Moon Shadow: Part 3 of Naturescape Gray Scale Series

Moon Shadow is Part 3 of my Naturescape Gray Scale Series. It measures 11X14 and is mounted on a stretched canvas. Part 1: Dark Shadow and Part 2: White Lightning focus more on landscapes whereas this piece concentrates on bringing nature up close and increasing scale. Another difference between this piece and the first two in the series is that Moon Shadow was created with an added emphasis on texture. This piece began by gathering and sorting every piece of white to black fabric that I had in my stash including all those wonderful pieces of velvet and upholstery fabrics. Yes, it is true that I did not stay entirely true to grayscale but instead opted for a hint of yellow in the eyes and in other parts of the fur. I think perhaps this added interest. When I first began designing this piece, I did not know if this grey wolf would present itself as feminine or masculine in nature. Once the eyes were in place, she let me know she was a she wolf. It was at that moment that she really started to come alive. The  background is a commercial fabric. The wolf was composed of various hand dyed, commercial and upholstery fibers layered with extra batting to give added dimension and shape.  My purpose was to really focus on texture and making her coat feel as though it was really indeed fur. This is one of the most tactile pieces I have made so far and I am really happy with the way she came to life. Silvery skeleton leaves were added to make her appear as though she is peering out from a nearby bush. She is named Moon Shadow for two reasons. Her setting is amongst the stars and the moonlight highlights her whitish gray coat. Also, I just love the play on words when I refer to my black and white series in terms of tints and shadows for their names. I am thinking that perhaps I should continue on with one more piece in this series featuring a jet black wolf upon a snow setting. I think that could be quite fun! Just wondering if I actually have the fibers make that piece!!!! In any case, I am really enjoying the idea of bringing nature up close by increasing scale.



Dinner At Eight Artists Meet at Houston IQF 2010

Wow, just getting back from Houston International Quilt Festival and beginning to blog. This year's exhibits were amazing.  I loved the SAQA Sightlines and Creative Force show. Such wonderful artists! Another fantastic show was Beneath The Surface curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison. The exhibit consisted of 37 Dinner At Eight Artists and featured a very strong and diverse body of art. I was unable to make the debut in Long Beach and really was looking forward to seeing the travelling show come to Houston. No photography was allowed in this exhibit but the security guard made an exception to allow me to have my photograph taken in front of my Treasured Waters piece. I really wish I could have photographed the entire exhibit. It was so well done. Kudos to Jamie and Leslie and the folks at IQF.  On Friday night, the artists met for dinner to discuss the inspirations for

for their artwork and interpretations of the theme, Beneath The Surface. One theme, so many amazing and different interpretations, each with such powerful stories behind them. Having heard these stories, it was not surprising that this was such a fantastic presentation! What a fabulous group of women! I am truly blessed to be a part of this group. Had a wonderful time visiting with each and every one of the artists that were able to make the journey to Houston. Center left photo shows Linda Minton, Leslie Tucker Jenison and Judy Coates Perez. Below, here I am with Frances Holliday Alford. Good food, good wine and great conversation.  And as Rachel says, "Here's to Great Women. May We Raise Them. May We Know Them. May We Be Them." Dinner At Eight Artists present included Jamie Fingal, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Deborah Borschert, Jane Lafazio, Linda Minton, Rachel Parris, Judy Coates Perez, Frances Holliday Alford, Sarah Ann Smith and Barb Forrister. What a fantastic evening! 

