Sara Kelly Art Quilts

Mt. Rainier (in situ) 16"x64"

2012-01-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's a trash can on the far right to give this display a sense of scale. My son and his wife loved the quilt enough to hang it in their bedroom, which is in the attic. Hence the sloping ceiling. Anyone taller than 4 feet must stoop over for close inspection. (That's one way to hide some wayward stitches.)

"Better living through chemistry" has helped my son regain enough of his health to resume care of his darling- now 1 year old- daughter, other household obligations, and even enjoy skiing the slopes of the Cascades. Wrenching as it was to leave them, my husband and I felt it was time to go home to California. He is eager to work on the many many images he photographed during our sojourn up north, and I have raw emotions to push under the needle.

Heal 4"x6"

2012-01-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

Recently a friend had cancer surgery and is now struggling through painful rehab. One day last week I was wondering about whether she'd gone home yet, and so I decided to make her a postcard. The very next day I received an e-mail from her saying she was home but that everything was very hard.

The message I wrote on the back was that no one fights alone....she has many hearts with her. These are sentiments I've received during these months with my son, and they never fail to comfort.

Birthstones 5"x7"

2012-01-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

These two quilts are small by request. It's time to start a new year of birthday quilts in my artist group Loose Threads, and since we seem to have played out the strips concept last year, the January birthday girl asked for small pieces specific to months. I drew the months of March and May and chose birthstones as my themes. The stone for March is aquamarine and for May is the emerald. Not having the wherewithal to purchase the actual gems to stitch, I painted some fusible web with Lumiere paints and added some machine stitching, French knots, and beads. Now I have to hope she's too busy moving into a new home to check my blog before she gets these next week. Don't look, A.K.!

Resolution 2012

2011-12-31T23:40:00.000-08:00

One day in October I was complaining to a friend that I thought I had lost my "mojo" as an art quilter.
That evening my son called to tell me he has cancer. Talk about a game changer! In these last months of 2011 I have come to realize that there is nothing more precious than living in the moment. I am learning to appreciate the blessings of the path rather than to fret about where it leads.

My resolution for 2012 is to treasure every hour I am fortunate to play/work in my studio and to never again whine about something as empty and fatuous as "mojo." As the last minutes of 2011 tick away, my son is winning against his cancer. Whatever I can create with my talents is just icing on the cake.

Tacoma Christmas 2011

2011-12-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

So many blessings lighting up the lives in this house. My son's health continues to improve!!! Little Bridget has mastered "4 wheel drive" (so nothing below 24 inches is sacred:-) Lots of family trekking up by road and air to fill the extra rooms. We won't care that it's supposed to rain all next week.

My temporary studio in the basement has been packed up and stashed under the ping pong table to make even more room for merriment. But my knitting bag is always nearby to keep my creative juices simmering.

May all the world enjoy a peaceful respite during this special time.

A Few Words Wednesday

2011-12-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

On rare occasions in late autumn, Mt. Rainier casts a shadow on the clouds as the sun rises behind it. Inspiration!

Mt. Rainier, pieced 16" x 64"

2011-12-08T13:49:00.001-08:00

I secretly like paper piecing, especially during periods when the muse of originality forsakes me, or when following someone else's directions is like taking a vacation, or when the design is too beautiful to ignore.
This paper pieced view of the massive volcano, designed by Amber Wittmayer, was too intriguing to pass up.

It has been the perfect project for those few precious hours when I can reconnect with my sewing machine. With the exception of some very unpleasant side effects, my son's melanoma is responding well to the drug Zelboraf which is buying him time for whatever will be the next step on his path.

Of course, my mountain awaits a backing, batting, and quilting. Certainly by Christmas so I may gift it to my beautiful son and his valiant wife. They are climbing a virtual Mt. Everest.

Postmark'd Art

2011-11-27T09:36:00.001-08:00

Two lovely things have been occurring for me recently. Last year I joined an online group titled Postmark'd Art. http://postmarkdart.com/ Members hail from all over the U.S. and Australia and New Zealand, and we exchange our small works of art by "snail mail." Recently the website was beautifully revamped and if you visit, you will see some of my postcards.

The other lovely occurrence is that my son seems to be responding well to one of the new drugs for melanoma. We know it's not a cure, but his improvement makes it so much easier to be hopeful.

Happy Pomegranates and Persimmons!!!!!

Postmark'd Art

Therapy

2011-11-16T11:44:00.001-08:00

When my husband drove up here to Tacoma a couple of weeks ago, he brought my sewing machine. He said it was calling my name pitifully. I'm using a ping pong table for cutting and lay out. It's down in a basement with no natural light but plenty of space. My ironing board is on a Beer Pong table (no idea) and fortunately, my SewEasy table came with my machine. So here's my warm up sewing. I know, I know--no focal point.

