New Work

"Along the Eastern Edge"

This summer past ... saw another visit to Newfoundland, also a favourite place of mine to see and smell the ocean air,  hear the seabirds and visit the people.

As well, I had a great visit to Nova Scotia, which created a number of inspirations for new work ... you will see them here!

Very best wishes

Barbara

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

Pictures from "Fibre Content"

Finally - the show was two weeks ago and I am just getting the photos up now - but I did want to share them as the show was wonderful.
We had a great turnout and so many people worked so hard, organizing, hanging, taking down - the list is endless.

So here is how it looked - even though we didn't have a great weekend weather wise!

Enjoy, it was a great weekend!
Very best wishes ~

Culture Days in Oakville

So, once again, I am fortunate enough to belong to a group of fabulous fibre artists that also belong to the Oakville Arts Council.
And I proud to say, that I will be part of Culture Days in Oakville at the new Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre on Saturday, September 29th.

There will be music and performances, as well as visual artists of all kinds - I will be volunteering at the event at the SAQA tables. We have a great display of work as well as information about the various groups in our area as well as upcoming shows!

The Oakville Fibre Arts group will have the studio up and running and open for visitors as well!

So, if you are in area of Bronte in Oakville, please drop by QE Park on Bridge Road and take it all in.

A few pieces that will be in the show!

Very best wishes for a great week,
Barbara

Unravelled

hi and hope this finds everyone well ... been offline for a bit!

first, I wanted to pass along an update on my butterfly project ~ it did not get juried in but that is perfectly fine, as I know you just never know what the jurors are looking for ...

this is a newly started piece called "unravelled", it is inspired by Ravel's Bolero and his struggles at the end of his life. it is only just pinned yet but will have stitching started very soon.

Butterfly project

Well, it has a temporary name ... and here are some of photos as to how it is going. This batch of photos turned out much better than the last in terms of the light ~ so the colours are so much more acurately depicted. The last detail photo above shows the final point of this piece ~ the female form. This is for a juried show and the ideas are still coming together but it will be a statement and contrast of the female image and self image. I am still avoiding the sewing-machine but I do have a sister piece completed by myself and my daughter with all free-motion, when I take my next batch of photgraphs ... I will include it. ~wishing you well ~

Thanks so much ...

First, thank you for the comments, emails and help that came from my last request. My work is small, so many things can work! Finding something that for me is easy, not overly time-consuming (as my work is) and then looks good has been a challenge.
I especially want to say thank you to Judy at http://judysfiberart.blogspot.com/ ... she posted a tutorial on her blog based on mine and others requests for help ~ you can find the tutorial on her blog under "Gallery Hanging Tutorial". So, if anyone else out there is looking for ideas ... visit Judy's blog for beautiful work and lots of insight.
I find that even though I am new to this blogging ... I have met and received emails from so many wonderful artists (even those of you who don't think of yourselves as artists but you are)
... I am amazed at the wonderful, warm souls that participate in this platform.

Very best wishes, Barbara

My starry night, one

this is a second set of three that i have begun ~ i was reading about Van Gogh a few weeks ago and when this started to come together, the colours began to remind me of one of my most beloved paintings ~ and so it goes