Mini Mini SAQA Meeting

The Internet is a wonderful thing. Without it I would not have met many of my fiber art connections. My husband and I are spending this month in Encinitas CA. Our daughter, Lisa is visiting this week.

A while ago I saw a post about Paula Chung's art work using MRI images as her inspiration.You can see Paula's work here, www.paulachung.com  Paula and Karen Rips use the same image as their guideline with Paula going representational while Karen's work is abstract. you can see Karen's work here www.karenrips.com  I knew Lisa, who is a MRI tech, would be interested is seeing their art work so I sent her a link. Lisa in turn sent Paula an email telling her how much she enjoyed her work. One thing lead to another and Lisa is now supplying Paula with some interesting MRI images. When Lisa told Paula that she was coming out here Paula proposed that we should get together. That happened this week.




Paula on the left, Lisa in center and Judy Rys on the right.  You can see Judy"s work here www.judyrys.blogspot.com/ Where does Judy fit in you might ask? I met Judy at the SAQA booth in Houston this past Nov. We chatted a little and continued to email occasionally. Judy and I also talked of connecting during our visit to CA. Well it happens that Judy knows Karen, who by the way had an accident and couldn't make the trip, so Judy and Paula got together and come to Encinitas. The art work on the table is Judy's. Judy incorporated photos, embellished fabric and commercial fabric in this piece she shared with us.





It's difficult to see the intricate work on the table. Paula has drawn out an MRI of the head and is thread painting using four different threads.





This piece shows up a bit better. This is a whole body image. You can see the spine here. Paula draws the very intricate image on Solve and then uses four different colors of thread to paint the image.



A close up of the whole body image.



Another close up of the base if the head.

It was extremely interesting to meet with these two artist and share information, to ask questions and have ideas thrown around. I felt that I had know both of them forever and could have spend many more hours,if not days, just talking about our art and the process. This meeting would not have taken place without the internet nor my daughters interest in art. So I thank both the inventors of the internet and my daughter for a pleasurable Mini Mini
SAQA meeting.
This post is linked to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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

Planning Ahead

I had some minor surgery this week, everything went really well, and while I won't say it was a breeze it was much easier than it would have been years ago.  I knew that I would not be chomping at the bit to get in my studio so I planned some things to work on that wouldn't take as much energy.

First and foremost was doing some leg work for a new web site.  My site is several years old and has been maintained by my son.  He lives on the West Coast and I live on the East Coast.  It's not been easy to get things done when needed.  I decided to bite the bullet and go with a pro web master.  I've been answering question so that she can get a good idea of what I want and need.  So that has been done this week and we are on our way.

I've also spend several hours de-stitching the whole background from a piece I quilted last week.  Not my favorite thing to do but I know I will be happier with a different design.

 In my past life I was a photographer.  I have always used my photographs for inspiration for my art work.  I had a darkroom and printed many black & white photos.  One of the things I always wanted to do was paint one of my photos.  I never got around to it.

Recently while looking through some photography books I got the urge again.  The difference this time is I'm using fabric instead of paper.

This marsh  is outside the backdoor of our good friends Ann and Tom's home on Harbor Island, SC.  They generously invite us to visit every year and I always come away with some beautiful photos.  I decided that I would paint the bottom or marsh part of the photo leaving the sky black & white. There were beautiful clouds that day and they showed up well without color.  I used Prisma Color Watercolor pencils.  I have another piece started and am using Shiva Sticks, will be interested in that outcome.  So far I have found the pencils to be easier to use on the fabric.

I'm hoping to be back in the studio next week.  The first thing on my list will be redoing the quilting I just took out.

Because I use nature as inspiration I'm posting some of the beauty in my garden. 

Enjoy!

I am joining www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com
"Off the Wall Friday"

Hang in there with Me

The holidays have kept me out of my studio and off my blog.  I had lots planned after we returned from our daughter's home.  I have been fighting sinus problems since early Dec. and when I returned home it turned into an ear and sinus infection.  I haven't had the energy to do anything.

I did spend a few minutes today taking down the meager decorations I put up and had to rest in between.  I did fix dinner but everything wears me out.

I do have a mile-stone to report.  I finished my first PSE 11 class last week.  I am taking the class through www.ed2go.com  I recommend them highly.  I am in the process of trying to decide what class to take next.  The instructor, Beverly Schulz and her administrator, Eric and both sharing, knowledgeable and puts the information out in for the average person to understand.   If you are looking for a good class in PSE I would recommend this one.  This class was actually listed for PSE 10 user.   Since I had PSE 8 and needed to update, I decided to update to 11.  Many of the students did the same and Beverly and Eric, always added the change between 10 and 11 in each lesson.  I recommend it.

Cataract Surgery Goes Great

I had no idea that the colors I was seeing were not correct until after my surgery on Thursday.  I had the cataract on my right eye removed and a lens inserted that will allow me to see distance, in-between and up-close all in one.

