Category Archives: #3

Creative Power

 

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This photo is an example of the marks of wear and tear on the local pavement that winter seems to inflict.  The pot wholes this year are big ones.

Why should we all use our creative power?  Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compass ate , so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money .                            Brenda Upland

I find this quote a very powerful one and I really believe it to be true.  Creating takes us out of ourselves in a way and makes one feel more alive.    I know I lose track of time when I am working and I have heard others say  similar things.  When one is building something the mind will not allow you to consider destruction.    What a different world we would be living in if everyone was  creating!IMG_5150

FAB meant this week and we all enjoyed each others company.   Patti showed off her die cutting press this time.  She gave me these three little fabric birds.    Judy was working on yet another sweater.  This one is red with great patterns on it.6X6

I finished my entries for the  6X6 show in Rochester and I mailed them out on Tuesday.  I always have such fun doing these little works that the gallery sells for $20.00 each as there fund raiser every spring.

IMG_5166 I tried ice dyeing with ice cubes out of the freezer this week.  I had heard about this and it means one can work all year long.   I will do   my own comparison study.

Coastal color IIIProgress Report:Coastal  Colors III     This work is  20” X 16” .I am enjoying the building process that goeson with these pieces.  In this case I felted to begin with and then I built up layers of yarn, silk paper  ribbon and fabric bits on top.   I added a layer of batting before I started the stitching on this one to help it stay flat before the stretching.

The stitching adds even more dimension to the surface.IMG_5157  The work seems to grow under the needle as I work on it.  I like the textures too.IMG_5160.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TrickleTrickle    This work is also a felt built up piece.     It is only 12” X 12”.   I used a heavy wool for the base of this one and  built up the felting on top again.    There is no extra batting in this work and I think that because of the heavy wool.    It stretched out nice and flat. IMG_5170  I plan to do two more using this technique and  size.  Then I want to experiment with cotton fabric for the base of the felting and see how much distortion I get using that fabric as my base. IMG_5171

Circling CirclesIMG_5151  I am to the quilting stage of this project.    I have finished all the circle quilting and I am now working on the wavy part.  It is a nice contrast to the open circles.

IMG_5172.jpgParts    I can see the end of this project now too.   I have all of the camera parts stitched to the surface and I am now doing the embellishment part of this project.

 

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New Work  This is not really new work  as it is the second half of a piece I cut up.  I thought I had an idea for how to finish it.    So after studying it for a while I started working by building up a  bit of Angelina to use with it. IMG_5153  The Angelina suggested black berries to me.  My mind went off on that direction.  I made some vines to put on top and then I would add the black berries……..   But it was too much of a good thing and  so I have dropped this top back to the unfinished pile and started  a new work.

Briare Patch  This is the result.  The vines are the arched units.  They are stitched to wash away now.    TBriare Patchhe new base is not completed yet and it is under the vine unit.  I have learned to go with the flow of the work , so this will grow from the idea.  Next week there will be more.

 

 

 

IMG_5132.jpgLabel Block 41  One more block is complete and I am just pushing forward on this project.

Keep Creating

Carol

Snow Marks

 

Snow marksHello,

As I look more carefully for marks I see them every where.     These marks on the deck were the snow has fallen through caught me eye IMG_5081.jpgon my walk today.   I like the dark light contrast of these marks too.   I will be out of town for a few days starting tomorrow so that is why the post is early this week.

I continue to be part  of lots of shows. shot of wall This shot is of my work  and that of Mimi at the Associated  Artists of Central New York show that is hanging in the Manlius Library for Feb.   I also have work at the Turquoise Street Gallery until Feb 15.

IMG_5090.jpgProgress Report:   Blown Blossoms    This little work went together quickly when I got going.  I tried doing the free motion drawing on batting and   thick  upholstery  fabric.    It worked well, and I may try that technique again.   IMG_5095The red fabric is some I created in Pat Pauly’s class last fall.

IMG_5094 The brown and orange print I did a few summers ago in Independent studio at QBL.   I developed the quilting pattern from the floral print fabric.  That came from another friend.

