Hydrangea in Progress

Wow how did it get to be Friday already? Because we are home without family this week I thought I was going to get lots done in the studio.

I guess I didn't count on no work in the studio on Thursday and then decorating for Christmas today. Well that's almost over and I did accomplish a little studio work as well. I've been working on a rather large piece with this photograph as my inspiration.

I was able to finish the first phase of this piece on Wed. I need to make sure everything is in place and then press well. The next phase calls for hi-lights and shadows but I haven't decided yet whether I am going to use paint or fabric. Then again I might use both. I'm really hoping to get that started tomorrow.

I am going to add a confetti background, I think, but then again I might decide on a solid. When I get to that point I will audition fabric before I decide. Maybe I will even get to that point tomorrow. Do I sound a little wishy-washy here. Yes, buy that's just the way I work.
I'm excited with how this piece is developing.
This post is linked to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

Butterfly Mythology and Fast Friday Fabric Challenge

I am the host this week for Fast Friday Fabric Challenge. Because I am interested in insects, butterflies in particular, and mythology of insects I chose Butterfly Mythology as my challenge. I have created several butterfly quilts in my series Fabricating Nature but the latest have been associated with mythology.

The Circle of Life
30" x 40"

The circle is representative of life's never ending cycle (birth, death, rebirth). The butterfly lays its eggs on a plant that nourishes the egg. The caterpillar eats and grows, it then turns into a chrysalis and emerges as a beautiful butterfly. It's sole purpose is to breed and start the cycle/circle all over. 

While I did not chose to represent this in a circular form it is none the less representative of the circle of life. 

The Return of the Monarch
30.5" x 39"

The local people of Angangueo, Mexico have long believed that monarchs are the returning spirits of their deceased relatives, mysteriously arriving at the same time each year, coinciding with the Day of the Dead. Aztec tradition holds that the souls of the departed will return as hummingbirds and butterflies. This link between myth and the monarchs’ annual return spans centuries.

Ravishing
24" x 33"


You may notice a resemblance between the first panel in The Circle of Life and Ravishing. I actually used the same photograph to create both of these pieces. The technique is different which makes for a very different looking piece. I used the caterpillar for the Spice Bush Swallowtail in this piece while I used the Monarch caterpillar for The Circle of Life.

This piece is not related to a myth. 

Mama's Butterflies

 Several years ago when I went to an AQS show in Paducah, I found this piece of marbled fabric. I immediately saw a tree and actually willed a woman who was looking at the fabric to put it down. As soon as she did, I grabbed it. It took me a while to decide what to do with this piece but I finally decided to create this piece titled Mama's Butterflies. My Mother was quite accomplished in art of crochet.  She knew of my love of butterflies so she found a pattern and created quite a few. She gave me about ten but when she passed away I found more in her crochet left overs. This was my way to honor her work combined with mine.  

Flowerfly 

31" x 42"

Flowerfly is one of my older pieces and the first time I created a butterfly in my work. The forward wings are loose and have wire sewn into the edges so that the wings can actually be moved a bit. The spots on the wings are painted with paint sticks.

It is not related to a myth.

Blue Atlas
62" x 50" 

Blue Atlas is quite a large piece and is hand quilted with hand-dyed pearl cotton. The spots or decorations on the wings are fussy cut and fused to the wings. This seems to be a popular piece of mine and I think it might be the impact of the beautiful blue/purple hand-dyed fabric on the black background.

It is not associated with a myth.

 I wish that I had been able to find more examples of butterfly art in mythology on the internet. I know they're out there as I found many examples in the book The Spirit of Butterfies: myth, magic and art, by Maraleen Manos-Jones.  I hope the participants of Fast Friday Fabric Challenge find this to be an interesting challenge. Good luck?

This post is linked to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

The Road to California

Spirit of the Kiva

Ravishing

Just found out both of these works were juried into The Road to California show. Excited.

Linked to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

A Little of This and a Little of That

I thought I might have a post this week on the progression of my newest piece in my Fabricating Nature Series. However, I've had a few other things that have taken my attention for most of the week.

I am in the process of redoing my web site and that I have found to be very time consuming. I also drove to GA. to do a lecture for the Early Bird Quilt Guild in  Conyers.

What a busy group of ladies. This is a fairly small guild but a very active one. This photo shows them displaying squares that will end up in Quilt's of Valor. The lady to the left in white, I apologize for not having her name, is one of the GA organizers for Quilts of Valor. She told the group how many request she had for quilts just in GA. and it was a large amount. Quilts of Valor is such a wonderful organization and the recipients appreciate the quilts so much. I still hope to get one made for our area group.

These ladies are showing off the many pillow cases they made for the kids cancer unit in their area. Another great project.

I just wanted to add my thanks to this group for their assistance helping me get things out of my car and setting up my trunk show. I don't always get this kind of help and it is very much appreciated. Thanks ladies.



Yesterday I went to our HiFiber Art Group meeting. Laurie Crino, one of our members gave us a presentation on mixed media. Laurie came to our group as a paper artist. Well, she's still a paper artist but she now also works in fiber.

 Laurie showed us many products that work both for paper and fiber. She gave us lots of tips on inexpensive and sometimes recycled items to use. One of those being old slide holders. Now how many of these things have I thrown away.

I really loved these pieces she used for her demo. Just my colors. As her presentation evolved we all decided that what we really needed was for Laurie to have a workshop. Before the meeting ended Laurie had agreed and we have set up a time in late Jan. after the busy holiday season.

More of the interesting things Laurie showed us today. I'll be sure to post about that workshop.

Hopefully I will have some time this weekend and next week to do a little more work on my new piece.

This post is linked to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

Houston

It's been a couple of years since I've been to IQA's World of Beauty Show in Houston. I've forgotten how large and over powering it can be. Don't get me wrong I loved being there seeing the show, vendors, meeting people I've only met on line, vendors, meeting up with artist I've met in the past, vendors, well you get the idea.
 I
 didn't get to go to the get to gather at the Hilton on Friday night of the Art Digest Group.  I had a reaction on Friday to something and just couldn't drag my body out of my room.

This photo shows me standing beside my entry, A is for Aubrey. I was right proud of her, she hang well. 

This year I met Jennie Greaves, this picture shows her the night of the awards. I met Jennie on line years ago and have followed her work for a long time. She is a friend of Denny Webster with whom I traveled to Houston. I finally met Jennie before the award ceremony as we waited in line.

It was so nice to talk to her and get to know her a little better. She was excited about winning something in the people category, but at the time we saw her she didn't know what. When they announced her as a blue ribbon winner we were ecstatic for her.










I worked in the SAQA booth on Saturday and met a lot of the artist who belong to that organization. I was a bit surprised at how many people stopped and chatted. They were also purchasing 12 x 12 art works that had been donated by the members of SAQA. I had a great chat with a few of the members who were working.

Then I went shopping. In previous paragraphs I mentioned vendors. Well, there are lots. I really hadn't had time to shop. I took a two day workshop with June Colburn on dyeing silk fabric. A good class. I now have my PHD in Threadology from Dr. Bob of Superior Threads. A good lecture. A day of taking in the show, and still didn't see it all. Now it's time to shop.

I live in the boonies and the nearest fabric shop is at least an hour plus away so buying little things is a pain. I have been making list for months. Nothing big nothing expensive just stuff I need. Well almost need. It took me all day to get from the first isle to the last isle of the vendors. I did stop and talk to a few of the vendors.

All in all it was a good trip. Extremely tiring and it has taken me several days to recuperate. I think I am back to normal. I spent yesterday in my studio beginning a new project. Hope to have enough of it done to post next week.

This post is linked to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com