                                                                                   

Studio Art Quilts Associates Inc. Portfolio 17: The Art Quilt Sourcebook

I am thrilled to announce the release of  Studio Art Quilts Associates Inc. Portfolio 17: The Art Quilt Sourcebook. It is hot off the press and this is the first year it is being offered in both digital and hard copy format. This publication showcases work from professional SAQA quilt artists all around the world. This year, my piece, Generation Y: Song of Hope has been honored as People's Choice at The Wesley Art Gallery and received second place at the Austin Area Quilt Guild Changing Gears Show. Kind of funny, since it emulates today's world. To read more, please visit http://freespiritartstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/Generation%20Y%3A%20%20Song%20of%20Hope . This piece can also be found in the Studio Art Quilts Associates Inc. Portfolio 17: The Art Quilt Sourcebook here  http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/saqa/portfolio17/#/75/OnePage . To see a digital copy of this catalog, please visit http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/saqa/portfolio17/#/1/OnePage or to order a hard copy, please visit the SAQA store or better yet, stop by Houston International Quilt Festival SAQA booth to pick up your copy in person. This is a wonderful publication that comes out annually. Many thanks to Lisa Chipetine and Cheryl Dineen Ferrin for bringing this wonderful publication to fruition!

Fiber Art Trees and 3D Foliage at Quilting Arts Make It University Open Studios

I have been invited to demonstrate in the Quilting Arts Make It University Open Studios On Saturday, November 6 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. I will be demonstrating how to make 3 dimensional fiber art trees and foliage. This tree has been designated as part of The Village Project, a challenge issued by Kathy York. When she first approached me about participating in the project, the whole idea seemed quite intriguing. I knew what I would do for the house but my propensity for nature led me to inquire about trees for the project. The response was, "Go for it!" Never having made a 3 dimensional tree before, I was filled with ideas. About the same time, I was contacted by Lindsey Murray of Quilting Arts Magazine who asked if I might be interested in demonstrating some of my work. This fiber art tree seemed a perfect fit! This has been a challenging but rewarding experience. If you have a chance, please stop by and visit. I would love to see you!

Eye of the Quilter

Eye of The Quilter is a reflection on words and images. These three photos were selected in a special exhibit to be shown at The International Quilt Festival in November 2010. They reflect inspiration gathered from photos. The top photo, White Ibis was taken at Hilton Head in South Carolina and tells a story. The white ibis as a species is becoming increasingly endangered by humankind. Our desire to take over their habitat continues to displace them. This photo is a reflection of the time and signals that change is imminent. The second photo, Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas is one of the most beautiful places in Central Texas. Spectacular by day, it is even more stunning at night. Amidst the reflection of the water lies a story rich in culture and history. For centuries, people have gathered here and history has been made. The third photo, Glass Menagerie was taken in Round Top, Texas and refers to dreams that are held within the jeweled glass. As we look into the bevelled surface, we can't help getting lost in it's beauty. Our mind reflects on times past and dreams of the future. I am thrilled that these three pieces were chosen to be a part of this special exhibit and look forward to seeing the exhibit in its entirety. I am always amazed at where artists get their inspiration. If you have a chance, please stop by and visit the exhibit at The George Brown Convention Center on November 3-7, 2010.

Artist Village Project



Beginning of Artist Village



I have been working with bringing more dimension to my work and what better way to try it then making a soft sculpture of an adobe style home? Growing up in New Mexico, the predominant architectural style is Southwest Adobe which is a blend of both Native American as well as Spanish cultures and influences. The Anasazi Indians dating back to the time of Christ were well known for their cliff dwellings and later, pueblo style of living. Their homes resembled stacked rectangular units made of mud. When the Spaniards came to New Mexico in the late 1500s, they began adopting the pueblo style of architecture but with a few differences. Mud adobe bricks were assembled with straw and homes were set apart from one another. Still, centuries later, the two styles merged together to reflect the blending of both cultures. This contemporary southwest adobe is reminiscent of the neighborhood in which I grew up. To mimic this in 3D using fiber has been a challenge. I wanted the piece to be durable and consequently,  choices with regards to materials used for structure and foundation were extremely important. The structural forms, I chose resemble styrofoam but are actually ethofoam, a product that when bent does not snap in two as would styrofoam. The walls are composed of layered and quilted fabric with fused windows and doors.  The colors employ the traditional earth tone browns and peaches accented with turquoise trim and red rug weavings and chili ristras. This piece is still a work in progress. It will have 5 interconnecting units with vigas incorporated and the roofs will be finished in the traditional style. Pottery will be displayed to further give that Southwest feel. I am stringing a chili ristra and will paint the woven rugs to impart a darker maroon red rather than orangy red. I had thought about making an "chimenea," a traditional outdoor stove but realized it would come down to the stove or the ladder. One would have to be sacrificed and I really like the way the ladder looks at the moment. Though, it is still in the planning stage and anything can still change at this point, for now, I will finish the two remaining units and the tops on all five, one level at a time and see where it takes me. Normally, I do not post works in progress but perhaps I should more often. The finished piece will be set on a twelve inch square and be approximately twenty inches in height. This piece is intended to be part of a collaboration with fourteen international artists and will collectively be called The Village Project. Should be interesting to see what everyone comes up with!

