Backache

Quilter Paula Chung, a member of our SAQA group of Northern California-Nevada Region, has a quilting collaborator friend Karen Rips. They take images from body scans---X-Rays, MRIs, etc---and each quilter interprets each image and renders it in her own style. My very own crooked spine, stemming from life-long scoliosis, is the subject of a pair of quilts by Karen and Paula. They took my breath away. They brought me to tears. Here are their quilts (my name changed for privacy thoughtfulness):

And here is my "inspirational" X-Ray:

My wheels started churning when I saw in the SAQA weekly newsletter the above image of Karen's quilt and discovered it would be in a show at Princeeton University in New Jersey. I emailed my dear college friend Elizabeth Walters who lives in Princeton and implored her to attend the opening where Karen discussed the quilting collaboration. Unfortunately, Paula wasn't able to attend the opening, Here is a photo of my friend Elizabeth in the green sweater at the show, admiring Karen Rips' quilt "Backache."

I borrowed these images from Paula's website, with her permission. And yes, friends, I am doing my Pilates exercises religiously, so that curvature doesn't worsen.

More Coasters

 

And they're really fun to make---selecting the fabrics, making the bias edging, stitching a spiral round and round, "mugging" for the camera, and then sending them away to surprise a friend. Her favorite colors are blues, purples, and turquoises, and she loves batiks. It was a Win-win.

New Fabrics, New Tools, New Skills

There's ALWAYS something to investigate if you like to quilt. Or even if you're just a cat.

The Rotary Cutter. I don't know why it was such a challenge, but I think I finally figured out the equipment and the right moves. And making bias tape. Again, it's a learning curve, but practicing a craft improves the skill.

I think I like "having learned" better than I like the "learning process." I always want to get from here to there without the baby steps in between. How did I ever get through school? I recently asked an artist what is the best way to learn to paint, meaning what local classes or teachers would she recommend. She said, "Learn to draw first." Now where is that sketchbook I bought years ago....

Quilting Assistant says "Thank You!"

When there are kind people in this world who help out, it's always nice to say "Thank you." Tom is grateful to friends who helped with his medical bills, so he made these coasters to express his gratitude. They have a heat-resistant lining which is also used in potholders. It may dull sewing needles but it protects wood surfaces from hot teacups.

Yes, I was accepted!

It was a great opening party, easy to talk with attendees and artists. The gallery is transitioning to new owners and with that, will launch its first exhibition in late January called Transformation. I have a piece accepted for the show!

Process & Quality Control

As usual, there is a lot of STUFF required to make things and sell them: fabrics and trims and buttons and beads and all the equipment to put them together. AND, this requires supervision from the Quilting Assistant, who always knows just where to stretch out and just what strings to chew.

But wait! There's MORE!!

And a few more....

Winz Pinz!!

It started from a fabric brooch I found in Scotland, which was translated into silks and beads and buttons from my stash. These little clusters of pinwheels and yo-yos and covered buttons were so much fun to make. What goes with what? The permutations are endless. It's nice to wear an accessory that isn't a scarf or necklace, that suggests a new color combination of shirt and jacket or sweater. And it's especially fun to say, "Oh, thank you! I made it myself."

Mantra

It's an energetic quilt. It's a reminder to think twice before buying something. Do I reallly need it?

Alice-in-Color

These are the cheerful coasters Alice gave me. She can eyeball and sew those straight lines without drawing them, apparently with her internal straight-edge. Edgy, modern color blocks. That's her style. And always, COLOR!

It Doesn't Take Much

A gift for a friend's birthday. Just a little something, but just what does a person need with an accumulation of stuff over eighty years? My friend Alice gave me a couple of hand-made coasters that I love and USE. I like useful gifts. So I made a couple little log cabin blocks, filled them with thermo-foil batting, and there you have it. I simple little gift, with a hand touch. With materials on hand.

And what? No wrapping paper? Muslin with a ribbon tie. I have what I need.

It Never Fails

The Quilting Assistant always knows just where to settle. It's as though he were channeling the quilt message.

Orange

I never liked orange very much, mostly because it was paired with black and stood for either Halloween or some school's athletic colors, neither of which I like. But orange with purple or gold or blue takes on a whole different energy, either in flower combinations or in dupioni silks. And orange with Tom's fur? Well. Viva l'Orange!

 

 

Big Step Forward: Sumittal to a Juried Exhibition

I can't tell you how many times I've printed out a Prospectus, Call for Entries list, or Submittal Requirements for a gallery, museum show, or quilt festival. All that wasted paper, reluctance, and self-doubt! I'm putting it out here, on my blog, mostly to make the commitment to myself: I'm going to enter a juried exhibition. There! Now to create a quilt in a week. It's been brewing...


TAP (Transfer Artist Paper) and an iron

 

Quilting Assistant eyes an iPhone.

 

Germinating Compassion

Quilting Assistant says he thinks the fruit is too dominant over the seeds and the sprouts, but maybe that's the point: donations bear fruit. I hope it generates some funds for Doctors without Borders.

Doctors without Borders Annual Fundraiser Donation

It's that time of year when 40 artists of all media create works for an auction benefitting Doctors without Borders. The theme "Transformation" inspired my fiber art donation "Germinating Compassion." Here are a few process images:

Zippers separate fallow soil, sprouting seeds, and fruit.

 

Patterns for fruit with seeds.

 

Fabric pairs for fruit.

Useless Emotions

The new series of experiental art quilts--faster, less embellished--was installed as the the doors were opened for Open Studios, the SOMA (South Main) Art Stroll in Half Moon Bay. There was a steady stream of art appreciaters, but not buyers. We got many favorable comments but no sales, alas. Here is the collection:


Frustration

Envy

Regret

Guilt

Rage

Shame

Worry

Fear


What was especially gratifying for me was that our visitors were interested in discussing the process of depicting emotions with color and composition clues, often trying to guess which quilt was which emotion before reading the label. And from there, just why is this emotion useless? Or what if it were still an issue for the viewer, or whether it had been conquered, and therefore would the quilt serve as a trophy? They were not afraid of the topic.

What color is SHAME?

Worry? Boredom? Rage is easier to color but not to shape. I call on my Assistant.

These little vignettes are taking shape. My challenge is to keep them loose, not so structured, more painterly.
I take breaks to watch the Olympic extravaganzas. Now THAT is structure. How many thousands of times do those athletes do the SAME thing to perfection?

I prefer my sport.

What if? Some Experiments....

What if I...

• made smaller, faster quilts, not as labor-intensive, at smaller price points?
• tried some new techniques with fusing and curved seams?
• explored new color combinations?
• created a series?

My new series is USELESS EMOTIONS. I will attempt to convey an emotion with color and design. Part quilting. Part therapy.

Starting with "Useless Emotion: Envy" In process. so far, fused pieces. stitching and embellishments to follow. This is a fun mix-it-up process.

Champion Companion

Who knew that his last social outing would be my quilt show?
Or that my last blog post would be on the eve of his death?
He was so excited to see me right back quilting after my show, obviously a sign that this time I wasn't burned out.
He loved it when I was quilting. He saw it as a positive, self-nourishing activity.

I loved to show him my latest creation, because he was my biggest fan and thrilled to the colors and compositions.
I loved brainstorming the titles for my pieces with him. It tapped his love of the way language can capture just the right feeling and tone of artistic expression.

He was happy to help however he could, this time meticulously pealing off the little pieces of fusing paper from 300 squares of silk sewn into strips. It saved me a few hours of tedium.

He was the smartest, funniest, most honorable person I've ever known. I wish I could show him my new series. He would have SO much to say on the subject of useless emotions. So here's to you, Jackie....