You are invited

Artist Reception for Fiber & Friends

Sunday, July 19, 2:30-4:30

Meet the Artists

Enjoy wine, food and live music!

Friends & Co
Madison CT Restaurant
Boston Post Road

Featuring the work of Barbara Adams, Janine Anderson-Bays, Debra Bento, Vivika Hansen DeNegre, Gina Grubb Frank, Gail Kotowski, Carol Ludington, Kate Themel, Robin Wolek and Diane Wright

SAQA Auction Wins

I have decided to enjoy my SAQA wins from the past while watching this year's Auction, waiting to bid on another.  On the top:  L_R Debbie Bein, Sandy Gregg, Lutgard Gerber-Billiau, Vivian Zeff, Cathy Whall Smith, Ali George, Holly Altman, Cathy Whall Smith, Dijanne Cevaal, Vivika DeNegre, Cathy Whall Smith, Janine Anderson-Bays, Dijanne Cevaal, Vivika DeNegre, Louise Schwab and Laura Cater Woods.  Inspiring!

A Tip of the Iceberg

This past week has been extraordinary!  Just, WOW!

In fairly random order:  Driving to DC with my buddy Vivika DeNegre to attend the SAQA Conference "Capitolizing on Fiber" last Wednesday thru white knuckle weather conditions with strange and frightening weather alarms coming from Maryland Highway Patrol over our phones.  Flooded streets.  Hydroplaning cars. Scary.

My first meeting as an incoming member of SAQA's Board of Directors.  Most of my fears about how I would fit in and make a difference have been allayed.  Well, maybe some of them anyway.

Attending the lectures, talks, meals (okay…this could have been better with respect to the food in the hotel but certainly not the company), networking, exploring galleries, meeting friends old and new.

Participating in the Spotlight Auction and successfully winning Pamela Allen's donation (!)

Avery Revisited

The crazy thing about this is I never looked at the artist statement on the back while I was busy bidding.  I was just going for Pamela Allen.  Later I did read the statement: "Fabric collage beginning with a fragment on fabric of a Milton Avery painting.  The pastel-close tones and simplified forms attracted me"  Milton Avery(!!), American 20th century Minimalist, is one of my very favorites!!  Here's a bit of what Wikipedia has to say "Avery was often thought of as an American Matisse, especially because of his colorful and innovative landscape paintings."

SAQA CT had a huge group of attendees.  We might have been the biggest.  Among them, of course, was co-rep Cathy Smith who brought along postcards for me of the "Inspiration Quilts: Then and Now", 25th anniversary celebration exhibit at the Windham Textile & History Museum.  I happened to be one of the artists invited to interpret a quilt from the museum's antique collection.  I chose Flying Geese Variation.

After adventures too numerous to relay, I drove home…this time a happily uneventful time with Vivika and Kate Themel.  Upon my return I found in the stack of waiting mail a package from Quilters Express to Japan.  Another Wow.  The fabric is vintage and beautiful.  Oh, and did I mention that I'm going with QEJ (Susan Faeder) on an amazing tour to Japan in January?!

My head is stuffed with inspirations!  Where to begin…...

Doran Doran!

And I'm not talking about a Second British Invasion of Rock and Roll!  That's Duran Duran, silly.  Rather I'm referring to another, much more IT savvy Diane.  Diane Rusin Doran.

I have just finished watching her newest DVD from beginning to end.  I have my head FULL!  There is SO much information here, you will want to play your copy over and over to digest it all.

I 'made' my in-house IT guy (better know as DH David) watch this with me today.  I figured that I'm so non-techy that I would have to have him there to interpret.  But, no, I did get it….it's just that there is an incredible amount of information to get.

My personal favorites expanded on drip dyeing and screen  printing. Doran's way (digital) is superior to mine (dyes and inks and mess) in that there is nothing for me to be allergic to…and there is no ink dribbled all over my studio and no dye in strange places, hence no mess to clean.

Granted I'm going to have to watch it completely at least one more time and still will probably have to refer to it.  So, I'd suggest buying a copy instead of borrowing one from a friend….you really will want to refer to it.

