Something Special: Ellen Lindner and love

It may have been via Facebook that I first saw Ellen Lindner's art quilt: Reconciliation. She has given me permission to post it here and I'll include a link to her website as well.

It was unexpected and what I needed at that exact moment. It brought tears to my eyes. She has other quilts made using a similar technique with the sillouette borders that are equally strong and emotional. I do hope you'll visit her site to enjoy her work. Art truly feeds the soul and often brings us back to life.

Lindner's Reconciliation came for me at a time when my husband and I are celebrating our 39th anniversary. October 16! I started to write 'birthday' instead of anniversary -- one of those meaningful typos.

Our wedding was a rebirth for both of us. We were one. No longer alone facing a bewildering world, but two people together who drew closer as adversity surrounded us. Sometimes I forget how much we lean on each other and how much we hold each other up.

Through these years I've had some 'materialistic' moments and I'm not talking fabric or stash. But me selfiishly wanting grand gifts and declarations of love and romantic gestures. Roses! Diamonds! Romantic getaways! Once or twice roses if I guilted him into it, maybe he'd make dinner. Maybe I'd add candles. But mostly he just lived each day showing me love in everything he did for me -- and I took for granted. I'd stew and get over it and go on loving him each day with the little things like making sure his peaches were free of fuzz or not serving creamed peas or mending his pants, or buying shirts that had pockets, or turning to kiss and hug him every chance I got. We are always touching.

We have a cat who doesn't like to be held. He likes to sit beside me with his back foot against me. He just needs that connection to know I'm there -- to keep track of me. It is something like that for Derrol and me. We don't need to be coddled or fawned over, just need that touch for reassurance. Maybe we both have a bit of awe that we were lucky to find each other.

Lately it seems like we've become more nurse and patient as we struggle to keep him as healthy as possible. As I remind you all too often, he has ALS and the recovery rate from ALS is ZERO.

Our touches have more to do with health care and trust me there is NOTHING romantic about a man on a breathing machine. Nothing until I look into his eyes and see that twinkle and suddenly we are both 19 and very much in love all over again. Maybe we have never grown up.

The Reconciliation piece for me is more about reconnecting. It has been a long time since my husband could stand and hold me in his arms and so Reconciliation is a nostalgia piece as well.

What did he give me for our anniversary? You will laugh and groan but for me it was the best gift ever. He called me in to his bed this morning and said, "You gotta see this." I saw a naked old man with skinny legs. SKINNY LEGS! We've been battling edema (swelling) for years and today the swelling is gone. It was the absolute BEST gift. What can I say, he knows me better than I know myself. Better than diamonds, roses and a Hawaiian cruise all rolled up with a big red ribbon. He is the best gift of all and I pray he hangs around for a very long time!

Please enjoy Ellen's special quilt. I just had to share this and our special occasion with my good friends -- you are my community and I don't know what I'd do without you.

Everything old is new again in Mary Kerr's world

Vintage to some are those musty stained remnants of another era. A reminder of grandma's handiwork that is relegated to a cedar chest. We stand clueless as to how to rejuvenate them or integrate them into our current art, quilts or lives.

But for Mary Kerr vintage is the vision for something new and exciting. She challenged several friends and colleagues to use vintage and this lead photo shows Cyndi Souder's interpretation. Old certainly never looked so new! You will be surprised and amazed at what Mary can make out of something old....

Please welcome Mary Kerr in her own words. -- Dawn

I love all things old…. rustic furniture, old friends, driftwood at the beach and antique textiles.

Lots of antique textiles!

I have collected vintage quilts for years and have a large collection that travels with me to teach and lecture. In addition, I hoard fragments of quilts, orphan blocks, linens and sewing “stuff” ---- buttons, lace, sewing cards, etc. I have never been picky about condition and often find myself bringing home the runt of the litter --- that tattered piece that no one else can imagine as useful. My passion is to incorporate these cast-off pieces into contemporary quilts.

My work ranges from traditional to art.

I am not bound by a single genre as long I am able to incorporate my vintage pieces into each design. Stars for Grandma Kay (See Photo 2) was included in the IQA Quilts in the American Tradition exhibit that traveled in 2007-2008. The central appliqué unit was found in my Grandmother’s home and is circa 1940. I pieced the stars and saw tooth border using vintage fabrics and incorporated a fragment of a damaged Flower Garden top from the 1930’s. Only the black fabric was purchased new. It was hand quilted by Didi Salvatierra.

The art piece, I Would Dance (See Photo 3) was created for my local guild challenge. Each participant was given a fortune cookie and challenged to create a quilt inspired by the fortune. Mine asked, “What would you do if you had no fear?”

