Scraps of Fabric to Inspire

It all starts with this: pile of fabric scraps turns into a quilt.

And, after two days of work on these scraps, I create the main elements. In this case it’s an elongated teardrop shape. I make them each as individual elements, making sure there is enough contrast between them. Then I place them on the background fabric. Though I’m not ready to show the entire quilt and it’s really just in the beginning stages, here’s a sneak peak of one area:

Close-up of Main Element

There’s still quite a bit of work to be done. I have to stitch more color into the background and into the elements. I’ll keep sharing with you as I go forward and I hope you enjoy the ride!

Just started stitching!

“Movement #2″ – Second in a series of abstract wall hangings focused on movement.

I’m so excited to share my latest large art quilt with you! It’s taken a long time to complete, but I’m happy with it, so it’s well worth the effort!

Called “Movement #2″, it’s part of a series I have started to create that is based upon the movement of things I saw while snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef  in late 2011.  The quilt is a wall hanging that measures approximately 3′ wide x 3.75′ high. All raw edge applique and free motion stitching. Most of the fabrics are batiks I purchased. To get some of the colors I wanted, however, I also used some commercial fabrics from my stash.

“Movement #1″ – The first in the series of abstract wall hangings focused on movement.

As I was getting to the end of the free motion stitching around the circles, the light on my sewing machine went out. PANIC! But the machine still worked. I pulled up an LED light right next to the needle and made it work! Now all that’s left to do is to add the hangers to the back. I’ll do that this weekend.

This quilt will be installed at On the Edge Gallery this week.

Movement #1 is currently at Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery.

This is the scarf I demonstrated at On The Edge Gallery.

I spent quite a bit of time this week in the studio and at both galleries. At On the Edge Gallery in Old Town Scottsdale, I was honored to be the featured artist. I demonstrated painting a scarf I had drawn out with a fabric marker. And this weekend, I finished that scarf. It’s rayon and I just need to heat set it and it will be at On the Edge this week!

Close-up view of the hand-drawn and hand-painted rayon scarf

Hand-Dyed Silk Scarf

I also sold some silk scarves at the gallery this week, so I needed to replenish my silk scarf inventory. I spent much of the week preparing scarves to be dyed and today I finished steaming them after two days of painting and dyeing. Below are the results:

Hand-painted with silk dyes – silk charmeuse scarf

I’m always amazed at how much more vibrant and interesting the scarves look when they’re done with the steaming process than when I put them in the steamer. I will have to photograph the scarves in the process next time. I have one I just finished setting up with resist. I’ll photograph that in the different stages and get it on the blog soon.

I’m getting some scarves and totes ready to sell at a private event here in the Phoenix area. It’s a lot of work, since i don’t usually do trunk shows and the like, but I’m going to try it. Last year i hosted a Fiber Arts Trunk Show at the Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery. It was somewhat successful, depending upon the artist and what was selling. It was unseasonably warm that day, so the knitted fiber arts didn’t do too well.

I’m also getting excited to spend some time at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show the first week of February. I hope to take a silk ribbon dyeing class with my dear friend, Lorri Scott. Take tie to visit her if you’re in the Tucson area between the 5th and 10th of February.

OK. Back to doing some artwork! Happy Creating!

I am aware that it’s been quite a while since I’ve blogged, but it’s because my real life is so busy that I’ve not had time to share virtually lately.  We’ve done an update on the website, so take a look around if you’ve not visited in a while!

Tonight I’m the Featured Artist at On The Edge Gallery, a co-operative gallery in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ. We’re 40 local artists strong. I’ll be demonstrating some of my fiber art techniques. Come by from 6pm to 9pm for some wine and snacks!

Featured Artist Announcement at On The Edge Gallery. Come and visit!

Handbag commissioned by Cyndy

It has been quite busy in the studio lately!  I worked hard and long (and I mean really long!) to get a commission done. My friend, Cyndy Kempken, asked me to create a handbag for her with special pockets to meet her needs. The main challenges were using earthtones (not usually my thing) and working with upholstery fabric, rather than quilting weight cottons or silks. Cyndy also wanted me to do something “creative and arty” on the front. It was a tall order, but I finally finished it and delivered it to Cyndy yesterday.

