Category Archives: Machine Drawing

Briar Patch, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Foggy Dawn, Label Blocks, Out the Window, Parts, Silver Growth

Purple Touches

March 11, 2016 admin

Hello,

It is really feeling like spring here and this wonderful shot of Nancy’s quilt in progress really expresses this feeling. I love all the flowers and the bright colors. She is amazing with her use of more and more pattern. This shot is only about one eights of her quilt. It was all we could show on the small space of my studio at the FAB meeting yesterday. Judy is working away on her sweater. She got some of the yarns from Patti . Judy is such a good knitter she does not even need a pattern to do all these fancy stitches. We had a good time yesterday.

I finished up my entry for the SAQA auction this week. I had a good time creating this little twelve inch square piece. I enjoy and support this organization.

Progress Report: Parts This work is finally complete. I sure enjoyed doing hand stitches all over the surface. I think I will give this work to the local camera shop were I purchased the camera that the parts are from. I got the new camera from them too when I dropped this one an broke it.

Foggy Dawn This work is the second half of older work. I took Corrine’s ‘s advice and did the quilting in a spiral patterns.

The glitter that is on this work was on the fabric when I purchased it. Lots of us like glitz.

Silver Growth I am almost finished with this project. I did all the free motion silver thread work earlier this week and I only need to add the facings now.

Briar Patch I am to the stage where I am adding the leaves and black berries to this quilt. I added most of the black berries first. I did not realize how many leaves I cut until I had them all pinned to the surface . It sure makes it pricklier at the moment.

Out the Window I was having so much fun with the turquoise and purple combination that I did a second quilt using this color combination. I lightened it up and did not go for much of the deep green of summer here. It is a lot closer to the colors of spring and windflowers and snow. Something that I saw on my walks this week.

Label Block #43 Slow and steady get’s the job done on this one.

Looking back over this blog I see lots of spring purple here. I sure am influenced by the season.

Keep Creating

Carol

Briar Patch, Diva Meetings, Foggy Dawn, Label Blocks, Quilt Exploration Group (QuEGs), Scrap Happy Quilts, Silver Growth, Trickle

Ice Cycles

March 3, 2016 admin

Hello,

Long ice cycles are one of the sure signs of spring to me. The weather keeps shifting from cold to warm here and that means melt and thaw and melt again.

I had lots of meetings this week. Sat was a meeting of the Mixed Group. It is always very stimulation and enjoyable to see the work of other artists and get their feed back on one’s own work. Tuesday the first of March so both QuIG’s and the Divas meant. Liz found a weekly offer by Moda on Their web sight were they publish two new blocks ever week. She has a note book already and four blocks are completed.

Corinne shared her print work from our last play day at Angle’s.

At the DIva meeting Kristen shared her shop entry for the “Row by Row “ show at

quilters corner. Donna shared her Bernie Sanders doll.

Noel showed off her piece for the “ 15” show that the Divas will have this summer. It was inspiration to see what everyone is doing. I am so very lucky to have such wonderfully creative friends.

Progress Report: Trickle This is the forth stretched quilt that I felted first. For this one I did not add any thing to the back of my woven wool fabric before I felted it. This meant that it all stretch at the same rate and so it ended up much flatter. Now I need to get the corners of the work to be smooth and flat. It seems there is always something to learn.

Foggy Dawn I have taken the advice of my fellow quilters from Tuesday’s meetings on how to quilt this work and did it all in swirling patterns. It is now ready for the facings.

Briar Patch I am having fun doing free motion raw edge applique of the leaves on this work. I will also do free motion to add the black berries .

Silver Growth I started this work because of the gift of a beautiful top that my friend Regina gave me. The deep purple with the silver work on it at the bottom. Now I need to figure out how to ingrate this work.

New Work I have enjoyed laying out the balance of this work. Now I am ready to begin the sewing step. I will fill in the white areas with narrow strips of fabric as I always do.

Scrap Happy I am to the step in this quilt where I have put the blocks in rows. I need to stop now and make a back for this project before I can go forward. It will make a good quilt to pass on.

Label Block # 42 I just keep working away on these little pieces.

Keep Creating

Carol

#3, Briar Patch, Briare Patch, Circling Circles, Coastal Color, Felt Work, Label Blocks, Machine Drawing, Parts, Trickle

Creative Power

February 25, 2016 admin

Hello,

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!

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.

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.

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.

Progress 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. The work seems to grow under the needle as I work on it. I like the textures too.

Trickle 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. 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.

Circling Circles 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.

Parts 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.

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. 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. The 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.

