Week in Review 2018 - 08/24

I make art quilts. Why the modifier "art" and why not just say quilt? One reason is because of how far some art quilts have grown from most people's definition of a quilt. SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) defines an art quilt as  "a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure." A key word in this definition is "references". Note also, there is nothing in the definition which refers to fabric. 

This is my entry,
Sunrise Over Little Lake Butte des Morts - #2

My personal work hasn't strayed far from quilts of yesterday year, but I am a huge admirer of the work of others who have, including those who are making sculptural art quilts. I am a Juried Artist Member of SAQA, regularly renew my membership, and volunteer for the organization because I believe in its mission, "to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development, documentation, and publications." If you believe the art quilt deserves promotion and/or if you just can't get enough of seeing art quilts, I recommend you check out SAQA's annual benefit auction. There are 443 art quilts, all 12" x 12", up for auction starting on September 14th. 

 I am linking up with Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays. 

Week in Review 2018 - 02/02

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Can you have more than one swan song? The definition is so final the answer seems to be no. However, I conjecture life is a series of swan songs. Just as the conclusion of years of schooling, such as graduation from high school, doesn't mean one will not go on to attend college and from there pursue post graduate degrees, can't artist's careers be seen the same way? Picasso's blue period proceeded his cubism period. He must have made a final "blue" painting, perhaps overlapping or blending into his cubism period. Would this final blue painting be Picasso's blue period swan song?

Sunrise Over Little Lake Butte des Morts
4.5" x 6.5"

I see my own work this way, on a continuum with both clear and misty periods. This week has been bittersweet, as I made my SAQA Spotlight Auction piece. It is likely the last artwork I will make in my Appleton studio. It is my studio swan song, and perhaps my last homage to the view from our condo. It will not be my final artwork. Once we settle into our new home in Cohasset, Massachusetts, I expect new inspiration will fuel my work.

I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.

Week in Review 2015 - 1/02

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Happy New Year!

Lola, my studio supervisor demanded that she make
yet another blog appearance. She is also in the video.

To celebrate the new year I have added a new feature to my blog, a video. I've been wanting to add a monthly video for some time, but was intimidated by having to learn yet more technology in order to do so. When I started facing Night Vision yesterday, I knew it was time to bite the bullet and make a video. I can't be the only person who tries  no fail facing methods only to be disappointed time after time. Between the video and the pictures accompany this blog I have assembled what for me our the trickiest parts of adding facing and the best method for sailing through these parts. The first hurdle is making sure that the facing is only visible from the backside. The solution to that is stay stitching the facing strips 1/8 of an inch inside the seam allowance. Getting crisp AND lump free corners is achieved by trimming the backing and batting away from each corner at a 45 degree angle. Do NOT trim the quilt or the facing. (See Kathleen Loomis's blog for an in depth how to on her technique. Finally, hand sew like a pro, by burying your knots and hiding your stitches. I demonstrate this on my video.

The facing and quilt are folded back to reveal the batting
and backing. The blue triangle delineates the area that
the visible quilt top will cover. When trimming the corner
you want to cut just slightly inside the quilt. This greatly
reduces the bulk and allows for a crisp, lump free corner.

It was a quiet, but industrious week with lots of hand sewing as I started the finish work on two different pieces. I really relish the finish work. I find it one of the most relaxing aspects of making a quilt. That is why I choose to focus my video on how to tie an appliqué knot and the best stitch for hand sewing facings or bindings.

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

The facing was first seamed to the quilt right sides to
right sides. Next the facing is opened to the outside of
the quilt and pressed. Finally, the facing is stay stitched
in place using an 1/8 inch seam allowance. This
keeps the facing from rolling to the front of the quilt.

a) Face the quilt - Started

b) Add the split sleeve - Not yet
c) Take the formal call for entry photos - Not yet
d) Add the label - Not yet
e) Submit the call - Not yet

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

Another FMQ motif from Lori Kennedy of Inbox Jaunt.
Not my best effort. I find midsize and large size free motion
quilting much more difficult than small size. This
is approximately 3" high.

3) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due December 31, 2014)

Sunrise Over Little Lake Butte des Morts

Detail from Sunrise Over Little Lake Butte des Morts

a) Finish the quilting - Done
c) Do the finish work - Just needs the label
d) Submit it for consideration - Not yet

4) Perform a random act of kindness - Done

We are head towards are coldest week so far this winter. Sunday night will be -13F or -25C . Perfect weather to hunker down and do some quilting. Here are my plans:


1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Finish Facing the quilt
b) Add the split sleeve
c) Take the formal call for entry photos
d) Add the label
e) Submit the call

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due January 8, 2015)

a) Add the label
b) Submit it for consideration

4) Perform a random act of kindness

I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.

Week in Review 2014 - 12/26

 Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

My husband erected and decorated
our Christmas tree while I worked
in the studio. Note, Lola our
cat is able to guard the tree and
seeing anyone going up or down
the stairwell.

One thing I don't do often enough is take the time to watch TED talks.  The talks are brief, usually less than 10 minutes long. They are taped and available for free on-line. 

Yesterday, Christmas Day, I gave myself the present of listening to a TED talk by Alanna Shaikh titled "How I am Preparing to Get Alzheimer's." What struck me was Shaikh's third preparation. She was going to become a kinder, gentler more giving person. Why? Well, I let you watch the video to find out. 

