All posts by admin

Oaxaca Adventure

January 31, 2019 admin

Hello,

I had a wonderful time in Oaxaca Mexico. Susan was a great guide and the city was a visual feast. Every where one looked there was art. This pony sculpture was at the airport and shows a modern twist on the Alibris’s we usually connect with this area. I did visit a family workshop where they did that beautiful work. As one can see here the painted detail is amazing.

Susan, Carolyn and I went to many museums. We did the Print Museum and the Fiber Arts Museum the first day. There was a great display of Indigo stilt walker costumes there. The museum also had a display of hand stitchery on shirts from the areas in the state of Oaxaca. Each area had a unique style of clothing with unique stitching patterns. I found that specially interesting after my slow stitch class last fall. Each language group has a unique style. Susan and I went to the market and it too was a visual bombardment. Susan’s land lady brought her fresh flowers every day and after this visit I can see why. We had lunch at a Chocolate bar that day. The shake was delightful, tasty and very filling along with a chicken burrito .This shot shows how big the drink was.

I took a day trip to the ruins at Monte Alban and enjoyed the wonderful carved images and buildings. The guide explained a lot of history and was very knowledgeable. I was epically taken by this little god image in the museum and think he may be a jumping off place for some new work. ( this shot is life sized) The tour took us to a village that makes Black Pottery. Many villages in this valley specialize in one type of craftor another. This woman who is in her late 80’s has a sure hand and a good eye. She stated doing this type of work nearly 68 years ago so the fact that she does it all by eye and does not use a prepared pattern is understandable.

Susan and had a play day. I cut some of the organza we got at the market and made stencils.

Susan worked on her long Lincoln and Washington projects. The garden in their compound was beautiful. I had never seen Poinsettia that were 10 feet high before.

I drew almost every day on this trip and this is a banana plant Susan’s garden.

We visited the Stamp Museum one day and there was a good display of work using a big stamp as a base for artist interpations. I liked the idea of using stamps as units for a collage too. There was also a large collection of stamps from all over the world for ones viewing. It was a great museum. w

We went on a field trip to the Print Studio/ Museum too. It was an old weaving factory, that has now been converted for artists studios. The display space was huge and there where over 100 huge prints there. Many were woodcuts that were done on 4’X6’ sheets of plywood. Big windows and reflective glass made taking photos very hard. I did like how their definition of prints included stenciled graffiti. These were done on the walls of the gallery and were pristine. There was also a wonderful video show in the gallery upstairs from a South African artist. Wood cut 1 This woodcut block was also a part of the show.

Susan and I went to the Museum of Modern Art and saw a wonderful show of collaborations. An artist was paired with a craft person and they filled a room of the gallery with their collaborations. A weaver and embroider were paired for the text exhibit. The results were wonderful. This second paring was of women appliques and a poet. I went in search of the stitchers works and purchased one of my own to bring home.

We took another fiend trip to a village that specialized in woven rugs. This shot shows hand dyed yarns drying on a balcony. The men did most of the weaving and were very pleasant. His loom was huge and as the photo shows he did it all standing. There were rugs everywhere even in this village – even in restaurant where we ate lunch. We spent time in their local church too. It had just be restored and in the process it was discovered that may stones from the native temple that was destroyed for the church construction were reused in the building of the church. I love the mix and the fact that the restoration left the underling stones exposed.

I went on a tour of the Botanical Garden in Oaxaca on my last full day. It was very informative and beautiful. Epically when we learned that it was only 35 years old. I really like this Elephant Tree and

this tree they call the Rock Crusher. The roots are amazing. The guide said it was going to be cut soon as it was destroying the old abbey wall that surrounded the garden. I took tons of photos here and enjoyed myself. Later that day Susan and I visited the Museum of Oaxaca and had a good history lesson. It was a wonderful trip and so very colorful. I am very glad I went- especially when I got back to cold central NY.

Progress Report: 3X3 This is block 2C of the 3X# challenge. I am currently doing my daily practice on this block. I took this one and block 2B with me to Oaxaca to work on while I was away.