We have a long, long road to get my son to wellness. He'll be going on a new FDA approved drug for melanoma which is a temporary fix but we hope will make him feel better. I grab my sewing moments when our granddaughter naps. Comments and suggestions for how to make the above into something good would be greatly appreciated:-)

Comfort Knitting

2011-11-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

Any knitter is familiar with the question, "what are you making?' My answer these days is, "a rectangle."
I bought this beautiful hand dyed yarn in Ashland, Oregon on our vacation trip up to Tacoma a month ago. Now it feels like a lifetime ago. I love yarn as much as I love fabric, and knitting is better than comfort food. My best friend brought me the gorgeous bag from Guatemala.

We await determination of the proper treatment of my son's melanoma. We know it will be a long and difficult journey but are keeping our focus on his healing. This may be a very long rectangle.

Heal

2011-10-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

This blog will not be receiving much attention from me for awhile. My artistic life has been shoved to the back burner by a family emergency. My son Devin has cancer. I will be up in Tacoma, WA. for an indefinite period to help with my 9 month old granddaughter while his wife works and he undergoes tests and whatever other ugliness is necessary for him to heal. This prayer flag will go with me.

Seatbelt Quilts

2011-10-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

As a short person, I have yet to find a seatbelt that doesn't cut right across my neck. (I hate to think what would happen if the belt actually had to perform in an accident.) Purchased sheepskin covers are wonderful in winter, but not so comfy in summer, and my 6'2" husband hates them. My solution is these seatbelt quilts, which are a fun way to use up scraps of practice quilting. Even if shortness isn't your problem, I think they look pretty cool in the car.

Petit Bijoux 11"x14" 2011

2011-09-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Two days before they needed it, the Kings Art Center called me to donate something to their annual Gala auction. The center of this little quilt is a tiny piece of fabric art I picked up last year in England and then mounted on four upholstery samples which I quilted. Unfinished it hung out on my design wall for most of the year. Nothing like a deadline to get the juices going! I echoed the central circles in the same shiny fabric onto a piece of purple silk, quilted with copper metallic thread, and couched some shiny yarn onto the seams. Now it wanted a French title. Voila!

My Birthday Strips 46" w x 30" h 2011

2011-09-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago my artist group, Loose Threads, started celebrating birthdays with art quilts in a strip format. The first year the individual strips were sewn together end to end... a very interesting display challenge. This year we decided to keep them separate but united by a theme. My theme was "Cracks"

inspired by a Leonard Cohen lyric: "Ring the bells the bells the bells that still can ring ring ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

On the far left is a strip from Barbara which my photo failed to give justice. She layered black felt over painted paper towels, melted cracks into the felt, and then embroidered the word cracks down the middle.

Next is the other Barbara who created a quilted sidewalk with fibrous green weeds growing in the cracks.

Third from left is my own interpretation. I wrote the lyric in calligraphy on fuschia and purple silk and appliqued them to a painted black silk background. Karen executed another little sidewalk to evoke the game of hopscotch. Remember you weren't supposed to land on a crack? Grace knows I love to paint fabric so her strip says, "If it cracks, just paint it!" Finally, Anna cut a big crack into her strip quilt and finished it off with her signature bead fringe.

What is always amazing is that even though we don't discuss our creations in progress, they always belong together in the end. I am truly blessed to have such artists to share with every month!

My Brain at 64 4" x 6" 2011

2011-09-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was a week late remembering a very good friend's birthday. I sent him this postcard by way of explanation. (That is a painted bubble wrap sun.)

Blessings Prayer Flag 8.5"w x 14"h 2011

2011-09-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Our sky today, 9/11/11, is as gray as the somber mood of the nation. Ten years ago this day dawned so beautifully with brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies. Now we know it was a deceptive innocence. It's easy to reflect on those crashing jetliners and collapsing buildings as a metaphor for our nation spiraling into futile wars, paranoia, and greed spawned recession. Like a bitter pill, the daily news is hard to take.

Sometimes one has to look away from the insanity of the wider world and consider the small blessings one can find closer to home. Perhaps a garden, a grandchild's smile, a husband's hug, family and friends, an uninterrupted day in the studio. I really could go on and on. Like leaves scattering on the breeze,
I send out my prayer that all may have blessings that make life worth living.

Soles on the Fence 12" x 12" 2011

2011-09-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I've posted this little quilt before, but it no longer belongs to me. I donated it to Studio Art Quilts Associates' 2011 Benefit Auction, which begins Sept. 12. If you wish it to become part of your collection, please go to this website http://www.saqa.com/saqa-u.php?ID=1791
Of course, you'll find lots of wonderful art quilts. Should you get lucky, it all goes to helping SAQA put art quilting on the fine art map.