I want to try drip dyeing!  You can't believe what you can do.  I am imagining using some of my colorful photographs from our trip West this last spring full of colors that make my heart sing…and I will know, deep inside, that there is another layer of meaning embedded in my printed fabric.

So:  A shout out to Vivika Denegre who knew I would connect with Diane Rusin Doran's DVD!

These comments from DH:  He would recommend that you watch it with your computer and try to play along with what Doran is doing (Next on my agenda).  And, some familiarity with Photoshop Elements is very helpful, particularly with layers.

Busy Week

Busy…and only getting worse…or better, depending on one's viewpoint.

First:  Viewpoint.  I responded to Kate Themel's challenge:  Okay, maybe I unwittingly DO take risks.  I just might be in denial.

Second: My art quilt group Sisters In Cloth assembled two charity quilts on Tuesday.  Followed by a fabric bin-diving event at our weekly Friday meeting thanks to the largess of fellow Sister  Vivika DeNegre. (okay, is it just me or does 'fellow Sister' sound weird?)

Third:  We are collecting 3D pieces to supplement SAQA/CT's Local Color installation at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich CT that we install next Monday and Tuesday (Yikes!)

Fourth:  I am readying for the Shoreline Arts Trail Open Studios this next weekend (MORE Yikes!)

You may not hear from me for a bit :^/

Boston Strong quilt top

Colorado Colorful quilt top

Fabric bin diving

Thanks, Vivika!

Serendipity Strikes Again

2013 Events

       

I am one of the luckiest people I know.  Saturday at 8am my friend Vivika DeNegre rang asking it I'd like to go to NYC for the day to participate in Quilters Take Manhattan, a celebration of Quilt Alliance.  Know how fast I said YES?  I was ready and waiting in an hour.

I took a bunch of pics...but they were all for other people, using their cameras.  Duh.  Finally I shot one of my own.  Pictured with Vivika (Editor of Quilting Arts...and much more) are Leslie Tucker Jenison and Jamie Fingal. You can tell they were having fun.

It was such a wonderful day filled with friends, new friends, fiber...fiber...fiber.  Oh, did I say that Hollis Chatelain was the Event Speaker with "An Artist's Journey" AND the four members of Semper Tedium spoke:  Paula Nadelstern, Robin Schwalb, Amy Orr and Katherine Knauer!?!

See, I told you I was lucky.  Doesn't get better than this.

Leslie Tucker Jenison, Vivika DeNegre and Jamie Fingal

Dark mid-day foreground with glorious background

Leaving NYC on a beautiful Sept day

Photographer in the Audience

Last night I was invited to give a Trunk Show of my work at the Shoreline Quilters Guild in Branford CT.  I had belonged to this guild several years ago so it was a real treat to be invited to return.  Lots of familiar faces and many new ones too.  

"Prickly Secrets"...and I have no idea for whom the Victory sign is being given

"They Rode the Stars to Heaven"

"Ode to Charley Harper"

I brought about half of the rolls of art quilts that I have in my studio.  What I chose to present could charitably be described as having a traditional basis.  This being a more traditional guild, I thought it would be of more interest to them.

Two really serendipitous things happened last night:  First, some of my buddies attended for moral support.  As I hardly ever plan too far in advance, their being there was perfect:  I had some help traveling the work around the crowd to see the pieces up close and personal.

Second, one of the members and a new SAQA member, Jan Doyle was there WITH HER CAMERA.  Remember how I don't like to plan too far in advance?  I did remember my camera, but I hadn't asked anyone to take pics.  So, whilst my buddies traveled artwork, Jan snapped pics.

She sent these three this morning for my use.  Darn, she's good!  I would never have taken...or posted...these 'animations' of myself.  But they are funny.  God knows what I was saying.  They are so graphic you can just make up your own narrative.  I am.

Thank you Jan, Barb, Robin, Vivika, Debbie, Judy Siccama and the Shoreline Quilters Guild!  You are the BEST.

Open Studio Weekend!

