Category Archives: Nail Castings

Canyon de Chilly, Carol, Flag Challenge, Hand work, Lexi, Memory Map Quilts, Nail Castings, Name Game Quilts, Whip Shock Hill #2

Warming up

IMG_2696.jpg  Hello,

We are starting to see the melting of the snow  around here.  It is beautiful in its own way.  But it can become very dirty and discolored before its gone.    With the longer days I find myself spending more time cleaning and sorting.  I seem to have the  clutter rule  of  “ One   thing in one thing out” well under control in my closet and dresser drawers.   But that is not the case in my studio.     I have piles of stuff all around and I need to do some serious culling.   I know that a clean and clear space helps one get going on the creative work and I do love to walk into that sort of setting.  But I have been traveling and working with IMG_2701_thumb.jpgothers so much of late, that I have let the materials pile as I rush from one play date to another.    I have done a good job a voiding going out and spending money on new supplies and materials however.   I have kept my spending sense January at less then $35.   Not bad for two and a half month I think.  But   it is the gifting of stuff from those friends that is getting me into trouble.      I did spent yesterday with my friend Ethel doing screen dye printing.   It was great to play with the rich colors.  Now I have all the rinsing andIMG_2699_thumb.jpg washing to do today.  She also gave me a couple of yards of white duck…… I am hopeless!

I did work a little on the  Challenge Project Susan and I started in   Florida.  I added a blue wash to this piece and think I have decided on the text that I want to add.  I can  already see that the word part of this challenge will be the most difficult for me.    I plan to add some beads tomorrow when I go to see my friends at Turquoise Street studio.

IMG_2706.jpgProgress Report:  Nail Castings   This project started as a  result of  finding the white  plastic units that hold nails in electronic nail guns.  I was fascinated by the shapesIMG_2710_thumb.jpg of the things.  I have enjoyed working away  with thread out of Grandmother Ruth’s needle  basket  and exploring differentIMG_2711types of stitches.

Name Game 1-Carol IMG_2713.jpg Now I know I say that words are not my strong suit- but I do love the shapes of letters and the spaces around them.    To build this top I first printedClose up of Name game out my name in very large letters.  22″ tall  and 22” wide in fact.  Then I stitched around the letters and cut away the negative space.  I stitched the negative spaces shapes to a second pieces of light blue that was also 22” X  22”.    I found that the letters them selves  created  units of the turquoise  that were too big. So I cut just inside the stitch lines close up 2and  then added those new shapes to the negative space piece on the second fabric.  Next I cut both pieces of fabric into 5.5”  squares and began playing with the blocks.  Some I turned side ways or even upside down, always paying attention to the relationships of one square to the ones next to it.   This play part took me a long time and several days.   When I was happy with it I sewed the blocks together.  This is such a fun and challenging design project I started a second as soon as I had the top  all assembled.

IMG_2698.jpg

Name Game II – Lexi    This  second   top went a lot faster as I knew were I thought I was going.  I made this one more complex by using a plaid taffeta for the background fabric.     I also made more blocks and will not use all of them in this project.    I think this will create a stronger piece in the end.   In this shot some of the blocks are sewn to one  another.  

Memory Map- Canyon de Chilly  cose up of spider woman I added the Spider Women’s Towers to this project.  I really enjoy working on these Memory Map projects, but they as all very slow in there development.    The ruins are  also attached now too.IMG_2705I am still trying to decide what other elements I want to add to the work.

Whip Shock Hill II      I wantclose up of Wip shock hill  to enter a show where one needs two quilts that relate to one another.    I have been thinking about how much I enjoyed the work on Whip Shock Hill.  The first project shows less then half of the hill so I though I would use this challenge to do the second half.    This is just the roughed out

Whipshock Hill Foundations XXI 44" X 35"
Whipshock Hill Foundations XXI
44″ X 35″

stage.   But I do not think I have shown this step before when it comes to these type of  collage projects that I do.   The base  fabric is only pinned to the buckrum at this point and no stitching has been applied.   This second shot is of the first piece.

I am keeping myself busy as the Spring season gets going.

Keep Creating,

Carol

Boiling Point, Carol, Fabric Collage Constructions, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Hand work, Nail Castings, Name Game, Owl

Florida Holiday

the shoreHello,

I am home from a week in Gulfport Florida.  I really enjoyed the new sceanry .    There was so much to lookSplit pine at my eyes could hardly take it all in! From the shore with lots of bird forms to the sky and the plant life- I was a shooting fool when it came to taking pictures.    I just love how this split pine looks and I am  sure it will turn up in some work at some time. gorman  Then  there was all the art.   We went to a show of work by  Geoffrey Gorman.  He builds  wonderful found object sculptures of animals and birds that include wire and canvas that he has aged with rust.   His work was wonderful.

