Viewpoints9 Reveal

Today is the reveal for Viewpoints9's Challenge 6.  This is my submission for Masks.  Check it out!

ReCOVERy for Hurricane Sandy Victims

When Luana Rubin of equilter called for quilts for victims of Hurricane Sandy, my quilt group decided to participate.  Previously we had sent quilts to the tsunami victims in Japan through her and felt this call needed to be answered too.

We in turn put the call out to SAQA/CT to join us, which was an inspired idea.  They answered loud and clear!  Here I am, meeting the FEDEX person, with six big boxes and one smaller one packed to send off to Timeless Treasures.

Timeless Treasure Fabrics has volunteered warehouse space in NJ for collection and distribution.  Sisters in Cloth and SAQA/CT (among MANY others) donated quilts/comforters/sheet set.  FEDEX donated the shipping of our 7 boxes, what we are calling 200 pounds of warmth, to NJ!  See what Luana started?!

Kate Themel, SAQA/CT co-rep, has written a most informative and compelling blog post.  Check it out.

Where to begin?!

Yesterday Sisters in Cloth  (more photos there) hosted the regional meeting of SAQA/CT (even more photos) at the Guilford Free Library where our exhibits Indigo and Postage Stamps were installed.  Usually we plan for 25-35 members at our SAQA/CT meetings, but this time we were host to over 50!  It was incredible!

Fortunately Kate and I had little business to conduct.  What there was WAS important:  introduction to the group of our Co-rep replacements, gradually being installed over 2013: (drum roll) Barb Adams and Cathy Smith.  Two talented and conscientious members, who, I know, will be brilliant at their new jobs!

We also briefly updated everyone of our SAQA/CT (hopefully traveling) exhibit Local Color.  We encourage all our members to submit, hopefully multiples, for the jurying process in Jan/Feb.  Please, check the blog for info.

Then the meeting was turned over to SHOW and TELL.  To quote my buddy Diane Cadrain in describing the meeting "it was somewhere at the intersection of overwhelming and inspiring".  Boy, does she have a way with words...describing it perfectly for me.

Because everyone had work to offer, we broke about two-thirds through for lunch...and for a buying opportunity afforded by Carol Eaton with her incredible hand dyed fabrics and Rita Hannafin who brought SAQA catalogues for purchase.

Newish member Barbara Dierolf describes her journey

Newly minted member Lina Lawall

Another new to group Normajean Brevik

Rita Hannafin with a daughter's off-to-campus quilt

Toni Torres' Moon Mermaid

The lunch itself was a big hit too:  "Soup's on for SAQA" featured various soups (duh) made by several Sisters, delicious stuffed breads from a local restaurant and finger desserts from other members.  The day...cool, rainy and drear...was a perfect soup day.  Fortunately, the members made double batches out of habit...and there was enough to go around.  Thankfully.

All in all:  a day of superlatives.  I can just hardly wait until the next meeting!

Exhibit is Up

Several years ago Sisters in Cloth had the bright idea of making self portraits and using them...perhaps as a banner,  when we exhibited our work.  This year we rounded up twelve...some where the block letters that we had made to identify us have gone missing into someone's studio file.  Undaunted we found a space in the collection of this year's exhibit, "Indigo" and "Postage Stamp Inspirations", to pin up the grouping.

Our directions originally had each individual's hands reaching out, so when mounted the group would look like we were holding hands...connected in a way.  You can see that the idea mostly was utilized.  The one that clearly wasn't has a better story:  The person whose back is to the viewer has her hands up in a greeting salute to the mountain of her girlhood home in Switzerland.

My husband photographed this current exhibit, as he usually does, and played the 'can I identify the Sister' game.  He stumbled at mine.  He eventually deduced it was mine...however...he thinks I don't usually look so maniacal (his word!)

I will post photos of the exhibit in the next couple of days.  There should be a post being put up on the group's own blog soon too.  AND after we host "Soup's on for SAQA", SAQA/CT's regional meeting that we are hosting on Saturday, you will see even more.  So...again...stay tuned.

Guess who

Twelve Sisters

"Indigo" Goes Up Tomorrow

Mountain Rill detail

Mountain Rill

Tomorrow my art quilt group, Sisters in Cloth , will hang our annual exhibit at the Guilford Free Library.  The major part will be dedicated to "Indigo" inspired work.  A smaller portion will be reserved for our small works inspired by a talk by Jane Davila and US postage stamps.