Prayer 15" x 23.5" 2011

2011-09-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

My camera skills aren't up to the task for this little piece which has taken me over a year to complete. The motifs in the center panel are the Buddhist eight spoked wheel, which represents the Path to follow in life, and the Mehndi hands, which I see as openly gesturing. I used Shiva Painstiks to rub these symbols from old wooden printing blocks onto the red-violet silk, and I quilted all the motifs with trapunto technique. At that point time slowed way down because I hand beaded all the motifs and all around the edge. For me the piece has a spiritual elegance, although it's still looking for its own display location in my home.

Ice Dyeing #2

2011-08-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

The first time I tried ice dyeing I didn't follow the directions exactly because I sprinkled the dye powder directly onto the fabric. Here are some examples of my second session. I placed the ice onto the prepared (pre-soaked in soda ash solution) fabric and then sprinkled the dye powder onto the ice. Wonderful results! For my third session, I mixed things up. I put some dyes onto the fabric first and then more onto the ice. More terrific fabric emerged. I'm thinking that some of my new fabrics want to be whole cloth quilted pieces. We'll see. First I'm winging my way up to Tacoma for some granddaughter time and to attend the Pacific West Quilt Show. Bet I'll find some inspiration there, and perhaps some fun shopping.
We'll see.

Ice Dyeing

2011-08-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

The current issue of Quilting Arts Magazine, August/September 2011, includes an article titled Ice Dyeing by Linda Heines. It is the coolest (pun intended) way to dye fabric I've ever tried. And it's so easy it feels like cheating! My first attempt included these two pieces which I actually did wrong. All my mistakes should look so good. Briefly, I soaked the PFD white cotton in soda ash solution for 30 minutes. Next I placed the fabric pieces on top of overturned empty plastic containers in a dish tub.
Then I sprinkled several colors of Procion MX dyes on the fabric. Last I put a bunch of ice cubes on top of the fabric, covered the whole thing with some old plastic and walked away for 24 hours. Next day I rinsed and washed it all with Synthropol, dried it in the dryer, and then really, really enjoyed ironing my new fabric.

So what did I do wrong? I was supposed to put on the ice before adding the dye powders. I'll post some of those results in a few days.

Prayer Flag for Pres. Obama 9" x 10" 2011

2011-08-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I read an opinion piece in the New York Times titled "What Happened to Obama?" by Drew Westen. It's a question I've been pondering for many months. I had such high hopes. Hence I was inspired to make my second prayer flag. A breeze immediately began lifting my words, so it was difficult to get a good photo. Here's what I wrote....
Lead. We need a hero to Inspire, Deliver, Protect, Stand Up, Man Up.

Prayer Flag #1 9" x 10"

2011-08-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

For several weeks I have been reading in assorted blogs about the Prayer Flag Project. The idea is to quickly make a small flag that has a positive thought on it and hang it outside. It's based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition that prayer flags blowing in the wind will send their "prayers" wherever they need to go.
I made this one for a distant cousin who was critically injured in a helicopter crash last month.

A Bit of Childhood 20" h x 24" w 2011

2011-07-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

"Sisters are a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." M. Garretty

This is probably the last of the three sisters quilts I will make. This one is for my sister Vicky, the cutie in the middle. I stepped outside my comfort zone to do this traditional layout, and it certainly challenged me.
But when I found the quote, I thought it was perfect to hand embroider above their heads. Soon as I make a label I can ship it back east to Vicky for her birthday.

New Postcards

2011-07-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

What's not to like about making postcards? They're relatively fast because each card is a 4 inch by 6 inch commitment. One approach I take is "mass" production by creating a piece large enough to cut into multiples, such as the second one here. On a background fabric I just layered bits and pieces of shiny threads, ribbons, and fabric under tulle net and stitched it all down. It looks like a party to me.
Sometimes I play with photos in Photoshop and print them on cloth, which is the top card. For the third card I used a scrap of piecing, a leftover piece of painted Bubble Wrap, and stitched a tree to make a landscape. Of course I love the elegant ladies of old Japan so I framed them with couched yarns and silk flowers. There is something so satisfying about using leftover bits to create something new. I'll teach one more class on August 9 at Quilter's Quarters here in Hanford. Hope some of you can join me.

Postcards Class

2011-07-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have a day when you just can't think big? Here's my solution. I love making little 4"by 6" art quilts that I can "snail" mail to special people. I even belong to an international group called "Postmark'd Art." Twice a year we create and exchange our postcards with each other. Recently I was asked to teach a couple of classes on how I make postcards so these three are some of my class samples. The classes are scheduled for July 16 and August 9 at Quilter's Quarters in Hanford, CA. and I can't wait to see what delights emerge from them.

