Judy Coates Perez on Quilting Arts

Today I finally got to see fellow fiber artist Judy Coates Perez on Quilting Arts TV. What a great informative segment on how she develops her whole cloth textile art. Here's the link to her fabulous BLOG - Painted Threads. http://judyperez.blogspot.com/ where you will find a wealth of info for creating your own exciting and fun projects. Today's post is very timely with a tutorial for making a basket full of felted eggs.

Art Journal Friday

I will be working on my art journals at the Plainfield Art League today. I’m “on duty” from 12 – 4. We have lots of space and plenty of tables to work on. I’d love it if some of you would come and join me. This is NOT A CLASS, just a casual get together to have fun making art.

positive reinforcement

Yesterday I took CUT & RUN to the monthly Creativity Continuum meeting and got good advise from the group. The photo I posted on-line is not at all accurate because I had done the “quick-fix” which added a bunch of color to it overall. I was considering an attempt at “fixing” the artwork by reworking it to more closely resemble the photo. The general consensus is they like the artwork as it is and to “unfix” the photo. Another suggestion was to try a different frame.  All good and wise recommendations.

We also looked at HE SAID TO SIMON on-line and the overall opinion for me to continue with my mixed-media, photo collage technique was very favorable.

Patty did a presentation on a famous glass artist, Tammy & Barb showed new work, and then we discussed ideas for our upcoming group exhibit. The theme for that is Alice in Wonderland.

My wish for any artist is to have a group like this.

Narrow my focus

How much “stuff” do I need anyway? During this transition period I have begun to take the advice of several people who make their living helping people get organized. Today I am taking some things to the PAQA meeting in the hopes they will find new homes and be an inspiration to other mixed-media artists. I certainly will never use them all myself !!!.

I think I’ve had them at least 20 years. I used to work for a decorating firm selling franchises and willingly accepted these treasured gifts from the decorators when the vendors replaced them with new sample books. One summer I painstakingly ironed & folded them all to fit sweater size storage boxes to sit on my shelves. Over the years I have used some of them, but now recognize it’s time to share the wealth with others.

Too much Facebook?

I’m beginning to feel I am neglecting my BLOG because of Facebook. It’s becoming information overload, a good deal of that information, including much of what I post there, is unnecessary personal trivia. My friends list has continued to grow resulting in TMI, (too much information). In the beginning, it’s been about a year now since I first signed up, it was fun and I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with family and friends. Still like it for connecting with family & friends, but have begun to “unfriend” some people, many of those  whose BLOG’s I used to read when I had free time and I get more of a compilation of what’s going on with them and more in depth content. So, if you happen to discover that I have “unfriended” you, please don’t be upset, I’ve probably signed up to follow you on your BLOG.
I’m not leaving FB, just plan to spend more time BLOGGING, and developing my Art Website.

Denise Havlan

Last night’s visit to the Salt Creek Quilters Guild was even better than expected. This was the first meeting since their quilt show and they had “show and  tell” of all the winning quilts held up by the proud makers.  A parade of excellence.
the Best of Show award went to UNBRIDLED PASSION created by fellow PAQA member, Denise Havlan.
She was kind enough to bring the quilt to our table after the meeting so Tammy could get a close look. Thanks Denise.

Art Journaling

when suffering from creative BLOCK, and we all do from time to time. What do you do? Or, more importantly what do I do? Last month I joined an art journaling club that meets the second Sunday afternoon every month. It was great fun and I met some new artist friends and was surprised to see some familiar faces from The Continuum group. The facilitator for the Continuum is Laura Thoma and she happens to lead this group as well.  All I needed to do was show up with a journal and my $10. She provides everything we need to work on the project that day !!  When she assigned homework I dutifully entered it in my little book and totally forgot about it until today.

The one of 4 suggested homework tasks I began today, is choosing 8-10 people that inspire me creatively.  Easy, peasy, right? Not so easy. Three come to mind right off, Georgia O’Keefe, Louise Nevelson, and Dale Chihuly. Then who? OK, Kurt Schwitters, I told you readers about him last week sometime after I watched the video.  That’s 4. OK, I got another one, glass artist Laura Donefer and Collage/assemblage artist Dale Copeland, that makes 6. Next, these two incredible colorists: Jane Dunnewold and  Mickey Lawler, both whose current concentrations are surface design for art cloth and art quilts, respectively. My own art quilt journey was first inspired by Melody Johnson, one of the co-founders of a Midwest group made up of members who are or want to be Professional Art Quilters. That group has since morphed into a much broader interpretation of the members artistic focus. The monthly meeting show and tell is an inspiration all by itself.