More 3Dimensional Flowers

I have been working on 3Dimensional flowers lately and this is the second piece I have come up with. It measures 16X12 and is intended to be part of a group collaboration. The purple flowers reminiscent of the the others found in Amethyst Garden are composed in two ways. Two of these flowers are layered with  assorted synthetic fabrics and machine thread painted to simulate the lines found in nature. The other purple flower to the far left is made of color catcher sheets that have absorbed excess dye from one of my dyeing sessions. It too is thread painted but in a more subtle way since it is in a shadowed area. In fact, the purple flower to the far right was inked to appear slightly darker than the middle flower but yet lighter than the far left flower. The tiger lilies are comprised of various natural and manmade fibers layered together and finally overlayed with a sheer orange synthetic fiber. Each petal was assembled individually, thread painted and joined together to create the whole flower. The flower was inked and edges were painted with a mixture of acrylic paint and gel medium. The pistils were composed of fibers wrapped together and joined to machine wrapped cording for stems. The leaves and sepals for both types of flowers are made of dyed batting and attached by hand to the stem and base of each flower. Lacy ferns were cut from dyed silk paper and were an absolute bear to make but I am happy with the way they provide a backdrop for the lilies. Once the composition was complete, I layered the hand dyed, background and completely quilted it before attaching any of the 3 dimensional flowers. When I finished quilting the entire piece and laid the design elements back on it, I decided to change the composition yet again. Instead of having the quilted ferns as backdrops where the intended 3Dimensional ferns were to go, I moved the actual ferns to the other side to create repeat design elements from one side to another. Once I was happy with the final design, I proceeded to hand stitch each element down with matching embroidery floss. Edges were finished with a facing. In the end, these purple flowers are probably the same size as the ones in Amethyst Garden but it is the change in background that allows for the Tiger Lilies to be incorporated in a successful manner whereas with Amethyst Garden, the tiger lilies would have overwhelmed the whole piece. All in all, I am happy with the way both pieces turned outand love the way each one seems to take on it's own personality. My next project is a 3dimensional adobe house. Now that should indeed prove to be challenging!!!

Amethyst Garden

Amethyst Garden measures 16X12 (mounted in 21.5 X17.5 frame) and is the first of two pieces meant to portray flowers in a 3Dimensional manner such that they might reach out and beckon to the viewer. Inspired from a photograph, this piece is machine appliqued and quilted. The leaves in the lower left corner are machine embroidered on solvy and tacked down strategically so as to allow the leaves to twist and turn and appear more dimensional. Other leaves in this same grouping are composed of silk cocoon rods that are thread painted. The large single leaf to the right is hand painted and consists of several layers of batting to allow for drapability. Sewn in a pillowcase style, it is machine embroidered and attached such that it comes off the surface and drapes over the frame. The small lavender flowers are silk and are attached by french knots in the center. The larger purple flowers are made from synthetic material that is thread painted and sculpted to allow for a completely 3 dimensional flower. The stems are machine wrapped cording and the leaves are needle felted wool. Originally, this piece was intended for a group project but after having made the large purple flowers, I realized that I had not allowed enough room in the composition for the larger Tiger Lillies. Truly, I was encountering a problem with scale and thus Amethyst Garden was created as a piece unto it's own. Faced with a decision as to what to do with the edges, my husband suggested a frame for this piece. This is the first time, I have actually gone this route with a 3Dimensional piece and I am happy with the way certain elements reach out and integrate themselves with the frame. The second piece as I mentioned earlier is already composed and I managed to overcome the scale problem and make some Tiger Lillies to go with this very same type of purple flowers. Don't know what they are but perhaps someone will be so kind as to tell me. I will be posting the second piece next week and though bred from the same idea, they are very different in feel. I'll give you a hint. The other one has ferns and boy were they a bear to make!!!! Still, I love the way the dimensionality is coming along.

