Just Back from Alexandria

I was luck enough to attend SAQA 25th Anniversary Conference this past weekend in Alexandria, VA and had a great time making new friends and talking with old ones.

The artist speed dating was something new for me. We had about 90 seconds to explain to the other 9 people at the table your "who-what-how" or in other words, what you create and why.  By the time I had switched tables 3 times I almost had it down, but then it was over. LOL! I should practice ahead of time, next time.

Alexandria was beautiful once the rain stopped on Thursday morning and the flood waters receded.

"Tarnish"

The workshops and platform presentations were inspirational, but in my mind the highlight of the trip was the exhibit "TARNISH" at VisArt in Rockville, MD and "RADICAL ELEMENTS" at Montgomery College in Silver Springs, MD.

"Copper" at Radical Elements exhibit

Shibori dyeing pieces at "Tarnish"

Before we headed out to the exhibits
Left to right: Morna, me, Christine, Carol, Lesley

A close up from "Tarnish" exhibit

Close-up of Deidre Adams work at "Tarnish"

Waterfront King Street

Waterfront Potomac River

The gardens of Alexandria

April in the Studio

I am continuing to experiment with paint and stitching. These leaves were created by scanning on the computer and printed on fabric. The leaves were then fused to Peltex, stitched, cut out and painted. Finally they were mounted on the base quilts. Both will be part of my contribution to the "Northwest Corner" CTFAC exhibit http://ctfac.blogspot.com that begins next weekend at the Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, CT.

Sugar in the Morning, 8"x10" mixed media, mounted on artist canvas

Blowin' in the Wind, 8"x10" mixed media, mounted on artist canvas

Mixed Media Leaves at the Norfolk Library

I have been experimenting with fabric collage, inspired by articles in several old issues of Quilting Arts magazine.

For these, I started out with scraps of cotton batting, double-sided fusible, fabric, paper, acrylic paints, and matte medium.

I fused the cotton batting to one side of the non-woven fusible, then removed the paper from the other side of the fusible and added various strips and squares of fabric to cover all the tacky areas of exposed fusible. These were then fused in place.

I added a back to the batting and stitched the "sandwich" together using random grid lines. Then I cut out these oblong leaf shapes and ran a zigzag stitch around the edge. More dimension was added with additional layers of paint and paper.

The hooks are commercially made and can be found at your favorite arts and crafts store.

These and more of my mixed media art will be on display at the Norfolk Public Librarary in Norfolk, CT during May.

12 Characteristics of Creative People

This is a list of 12 tendencies shared by creative individuals posted online by Kim Phillips in March 2012. I  have reprinted the list here with her permission. Please follow this link to her original post    http://getlucid.net/?s=creative+people

Creative people are different because they operate a little differently. They....

1. Are easily bored
2. Are willing to take risks
3. Don't like rules
4. Ask "what if"
5. Make lots of mistakes
6. Collaborate
7. Are generous
8. Are independent
9. Experiment
10. Motivate themselves
11. Work hard
12. Aren't alone

Do you see yourself in this list? I can relate to every one, but the big ones are #1, 3, and 8.  Send me a comment and let me know which ones resonate most strongly for you.

Weekend Stitching and the Duncaster Show Continues

I want to finish putting the binding onto "Blue Check" a contemporary quilt of my own design inspired by Kaffe Fassett. Check back for a report on my progress.
And yes, that is my Green Machine, a vintage Sears Kenmore from the 1950's. It is my 'go to' machine. Those of you who know me from quilt retreats know it is with me when the Featherweight is not.

The exihibit of my art quilt group, The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective (CTFAC) http://ctfac.blogspot.com  "Spring Thaw"continues at the Duncaster Retirement Center in Bloomfield http://duncaster.org through this March 28, 2014.  We were overwhelmed with the interest the group showed in us and our work. The reception included music and gallery talks by members of CTFAC.  The Duncaster Center is located at 40 Loeffler Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

Here Antonia Torres (right) and I walking to the exhibit area to talk with attendees about our creative process. 

Artwork by Rosalind Spann

Artwork by Karen Loprete

Irises by Carol R. Eaton 

Artwork by Christina Blais

Here I am discussing our Grey Matter Challenge

Woodland Inspirations - Southford Falls State Park

This year is the 100th anniversary celebration of Connecticut State Parks. 

I have set a goal for myself to to hike in as many parks as possible this year. The thing that may surprise you is how many state parks (and national forests) there are in Connecticut. To find a park near you search the website of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)  www.ct.gov/deep 

Here are some photos I took at Southford Falls State Park in Oxford this week. What a glorious time of year---the transition between winter and spring. I am inspired by the sun, clouds, and water. I love the shadows that are cast by the trees on the snow-covered forest floor. 

Serendipity Sweater Complete

It took a little longer than I planned, but at last the Serendipity Sweater is finished. 

This is a top-down sweater that loosely based on the "Neckdown Pullover for Women" by Knitting Pure and Simple www.knittingpureandsimple.com

I used two colors of Ecological Wool by Cascade Wools for the main sweater. This is a wonderful worsted weight wool that slips easily on either bamboo or metal needles. The golden embellishment was added with two novelty yarns from my remnant drawer. 

The sweater is knitted in the round. The benefit of this is that once completed there are no seams to sew together. The other advantage is that as you knit you can try the sweater on to determine what length is best. The ribbing around neck, base, and cuffs was added by picking up stitches, again with a circular needle and knitting (Knit 2, Purl 1, repeat).

If you know how to knit but have never tried a sweater it is time to give it a whirl. I love the freedom of creating my own unique piece of wearable art.