My vision is still a little cloudy but today it appears that the right eye is becoming dominate and my overall vision is better.  I am having the left eye done on Nov. 27, then I will have all new vision.

It's been amazing to look outside at the Autumn leaves that are still around.  I close my right eye and everything has a very yellow/gold look.  This I thought was normal.  I then close my left eye and see the bright natural colors.  It's amazing.

I think I had forgotten how white, white can be.  I need to get out a few of my newer fiber art pieces to look at them with new eyes.  I may have some surprises as I view them with new eyes.

Please Hang in there with Me

About the only creative time I've had recently has been to take a few photographs and play with them at night when I have just run out of steam to do anything else.

I still have a few hydrangeas blooming.  So I took a little time yesterday to go out and take some photos with my new iPad.  I downloaded a free photo app titled Mobile Monet.

The app is easy to follow and fun to play with.  I thought this was a cool image.
I spent yesterday creating word documents and getting information out to three inquiries for classes.  Not exactly fun but necessary if you like to teach, and I do.

This is an interesting cactus, common name, Skunk or Stink Cactus.  There is a good reason for for that name.  If you look close you can see flies in the cactus.  These blooms are enormous as are the buds.  Love to see it unroll.

I am on the way to NC this weekend and then back to work on our local Lake and Mountain Quilt Guild Show the weekend of Sept. 21-22.  Hope to have a post on it soon.  You won't want to miss this one. 

I've Been on the Road Again

Cleveland Park Event's Center

I recently presented programs at the Landrum Quilt Guild in Landrum, SC and at the Piedmont Piercer's  Guild in Spartanburg, SC.

I forgot to get permission from the Landrum Guild to post photographs so I will just say that it is a great guild and the member's there were very receptive. 

We ran into a little problem with electrical supplies but we made do.  I was very sorry that the members were not able to get the full benefit of having all the photo on screen.  They meet in a wonderful old restored school house that acts as a community center, thus the lack of electric outlets.

On Tuesday evening I presented a program at the facility shown above and what a great place to have meetings.  The room was equipped with two pull down screens with the projector in the ceiling.  The Center provides someone to do the hookups for both projector and audio.

I hope I'm getting this correct, this beautifully decorated cake was made by one of the guild members.  It was as good as it looks

.I presented my new PowerPoint presentation The Many Ways to Fabricate Faces. I think it went well. 

The Piedmont Piecer's are not a large guild but as you will see in the photos to follow they are a prolific guild.

Diana Pickens is one of those prolific members.  These two pieces were made for one of the guild's many charity projects.

Believe it or not but these two quilts are made by the same pattern.  Doesn't the choice of fabric make a big difference?

quilt # 1

Teresa Sparks, on the left, is the guild president.  She and Renee Dugan are also very busy making quilts.  This is one of four they showed that night.

quilt # 2

I believe they said that these were from a class at Piegon Forge.

quilt # 3

quilt # 4

This Gee's Bend type quilt was made by Sandy Ceremuga.  I hope this spelling is correct.

 I don't know the name of this pattern but it's really cool.  It was made by Nancy Curry

Judy Mathis models this lovely blouse she made out of batik. 
She is holding one of her shoes that she covered with matching fabric.

how cute is this?

The elastic part of the shoe snaps off.  After allowing for the stretch in the shoe fabric she added this piece of batik to match her blouse.

I enjoyed doing the presentation at both guilds.  It's always fun to go to a guild other than your own and meet these people who have so much in common.

Ramblings and Other Things

Well, I've decided that I will use the name "Create, Merge, Print & Stitch for my new class at JC Campbell next year. Got the description and information off today. Glad to get that done.

Close-up of Medea Escaping by: Marilyn Belford http://www.marilynbelford.com/

One of the things I've been working on lately is a PowerPoint presentation on "Fabricating Faces". I decided that I wanted to start the presentation with photographs of portraits from quilters that I admire. I also wanted to show the many different technique that can be used to make portraits with fiber.

I sent out an email to many well known and, some so not well known, quilters asking permission to use photos of their work. I even had to ask many of these artist to send photos since I was having trouble downloading off the internet.

I did not get one NO! In fact Deidre Scherer volunteered to send a set of photos depicting the stages of her technique. Deidre is perhaps the pioneer of fiber portraits. If you aren't familiar with her work take a look at her web site. http://www.dscherer.com/

I put this presentation together for guild presentations. If you're interested in seeing/hearing this presentation email me.

I took Hannah III over to the Pickens Museum of Art & History to be juried for the upcoming show for SC Artist. Check off one more thing.

I also sent three computer generated images off to ITAB International TECHstyle Art Biennial for jurying into that show. Lots of opportunities to show my art work now and I'm taking advantage. I'm ready to get these things done so that I can get back to the studio.