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

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

the butterfly and my machine

Since I have been working on my hand-stitched version ~ a few have asked for me to post the machine stitched butterfly that came along as a side and experimental piece.
So, this is all the same base fabrics and threads but has been free motioned with out reserve! It was a lot of fun to work on ~ so now more learning in free-motion work is ahead, I am sure.

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!

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 ~

August's Full Moon

I know I am fascinated with the moon especially the full one's ... it was just on the 24th. Apparently, this full moon was the farthest from us, so in theory should have appeared smaller but I couldn't really see any difference. ~ it was still big and bright and lovely ~

Very best wishes ...

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

Looking for suggestions !

I am wondering if anyone has some suggestions or ideas to help me out? I am adrift and stuggling with the framing/presentation of my work. I have been doing OK but the framing/mounting is just not what I am happy with. My work is on the smaller side 18" x 18" or less ... I find that doesn't take well to being hung on a rod of sorts as it doesn't have the weight to keep it down well. Currently, I have been mounting the pieces on stretched canvas (either painted or not) and then using a gallery frame to sit the canvas in.

It is fine but not great ... I am not sure if I should fancy up the frame at all or use straight black on the frame. Whatever I am doing wrong has me stumped ... I would be so happy for suggestions, thoughts, ideas ~ under glass vs not under glass ~ open for anything. Or if you know of books or website, or any other resource ~ I would be so very thankful!

Have a great weekend!

Wet Felting

Wet felting this weekend with my daughter and some friends ~ I love all the work and I find it so rewarding to work with young people and show them a few different things. Even if they never chose to pick it up again ~ at least there is a sense of history and the artist ... hopefully it will stay with them and they might choose right path! It is good to keep them close without asking them to stay. I love their company and they enjoyed their day so much!

Wet felted wool rovings !