So much to do! So little time! This weekend I will be participating in the annual Open Studios of Shoreline Arts Trail, a juried group of 37 artists living in 3 towns along the Connecticut shoreline. The group covers the range, from cut paper, to jewelry, to calligraphy, painting in all its forms, sculpture in all its form, to three hearty art quilters. Vivika DeNegre, Linda Zimmerman and I will not be in our home studios this year, but instead, we are camping out at the Guilford Art Center. It's central and we will be "bigger" by virtue of our association.

The weather is suppose to cooperate. So with high hopes we dive into a busy and, hopefully, productive weekend. At the very least I will get to re-connect with some of my friends and patrons that I only see once or twice a year.

Sisters In Cloth Extravaganza! 2010

Sisters in Cloth annually hosts what we have named Extravaganza. Every year Sister extraordinaire Yvette Howard hosts the event which includes vendors, lunch, demonstrations, show and tell and lots and lots of fun.

This year Betty Warner (bettywarnerquilts.com) offered to lead demonstrations on several surface design techniques. You had to be there to believe how hard it was for this seasoned teacher to keep us all in line...it was hysterical! At least she was laughing as

much as we were. She's pictured here with Class Angel Vivika DeNegre (vdenegrequilts.blogspot.com) at the left.

We had a wonderful day browsing the vendors, eating lunch, Betty's demo and an incredible Show and Tell. This is one of the many pieces guest Judy Ross brought that showed off her wonderful free-motion quilting.

I've just finished the post on the Sisters blog (www.sistersincloth.blogspot.com). I urge you to go there...it's much more complete with all the vendors names and websites. As a tease I'll tell you that Laura Wasilowski always sends the BEST hand dyed fabrics (artfabrik.com).

Art quilts mounted on foam core

I have been mounting some of my art work on foam core for sometime now.


This is the after and before of a piece that is now in the collection of Vivika DeNegre: vdenegrequilts.blogspot.com. We traded...a great subject for another post. Trading: It's a good thing.

I sent the process into an art quilt mag once but no bites. But maybe there is a reader here for whom it would be interesting.

First: I interview bordering background fabrics for the covering for the foam core. After deciding just how big the exposure should be, I cut a piece of archival foam core.

Note: Choose the more expensive archival. This process is best for pieces that are less than 36" (or so) in either direction because over time (and I suspect humidity) the larger foam core bows. Now, this can be overcome by framing the whole thing with a traditional frame that will keep the foam core in position.

Second: I cut the background fabric with plenty of room for the exposure and an overlap on the back. I carefully measure the centers and hand baste the art work to the background fabric.

Third: I (carefully measuring again) pin the art work to the foam core. This is the tricky bit. Measure. Measure. Measure. Then pin. If you slant the pins you will be able to flip the whole over to see how the overlap is going.

Fourth: Once you are happy with the centering, flip the whole over and pin the overlaps. When you are happy with this you may remove the front pins to help in the stability of the next steps.

Fifth: Using acid free glues and beginning with the center glueing the background fabric to the foam core. (just like stretching a canvas...in fact...sometimes it's easier to use

stretcher bars here. Then you just staple instead of glue/tape) I pin/glue the corners, mitering the fabric. When all is stable, I tape the raw edges. It looks better and will keep a smooth backing.

Note: Even though I will have already labeled the art work before I mounted it, I ink a label on the back of the foam core too.

Pictured below is me gluing, having already pinned, the background

fabric to the back of the foam core...in that embarrassing, and yet comforting, wealth of stash.

After this you will affix eyelets to run the picture hanging wire through. Again, there's the measuring. A few inches down, equidistance from the side edges they are affixed so that wire can be strung between. I buy Adhesive Hangers and Eyelet Sets (if I'm unable to find just the plain Eyelets). You must use an adhesive AND packing tape on these if they are to handle the weight of the art work over time. Another tricky bit.

This foam core option is good for me for some installations. The pieces pack well back to back or face to face (no wire touching the front of the art work). They are very light for shipping (as opposed to stretcher bars) and anyone can hang them. Have you ever noticed how some people can be so flummoxed by fiber that they are paralyzed with indecision? How do I hang it? Oh, my!