This is a shot of the whole background with all nine parts.

This is block 2B, the center of the 3X3 set and it is more or less complete. As I build other squares there may be overlap that needs to be added.

Forest Flock I am to the point where I am stitching down the birds with the sewing machine and making that the quilting step of the project. The trees are also part of the quilting.

Lily I painted this lily on pillion with Susan on one of our play days. It was one of the flowers that her landlady had brought to her.

Sweet Peas I painted these with Susan too. I added the background color yesterday.

Sandpipers I finished the thread painting of the three birds yesterday and they are washed out and drying now. I go inspired to work hard on them after receiving payment in the mail for the sale of Black Capped Chickadees at the Associated Artist sale.

This is the shore background for the birds. It is a felted background.

Jeanne’s QuiltAll the rows are now built for this project. I will move on to the next step now.

Label Cards Joy One day while I was away Susan and made cards. I used one of the many colorful magazines I had picked up to create these three cards.

Shoot They represent what was on my mind at the time.

Land It was a great experience and I am so glad I went.

Keep Creating

Carol

3X3, Collections, Finger Lakes Fiber Artists, Forest Flock, Linnen Jacket, Quilt Exploration Group (QuEGs)

Winter white

January 10, 2019 admin

Hello,

We are in the middle of a beautiful snow storm here. I shot this image through one of the garage windows. I love the ice crystal patterns and how they break up the view.

There was a Flinger Lakes Fiber Artist meeting this week. This work by Pat was one of the wonderful works we looked at and talked about.Pricilla brought all these silk squares that she intends to use in a new jacket.

Liz shared this work that she machine quilted her self. She and I dyed printed the fabric in one of our grange dates last summer.

Lori showed us this work of hers that was in the members show at the Schweinfurth. The gold and black fabric background was a piece of fabric that she purchased from Pat last summer.

Noel took Pat’s Two by Two class and this is the result of that. I like how Noel uses diagonals in her work.

I find this work by Regina just fascinating. I just keep looking and seeing new areas of interest with each study.

Joyce is working on book forms now and this is just one that she shared.

Marcia is playing with movement in her work at the moment. I think it is just great how much variety is going on in this group of talented women and I am so happy to be a small part of it.

The QuEG’s also meant this week. Liz showed off another of her works. She is in the process of quilting this piece too.

Sue Ellen spent a little time playing this season and created this table runner. Lots of bright color here.

Progress Report: Collection V I keep working away on this project and I think I am nearing the end of itI am doing the line stitching now, usually a sign of the completion of the task.

Forest Flock I worked on the second set of birds this week and they are a little beyond half way done. They need about three more shades of thread in blues and grays to be complete I think.

3X3 I have now laid out all the panels for this project. I want to add some circles in transparent fabrics on top and then I will be ready to begin hand stitching on them.

Jacket I keep stitching away on this project but it is slow as it is the bottom of the stack and there is no time line for it.

There are no cards this week because I can not find the ones I did. There were curling as they dried so I put them under something and cannot find them. They will turn up and then be a bonus.

This is also the last entry for a few weeks as I am off to Oaxaca Mexico to visit with Susan. The next post will be full of news of that trip I am sure.

Keep Creating

Carol

3X3, Forest Fire, Label Blocks, Rocky Shore, Totem Fox, Waterfall

January Joys

January 4, 2019 admin

Hello,

This work Sun Skies 24” X 35”, along with thirty of my other experimental pieces was hung in the gallery at May Memorial on Genesee St yesterday. That is why I did not do the post. I spent all day on Wed preparing for that hanging by pressing, making labels and fixing my hanging units to work in that space. I really like more than a week to prepare for a show and that was all I had this time. One does need to take the opportunities when they arise . This work is Ice Crystal Forming.

Progress Report: Totem Fox This work is 20” X 27”. It is my solution to the Totem Challenge by the Sisterhood of the Scissors. I tried to keep the color range limited like the native Americans do with their totems and at the same time make the work my own. I feel like I did so with this machine appliqued work. I found all the hand quilting to be very calming during all the rush of the holidays too.

