Scarlet

The color red, any shade, is one of my favorites. I wanted to try the circle attachment that I purchased some time ago for my Bernina. I also wanted to use this black, white and grey variegated thread. The circle attachment is very cool. I used it three ways: to cut away and reveal what is below; to add a new fabric on top of the base; and, as a stitch line to balance the composition. I will definitely give this tool another go in some new way.

Swagger - 100 Women in Congress

Swagger has been juried into the SAQA Exhibit Balancing Act. The theme of this exhibit pertains to the many roles women are expected to take on in this modern society. In November, i read that for the first time in the history of America, 100 women would take seats in the next congress. How exhilarating.

The story...

Swagger

100 Women in Congress

The conversation began with the founding mothers. Contained in a vessel, the classic symbol for women, their dialog is represented by interconnected stitch alone. Public voice was not an option for them. But, their whispered conversations became the foundation of what was to come.

In 2014, for the first time in American history, 100 of their daughters walk the halls of Congress. These women give a lot to be there--absence from family and other life activities, the need to deal with gender bias, not being a part of the “good old boys” network.  They persist.

Represented by 100 colorful circles placed on a cloth printed continuously with the number 100, they connect to each other. There remains room for the next 100. My hope is that it not take as long.

The quilt...

And a close up:

Linking to Nina-Marie

The Face of the Show

Imagine my delight when I received copies of these photos. My work featered on a billboard, flying high over Paducah, KY, advertising the Food forThought exhibit.

And on a sign in front of the museum, luring people in.
Caught me by surprise but well OK now.

Thank you SAQA, thank you National Quilt Musem and thank you Sarah Ann Smith for passing them on.

Linking to Nina-Marie

Heirlooms

The SAQA exhibit, Food for Thought, opens on April 10 at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. I have visited this museum many times and consider it to be the premier museum for fiber art in the country. I am beyond delighted to have my work, Heirlooms, juried into this show and hanging there. From this venue, the works travels to Birmingham and London, England and then on to Ireland.

Heirlooms

Heirlooms-details

Linking to Nina-Marie

She, Dreaming in Winter, Was Bursting with Thoughts of Spring

This is the fourth in the She Art series. Telling the stories of the Elbow trees. Giving them a new life in art apart from the bad pruning job they have received in real life.

Linking to Nina-Marie

Find Your People

The work of art can be a solitary endeavor. So, it is not unusual for an artists to look for like minded people to share with, to try on ideas with, to broaden one's point of view. My roots were in the local quilt guild. I soon tired of the inefficiency of the meeting. Too much time spent on business, charity endeavors, meeting minutes, finance, the upcoming quilt show and insufficient time spent with a good speaker or a good show and tell.

I've participated in small quilt/art groups. Fun but often one in the group...

It is important to find your people.  My people are wrapped up in a group called MIX. Eight women who come together to share art, discuss art and their work, and let me present  my work. They offer ideas if asked. They provide useful commentary.

We challenge ourselves each year to produce work to a theme. These works of art are exhibited in a show of our own. Our challenge this year is to produce two works each, size 24w x 30h, of a hardscape and a softscape based on a visit to the Allison Inn and Spa in Newberg, OR. The show opens in April and so for now, we only show teasers. This is the script for one of mine.

Others can be seen on the MIX blog here.

Look for more in April.

Millar's Maxims

I am an NCIS fan and always laugh when the cast of characters refer to Gibb's Rules. So I am working on a piece that has 100 smallish circles to be sewn down. I prefer sewn to fused. The work is slow and tedious but rather zen like. So, or should it be sew, as the needle went up and down, up and down I had some time to formulate Millar's maxims.

Here is a snapshot of the piece in question:

Not in any particular order:

1. Never quilt in straight lines. It's hard to do, is less interesting and when you miss, it is noticible.
2. Don't contrast difficulty. Sewing around a tight circle with a contrasting thread highlights the mistakes.
3. Think in layers; sew in layers; quilt in layers. It's just more interesting.
4. Never make all the decisions up front. that's the part that keeps you interested and engaged.
5. When the work gets tedious, go slowly.
6. When the work gets tedious or boring, break it into small segments
7. Reward completion. Wine is good!
8. When the work is done, walk away.

That's all for now. 

Linking to Nina-Marie