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

Keep Creating

Carol

Circling Circles, Hand work, Label Blocks, Parts

Deep Winter

February 19, 2016 admin

Hello-

We are in the deep cold of winter here in central New York. Ice storms and then snow on top. I was fascinated by the ice marks on the tree yesterday when I went out for my walk. There was melting water running down the trunk under the ice too so it added to the textures. My aunt Aileen gave me a wonderful gift this week. She presented me with a quilt that my great Grandmother Todd had made for my grandmother Ester as a gift for the birth of her third child, Leonard McElhinney in 1928. I was so very surprised and honored by the gift. All the little hand stitches are wonderfully done. As a child I remember sleeping under quilts made by this great grand mother and how I felt like I was protected by a layer of armor that no dream monsters could penetrate.

Progress Report: Parts This work is getting a lot of attention at the moment. I have just about stitched down all the camera parts now and I am filling in all the hand stitches for interest.

Scrap Happy This work is ready for binding and the quilting now. Both of those steps take about an hour a piece on the machine. That work will get tackled this week. Then when the folks who want them for fundraisers come calling there will be at least two to choose from.

Circling Circles I did collages last week and so I was ready for a new project. This one fills all three on my monthly challenges. The red shobori is Ethel’s fabric. The blue with the purple print is some fabric I silk screened last year. I also used (the pink) some of the fabric I snow dyed in this one.

New Work I visited with my friend Beth this week and she was working in curvier cuts. So I got inspired and started one using that technique again too. I put a part of one of the bodices that Regina gave me in this one. I am having fun.

New Felted Work I have built up the base for another abstract work here. This time I did not back the wool that I felted into and although this is much heavier wool than I used before when I tried this technique, I do not seem to have and much warping as I had with the first ones. Doing the machine build up on top will be the real test.

Label Block 40 Hurray- this block makes me one third through this process.

Keep Creating

Carol

#3, Blown Blossems, Label Blocks, Scrap Happy Quilts, Truquoise Street Studio

Snow Marks

February 10, 2016 admin

Hello,

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 on 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. 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.

Progress 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. The red fabric is some I created in Pat Pauly’s class last fall.

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.

Coastal 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.

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 This 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.

Label 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

#3, Blown Blossems, Diva Meetings, Label Blocks, Machine Drawing, Quilt Exploration Group (QuEGs), Uncategorized

Marks

February 3, 2016 admin

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

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

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.

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

The 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.I can hardly wait to see how this develops.

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

I 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: Parts

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 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.

New 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.

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.

Blown 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.

6X6 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.

Label Block #38 I just keep stitching away on these.

Keep Creating

Carol

# 2, Coastal Color, Coping, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Label Blocks, Moon Fall, Parts

Winter workings

January 29, 2016 admin

Hello,

The week has been a full one with lots of activates. This work is by a high school student and a part of the Scholastic Art show now going on at Onondaga Community Collage. I was a judge a few weeks ago and I judged animation and film. I went to see the other works that made it into the show. There is lots of wonderful work, and it is well worth the effort to go and see it. The FAB group also meant this week

. Nancy has added two more boarders on her quilt. I love how she mixes so many different patterns in her work. She is also so very good at making all her points. A characteristic that I admire as I find that process so very frustrating. I like a challenge so much more than a repeat activity. So I decided to be a part of the Cancer Project. This is the cancer mask that I will be altering in the next weeks. I have not decided how or where I will go with this one yet, but I really think it is fascinating. Another thing I did this week was take four quilts off to be a part of the Cabin Fever Quilt show that hangs in Betts Branch Library for the month of February. I also hung a show of 15 pieces of my work at the Briar Patch in Ithaca New York yesterday. I am sorry that I did not take my camera so there are no pictures of that. Because of all of our snow and the wonderful stash of dye that I inherited from Ethel, I attempted some snow dyeing this week. I had to call on the knowledge of my friend Angela to get myself going on this project . The photo is a shot of the first batch under plastic starting to melt. I learned from this first one to cut way down on the amount of dye one adds to the snow as the navy blue took over and there is no yellow at all on the final piece. The process takes a long time- about 24 hours for all the snow to melt because I am doing it in the basement were the heat is low and I may be packing too much snow in the bucket. Anyway the second batch looks like the yellow and green will remain a part of the color. And I did not add any navy to it. Everything is washing out now with a third bucket starting to melt. Look for images next week. Another thing I started this week was my 6X6 entries. That is for the Rochester Art fundraiser. I decided to use this paper as the base for a paper quilts for this project.

Progress Report: Coastal Color I

I really enjoyed working on these felted base works. I ended up adding a fabric back and sleeve to this one to finish it. Thanks again to the gals in QuIGs for there suggestions on this project.Mixing the machine work and adding yarns and fabrics to the surface sure made the process a joy for me. I have one more in the grouping to complete; I am excited and I have not even started adding anything to the felted surface yet.