 

IMG_5087.jpgCoastal Color III  I am ready to stretch this piece now.  This time I did the free motion work on top of the felted step with the addition of batting behind the whole thing.   It worked great and did not warp much at all.  Thank goodness I have lots of friends with lots of helpful ideas to help me solve the problems that I create for myself.

 

IMG_5098 New Scrap Happy   I finished the scarp happy piece from last week and started to assemble this new one.   This is just the first six rows of the top and only half of that is shown in this photo.   It will be my contribution to the local Public Television  Tel  Auc  in the spring.

 New Work    new workThis work is based on a collage that I did last week.  It has already taken on a mind of its own as it is twice the size I intended it to be.  I am having  fun with it non the less.

 

IMG_5096.jpgLabel   Block # 39     I got more labels from a friend through the mail this week.  It  is fun to get goodies that I really want to use .  She sent enough for a whole block  of just her contribution.

Keep Creating

Carol

Marks

Hello,

It has taken me a while to decide on my word of focus for this year and I have considered many and tossed several away.  But yesterday I  decided that the word would be MARKS.     I make marks f all sorts as do all humans.  Think of the margins of note books in high school.   Perhaps that is disappearing as kids spend more time on the computers , IPhones and pads, but I doubt it will ever disappear totally.  Animals leave marks of there passing in the mud , snow and dirt.  As do machines.  Like skid marks that many  of us created with our bikes.  As an artist it will be a focus that I feel I need to pursue.

I sure seem to have a lot on my plate as we move into February.   I did finish the Upstate Cancer Mask and returned it to the hospital before the dead line.   I chose to treat the whole thing as a big

IMG_5053 three  dimensional needle point project.   I can hardly wait to see how others treated this challenge.

This week being the first one of the month meant that both QuIG’s and Diva’s had meetings.   The turn IMG_5056

out for QuIG’s was small but full of exciting projects.  Sally is all ready for Valentine’s day with some wonderful cards for her grandkids.  She also created some wonderful heart shaped book marks and  bird candy holders.   IMG_5058

Liz had just finished a on line class and she enjoyed doing personal historic explorations as well as learning some new techniques.

IMG_5059.jpgThe Diva gals were busy too.  Regina is building on her doodles and adding color and bead work to them.    Noel is doing old fashion Paining work  with her wonderful silk kimono fabrics.IMG_5060I can hardly wait to see how this develops.

IMG_5063Lori and Kirsten both too a class at the Schweinfurt with Victoria Finley Wolf last month and did strong works with very different feels. IMG_5062It is the wonder of the old patterns, that different fabrics, prints, colors and sets can make such different solutions.

IMG_5069I am getting ready for the  “heART” sale at the Turquoise Street studio next week on Friday and Saturday with more images.   Please feel free to come between 11 and 8 both days.  The studio is through and behind Eureka Crafts in downtown Syracuse NY.

Progress Report:  PartsParts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am still adding parts to the surface of this work.  I can see the bottom of the box that I collected all the little bits in, so I will need to add more hand work as I go forward.

Coastal Color IIICoastal Color III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am ready to start building on this third felted base.    I am trying to  avoid the warp by adding a felted back unit to the work for this stage.   

collageNew Work   I made a bunch of collages this week and I selected this one to be the beginning of a new work.

 

 

I have pinned up these fabrics and I think they will be the start.  I do not know what color I will make the contrast pieces. IMG_5079_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

New  Work     I pulled out this big piece of print fabric and I feel ready to build on top of and add to it.  A lot of the base work is already done for me  I think.

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IMG_5066Blown Blossoms    This piece got a lot of attention this week and  I am nearly ready to add the facings and finish it up.   It is a small so it too went together quickly.

 

IMG_50656X6  I was at a bit of a loose end this week so I started my entries for the Rochester 6X6 show.  I decided to do little paper quilts this year as I had not done any work in this style for a while.  I really like working this small as they come together very quickly.  Two done and two to go.   IMG_5064

Label Block #38     IMG_5078.jpgI just keep stitching away on these.

Keep Creating

Carol