These three I made from fabric that I had actually dyed myself.  The top detail I include because I was so surprised with the complex makeup of the commercial indigo dye that I used....brown and pink(!) Who knew?

I have a couple of others that I will take just to see what pieces work with the other members' art.  As I got all my indigo together, I realized just how inspired I must have been....there are five to choose from.

I will photograph the entire exhibit and post some of the images in the next few days.

Next Saturday is the regular meeting of SAQA/CT and we have invited everyone to the library to see the exhibit and have lunch with us.  We are calling it "Soup's On for SAQA".  Should be fun.  Stay tuned.

They Rode the Sparks to Heaven

Miyajima Nocturne

Open Studios Over

This is how the Shoreline ArtsTrail pictured me in their pre-weekend write up.  I can tell you that's not how I looked on Sunday evening at the end of the weekend!

Okay, I might have smiled a bunch, having sold five (!) pieces, but I was totally spent.  I had moved my studio to the Guilford Art Center, nearer the center of town, along with five other SAT members.  Having a 'nest' of artists certainly increases traffic...and, heck, it's fun to talk to your buddies on those few off-times when the studios are empty.

The other equally exciting news is that one of my Color of Place series has been juried into PAQA-South's ArtQuiltsWater!  I am so psyched that one of them is going on the road!  The exhibit opens in Cary, NC January 4 and is up until March 24.  Cary happens to be very near where one of my children lives :^)  Goodness, the two of us might be able to attend the Artist reception together.  That would be especially nice for this child...he 'gets' what I do and would enjoy it.

Now off to Thanksgiving preparations.  We are hosting a cast of thousands...okay...an overstatement...only 13.  But one is a newly minted, very mobile two year old...so that makes up for the exaggeration.  We are getting the six cousins together, ages 14-2, four from FL and two local.  They are all SO excited.  (as are their grands).  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Sacred Secrets/Fiberactions Reveal Day

Today is Fiberactions REVEAL DAY for the current challenge:  Neutrals.  Check them out!

Sacred Secrets

Continuing my secrets series, I am using the same format as the last two reveals, seen below.  This time the challenge issued required the use of black, brown, gray and white.  

Using vintage zippers as a metaphor for concealed secrets, my interest here is in the use of secrets in religions.  For example, in some traditional indigenous religions, information is held closely, revealed only to the initiated.  Well, on second thought...it's certainly not exclusive to traditional or to indigenous.  Because of my interest in Aboriginal Art and my supply of fabric designed by Aboriginal artists, it was a natural to explore this branch of religious secrets.

Sacred Secrets detail

 Sacred Secrets, as the previous two, combines machine and hand stitching, zippers (of course) and rick rack (there are those friends of mine who would also say "of course").

Let the Sun Shine In

Pesky Little Secrets

SAQA Auction Collection

Without intent, initially, I've started a nice collection of very interesting 12" square art quilts.  This past week at the SAQA booth in Houston at the International Quilt Festival I became the proud owner of two (!) new pieces.

Joining four others that I 'won' in previous SAQA Benefit Auctions, are Cathy Smith's Twins with Matching Hats, from her marshmallow hay bale series, and Vivien Zepf's Chilean Chair Whimsey.  I feel SO lucky to have such a wonderful sampling of art from five very talented fiber artists!

Twins With Matching Hats/Cathy Smith

Chilean Chair Whimsey/ Vivien Zepf

Happy Anniversary #2/Lutgard Gerber-Billiau

Collections #3/Debbie Bein

Leaf Litter/ Sandy Gregg

Waiting for Roasting/ Cathy Smith

Home Again, Home Again.....

I almost lost hope in making it to Houston's International Quilt Festival this year.  Hurricane Sandy had other plans for the day I had chosen to fly.  After several canceled flights, I finally, at 2am (!), arrived at my accommodations that I was sharing with my buddy Martha Wolfe whose gorgeous piece Stockholm Winter was included in the Seasonal Palette exhibit. (check out her blog to see it)

It was SO worth the harried hassle and worry to travel there!!  Friends...new and old!  Quilts!  Art! Vendors!  Photo Ops!  Food! ;^)  Oh, my, we had fun!