Coastal Color II This felted work is stretched over stretcher bars with a batting in between. Again the QuIGs were the source for this solution to the finishing problem. This solution creates quite a different feel for the finished work. But again I got to do the thing I love the most with the machine drawing and the fiber additions. I just love to build up the surface.

Moon Fall I have enjoyed working on this project as the world out side has become one of grays, white and black. No thread build up here but lots of fun free motion work. I used some of the same thick thread techniques that I developed with the leaf and Autumn quilts I did earlier this fall. I mostly followed an edge when I could to make the quilting patterns. I appliqued the moon on top without any quilting of its own so it would float above the surface a bit. It seems to do that to me.

Coping Quilting away on this work was a nice contrast to all the free motion work I was doing this week. All the quilting here is strait lines with stops and turns it it. I first made a series of rectangles in silver and purples threads. Then I used black to make more quilting that filled in the open ares and added a little interest to the surface. It does the job I think although I do not find it overly exciting in the end. I do like the colors and that is a good thing as I have the second half of the original to deal with next. This one does have quite a different feel I think. I need to look and think for a while on this one too.

New Work I am tying to mix some of my altered fabrics with commercial ones here. The some of commercial ones are Ethel’s and the flowers are from my friend Tanya.

Parts is Parts I continue to stitch down the camera parts onto the surface here. What with the finishing of the first three quilts this week, I have not done a lot of hand work on this project.

Label Block # 37 The labels got their share of hand work though. I am looking forward to my February closet clean out as I think I will be able to add some more labels to my collection when I do that project.

Keep Creating,

Carol

I could not resist adding one more Scholastic entry to this blog.

Autumn Collection, Label Blocks, Near Indian Creek, William's Quilt

Mild Days

December 17, 2015 admin

Hello-

I like most of folks in the east am enjoying the wonderful weather we are having. Blue sky is always a welcome sight and the mild temps do not hurt either.

I came across this quote this week.

There are no mistakes. What happens during the process of making something is sacred and organic. Vicki Noble.

I like this idea and always used and thought a similar idea when I work. I just see errors as a small challenge to my way forward. It is reassuring to find reinforcements for ones ideas.

There was a FAB meeting this week. Judy is creating her one of her wool tied quilts for her daughter. Big and bright is her motto. I am finished with Scrubs for my grand daughter. They are cheerful as she asked.

Progress Report: Near Indian Creek This piece is 16″ X 20″ and stretch on a blank canvas. I m trying to think of different ways to present my work and this is one of them. There is a lot I do not know about this process.

It is finally complete after many starts and stops getting it stretched. I need to thank Andrea for explaining how to cut away the excess fabric at the corners for a smooth fold over. Then she also suggested that I put fabric on the back instead of paper and I really like that solution too. I have all the materials and I am set for three more rock based pieces in this little series. I learned a lot doing work this way and look forward to next ones.

William’s Quilt I am working away on this project and I can see the end of this step. I only need to assemble three more rows and the top will be done. Then it is on to the back of the project.

Autumn Collection The back ground is all laid out and stitched down for this project. Now I will begin to add the leaves. I am so lucky to have my friends looking out for me. In this case Patty gave me some great old scarves that are just the perfect color to use as a part of the leaf clutter under this tree.

Double Rock This is not the official title for this work. Just a working one. I am trying to make two pieces that work together so I am sewing both of them at the same time and I will cut them apart when I am done. These will also be stretched pieces. The only draw back is the big size problem when I am doing the free motion work. But I think it will pay off in the end.

Label Block # 31 One more done in this process. I For me this is very calming work at the end of the day. Thanks too to the folks who have passed more labels on to me.

Keep Creating

Carol

Incisions, Label Blocks, Machine Drawing

Fall- Indian Summer

October 8, 2015 admin 2 Comments

Hello,

We are in Indian Summer now. Many trees are changing color over the course of a single day. My favorite time of year with its cold nights and worm days. I have truly enjoyed my walks. This week was a busy one. My first adventure was a trip down to see the opening of the Rock Garden show. I knew many artists in this one including Susan( pictured with her work), Carolyn and Cheri. It was a strong show with lots of variety.

Then on the week end I took a class at the Schweinfurth entitled “ Surface Designs” with Pat Pauly. I learned a lot about dyeing as I paid much more attention this time because I now have Ethel’s stash of dyes to play with. This is my wall at the end of the first day. I have lots of friends in this class and that made it epically wonderful. This shot is of Regina pulling a print.

Susan was in the class and so was Victoria. This shot is of her wall at noon on the second day.

