Catching Up!

Today is day 2 of my Open Studio and it's pretty exciting to see everyone coming through. There finding quite a bit of new things and that makes it fun, too. BUT, it time to catch up a bit.

The VOTE for your favorite raven quilts continues.
So far #9 is the favorite,
#5 is a close second,
and there is a tie between #1 and #14 for 3rd.
There is still time to vote, and get your name in for a chance to win the stuffed raven. Just click on the bar below and follow the steps listed.


Just last week I was off to San Luis Obispo for a guild meet-up and workshop which was tons of fun, and along the way I enjoyed traveling through one of the most beautiful areas on earth...the California Central Coast.
With a fair amount of time to stop here and there I did just that.

One place I stopped was at my good friend Dawn's quilt store -
Creation Station in Buellton.
I found her decking out a hat for a tea party the next day, and I got to see her wildly fun dress and a pair of matching gloves that just happened to turn up in time for the party. (was wishing I could go). I spent a bit of time there and found Dawn's collection of sewing antiquey things had multiplied tremendously throughout her store.

So, I asked her what was her favorite item.
This is Dawn with her favorite
antique Russian sewing machine.

This other picture is of an item I found rather curious.
Can you guess what this is?

Don't Give Up on Me

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Boy, it has been BUSY this week... but almost all really good things. I have been working on several different projects. I finished up the Yosemite Chapel quilt and will be taking pictures of that soon, and I have moved on to some other BIG idea things... but, these must remain under-wraps for a bit while longer. I haven't even had a chance to really dive into my bag of goodies from last week's field trip.

It seems like with springtime things just start happening really, really quickly. In this I know I'm not alone... just look at what my friend Susan Willen has been up to! She's been dyeing fabric for weeks -- during any small sun break we may have had. Now, she has her 150 yards of fabric ready to head off to take a Nancy Crow workshop. Don't these stacks look yummy? and, I had to throw in at least one photo of Susan's work, too!

Enjoy!

Book Signing Party

It was almost like the last day of high-school when you went around signing everyone's book, except for the initial questions - are you in the book? what page? That and we didn't have any champagne being served at my high-school. It was a lot of fun and I'm pleased to share some pictures from the day. I've added the names & links to their intros that appeared on the blog earlier this year.David - Trish - Stacy

Joanell - Jeanette - Muna

Cynthia - Val

Cindy- Analee

Aragorn - Dawn - Angelique

Meet Fiber Artist Jeanette Kelly

Jeanette is an incredible person and artist. Her time has truly come to share herself through her artwork with others, and I am happy to be here to watch her come into her own. Learning technology as it is used to promote ourselves as artists is one of her current goals, and I wasn't sure that she was going to make it, but she did. Jeanette is the last of this little series of quilt artists that have pieces in my new book....

Now, in her own words:

I work in fiber because of the aesthetic appeal to the senses. The textures and patterns, when combined with color, merge into a medium of both tactile and visual pleasure. I love the fabrication process whether dyeing, silkscreening, piecing or appliqueing, using silks, wool and cottons or even paper.

Originally I was drawn to the human form and worked exclusively in the areas of art clothing and jewelry. In the past few years I have focused on art quilts and have recently returned to my love of dimensional pieces. Whether fabric figures or my newest passion fabric vessels..it's all about the fiber and color.

My inspiration comes from both visual and internal reactions to experiences. Sometimes I am inspired by my photographs or sketches, writings or ideas, and sometimes tactile or visual contact with the materials. The resulting work can range from representational to abstractions.

I value the feelings and insight viewers bring to my work, although their interpretation may not match my original inspiration, the importance lies in their having created personal connection and meaning.

Meet Quilt Artist Muna Elias

I was introduced to Muna during a Quilts on the Wall meeting. She was brought by several other members who 'car pool' from around the San Diego area. That first day Muna shared some of her wearable pieces. It was a wild day, Muna's energy and excitement for life show up in all her work, and I am certainly grateful for having met-- and being able to get to know Muna better all the time!

In her own words:
I LOVE to create!! I can remember somewhere around the age of 4 years old I would take my mom’s dish towels and cut them up and make new fashionable, out of the ordinary outfits for all my dolls. My mom realized after a few years that this was not a phase and started signing me up for every needle art class she could find. I loved it all. Knitting crocheting, weaving, hand embroidery, quilting, ribbon work…if you can think of it, I have tried it and enjoy it.

I am a process artist, meaning I most enjoy trying and creating different and unique techniques to achieve a specific end look in my art. I look at objects and scenery and visualize in my mind the necessary processes to capture that look. Wherever it is possible, I incorporate non traditional material and in non traditional ways. I enjoy working with fibers such as yarn and thread and I will use them as a surface embellishment or an edging to finish my quilts. Most of my work starts off as a whole cloth in either white or black and I layer color on top of color and even discharge color after I just dyed it on the fabric. The sole purpose of doing this is to get a specific look. Surface embellishments with metal, fibers, paint, paper, dyes, and most important to me is lots and lots of thread work; all come together to achieve the desired look I envision.

