John Willard workshop

Hi and I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

A few weeks ago … a number of us from the Burlington Fibre Arts attended a workshop with quilt artist John Willard. It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon, with so much to learn and friends to share it with!

Below you will see some photos on my piece from the start with a small 8x8 black and white printed square and the addition of strips and more strips and the some angled squares until finally the finished quilt top. You will see some of the squares from my workshop mates as well!

Enjoy!

My piece at the start

Workshop mate - amazing!

This is an attractive pile of fabrics …

And this how many of the quilt tops turned out at the end of the day! A beautifully riot of colour and personality!

We had a great time and enjoyed the teachings of John … and of course each others company!
Have a wonderful spring and Happy Easter

Many best wishes,
Barbara

Group Of Eight Georgetown Trunk Show

Hi again,

I hope this finds everyone well … although we are still in the grip of winter here in southern Ontario, buried again by a late winter storm!

A few weeks ago, the Burlington Fibre Artists hosted a trunk show from the Group of Eight Fibre Artists based in Georgetown, ON and I took a few pictures that I know you will enjoy.

It was a wonderful evening full of inspiration, artists' talks, discussing of techniques and the sharing of stories - what could be better?

The Group of Eight was founded in 2006 by a few like-minded friends that were looking for a creative outlet for fibre work outside of the traditional quilting guilds. So, eight members were the basis of GOE which now has nine members. Please enjoy these photographs ~ 

The artists' of the GOE can be found at goegeorgetown.blogspot.ca or search the Group of Eight Fibre Artists with you favourite search engine. Please know that some of the photos may be details ~ not the full piece.

Very best wishes and thank you so much to the Group of Eight for joining us,

Barbara

Finding Your Voice - Part II

Hi again,

Just a bit ago … I talked about finding your voice and introduced you to a dear friend of mine, Sandy Simmelink, who  gave a workshop to our group on "Finding Your Voice" …

One thing that I have remembered from the workshop and wanted to add is her advice on practicing your technique always and everyday if possible, and then working in series when ever you get a chance.

Working in series lets you practice your techniques and then find whatever it is that makes your voice unique … it pushes us to revisit our favourite subject matter until we have explored it to its fullest.

I have include a couple of images to demonstrate working in series … all of these pieces are of the same size and general working materials.

Your series could be anything from subject matter, size, colour or working materials … what ever connects the pieces together as a unified body. This will help as time goes on to let people know that this is your work.

Exploring your subject matter to this degree will help in your efforts towards finding your own unique artistic voice.

Very many best wishes,
Barbara

Finding Your Voice

Just a little bit a go … a dear friend of mine (ours) and wonderful quilt artist gave a workshop with our little group of fibre artists from the Burlington Fibre Arts Group.

Sandy Simmelink - artist, judge, and teacher, both traditional and innovative … shared with us her own thoughts on finding your voice.

We all struggle at times to find our own unique voice or to make it more clear, sometimes struggling more often than not.

Sandy walked us through a series of questions meant to invoke what it is we really want to do with our artwork and what was truly important to us. It was nothing short of enlightening …

Here are some examples of Sandy's work - her free, experimental and playful side and then her traditional work that may take years to complete …
Both are Sandy's voice and both sides tell a story of how you can have two sides(loves) or maybe more, whichever works for you and your work. Maybe you have one voice, maybe you have many but practice, determination and experimentation are a sure way to recognize your own individual voice.

All this blogging … while watching the ladies long program from Sochi and witnessing artistic voices in all its amazing, beautiful and emotional forms!

Enjoy and many, many best wishes,
Barbara

Culture Days

In our town, in late September - we have something called Culture Days.
All art forms of the arts are celebrated …
The fibre arts group that I belong to in Oakville were invited to participate and here are some photographs that I have just come across while sorting things!
Enjoy … this includes work from a number of quilt and fibre artists that had their work available for Culture Days.

Many best wishes,
Barbara