I have to say the SAQA exhibits were WONDERFUL!  Understandably, we couldn't take pics...even better there are catalogues....beautiful catalogues too.  (be sure to order yours from SAQA) I especially liked the added feature of the artists' process journals available to peruse at the Seasonal Palette exhibit.  Unfortunately two or three of the participating artists' journals had gone missing and were, therefore, unavailable...but those that were there were a REAL plus.

I took hundreds of photos and it's hard to choose which to post as favorites.  These three happened to get photographed more than once on subsequent meanderings in the exhibits.  That must mean something.

Next time I'll post the SAQA Benefit Auction 12" Square Art Quilts (yes, that's plural) that I 'won'.  I told you I had fun.

Amsterdam Alley by Leslie Tucker Jenison from San Antonio TX

Cold Winds by Takako Ishinami from Yamaguchi Japan

Moon Sisters by Stacy Hunt from Orange CA

Scent of a Memory

Rain Dancer

 My challenge to Viewpoints9 members reveals today:  create a piece inspired by one's memory of a scent.


I bounced around several ideas for this challenge:  burning leaves in the autumn (ages ago, of course...we don't do that anymore...we compost), chlorine in the Air Force Base pools where we spent hot summers,  the smell of Yokohama Harbor as our ship approached decades ago, the smell of the gyms where we played basketball.....

Each time I remembered more and more details particularly surrounding my memories of the scent of rain.  Two of my most distinct memories occurred in desert climes after long dry spells.  As rain was so desperately needed in both regions (Los Angeles and Fort Worth), I'm sure it was not too far from my consciousness at the time.

Years ago when we lived in L.A. the area suffered a horrific drought.  All we talked about was when the rains were going to come.  My daughter, then two, heard it all, naturally.  And I remember distinctly the day I smelled rain and called to her....'Come quick!  The rain's coming!'  She hurried to the screened door and stood in silhouette watching the big drops plop onto the sidewalk outside.  Slowly she turned to me.  She had the saddest, most dejected face.  "Rain is water" she declared slowly.  All this talk of rain coming...heck...she must have thought something incredible was coming...it had only been a few weeks since someone called Santa had come.  But, rain.  Well, that was something different.

Rain Dancer is inspired by one of my childhood memories during the time our family lived in Texas.  I'm the eldest child in my family and I was charged with the care and, particularly, the good behavior of my youngest brother, David.  And, he was a challenge for his sister!  One morning a peculiar colored light filled our living room.  We stopped our play and looked out.  Simultaneously, I smelled and blurted "Rain!"  With that, David ran out the screen door like a thing possessed.  Had he forgotten what rain was?  It had been a very long time since he'd seen it.

He was a wonder dancing on the sidewalk, face up and mouth open.

It was this last memory that won out for today's reveal.

Oh, and that gorgeous background is from Mickey Lawler Skydyes :^)  Thanks, Mickey!

Quirky: How does it fit into one's body of work?

I have a question for you who might know.  Where does the one off, quirky piece fit in your body of work?

I like to collect vintage textiles.  I sometimes incorporate them in my work, although, with the exception of rick-rack, anyone else would not know that they are there.

This is different.  I 'found' the vintage shift (cut out from a pattern but then abandoned...just as you see it here) and, at some other time, I 'found' the decorator's yard of plaid seen as the background.  These two lived on my design wall together for months.  Slowly it occurred to me that The Shift that I remembered and wore in a much smaller size than I do now...but not as small as this...was popular during the late 1950's and the early 1960's.  Just around the time that nylon stockings were going out and pantyhose were coming in...about the same time women began to sew their own clothing less often...and, interestingly, the cusp of vinyl zippers replacing metal zippers.

The piece really took off after I discovered these garter snaps that I had stashed away in some distant past.  (My granddaughter can't figure them out.  ;^)  But then who'd want to?)

So, just where does this fit into my body of work?  I'm thinking about reserving a category for Quirky.  Whatcha think?

Sisters in Cloth

Can't keep hands off

I was so excited to have been approached by Lynn Krawczyk to contribute to one of her articles on art quilt groups.  Her last article was full of inspiration:  Replenishing Your Creative Well Fiber Art Groups in the Aug/Sept issue of Quilting Arts featured 'the thursday art group' and was full of interesting points.

