Step One!!

Today I got started on dyeing cheese cloth for my next project. Because of interruptions, the only colour I managed to do, was gray. Tomorrow, I will mix up rust, a variety of browns as well as green. Years ago, I discovered that cheese cloth made fantastic texture for rocks and cliffs. I will also dye some floss. The leftover dyes from today's work are saved in case I need more gray dyed fabric.

Check HERE, HERE & HERE for posts talking about dyed cheese cloth and other cottons.

Here's today's accomplishment:

A bolt of cheese cloth

Leftover cheese cloth from a previous project



Today's work!

Day 2, Art Challenge

Today is day 2 of the Art Challenge on Facebook. Here are three of my textile landscapes (earlier work). The rocks are printed from my computer on silk, cut up and hand appliqued to the background. The skies and water are hand dyed. At first glance, they look like paintings but as you get closer, you can see the dimension. The first one is called 'In All Its Glory' and was on exhibit at the Grand National Quilt Show, Waterloo, Ontario, 2002. I kept that one but the others have been sold.
Now it's my turn to challenge another fibre artist, Anne Lucas, of Foggy Rock Fibres, to show her work over the next 5 days.

Guess What!!

Back in July I entered a blog give away sponsored by Vicki Welsh, Field Trips In Fiber. Vicki has the most marvelous hand dyed fabrics! Well, to make a long story short, I won the fabric give away. Since I was travelling, I didn't know I was a winner until I got home. I figured she had picked someone else's name since I hadn't gotten back to her sooner.  But, that wasn't the case. Have a look at the fantastic stash pack of 10 Fat Eights I received on Monday. Aren't they beautiful! Thanks bunches, Vicki.

Quidi Vidi - Finished At Last!

I've been working on a commissioned piece for the last month. It has been a bit challenging as I was unsure where I was going with it. The cliffs are dyed cheesecloth over hand dyed cotton. Free motion stitching with a smoke coloured invisible thread was used to give more texture in the background. I used this method for the mountains in my quilted piece, Western Brook Gorge (scroll down). The shed is broadcloth. This fabric isn't as heavy as cotton and very easy to fold without the bulk. The windows are cut out with grey organza over black fabric to give the look of glass. The water is black organza over black cotton. Some black tulle was used for shadows.  If you go HERE you will see a photo of this scene before any renovations were made on the building.

Latest Work

I just finished another piece of wall art. It's a donation for a silent auction later in May. At this time, I'm just showing a small corner of the piece. The 'rock' is silk that was printed from my computer. Refer HERE for information on printing onto fabric. The daisies were embroidered individually and hand stitched in place. The orange flowers are French knots. In the completed landscape there is a hand dyed sky, hills and a large tree with foliage. The skeleton tree was thread painted onto organza. Foliage was added after it was placed on the background.

Inspiration

I have found a few sites that might inspire you to try your hand designing and making art quilts. Bright, colourful fabrics are used in the pieces.
First, have a look at the work of Larkin Jean Van Horn. I enjoyed all her work but the beading as applique, river stones, rocks and water (this was a favorite), and shattered circles were very appealing to me.

Q42 Designs by Sharon Benton, has interesting fabric art. The art in her blog also appealed to me. Definitely worth a look!
Check out the gallery, blog and free articles from Gloria Hansen.
I just love the art quilts of Laura Wasilowski! Her hand dyed fabrics are wonderful.
Helen Howes has pieces that range from large-scale wall hangings to smaller works. There's lots to see on her site.
Margaret M. Hunt has' finally bitten the bullet' and created a website. She has been blogging all summer. This award winning fiber artists has lots for you to see.
Karen Stiehl Osborn is an award-winning mixed media artist, who works primarily with cloth, paper, paint, photography and stitching.
Lots to see at Jeri Riggs web site.
Art Quilts are Liz Berg's specialty.
Enjoy exploring these sites!

Everything Blueberry

photo by Judy Cooper

This is blueberry season here in Newfoundland and we just finished cleaning and bagging several gallons of them. As a result, I decided to see what I could find that was related to textile art and blueberries. I  searched for blueberry art quilts, blueberry stitching, and just plain blueberry. Then I remembered an art quilt I saw in 2001 at the Houston International Quilt Festival. One of the pieces that intrigued me was a very large quilt displaying a cluster of blueberries. The use of hand dyed fabrics to get the blending of shades for the berries was fantastic. I don't remember the name of the quilt or it's creator. If anyone knows about this quilt, please contact me so that I can give credit to its creator.
I did find a few sites with a blueberry connection. Have a look!

• Heidi Lund has an art piece called Blueberry Chrysalis (scroll down a bit)
• Blueberry Teapot by Jeanette McCall
• Blueberry Pin keep (pincushion) directions included!
• Pie anyone! This one is a pie pincushion. . . (scroll down for the blueberry one)
• Machine Embroidery alphabet (B is for Blueberry)
• More Machine Embroidery (scroll down)
• Needle Felting - Bird & Bloom
• Machine Embroidery - Blueberry Coaster
• Baking Designs for the kitchen - using blueberry fabric for a border on potholder
• Blueberry Tea 
• Blueberry - Food Museum  (interesting stuff)  
• Blueberry Recipes
• More Recipes

photo by Judy Cooper

Just writing about these delicious berries makes me hungry! What will I bake?

Landscape Quilting

I was reading some of the postings from Valerie Hearder's landscape group today and came across a reference to Quilters TV, specifically videos on Sewing with Nancy. The Art of Landscape Quilting videos part 1, 2, and 3 are listed and you can view them at your leisure. I have seen these before but had forgotten about them. If you google landscape quilting videos, you will find a fair collection on that topic to watch. It's amazing the number of full videos and video clips that are out there for free.
This landscape (not quilted) is one of a series I made with icebergs in the distance. It is mostly hand appliqued with some machine free motion stitching and hand embroider. The sky and water are hand dyed.
For more information on landscape quilting, check out the landscape quilts on Paintings With Fabric.
Interesting article here on How To Make a Landscape Quilt.
Quilted Views by Joan Jamieson.
Veronica's Sewing Supplies, Saskatchewan, Canada, has beautiful landscape fabrics. Check out the store.
Now it's your turn to try your hand on making landscapes!