Colors of New Zealand 19" x 20" 2011

2011-07-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a little scrap of fabric is just too precious to toss. My definition of precious? I dyed it, or painted it, or the marks are still intriguing to me. When I have a pile of them, I start sewing them together almost mindlessly until I have a patchwork too precious to toss. What to do with the new pile of precious?
Start composing something abstract with solid colors that will frame them nicely. This one looks good on my coffee table.

Solar Power 22" w x 27" h 2011

2011-06-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Throughout history, many cultures and civilizations have worshipped the sun for its power to enhance life.
This is my interpretation of the prompt sunshine. It was supposed to have metal embellishment so I added the painted metal plug plate to symbolize our modern need for the sun's power.

Monoki 18" x 18" 2011

2011-06-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

On my creative journey, occasionally I give my right brain a little break by working on another artist's pattern.
The design for this little quilt is by Ursula Riegel (www.designstoshare.com).
I made it for the Little Quilt raffle at my local quilt guild, Common Threads, in July.

Grace's Birthday Strips 2011

2011-06-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

As I promised a couple of posts ago, here is the entire group of strips created by my artists group Loose Threads for member Grace. Can you see she requested a garden theme? The two cute ones on the left did not consult with each other about finding inspiration from That Patchwork Place. The dark strip in the middle contains real jewelry as well as her signature beaded fringe. On the right are red silk geraniums and on top a feast of stitched and embellished texture. My poppies and wine glass glow nicely in the group. I have to wait all the way till August for my birthday strips.

Cutting Loose 22" x 22" 2011

2011-05-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time I took a class to learn how to construct a New York Beauty block, which has radiating points that demand extreme precision. What was I thinking??? Of course mine emerged with some measurement issues but lots of personality, I thought. However, the teacher said she could tell I had a bad attitude, and so my cheery but lopsided beauties were buried with a bunch of other abandoned projects. Fast forward about 5 years during which I've learned to let my unruly attitude shine forth. Digging around for some way to illustrate the word rejoice, my little beauties jumped out and said, "Cut loose with us!" They sure look happy to me.

Wine in the Garden 6" x 30" 2011

2011-05-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

Last year in my artists group, Loose Threads, we celebrated birthdays by each making an art quilt 6 inches wide by one inch for every year the birthday girl could claim. The strips were then sewn together. Mine was 31.5 feet long! (Feel free to figure out my years on this earth;-) This year we are still making skinny art quilts but they're vertical and can be displayed however the recipient wishes. The birthday person stipulates a theme and dimensions. I used my own hand-dyed fabrics to make this strip for Grace, a connoisseur of wine and gardens. Once she has them arranged in her home, I'll post a picture of the whole grouping.

Wavelength 12" w x 24" h 2011

2011-04-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

Another monthly challenge in my artist group, Loose Threads. The inspiration word was wave and the challenge technique was low tech tucks. I started with four prints of my photo of the wake behind a ferry. For the tucks I painted fusible web to resemble abalone shell and ironed it onto white fabric. Now I had a technical challenge because I had created a very plastic material that was difficult to crease, iron, and sew down. This photo doesn't show such detail but there are hand sewn beads holding down each tuck. My own critique of this work is that I had a good idea but the technique got away from me. Precision isn't my strong suit but I continue to be intrigued by how I can use my own photographs to be original.

Pyroclastic Flow 15"x38" 2011

2011-04-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

As soon as I was challenged to create my interpretation of the word passion,
I knew what I wanted to do. The dictionary defines pyroclastic flow as
"a dense mass of very hot ash, lava fragments, and gases ejected explosively from a volcano and typically flowing downslope at great speed".
That strikes me as a good metaphor for the emotion of passion. I started with an old polyester knit top I'd saved probably since the nineties because I liked the flowing lines on it. Then I started adding "hot lava" in the form of foiled organza, metallic lame, Razzle Dazzle threads, and lots of beads stitched on and as fringe at the bottom. Even though the laboriously slow process of beading would cool any passion, I must say I'm glad I got this piece out of my system.

On the Road Again 12" x 12" 2011

2011-04-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

In my other art group, Sew Eclectic, we are creating little quilts inspired by phrases. Hence this little one, ironically created very quickly. My sister shot the photo of me enjoying the thrill of roof riding one of London's red tour buses. Then we sped through the Chunnel to Brussels aboard the Eurostar high speed train. At the moment, this little quilt seems to illustrate the pace of my life ever since. More travel, the birth of our first grandchild, more travel, the opening of a new CFA show in Bakersfield, the purchase of a second home on the central coast of California, more travel, and today I'm on the road again to San Francisco. No complaints but one....so little studio time lately. Lots of knitting done though!

