Sumac is such a stately, regal plant and I think that certainly shows here in this print. I started this piece before I started Maples which I shared here. I dove back into my supply of fabrics that I created and added two silk pieces that I painted with acrylic paints in a surface design […]
Maples Done
The work in progress I shared here is now complete. It measures 12″ x 12″. Click on image for a larger view. I quilted the bottom section using the marks left by the twine used to wrap the fabric bundles during the printing process. They made for a simple, effective design. Then I fussed and […]
Maples
Cutting into a strip of the botanical prints turned out to be quite liberating. I’m certain there is a psychological term for it but I’ll just stick with ‘progress’ and be happy for it. I love the shape of a maple leaf and isn’t it wonderful that there are many varieties? Here is a small […]
Oakleaf Hydrangea III
In early July I took a 4-day class with Kristy Kun on botanical printing/dyeing. I got some amazing prints that I am just delving into now. Part of my conundrum was having so many choices. I finally decided to work small and use one of the prints from our last day of work. I share […]
1000 Quilt Inspirations
I am honored to have my work published in Sandra Sider’s 1000 Quilt Inspirations, Colorful and Creative Designs for Traditional, Modern, and Art Quilts. From the cover and the turn of each page, this book delivers on its title. Click on image for a larger view. I even like the size of the book, a […]
Botanical Printing and Natural Dye Part 3
After several days of printing with the larger pieces of fabric, Kristy brought out note cards for us. What a great bonus! Here is my first bundle of 5 note cards ready for a bath in cochineal. And here are the iron blankets and the cards. Again, so fun to have two prints in this […]
Botanical Printing and Natural Dye Part 2
If you missed my first installment sharing the results of a 4-day class on Botanical Printing and Natural Dye, just click here to be all caught up. A reminder that I am not showing everything I did in this class, just the pieces that I found the most exciting and that I can see using […]
Botanical Printing and Natural Dye Part 1
I spent four days in early July with Kristy Kun of Opulent Fibers and three classmates learning about the process of botanical printing and natural dyeing. Kristy spent the week before our class preparing the fabrics with mordant — a substance that prepares the fibers of the fabric to bond with natural dyes — and […]
Wet Cyanotype Process
I have been creating cyanotype prints on fabric since I learned about the process from Sue Reno in 2006. I enjoy the process and I feature cyanotype prints in many of my art quilts. I’ve used pre-treated cotton, raw silk, china silk and silk organza to create my prints. Each fabric features it’s particular fingerprint […]
Eucalyptus and Fig
I’ve just completed a piece that I’m quite happy with. This piece is a very satisfying combination of old, new and hand made: my old cyanotype print on silk of a eucalyptus branch and new cyanotype prints on hand-dyed cotton of young fig leaves; some of my hand-painted fabric and hand-made fabrics from Africa. I […]
Threads of Resistance — Final Word
I received word from the curators and jurors earlier this week and my piece was not selected for the Threads of Resistance exhibition. Four Hundred artists from around the world responded to this call for entry with 550 artworks submitted for consideration. The ten curators and jurors of the exhibit have their work in the exhibit […]
Threads of Resistance Update
I don’t anticipate hearing from the Threads of Resistance jury team until the end of this month but I think an update on where they are in their process is in order. The call to submit generated over 500 entries — not a surprise to me at all. There are 17 categories which group the […]
Awards
I always feel that gaining entry to a judged and juried exhibit is a reward in itself. So I could not be more happy about having three entries accepted for Best of the Valley 2017 and having all three come home with a ribbon. BOTV 2017 was held in Lindsay, CA, April 7-9. Click on […]
Threads of Resistance Entry
Within minutes of reading the Threads of Resistance call for entry — a juried exhibition of work created to protest the Trump administration’s actions and policies — a lightening bolt of inspiration hit me. I knew the subject I had to address and what I wanted to create. As always, the technical issues were resolved […]
Final January Sketches
Here are the last of the sketches I did during January. I created several on the 25th to make up for missing other days. Click on images for a larger view. For the word prompt ‘selfie’ For the next few sketches I selected my own subjects from around the house. This pin cushion is dear […]
And More January Sketches
The word prompt for the 18th was ‘pair.’ These dice have provided many hours of laughter with friends while playing Farkle. Click on an image for a larger view. The next sketch responded to ‘cover.’ I participated in the Portland Women’s March. It was a powerful, exciting event. Here is my favorite photograph taken that soggy […]
More January Sketches
I played catch up a few times during the month and created more than one sketch in a day — I wanted to end the month with the equivalent of one sketch for each day. Here are the next few (click on an image for a larger view): “Quote” was the prompt for the 13th […]
Accepted for Best of the Valley
I’m pleased to say that my three entries for the Best of the Valley exhibit have been accepted. Broken Tulips (click on an image for a larger view) Going in Circles and Precious Metals II will be on display April 7 – 9, 2017 McDermont Field House 365 North Sweet Brier Lindsay, CA 93247 See this […]
More Sketches
Here are a few more of the sketches that I created in January. The Sketchbook Skool prompt for January 8 was ‘movie.’ Click on images for a larger view. I went back to this page several times to respond to ‘metallic.’ On the evening of the 10th I had fun with this ‘doodle.’ Here is […]
Web Site Fixed
Several important features of my web site have been broken for quite some time. Getting it fixed finally rose to the top of the list. During the fixing process I also had many other changes made to the site — all with an intent to make it function easily and be more user friendly. I […]
Learning from Masters
Sunday was a big day for me. Yes, it was the first day of a new year and ‘fresh start’ thoughts were dancing (translation: sounded more like Get with it!). I took on — at least for the day — a sketching challenge from Sketchbook Skool: a drawing a day, prompts supplied for those who […]
Happy New Year
I managed to create a few sketches during the last days of 2016. It felt encouraging to me. It felt good to create. Mostly it felt healing to just sit and focus. Perhaps the cold weather shifted my mood to spring. (Click on image for a larger view.) More outdoor thoughts, this time with more […]
Blessings of the Season
Among the hustle and bustle, here are a few quiet moments I’ve experienced lately. The holiday boat parade on the Willamette River. It is fun to share in the joy of these boaters’ inspiration. Click on image for a larger view. Some quiet moments with my sketch book to gather myself. What are […]
Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday
Sketch Time
Aching for a bit of peaceful creative distraction, I took out my sketch book — the one only suitable for pen or pencil work — and enjoyed capturing some Dusty Miller leaves. I love the shape and color of this leaf. What are you doing to focus on something positive?
Precious Metals II
At last — I have completed Precious Metals II. Like the work that inspired it — Precious Metals — this piece is 12″ x 12″. Click on image for a larger view. This color pallet is especially nice to work with during the Fall season and I thoroughly enjoyed the meditative work of beading. Precious […]
Oregon Society of Artists
I have three pieces of art in 200 for under $200, the November juried exhibit at Oregon Society of Artists. All of the art in this exhibit will be on 12″ x 12″ pine cradle boards. I have mounted three of my fabric postcards, each already mounted on archival mat board, onto the cradle boards. […]
Precious Metals II
It’s not a secret that I’m drawn to the ginkgo leaf. I love seeing them on and off trees. Click on an image for a larger view. Nature has a beautiful way of shedding and arranging the leaves. I’ve enjoyed using these photographs for some fun sketching. In 2011 I created a small piece called […]
Added Venue for It’s Not Easy Being Green
In addition to the venues I told you about here, the exhibit will appear September 20 – October 27, 2016 Visual Arts Center Gallery Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, OR 97030 Artist Reception: Thursday, October 6th 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the artist reception. […]