Rocky Shore- Elements Series I This work is 15.5” X 19” and the first in the Elements Series. I was following the online class instructions and although the body of the work was done long ago I did not get to the finishing section until last week. I faced the first one that I finished Gathering Storm as she suggested. This one I used the small binding method but could not do the sheer ribbon technique that she suggested because I did not have the materials. I will apply the technique to a later work.

Forest Fire- Elements Series 3 This work is 17”X 21”. With this one the finishing was to be done with a binding that changes color as it went around the quilt. I think in this case that was a strong idea as having an orange strip at the top of this work surely would have limited it. I enjoyed using Angelina for the spark in the fire and the painted organza too. There is a little silk paper in this work as well.

Waterfall- Elements Series 4 This work is 18.5” X 22”. It too has Angelina and silk paper in it. The big tree on the left is made with yarn, bits of fabric and nylon netting. Some of the smaller stones where made with squeeze paint on fabric- one of the lesson’s from the class. The finishing of this work includes a binding with a beaded element for a bit more sparkle . I learned some new tricks to apply to my collections of effects and I am glad I did all the projects.

Jeanne’s Quilt I just keep adding to this work and it keeps growing. I hope to get to the side this week and then only the flaps will remain

Forest Flock All the little red and gray birds are finished for this project. I have drawing and started the blue and gray ones as well. ( they are at the bottom)

3X3 Challenge Now that I have finished the Totem project I am ready to move onto this challenge. The rules include making nine little quilts that go together into a bigger piece that is 3X3. All the blocks need to contain some black and white as well. I have decided to make my blocks 20”X20” and use this black and white print. This will change with time but I think those elements are set.

Knitting Because I have not gotten far enough along on the 3X3 challenge and I have no other hand work I knitted as my hand project this week.

Label Cards: Dream I had to use this Fortune Cookie as it made me laugh. Dreams do not need to be big ones, but they can grow. It is most important that one dream.

Hope , like laugher and honey is a comedy that we need more of in this world.

Keep Creating

Carol

Aplique, Cockle Burs- Noogoora, Collections, Label Cards, Meadowlark, Sky, Totem Fox, Waterfall

End of year

December 27, 2018 admin

Hello,

I had to add this photo of my grandson’s creation for his mother for Christmas. I am so very proud of his creative welded work.

We are reaching the end of 2018 and reflection on all that has transpired over the course of the year seems to be apart of that ending. I have had a wonderful year with lots of shows and lots of creative work. I continue to be healthy and the ideas keep flowing out of my brain while the fingers do the work. My New Years wish for you is that you too will find new beginnings and joy at every turn.

Progress Report: Gathering Storm This work is part of the elements series from Corrine’s online class book. I have done all the palmary work and I am now doing the finishing up of the four works as the instructor suggests. I have learned a lot as I have follow the instructions. It has revived my interest in Angelina too.

Cockleburs/Noogooras I thought that this work was done last week, but upon further reflection I realized that it was not quilted enough with just stitch in the ditch work. So I added more steams in machine drawing. They add the quilting to make itavoid sagging and a quiet interest. Do that however meant I had to re-square the work so it has become a bit smaller as well. I am happier with it now.

Meadowlark This work is 12” X 12” and it too has a felted base with machine drawing on top. I really like this process and can see more works in this style down the road. There is a bit of recycling in this piece too. The fence post is made from some of the leftovers of the rock piece that became Rain Puddle. I added brown nylon netting on top to quiet it down a little too. I made the barb wire from yarn as it frayed like the little spikes on the wire does.

Waterfall After adding batting and backing I am now stitching down the parts and quilting at the same time. I’ll finish this like Gathering Storm as it too is from the Elements class.

Forest Flock I built this quiet background this week. I am making thread painted birds to add in on the top. I will create felted trees to add yet another layer of depth to the work. This will be the biggest work that I have done using the thread drawing as a part of the process.

These are some of the birds. There are two shades of gray and red threads on them. They need black beaks, eyes and feet to be complete. That will be my next action.