I try to create some kind of art work daily. I have realized that when I do so regularly, I really am a much happier Mom, wife, boss, friend, PERSON…. So I just do it!!

I have lots of little ones (seven to be exact) who help me in my daily creating of art. They are an inspiration to my art. Some of my art work is a direct result of conversation, sayings or phrases we have in our house. The children help me to see all the colors in our garden and the bugs crawling on the trees. Walking in our house and finding each of the children working on different mixed media art work is common. One may be beading a purse, one may be working on knitting a scarf, or one might be weaving on the loom. My success in creating art work is that we get to create all together.

(photo credit - Jason Lanier)

Guest Quilt Artist - Ellenina Gaston

I met Ellenina for the first time many years ago. She was taking my Fast-Piece Applique workshop and the thing I remember most was, she bought up a ton of my little yarn packages. Not for couching as they had been packaged, but for something entirely Ellenina. Within a couple of days she shared not only her quilt, but a whole small series of woven treasures that she had designed with all the yarns. Her mind is always creating and I know you will enjoy seeing her work.

In her own words:
Hello! I am Ellenina Gaston and I currently live in Southern California with my husband and two children. My hometown is Chicago, Illinois. I grew up sketching in charcoal and pencil with my father, an accomplished illustrator, and doing crafts and needlework projects with my mother. I enjoy experimenting in various media and have tried just about every thing from paints and pastels to water colors and wax. While continuing my art education as an adult, I found my passion in blending pattern and color using fabrics, fibers, thread, ink, paper, found objects, metal and paint -- basically, anything may turn up in a project!

My art is characterized by a vibrant use of color and pattern and cam be a unique mixture of media that often combines skills in quilting, basketry, painting and drawing. The presence of natural elements and female forms predominate in my most recent work.

I have had the pleasure of having my work show in galleries as part of group shows and exhibits. I teach classes on expressive drawing and surface design techniques. The rest of 2010 will be a very active time for me creatively. You can follow my latest adventures on the my website and I always welcome new Facebook friends.

Cheers! Ellenina

Cindy Rinne - Quilt Artist

I feel myself lucky to know Cindy and to have enjoyed her friendship for many, many years. She was amongst the first artists to show up at the first art quilt group meeting that I pulled together back in 1996, (which turned into Quilts on the Wall). She always dresses the part of artist while having a grounding, soft spoken, wonderful energy. I know you will enjoy and appreciate meeting Cindy and her quilt art.

In her own words:

Hawk drifts in diagonal sky.

Winter bees hum in unity pursuing pink flowers.

I seek meaning in my inner wilderness.

by Cindy Rinne (on the art quilt, "Wilderness")

Recently a friend wrote that my art quilts are poetry whether there's text on them or not. I enjoy writing poetry and creating fiber collages. My branding is: "Fiberverse, art meets poetry." I read my poetry when I speak to quilt guilds and at art/poetry events. I think my poetry can be an entry point to understanding my art.

I began my art career as a watercolorist, moved into acrylics and then into fiber art. Collage has always been a part of my style no matter the medium. The Oriental influence has also been a part of my art work. I like the simplicity and the nature connection of the Asian style. Nature inspires my textures, patterns, colors and poetry writings. I like to share my life experiences, life observations and the experiences of others in my art work. Various fabrics from others are combined to represent community and to repurpose the materials to become something new.

For more of Cindy's work, list of lectures & workshops stop by an visit her website, or her blog.

Meet Mary Tabar - Quilt Artist

Mary attended one of my workshops many, many years ago and she was one of those students that immediately see how freeing Fast-Piece Applique can be. Like many, Mary needed just a little push in the direction (permission so to speak) to do their own thing -- and there has been no stopping her.

In her own words:
Needle art has been a passion of mine for as long as I can recall. Watching my mother sew everything from hand bags to upholstery, I grew up sewing, embroidering and crocheting.

My love for sewing turned to quilting about 12 years ago. I took a traditional quilting class from Peggy Martin and quickly learned how to piece, applique and quilt three layers of fabric together. I then took an art quilt workshop from Rose and learned that quilts could be in galleries and museums. I was so impressed with Rose's work and teaching style that I decided I could make art with 'my' sewing machine. I teach for a community college here in San Diego, four classes weekly in quilting and surface design. As I teach these classes, I also learn something new in the textile medium in every class.

Quilting and other art mediums seem to merge into one exquisite art. The devotion of quilters and artists is growing daily.

