Gosh, time has flown by

I don't know how the time has flown by since my last entry. I can't even blame traveling this time...... My local Quilt Guild had their triennial show this past weekend. Always fun to be surrounded by fellow quilters and visitors who are drawn to quilting. And I had an especially grand time basking in the sun - I won several awards for my art quilts. One special award stood out "Artistic Merit!" I'll include the pic of the piece "Florida Foliage." It's a mixed media piece: oil stick rubbings of the palmetto leaf, photo images of the palmettos, collage, extensive machine quilting. I felt tickling all weekend. Still do when I look at that piece in particular. Grand to be recognized by one's peers.

My two fiber groups met this past week. One we created a paper/cloth doll. Fun, fun, fun. I have Pamela Hasting's paperdoll book and am currently taking her "Transformation through doll making" with Joggles.com. So dolls are on my brain. I am not taking full advantage of Pamela's expertise though - seem to be too busy to actually produce art but am mulling over everything. I know I'll get down to business soon. Transformation is a really big undertaking. It's about time I did something.......

Oh, I did a needlefelted postcard for the theme "Green/Spring" for that fiber group as well. I will post an image once I take a picture.

I hung my work up at a local bank along with 3 other artists. The opening is in a couple of weeks. Some of my pieces, well 2 of them, don't seem to fit in at all amongst the floral paintings but the pieces themselves are neat, if I say so myself.

My other fiber group met and I demonstrated "water soluble stitching." Fun when I can get some folks to try something new and go away enthused!

Surrounding myself with like-minded folks is simulating!

I've included an image of a memory piece I made of my daughter's boyfriend's mother. My daughter will be giving it to her boyfriend's sister. I was honored to be asked to create a piece highlighting a wonderful mother, grandmother and fellow quilter.

Postcard Challenge

One of my fiber artist groups issued a postcard of the month challenge. January was "fruit." So here's mine - I just had to do two. One I used a needle felted sample along with some leftover pear appliques. I liked the result but felt I cheated some. So, I nature printed a pear half for the next one. Had to print several pear halves - had to figure out how much paint to use. The muted background was part of a coffee dyeing playday. The result I liked too - very subdued,to say the least.

Commission Pillow delivered

Pillow was delivered. I'm glad it seemed such a huge success. I did have a great time with it. The monograms were little pockets into which I placed some daughter quotes. There's 2 pockets on the back - I forgot to photogragh that - And I put a teeny fabric book that I thread doodled the client's daughter's favorite things. I do hope the pillow in enjoyed for many a year!

Little art done!

I've been attempting to make some order in my studio and attached guest room. Frustration to the limit. I am such a clutter collection. I seem to have to save everything. Well, slowly but surely, I'm weeding through the disarray - thus my "haiku" of the day. I was clearing some clutter on my sewing machine table and uncovered a wire person earring. I've been meaning to thread doodle it for a long, long time. Decided today was the day!!!!!! Made one then decided to make it more like me! Then I added the dress, not that I wear dresses much - comfortable jeans are more my current style! And I think I have finally created a "signature" image!!!! Plan to use it more - maybe as part of my artwork label. Can't take life too serious!

Comission done, Challenge in progress

My commission pillow is now done. The image with the flowers is just a teaser. I will upload the whole image later. I used the frog stitch - rip it, rip it the first time around - didn't like the patchwork I first tried - the fabrics of the different clothing just didn't piece very well and the design was off. So, I started from scratch and I am pleased with the result. Hope my client is as well. I've added a surprise factor that I will disclose later after the pillow is delivered to my client.

I've been painting - monoprinting to be exact. I subscribe to www.workshopontheweb.com and used the workshop on monoprinting for the upcoming challenge of my local art association. The theme is "Two color combination." One of the images shows the multitude of small pieces I've printed using 2 colors plus white. I added some Shiva oil stick rubbings and black stamping to some. One image is my clean up cloth - I love it!!!! I've put up an image of my pin basted top that I'll be machine quilting later. I may add some of the painted cheesecloth and yarn afterwards. I have a some project in mind to use some of the rest of the prints and some beads but time is running out to make the show - jurying is Monday - this Monday!!!!

A Day late

I wrote the poem the other day. The thread doodles I just did - working on a mini self portrait thread doodles -and some figure sketching.

Yesterday,I worked on a commission art pillow - think I have the design down, working on colors and actual placement. I usually just design as I go but I am incorporating the client's child's monograms. Seems a bit too traditional, so I'm working at making it a little more artsy. The machine quilting will help but I want more. Wish me luck.

Had a great gathering of fellow fiber artists yesterday. One of the artists shared a DVD of Kaffe Fasset - designer of needlepoint, knitting, fabric and quilts. I was intrigued by the way Kaffe used photos of everyday scenes and incorporated the shapes and colors into his work. Food for thought!

Back Home and Trying to get in the Zone

Hard to believe I've been home a week and haven't had much to blog about until now. Been down due to the continuing remodeling projects that have lasted way too long. All work was to be completed while we were away. No such luck. The studio and adjacent guest room as well as my kitchen area is in total disarray.

But things are getting better. I've been able to finished the two mini quilts: English hexagon piecing: I Spy and Hexagon Landscape - I machine quilted them. I hand pieced while in Vegas. I also created my first paper doll. I plan to do more of them - in hopes to come up with a life size self portrait for on upcoming Fiber Show. I have a commission art pillow to design and get sewing and quilting on. I'll start that tomorrow.

Finally got into the "zone" - my creative side - walking this morning. I'll post the haiku I wrote along with a thread doodle tomorrow. When I can overcome all the stress of daily living, my mind is able to be creative.

Oh, I forgot - I had a great time visiting my darling daughter and her man. I enjoyed the puppy, Baxter, as well. It was a bit on the chilly side but I walked every day! I am fortunate to have a great relationship with my daughter!!!!!! Glad to be home. I do so enjoy my son and his dog. I'm lucky to have them close by.