Whew, that was way easier than I thought it would be. Sometimes it’s good to just sit down and do it and write what comes as quickly as it bubbles to the surface.  There are way more people that I could list here, but that would become a list that could on and on for days.  Well enjoy these fabulous artists websites and I’ll let you know what Laura has us do with our list. The next session is this Sunday, Feb.14th, 1-3 PM, at the Blick Art Supplies, Danada Square, in Wheaton, IL. Grab a blank journal and come join us.

Lesley Richmond

One of my goals when I first started this BLOG was to share with you the work of other artists to help you understand a little bit more about me. Over the years it has been by good fortune to encounter the work of many contemporary artists even while learning to appreciate and recognize the OLD Masters in Art History class.

While visiting the SOFA show in Chicago last Sunday I was again overwhelmed by the fiber art of Lesley Richmond. You must see her tree series for your selves; I cannot call forth sufficiently descriptive adjectives to describe it. I first became aware of her work when attending a special lecture she gave at this venue 2 years ago along with the chance to get a really up close and personal look at several pieces in the gallery booth. This year The Jane Sauer gallery had several new pieces for me to exclaim over. Do take the time to visit her website and draw your own conclusions.

Modern Crazy Quilt

Take a look at Lois Jarvis BLOG entry on her crazy quilt commission project!! I am not generally a fan of crazy quilts, but her composition and color use really gives it a contemporary look. She's quite an accomplished quilt maker as well as a rust aficionado.

Liz Berg - Galesburg Civic Art Center

Three hours by car from my home to Galesburg, IL. My purpose was specific, to see “in person” the art of Liz Berg. I’ve probably been following her blog since it’s inception. I should go look that up. What really got me showing up to read her BLOG every day was her month long retreat opportunity at the Texas Creativity Center, two years ago. Virginia Spiegel, another artist who’s work I particularly appreciate was there at the same time. Liz was so faithful in documenting her experience there that I was hooked. When the opportunity to see “in person”, some of the work she had produced during that time arrived I put it on my calendar and encouraged my friend, Sara to come with me. Yesterday we left at 10, arriving at the Gallery location 3hrs, 45 minutes later.

I had never been to Galesburg before, at least not in recent memory, so was not sure what to expect. I did remember that it was the birthplace of Carl Sandburg. The picture on the website is visually appealing and we found it easily enough. Just around the block is free parking with no time restrictions, a major plus. This “walk through” plaza to main street was a major surprise.

The first thing I saw was this amazing sculpture by Barry Tinsley. A few years ago I did a research paper on Louise Nevelson, so I recognized the material used. Close inspection confirmed that The Shield of Akhilleus in this lovely plaza, was in fact produced from core ten steel.

Liz worked tirelessly when she returned from that time in Texas to finish and quilt all of the work she created using both discharge and painting process. She calls the series Life Circles. It really amazed me how much life and movement she was able to generate with the removal process. Generally we artists create our work with additive techniques, like applying paints or dyes, sometimes removing some of those also, but then add more. These pieces have extremely complex imagery and prove that technique is important but the skill with which it develops is the test of an accomplished artist. The majority of Liz’s work in this exhibit is non-objective and what I tend to describe as contemporary/modern in style. The ceramic work by Mary Schuymea is functional and/or representational and conveys a similar contemporary style

My friend Lois Jarvis

http://rust-tex.blogspot.com/

Today has to be a first !!!

Here is my friend and fellow quilter, Annette, working on an applique project.

After church we went to a nearby quilt shop and then stopped at JoAnn Fabric's on the way home. What's so unusual about today? I bought NOTHING !!! The quilt shop was busy and we enjoyed browsing and looking at all the new quilt books, she bought a book. And at JoAnn's she bought machine needles. Beyond that NADA !!! Maybe it's the stage we're at in life, we HAVE EVERYTHING we need or want. I came home and browsed through the books I have in my personal library and found a method to get quilting done quickly once a top is finished. It's called "Quilting from Back to Front" I'm going to practice this tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes. Then I went in the studio and worked on the quilt I told you about yesterday. Can't believe I didn't buy anything !!!! O.K. Now it's time for bed.

New Profile Photo

Well, today I learned how to change my profile photo. This is a current photo taken by Creativity Continuum member and photographer extraordinaire, Patty Pulliam. Thank you Patty. I have a personal problem with most candid photos of me, I most always HATE them. This one is O.K. Now you get to see the REAL ME. The other part was learning how to get it changed on the Blog, much easier than I expected it to be. My laptop has Vista and it functions quite differently, at least for me, than XP. In some cases, however this being one of them, it did most of the work for me. Hope you like it.

These are pictures I took of Patty teaching a Chainmaille class. Patty also teaches several other classes at TLDDesign Center & Gallery, not photography, but lampwork beadmaking & many other fun things. Check out the class schedule for dates & times.

