Jason and his artwork

I just finished a quilt for my grand-nephew, which was commissioned by his parents, so as soon as I get some photos after it has been hung, I'll share them with you. It's been quite awhile...it's been a challenging few months. Until I get going with my blog again, I'll show you what our son has been up to!

This past October for Rockford's Fall Artscene, he sold his first piece - it was a small collage called "Blue Monday" and had one of his great stencils on it of Kurt Vonnegut. Here's what's new (and a few things I found in one of his photo folders:




Sticker art - Jason's graffiti alphabet.










The "Seamster" - I gave him my old sewing machine and showed him how to make fleece socks.

The Nordic Batman - summer goofing around.














Painted Polaroid print of Jason and a few of his spray colors. Since he's 17 now, he can purchase spray paint without our consent.

















His newest piece with 4 layers of stencils - titled "I Was a Teenage Feminist."

















Collage - a stencil of Max (from the film "Pi") and an image from "Jurassic Park."












Bobby Darin with a side of Woody Allen.

Greenwich 2008

Twice in a month? Here are some shots from the 60th Annual Greenwich Village Art Fair, sponsored by the Rockford Art Museum. It RAINED all weekend, but those die hard art enthusiasts always come out...I made sure to include a photo of the "Copper Passion" altered denim jacket that Carol Dean Sharpe was curious about ~


The last shot is of "Arusha," which I did finish this summer. If you check out a previous post, you can see how this one started out.

What's New

I hope my friends haven't given up on me yet...

I'm in my last week of preparing for the 60th Annual Greenwich Art Fair, which is sponsored by the Rockford Art Museum. Since I stopped making my ruanas last year, I needed new inspiration for a cool garment. Here's what I came up with: Altered Denim Jackets. The one with the lace collar and cuffs was the first one I finished, and the slashed one is my favorite so far, with purple elements including novelty velvets, raw-edge applique and black oilstick on collar and cuffs. They each have lots of found objects, buttons and beads on them, and the backs are finished also.

I have two others finished, and the last one that's almost done is all about copper, of which I love. The interesting embellishment on that one is a deconstructed copper wind chime. I'll post a photo when "Copper Passion" is finished!






















On the home front, we're still following the "almost vegan" lifestyle. I've lost 36 pounds, and now I'm only 12 pounds from NOT lying on my driver's license. For the first time in a long time, I can cross my legs, but now I know that it's not a good thing to do because of leg VEINS. Gee, just when hubby was loving the look of my crossed gams with painted toenails and my sexy wedge sandals.

It's good to be back. Hope YOU are doing well and participating in that artsy life. Leave me a comment, okay?

It's been too long

Geesh! I don't know if I've ever gone this long without posting before - I haven't been in the studio alot this past month...

Self-imposed break from artistic endeavors? Switching gears, maybe. Actually, I've been in a funk. Don't know why.

We have another art exhibit coming up at Emmanuel soon and I wanted to have a new piece for it, so I've been working on this 18x18 inch quilt. I was inspired by work I saw at IQF-Chicago by Deidre Adams who stitches, then paints the surface of her quilts. I used wool batting for the first time (a sample from Hobbs), and while I'm not used to the puffy look, it quilted beautifully. It will be interesting seeing how the paint works out. I've done a few smaller pieces and was pleased with the results - great texture...

Next Friday night, we're hosting a "Ladies' Lock-In to Creativity" at Emmanuel and we're going to be creating small collages done on 5x5" canvasses. Jo-Ann's has these and they're in the 1.00 value bins, you just have to cover up the farm images pre-printed on them.

Lifestyle update: Still going strong, walking almost every day. Jeff's lost 26 pounds. I've lost 20. Favorite foods so far on the program: home made hummus, black bean salad, grilled tofu.

These shoes are made for walkin'

I have to admit that these are my first pair of walkin' shoes...let me start at the beginning, okay?

A couple of months ago, Jeff started a lifestyle program called the Coronary Health Improvement Project
that is geared toward helping you change your eating habits and get you moving, so you can drop some weight and hopefully alter the amount of cholesterol, hypertension and type 2 diabetes meds that you are taking. Some participants have even gone completely off these meds.

Since he started on the program, he's lost 15 pounds and will be presenting his graduation papers with exciting new lipid, glucose and b/p readings to his doctor this week. We're hoping that the doc will be happy AND encouraging for once. If not, we'll be shopping for a new physician.

