Quilting Arts 3 Dimensional Art Quilting

Earlier this month, Kathy York contacted me to let me know that Quilting Arts would be featuring our Artist Village in the February/March 2012 issue. I was so thrilled! The news came when I was feeling blue and needed a little pick me up. Nothing like that to chase the blues away! Meanwhile, I have been planning a trip to Israel and anxiously awaiting my copy in the mail. Checking the mail everyday is a little like watching a pot boil. And still, I hoped to get my copy before I left. Finally, after the mail came today and still no magazine, I went and bought the issue at Barnes and Noble. At last, I could see it! Wow, I am so jazzed. Kathy did a fantastic job at bringing this project to fruition.  The article is wonderful and describes how to make a 3 dimensional house. This month's Quilting Arts issue features 3 Dimensional Art Quilting and is a special Art Quilt Collaboration issue. The Space Between by Dinner at Eight Artists is also represented and I am so excited to see my friends, Susan King and Linda Teddlie Minton mentioned. They are marvelous artists and I am happy Dinner At Eight Artists were represented well! I also really enjoyed Jane Davila's article, "Artistic License: Licensing Your Art to Maximize Your Time." So much wonderful information! To order your copy of Quilting Arts, please visit http://www.quiltingdaily.com/content/SubscriberServices.aspx .    

2012 Peoples Art Gallery with Generation Y: Song of Hope

I am so jazzed that Generation Y: Song of Hope was chosen by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division to be included in the 2012 People’s Gallery Exhibition at Austin City Hall. I have never entered my work here before and I had been told that competition was pretty stiff. 350 artists presented more than 1500 works of art for consideration this year. I am thrilled to be able to share this piece with folks here in Austin.  An honor, for sure! Generation Y is a mixed media piece with 3 dimensional elements. A closeup detailed view features a painted background with tree branches created from lush upholstery fibers and dyed lace to mimic tree bark texture. The leaves are 3D and form a canopy. The baby jay rests in a 3D knitted nest. This piece took almost a year to complete and measures 45¼” X 49½.” It has received many accolades and was
 voted People s Choice Award at AFA Show, 2nd place at Austin Area Quilt Guild Show and was published in SAQA Portfolio 17 and Quilting Arts Mag April/May 2011, In The Spotlight with Barb Forrister. For more information, please visit http://www.barbforrister.com/naturescapes/generation-y-song-of-hope  . It has been travelling throughout the United States most of the year and I am happy to bring it home for a marvelous exhibit at the People's Art Gallery 2012. The opening reception will be held on Friday, February 24th from 6-9 p.m. at

City Hall located at 301 West 2^nd Street in Austin, Texas. Food and refreshments will be provided by Whole Foods and everyone is welcome to attend. Please join us. We would love to see you! This exhibit will be on display the entire year of 2012. Come see all the wonderful artwork by so many local artisans. It promises to be a fantastic exhibit. I look forward to seeing you all! Happy 2012!

Mexican Scrub Jay

Happy New Year! I am so happy to be blogging again! I am back making art again. This piece shows a photo that I took while staying at a friend's home in San Antonio, Texas. I love this picture and somehow I knew I had to incorporate this Mexican Scrub Jay in my art. He's a beauty for sure. The photo was printed on textured paper that was coated with Golden Digital Grounds Media to allow the full color to shine through. The background is handmade paper that I made years ago and at the time had no idea how I would use it. Bits of paper were torn and mixed with glue. I thought it might be fun to include some threads, Angelina fibers and even heat distressed painted plastics before setting the paper in the mold. Once the paper was formed, I painted it with acrylic paint. And there it sat in the studio for a few years before I finally paired the two together. They were treated with a semi gloss surface protectant and adhered together with acrylic medium. I really like the way they came together. It is as if they were made for each other and the background is simply an extension of the photo. Great way to bring in the New Year!