Sandpipers I also did the research and some palimony drawings for the next machine drawing bird piece this week. After doing all the solo birds I want to do groups for a piece or two

Jeanne’s quilt This work got about an hour’s worth of work every day that I went to the studio this week. Some rows even got connected to the ones next to them as they got completed.

Totem Fox I am done with the quilting and I am adding the facings to this work now. I think I will have it finished by tomorrow. I have enjoyed this project.

Collections V This piece did not get much attention this week. I am still collecting things that I think go together here. But now that Totem Fox is done I will need some hand work.

Label Cards: Rework The new beginnings of the season even became a part of this challenge this week. At the same time I do not think one can leave the past behind so using some parts of an old project to build upon was a natural way to move forward for me.

The Thing The future is like opening a door when you do not know what you will find. What is” the thing “that is in your future that will change everything that follows. We can only move forward doing the best with what lies a head.

Another Thing At the same time I can not think that good things are out there too.

Enjoy the holidays and ay your heart be full of joy.

Keep Creating

Carol

Aplique, Collections, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Label Cards, Meadowlark, Noogora/Cockelburs, Plants, Shows, Totem Fox, Waterfall, Wildfire

Everson Show

December 20, 2018 admin

Hello,

The big event in my life this week was the opening of the Everson show: (Re)Generate. It is a show of women’s work from gals all over 60 years old. I was invited to participate and this is my Wildfire piece that is there. The show is up until Jan 15. I am very happy to be a part of this show along with so many friends. The other event this week was a FAB meeting. We went to Nancy’s new home. It is wonderful with great views and splendid rooms. In the basement there is a wonderful old pool table and some very old billiard balls.I could not resist this colorful shot.

Progress Report: Noogoora/Cockleburs All the parts are attached now and I have even done additional quilting in the form of more branches to fill in. I will add the facing and finish it this week I hope.

Totem Fox I continue to do the quilting on this piece. I am just about half way done with that step now.

Waterfall I added the painted dryer sheet for the water fall yesterday and a bit of silk paper. I will now free motions quilt it all down.

Meadowlark All the base machine drawing is done now and I am ready to wash out the stabilizer. Then on to the felted base.

Jeanne’s Project I keep building away on this project. It is slow because, I audition a piece of fabric, look and then decide if it should be stitched on. The if it works I stitch and move on to the next row. I think she will be happy when it is complete.

Collection VI I started a new work in this series this week. There is not a lot on the surface yet but the building is part of the fun of these projects.

Cards: Inspire Be aware and open to the world around you.

We never Know One never knows what will spark a new direction or work.

I hope the holidays bring you joy and delight.

Keep Crating

Carol

Cockle Burs- Noogoora, Dickcissels, Label Cards, Linnen Jacket, Shows, Solo Blue Jay, Totem Fox

Quiet Days

December 13, 2018 admin

Hello,

We are in a quiet winter week at the moment. Snow and Christmas prep keep one in the house and busy. I had several days at home working and I enjoyed them a lot. Sat afternoon was the opening of the 12X 12 show at the Broad Street Gallery in Hamilton.

Sharon and I went out together and we had a good time. Several pieces were sold but not our work.

This piece is in the show along with two more bird pieces. I was told by one of my Social art friends that she really liked this one.

Progress Report: Dickcissels This felted work is 12” X 12”. I am having a good time doing little birds. The felting portion is fun too. Then adding all the details on the birds as I build them with the stitching is a real learning process.

Solo Blue Jay This bird work is also 12” X 12”. ( I have backgrounds built for two more) I tried to make the background more interesting by putting him in a tree. The Dickcissels are found only in meadow settings so building trees for this background was especially enjoyable. I have been experimenting with putting two treads through the eye of the needle and that makes for a more complex color mix with the feathers.

Totem Fox The fox its self is all appliqued down now and I am to the quilting stage. I am trying to follow the dye lines and create grass with them.

Jacket The hand work on this jacket continues. I am still feeling the inspirations from the Slow Stitch class I took at the Schweinfurth last month.

Cockle burs- Noogoora’s The bur heads are all stitched down now and I am ready to do the finish work on this piece.