Austin Area Quilt Guild Changing Gears Quilt Show

The Austin Area Quilt Guild will be hosting Changing Gears Quilt Show on Friday, September 17 thru Sunday, September 19, 2010 at The Parmer Events Center located at 900 Barton Springs Blvd in Austin, Texas. More than 400 quilts will be on display along with more than 65 vendors in attendance. There will also be a Boutique Sale featuring handmade items, a silent auction, children's activities, live demonstrations, wearable art as well as a chance to win a spectacular raffle quilt. This is the first year at The Parmer Events Center and also the first year that some of the quilts will be offered for sale. Today, I helped hang the show. Got to meet a whole lot of nice folks and see all the amazing talent in Austin. The show will be judged by De Leclair, Connie Silber, Marilyn Hardy, Nell Smith and Serena Stiles Vrnak. There will also be a Studio Art Quilt Associates booth featuring 12 X 12 quilts from some of Texas' finest artists. So much happening under one roof and close to beautiful Lady Bird Johnson Lake. Please visit http://www.aaqg.org/show2010/about.php for more information. Hope to see you there!!! Added on Monday, September 20, 2010: Generation Y: Song of Hope placed second in the 400 Category Art Quilts, Large and Small at The Austin Area Quilt Guild Changing Gears Quilt Show. Little Rascals received an Honorable Mention, an overall award for Creativity in small quilts division and Judges Choice by Nell Smith. When I helped hang the show, I thought to myself I would be doing good to get an Honorable Mention. You can imagine how surprised I was at the award ceremony on Thursday evening. Competition was stiff. So much talent under one roof. I am humbled to be a part of this wonderful Austin community. To see pictures, please visit http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=2067189&id=1125886821&ref=mf 

Miniature Nature Series: Finding Your Feet and Tranquility

These two pieces were composed specifically for Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative and Studio Art Quilt Associates Texas @ Houston 2010. Both are 9X12 and portray birds in nature. The top two photos, "Finding Your Feet," show a robin that has just landed on a branch. The next two photos show a finch or warbler of some sort. For this piece, I did a mirror image of the first bird and inked it in different colors. Standing him at a different angle made him appear quite differently, a dash of serendipity. What do they say, how to kill two birds with one stone. Time was running out and these needed to be done very quickly. Because I wanted these two pieces to look different from one another despite the fact that I had used the same sketch for both, albeit in mirror image, I decided to place them in very different settings. Finding Your Feet appears to be set in the summer while Tranquility is reminiscent of fall. Both have a very different feel and I was especially pleased when I pointed out to my husband that they were the same bird, just with different colors, in mirror image and set at different angles in completely different settings. While I am still not sure he believes me, it is true nonetheless. I would have loved to have taken the same bird and made the remaining two spring and winter seasons. Wonder what that would have looked like... Perhaps I will start out all over again with a different sketch and revisit this concept. Now, the only question is which piece goes to which venue? What do you think?

Call of The Wild

Call of The Wild completed August 2010 measures 26 1/2" x 24 1/4" and is the second piece in Nature Series Part III. Here, I had wanted to portray a more realistic looking bird in a wildlife setting. Inspired from a photo, this Red Bellied Woodpecker is inked on a satin/cotton blend, heat set and machine appliqued to a painted and inked cotton background. When I first created this background, I never knew what would live there. When I placed this bird onto the background, he immediately "moved in and found himself a home!!!" This piece really DID seem to take on a mind of it's own from the very beginning. In the original photo, this bird is resting against a blue sky but simply changing the background to a complementary color really allowed this little guy to have a dominant presence. This has been a very enlightening lesson on color theory and I am really happy with the results. The branches that he rests on are composed of various upholstery materials and dyed lace to convey a bark like texture. Once the composition was complete, I struggled with how to quilt it. Finally, I decided to quilt leaves in the background in shades of muted purple and green. This allowed the background to have texture while not detracting from the main composition. The quilting came out pretty nice though you would never be able to tell from the pictures. Sadly. I lost my Nikon on the way home from South Carolina last month and have not yet replaced it. There is really no substitute for a good camera and I am sorely missing mine!!! Guess I'm in the market for a new camera again.

