Fiber Artist
I am working on the Toned Down Sampler again and enjoying it quite a bit. More new stitches have appeared in these next few gems which means more challenges. And that translates into spending at least two evenings working on one one-inch circle. They are worth it though — don’t think I am complaining at […]
I’ve shared an image of a Great Grey Heron that perched on top of the building next to us for an entire morning. It’s always wonderful to see these majestic birds! But on to the Toned Down Sampler and the 3 1″-circles I’ve just completed. The first circle is grounded by the Pistil Stitch in […]
We have managed to get through an ice storm which did a lot of damage in Portland and the surrounding areas and are back to having mild, light rain. We feel quite fortunate in not experiencing the loss of power or any damage to our property that so many others have. We were only inconvenienced […]
In the past I have come to designs that I felt were too difficult for me. After much hesitation, I passed over them and worked on designs I was confident about. Seeing the unworked circles that I had passed over each time I picked up this project was a blow to my confidence. Eventually, I […]
I’ve placed this posting in the “Work in Progress” category because, after all, that is where I always seem to be. My web site is also a work in progress just now; it will soon turn into a new beginning. My site will have a fresh, new look and, I hope, will be much easier […]
I have made progress, just not as quickly as I had expected. I finished the beading on Precious Metals: Osmium. I am now auditioning fabrics for the binding. Finding a bluish-gray bead or fabric is a problem. I think the blend of beads creates that bluish-gray effect, but it is more difficult with fabric. Perhaps […]
Osmium is the densest naturally occurring element. It has a blue-gray tint and is the densest stable element. Manufacturers use its alloys with platinum, iridium, and other platinum-group metals to make fountain pen nib tippings, electrical contacts, and in other applications that require extreme durability and hardness. Osmium is estimated to be about 0.6 parts […]
As a preface to this posting I’d like to mention that the link for sending my posts out to subscribers has been disconnected for many months. I have just managed to get the link enabled again. That said, you have probably missed a few of my posts so you may want to check out older […]
I have begun working on an eco print that I particularly like. I used branches purchased at Trader Joe’s which had many dense clusters of flower buds. Click on images for a larger view. Here’s a detail of those lovely clusters The yellow-gold color is a result of the fabric-foliage wrap […]
Here are a few more of the one-inch felted wool circles in the Toned Downed Sampler. I am closing in on the end of the fourth row now. This circle has a border of alternating Italian Knotted Border Stitch and Colonial Knots. At first glance, the Italian Knotted stitch looks like a Fly Stitch. A […]
I’m happy to be making progress on this art quilt. I’m also happy that I decided to go with a varied size and shape on the pebble design for quilting. This variation on a simple design has turned out to be quite fun to do. And, despite my initial thought about doing this, I’ve been […]
In February 2020, just before all of our lives changed dramatically, I purchased a new Janome 9450. I was initially enticed by the M7. Unfortunately, it is so large that it won’t fit in my Koala cabinet. Sigh. But the 9450 has plenty of bells and whistles! In fact, it’s a very challenging machine to […]
I’m stepping out on my own with this piece, using the oak leaf as inspiration. I’ve used this design before here, so it feels like returning to an old friend. I am using two #8 Perle Cotton threads — both part of the Painters Threads Collection by Tentakulum — and beads on the hand-dyed felted […]
I completed the top left section of the leaf with Needle Weaving stitch. Then I couldn’t help myself, I dove right in to doing the scattered Seed Stitch. It was quite satisfying. While I completed the final stitches I was contemplating what I would stitch next. Happily, retail therapy is just a few keystrokes away. […]
The compartments in the leaf are getting smaller and I’m familiar with the stitches in the next few compartments, so the project is steaming right along. The next section is stitched with Blanket Stitch and Colonial Knots. Laura calls for French Knots but I’ve always been a fan of the Colonial Knot because they won’t […]
I am thoroughly enjoying this small hand-stitching project. The piece of felted wool is about 6″ square so it is easy to handle. I also see grand progress each time I sit down and pick up the needle. I’m using hand-dyed #8 pearl cotton from Laura Wasilowski. The first compartment of the leaf was stitched […]
Last night I shared a Happy Hour drink and catch-up chat with friends from the Bay Area. With all the negative things that the virus has brought to our lives, this is one big positive. I got onto Zoom earlier this week and will remain on to stay in closer contact with distant friends. It’s […]
I have been wanting to do some hand stitching for some time. Ten days into Oregon’s stay-at-home order became my tipping point for finding something fun and easy that would allow me to create something in my lap. I went to Laura Wasilowski’s website and checked out her tutorials. There are quite a few fun […]
I got together with my study group friends to do some more botanical printing, this time exclusively on paper. All of the prints I made during class and subsequently have been mailed to friends. I purchased a box of Fabriano cards in the diminutive size of 2.5” x 3.75” along with envelopes for mailing, gathered my […]
A bit of background: In 2000, my sister Christy and I made a queen-sized bed quilt which we donated to Bosom Buddies for their fund-raiser auction. Proceeds went to helping breast cancer survivors in the Sacramento area. I had been saving blue and white fabrics for several years and had begun cutting out half-square triangles […]
In early May I joined my friend Katherine at her home to do some printing of some sort. I wasn’t certain what I was up for when I gathered my supplies, so I chose a number of different things to take along. When I arrived I was happy to just take a walk around her […]
I have begun a new work inspired by a piece my grandmother created many years ago. I have no idea when she actually created it, though by the materials she used, one could guess that it would have been in the early 20th century. I never knew my grandfather, but it’s clear that he enjoyed […]
A study group is a wonderful thing. Since taking a class on botanical printing/dyeing in July, I’ve met several times with the ladies who were in the class with me to continue learning and experimenting. Our most recent gathering took place yesterday morning. Our hostess had a pot of marigolds on a slow simmer. Goodness […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Last month I had a vase filled with gorgeous tulips. I took many photographs of the flowers as they opened. This photo inspired the piece I am working on now. I chose to use a method that I learned from Denise Oyama Miller several years ago — she calls it broken color. I like the […]
I’m still getting things just so in our new condo in Portland. Just this week I brought out my collection of foot-square art quilts purchased through SAQA’s annual on-line benefit auction. (This year’s auction begins September 16th but you can view some of the art that will be available and read about how the auction […]
I’m still working on a small piece I shared with you earlier here. I’ve added quite a bit to this but I still don’t feel quite done. Decisions, decisions! While I pondered the seeming endless possibilities open to me, I realized that my stack of junk mail postcards is almost gone. Naturally I jumped at […]