I created this piece using fragments of lace, linens, jewelry and buttons that had belonged to my grandmothers. The foundation is a scrap of a cutter quilt and the pieces are layered beside the image of me dancing.

This was my first vintage collage quilt and began a series of quilts that all incorporate those nontraditional pieces we find in our sewing baskets, jewelry boxes and dresser drawers. I love teaching this technique and watching as my students get excited about incorporating these treasured pieces into their quilts.

I will frequently work with orphan blocks and finish them in a variety of ways. This set of four small quilts was created during a beach retreat when I was playing with techniques and design. Each of the 11 inch quilts incorporated a vintage pink and white star block, circa 1940. Edisto (See Photo 4) features marbled fabric by Linda Cooper and found objects from my morning beach walk.
 
 
 
 
 

Happy Hour (Photo 6) plays with folded fabrics and button embellishment.

Tropical Smoothie (See Photo 5) showcases a woven technique with thread painting.

Pretty in Pink (Photo 7) is a cascade of buttons over a simple pieced background.

As I played with various sets of vintage blocks, I began to wonder what would happen if we divided a set of blocks among a larger group of artists?

Would anyone else want to work with the vintage pieces? In 2006, I sent out letters to a group of friends asking them to play with me. My invitees were an eclectic mix of friends and quilting acquaintances. Within the group we have art quilters, quilt historians, judges, appraisers, hand quilters, a textile artist and new quilters. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into as Vintage Revisited was born.

Over the course of two years, I distributed six sets of vintage blocks to these adventurous artists. The block was theirs to play with! Each artist received an identical block. They could add to it, cut it up, embellish it, recreate it, improve upon it, and more. The only requirements were that the finished quilt be their original design, that it measure 24 x 24 inches, and that the original block be included in the final project.

The second block in the challenge, shown here (Photo 8), is an Odd Fellows block from 1880. The color combination appealed to some of my artists and others were appalled. Here are a sample of their interpretations:

A Pennsylvania Sampler by Barb Garrett

It's About Time by Cyndi Souder

Two Roads Diverged by Pam Weeks

Not Odd Anymore by Karen Dever

There was a wide range on interpretations and every quilt was unique and exciting. I loved that we were able to create a challenge that allowed each artist to create in her own style. It is a project that allows everyone to participate at their individual pace, level and comfort zone.

When I started this project, my initial expectation was that we would display the quilts at a couple of shows. Today this collection of 117 has been exhibited all over the country and is currently scheduled to be traveling through 2014.

 

The single magazine article has blossomed into a wonderful book that captures the voices and talents of each of my artists. A Quilt Block Challenge: Vintage Revisited was published in May and is now available at my web site, through Schiffer publishing and hopefully at local quilt shops around the country.

Working with this group of women has been a joy and I am so very blessed to be a part of our amazing quilt community!

Check out Mary Kerr's website.

Evolution of a Fantasy: Beth Wheeler

Beth Wheeler is so generous and humble and I am pleased that she is sharing her work and her creative process with us here at Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed With Needles! In 2007, according to her bio, she was released her 45th book. I admit that I sat with my mouth hanging open after reading that tidbit. I can't begin to come up with enough to fill half that many books. One would be good! And here's Beth, taking time out of her busy days of creating her art, putting together tutorials, books, and taking her place in the duo Sipsisters with Lori Marquette. I do hope you'll accept Beth's invitation to visit her site on May first for the great unveiling! I can't wait, especially she is giving us a sneak peak and insider info on her creation. -- Dawn


PHOTO:  Shrine to the Gerberas, in the collection of Nora Jones, is a small art quilt designed for Tote Tuesday, Virginia Spiegel's 2010 online auction to benefit the American Cancer Society.

May 1, 2010 my new show will open at the Universalist Unitarian Church Gallery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There will be approximately 25 pieces in the exhibit—all based on childhood memories.

The exhibit is a tribute to my mom, who passed away May 23, 2009.

As an only child, I was often in situations where the grown-ups were doing or saying something “important” and I had to be quiet. This was not easy! About the age of 5, I began telling myself stories, making up songs, or carrying on conversations with some wonderful creature to entertain myself.

The pieces in this exhibit are snippets of those occasions, as I remember them.

PHOTO: Whispers On The Wind started it all. This small art quilt will debut in the Rust-Tex Collection exhibit at Quilt Festival in Chicago April 16–18.

Each piece begins as a memory fragment, such as Whispers On The Wind, above. One spring day my grandmother, mother, and I went to the farm of a relative to see the spring wildflowers in the woods. I was mesmerized by the delicate shapes and colors of the various blossoms, but was disappointed when Grandmother said they couldn't go home with us: “They’d be unhappy away from their home in the woods and would die.”

