Common Threads

Just shipped half a dozen pieces off to the Prescott College Art Gallery gallery for Common Threads.
Many thanks to Jen Chandler for the opportunity- it's a small group show and will look wonderful in the gallery space.

more on the beginning

The image of the couple is a small painting, mostly in sepia ink, done from a photo of my son and his girlfriend who *graciously* posed for me (they didn't have a choice:))

 nope not this one

 or these 2

here we go!

Treasury for Today

The Artisan's Gallery Team on Etsy is an active, growing group - here's an exquisite treasury featuring several members-

Allsorts

the beginning of the ending

Intending to make a setting for an underwater scene, I dyed a piece of silk that was supposed to be light green to dark blue-

well, it came out beautifully, in gold to purple.  So after letting it sit for a while and then flipping it upside down, it began to look like late sunset/early evening to me.

 So, I pieced in a full moon and pinned the whole thing on the wall next to a piece of reemay, and laid out the outlines of a tree freehand.

 came in with some sepia colored paint for additional texture-

 cut it out and fused it to the already quilted background-

 not enough contrast- so I dry brushed some lighter paint to bring it out more-

more later...

Endings and beginnings

I'm happy to say that Ending/Beginning has been accepted to the Sacred Threads show for 2011.

I have participated in this exhibition for the past few years and it is a rewarding and meaningful event.
The initial inspiration for the piece came from the news that Sir Edward Downes and Lady Downes had chosen to end their lives together at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland- Downes
To me, the choice they made was a positive one, and I wanted to make a statement about cycles- for every ending there is a beginning.  There is both a sunset and moonrise (although an astronomer friend says full moons & sunsets can't appear in the same quadrant- to which I replied, don't confuse me with the facts).
All seasons are represented in the tree, and the young couple beginning their lives together looks into the future.
The quilt began, like vulcanized rubber, with an accident- more on the making of it tomorrow.

GFCC

There was a wealth of talent and skill at work at the Grand Forks Quilt Connection in BC, Canada.
People came from as far as 7 hours away for the workshop, and were enthusiastic, dedicated and fun to be around.  I only took a few pictures, but wanted to share some of them- and report that sea turtles are no longer endangered in the Canadian Rockies :)

 Bev took to silk painting right away, and made a gorgeous sunset sky.

 Florence is the local fabric shop owner.  She invited me into her home for a wonderful dinner  cooked by her Mountie husband!

I brought several copies of my sea turtle pattern- this one's by Donna, who did a really neat job on her background as well.

TJ brought in a quilt she made featuring a home town Olympic hero.  Note the ski pole holder!

Hello from the Kootenay

British Columbia is spectacular, full of beautiful views and friendly people!