The art quilt group that I belong to Sisters in Cloth morphed out of an interest group that I started when I first relocated to Connecticut from Florida.  Bereft of friends, I joined the local Newcomers Club and offered to teach anyone to quilt who would join my group.  Pathetic, I know, but it worked.  Members, who already knew how to quilt, joined, along with newbies.  That core is still together.  After we 'graduated' from Newcomers we invited other quilters to join us...and long the way...changed our emphasis from strictly quiltmaking to a broader interest group.  Most of us would consider ourselves art quilters...but not everyone.  Definitions are not important to us.  A cohesive, supportive bunch of friends with common interests is ....We have been through thick and thin with each other.  And, along the way, we have created some fine work that we get to exhibit together.

Lynn's most recent article includes her interviews with four art quilt groups around the country.  It is most interesting with a list of tips for starting your own art quilt group.  I could not imagine my life if I had not been a part of Sisters in Cloth.  Read the Sisters' blog to find out more.

Poised and well-behaved

Town Green

Town Green

Hot off the press, so to speak.  I have just blocked this piece.  It is about 30x36", making it just about perfect size for entering into the upcoming SAQA/CT Call for Entry for "Local Color", inspired by Connecticut.  If you are a SAQA member, living in CT (or one of those nearby members with dual membership) you can enter!

Go to the SAQA/CT blog and click on the 'CT Exhibit' page.  It's all there.  The exhibit will premiere in Danbury in May at the Western CT State University Library, and, later travel to other venues throughout the state.

I'm really glad that the membership was so enthusiastic with this theme.  I hope it means we will have MANY entries.  We are a small state, with a corresponding small membership.  Just about everyone will need to submit for the jurors to come up with 50-60 pieces!

Since I moved to Connecticut in the late 1960's (yep, that long ago...some of you were not even thought of then) I have felt at home.  It's not the only place.  Victoria, Australia and parts of Northern California also feel like home.  I'm struck by the light, the color, the (mostly) dry air, the undulating land, the rocks and trees, the shoreline....hmm...come to think of it, all those places have these in common.  As I am inspired by nature in much of my work, I have several pieces to choose from to offer for this Call to Entry...fingers crossed that something gets in.  I wouldn't mind NOT getting in...especially if that meant that there were SO many really great pieces that the judges had a full complement without me.  I could handle that.

New "Fiberactions" Challenge

Let the Sun Shine In/September

Today's online reveal of "Fiberactions" focuses on the use of a triad of color.

I decided some time ago that I would use the Fiberactions color challenges to work in a series, leaving the design of the piece more or less the same.  My over-all theme is secrets and I'm drawing from my stash of vintage zippers to use as a metaphor.  Not too subtle I guess...sealed lips, zipped lips, etc.

Pesky Little Secrets/July

Out of the Studio...but busy still

Last Sunday DH and I drove 9+ hours to Raleigh NC to help #2 child relocate into new digs.  One of my jobs was to take down and re-install all of his artwork.  Here you see Many Moons (l) and Boats at Slack-tide (r) with a small journal size By the Silvery Moon in the middle.  I hadn't seen Many Moons since my visit last year.  I remember how much fun it was to make.  Most of the mountains are Japanese kimono fabrics.  Then, there are 'the boats' that I always enjoy visiting.  Every time I think "I should make a series"...maybe I will this time.  The general imagery harkens back to my acrylic painting days. There are a slew, a veritable flotilla, of small 'Mackenzie' boats in various collections.  The title itself dates the endeavor:  I haven't been 'Mackenzie' for over twenty years.

Wednesday we drove over 10 hours to return to our home.  It takes longer on a weekday because of the increased NYC traffic.  I arrived home to more produce from our Farm Share which really needed to be used...soon.  So yesterday I made and processed 3 quarts of Farm Share Fresh Tomato Pasta Sauce, using the remaining bell peppers, onions, garlic, basil and tomatoes.  I do have a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when I look at the jars, but it's not as wonderful a feeling as it will be when I finally get into my studio and start on that series.

