Some small work

I created 11 note cards that feature sea turtles and my haiku.  They're for sale at the upcoming Shrimpfest and any left over will go to the Sea Turtle Show at First Street Gallery in Neptune Beach, Florida.

Awhile back I experimented using gel medium to transfer an image of baby Max to fabric.  I then did a little weaving.  I decided to make up a little quilted hanging.  Not too creative, but cute.  I have another one that I'm debating whether to quilt up the same.  Decisions, decisions.

Shrimpfest Highlights

Here's a view of my booth at Amelia Island's Isle of Six Flags Shrimp Arts and Crafts Festival.  Lots and lots of people walked along the 8 block festival in the heat.  My husband, Jim, and I kept relatively comfortable sitting behind the tent in the shade of the trees and the umbrella.  There was a cool breeze that was evident while in the shade.  It was hot when I bopped up to tell to the folks who came in to view my work.  I received lots of wonderful compliments.                 

I did get the honor of being selected Judge's Choice.  The Shrimpfest judges choose pieces that they really like.  The chosen artists deliver the art to a central place where the judges choose the first, second, third prizes.  I didn't get one of those but still am honored to be among the chosen.  The piece is called "Wanderlust."

My son Corey is standing by his portrait.  I had just finished it the night before the festival. 

Another piece of my granddog, Barley

Isn't this just the cutest pose of a sleeping pup?  I've used a photo taken by Barley's folks and manipulated in Photoshop Elements.  I am thinking of doing a bigger one.  This one is 10 x 8." 

I am in the process of finishing up another small piece of my mother when she was young and one of my son, Corey (Barley's dad).  I've used the same process as above.  I'm quite pleased with both and will upload the finished pieces when done.

I am madly working as I have the Isle of the Eight Flags Shrimp Festival on my own Amelia Island this weekend.  And I am also getting ready for a small group show at a local bank, which has a lovely venue to show off artwork.  I must be ready next week.  EEK!   Why, oh, why, did I do this to myself?

Needle Felting another book Cover

Needle felted different sheer fabrics onto acrylic felt and machine stitched. I added ribbon and the felt palm tree to finish. This is for a Shrimpfest customer.

Shrimpfest is this weekend!

The Isle of Eight Flags Festival or Shrimpfest is this weekend in Fernandina Beach, Florida. I've done this local outdoor event for 6 years now. I love showing in my own town. It's a great festival, if I say so myself. The Island Art Association of which I'm a member runs the "Art" part of the festival. There's antiques as well as lots of shrimp and other foods. And of course, the pirates!!!!

So wish me well!

wow, April's flown by, May's here!!

Believe it or not, I've been busy. The best part about April other than my birthday is that my beautiful, artistic sister, Marlene came to visit. We, being artsy, experimented with new techniques. You know, the ones you've read about, bought the supplies that end up sitting on a shelf somewhere. Well, we experimented and had a ball. And laugh, we do laugh. That's how we stay young!

Anyway, among our experiments was one from a book "Breakdown Printing" by Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan. In a nutshell, thickened dye is painted on the back on the screen, allowed to dry and then screen clear thickened paste. Really cool! Need to experiment more - all in good time. We tried "Tray Dyeing" by the same authors. That was fun as well. I just had to use up old concentrated dyes that have been sitting in my studio refrigerator for 9 + months. I thought the dye would be weak - not so! We did some monoprinting - applying paint to freezer paper palette, making marks and then laying fabric on top and brayer. Another cool!!!! (Can't wait til I can get back to dyeing. Have to use up the new concentrated dye that is occupying my refrigerator again.) Oh, we filled our days and evenings up. What a grand time we had. We are so lucky to have each other.

After Marlene left, I promptly got back to business - had to finish up my wall doll, now named "Wanderlust." She's unique. I'm pleased. I finished up some beach scenes. And created 3 small stenciled and stamped pieces: one shrimp(Isle of Eight Flags Shrimpfest, Fernandina Beach, Florida is tomorrow!) and 2 sea turtles. I like them as well.

Tomorrow is Shrimpfest. The weather promises to be pleasure. Hooray!

Then next week, I'm off to Vegas to visit my ballerina daughter for awhile. Gotta plan for some had projects - beading motifs probably.

Spring has arrived!

We've had some very beautiful Spring weather here at the beach. My morning beach walks are delicious! Taking a deep breath once I get over the dunes sends chills down my back. I am grateful, ever so grateful!

Been creating: worked on 2 exhibits with animals as themes: Paws and Claws; and Fur and Feathers. Sent in pieces like the bird image I blogged about earlier. Did up 2 discharged black pieces with my own cat stamp. Then I did some pieces around paper dolls except I've called them cloth dolls: 2 12"squares and 4 mini ones. Just plain fun.

After this weekend's show in Greensboro, NC, I've got to finish up my discharged black wall doll - bead the pieces and parts then bead the parts together. Plus I've pieced a piece for stretcher strips. I've included an "in progress" image.