Check out more about Mary on her website.

Meet Mary Ellen Sakai!

It was such a treat to meet Mary Ellen. Her work is beautiful and her energy is high, and she is fun to be around. A great combination and I know you'll be hearing more from and about her.
In her own words:

Hi! my name is Mary Ellen Sakai and I live in Monrovia, Ca. with my wonderful husband Gary and our two children: Stryder the English bulldog and Suki the tabby cat.

I grew up doing sewing and art my whole life, and I started being a serious quilt maker in 1993 after a brief career in Advertising Design in New York City. I started as a traditional quilter and my first quilt was pieced by hand after a class at The Newark Art Museum.

I enjoy machine applique, machine piecing and love to machine quilt. My first teaching gig was a patchwork jumper that I had whipped up over the weekend from the first line of Debbie Mumm fabric. I taught that at Bearly Stitchin' Sewing Center in Pasadena, CA and I found out that I love teaching, so I continue doing just that in several quilt stores in Southern California on an on-going basis.

Lately, I have become interested in multi-media, fabric manipulation and embellishment. I have tried bleach discharge, Angelina fibers, blue glue resist, gelatin monoprinting, Shiva paintskiks, air dry clay, photo transfers in a number of ways and many other forms of embellishments. I call myself the 'happy idiot' quilter. I will try anything and just about everything I find to add to my art work.

I hope to spend more time in the future on art quilts. Selling my work and being in a gallery are my dreams and my goals. I do not have a website, but feel free to contact me and become a friend on Facebook! Or join me...I'd love to hear from you and have you in a class!

Meet David Charity - Quilt Artist

David walked into his first Quilts on the Wall meeting and all heads turned. They always do, for we so seldom have men join us... but, join us he did. Since then I have known him to be prolific and inventive in his quilt making. He's got a pretty extensive stash, too! I know you will enjoy meeting him and seeing just a bit of what he is up to.

In "The Guy's" own words: It is an interesting thing that when someone wants to know about you and your art that it is sometimes difficult to express what makes you tick.

I have a couple of things that define my work. One is that growing up, I always wanted to be a cartoonist, the other is that I am partially color blind. I think those two things are a strong influence of my developing style. I love using bold colors (ones that can really see) and the other is that I love having that strong black outline around my shapes.

I have been using computers since the early 1980's, so they have become an integral tool in my arsenal. I have a version of Photoshop that has become a constant friend to me as I develop my designs and morph my photos into something that becomes and inspiration to my next piece.

I think of my machine as just another power tool with thread as I love to add texture and line by covering my work with thread and couched yarns. I love being able to add a 3D texture with either the actual fabric or the addition of a layer of fiber that gets incorporated on the surface.

Since I did not come from a background that included sewing, I have no preconceived limitations on what I can use or what is not acceptable. This allows me to think totally outside the box as I design a piece. I am just as comfortable looking for supplies in a hardware or fabric store if that is what will help me in my design.
I hope you enjoy my work.

See and read more about David on his website, gallery, shared blog & Quilts On the Wall site:

Patricia Charity - Guest Quilt Artist

I met Patricia (Trish) several years ago. She attended one of my workshops and was the student in the corner who quietly worked on creating her selected photo, using and learning my Fast-Piece Applique method all the while making a piece that was totally Trish... an amazing piece that brought a vineyard to life. Since that time I have delighted in getting to know her better and to enjoy the beauty, skill and artistry that she brings to all her work.

In her own words:
I have always drawn. I have always loved art. I was dismal in 8th grade Home Ec class and it was a wonder that the jumper I made actually fit onto my body and hung reasonably straight. Who would have known that these two disciplines with such opposite results would become the basis for my art? I have always said that I make quilts instead of clothes because they don't have to fit any thing and if it has an odd angle, it is a design element and not a dart gone wild.

I find it interesting that the artworks I am drawn to in the 'fine art' world are the things that I struggle with in my own work. I tend to create soft and restful pieces that are more representational and yet I love the graphic and abstract images of higher energy artists. I am working with more abstract designs as I stretch myself in these new directions.

I love incorporating new techniques and materials in my work. I am always looking for unusual fibers and techniques that drawn the viewer in closer to try to figure out what is actually giving that subtle light shift on the surface.

One of the things that I find really interesting as I create my body of work is that I have a definite color bias. I dislike pink, the pale baby pink, but find that deep raspberry of fuchsia shows up in a lot of my work. I love the warm fall colors and I feel that this is where a lot of that restfulness comes from my work. Life can be so stressful at times and I think that I create my pieces to bring me to a quiet and meditative place, a place where I can hear the whisper of my soul.