I quickly grew bored of looking at flowers that wouldn’t be in a vase in my room and wandered off, sat on a log, and imagined I could hear fairy voices on the wind. Their voices were soft as whispers and they spoke in a strange language.

PHOTO: Tote-Tuesday-Padfolio

How do you design a visual of a memory? For me, digital collage was the answer. I could combine elements extracted from photos and clip art to express the feeling experienced in that one moment so long ago.

Arranging the design elements on Photoshop Elements workspace is one thing, but placing them on a background that helps explain the memory, is artistic, and adds to the visual story without overwhelming it is quite a task.

I use Photoshop CS4 or Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac and a Wacom tablet to cut this photo of my cupped hands out of the background, convert it to black and white, and place it on an empty workspace in Photoshop.

The fairy was also extracted from a larger image, but I used a different method, so her outline would be less smooth, adding to the ephemeral effect.

Together, the hands and fairy begin to suggest a story. To further express the magical nature of the fairy, I might reduce the opacity of her layer, to make her seem less concrete.

Since this will be printed on rust-dyed fabric, however, I'm a little reluctant to reduce her opacity too much, for fear she'll fade away into the rusted elements on the fabric.

The 8 ½" x 11" test print reveals a lot about how this will look printed 24" x 30". The hands need more definition, which I added with a Sharpie marker on the test print AND the fairy needs to be flipped so she is looking at the person belonging to the hands. Facing away suggests she is not engaged with the person and I want to convey a feeling of communion between the two.

The final 24" x 30" layout shows the fairy in the correct orientation, in a conversation with the person—as illustrated with the screened-back image of the ancient language.

Once printed on rust-dyed fabric, some color will be added with my new formula for Earth Safe Finishes fabric watercolor paint in matte and sparkle finish. Stitching will be added in monofilament thread, to add texture without adding color that could overwhelm the composition.


Hand beading and stitching will complete the composition, which will then be hung by a free-form hanger made from cold-forged refrigerator tubing from a retired refrigerator (this suggestion from my friend and long-time colleague Barbara Matthiessen).

The exhibition pieces are coming together and I‘m considering adding hand-painted and hand-dyed backgrounds. Please visit my blog "Thread Society" on May 1 to see more photos of new pieces for the exhibit.

Eleanor Levie does it all!

Eleanor Levie has a gift for laughter as well as the skill of a fine 'needler.' She fits right in with Subversive Stitchers everywhere. She has been a part of the quilting community for so long she made a Timeline quilt to document it -- oh, that's the history of quilting....

Check out her website for more fascinating details concerning this fun and imaginative quilt!

She also writes books and teaches and lectures and whew. she's one busy quilt lover!

You know Eleanor is in a room -- just follow the laughter. Yet her quilts often have a more serious message, such as her poppy quilt below. --Dawn

Speaking out loudly in fabric and thread,

Art from the heart, never spread on a bed,

Planning precisely, then slicing and skewing,

Mistake and surprise rarely seam my undoing!

Making a statement in free-motion cursive…

Ahhh, that's the life of a stitcher subversive. --Eleanor Levie

I'm a big fan of Dawn's blog: As a runaway from a goody-two-shoes childhood, I'm always thrilled to be labeled subversive in any aspect of my life or work. Hey, you know it's more fun to break the rules than follow them, right?


Exhibit A: During the decades I have edited quilt books, and hung my reputation on the hook of clarity and reliability. However, I can't, for the life of me, follow directions. As an editor for McCalls Needlework & Crafts in the '80s, and as the freelance producer of the Rodale's Successful Quilting Library series at the turn of the new century, I really do know the right way to do all aspects of quilting. I just get sidetracked with the voice that says, "What if I do this instead…?".

Exhibit B: In chronicling the third revival of our craft in American Quiltmaking: 1970-2000, I've gained a strong appreciation for our legacy. Plus, I've taken classes with the best of the best, innovators, artists, those who have developed personal strategies for turning tradition on its head and subverting it. But I'm not patient or practiced enough to follow in anyone's footsteps. I confess: I'm a dilettante who clowns around in just about every quilting technique. I defy anyone to look at my "body of work" as it were and recognize Eleanor Levie running through it! The truth is, everything I've done is more overcompensation for inferior work or an inferiority complex than it is subversion.

