First 2010 piece out of my studio!

Granted, I started it in December but it's done now. I used every little bit of the beautiful Hanamomen fabric that I had purchased years ago and the remaining bit of purple print cotton paired with the gold silk. I think my stash was telling me something.

Titled "Family Roots", it is 36" x 45" and continues my series of stylized kimono shaped artwork.

The piece includes piecing, applique, broderie perse applique, hand stitching and machine stitching.

First Fiberactions Challenge: Initiative

The Challenge is based on a member's suggestions of a word. A piece 16" x 20" is to be created within two months. After posting on the group's blog and individual's blogs the challenge begins again with anothew member offering another word challenge. Our first challenge was "Initiative".

My work, "Spunk" is based on a free-association of synonyms for Initiative: dynamism, energy, originality, vigor, spunk, longing, love, passion, action.

The working title for this piece was "Primordial" going for the origin in "originality"...the first assertive foot forward in taking the initiative.

The idea germinated from several leftover parts of a long completed New York Beauty. Rearranged they reminded me of preying plants from the Jurassic Age. They were each completed as small quilt-lets, hand stitched, beaded

and bound with rick rack. The background is heavily machine and hand quilted, stitched with seed stitches. The piece is bordered on three sides and bound on the fourth. Several larger beads were added last.

Gee's Bend Celebration in Hartford

Art quilts are just about everywhere!

Community Health Services (CHS) in Hartford CT is sponsoring “Community Threads”, a City-wide celebration of quilts and fiber art, to coincide with the Hartford Stage’s musical production “Gee’s Bend”.

Now through February 28th, 2010

Nearly a hundred quilts have been loaned to public venues around the city. Antique bedding and historical quilts can be seen along side contemporary art quilts; work by Gee’s Bend quilters and Connecticut fiber artists lend inspiration to “first-timers” working on Hartford’s community quilts" Kate Themel, SAQA CT blog Read more at http://saqact.blogspot.com

Many from art quilt buddies around the state, including Sisters in Cloth members Linda Zimmerman (zimmermandezigns.blogspot.com), Gail Kotowski (www.artandfiber.com), Vivika DeNegre (www.vdenegre.blogspot.com) and me :^).

Check out what the media has to say at: Helen Ubiñas of The Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/courant-columnists/hc-ubinas-quilts1227.art.artdec27-col,0,6014267.column

Nancy Schoeffler, also of The Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/features/home-garden/hc-home-quilts-0108.artjan08,0,641796.story

Phrase for the year, perhaps

Work in Progress: that may be my phrase for the new year. I've been thinking about my word for 2010 along with many of my compatriots on the two group blogs that I regularly read (saqa and quiltart). A single word has not had sticking power. The phrase "Work in Progress" is so appropriate. It says everything from what is always happening in my studio to my personal development. It's been true for decades.

Pictured here is a detail of "Family Roots" (see last post for initial photo)...still a work in progress. Mostly hand work at this point.

Followed by a quick pic of my new work in progress.

Work in Progress. Nuff said.