Jean’s Project

This is the early stage of building this box quilt. All the little white tags are the centers of the rows and they are labeled so I don’t accidently put them on the wall upside down when I walk back to the pin wall. I seem to only be able to add one or two patches at a time on this work. Then I must look and decide what to do next.

Waterfall The tree’s crown is attached to the background. I am now ready to begin doing the rocks and water in this piece.

Label Cards -Laughter This is almost a cheat as I did so little in creating this card. But when I saw this quote I could not stop myself from using it.

Line of Sight I enjoy how the eye is lead up and away in this sculpture. Lines are strong directors for our eyes.

Keep Creating

Carol

Collage Based Work, Creative Assistants, Diva Meetings, Felt Work, Label Cards, Pods, Quilt Exploration Group (QuEGs), Two Chickadees

English

December 7, 2018 admin

Hello,

This is a bit different way to begin my post, but it is where I am so here goes. I did this card in response to the weekly card challenge and I was struck by how what a big part of the English language is mixed with body terms. When we usually hear someone say ” Body Language” we are talking about how our physical body can send signals of thought or actions, but there is another side too. We often use body terms to describe the world as well. One can use the face to raise and eyebrow, eye the competition, look through shuttered lids, roll the eye, give a fellow the evil eye or have looks that could kill. One can put their nose to the grindstone, or use a sharp wit, be a loud mouth, have a sharp thong , voice an anger, or say or do something that is jaw dropping. One can shrug things off, or carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. One uses the gray matter, or brain power, can have a pea brain, be scattered brained or hair brained. A person can laugh things off, but heads with a fellow , be tickled in the funny bone , nod off or have a stiff spine, stiff upper lip and some times get kicked in the seat of the pants. A person can get side swiped, man handled , and piss his fellows off. Or you can give your right arm, put you toe in, split a hair, have spring in your step or a belly laugh, get hip checked, or even hop to work. My mind is reeling with the whole idea. It is a pleasant activity to think on and I am sure you will come up with things I forgot.

The first Tues of the month was this week so I had my meetings with QuEGs and Divas. Corrine shared her leather work. Dori showed us her new raw edged applique quilt. Shabby sheek is my style she told us.

Angela has been busy too. This project from childhood made us all smile.

She is doing hand work on her deconstructed piece from two summers ago. I like the colors she used. Then I went off to Divas.

This is Regina’s newest thing. She does love that Indigo- even her shirt is dyed.

I also meant with my friend Tanya this week. She makes silk scarves to sell and this is just one of her new beauties. She had about six that were natural elements works too. All were beautiful.

Progress Report: Southern Crows This work is 45”w X 56” l. I did the stenciling with Susan in March. I finally put it together and did the quilting.I did reflective quilting around the birds and leaves and then did parallel quilting on the rest of the work.

Two Chickadees This work is 12”X 12” square. I did the birds on wash away with machine drawing. Then I added them to the surface with machine stitching. I am enjoying exploring this technique and have learned a lot about bird plumage in the process.

Creative Assistants I continue to build faces with found objects and make up these little guys. It is fun for me.

Cockle Burs All the cockle bur( Noogoora) heads are all done now and they have padding behind them. I am ready to build the branch to cross the surface and begin adding the burs now.

Felting: I’ve spent a lot of time using the felting machine this week. Built several backgrounds with little direction of where I want to go with them. This is one is an example of this. I believe I can find more birds that I would like to explore and this with work may be the answer. These Dickcissels for example. They are ready to be washed out now.

I built this felted piece with a Blue Jay in mind. I have only just started with the machine drawing here.

Sisterhood Challenge: Totem Fox I have cut out the pieces and they are required to the background fabric. ( a Judy Roberts piece) I am ready to zig-zag around all the parts at this point.