Key Largo and Margaritaville: Emerald Treasures Part IV and V

Key Largo pictured above measures 18 1/2" X 19 1/2" and is Part IV of the Emerald Treasures series. Margaritaville, pictured below measures 16 1/2" X 19 1/2" and is Emerald Treasures Part V. Both pieces are painted on antique damask napkin backgrounds as well as the turtles, themselves. They are somewhat 3 Dimensional and built up in layers. The turtle shells are composed of dyed antique lace, needle felted with wool roving, and embellished with beads, imported buttons and trinkets. Hand dyed lace, trims and doilies were soft sculpted to simulate coral and plants found along the ocean floor. This series involves hand and machine applique, and machine quilting with metallic and trilobal polyester threads. Both are available for sale to a good home and can be seen at the Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top. I am really enjoying this series and have plans to begin incorporating wire in the next few pieces to add further lift and dimension to the sea plants. I have also been thinking of lifting the turtles up off of the surface as well and allow them to float more freely on the surface. I am hoping that in trying these new techniques, I might be able to truly create a 3Dimensional piece that lifts off the surface and reaches out to the viewer. Should be fun and challenging. Ideas? Suggestions?

Beneath The Surface Special Exhibit at Long Beach

Beneath The Surface is a juried invitational exhibit curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Jenison. It features work by 37 Dinner At Eight Artists including Natalya Aikins, Frances Holliday Alford, Loris Bogue, Peggy Calvert, Phyllis Campbell, Paula Chung, Gerrie Congdon, Joanell Connolly, Cindy Cooksey, Jane Davila, Muna Elias, Jamie Fingal, Barb Forrister, Terry Grant, Desiree Habicht, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Pamela Price Klebaum, Sherry Kleinman, Jane LaFazio, Jayne Larson, Linda Teddlie Minton, Susie Monday, Jeannie Moore, Karen Stiehl Osborn, Rachel Parris, Judy Coates Perez, Yvonne Porcella, Wen Redmond, Karen Rips, Carolyn Ryan, Virginia Spiegel, Cynthia St. Charles, Sarah Ann Smith, Ann Turley, Terry Waldron and Kathy York. Each of the artists were interviewed and their responses along with a photo of themselves and their artwork can be found on the Dinner At Eight website. My interview can be seen here http://dinnerateightartists.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-05-10T06%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7 Treasured Waters pictured above is my interpretation of Beneath The Surface and measures 36 X 48. It is a 3Dimensional piece that is painted and dyed. You can read more about it here http://freespiritartstudio.blogspot.com/2010/03/treasured-waters.html It is available for purchase through International Quilt Association. Please visit http://www.barbforrister.com/naturescapes/treasured-waters to learn more about this piece. Also, please visit http://dinnerateightartists.blogspot.com/ for more information about the exhibit which will premiere at The International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, California on July 22-25 at The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. July 22 (Preview Night) - 5-9 p.m. July 23 & 24 - 10 a.m.-7 p.m. July 25 - 10 a.m.-3 p.m. If you are unable to come to the festival, you can preview Beneath The Surface special exhibit by visiting http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1445151 where you can read about each of the artists and see their artwork. This special exhibit has been graciously sponsored by Moore's Sewing Centers and Brother International. The exhibit will continue onto Houston on November 4-7, 2010 at The International Quilt Festival and will be sponsored by our own Iris Karp of Attached Inc. (Misty Fuse). I am so blessed and honored to be a part of this special exhibit and am really looking forward to seeing every ones interpretation of Beneath The Surface.