Inspirations

I have been so busy this past month.  The kind of busy that doesn't necessarily yield results.  I have finished one piece and I have been working on a T-shirt quilt for a local school fundraiser...but I haven't "done" anything.  If you know what I mean.

 I have been in the garden with my camera.  The butterfly bush has been a constant source of interest, both to me and, to a myriad of butterflies:  American Painted Ladies, two types of Swallowtails and, just lately, some Monarchs.  I had almost lost hope on seeing Monarchs in our yard this year.

The fish pond is always interesting.  We have four huge fish, Goldie, Taxi, Salt and Pepper and our smaller two year old, French Fry.

Then there is the view from my studio.  I am so lucky.  First, to have my own space and second, to have a view.  We laid the stone for the patio last year.  This year I planted barrels with herbs and stuff I thought deer would not like to eat.

 I've been thinking about making a piece about shadows.  Almost every morning my buddy Yvette and I walk from the Town Green to the harbor...about 2.5 miles.  This last time I toted my little camera so I could investigate more shadows.  Okay, I am not the skinny one.  It does make me smile that the shadows reveal more about us than just our forms.  Interesting.

Now that school has begun and the little people we live with are back to a routine, perhaps I can get back to one too.  Let's hope!  And while we are hoping, let's hope it's a very productive routine.

Viewpoints9 Challenge #3

Seven Sisters: 18”x24” artist dyed, painted and stitched

Our third challenge was posed by Lin Hsin-Chen: "Horizon" refers not to a real line but to the infiniteness of the line which can only be perceived by feelings.  Therefore, we should not search line, but rather find a way to perceive the line.  Lines are indeed a medium that can spark human beings' creative genius, as well as their impulse for communications, by which the texture of knowledge is born.

Nature is separated into upper and lower sections by the horizon, generating spatial vocabulary and dialogues.  Humans unknowingly come to accept the linear attributes captured in time and space, and meanwhile some sense of awakening, some sort of subtlety, also arises in their hearts.  Yet, where on earth do these feeling come from?

Delicate lines carry emotions and expressions, and also other aspects than that should be explored.  I want to challenge all kinds of prospectives about lines and discover the touching consonances and fascinating textures composed by lines.

I started with ‘horizon’.  I didn’t get too much farther in my thinking with ‘line’.  As I began thinking about horizon, with ‘lines’ in the back of my brain, I began looking at the heavens.  In my research the words Astronomical horizon had captured my imagination.

I’ve always been intrigued with instances of groups of people, quite separate geographically and culturally, coming to very similar places in their descriptions of their environment, their explanations of the outside world and their mythologies.  While I was looking heavenward metaphorically, I remembered that many peoples have similar stories of the spirits and deities that reside in the heavens.

Pleiades, for example, is know as “seven sisters” to Australian Aboriginal communities and the Nez Perce of North America, “daughters of the night” to the Berber, and “seven sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law” for the Ben Raji of Nepal.

We are all similarly hard-wired with a need to survive.  To survive we must understand our environment and, sometimes, that means we impose meaning on natural phenomena.

Across the world peoples have drawn imaginary lines in the sky, describing creation tales of morality and explanations for earthly people, and, of course, those that navigate the globe.

Be sure to check the Viewpoints9 blog for other, sure to be interesting, interpretations of Lin Hsin-Chen's challenge.

post-script:  You might remember seeing this fabric pictured as it was being dyed.  The post was Dyeing in someone ELSE's yard on Sunday August 5, 2012

k.d. lang and Linda Branch Dunn

Those two names, in all likelihood, have never been spoken in the same sentence together.  However, this past Saturday they were the two names on my mind.

A selection of Linda's work was on exhibit at the ALL Gallery in Lowell Ma.  Most of it was from a collection that she referred to as 'abandoned' fabric and I thought more descriptive than, say, vintage.   I've always enjoyed her work (see my post of Aug 13), so I decided to buy this one for myself.  The one with a black bird in flight AND rick rack had my name all over it!

 The gallery staff really wanted all the work to remain up, at least for another week.  So, I didn't take it during the Lowell Quilt Fest last week.  Instead I stopped by on my way to the k.d. lang concert in Lowell this past weekend.

Saturday night we met 'old' friends and had a wonderful dinner together.  After which we ambled to the nearby park and enjoyed Lang's incredible voice....sitting on our lawn chairs, under the stars on an absolutely gorgeous night.  It doesn't get better than that.

