Thursday, December 29, 2011

New Year and a time to Reorganize

Recently folks on the ArtDigest list have been talking about reorganizing their workspace. It has inspired me to do the same. My husband built a really wonderful table/storage for me during the Summer. It is exactly what I wanted but takes up a lot of space in my 12 x 16 room.

originally I had the table pushed up against the black design wall. While the table is on rollers it is still pretty hard to move around and I found that I wasn't using the design wall very much.

Someone on the Digest suggested that the table be put in the middle of the room. I tried this and it works quite well. When the sewing table leaf is down there is lots of room to move and when it is extended to quilt I can still get around the table.

This view shows one of my design walls.


This peg board holds lots of my tools in order and the shelves below organizes my books, and other goodies for my work.

One of the things I did was get rid of patterns that I have made and used for all my quilts. I decided they were just taking up much needed space so out they go.
Does this look like fifteen years of work?

With a cleaned and organized studio I have no excuse not to get to work. Hope to have something new to post soon.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Finally, Some Time to Post

Sanctuary II

It's been almost a month since I've had time to post on my blog. I've been busy teaching, and getting my studio back together. Life has also gotten in the way. Good things but not leaving me time to do my art work.

I've missed working more than I can say and I'm really looking forward to the New Year and having more time.

The Arts Guild of Clemson, SC is having their first members show in January and I have decided to enter two pieces. Sanctuary II is two photo I manipulated in Photo Shop Elements. It is printed on cotton sateen and matted and framed.


This is a silhouette of a bird taken in a sanctuary on Harbor Island, SC. I did a little color enhancing to make the background a little more pink. I then decided to add the following photo.


The color was removed from this photo and I added a pinkish color. I then blended the two photos to achieve the following photo. I also flipped the photo so that the birds would look better together.

When I framed the piece I felt that a little needed to cropped off to make the design more interesting.


Spirit of the Kiva II

This piece was treated similarly to the one above. I began with the photo below taken when my husband I were visiting NM.

This is the interior of an American Indian Kiva or Holy Place. I felt so blessed to be in this space. The lighting was wonderful, I was in there by myself and fortune smiled upon me.


This beautiful child's portrait was taken in Copper Canyon, Mexico while my husband and I were on an Elderhostel trip several years ago. I then constructed the following portrait.


After I photographed the portrait of my little Mexican beauty I blended that photo with the photo of the Kiva to achieve this final design.


I quilted this piece before I matted and framed the finished piece. I chose to quilt the lines of the Kiva leaving the girl to appear as a presence.

I will be off line until after the holidays but I wish you all the best of the Season.