Feels So Good and Red Dawn

Feels So Good is a small abstract piece mounted on an 8X10 canvas. It consists of cotton layered with dyed cheesecloth, Angelina Fibers and ribbon. It is machine appliqued and quilted and just seemed like a "fun, feel good" piece. Haven't been in the studio for a while and it DID feel so good to be back in the swing of things.

Red Dawn is part of the small landscape series and is composed of cotton, wool roving, dyed cheesecloth and Angelina fibers. It is needle felted, machine appliqued and quilted with metallics and heavier 30 wt thread from Caryl Bryer Fallert's "Brytes' line from Superior. I have had this thread for a while but really haven't had a chance to use it. Have to say it quilts beautifully and I love the look of the heavier thread. Red Dawn is also mounted on 8X10 canvas. Both are available at the Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top, TX. Please visit http://coppershadetree.com/ for more information.

Austin Fiber Artists Show and Sale at the Wesley Gallery

The Austin Fiber Artists will be celebrating their 3rd Annual Show and Sale at The Wesley Gallery. Opening night reception will be held on Friday, June 25 from 6-9 p.m. The show will continue through Sunday, June 27, 2010. Please stop by and bring a friend. We would love to see you. My entries for the show include Emerald Treasures and Generation Y: Song of Hope along with many other wonderful pieces of art that will be available for sale. Please visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131460140214970 to find out more about this event.

Rainbow Pixel Project

Rainbow Pixel Project measures
60.5" x 39" and is a group collaboration with Kathy York, Leslie Jenison, Connie Hudson, Sherri Mc Cauley, Frances Holliday Alford and Barb Forrister. It was Kathy's idea to come up with 2 inch blocks that were all different in appearance and spanned the whole spectrum of the rainbow, ROYGBIV (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet). Each block was to be viewed as an individual work of art. Each week we met to show our latest creations. This was an absolutely fantastic way of experimenting with new ideas and mediums. The sky was the limit when it came to types of materials used and techniques incorporated. This quilt consists of cottons, sheers, velvets, ribbons, stitched and painted, needle felted, embroidered, appliqued, heat distressed, hand dyed, foiled, batiqued. You name it. It is probably represented here. I am not sure how many blocks were finally used in this piece but I think the count was approximately 700 2 inch squares. This piece came together so quickly, it was amazing. The first day we met to actually start designing it, about a third of the quilt was pieced together immediately. The last picture shows the back of the quilt before overlaying organza. Kathy did a marvelous job with the photography and it is a show stopper for sure!

Coloring Outside the Blocks: Artists Do Lunch

Artists Do Lunch measures 77.5" x 51" and is a group collaboration with Leslie Jenison, Frances Holliday Alford, Kathy York, Connie Hudson, Sherri Mc Caulley and Barb Forrister. Frances set the plan in motion. We began with a muslin tablecloth which was spread on the table during our Art Bee meetings. We took turns rotating the tablecloth such that everyone had a chance at some point to work on all parts of it. Once the cloth was almost completely painted, it was divided into 6 equal portions. Each of us went home with a piece which we were to further embellish and quilt. We were also supposed to incorporate black and white somehow in our individual pieces to unify them altogether. Additionally, we were to create a symbol that was unique to each one of us and stamp it in various places of our individual piece. My symbol was a leaf which can be seen on two of the headresses with single eyes. I am still uncertain as to how the eyes managed to work their way into the pieces but they certainly have a presence. It reminds me of the saying in Avatar, "I see you." Funny, how we seem to have an influence on one another even when we are in different places. Frances is in Vermont and Leslie is in San Antonio and still the eyes are present in both their pieces. Kind of uncanny! Once the individual pieces were finished, we met again and cut them in half to reassemble them into the final design. We decided a black and white patterned border would further strengthen and enhance the design elements. This piece was alot of fun to make and somehow symbolizes the bonds that we have all forged and the good times we had visiting with one another. It is here where many voices come together as one.