Circles

I saw a picture somewhere and now I can’t find it and don’t remember what it was in, but it was of a painting of nine circles and I thought it could be translated into fiber. Maybe it’s just as well that I don’t have the photo for now I can create my own without being influenced. Here’s one. It’s polyesters on a silk organza background.

Many people find polyester offensive, especially quilters. I’ll admit that cotton is much more forgiving and can be eased into curves but for this project I like the sheen of the polys, which doesn’t show up in this photograph.

Susan Leslie Lumsden has been creating quilt art with circles for several years. I’m beginning to see her fascination with circles for as I sew, I keep thinking up new directions. Circles may be an endless exploration.

A New Beginning

It’s a new year and I’ve done a few things to get started. First I have put all my photo CDs, in chronological order, into a CD folder, made contact sheets of each CD, and put them, also in chronological order, into a loose leaf folder. Now when I’m looking for  one particular image, I can find it on the contact sheet and go straight to the CD. Yes, it works. I’ve already had to use it.

My computer desk is almost clean and I found a long lost address and various other “valuable” notes. Now for fun; meaning sewing.  At the Uncommon Threads (my art quilt group) Christmas party, I was the lucky recipient of one of those jelly rolls of 2 1/2″ strips of fabric. Thank you Diane. Just for fun I hung them all on my design wall and liked them so much I sewed them together. I think this will make a great background for another domestic icon wall quilt. A couple of ideas are perculating.

Good Morning Sunshine

My house has two 10′ sliders facing East. I get the most beautiful sunrises and they are so welcome after this bone chilling, frigid weather we’ve had.

How can one tell a sunrise from a sunset in a photo? Trust me!!

And this one looks like a moon, but the fog/haze was beautiful. Trust me again!!

Snow and Happy New Year

This is the first White Christmas I’ve ever seen in Missouri. I’m sure there were others. I just wasn’t here to experience them. But I’ve already had enough and I wish it would quit. Unfortunately, the weatherman predicts more snow this week and again this weekend. Did I mention how cold it is? To try to over come our cabin fever, Harry suggested that we take his 4-wheel-drive truck out yesterday and just drive around in the snow. How desperate can we get? So we did. And it was beautiful. Then we stopped at a local cafe and had each had a big bowl of chili. Back to the fireside.

And before I forget it, my friend, Marcy, sent this link to a video, “Celebrate What’s Right With the World” by photographer, Dewitt Jones. It’s 22 minutes long, but to watch it is a great way to start the new year. Thank you, Marcy.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you Good Health, Happiness and a Prosperous New Year.

Amaryllis-Love It Or Leave It

The amaryllis wall quilt is finished. ( See previous post.) I painted the background with Liquitex acrylics. The paint is just transparent enough to let the first background show through so the green is mottled.  I finished it letting the petals stick out around the edges and satin stitching all around the outer edge. All that green and red is a little too Crhistmasy. I don’t love it but it’s better than it was.  I’m leaving it. Onward to better stuff, I hope.

What Was I Thinking?

Maybe I should have used the title, “Can This Be Saved?”  This  small art quilt is of an exotic amaryllis. I like the flower. It’s a good flower. But-OMG! The background! I started it last spring. For some reason I wasn’t happy with the background and I put paint on it. Terrible, terrible, terrible. I was ready to throw it away, but just put it away for the summer. Pulled it out again last month and took it to the UT retreat where it was suggested that I paint the whole background. So, I have. But there is still much work to do. More later.

B&W

The first, larger black and white study is finished. Not sure I’m happy with the shape. In my mind, I thought of it as a rectangle but it ended as a 24″ square. Photography and Photoshop are so great. I can photograph it, crop it, and see it both ways. Instant gratification! Which do you like better? The square or the rectangle? Let me know.

SQUARE

RECTANGLE

This Is What I’m Up To

Finally – I’ve done some fiber work this week. This was inspired by one of the small works It’s about 25″ square.

I’ve started quilting it, but black on black doesn’t show. For me, the quilting is the HARDEST decision. After pinning it to the design wall and seeing all the safety pins, I love them. Engergy. Direction. Now I think I know how to quilt it and what to do.

What am I up to?

My friend Nancy has just asked that question. Well – I just came home from TWO retreats. The first was  with my Uncommon Threads Art Quilt group at Lake of the Ozarks and the second was in Arkansas at a yoga retreat, in a cabin, in the woods,  on the Buffalo River.

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Wow! Am I restored and inspired. I don’t remember seeing such gorgeous fall color here in the Ozarks before. Most of our trees are oaks which just turn brown; lovely browns, but just brown. This year the reds and yellow and oranges sang. Sumac, hickory, dogwood, etc.

Lake Stockton, MO

Little Buffalo River, Arkansas

Now it’s back to the work in the studio. I’m actually working on something that I’ll share with you next week.