Throughout the process, I shared the bag’s progress with Cyndy. I first did the pattern in some inexpensive cotton fabric. We made adjustments to it and then I started to create it in the final fabric. I found that I had difficulty with the fabric, but with the help of a walking foot, I was able to complete the bag. The front flap is decorated with a hand-painted cord I used to tie up a scarf I made. I knew I needed something to just dress up the bag a bit, and the colors in this cording were perfect for Cyndy’s bag. The strap, which you can’t see very well, is made from the strap of a handbag I purchased at Goodwill for $1! It was perfect, as Cyndy wanted an adjustable strap that would allow her more versatility. I couldn’t have created a more perfect strap if I tried!

Under the front flap of the handbag

Inside fo Cyndy's Bag

design is different than you’d expect. The flap does not go over the opening. Instead it goes over the front. On the flap, there is an iPhone pouch. You can barely see it, but it’s there on the front. Under the flap are two additional pockets. The top one is a zippered pocket for change. It has a gusset at the bottom to hold the weight and bulk of coins. Below that is an elasticized pocket for Cyndy’s keys. The fabric used for these pockets matches that of the interior of the bag.

And the inside has a different fabric with a magnetic snap closure. There are pockets meeting Cyndy’s specific needs. There is a pocket for her cosmetics, another for small jars (like liquid stevia), and finally, one for glasses.

I handed the bag to Cyndy yesterday. She was so excited to finally have it! As soon as I gave it to her, she put it on her shoulder and didn’t take it off! She was going to start using it immediately. I hope she loves it as much as she did yesterday!

More to come soon!

Now that the housekeeping is out of the way, I’d like to share some exciting news with you:

I’m so excited to let you all know that my fabric and fiber art have been accepted to be one of the 35+ artists represented in the Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery in Fountain Hills, AZ. It’s the premier co-op gallery in the Valley area. It’s an honor to be among such fabulously talented artists in this co-op.

Art Quilt & Quilted Handbag Display at Fountain Hills Artists' Gallery

On June 1, 2011 new members were officially welcomed at an evening reception. I am one of only two fabric artists in the gallery, and the only one representing art quilts and quilted handbags. It was a lovely reception and a great way to meet the rest of the artists.

To the right, you will find a photo of my part of the wall. Below the area that you can see is my purse display. All artists in the gallery get to have a 3-dimensional area for non-wall art or other art, like prints, etc. Instead of a print rack (which most of the wall art artisans have), I purchased a retail purse display. The handbags hang on it, along with some of my pouches and cell phone purses.

Handbags, totes and pouches on handbag display at FHAG

In addition to the wall space, each artist has the opportunity to put some smaller, gift items in the gallery as well. In this “store” area, I have some small journals, original fabric collage greeting cards, smaller pouches, and art dolls.

As part of the gallery membership, I will be working there at least one day each month. When I go in this month, I’ll take some more photos of the gift areas and share some of the other artists’ art in the gallery. It’s really a lovely spot!

More blogging to come, I promise!

Here is the latest progress on the man painting I showed in earlier posts:

And here is another one. I started the background on this one the same day as the one above, but I was certain that it was a lost cause. Then I saw the woman in it and she’s really developed.

Florence Baptistry - photo reference for in-progress painting

Baptistry - Step 6 - refocusing central element and background

So, do you remember this photo I was turning into a painting? Well, I’ve continued to work on it, and it’s continued to develop. It still has quite a bit of work. I’m going to do something different with the right side of the painting so that the focus is really on that main building. I found that having the background building inserted with the windows caused too much chaos for the eye and made it difficult to focus on that beautiful doorway that I wanted to have as the focal point. And, since I’ve spent so much time on the painting and the details of this building that so inspired me, I’m willing to take a chance on the background and try something new. It will change some of the dynamics of the picture, but I think it’s for the best. I’m taking my artistic license here!

Sedona Photo Reference

Sedona Landscape in progress

And I’m also working on a painting from a photo I took when  Joanne and I went to Sedona. Joanne and I ended up taking the same photo, and both put it on our MacBook desktops. Mine has been that way consistently since. When we were there, I was incredibly inspired by the rock formations, but I didn’t work on anything on canvas. I knew it was time to take this photo and try to render it on canvas. It’s not done yet. I still have some additional work to do on it. But It’s coming along.

Four Abstracts

In the meantime, I’ve been working on a small series of paintings. Each panting is 10″ x 10″ and they all developed together. Each took on a life ot its own, but they’re all related. I will likely put them all on the wall in this order. I have another mini-series of four more in progress.

So there’s the update for a while. I hope I have more to share soon!