I, too, went on the program without going to the classes, and have lost 12 pounds. Finding clothes that I haven't worn in awhile (or never) feels good. It's also funny to watch people's facial expressions when they see you, but can't quite figure out what's changed about you. I just let them wonder, unless they ask...

Jason is embracing these changes too - he understands that what he eats at home is what we're eating. He can choose to eat other stuff when he's with his friends, but even this long-legged dancing machine noticed that he feels better and stronger when he's with the program. He started running a couple of weeks ago, and is getting ready for an audition with the Rockford Dance Company.

Those endorphins do come out of hiding, believe it or not, so if I don't go out walking every day now, I feel it. I haven't joined the early morning crowd yet, so I usually go out late in the afternoon, or in the early evening.

What you eat: lots of veggies and fruit, lots of beans, lots of whole grain products. The program recommends no meat, but we're doing the carnivore thing once or twice a week with fish, chicken, or turkey - no red meat at all. It's amazing how we're not missing or craving it. I've also stopped eating most chocolate because I realized that it was making me irritable, and it takes 3 days to get it out of my system. I do still make my home-made iced mochas with Nestle's chocolate syrup (no added corn syrup) and french roast coffee, however I have been cutting back on those, too...

Now, finally, for the shoes: I've have Chuck Taylor tennies and Ked's basic tennies, but never a pair of honest to goodness athletic shoes. My heels were starting to bother me, so my men gave me these shoes for Mother's Day. I'll be trying them out later today, after finishing the Trinity Banner.

Top Chef Producers

Give me a break, you producers of Top Chef! You know, if you really wanted to surprise us, and be nice at the same time, you could get rid of the Dale chefs on the program. We're used to you keeping the 'pain in the *#s' people around, but c'mon...

Let's see - tantrum after the quick-fire because another chef beat him out with that ugly monkfish fileting and it was clear that a team player he was not during the wedding feast prep. Best of luck Dale running a five-star restaurant on your own, buddy.

So...I've put up with seeing alot of other wonderful chefs having to leave, but this one made me mad!!! I'm done watching this season. Don't care who wins. Nikki, I'll be rooting for you...

Trinity Banner update

I've stitched down the crescent moon shapes, hand, and dove of the banner now, using just a straight stitch. This worked out so well, appliqueing the elements separately before stitching onto the background. It's really adding some wonderful dimension to the piece...and the anxiety level was diminished because I didn't have to satin stitch through all the layers.

I will need to stitch 2 more crosses though - when placing the banner up on the design wall, I realized that 9 was not going to be enough.

So often on work this size (30x45) or larger (read: not always in my comfort zone), I tend to freak just a little. I also get visits from the intuitive muse, where the outcome is usually so much better than my original design. Maybe it's because of the time I allow for these pieces. Maybe it's coming from a deeper spiritual place inside of me. I'm not at the point of gathering beads and other possible embellishments yet, but today I felt that bubble of glee rise up too.

I am bringing it in next Tuesday for a preview with Phyllis from church, who is head of the Altar Guild and commissioned it. It will be in memory of three women who were members of that committee. Nice...

Elements of the Banner

The new banner that I am creating is for Trinity Sunday, May 18th.












The background is a brocade home dec fabric and all the appliques are silk dupioni. I am doing something different this time as far as the appliqueing goes. To start with, I did all the quilting on the 30x45 inch banner first. For the elements, I wanted to add more dimension, so I appliqued them onto batting with muslin underneath, basically stitching them separate from the base of the banner. When I finished doing the stitching, I put some fusing on the back, and then carefully cut around the edges leaving some of the batting showing. This made the appliques "pop" out very nicely, and on some of the elements, like a dove and the hand, I'll be embroidering design lines on them. The other elements are 9 purple crosses. I know where everything is going, but I'm still working out how I'll secure them to the banner after I fuse them down...

There will also be words: "In the Name of the Creator - In the Name of the Redeemer - In the Name of the Holy Spirit."

After chatting with art-friend Bobbie today, I have realized now that the copper silk for the hand is a bit dark, so I have since painted it with gold Lumiere paint, but left the copper threads along the edges alone.

I'll keep you posted as the deadline approaches...

Note: I tried the bamboo/cotton batting for the first time on this project, and I like it. When doing any hand stitching, it doesn't beard as much as other all cotton batting.

Sue V...congratulations!

