Fabric Challenge - Beginnings

This project falls into the "just had to do it" category.  Recently Karen Musgrave, with whom I'm acquainted through Postmark'd Art, issued a challenge to use a piece of her fabric to create a quilt in the style of Rayna Gillman's new book Create Your Own Free Form Quilts.   Posting progress along the way is part of the deal--and a new challenge for me.

On top is the fabric Karen sent.  Hmmmm...not ugly.  Below you can see I've buried it in some auditioning.  Lately I've been working in uncharacteristic brights.  I think my muse is telling me something....or Spring has sprung in my studio.  Anyway I'm clearly optimistic.  Stay tuned.

Picasso's Face of Peace 4"x6" 2012

During the current round of trading for Postmark'd Art I joined the Picasso group.  When I found this little sketch by Picasso I stitched it onto a piece of fabric I'd used to clean paint brushes.  (Sometimes the clean up fabric is the most interesting piece after a session of painting.)  I hope Picasso would approve.

More Modern Art 14" x 56" 2012

A couple years ago my artist group Loose Threads chose to work our way through Fearless Design by Lorraine Torrence and Jean B. Mills.  This was my interpretation of exercise 4, finding value in color.

Easy peasy!  I think it makes a very cool runner on my dining table.

This morning I opened my e-mail to discover my blog has been awarded a Liebster by my friend Franki Kohler.  I am so grateful for her lovely support.

Next I'm supposed to give the same award to five blogs I enjoy. Hard to narrow it down!

1. Jude Hill

2. Luann Kessi

3. Kathleen Loomis

4. Twelve by Twelve

5. and then we set it on fire

Lastly I have no idea how to send the Liebster to these wonderful people who keep me from doing my chores, but Loose Threads is meeting at my house tonight and one of them might have time to teach me.  

Runner 17.5" x 51" 2012

A couple of years ago I discovered the therapy of what I call "mindless" piecing of bits of fabric too interesting to throw away.  When I'm between projects, or just want to give my right brain a break, I sew bits together with no plan, iron them, slice and dice them, rotate them, and keep adding.  More often than not, some intriguing compositions emerge.

Of course I don't work in a vacuum.  From the time I first saw the Quilts of Gees Bend at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, I've loved improvisational piecing.  Books by artists such as Nancy Crow, Lorraine Torrence, Jean Wells, and most recently Rayna Gillman have been favorites in my studio.  (One does seek support for what one loves.)

Honestly, while I admire traditional precision piecing, I suck at it.  When I sew pieces like this runner, I feel like a modern artist.

Baby Birds 45"x60" 2012

Don't you just love it when an old unfinished project takes on new life?  A friend has a baby on the way, giving me all the reason I needed.  These birds have been languishing for a couple of years in my tub of "not sure what to do withs....."  When I learned about Yoko's baby girl, they commenced to chirping for borders and binding.  They'll be hanging on the wall at her baby shower next week.

Hope Postcard 4"x6" 2012

  

Here is my newest postcard for Postmark'd Art,   http://postmarkdart.com/, made for the theme, Quotes That Inspire.  Emily Dickinson curiously commented, "To live is so startling, it leaves little room for other occupations."  Even though she was a recluse most of her life, she created a collection of poems full of insights about living in the world.   Here am I, one hundred-twenty-six years after her death, finding comfort and inspiration in her words.  Would that I could bequeath to my world such a gift!

Hearts 4" x 6" 2012

One of the reasons I love making postcards is that I can justify saving all those little bits from previous projects that seem too precious to toss.  Here I layered a wispy paper napkin with hearts cut from foiled organza, painted cellophane, and crumpled silks.  My mailman says he and our local postmistress enjoy having my creations pass through our post office.