My New Basket

I have been experimenting more with various bowl/basket techniques, and decided to try something new to finish off a larger bowl that "needed something".  I created some knotted handles that I used a couple of techniques to finish, and I'm pleased with how they turned out:

The bowl measures 10" wide at the top, and 5 1/2" high... a pretty standard looking bowl, almost plain.  I started it with one idea in mind, and stopped midway because the shape wasn't right for the project I was working on.  It sat, waiting for me to think of a way to finish it, for over a month.  Finally, I decided to try the handles.  They are of cord, wrapped with the same fabric I used on the bowl, then knotted to add visual interest as well as functionality.  Then I made a loop on one end, and coiled the other end into a medallion.  That way I was able to loop the ends together ala button and loop.  Then I hand stitched in several places to anchor them to the bowl.

Next, I decided to use MinWax Polycrylic sealer to protect the finish, but also it stiffens when it dries, making the bowl and handles sturdier.  This way, if the user spills something on the bowl, it's easy to use a damp cloth to wipe it off without leaving a stain.

Now I just need to find a shipping box in the garage big enough to house the bowl... then I can list it in my shop!  On to the next project...

Getting ready for the show

I have been caught up in a whirlwind of activity of late... trying to finish up a lot of projects and prepare for the 16th Annual Flagstaff Open Studios Tour August 24-25.  This will be my fifth year participating, and it is one of my two biggest shows of the year.  Here is some of what I have been working on:

Arranging some of my wall art on my grid - later, I made up a black backing fabric to attach to the back and block out any distractions.

My postcard ad, which went out to my mailing list.

fabric bracelets... I plan to demonstrate how to make these, and they will keep me occupied during the event.  I don't do well just sitting there!

One of two of this style of dress that I dyed for a friend who is coming up from Sedona - hopefully, she will take at least one with her!

More "Shabby Chic" scarves... these have been selling like hotcakes at the Artists' Coalition Gallery in downtown Flagstaff, so I have been working feverishly to build up my stock for Open Studios.  I have a busy week ahead, and hopefully, a busy and productive weekend!  If you are in the Flagstaff area next weekend, I hope you will stop by!

Taking it beyond Shabby Chic - Study in Contrast

After my last post, I decided to try the technique I used on my "Shabby Chic" scarves with a new twist:  A wall hanging.  I love the layered look of the scarves, and I love how easy the water soluble stabilizer is to hold all the bits and pieces together while I sew them down.  I decided to see if I could create a piece of wall art that would be more than a hodge podge of fabric and yarn... something I was a bit doubtful I could pull off at first.  But in keeping with my theme of "Play" for the year, I decided the worst that could happen was that I would have something to throw in the stack of UFO's, to be pulled out at another time when the inspiration hit.  However, I'm happy to say that I am completely satisfied with the results:

I decided to name it "Study in Contrast"... not a very original or sexy name, but it does seem to describe the piece.  Light/Dark, Shiny/dull, Straight/Curved edges, Solid/Fluid.  I used a piece of Juniper wood from the woodpile to suspend it from, and finished the outside edges with a zigzag, just to reduce fraying .  But it is a raw-edge applique, so it's different.  Of all the pieces I have done over the past few years, this may well be my favorite!  And I'm quite sure this will be just the first in a series of wall hangings using this wonderful technique!  More to come...

Which one?

For the past 4 or 5 years, I have participated in the annual Flagstaff Open Studios Tour... a two-day event with an average of 75 artists who participate at about 40 studio locations.  To kick off the event, we have a 'Prelude' Exhibit at the Coconino Center for the Arts, starting with an Opening Reception.  This year it will be Saturday, July 27th.  Each participating artist is allowed to show one piece, representative of their artwork to allow patrons to see their art and decide which studios they would like to visit during the Tour... we are spread out all over Flagstaff and the county, so it's a challenge for patrons to get to all the studios!
Having said all that, I have been working for several months on two fiber art pieces, thinking that one would be suitable for the exhibit.  I finished them both yesterday, and now I have to decide which one I will submit:

"Snippets and Squiggles" is done using raw-edged applique, machine and hand stitching with a few buttons as embellishments.  I stitched it directly to batting, then zig-zagged the outer edge.  It is mounted on gallery wrapped black canvas.  Dimensions are 16" x 20", mounted.  Fabrics are a combination of commercial prints and hand dyed fabrics.

"Carnival" is a batik fabric that I have embellished with hand stitching and beaded accents.  The batik fabric was backed with solid color fabric, and I fused the outer edges, then mounted on a 12" x 12" gallery wrapped black canvas.

I have not yet determined what price I will be asking, but each piece took at least 20 hours from beginning to end.

I would love to hear input from anyone who wants to give me their opinion.  Right now, I'm leaning toward "Carnival", because I think it has more artistic merit.  But whichever doesn't go into the gallery will be offered during Open Studios, so they will both be available.  I just know that a larger crowd will see whatever I put in the gallery.  I'm very glad to have 2 to choose from, and that I have finished them so soon.... now I have time to beef up my stock for Open Studios, as well as a slew of other things I'm working on!

Fabric Bowl

Thanks to Sherrie Spangler's blog post, I tried my hand today for the first time at making a fabric bowl:

I really love how this came out, and it was not too difficult!  I had one or two things I had to overcome, but Sherrie's tutorial was very clear and easy to follow.  This one is 8" across and about 2 1/2" high... not huge, but a nice table piece, and it was just right to help me learn the process.  I will definitely be making more of these, especially since I have an ever-growing stash of fabric that I really must find a way to use up!  I have loved fabric bowls for years, and just never found good instructions for making them.  I can see making a lot of these in the coming months... especially during the winter, when my studio calls to me!  Thanks, Sherrie!