Following the Rules...or Not

 Maybe it was growing up in a military household where following orders, chain of command, commanding officer, first sergeant, k.p., restricted to quarters and insubordination were concepts dealt with almost daily, but I really....really...hate to follow orders.  And, interestingly, that translates into "directions".

When I get a new gadget, toy, tool, device...I see if I can operate it before reading the instructions.  If I can't, I will resort to reading the instructions or directions.... but I always start at the bottom and read up to where I "get it".  Infantile.  I know.  It's just so darn hard to break the pattern.

One of the challenges on the design wall for Sisters is to use postage stamps selected from Vivika Denegre's stash of vintage stamps.  As everyone felt a bit overwhelmed at that moment, the decision was made that the dimensions for this challenge would be "small".  We had just had a demo from Jane Davila on mixed media and were chomping to get started.  While not explicit, the understanding was that this was to be a small, mixed media piece to show along with a larger work at our December exhibit at the Guilford Free Library gallery.

We also had already committed to a "larger" challenge using Indigo as the basis.

Too Close to The Sun 171/2" x 19 1/2"

Too Close to the Sun detail

I didn't want to use the stamps themselves so I printed them.  The idea to use them came from the recent Mars exploration of NASA's Curiosity...of course, there isn't a stamp for it...yet.  The other bit of synchronicity was my purchasing two schnibbles of marbled cloth at the Lowell show that looked like the surface of the sun.  That's when the concept began to jell.  I used stamps commemorating Viking missions to Mars, Skylab, Pioneer Jupiter and First Man on the Moon.

I'm sharing this on Friday at our regular meeting.  I guess I'll find out how off message I am with my piece that is not really small and is not mixed media.  Anyone have any words of wisdom for me...besides psychoanalysis?   ;^)

Weekend in Lowell MA

Two viewers in front of my Whistler entry, Miyajima Nocturne, and that of Pamela Allen on the right (nice company to be in, no?)

Last year I vowed not to return to the quilt festival...the auditorium is/was dark, not showing the quilts to their advantage; the vendors, likewise, were in the dark and many fewer in number from years past; and the show did not stay open on Saturday past 4pm and not at all on Sunday.  Then, I changed my mind.  Fortunately, I had not vowed to too many people that I couldn't change my mind without a lot of explanation or an eggy face.  This year's festival was better than I'd expected...although the lighting is still poor and most of the other conditions still exist...there were many other venues added to the weekend, any one of which would be worth the trip.

Particularly interesting exhibits around town were:  Material Voices, juried by Sylvia Einstein.  I really liked Sandy Donabed's Twins with their red nail polish...made me smile; the ALL Gallery,where I actually bought a small piece of Linda Dunn's.  I have admired her work for years.  Usually I purchase one of her cards with the intention of sending it to friend or family.  Somehow when those occasions arrive, I find some rationale to keep it and send something else.  I won't have that dilemma and the subsequent guilt to deal with this year...I'll post a pic when I receive it following the end of the exhibit.  The exhibits at the Whistler House Museum and The Brush Gallery did not disappoint.  

Friend Judy Ross with her gorgeous piece

A tired, wet 'me' with my End of Summer at The Brush Gallery (r).  Behind me is Sandy Gregg's beauty(l)

 I have taken a photo from this viewpoint on the bridge outside the auditorium numerous times, but this is the first with a bicycle submerged in the foreground.  The whole is a mess of discarded tires and debris.  A bit of a metaphor for the town.  There are deconstructed architecture...reclaimed mills...wonderful art spaces...many restaurants to recommend...and a cheerfulness and helpfulness in the residents that invites one to return (often).  It feels like the town is on the cusp of something wonderful, if only the economy would recover.

One of several quilts in the new venue Boston Modern Quilt Guild exhibit.  

This quilt tickled me.  All the fabric relates to Edward Gorey one of my favorites.  The Boston Modern Quilt Guild is a new to the weekend addition.  They hosted an exhibit in one of the reclaimed mill's entry spaces.  The place was well lit and the many entries were a breath of fresh air.

 The weekend was a great time for me.  I saw old friends, made new ones, and energized myself.  So no vows that I can't rationalize later.