To Belong or Not to Belong 27"w x 25"h 2011

2011-03-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Last year I was fortunate to attend the SAQA annual conference in San Francisco where I studied with Yoshiko Wada. I learned that boro is a Japanese term for old fabric pieces that are kept useful by darning, patching, and mending. We also had the opportunity to use natural indigo dye so I tossed a handful of silk swatches into the bubbling brew. Here I've embroidered them onto an old piece of batiste that I rusted and then I stitched it onto a commercial cotton. I really love the marks that rusty bits of metal leave on fabric, but it's impossible to quilt into the heavily rusted areas. I learned to just go around those marks. If anyone out there has words of wisdom about quilting rusted fabric, please share. The inspiration word for this quilt was sole. Hence the title.

Painted Pears 4"x6" 2011

2011-03-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

No comments on my "Soles on the Fence".....hmmm. I thought they were pretty cool, and so I sent them to SAQA for their 12 inch quilt benefit auction. The acid test???

Recently I read a quote from artist Chuck Close... "Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work." Postcards are a fun way to keep working. I know pears are nothing new but I like how they fit on this format and mailed them to fellow artists on Postmark'd Art.

Soles on the Fence 12"x12.5" 2011

2011-02-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

Add caption

Last month my husband and I were traveling in New Zealand, and while he was photographing the pastoral beauty I wandered across the road to check out what was dangling from the barbed wire fence. Lots and lots of old shoes--mostly athletic or flip flops, and one pair of high heels.
The current challenge for my artist group, Loose Threads, was the word sole or any synonym of it, and to include a three dimensional element. I traced my photo onto stabilizer, layered it on white fabric, stitched over the picture from the back, and imitated the original plastic tie with a piece of painted Tyvek. The border is a scrap of my own painted fabric. A fun memory from a fabulous trip.

Fruit of the Loom 12"x12" 2011

2011-02-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

This little quilt happened after I acquired a "skein" of silk strips sewn together end to end. I stitched them on batting with the frayed edges exposed and then cut and rearranged it several times. To me it looks like a little shop somewhere in India full of bolts of silk.

Abandoned on Carrizo Plain 33" h x 41" w 2011

2011-02-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

Last spring my husband and I spent a day at Carrizo Plain National Monument, which is located west of Bakersfield, California. We discovered carpets of yellow and purple wildflowers and two old truck shells rusting in dignity together. Then I took a class from Katie Pasquini-Masopust to learn how to create an abstract composition from a photograph. Voila! This quilt along with my "Points of Light" and "Reserved for Tony Graffiti" will be displayed in a California Fiber Artists show at the Bakersfield Museum of Art from March 24 - May 31, 2011.

wom-an-ful-ly

2011-01-26T11:10:00.000-08:00

Memories of a Geisha

Ardi, The 4 Million Year Old Woman

I am so pleased that these two quilts have been juried into an exhibit at Arts Visalia Gallery scheduled for March 2 - 25, 2011 in celebration of Women's History Month. The title "wom-an-ful-ly" (adverb) means as a woman of spirit; in a way that shows or is characteristic of womanly spirit or energy.

Arts Visalia is located at 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia, CA. 93291 www.artsvisalia.org

Points of Light 40"x42" 2010

2010-12-16T10:21:00.000-08:00

It seems suitable to end this year with my quilt inspired by the word illumination.
I incorporated my own photos, and many of my own dyed and painted fabrics.
May the holiday season bring peace and relaxation to all of you.

Sister Love for Marybeth 16"x16" 2010

2010-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

This is the second of my Sister Love series. Marybeth is on the right in the photo. I used garden colors and quilted fruits and vegetables because all three of them are avid gardeners.

Sister Love 15"x15" 2010

2010-11-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

My sister Sheila sent me this photo of herself (on the left), and two other sisters, Vicky and Marybeth. I think it was taken in the late fifties. So I am making a small quilt for each of them. I love how putting a photo on fabric gives it a new tactile incarnation. This one includes bits of lace and buttons from our mother's large collection. She was also a fiber artist who probably made the little dresses they are wearing.

Persimmon and Pear Postcard 4"x6" 2010

2010-11-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Gobble Gobble!

Persimmon and Pomegranate Postcard 4"x6" 2010

2010-11-17T10:48:00.000-08:00

I could do postcards all day. They are such (almost) instant gratification. And they take up a lot less room than my growing mound of art quilts.

