portrait is one of my daughter, Kara, and her husband, Matt.  The photo was taken by a friend of Kara's while Kara was waiting for baby Max to enter the family.  The faces were done using Ellen Lindner's technique Double Reverse Applique.  The background was the challenge!  The show this was made for is entitled "Split Complements."  I had to design a background using the split complementary colors of the blue dyed fabrics I used for the faces.  After several tries, I ended up with a mixed media background - I collaged old book pages using matt medium and heat adhered painted silk organza on top of a dyed blue fabric that was painted using a stencil and Shiva oilsticks.  I'm pleased with my efforts.

And I am pleased to have received an Honorable Mention for this at my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit.

3 New Pieces

"Just Another Parrotthead" 23 x 20" (c) Diane Hamburg

I just finished "Just Another Parrotthead" for my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit entitled "It's 5 o'clock somewhere."  My husband came up with the idea of using the parrot and a margarita.  I used Ellen Lindner's technique of double Reverse Applique!  Please go to Ellen's website to learn more about this very versatile technique.  I've fallen in love with it!

I created the following art pieces in June but forgot to photograph them before sending them off to FAN - Fiber Artists Network - my local fiber group.  We're completing our challenge to create fiber work for our 52 Pick up - really 54 cards are portrayed, including 2 jokers.  We'll be exhibiting the whole deck at Jacksonville, Florida's Quiltfest in September.  We're even making the deck into actual playing cards to sell!  Check FAN.

"3 of Clubs"  24 x 15.5" (c) Diane Hamburg

The background for the "3 of Clubs" was created using the wonderful mixed media techniques I learned from Valeria Goodwin during her workshop held in Florida this past June.  I will do this more and more.  It's such fun!   The turtle's were traced onto organza and fused down.

"4 of Spades" 14 x 15.5" (c) Diane Hamburg

The "4 of Spades" started with a dropcloth - painted and repainted in time as I worked on other printing projects.  I added some stenciling to unify the cloth and then used white paint as a light wash to tune it down.  The trees and grasses were appliqued on using fusible web.

I'm off to Europe for 3 weeks.  I hope to come back full of inspiration.  I know I'll come back eager to get back in my studio!  Bon Voyage!

Best of Show



So Many Memories  (c) Diane Hamburg  28x22"

I'm thrilled to no end!  My "So Many Memories" - a fabric portrait of my mother won "Best of Show" at my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit entitled "Cherished Memories."  Yeah!!!!!!  I took this photo of mom as she held her newest great grandson, Max, for the first time.  Max was the reason for the smile!

A Man and His Dog

"A Man and His Dog"  won third prize at my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Show entitled "Best Friends."  I'm so very excited!

Work in Progress

Another portrait in the making.  I dyed and overdyed cottons to try to get good values.  I'm thinking it's a bit on the dark side but i think I'll finish it up for my local Island Art Association's  www.islandart.org new Nouveau Art Challenge "Best Friends."  It's my son, Corey and his dog, Barley.  They have both been previous subjects of mine.

One Touch of Nature Fabric book

I had a ball creating my nature book this past weekend. I printed some leaves on pages - direct printing and some monotypes. I used some of my previously hand dyed fabrics. I also had a grand time looking up quotes about leaves and about nature to add to the pages. I printed the sayings on transfer paper and ironed them in place. Sure have to remember not to get the hot iron anywhere near the transfers. I included some of the pages - 24 pages altogether.

I entered this book and my Leaf Reflections in the Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit - "Nature's Notebook" is the theme. I forgot to mention that I was awarded an Honorable Mention for "Silent Charlie" in the last Nouveau Art show. I am honored to be honored!!!!!!

New Work

"Silent Charlie", 24 x 12" on stretcher bars, was a last minute piece I've created for the latest Nouveau Art show at my local Island Art Association. The theme is "Art at the Movies." For some odd reason, Charlie Chaplin just got stuck in my mind, so I gave me and created this piece. Fun to do! "Amelia's Heron", 22 x 14" on stretcher bars, was created using my own image of the heron that visits the beach where I walk. He always brings a smile to my face. Ever so graceful in his search for his meal.

I have a sea gull in the making. The gull is fused, so all I have to do is create the watery background.