in the studio

After a bit a of taking care of health, hearth, and home, I have moved to the studio for some cloth and thread therapy and dreams.  Of wide open spaces, clear blue skies and fields as far as the eye can see. You have driven past them all your life, haven't you? I have.

And the rivers, streams, brooks and creeks, wending their way around the earth. All the elements moving, moving and moving. We tend to think of them as static and unchanging, I think. But water, in particular, is such a force, even when still on top of a lake.

yes, even in the quiet shushing of the shoreline wave. Still moving moving moving.

Art of This World

Love being included in this amazing group of artists! Take a peak...

'Sea' art quilt

Another long, art quilt, made with hand dyed silks and cottons. 3-D this one, too.. The small random stitching is trying to evoke a feeling of small schools of fish swimming around..
about 20x50"..

and a little bit of painting too..!

Autumn inspriations..

Halloween

Not my favorite holiday, but I LOVED it as a kid. Who can argue?, candy, out past dark, dressing up. Some lovely, fall weather here lately, I've managed acceptance into the FCCA's Dec/Jan show, "Small Wonders" with this piece.. sorry the pictures are amatuer, I'll clean them up later.. It's "Stone" Hand and machine quilted, appliqued, and sewn. Made with hand dyed and commercial fabrics and floss..

New paintings..

Was happy to spend time in the studio lately, and a productive time it has been..

"Home" Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 20x20"

"Refuge"  Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 20x20"

I love finding unexpected things in my jungle/garden.. a few nests, a few blooms still clinging to summer..all wonderful, simple things.
And because I love Cate Blanchete so..

Did she win an award for her portrayal of Elizabeth I ? She was amazing.

a slight pause.

Well, I"ve got 6 weeks to examine my gracefullness (NOT!) and a new canvas to create on..

After a lovely afternoon of boating w/the hubby, I managed to step onto an extremely slick boat ramp and well, here I am..

It's ok, and it could be worse. July. or August or snow or or.. I can still move around w/crutches, and just how lame is my upper body strength, anyway. (pretty lame)

Here's a little mental break, then, some more beauty to ponder..

last of the summer blooms

a nesting sort of mind..

two very graceful people, who know not to step onto a slippery, muddy boat ramp. I believe this is Heathcliff and Cathy..

I need some peace so..

Here are some images that make me happy.

A great wabi sabi tea bowl

Anselm Kiefer's work

Jane Campion's wonderful movie "Bright Star"

My hand dyed silk scarfs hanging out to dry. Peace.

Baltimore Inner Harbor Art Festival

My last outdoor show of the season is tomorrow and Sunday in Baltimore. The tent is set up, 4 brand new quilts going up, a slew of new hand dyed silk stuff, and no bad weather predicted.. all is well :D.  If you find yourself in B-town stop by and say Hi.. 

Yeah!

Going to Sierra Leone!

I registered some of my quilts with the "Art in the Embassies" program, and low and behold they want one! How cool is that? So "Ancient Light" will be on her way to Sierra Leone soon.. Bon Voyage.  Read here about the "Art in the Embassies" program..

A wave of color

Like a wave of the sea..

One of my submissions to "Quilt National" that got passed over.  I really enjoyed making this one and spent hours and hours on it. Definitely going to persue the 'water in motion' theme in the future.
Hand and machine made with hand dyed cotton and silk. Hand and machine quilted, appliqued, embroidered and embellished. 40x38"

Inspiration Monday..

And This Too...

Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach

If you fancy a nice day out and are on the East Coast.. I'll be at The Neptune Festival, in Virginia Beach this weekend, with new work. Tent #2224

reflections

An interesting thought on jurried shows. I tend to get the 'yes's' from unlikely sources. From outsider shows, from non-art quilting venues and publications. I only just realized this, going through my submissions and rejections (I keep both!) files. Almost universal 'no's' from anything traditionally art-quilt related. Shows, publications. I wonder. Anyway I'm happy for the yeas, and for those who read this and have said no to me, it's all good. I do really appreciate the constructive comments. If it's no, then I like to know why. Presentation? workmanship? filled the quota? Feed back is always helpful.

So do you submit your art to shows? galleries? publications. I've noticed publications in particular are very subjective to the editors' taste. I know picking art is VERY subjective, one's blue ribbon is anther's 'no'.

I've also noticed publications' tendencies to stick with certain artists and their techniques or styles. I guess editors can explain it as cohesiveness, or sticking with a theme.

A nice and very interesting newish magazine is "Hand Eye" .. have you seen them yet? Check it out, especially if you are interested in hand work, ethnic arts and travel!

Enjoy your weekend!

done!

A lovely commission done and off to it's new home in Ca.. Based on Shakespeare's character Ophelia in "Hamlet".  Hand dyed and commercial cotton and silk, hand embellished and embroidered.

Also finished submissions to a couple of shows. I swear, I spent hours on the technical aspect of taking/uploading/processing photos of my art as much as making it! It's a learning curve.

In Remembrance

late summer madness

Well, a long intense period in the summer studio is drawing nigh and it has been a good one. Very productive. I'm wrapping up a big submission for an art quilt show, the competition is tough, so we'll see.  

A few calm seashore items to end the hottest summer on..

into the studio

Ahh the smell of turpentine in the morning..smells like 'victory' *bad robert duvall impersonation*

Various states of undress and undone-ness.. going on though

hunkered down

Is that even a real phrase? Anyway, some lovely shots of the garden, which I have not done much to, and have surrendered it to the summer...

And instead have sequestered myself in the studio stitching ..

and painting.. in the cool

Submitted!

Ok, this is how it eventually turned out..the 'bird's eye view of the Rappahannock River", I showed no color restraint what so ever..

Over 45 fabrics, hand dyed and commercial, machine and hand sewn, quilted and embellished.

With some of Glennis' hand dyed shibori ribbon for good measure.. about 32x28" finished!