Reclining Buddha 9"x12" 2010

2010-11-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

More and more I enjoy using my own photos in my quilts. I printed my photo of a reclining Buddha statue on copy paper which I placed face down on a piece of fabric. Then I wet it thoroughly with a sponge and rubbed it hard to transfer the image. Rather ghostly. I photographed the rusty kanji at sunset. It means The Way.

Launched by the Sixties 39"x43.5" 2010

2010-11-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

I went to university in San Francisco in the sixties. The music, the politics, the fashions, the philosophies of that era launched me into adulthood. I scripted the names of my favorite bands onto the tie dye fabric with bleach. I painted the other fabrics to represent the turbulence of the Vietnam war. (There's also some metaphorical grass.) The sandhill cranes taking off were photographed by my husband and I printed them on more hand dyed fabric. The sixties were the wind beneath my wings. Peace.

Thread Squashes Postcard 4"x6" 2010

2010-11-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Same still life... thread painted.

Morning Light Squashes Postcard 4"x6" 2010

2010-10-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

A shaft of early morning light lit up my little still life.

Purple Pumpkin Postcard 4"x6" 2010

2010-10-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween.

Blue Pumpkin postcard 4"x6" 2010

2010-10-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

One of my quilt guilds has started a Postcard Club. I am having so much fun that I can't resist making multiples. I know people love receiving them in the mail, but sometimes they're hard to part with.
Will a photo do?

Reserved for Tony Graffiti 40" x 40" 2010

2010-10-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

This quilt contains my photos of graffiti in Europe, and my hand-painted, monoprinted, and flour resist painted fabrics. The title is from a specific piece of graffiti I saw in Birmingham, England. With simple construction, I wanted to capture the scattered complexity of graffiti art we glimpse as we speed by.

Jacey in the Merry Month of May 23" x 32" 2010

2010-10-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

A guild challenge was to create an asymmetrical composition that illustrates the term merry. To create the silhouette, I used a photo of my 8 year old niece Jacey happily performing a cartwheel.
She's backed by a fabric I hand painted, and I'm pleased to say that I won the Best Use of Term award.

Ardi 40"x61" 2010

2010-09-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Ardi, or Ardipithecus Ramidus, lived 5 million years ago in Africa. She was a hominid, one step in the evolution of the human race. Her fossil skeleton is remarkably intact because her body was buried in the silt of a river. I assembled her "skeleton" life size (about 3 foot 11 inches) on a piece of indigo dyed fabric collected in West Africa. Her skull was very fractured so I hand embroidered her head. The symbol to left of her head is from Ghana, Sankofa or Go Back and Retrieve. It symbolizes wisdom, knowledge, and heritage. Based on a mythical bird that flies forward with its head turned back, it reminds people to value the past and carry it with us as we move forward in time. I created Ardi for a Women's History Month exhibit next year.

Be the Buddha 18.5" x 19" 2010

2010-08-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

My artist group, Loose Threads, is taking on monthly projects to make pieces with certain techniques that are also inspired by a word. The technique for July was fabric weaving and the inspirational word was "reflective." Using fabrics I dyed and painted myself, I wove the mandala. Then I photographed my garden statue of the meditating Buddha and printed it on silk. The lotus blossoms, a symbol of purity often associated with Buddha, are cut from commercial fabric.

This will be my last post for several weeks as I am traveling to Europe to see my "Blue Boobs Are Best" quilt at the International Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England. Then I'm going to Germany and France to visit friends. While in Heidelberg, I'm giving a slide lecture to a quilt group. I sure hope my little memory stick holding 60 quilts does its job.

Bronze Tea Bowl 18"x22" 2010

2010-08-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

The end of the tea bowl series, at least for now.

Gingko Tea Bowl 13" x 25" 2010

2010-08-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Green Tea Bowl 21.5"x22.5" 2010

2010-08-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

Koi Tea Bowl 16"x25" 2010

2010-07-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

A friend commented that the painted fabric on the right looked like koi fish swimming. Aha....a title.

Fuschia Tea Bowl 17" x 21.5" 2010

2010-07-19T09:40:00.000-07:00

My tea bowls became a series of small quilts. More to follow.

Three Tea Bowls 2010 20"x51'

2010-07-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

A perfect tea bowl is one that is not perfect. There should be fascinating irregularities in the shape and glaze that evoke the earth from which it came. If filled with hot tea, it should allow your fingers to hold it gently but confidently so you can inhale the fragrance. As the tea cools, the bowl should seduce you to embrace it in your cupped hands. Just sitting on a shelf, a perfect tea bowl should remind you of the calm warmth of sipping tea.