Sisterhood Challenge: Nine Patch This challenge has proved to be a difficult one for me. But after several weeks to struggling I have devised a way to go forward, The challenge is to make nine units that go together and are independently created. This collage of Mentos will be my soft guide for how to build my units. The block are all 18” square in my case, and they all must have back and white somewhere in the square. I have cut by bases ( the blue)and decided to use this black and white print as my unifying unit. I also pulled two other pieces of fabric that I want to use on more than one square. It’s a good challenge for me as I am in uncharted ground as far as I am concerned. A good stretch and that is what challenges are suppose to do.

Card Closed MindsIt is good to be reminded to keep the mind open – no matter where one is.

Keep Creating

Carol

Creative Assistants, Daily Practice, Experiments, Felt Work, Fundations XIX Mossy Stone, Label Cards, Rain Puddle, Southern Crows

Winter Whites

November 29, 2018 admin

Hello,

After three days of wet snow, I have been thinking a lot about white. In this photo the door that is painted white and that is different then the white siding and the snow created a third white. Snow quickly becomes a dirty white with age and light can also effect snow making it appear blue at times. This is a good time of year to look closely at this color.

This is the second snow with more than 4 “ so I snow dyed again this morning. This shot of the pot makes it look like it is red and black- but the dark color is labeled navy blue……. only time will tell what I get. This shot is of the first snow dye that I did two weeks ago with yellow and blue. I have been home a lot between events the last two weeks and I have worked away in the studio. There is a lot to show for that effort.

Progress Report: Rain Puddle This work is 18” X 24” stretched. It is a rework piece. I started with this Mossy Rock that I created in my Foundations series. I did 27 of those and very few are of any interest to anyone but me. So in recalling what my good friend Ethel said “Carol, you make good backgrounds” I thought what a better background then a rock for a puddle. So I looked at puddles on my walks and noted how they appeared to darken the leaves and thought I could use organza and nylon net to create that depth. I also noticed how the oak leaves were all so uniformly cream and brown so I used them as my subjects for this work.

Daily Practice V This work is also 18” X 24” . It takes about 7 weeks for me to complete one of these works. I enjoy all the hand work that is a part of the process. This one also used a great hand dyed that I did last year with a piece of upholstery fabric that Regina gave me. This is the last one this series as I have a new challenge to do for my daily work that involves a lot of hand work.

Scrap Happy This is a queen sized quilt that I created for my granddaughter Alexis for Christmas. It is made from the box of scraps from Ethel. This is the fifth one using up her scraps.Many of the little units were created by her.

Southern Crows I am to the quilting stage on this work now . I am doing reflective work around the bird square and just building around the squares out side of that.

Butterfly Wing This work is nearly done and I really like some parts of this experiment. Others – not so much. I may just cut this up and use sections separately as it is a bit much all together. Little areas work so much better.

Earth – Waterfall This work is building up. I built this tree( on the left) and then added foliage to create the crown. I am ready to build up the stones and add the water now.

Noogoora Pods I just finished quilting stitch in the ditch on this piece. I am now ready to build the steams and add the pods to the surface. Hopefully it will not need additional quilting after that point.

Felts 1 I am building backgrounds for the machine drawn birds that I have been creating. This is an early stage but a start

Felt- 2 Because I have to give up part of my desk when I use the felting machine I like to build more than one background at a time. This is the second and it is even rougher than the first.

Felt-3 This one is hardly tacked at all. I have only layer in the base and will build color over the top before I do much felting on this one.

Creative Assistants I have watched some sports on TV lately so I am creating little faces on my assistants. I just packed away 30 of them that were totally done on Tue and did not pull them out for a photo.

Totem – Fox The Sisterhood of the Scissors has a challenge. It is to create ones totem and this is my enlarged sketch for that project. I plan not to use the traditional color scheme, but limit it none the less.

Label Cards: Marriage As a part of my thinking about what I was thankful for over the last holiday I realized how very important my marriage is to me. So I made this card.

Saving. At the other end of what is happening is all the pressure to Shop! Black Friday , Small Business Saturdays, Cyber Monday…….. and for what? Do we really need more things? I going to give experiences, Theater tickets, and trips to the Zoo. That way I can save MEMORIEs instead of spend money of things that really do not matter.