The backside of Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts
showing how much quilting I managed this week.

In this time of transition between one year and the next it is normal to review the past year and make plans for the next. It is common practice to make resolutions, sometimes very formally by writing them down and setting up a strategy to achieve them. Some resolutions are just fleeting thoughts. Imagine if we all choose the goal to be more generous, kind and nurturing. To this end I am adding one more on-going weekly goal to my list. That is to perform at least one act of random kindness during each week. 

The frontside of Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts.
The sunrise photograph was printed on prepared cotton
on my home printer. It was placed behind the pieced front.
A negative applique method was done to let some of the
photograph appear. 

My studio time was naturally curtailed by the holidays. However, I did move a couple of my projects further along. Here is what I achieved:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

Detail from the backside of Sunrise over Little Lake
Butte des Morts showing the spiral quilting motif
used in the orange triangle.

a) Finish blind stitching the frog in place - Done!
b) Square up the quilt - Done!
c) Start the facing process - Not yet

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done!

Although I don't have an image of my FMQ practice, I did practice my spiral motif off quilt. In fact I tested an alternative motif first before I settled on the spirals. 

3) LifeBook 2014 - Bind my best mixed media work - Removed from the list

I have made the decision not to bind the pages from my LifeBook lessons. I have the video lesson should I ever be inspired to learn how to create a bound book of artwork in the future. Instead I will select a few favorites and toss the rest. I have visual records of them all on my computer as well as in my blog archives.

4) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due December 31, 2014)

a) Finish the piecing - Done!
b) Quilt it - Started
c) Do the finish work - Not Yet
d) Submit it for consideration - Not Yet

One more abbreviated week to go before I am back hibernating in my studio for the winter. I am looking forward to it and my plans which are as follows:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Face the quilt
b) Add the split sleeve
c) Take the formal call for entry photos

Detail from the front side of Sunrise over Little Lake Butte
des Morts showing the satin stitch that was used to
finish the edges of the negative appliqué. 

d) Add the label
e) Submit the call

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due December 31, 2014)

a) Finish the quilting
c) Do the finish work
d) Submit it for consideration

4) Perform a random act of kindness


I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.

Week in Review 2014 - 12/12

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Poinsettia tutorial is available on Lori Kennedy's
Inbox Jaunt.

If you live in the northern hemisphere my thoughts this week will be timely. If you are in the southern hemisphere, perhaps you can bookmark them for six months hence. In the past I would be currently kicking, pulling and dragging myself through this time of year when there is more dark than light. Now toss in the fact that most days in Wisconsin are overcast so that the sky reads the color of a mourning dove. Finally add in the hype and hyperactivity of the holidays and it is easy to succumb to depression. This year is different. My husband discovered the SlimStyle 65W LED lightbulb. He likes it for its energy efficiency. I love how it floods my studio with brilliant daylight. The initial expense feels on the extravagant side, but between the energy savings and emotional boost this is one luxury I can highly recommend investing in. 

My first mixed media piece made
during the year long course of LifeBook 2014.

Here is where I placed my energy this week:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

The final mixed media piece made as
part of LifeBook 2014

a) Finish blind stitching the frog in place - nearly finished.
b) Square up the quilt - Not yet.
c) Start the facing process - Not yet.

2) Free motion quilting practice. - Done 

I debated about whether to take the time to practice my free motion quilting this week. Just as it can be tempting to roll over and go back to sleep versus getting up and exercising, practicing free motion quilting takes discipline. I gave myself a stern talking to and sat down at the machine. I'm so glad I did. Lori Kennedy's Poinsettia motif was just what I needed to put me in the holiday spirit.

Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts
The photo was taken by husband from our balcony. 

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Done!!

It is time to celebrate. I committed to completing all the weekly assignments in LifeBook 2014 and this week I turned in my final one. It was worth the dedication. I've learned quite a bit about composition, highlights, creating a sense of 3D in 2D work and how to use all kinds of tools and supplies. The growth is apparent when you compare Week 1's piece with Week 50's. 

4) Design the piece to follow Night Vision. - Done!

Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts - deconstructed

The sunrise photo, coupled with my experimentation and play last week have led to my next design to tackle. I have several opportunities that require small exhibition pieces and one must be an abstract. Between the  solo exhibition in Oshkosh and a few other venues all my exhibition worthy work is spoken for. I needed something that would work up quickly. Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts is still in its infancy. A portion of the original photo printed on fabric will be incorporated into the pieced background. Naturally, I will need to do some quilting and finish work. I am optimistic that this piece will be done before 2014 comes to an end.

Family commitments mean that I won't be working in my studio next week. However, the following week I will turn on the lights in the studio and go town. When I do, here is where I plan on focusing my attention:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Finish blind stitching the frog in place
b) Square up the quilt
c) Start the facing process

2) Free motion quilting practice.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Bind my best mixed media work

4) Sunrise over Little Lake Butte des Morts (due December 31, 2014)

a) Finish the piecing
b) Quilt it
c) Do the finish work
d) Submit it for consideration


I am now linking up to two blogs on Fridays. The first is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays and the second is Free Motion Mavericks.