Pictured are another after and before: Koi Pond

Barking Cloth Quilts: Art by Vivika DeNegre

Socks & His Toys
23"x23"

I've long admired the work of fiber artist Vivika DeNegre. I'm one of her biggest fans and hope I can continue to collect her work.

I commissioned her to re-create from a photo a remembrance of our wonderful old cat Mr. Socks. She captured our little buddy perfectly, incorporating images from the stories she'd heard about him over the years (ad nauseum, no doubt). It was a birthday gift for my husband. He opened it last night and was overjoyed. Thanks, Vivika!

ps. You can catch Vivika on her blog and very soon on her new website. Look for her among my favorites.

Other things Australian

This piece was created by Vivika Denegre and when I saw it I loved it. Sometime later, I created a piece that she admired.  I suggested a trade. Voila!  It's now one of my favorites in my small, but growing, collection of art quilts.

Years ago when we lived in Australia we turned a casual interest in birds to a full-fledged passion for birding.  We traveled much of the continent taking in the landscape, flora and fauna...and the birds! 

Because there WERE few ground predators, many of the bird species have both males AND females that are very colorful...and plentiful...which was very nice for beginner birders to become successful at finding and identifying species.

This particular art quilt is Vivika's "Satin Bowerbird" and it reminded her of her home-stay with a Victorian family for her junior year in high school.  The male bowerbird collects items (for the Satin they are blue or white) to decorate the bower that he has made in his attempt to attract a female.  If she  is attracted by the blue bottle caps, clothesline pegs, bits of glass or shell, she will enter the bower of grasses and twigs.  Then they will find a place of their own, mate, build a nest and raise their chicks.

Sisters In Cloth Extravaganza!

My very first blog post.  How happy am I?  I don't want to count the years that developing a website has been one of my New Year's goals.  However, a blog has only been on the goal list for a year...so there's progress.

The art quilt group that I belong to, Sisters in Cloth, annually hosts an intimate winter gathering that we call an Extravaganza.  And in the interest of honesty, it's a concept and title that I brought with me when we were transferred to CT from FL.  One of my FL groups (Gone to Pieces) had a long tradition of a similar annual event.  When I was bereft of quilting buddies, I formed a quilt group from the local Newcomer's Club.  Since 2000 we have morphed into our own art quilt group of thirteen...and holding.  We meet weekly in members homes and have become Sisters in Cloth.  We are always on the hunt for new venues for our work....local libraries, restaurants, clubs...

Back on subject.  Saturday was our fourth annual Extravaganza.  The day was cold and sunny outside and warm and sunny inside.  I'm posting two of the pics I snapped during our Show and Tell...one of the highlights of the event.  Kate Themal (one of our invitees and co-rep for SAQA) is showing three of her wonderful leaf creations.  I'd seen them on-line before...but they are even better up close and personal!  The other pic is my buddy Vivika Denegre displaying two of her works inspired by a local glass artist's work (Barbara Kerwin-Shulman).  The two of them along with a weaver are preparing for a three person show in May.

The day began with coffee and...whilst everyone gathered.  This year everyone brought two nine patches for a charity quilt.  Usually our group asks for an original block that we exchange amongst ourselves, but this year charity seemed more appropriate.  

Trish and Owen Hodge who are Batik Tambal gave an informative talk about their travels and textile collecting in Indonesia and Syria.  Of course they had exquisite panels and batiks that we freely looted and plundered.  They weren't the only vendors:  Laura Wasilowski (ARTFABRIK) and Roni McCullough-Sheppar (Sunny Bunny) sent boxes packed with delicious hand dyes!  Our own Ruth Anne Olson offered her hand painted and dispersed fabric.  Nearby fiber artist Karen Loprete brought her work (and incredible pet portraits!) for us to buy and wonder at.  Dorothy Meyer, a local beader brought work.  Oh, you just know the 22 attending were atwitter! Just think, everything that makes a quilt artist's heart beat strong:  good friends, good food, great show and tell, vendors and a mini-workshop by our own Vivika and Barb Adams!  Boy, it doesn't get better than that!

I don't know how frequently I'll post.  Despite the "core dump" you've just slogged through, I worry that I have nothing to say.  Hmmm, maybe I can get over that worry.