Our little island has it's Shrimpfest the first weekend in May. I'll be working up some small pieces for that. Love that show!

May the long time sun shine upon you!

Mini Art, Plus

First a report of my last show - Amelia Island Fall Festival, 1st Annual!!! Great Fall weather and good foot traffic. The show was smaller than the Island's Shrimpfest but the traffic was good. And the sales rival last Shrimpfest. Folks seem to like the smaller and more intimate show venue. I like both festivals and hopefully participate in them in the future.

Now my mini art - My small art quilts have been popular so I'm branching out, doing my collage and machine sketching - mounting each on a note card. I'm adding a bit of my personal haiku to some. I'm having fun with playing with words as well as with fabric.

I've completed another "A Day at the Beach" scene as well. Gotta take a pic of that.

I'm heading to Savannah, GA for Christmas Made in the South tomorrow. I do the show in Jacksonville Thanksgiving weekend as well.

I've included images of my mini art note cards.

Shrimpfest done for another year

Shrimpfest is over for this year. The weather and crowds were great on Saturday. I received lots and lots of compliments on my work. The sales were good as well. A highlight of the show was receiving an Award of Merit for my "Invasion of the Hearts." I just had to post an image of ribbon and quilt! The other photo I thought you might like to see is my booth - what it looks like at Shrimpfest. I have a bigger spot than is usually given due to the street planters. And I love it. I can spread out more. On Sunday, the day of the photo, we were battling rain showers off and on, so we had to move things back and forth. The winds picked up and the show closed early - a cell of higher winds was heading our way. High winds and tents/canopys are not a good thing. Sales were low as people seemed to be sightseeing on a fast pace. I didn't blame them. The weather was threatening. Another highlight of the show was the visiting of my former students. Always, it is great to see their smily faces and see how they've grown. I taught 3 - 6 year olds at the local Montessori School for 15 years until art took over my life.

Shrimp Festival is upon us

I made a little quiltlet for my brother and his wife for their 40th wedding anniversary. It had to get in the mail. Then,I went madly about finishing up the small items for Shrimpfest: pirate postcards and seamaid pins. I printed off signs and business cards. I had to reorganize the quilts: some hang to protect the embellishments; others can be easily rolled up.

Husband, Jim, and I set up the tent and display racks this evening. Now for some sleep as tomorrow starts early.

Wish me luck!

Yesterday's work

I just checked yesterday's post and noticed I forgot to write about my plans of the day. Jeez, my mind runs away from me in many directions.

I did some finishing up - backs on the beach pins and added turtle beads and embroidered sea gulls. I took photos of the gyotaku and pelican wall hangings. I made a small piece using scanned beach treasures. I tried using fusible peltex instead of 100% cotton batting. The piece certainly came out flat but it was difficult to quilt over some thick, bulky seams. Think I'll use that peltex for postcards. I've started 10 SeaMaid pins - 4" mermaids - faces and hair like my Wonderfully Wacky Women pins, adding some beads to clasped hands. Examples of SeaMaids and SeaTurtles in photo.

Today, I'm designing a small memento for my brother and his wife - they're celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary shortly. I'll finish up the pins. I want to make some pirate postcards for the Shrimpfest. Pirates are BIG in Fernandina, especially during Shrimpfest week. And I still want to print brightly colored leaves - maybe. I get extremely hyper prior to shows, especially Shrimpfest.

I've included a photo of the scanned beach treasures. I put the finds in a plastic tray and scan them, print on specially treated fabric, add borders and quilt. Easy but very stirring, I think.

Morning of inspriation and afternoon of quilting

This morning I met with my local fiber friends for our monthly gathering. We shared some of our latest work. Then got into what we wanted from the group. Different views for different folk. Just like we each have different styles of work yet the love of fiber and fabric is common. I do get inspired and energize just being with them.

I spent the afternoon machine quilting 5 small pieces - no real creativity involved. 3 are fish prints that I added top and bottom borders and two are pelicans: one using the pattern I designed before and a smaller one I drew up, added borders to those as well. I can get into a meditative state with my free motion quilting. The pieces are ready for binding. I'll finish them up tomorrow. I have to do some labelling, pricing, packaging of things tomorrow as well before I get into the next project. The Shrimpfest is approaching ever so fast.

Jazzfest closes, Shrimpfest coming

"Invasion of the Hearts" 36.5x32.5" Mixed media: fabric dyeing, leaf printing, Shiva paintstick highlights, free motion machine lace, loose appliques, beading, couching, piecing for the border and free motion quilting.

Jazzfest ended in strong winds. Luckily for us the sun added some warmth. The people traffic was nothing to compare to last year. The city had 3 Jazz venues going at the same time so the people were spread out throughout the city. Disappointed in the turnout but I certainly enjoyed the music and the people stopping by.

I'm off traveling for a few days. I'll be back blogging at the end of the week. When I get home, I'll be gearing up for Fernandina's Shrimp Festival, May 5th and 6th. A grand art/craft festival with lots of seafood to devour.

Have a great week.