Hey, Sue V. - you were my 10,000th visitor - CONGRATULATIONS!!! Just let me know how to contact you by e-mail -

Thanks to everyone who stopped by - let's do it again when there's another milestone...

Coming Soon - the 10,000th Visitor

That's right, everyone! I just checked my sitemeter, and I'm very close to having my 10,000th visitor. What that means, dear readers, is that one of you will have that very special honor, and that I will be honoring that very special visitor with a gift!!!
Now...I'm asking that you leave a comment, or as the lady in the pic says, "Spill it, Sister." Ooh, I wonder who will be the lucky visitor???

If you'd like to hear some music while reading, put your headphones on...I found Project Playlist - Social Music Experiment
on Sara Lechner's blog.

Leaving a comment is extremely important - it will be easier to locate you if you're that lucky visitor. No comment, almost impossible...

Prom 2008

Jason and the lovely, talented Miss Catherine went to her prom last night. Here are a couple of shots that I took before they headed off with Catherine's mom. Aren't they cute?

What's New after the Blur

Only spending about 30 some odd hours at IQF in Chicago made the whole experience a blur for me. Oh my god...
I went in with my dear friend Bobbie Walter, who did very well with all the craziness. My gig for Open Studios was a blast, the taping for Quilting Arts TV was surreal as I mentioned in my last post, and the shopping was okay. Knowing I had just a short time to shop, I prepared by listing the vendors that I was interested in. I'm not good with crowds (claustrophic), so I stay very focused on my path to product. The surprise find was the pattern for this bag that I finished over the weekend. I remember seeing it last year, but had run out of funds, so I couldn't buy it. It really is a great pattern because of the options for creativity. Here's the link: Square Rose - Designs that liberate the CREATIVE SPIRIT
Mine is the Triangle Bag!


Other highlights: of course, Karey's reception for the Quiltart and SAQA people was fun and yummy. That Texas super woman (who is now running for mayor of her community!) really knows how to throw a party...

I did announce at the reception that the SOST exhibit was ready and that I had the CDs to prove it...handed out a few, too!

The SAQA exhibits! Oh my, they were incredible!

At least a couple of times during my Open Studios segments, I had crowds around, checking out my technique for marbling on fabric with acrylics and shaving cream. There were a few ladies who questioned why I let everything dry on the cloth and then scrape the excess off. I don't know why, it's just how I do it.

I'm afraid my photos were few. Please, please check out the other artists' sites from the MIU page: Make It University™ with Cloth Paper Scissors®

Finally, here's what's new...I'm working on another banner for Emmanuel. It is for Trinity Sunday on May 18 - check back for photos on the process, okay?
Announcement...I have another solo exhibit coming up in June at the Unitarian Church here in Rockford. My thoughts right now for this exhibit are creating a series with poetry. I finished my first one for the QA/TV taping with words from Rumi on it.

That's all for now.

My Favorite Photo

Surreal? You bet! My friend Bobbie took this shot after my taping for Quilting Arts TV...

More info and photos later. Back to work today and oh, there is that little matter of finishing the taxes -

SOST

Also known as "The Sisterhood of the Sagging T- ts," we are 25 strong women who celebrate what we have inherited. We're not always sure of how we inherited the phenomenon of "goin' south," but hey, we don't need to know everything! Guess how we decided to celebrate together?

SOST is also the name of a brand new art quilt exhibit of 25 works that are available to show. As the mom, I have put together CDs of the images and will have them at the IQF-Chicago to hand out to anyone who might be interested in showing our exhibit.

If I don't see you at the festival, just send me an e-mail!

We are actively seeking venues!!!

p.s. I'm not afraid to spell the "T" word out, I'm just trying to avoid any seedy blog comments.

The Last Sampler for MIU?

A definate work in progress, this 12x12 quilt will be the last sampler I finish before the Chicago Quilt Festival.

Not sure why I stitched a piece of white (with tiny black circles) fabric to the golden yellow piece for the background. Maybe it had something to do with taking a walk on the wild side the other evening.

Let's see...let me tell you what happened right before I started this: I took Jason out driving for the first time!!! Oh, yes - that's what did it. I figured that if I could handle that one, why not challenge myself with a background that I normally would not start with?

The hand is from one of my hand carved stamps. It has always been one of my favorites.

Well, Fed Ex just came...ooh, there's some of those new Tee Juice markers in the box...hmmmm ~