See and read more about Trish on her website, gallery, shared blog & Quilts On the Wall site:

Guest Artist - Joanell Connolly

Joanell has an amazingly long list of roads taken in exploration of her artwork. There was a time when she made paper earrings, stitched up incredible clothing that were/are exhibited, published and WORN across the country, but I'm forever grateful that our own paths crossed during her this/current 'quilt' art time. She is inspiring and I always enjoy sharing work, play and almost everything in between with her. We share the idea that the learning never ends.

IN HER OWN WORDS: It is sometimes amazing how much someone can impact our lives. I recently learned that my 7th grade home economics teacher is still alive and well, and playing golf in Austin, Texas. I remember that time well. My fabrics were bold, bright and I often put irregular colors together. I still have orange pop beads that went with the yellow blouse I made in class.

Yellow was never my color and I probably wore it just because she told me so. I have been sewing forever and cannot remember ever being without at least one sewing machine.

I started with clothing which lead to quilted clothing, which lead to art quilts. A reoccurring theme this last year in my art has been PEACE, it shows up on most everything. I have also been playing with birds, leaves and trees. After all... Birds are looking for PEACE, too!

Check out Joanell's website and blog... and her page on Quilts on the Wall: Fiber Artists

jo GRIFFTH - One More Great Quilt Artist

jo is an amazing artist-and a great friend,,, though we only met a couple of years ago she is one of those special people you just click with. She's got quite a history and I hope you get her at some point to share about her race car driving! We really got to know each other better when she began to oversee an annual invitational exhibit that travels throughout the country. Keep an eye out for this years' Noble Seasons: Summer... they are out there somewhere.

In her own words: I have been creating art since acquiring my first box of crayons and my art has been evolving ever since. I seem to be an eternal student and the more art I produce, the more my art changes. Because of this, my art has traversed most of the fiber arts, almost all arts involving water media I am involved in and because of that, am very much aware that the journey is the objective. My professional life has taken many paths and after more than 35 years as a Scientific Illustrator, I am now in partial retirement and able to spend considerably more time on my own art. Surprisingly, science seems to be finding it's way back into my personal art on a regular basis.read more about jo over on the QuiltsOntheWall web gallery.

Meet Analee Perica

I hope you enjoy meeting Analee. The moment we met, we clicked. This was some number of years ago at a workshop at the Quilters Studio in Newbury Park, CA, and Analee was just retiring from teaching and wanting to quilt. Well, she lost no time in learning to Fast-Piece Applique and using it in her own work, with her own wonderful hand stitching. I've never seen any more precise stitching, whether it is is embroidery, or crocheting, knitting, and I love how she sees something in her head and just sets about to make it happen!

IN HER OWN WORDS:
I have had a lifelong love affair with handcraft. Any and all skills involving flashing fingers carrying needles/tools/fibers and fabric. In 2006, after a 36 year career as a K-Adult Educator I embarked on my second life as Tangential Fiber Montage artist.

I began with classes from Rose Hughes and the Quilters' Studio in art and traditional quilting, and since I enjoy creating one of a kind appliques for purses, wearable art, and art quilts I am always exploring how to combine kumihimo, knitting, crocheting, beading, felting, doll-making, embroidery/stitching, and fabric arts into art montages.

Many of these montages make their way onto my husband's special 'travel vests'. He has greatly influenced my art and retirement, and is himself a world traveler. Plans for each of his trips begin by him requesting a new personalized 'travel vest' for each country he visits. Each vest features a hand chain stitched motif reflecting the culture he will be visiting. We are at 6 and counting! The Blue Thunder Dragon of Bhutan is my favorite. The Orangutan vest is due by his departure for Malaysia in July 2010. My own travels with him inspired the quilt art piece that will be part of Rose's new book.

You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can't take the teaching out of the teacher. I love working with adult students in the arts of kumihimo and hand stitched machine appliques for wearable art, and I invite you to visit my website and blog to see photos and bloggy thoughts.

Meet Stacy Hurt!

I met Stacy many years ago when she joined Quilts on the Wall: Fiber Artists. She is a wonderful quilt artist and we share a love of ravens and crows. It is always special to see her share a new piece, and I am always amazed at the beautiful calligraphy that she includes on many of her quilts.

Stacy has her own blog, and had additional work on the Quilts on the Wall website. Hope you enjoy her words and photos here and click through to see more!

In her own words:
The colors and textures of quilting draw me further into my textile experience even more than all the embroidery I've done; crocheting; knitting, and calligraphy. In my art quilts, I like to blend the passion of each of these disciplines. Mixing the media of everyday objects, fabric, graphic images and icons has taught me to look at the world with different eyes. I enjoy the challenge of blending my calligraphic art into the fabric medium and creating images that are more in depth and, paradoxically, more ethereal than just pen and ink on paper.