New Work for Spring Art Expo, 2013

I just finished these yesterday and immediately got them hung at the BIC Realty office in Cook, MN for the Spring Art Expo.  These are my photos, except as noted, printed on fabric and dimensionally stitched. 

 House at Ashawa

 Tim's Airport,  photo by Tim

 Sunrise at French Creek

Jeanne's Boathouse, photo by Dave.

Creating again!

Creating again!

I had a long break from my creativity and sewing due to health issues, mostly, but also because I've been secretary of Northwoods Friends of the Arts http://nwfamn.org  here in town.  A small group of volunteers have made amazing strides in just three years, and we will be holding our third annual Spring Art Expo http://nwfamn.org/events/2013-spring-art-expo/
starting this Friday, 5/31/2013.  Over 35 artists will have their work in 22 businesses and 2 galleries in our area for 2 weeks, plus we have gotten three grants for concerts next week. 

Meanwhile, I've been sewing again, putting my photos on fabric and sewing them "dimensionally."  These are from January and February, 2013. These are from my photos, unless otherwise noted.

 Turks' Cap Lily

 Grand Boys

 J's Blue Jay Photo by J.

 The Comet (From the series, Save the Comet.)

 Butterfly in Paradise

Stole for Ordinary Time, two more views

Full length view and reverse of stole, with free motion embroidery.  This could be used for a baptism.

Stole for Ordinary Time

This stole was given to our pastor this summer in honor of her 5th anniversary at our church.  The stole was a gift from our church choir and was designed and made by me.  The green of ordinary time represented growth and life, so I scanned some real leaves and printed them onto fabric, which was then cut out and appliqued onto the stole. The blue triangles represent the Trinity. Blogger won't cooperate and upload the full length view.

More stoles HERE.

Inspired by my Frustration

I'm still here and sewing. Lately I've had some frustrations, which inspired this piece, called T'd Off. It was in response to a T challege given by the quilting guild.

Stoles

At last I'm posting pictures of the stoles I've made. Pentecost, Guess the season??, and close up views of the Lenten Stole, made with free motion embroidery.

Quilt Finished!

Finally, after too many years, the Big Quilt for my daughter is finished! I originally bought the pansy fabric in about 1999, then spent a couple of years trying to decide how to use it without cutting up the pansys. Eventually, I bought 16 Moda Marbles for the cornerstones and trellis rectangles. It is queen sized.

The backing is hand dyed fabric from Primrose Gradations, Two Harbors, MN., a company no longer in business. It feels almost like flannel and looks like suede. The top was all put together in 2000, but then the big procrastination set in. Mostly, I had to learn better techniques of free motion quilting. And I had to figure out why I was having trouble with the tension of the quilting thread. The secret is to turn the top tension way, way down, I finally decided. But the biggest "technique" I learned was to use the Galloping Horse Technique: If you can't see the mistakes from a galloping horse, they won't be noticed by most people.

The design, fabric choices, and fabric arrangement of this quilt is original. The quilting design was partly based on a quilting stencil I purchased. The name of the quilt is Faithful Pansys.

I don't have to worry about it not being used, as we had so many people sleeping over at our house last weekend that it was put to use immediately. See my other blog for that info.

So Cold

It was 38 below Zero when we got up this morning. I have hand work to do on my big quilt...burying threads. This is the just what I need on my lap in this weather.

Epiphany Wall Hanging

This fabric said Epiphany to me, so I made six of these wall hangings for special friends (and me.)

Salad

Yum, Romaine lettuce, with carrots and onion Salad.















Yum, Chicken Salad.















[Scanned into computer; trapunto, and FMQ.] Life size leaves.

The Latest from the Dream Garden

Chickens

The Chickens visited my yard yesterday.
Chicken in the Lobelia

Chicken wonders if Pink goes with Purple.
Chicken lays an egg.
Chicken incubates a egg.
Chicken visits the Pond.


Chickens subdue a Rhubarb Leaf









Chickens on a Log









Chickens in the Sedum









Chicken has the Blues
Chickens in a Basket

Chicken Checks out purple Pansy

Chicken in the Hosta
Chickens in the Nicotinia

Chickens are smaller than lettuce

Chickens discover the color of composted rhubarb leaves.
Chickens on Parade.


Chickens Look at African Seedlings
Chicken in the hanging pot



Chicken on the Web Pattern from Web Goddess.

Tote Bag Conversion

I converted a tote bag with a logo from my husband's work into a cheerful useful all purpose bag just for me using some methods shown on Sewing With Nancy by Mary Mulari. She puts a zipper on the outside of the pocket, which is an easy application method.

I also added one of those magnetic snaps by undoing the top edging (lap) seam, putting something thicker between the fabric layers, adding the snap, and resewing the seam.

I covered a piece of needle point plastic canvas with my fun fabric for a study base inside the bag.

Nasturtiums

I finished, finally, My Nasturtiums, Dream Garden 13. I got off track after the show, but now I'm excited to do more flower pieces. I've got flowers blooming outside, and more will bloom on my sewing table.

Iris Series

I got this Iris Series done for my show. I used a different technique for each piece. Lots of people asked about the pieces and commented positively on them. I was really pleased with the pieces, especially with the vibrant colors. Iris Series, One: (purple Iris, dk green background) Raw Edge applique, many small pieces, background, heavily quilted. NFS.Iris Series, Two: (fushsia background, teal border, spring green iris) photo on fabric, thread painting, SOLD. Iris Series, Three: (orange iris on blue background) Raw edge applique, thread painting, black binding with lt. orange flap. 12 x 12 For Sale $50 plus s & hIris Series, Four: (Copper color iris, violet background) Stencil and outline stitching, dk green binding, For Sale $25 plus s & h.