Current Showings and Fusing

I've got to get busy!!! I have deadlines coming up and I really need to start and finish some art quilts!
Today I'm going to spend the day fusing fabric for my next series of quilts. It is a triptych series from water color paintings I made last year. With deadlines coming upon me, I have got to get busy! Fabric is dyed and the fusing has begun.
Yesterday was a good day, I got word that my new piece "Confused" was accepted into next months show at Oxide Gallery in Denton. I submitted two new 12x12 pieces to the Irving Art Center Gift Shop on consignment. June through September the Irving Art Center is having the Genghis Khan Exhibit and asked the Dallas Area Fiber Artists to contribute consignment pieces to their gift shop. I submitted these two art quilts that I started in a workshop last month with Deborah Boschert. Here are their pictures.


Shadow Circles


Sea Visions

Last night Kathy Mayhew and I taught a mini-workshop and gave a presentation of the SAQA-Texas members 9x12 Mini-Quilts that were on display last year at the International Quilt Festival. The mini-workshop was great and the creativeness of our group never ceases to amaze me. The 9x12's had a great response and the members really enjoyed being able to see the wide variety of quilting and surface techniques. Kathy is one of our Texas Regional Reps for SAQA and did a great job informing the DAFA members on the benefits of SAQA, what can be utilized by members and non-members on the SAQA website and the information, education and growth that SAQA encourages for all artists.
Till next time....happy creating everyone!

Completely Confused

Well....Confused is complete. I really enjoyed this new venture into mixed media. Working on canvas and not an art quilt. I incorporated jeans, silk, cheesecloth, paper, beads, acrylic and textile paints.

Here are some detail shots.

Trying New Technique in Hand Stitching

I'm working on a new technique. This came to me the other night, you know, one of those things that comes to your creative mind when you are trying to get to sleep, the kind that keeps you awake until 2am or 3am. I've been doing a bit of hand work lately, getting ready for a workshop and various art pieces. And it struck me...or should I say "stuck me" (like with a needle), make a hand stitched circle and use a medicine bottle lid as the stabilizer. Hmmmm, so I have practiced this afternoon and this was my best attempt. Still needs some fine tuning, I mean stitching, but hey, I just started this technique today.

Confused - In the Works

I'm working on a new project - very mixed media. You see, I have this canvas, it's 40" x 24". I've been trying to think of what to do with it. Well, the Oxide Gallery, Denton, TX, is having a call for entries, due on Friday/Saturday, that is a mono-chromatic theme. I chose Red. Since Red has so many moods and emotions that go along with it, and this project is going to be a broad range of mixed media, I thought the name "Confused" fit the media.

This project has been keeping my mind busy and everyday I have a new "Aha moment". Yesterday I was able to get started and right now I'm waiting for the paint to dry.
Here is what I've accomplished in my layering so far...


Silk with surface layers, painted cheesecloth and sequin waste.


Yes, a leg torn from a pair of jeans, painted, surface layers and the start of a few more small canvases.



Watercolor and acrylic on hand written paper. It is going to be mounted either in whole or in part on the canvas.



Closer view of some of the surface layers on the jeans.


Small canvas covered with surface layered silk and painted cheesecloth.


So far I've only dropped the paint brush on the carpet once, but the day isn't over yet. One of these years I'm going to get new flooring.

Have a great day!

New Pictures!

Last week I was able to spend some time dyeing fabric for my next quilt series. Hopefully I'll be able to start on the first of these four quilts next week. My schedule is filling up, so I'm going to have to make sure I have a day or two devoted to studio time.

Today I was able to make it to the photographer and have professional pictures made of three of my quilts. You have seen two of them already, but those were pictures I took. The colors and textures the photographer was able bring out are much better than what I can accomplish. The one you haven't seen yet is my "Outside In" quilt. I've shown you pictures of the detail of the quilt as I was working on it, but here is the full picture! It measures 21" x 71". When you zoom in you can see the detail of the beading and stitching.



Here is the "Truck Quilt". When you zoom in you can see the detail of the stitching and the beading.



Finally, here is "Sunflower with a Passion for Color". The quilting, brush strokes and thread painting show up beautifully in this picture. I love this quilt, and would love to sell it!