Annette and Regina were the first ones to sort there work out of the first days wash out of the dyed fabric. We all enjoyed our selves and

laughed a lot.

This is a shot of some of my fabric after my the wash out when I got home. I now have a new stash of stuff to play with.

Then on Tuesday this week I had meetings of both the QuIG’s and the Diva groups. I get a great deal of stimulation from both of those groups and find the hour drive back from Ithaca after 9:00 flies as I think about and process my day.

Progress Report: Incisions This quilt is based on a collage that I did in David’s class at QBL last summer. It is 29 ” wide by 43″ long. I ended up turning my quilt upside down to make it work for me- and there were lots of alterations on the design as I went along. But I like the process enough that I will use it again.This is the collage I started from.

I quilted the cream areas in pebble patterns and in the browns I outlined the light areas. I feel like this quilt was a real growth experience for me. I got a lot of help form the QuIGS on how to make the quilt lie flat. They were very instructive at the Sept Meeting when I showed it. I was so far off that I was ready to toss the whole thing. Now I feel differently.

Project 15 I have just started doing the hand quilting on this project. I am going to mostly make that a reflective pattern of the pieces.

New Work I am ready to begin a new rock based piece. The photo is from a long ago trip to the California shore that I took with Eric. I have again just selected a small portion of the photo for this quilt. So I think I will do several based on the same image.

Label Block 22 The process goes on for this project. I realized this week I will need 120 blocks to have enough for a quilt so I will be at this for over two year span…. I almost wish I had not figured that out.

Keep Being Creative

Carol

Blossoms and Butterflies, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Incisions, Label Blocks

Fall Feeling

October 1, 2015 admin 1 Comment

Hello,

This is the time of year when we are reminded of Natures Bounty. This picture is of the grapes on Susan’s front walk. I love the light filtering through.

From my point of view it seems like I have not set down to take stock in a long time. I have been very active. The Friday after the last post I went and visited my friend Susan and we had a day that was mostly organization. That is a task that needs to be taken on more frequently than I do it. Susan with her eye always on the dates of her migrations to and from Florida, has a thing to teach me in that area.Even her desk – pictured here- is far more structured than mine.

Next on the list for me was a Creative Play Day at Varna. I spent the morning making silk paper in preparation for my workshop and after lunch I played with the 3-D pen the grand kids had given me. I have come to the conclusion that one could make nice light weight ear rings. I wish I could wear them. My next event was the teaching of the Silk Paper Workshop. Alice did some wonderful dye painting on here silk. Cris worked away capturing different objects in her silk. She put in paper, leaves and flower petals to some fine results. I experimented with using leaves as “molds” for thin layers of silk.( see photo above)

Then on Thursday Cris and I did some silk screen printing. I have two wonderful new pieces of fabric to use as a result. I drove home on that afternoon. Mother Nature was just starting her fall display and I had to stop more than once to take pictures.

The Friday after that adventure I went south to help again with the clean out of Ethel’s house. Elise has been so generous with her Mother’s quilting materials- that I feel surrounded by Ethel’s love. I have also been charged with the completion of her last quilt. I put all the pieces together this week and will now create a back form some of her fabrics. The hand quilting will begin some time soon.

The last event was this week and it was a FAB meeting. Judy had completed the top of a new wool quilt. She plans to tie it. Sally got some feed back from all of us about how she could finish up a project from a old QBL class and Nancy wanted help with a new top she is considering making. We had fun.

Progress Report: Blossoms and Butterflies This is the second in the butterfly series. I sure enjoyed doing all the free motion work that this one entailed. The flowers are all drawn in with pebble quilting for their centers. I think with this quilt I made the Butterflies too strong. I will try for a better light dark balance on the next one.

Incisions I am almost done with the free motion work on this quilt. I did the pebble quilting in the white areas and let the designs on the printed fabric tell me how to quilt the darker areas.

Silk Paper Still Life At the creative play day I made some silk flowers. They are pinned now and I am ready to begin hand work on them. I do have about four other hand work projects going now so they will not get any attention for a while.

15 Challenge I now have the 15” block assembled. I plan to hand quilt this project too.

Label Block 21 I did some thinking and realized I will need at least 80 blocks of this size to create a bed quilt. I guess I will be at this process awhile.

Keep Creating

Carol

PS: One last shot from the trip. I enjoy how the stream bottom and the sky is reflected in this clear brook.

Cre-8

Category Archives: Machine Drawing

Purple Touches

Ice Cycles

Creative Power

Deep Winter

Snow Marks

Marks

Winter workings

Mild Days

Fall- Indian Summer

Fall Feeling

Creative Fiber Collage Artist Carol Boyer