Keep Creating,

Carol

Birds, Daily Practice, Deep Jellies, FOX, Label Cards, Scrap Happy Quilts, Sisterhood of the Scissors, Southern Crows, Word Forms

Fall Retreat 2018

November 16, 2018 admin

Hello,

The Schweinfurth Fall Retreat was last week end. I had a good time and got a bit of work done along with lots of old friends. Janice, a friend I made at the fall retreat two years ago, made and appearance and worked on this baby quilts. Her child is due in April. Sally finished up this top. One of her children gave it to her.

Victoria returned to work on this piece that has some hand dyed stuff in it that she created in the wet studio last fall.

Susan made three Christmas stockings( yes, that is an opossum on the one above her head ) and quilted on a piece that she started at QBL two summers ago.

Sally F worked on this wonderful soft colored piece that is a jump off from a Kay Facet design.

Randy quilted with the quilting machine in the front of the class room and made progress on this quilt.

Janet worked on creating these diamonds in Cherry wood strips and she got all the blocks done this weekend.

Liz worked away on this piece using some of her hand dyed fabric.

I started playing with some trapped cut yarns just to see what would happen. Then I also started to assemble a top using the crows I printed at Susan’s in Florida in March. Everyone had fun and made progress. There was so much going on it was rather exciting.

Sisterhood of the Scissors meant at the Schweinfurth today and looked at the the Q=A=Q show. We decided to use this nine patch quilt as the basis for our next challenge. The wild piecing and applique work appealed to us. Not sure about he rules- but I think it will push folks to some unique work.

After checking out the Q=A=Q show the group went upstairs to view the Members Show. This is my piece, Deep Jellies that is in the show.

Lots of my friends are in this one too. There is work by Victoria . I know she dyed this in a workshop with Pat Pauly.

Lori’s piece from Danalia was displayed.

Angela’s felt work was shown too. I regret to say that my shot of The Crows Of Auburn, by Regina , is too fuzzy to post- but it was there as well. NOel had a ceramic piece too. It is a strong show with lots of variety and very enjoyable.

Progress Report: Purple Study I enjoyed building this little 11” X 11” piece. The hand work class is still resonating with me.

JacketAs further proof of that the handwork classes influence, I started altering this linen jacket this week. I took out the shoulder pads and added a few patches of color. I have even done a little hand stitching here as well. I can see this is a long term project.

Black Capped Chickadee I did some tread painting of Chickadees this week as I want to keep building the free motion skills.

Earth – Waterfall I have not touched this piece in awhile but I got back to it this week. I am building in the trees at this point. The water over the rocks will come later.

Scrap Happy I am assembling the rows through the backing and batting in a sew and flip fashion. I will quilt over all of it later to add strength.

Rework FOX I thought I was finished with this work a few weeks ago. When I took it to the QuEGs meeting folks like the colors and the layout- but said it needed more quilting. This is a case where in my rush to finish I did not really look at the work to see it’s flaws. It is easy to repair this one- I merely took off the sleeve and labels and pealed back the facings so I could add more machine quilting. I am building up the new quilting in a diagonal pattern.

Daily Practice The hand work continuers to fill in on this work. I need to finish that step and then live with it a while to see if it needs any additional embellishment. I am trying to allow for the looking stage.

Southern Crows The top I stared at the the retreat is all assembled now. Pressing and basting need to come next so I can begin to quilt it.

Shredded Color This is a close up of the other piece that I started at the retreat. I have plastic bags of shredded yarn in color groups that I capture between the felted background and various colors of nylon net with free motions stitching. It is an experiment and I am leaning lots. I may or may not keep the piece as a whole unit. Got to do the careful looking and living with it – but first I need to finish the work.

Label Card: Beyond In this crazy fast pasted world, it is difficult to look beyond our next step or the next day. I fear we are losing lots of joy and wisdom by not looking a little bit beyond the immediate events. So this card is to remind me to slow down and think about the future as well as the past.

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving so there will not be a post next week. Enjoy your blessings.