Susan took me to an opening at the Florida CraftArt IMG_2621Gallery, where both  Oiseau Sisters had pieces.  This shot shows Susan with her birds.  She and I played in the studio every day.    I did Gelli prints with Lora on Tuesday.  I used one as a base  when we went to drawing on Wed eve.    Susan and I designed and then startedmy stencils a flag project.    We each made six stencils and printed two of each.  These are my images. At the end of the week we traded one of each of our images for one of each of the other person’s works. IMG_2656 Now we will both work on the flags as we see fit and when we meet again at the June Diva meeting we will compare how each of us has altered all the images.   We designedOwl it to be an open exploration project- trying new materials and techniques.   It will be fun I think.

I worked away all week on this owl stitchery project.   It is nearly complete now.  I had intended to work on a piece that I brought form home, but I did not do a stitch on it.  The first day  Susan pulled out one of her bins  of fabric and I got inspired.  Something about some one else’s materials I suppose. Nancy and her project

Tuesday was a FAB meeting and after a month of not seeing folks we had a lot to talk about.  Nancy is making great progress on her bed quilt( this shot shows the center section folded up  as it is all the stripes. ) Now she will build  more images on top.

 Progress Report:  Boiling Point

Boiling Point 16" X 20" $225.00
Boiling Point
16″ X 20″
$225.00

This project went together quickly just before I left.  I am still using the fabric collage technique thatClose up 1- Boiling point I used with the Foundations Series, but it not based on any stone this time.    I also did all the work on canvas this time and then stretched it around to the back of the stretcher bars before tacking.  This first close up is near the center of the work.    I used  red, rust, gray and dark green velvet in this work as well as satin and silk fabrics.    The more I play with the layering and folding of the various fabrics the close up 2 of Boiling pointmore I enjoy the process. This second shot is near the middle on the right.   Boiling Point cl 3 A little copper paint adds fun.

 

 

Raw edges here add another texture to the mix,

 

 

Name Game close upName Game 1- Carol     I cut  the work  into 6″ square and then reassembled it.  I am only going to show this close up this week  because the only step that remains for completion is the facings and I will complete them for next week.

 Owl   I amIMG_2688.jpg showing the completed owl that I did in Florida as I am going to send it off to the framers this week and OWL close up 1shooting through glass is as strong as a strait shot.  I really enjoyed working on this.  I tried lots of varieations on the fly stitch on this work.    The vanes in the leaves are fly stitches all connected to one another. Owl close up 2  The tree bark is that same stitch on its side and interlocked with its neighbor.  The wing tip is shown here and it is made from a pair of textured panty hose.  The pin feathers on the chest are woven copper ribbon that has been tacked down with open fly stitches.   The claws are made from fake leather that was frapped.     The found Owl close up 3objects that started this whole work are the chroched  rings that are the whites of the eyes.  The orange is a bit of bias tape and the black is a sequin held in place with a french knot.  The beak is created from the same fake leather as the claws.

 

Memory Map- Canyon de Chelly Canyon de Chelly     I am still strugling with with were this project is going.   But I feel closer then before.  Adding Spider Women’s towers ( on the left) will help anchor the work I think.

Nail Casting cl 1Nail Castings

I am still fasinated  by the shapes of these plastic parts.  I enjoyed tacking them down with lots of different types of stitches.    the shapes just tickled me.

Keep Creating

Carol

Circuits, Felt Work, Hand work, Nail Castings, Pebble Pile, Spring Song

Happy Chinese New Year of the Goat/ Ram

IMG_2475_thumb.jpg Hello,

Here in upstate New York we are deep in snow.   The gate is 24″ off the ground and you can hardly see the top of it in this shot.

Today is the first day of the new year of the Goat/Ram if you  celebrate the Chinese system.  Lots of fire crackers, dragon dancing and paper money will be part of the goings on in many places today.   The Goat is the fifth in the symbol system.  Folks who are 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 this year are also part of the goat clan.   Goat people are said to be calm, gentle, creative , honest, thoughtful, persevering and frank.    This sounds like a good group to me.

IMG_2481   I spent one day this week visiting with my friend Cheri.  We took a little time to visit the Art Center where her piece had won a first place in the art show that is up  there now.   She also did someIMG_2479_thumb.jpgwork with stenciled pieces she did last summer.   I spent my morning doing IMG_2480_thumb.jpgcollage work and came out with about four pieces that I think I am finished with.

I spent a lot of time in the studio this week too.  It has been so snowy and cold it is hard to feel like moving around too much.

Progress Report:IMG_2492.jpgSpring Song    I started this work last week.   I feel like the free motion work adds more definition to the piece.  I like how the finished work looks.  I think I will not build my next piece onIMG_2494 - CopyIMG_2495 - CopyIMG_2496 - Copy wool felt as the felting process stretches the felt too much and I can not get this to be as flat as I want it to be.  I will work on woven wool or cotton next time.  I am sure I learn lots of stuff from my mistakes.

Pebble Pile    I was  finished with this work  from  last week too.  It is done now.

IMG_2498  IIMG_2499_thumb.jpg like how the three dimensional felted units work with the flat ones.  Both projects in felting were  a good growing experiences for me.  I will try it again sooner next time.