Romaine 7" x 24" 2010

2010-06-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

I created this small panel to be part of a larger group quilt titled "Victory Garden".
Eleven other artists from California Fiber Artists are making panels and the whole piece will be assembled and quilted by our leader, Louise Schiele. It will be displayed at the Pence Gallery in Davis, California September, October, and November this year. Can't wait to see the entire quilt.

Rock Creek 27" x 36.5" 2010

2010-06-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

In October 2008, my husband and I camped one very cold night at Rock Creek in the eastern Sierra.

This quilt is inspired by and includes some of his photos of the partially frozen creek.

Adena's Birthday Strip 6"x32" 2010

2010-05-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

This strip was included in a "ribbon" quilt created by the members of Loose Threads, my artist group, for Adena's birthday. Looking around for some fabric in her favorite colors, I found this piece left over from painting my "Blue Boobs." It looked like a landscape and was a pleasure to quilt.

Grace's Square 10"x10"

2010-05-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

My friend Grace loves purple, so I created this piece as part of an assemblage with other members of our friendship group.

Untitled 20"x18" 2010

2010-05-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

Even the smallest piece of silk is entrancing, especially bits I dyed myself. This quilt is a donation for the Orange Blossom Little Quilt Raffle.

Colorado River 44" x 18" 2010

2010-05-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a photo of the Colorado River, I pulled colors and sewed myself a table runner.

Seeking Essence 36.5" x 14.5" 2010

2010-04-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

Although not actually a series, here is another "seeking" quilt. The tea bowls are a metaphor for the sometimes emotional journey to be an artist. To quote the late Leonard Cohen, "There is a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in."

Celtic Windows 53" x 30" 2009

2010-04-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

I'm sharing this quilt again because it won a First Place ribbon at the Best of the Valley Quilt Show last week. The judge was impressed with all the texture so I've added a detail shot.

Seeking the Path 17"x23" 2010

2010-04-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

Moving from the known to the unknown is can be uncomfortable. The incomplete kanji meaning "The Way" symbolizes the path I seek when I try to create my art.

Seeking: Beyond the Web 17"x20" 2010

2010-04-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

As I wander along the trail labeled "how to be an artist", I often feel I'm on the outside looking in.

Spring Rain 41"x47" 2010

2010-03-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Under the tutelage of Roberta Horton, I constructed this quilt using Japanese yukata fabrics as the inspiration. The quilting is simple vertical lines enhanced with many clear glass beads for raindrops.

My "Boro" Shirt

2010-03-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

I attended the Studio Art Quilt Associates/Surface Design Association Conference in San Francisco last week where I studied with Yoshiko Wada. Her workshop was titled "Boro Transformed: Piecing, Patching, and Stitching." Boro is a very old Japanese custom of repairing, darning, patching old worn textiles to extend their lives. I worked on this old shirt I purchased at a thrift shop by hand stitching on some hand-dyed cheesecloth. What was intended to be an old shirt for painting now has been reinvented. Stay tuned for future additions as there are still lots of blank areas awaiting my needle.

Exploding Pear 12"x12" 2010

2010-03-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

This is the last in the small pear quilt series. I have no more pears left.

Vanishing Pears 12"x12" 2010

2010-03-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

Chopped Pears 12"x12" 2010

2010-03-11T18:04:00.000-08:00

Sliced Pears 12"x12" 2010

2010-03-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

No Egrets 12"x12" 2010

2010-02-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

A bad blurry photo turned into something better.

Floaters 18" x 27" 2009

2010-02-15T09:55:00.000-08:00

There is an obscenely huge island of plastic trash floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps we should be looking for more creative ways to use discarded plastic. We need bubbles, not bubble wrap, sparkling in the seas.

This piece is one third of a group triptych.

The Great Wall 9"x12" 2009

2010-02-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

Part of a series of small journal quilts inspired by my trip to China. I felt like a very lucky person to see this amazing structure, but it took pluck to climb it as the steps are quite steep.

Shanghai Night 17"x15" 2009

2010-02-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

On a hot August night in Shanghai, the best place to be is on the river. The brightly lit skyscrapers cast sparkling colors on the rippling black waters.

Mango Hummingbird 15"x20" 2009

2010-02-03T09:17:00.000-08:00

Only silks and satins could do this hummingbird justice. It's paper-pieced from a design by Liz Schwartz and Stephen Seifert.

Controlled Burn 48"x54" 2009

2010-02-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

When there is too much dead and dry undergrowth in the forests of California, sometimes a controlled burn is prescribed. This is to prevent wildfires and enhance the health of the redwoods and other trees, when it doesn't get out of control.

Engagement Lobster 25"x30" 2008

2010-02-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

My son proposed to his wife over her favorite meal. Here is their engagement gift. The lobster is assorted silks and brocades appliqued to an antique brocade. The border is black satin on which I cleaned my paint brushes during other projects. It reminds me of the inside of an abalone shell.