Keep Creating,

Carol

Cedar Wax Wings, Daily Practice, Diva Meetings, Finger Lakes Fiber Artists, QBL- Quilting By the Lake, Re Work

Busy Week

November 8, 2018 admin

Hello,

This week was full of fiber art meetings. Saturday was the FLFA meeting at the Schweinfurth.

Pat shared her latest work with us at the Finger Lakes Fiber Artist meeting on Sat. She hand dyed all the fabric in this work. There where lots of folks present as we had to cancel the Sept meeting. These works are by Joyce. She really puts a lot of motion in her work.

Marcia shared this dynamic piece with us. She creates movement in a different way.

Bev is working in a much quieter pallet than Pat and Marcia. I like the irregular bottom edge too.

Sharon had a whole pile of little works that she is going to sell at the 12X12 show at the Broad Street Gallery in Hamilton. This one was my favorite.

Angela is still exploring with Polynesian tapa cloth symbols. She made the screens and printed all of these by hand. Julia is exploring in a new direction too. I really like the text like shapes she is using. Liz went off to the Barn and took a class with Clair Bends and this is just one of the dye pieces that she created. He is fun.

The QuEG’s also meant this week. Liz shared these three pieces again from Clair’s class.

Corinne had been to the Red Thread workshop and shared this wonderful book that she made. It is full of different types of experimenting that they did. This photo shows work with a copper plate and a Gellie plate print.

Sue Ellen made a top using a cool Cat Pannell that she had purchased. She is planning on giving it to the service project at Tow Path. I think that is very kind of her.

After four I went south with Noel to go to the Diva meeting. Cindy shared this beautiful work with us.

This quilt will be a part of the Diva show Earth Song, at the Unitarian Church in Ithaca from Nov 30 to Jan 10.

It has been a full week and I am excited about moving forward.

Progress Report: Cedar Wax Wings This work is 12” X 12”. It is my entry for the Off the Wall Show/Sale for Associated Artist in the Manlius Library. It opens on Sunday. I am so enjoying doing thread painting that I can add on top of the felt.

Black Capped Chickadee n the same vain as the Cedar Wax Wings, I am doing a Chickadee.I built this background in felt. I drew my birds and I have just started to do the free motion work here.

Consider This is a rework of an old quilt that I cut up and used as a base for some hand work.

Noogoora I am doing the hand work on my seed heads now. The white side shows the my out lines that I am attempting to stay within with my stitches.

Experiments: I try to use the books and magazines I have on my shelves and this little experiment grew out of one of them. I had tried tacking yarn down on top of felt like suggested earlier. This process is done under wash away and is suggested in …………..msdmf I moved on. I have a great photo close up of a butterfly wing showing all the little “scales” of color. I wanted to try adding bits of color – fabric or yarn in little pieces to get this type of effect. I thought that if I scattered the bits on felt- then might stick enough to remain on the surface until I could stitch them down. That did not work. But adding a bit of nylon netting over the top did. Now I want to try that idea on a bigger scale. In the book Layers of Stitch by by Valerie Campbell-Harding and Maggie Gray in chapter 6 Cutting out the Patch talk about stitching on felt and cutting it away. My mind jumped to the wash away and I built my net using that instead. ( I never could follow directions) Not sure where any of these ideas will go, but I really am not to worried about that part.

Rework- new I decided I would take a second look at the old rock pieces. I did them just for myself and some are a lot stronger than others. I was talking with Liz about this and she suggested that I build a new ice piece over the rock surface. I like that idea and I will try that as well. I cut this piece so a near square piece so I can stretch it when I am done. When I was on my walk I noticed how the leaves were floating in little pools and I thought I could do that on the rocks too. This is my first attempt. I picked up some oak and Gingko leaves on that walk and I made stencils out of my tracings of the leaves. I will add paint to some fabric using the stencils and add them on top of the rock.

Daily Practice I just keep stitching away on this piece. It is very calming work.

Keep Creating

Carol

Cre-8

All posts by admin

Oaxaca Adventure

Winter white

January Joys

End of year

Everson Show

Quiet Days

English

Winter Whites

Fall Retreat 2018

Busy Week

Creative Fiber Collage Artist Carol Boyer