Show Opening coming up!

 Here's the announcement.  It's always a good feeling to have my fiber work amongst the painters!  The following images are pieces of my work that were included in the show

Monoprinted fabrics along with hand dyes

 Reduction using beach, then hand stitching after minimal machine quilting.

 Beach discharge, minimal machine stitching then hand stitching.

The following two pieces are mixed media:  painted backgrounds, leaf printing, collage.

 Encrusted embroidery,  objects first embedded then hand stitching.

 Monoprints on fabric, piecing, machine quilting.

Wandjini Revisited - my interpretation of Australian primitive art:  discharged fabrics, applique, piecing.

Work in Progress

I pieced the leaf printed center awhile back being inspired by someone's work - I'll research that wonderful artist - the fabric behind it is one of the ice dyed pieces my sister and I created a couple of years ago.  I plan on hand couching yarn or ribbon to continue some of the narrow strips with minimal machine stitching .

The image below is another of the ice dyed fabric that I machine stitched a little - I'm in the process of handstitching.  How I am loving the handstitching.  The stitching is quite meditative and addictive. I'm thinking another "man" piece.  Time will tell.

The following image is the beginning of a quilt for grandson, Max.  I'm rethinking the pieced center - maybe just using reds and whites.ell with that as well.

More Monotypes

 I was planning on layering this one but I kind of like them the way they are.

 Above is the first layer. Below is the second layer.

 This one is the one on the above left - I didn't like the white so spray painted it.

 The images below are ones with two or more layers.

Oh, it's been such a long, long time........

Months have gone by and I have not written.  Shame on me!
I've been getting ready for the annual Nature Printing Society's Workshop which will be held at Wildacres, NC.  I'll be taking classes in printing paper and fabric, polymer clay and giving a class in gelatin printing.  So I've been experimenting, though I definitely feel like it's playing!  I've been having a great time!  Here are some of my results.

 Reorienting myself to how much paint to put on the plate.  I'm using a gelli plate instead of making my own plate using Knox plain gelatin.  It's so much easier and spontaneous.  The above - a bit more paint then I'd like in order to layer.  First print, a ghost, then removed the leave/mask and printed the last.

The next image was a delightful find.  I sprayed the used plate I had already printed from with water and placed paper on top - twice!

 This is a fabric piece I plan to collage from fabric, stitch until done!

 Some printing using a stencil with rectangles cut out over inked plate and masks and printed, then masks and stencil removed.  I used some fabric as well as paper.

 Printing on black papers - so cool

 I use the same brush and brayer throughout the printing session - to clean them I remove the excess paint onto fabric and/or paper so as not to waste the paints.  Here are two examples.

 Below are some of the materials I used as masks.  I will incorporate them into collages, etc.

I noticed I didn't take an images of the papers I printed in transparent layers.  I will shortly!

Such fun!!!!!!

Studio Work Plus Gallery Opening

Here are some of the note cards completed.  How I just love to print leaves.  I can get into such a relaxed, meditative state printing nature.  The feel of the leaves are I press and rub them to transfer the paint onto the paper/fabric is soothing.  I printed the back of the envelops as well.

 I drove to St. Augustine - 1.5 hours- for the opening of the Fiber Art Gallery, a part of Butterfield Garage Art Gallery.  Lots of folks came and enjoyed an evening of art and refreshments.  Here is some of my work on display.  Most of the "fiber Art" is wearables.  The room looks very nice.

 I played with paint, leaves and the gelli plate on paper and fabric.  I'm working on layering.  This is one of my favorites.  I'll put more up later.

During Wimbledon Tennis matches and tour de France, I've been working through these two books - folding books.  A rediscovered love as you know from previous posts.  I'll be doing some stitch bindings soon. 

Do back soon.  Thanks for visiting.



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!

Two Nature Printed Books!!!

Leaves A-Plenty

Leaves A-Plenty

Page - Leaves A-Plenty

Page - Leaves A-Plenty

Trees Gifts

Page - Trees Gifts

Page - Trees Gifts

I have had a ball completing two artist made books featuring leaf prints.  I printed the leaves, then collaged them to lage paper, folded and made a few cuts, added some machine and/or hand stitching, made covers and voila - two books.  I just love the whole process.  There are more books in the future, I am sure.

I have bits and pieces of fabrics - some leaf printed on my table.  I'll be working on a fabric collage next!

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!