JANICE BAILEY

Metal smith Instructor Extraordinaire

Janice and I have been friends for 20 years. She has been a metal smith, jewelry artist and instructor all the time I've known her. In the summer she exhibits consistently at art & craft fairs in the Chicago area, so her collectors know where to find her. She designs and sells under her own label, "JJB’s Silver & More". Her graceful designs and high quality workmanship have made her a collectible designer. All of her work is hand made, unique and crafted with the finest quality sterling silver often including Semi-Precious Stones, Fused Glass and her own Lampwork Beads. Janice regularly teaches at TLD Designs, Instructing Classes in: Metal Smith (Beginner ~ Advanced), Chain Making, Techniques in Wire Work, and Beginner level Bead/Pearl Stringing.

She taught me to do this

and then this

and then this

MARLENE WOODFIELD

This is a Fiber Portrait of Caroline Jarboe

PAQA member, Marlene Woodfield created this startlingly realistic art quilt as a 40th Anniversary gift for her sister and brother-in -law. It is a surprise, so if you know them, don't tell them yet!!! Caroline is their youngest grandaughter.

How did she do it?

A flesh colored commercial fabric was used for the base of the face and neck. With a sable brush, Marelene used Tsukineko acrylic inks, just as though she were painting on canvas, strategically applying them layer by layer, developing the facial features and shading. White on White fabric was dyed with procion dye to color the background fabric.
The hair is freehand cut and applied rough edge with many different fabrics to achieve the color tones. The quilt was heavily machine quilted both with flowers and a "patchwork" checkerboard design to add dimension for the background.
Nine different commercial fabrics, mostly batiks, were used in the crazy nine patch border.
Don't forget to click on the photos to see the closeups of this amazing artwork.

KAREN ROHRER

Geneva Cultural Arts Commission

recently sponsored the Emerging Artist Air Fair held with the Geneva Art Fair in Geneva, IL

Karen Rohrer, exhibited as an Emerging Artist

She won an Honorable Mention award for her jewelry.

Karen has been a student of several disciplines at TLD Designs for some time and has recently determined to concentrate on jewelry making

Congratulations, Karen !!!

Geri MacRoy Long Arm Quilt Artist

This is a close-up of the wonderful quilting done by fellow PAQA member, Geri MacRoy on a piece of my hand painted fabric. At the time she bought it, she told me she was pretty sure it would become a whole-cloth quilt.

It sure did!!! and a beautiful one it is.

Malibu Burning

quilted with neon threads and embellished with Swarovski Crystals and Tintzl
The finished quilt size is 41” by 38”

"It got in to the MQS Show in May and it got pretty good marks,
I have not yet heard from the American Quilters Society on whether it has been accepted.

I entered it in the Fabric Art division", says, Geri

"This year I have been entering lots of quilt shows.
Currently I am teaching longarm classes for Sewing Concepts in Woodstock and Carpentersville over the summer. I am loving it. It is a series of classes which begin with basics and are leading up to more advanced topics.
I attended lots of hands on classes at MQS in Overland Park this May. Some of my teachers were Cathy Franks, Dawn Cavanaugh, Jamie Wallen, Sharon Schamber, Irena Bluhm , Paula Platter, Cindy Roth and more. I am still absorbing and applying the wonderful things learned from these wonderful teachers. In August my husband and I are going to the Nashville Quilt Show. Rich is now a card carrying member of AQS!
This week I am completing a lovely Depression quilt top into a finished quilt for a local customer. The quilt top was made by her great grandmother. It has really been a worthwhile experience. I am doing custom start to finish quilts for people who request specific quilt projects".

Her web site address is www.lovingquilts.com.

OUT OF THE STUDIO FOR REFUELING

Today a trip with fellow fiber artist and instructor at TLD,

Joy Lavrencik.

We went to Old Town Bloomingdale to see PAQA friends and their art.

Opening reception for"Women Packing Irons"

Quilt Arts from the Chicago School of Fusing.

A big plus, in a separate room, part B of the traveling Quilt National 2007.

No photos were allowed in there, sorry, but you can buy a book with pretty good photos of all the quilts at the Quilt National Website

You can also see lots of them on the website and/or find a link to the individual artist's websites.

http://www.quiltnational.com/qn07exib.htm

Here's the lovely Frieda Anderson, next to her prize winner
Whispering Pines, Judges Choice IQA Houston 2007.

These four were in attendance and happily agreed to a photo op.
Anne Lullie, Frieda Anderson, Emily Parsons, Judy Coates Perez.
I promised I would not blog any bad ones. I keep my promises.