Where's the Bowl? 16"x18" 2008

2010-02-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

When I showed this quilt to a friend, she asked, "Where's the bowl?" So it was titled. I quilted the fish from the fabric on the back and painted them to be less transparent. The rocks are painted and melted Tyvek. I love how silk takes quilting.

Autumnal 15"x19.5" 2009

2010-01-28T11:25:00.002-08:00

Playtime in the studio during my favorite season. The background is layered bits of threads and fabrics under tulle and heavily stitched. The fragmented leaves are painted and melted Lutradur. The whole leaves are Angelina film sandwiched in chiffon. Some are dangling from the top on beaded stems so they flutter in a breeze.

Blue Pears Study 12"x12" 2009

2010-01-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

Rubbing Paintstiks on many different fabrics over a commercial rubber stamp gave me a whole harvest of pears. Smelly but rewarding.

Earth Touching Pose 8"x8" 2009

2010-01-28T11:14:00.000-08:00

For the background, painted fusible web was applied to grey satin. I used gold flake and gold paint for the Buddha and wheel. It has unfinished edges because it was to be matted for SAQA's 20th Anniversary Trunk Show. It is currently touring the U.S. in Trunk B.

Blue Jazz Notes Diptych 59"x40" 2009

2010-01-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

Put on some great jazz. Play with foiling on chiffon. Applique the pieces on gorgeous blue silk. Stitch wherever the music takes the needle. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Current 18.5"x14" 2009

2010-01-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

Painted fusible web applied to velvet fractures when it is stitched. To add to the dimensionality, I hand beaded seaweed and bubbles. The border is hand-dyed velveteen.

Life on Mars? 26"x36" 2008

2010-01-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

Drought...fires...pollution...I wonder about the future of the West Coast. This quilt was created mostly from one piece of irridescent organza. The tree is black velvet painted with gold. It is currently touring with Quilts Inc.'s West Coast Wonders exhibit.

Seek Peace 35"x35" 2008

2010-01-28T10:20:00.000-08:00

Repeated like a mantra, the title inspired this quilt. Hand-painted and commercial cottons and rich silks represent the diversity of people in the world. The circle surrounded by water symbolizes the possibility of peace. The stitched spiral is the seeking. This quilt was exhibited in "Peace and Politics: An Artist's Agenda for America" in Philadelphia, PA. in 2008.

Sayonara, Koji Wada 27"x22.5" 2008

2010-01-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

Koji Wada was a purveyor of fine Japanese fabric. I met him at the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture where he presented a lecture and trunk show. This quilt is made from silks I purchased from him and was inspired by news of his death. The path is from a photo of the path at the Clark Center.

Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture

Peridot 12"x12" 2008

2010-01-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

Painting fusible web always results in interesting texture. If I'm impatient and peel the paper backing too soon, I get holes. I added beads for even more eye candy. Peridot is my birthstone and this quilt sold in the 2008 SAQA Benefit Auction.

Hoodoos, Bryce Canyon 12"x12" 2009

2010-01-27T10:02:00.000-08:00

When the paint dried on a piece of fusible web, it looked like the strange formations in Bryce Canyon. This small quilt was sold in the 2009 SAQA Benefit Auction.

Fractalated 72"x72" 2009

2010-01-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

I designed a block and then built it with differences and no particular plan. The quilt was quickly scooped up by my son as an auction item for Engineers Without Borders up in Seattle. I hope it will raise money for rebuilding Haiti.

Celtic Windows 53" x 30" 2009

2010-01-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

In Ireland, I was fascinated by the use of stone and prehistoric symbolism, which was freely incorporated into Christian art. The background of this quilt is velour upholstery fabric which I painted, layered with mossy silk roving, and heavily stitched to look like old walls. I added pieces of felt covered with painted fusible web which I heat-distorted. The windows are my painted fabrics with foiled and stitched fragments of Celtic symbols. Painted puff paint frames each window for more texture.

Petals of Light 18"x 36" 2008

2010-01-27T09:09:00.000-08:00

The poppies are three photographs by my husband, Gary O'Neill, printed on silk. I painted organza for the background and wrote the poem. Petals of light seduce the bee and the lens.

Afterwards 25" x 26" 2009

2010-01-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

The fabric I discharged looked like something from an archaeological dig. So I scattered ephemera from old projects across the surface.

After the Storm 16" x 15.5" 2009

2010-01-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

I survived the scary drive home in during the storm at sunset. Trees were uprooted and our fence was blown down, but no one was hurt.

Lots of horizontal stitching shows the calm.