Nail CastingsIMG_2489  I am only showing a detail of this work this week. There are so very many hand stitches  I do not know !    But I sure like trying new ones.  How the stitches interact with one another is also  enjoyable.   Line  patters are a part of my self  challenge for this year and this project is filling that bill.

Circuits   I am nowIMG_2491_thumb.jpg now done with the machine quilting on this piece and I am adding the boarders.  I am sure I will complete it in a day or two as I only need to do the facings and the sleeve now.

IMG_2484_thumb.jpg Return   I think I know were want to go with this work  now.  I am going to build some ruins on top of the background that I started a few weeks ago.   It will come together this week I hope.

New work   I started a new piece yesterday in the collage style that the rocks wereIMG_2485_thumb.jpg constructed alone.  This time I stared with the  multi/red fabric  that is in the center.   It is only in the pin up stage now and will change a lot before I begin to sew.   I just wanted to try not basing a project on any special images this time.    It is a different kind of challenge for me.    I am trying our one more new thing.  This time I am building the project on canvas instead of buckram.   I will keep folks posted as to the success or failure of this.

Keep Creating

Carol

Circuits, Dry Falls Lichens, Hand work, Nail Castings, Quilt Exploration Group (QuEGs)

Line

1 Comment

 

IMG_2400Hello,

I mentioned at the last post that I had selected my word for this year and it was line.  I have been thinking about that on my walks this week and I have compiled a list of over ninety ideas that are connected with that word.    IMG_2401 Then I sub divided the line types into categories and I will write about the different types for a few weeks.   I will start with line in relationship to  art.

When I was teaching I would have my sixth graders do a line exercise where they would first draw one line from the left side to the right that changed direction somewhat but did not cross itself.  Then they were asked to change the color they were using and add a IMG_2402second line parallel to the first that was of a different type.  It could be  a wavy line , or a loopy line  or a thick line,  or a thin line,  or a dotted line, or a broken line, or a sharp line, or a zig-zag line, or a blurred line, or one that expanded and contracted.   I am sure I gave them lots of choices and they would keep building until the page was full.  The results  were always successful and beautiful.  IMG_2403    It was a good way to introduce the concept to them.    But there are more ways that line is apart of art then just types.    There are all the lines that are a special part of perspective  for example.    Like sight lines, ruled lines, horizon lines, vanishing lines, diverging lines,  and vertical lines.  There are also lines that are just part of the IMG_2404objects in the pictures like roof lines, and tree lines and power lines.      Lines are so powerful in art.  They are everywhere.   Lines can be found  in the art  and are created  with  the materials that we use : like drawn lines,  sketched lines,  paint lines, drip lines, scratched lines, texture lines , shading lines, connecting lines, out lines, shadow lines, crease lines  and edge lines.    This topic will require more study.

IMG_2413 This week QuEG’s meant and everyone had stuff to show.  Sally has been busy  with embroidery machine and she made these lovely place matts using a patriotic theme.  She also did a bit of Valentine work for her grand daughters.IMG_2414

This card has a thread constructed heart that can be removed and worn as a necklace.  I think it is wonderful and so delicate.  I have learned to really appreciate  her great work – it is always so very lovely.IMG_2415

IMG_2420Barb is working away on her cut away project.  She is also doing free motion machine work for the quilting portion of this one.

Liz had two Valentine related projects for us to look at. The first is this wonderful “cookie” pin.  I may just have to keep this idea in mind for next year.   IMG_2418

Her second work is a combination of red work embroidery and  piecing.IMG_2421   The embroidery was done by Jean Tracy and Liz did the boarders.  A great bit of team work.   It just makes me smile!

IMG_2429Progress Report:   Dry Falls Lichens     This quilt is based on a portion of a photo I took on a trip with Marty to see the Dry Falls National Monument in Washington State.         I just  loved the high contrast between the lichens and the rock. IMG_2432

IMG_2433   Some of the lichens were dead and they had returned to a gray color,  but retained there textures.   There were bright orangeIMG_2435 lichens on this same rock- but they were too much for this piece.    There were some dark blue gray lichens too .  It was fascinating to me.

IMG_2427 No title for this work yet.  I thought I was creating a background for a stump that I created last week with Cris- but I do not think this works to support that idea any more.  It will just need to be studied  for a bit.

Nail Casings   I picked up the white plastic cast off holders from a nail gun while I was out on a walk earlier this fall.   They have been pinned to the bulletin IMG_2426board for a while and finally I started to embroider them down.     ( the very light areas on this image are from the sun shine coming into the studio  this morning)

IMG_2425 Circuits  I have been adding chain stitches and  beads to this work for a while.   It is developing in a nice fashion.  I am enjoying the way  it is growing without having a real strong plan in mind.

New Work  I am reallyIMG_2423 playing with this piece.  I  started pulling fabric that I though worked together and just started laying in down and stitching it together.   It is fun and I may just cut it up when it is done, because I need some small works for the 6″x 6″ challenge.   Time will tell.

Keep Creating

Carol