A little Fall Foliage

This time of year, I really crave fall foliage!  Considering that I spent most of my life in Southern California, where we all know the sun shines 360+ days of the year, I can only blame my early childhood for this phenomenon... I lived in Northern California for the first 10 years, mostly in the far north of the state where we did have changing seasons.  Here in Northern Arizona, we do get the Aspens turning, and several other native or compatible species that turn colors, but in our yard, we don't have that many trees that do.  I have several small Gambel Oaks, a Poplar that is just my height, and a couple of Amur Maples that really don't scream 'AUTUMN!!!' the way I would like!  So here is an art quilt I made several years ago... it will just have to do to satisfy my craving for Autumn Leaves!

And here is a batik 'Autumn Leaves' I did a couple of years ago:

Okay, now I feel better.... 

Flagstaff Open Studios Tour this Weekend!

If you are going to be in the Flagstaff area this weekend, please stop by to see me at this year’s Flagstaff Open Studios Tour!  I  have tie-dye and batik items in my inventory, as well as my Fiber Art pieces . I hope to see you there!

Works in progress

My last blog post talked about my project board... it's where I keep track of what I want to do or try in the near future, usually within the calendar year. Some of these I have tried before, but I want to continue improving my technique. Others are new to me, but I have been wanting to try them for some time.

So... one of the things I have been wanting to do more of is carving stamps to use on my fabrics. I had some already done, but decided to add to my collection. So off to the hardware store I went to get some more plumbers' gasket, which works well for carving. I also went to the 'culled' lumber cart and picked up a small piece of plywood to use for stamp bases, and I also picked up some small pieces of clear lucite, again to use as stamp bases. Yesterday, I decided to test the stamps on a piece of scrap fabric I found in my stash... probably a little busy if I planned to use it, but it's one of those 'ugly' pieces I decided would work fine for a test piece. Here it is:

Top left and bottom left are two new stamps I carved and mounted on chunks of wood I had in the garage. Middle is a set of stamps I carved out of a softer element. I used double sided carpet tape to adhere them to clear lucite, and added a strip of wood as a handle. Top right is a stamp I carved awhile back with plumbers' gasket again, mounted on a chunk of wood, and the leaf at bottom right is carved from plumbers' gasket, but mounted on lucite. I used black gesso applied with a foam brush for my test medium. However, I plan to use thickened dyes when I apply them to fabric for use, as I don't like the stiffness that paints leave.

On to the next project, which actually didn't make it to my project board... hmmmm!!!

Last fall, I went to New Mexico for 4 days with a friend, and one of our stops was Taos, which is a beautiful place. I had never been, but really wanted to see the countryside there and take photos. I believe I posted some when we got back, and one in particular was earmarked to be used as inspiration for a fiber art piece. Here is the picture:

I really love this scene, and started work on the fiber art piece last fall.

First I did a simple line drawing

Next, I transferred it to my muslin foundation

I had several fabrics already dyed that I could use, but decided to do gradation dyeing for the sky and mountains.

Then, once I got to this point, I laid the project aside over the last couple months of the year to work on other things. Today, I decided I was ready to continue:

I had actually fused the mountains and the foreground green piece in place before I stopped, but didn't take a photo. So when I resumed, I fused the middle ground, the horse, and the top of the first tree. Next I will be doing some free-motion stitching to create the tree trunk and branches, then I plan to layer some lightweight handkerchief fabric that has been dyed with the foliage colors. So stay tuned... this project has finally made it back to the front burner for now!

Missing in action?

I have been a real piker lately when it comes to posting here... needless to say, I have been in an endless cyclone of activity... nothing new there! But most of it has been filling a wholesale order for my tie-dye biz and beefing up my inventory. This Sunday and July 5th I will be setting up in a new venue downtown, which is hoping to take advantage of the crowds who come in for the Farmers' Market a couple of blocks away. I have put off going to try and wait until the weather warms up, and it is looking good so far for Sunday. Meanwhile, here is a picture of one of my recent shirts:

I liked this one well enough to keep it for myself, but dyed some more for the rack yesterday.

On the fiber arts front, I am working on a project I have wanted to try for a long time - a blue jean purse. The other day I went to our local second hand store and got a cute pair of jeans for 99 cents! Can't beat that! I cut off the legs and removed the back pockets... I'm in the middle of embroidering a stylized heart on one of the pockets, and plan to add flowers to the other -- 'Hearts & Flowers' don't ya know? Then I plan to do some more embellishing on the sides of the purse, line it with some cute fabric I picked up awhile back, and add a strap. Then I still have the legs to play with! Woo-hoo! I'll post pix when I finish it.

What else? Well, I've been working for ages, off and on, on an art quilt that has a lot of beading and hand stitching. It sits for awhile, then I remember I need to get cracking on it and get back to the handwork. I am also starting to work on a tie-dye quilt, which will have a 'sampler' look with dyed squares bordered in hand-dyed fabric. Not sure how big, or even what the overall look will be yet, but I have wanted to do one for a long time, so it's on my list! Funny thing about that list... every time I scratch something off, something(s) gets added on and it continues to grow!

Someday, I need to put my toys aside and do a little on the house, too... like cleaning, window washing, seal the deck (didn't I just do that?), tend to the plants... It never ends, does it?

Work in progress...

Time has flown since my last post! First, I will be showing 4 of my art quilts at the new Artists' Coalition Gallery on November 7th, at the First Friday Art walk! We just got the gallery, and are very excited to be opening!

Second, I have been working more on a commission quilt for a friend. I posted a picture of the background awhile back, but it has changed quite a bit, so I figured it was time for an update:

I am now ready to begin the decorative stitching and quilting process, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun!