Holiday Projects

I am just now getting back to posting and quilting my, " kids in the sand." I have been delayed with work on holiday projects and a new baby gift. I was recruited to make doll clothes for a little girl in NY, who lost her American Girl Doll in the floods in the fall. That project is finished, so it's back to quilting and hopefully posting a little more frequently!

Painting a Quilt

Beginning is half done, right? Here is the start of a new project. It's my mental trip to the beach.

Dry Spell

I am in a creative dry spell. I had begun to sketch a new quilt and then put it all away. I have done nothing since. The cure for a dry spell is action. Hopefully I'll take some soon.

Miami #2

This is the completed piece using paint, sheeer fabrics, Lutrador and thread. Experiment completed!

Great Day at Lowell Quilt Festival

Saturday, August 13 was the final day at the Lowell Quilt Festival. I enjoyed visiting Images at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, where my special exhibit of 14 painted quilts, was hung. It is always wonderful to watch people look at the work you have created. When they stand and chuckle or lean in to really look at details that you have stitched into the cloth, it's nice to know that there is interest in the work which you love to do.

My husband also enjoys his, "fame," as he stands in front of Morning Ride, which pictures him and our daughter on horse back. This will always be my favorite quilt.

Playing With Sheers, Paint and Lutrador

I am working on another landscape, in fact another skyline of Miami. I decided to play with sheeers, paints and lutrador. I have never played with lutrador before, so this one is an experiment. Here is a photo of the quilt in process.

Saved by friends on quiltart

Note that there is a change in my email address. I had a challenge getting into my blog, but as usual, friends on the quiltart list have the answers to my questions! Thanks!

Miami Skyline 1 Finished

It's hot in New England, but there is a wonderful breeze blowing. I just finished the binding on this quilt. Some of you commented on the painted surface and wondered what it would look like quilted? Here it is.

I have another one of Miami in process, with a completely different look.

Comments welcome.

Whaleback Light at Night

My painted whole cloth quilt, Whaleback Light at Night, won a first place ribbon at the Vermont Quilt Festival! Winning a blue ribbon is very exciting. The show was great with lots of beautiful work on display. I am very proud to be among the ribbon winners.

Another Rainy Day

I don't think there will be much sunshine in New England today. It is dark and dreary with rain off and on. I am beginning to think our glimpse of summer was while we were traveling in the south during April. I have my mind back in the sunshine of Miami as I thread paint this morning.

The Rhythm of Thread Work

Miami Skyline is on my long arm and I am just getting into the rhythm of quilting. Do the rest of you quilters feel that? Some times someone will ask me how I decide on my background quilting design? There is really no decision except the unconscious one. As with many design elements, "you go with the flow." I fire up the machine and the stitches just flow, like handwriting across the surface of the fabric. I get into a rhythm and begin to see the complete picture. It starts with the photo, melds into the painted surface and is completed by the stitching. Another quilter recently asked the question, when is you product art? I don't know? When I write, words jump off the end of my pen. When I create fiber art, the stitches and the colors, do much the same thing. Is this the artistic zone? What do you think?

Miami Skyline

I have finally finished my first painted surface from my southern photos. I took the photo of a Miami skyline when we were on an RV trip in Florida last month. I think the painting is finished, if I can stop myself from adding one more thing, here and there! I will heat set the paint tomorrow and then I can put it on my machine to start the quilting. I am itching to quilt!

Progress on the Slice

Have been layering the orange tile roofs . It's adding that pop of color.

Concept Quilting

I guess that's what I'll call my work on my slice quilt today. I have been snipping small pieces from my fabric stash and bonding the pieces to fabric. I am working on the adobe roof lines at the bottom of the picture that my friends Pat and Judy and I are interpreting in fabric. As I worked this afternoon, I was thinking of a story that I read over and over again to my son Johnny, when he was little. I felt like I was creating the roof lines of Hodge Podge Lodge! What book was that, anyway?

I was also thinking that working in colaboration with other quilters, is allowing me to stretch my skills and create something different from what I usually do. It's all good!!

Traveling America's East Coast

I just returned to New England after traveling to Florida and back in our RV with my husband. We skirted some very devastating storms and rode a lot of miles. We were fortunate to be out of range as tornados touched down. We lived through a tornado that touched down five miles from our house, three years ago, so we were familiar with the devastation. There are no words to describe it and our prayers go out for the families that were affected.

I was fortunate to visit a few friends along the way and I took lots of digital photos for future fiber art. We live in a beautiful country and inspiration is all around us. It's time to finish my current slice quilt project, and start work on something new!

I'll add my current project in progress and then post it again as I finish.

The daffodils are out and the sun is shining in NH. Happy Mother's Day to you all! Enjoy your day tomorrow.

Dressage Test

This second painted quilt for this year, Dressage Test, is based on a digital photo that I took at UNH, here in NH. Now it's time to work on another one.

Slice Quilt: Second Round!

In March my first slice quilt was completed. Ten members of SAFA, Seacoast Association of Fiber Artists, worked on translating two of my digital photos into two slice quilts. As a group we were very pleased with the results of our first attempts. Two of the members and I decided to try another slice quilt, so we have picked a photo and are now working on our slices! This is a great learning experience and we all benefit from each other's critiques.

March 12 Opening

On March 12, our SAFA ( Seacoast Association of Fiber Artists ) group openned a show at the Mark Wentwoth Retirement Home in Portsmouth, NH. We hope that both the residents and community members with enjoy the display of our work. The show will continue until May 11th. The above picture captures some of my work that is hanging at this show.

Finally Figured It Out!!!

About six months ago, I purchased a projector from another quilter. I don't know this artist, but she was kind enough to sell me this projector for the cost of shipping. For six months I have not been able to figure out how to project my photos from my laptop to cloth. Then another kind person on the quilt art list gave me the answer! Yesterday, I figured it out and this is my first projection.
I took the photo of this horse and rider last fall and it is the first thing I've tried sketching from the projected image. Of course, then I had to try painting it! This is what I've accomplished since yesterday afternoon. What do you think?

First Finished Piece for 2011

Portsmouth Neighborhood is finally done. My goal was to have it ready for the upcoming SAFA show ( Seacoast Association Fiber Artists ). The opening reception is March 12 at the Mark Wentworth Home in Portsmouth, NH. The Mark Wentworth Home is the white home in my picture, at the end of the street.

Quilting in Progress

My newest painted quilt is in process on my long arm. I am aiming to finish this piece for a group show with my SAFA ( Seacoast Association of Fiber Artists ) friends, that will be held in March, at the Mark Wentworth Home in Portsmouth, NH. The Opening Reception is March 12, 4:-6:00 PM. Come and see us!

First Strokes of Color

There's a little paint on the cloth, and much more to come! I just love these old homes in Portsmouth!

"Beginning is half done...."

Someone said that, don't remember who? Perhaps my mother. I started painting a street scene today. It's a cross street in Portsmouth, NH, filled with colonial homes and a glimpse of The Wentworth Home, in the distance. I hope to complete it in time for an upcoming show at The Wentworth with my art quilt group, SAFA. Time is short and I have been the procrastinating quilter! We'll see how I do!

Let It Flow !!

God is good to the creative mind, if we just let the ideas flow. I have had this idea of floating sheer fabrics, hanging in front of tall sun-lit windows, with images glimmering within. I have had this thought many times lately, at night, when I cannot sleep. Today I started the initial phase. Let's see where this idea leads!

Happy New Year!

The weather is mild and we start a new year filled with hope and new goals. In the past year I completed some fiber art that I am pleased with, although many of my show entries did not make it through the juring process. I hope to produce more this coming year and to improve my work. I hope to have more of my work accepted for shows and to take at least one class this year. It is going to be a tight financial year, so I hope to be wise with my entries and our travels. Her's to a new and successful year of personal growth!