Exhibit C: I can't possibly compete with the stellar talents who do absolutely, drop-dead- gorgeous flower quilts. Any quilt I make that has a flower for its subject needs to have other subject matter to con the viewer into giving it a second glance…i.e., a personal or political statement. My "Poppy Dilemma" conveys, through photo-transferred articles, the awful choice Afghani farmers face-- giving up a cash crop of opium poppies and taking what the government will dole out--hardly enough for their families to survive on, or getting four times that amount from the drug lords.

My choices aren't life and death, but I do choose to forego square, 90 degree angles. Another flower piece that subverts the square is "What's Your Body Type?" I made this memory quilt (43" x 21") in 2005 for a show at the Allentown Art Museum. Part of an invitational exhibit, it supplemented entries for a contest sponsored by P & B Textiles to promote a reproduction toile fabric collection. A triple "self-portrait" represents my body at three phases of life: the slender bud vase of my budding youth, the bulbous pot as I burst with life and voluptuousness during pregnancy; and in pear-shaped, big-bottomed maturity. Despite the ridiculous messages society screams to be skinny, skinny, skinny, aren't all women beautiful?

My skinny memory quilt, titled "Stringbeans" (14" x 56", 2008), pokes fun at how skinny everyone in my gene pool started out. Sun-prints of stringbeans, sliced in half and pinned to the painted fabric, suggest how scrawny the lot of us were, almost like Diane Arbus shots. Transfers of old photos on sheer fabric, vintage lace scraps, and wallpaper florals convey nostalgia.

Tormented by images of svelte fashion models, and knowing I'll never be tall, and no longer skinny, I take comfort in knowing that my quilts can be both. Stretching the square and the imagination, I love to make what I call Skinny Quilts. Hung on a wall or spread over a horizontal surface, Skinny Quilts can be art. Or craft: the inimitable table runner. These have always appealed to me as the perfect gift, providing something to dress up a décor, and keep tabletops from getting scratched. Besides, I know I can get just as much gratitude and appreciation from a slender slice of a quilted project as I can get from a king-size bed quilt, so why NOT go skinny? And speaking of gratitude and appreciation, I can't say enough about the amazing and diverse talents who have contributed to my Skinny Quilts & Table Runners books (I and II).

Within the last few years, in no small part due to my son's passion for ecology, I've looked to quilting and crafting to call attention to the urgency of lifestyle change to repair the earth. We've got to stop contributing to the making of and the mountains of plastic bags. And if you're like me, you need help remembering to bring your reusable cloth bags into the supermarket. Hence, my latest book: Unforgettable Tote Bags—20 Designs Too Cool to Leave in the Car. Again, I looked to celebrity quilters to provide inspiration and variety. Here I am, shopping locally, with my 14-Carrot Gold bag.

These days, I'm taking the reuse, recycle, repurpose shtick in another direction. Foil-lined plastic bags that hold a crease, such as bags that hold coffee and single tea bags, are the staples of my current stash. Counting the weird top, a stabilizer, and a felt backing, it's three layers, all right. And it's pieced, appliqued, and free-motion quilted...but a quilt? Your call.

Subversive? Maybe. Stitched, yes, indeedy. A message? Well, certainly a mess of fun.

This is a first effort in this direction -- any suggestions? Advice?

Susan Lenz needs our help!

Susan Lenz needs our help -- and fast!

She has a solo exhibition fast approaching (Sept. 10-October) at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park in Charleston. It will spotlight her Decision Portrait Series during the MOJA 2010 Festival. Susan's work was selected not because it "fits the theme" but because it is contemporary, thought provoking, and incorporates all people. (The word "moja" means "one" in Swahili, suggesting harmony in a global community.)


The exhibit location is gigantic. Susan said, "I'm talking several rooms spread over TWO stories." And that leads to the dillema and the request for your help. She has more than 45 finished pieces, but needs 45 more!

Susan has a blog that is specifically for the Decision Portrait Series. It is HERE! The blog opens with a "wish list". But, Susan is happy to consider just about any decision....big or small....on the list or not. [Photos are of pieces in the Decision Portrait series. First is Susan's self portrait. For more detail check out her blogsite or click on the photo. Photo 2 is Happily Ever After. Photo 3 Overcoming Domestic Abuse. Photo 4: Marked for Life. Photo 5: Behind on the Mortgage.]

Susan said,  "All I need is a signed model's release and a digital image. I'll provide the model's release and a self-addressed, stamped return envelope for those in the USA. Those living outside the country will have to furnish their own postage! Every time I finish a portrait, I share it via email with the "model" and include a "rough draft" of the intended blog post. This gives each participant the opportunity to see the work first and make suggestions about the wording that accompanies their image. Of course, all participants will be invited to the exhibition and any other future show (yes, I'm still submitting for other solo opportunities)."

Contact Susan via her email.

I've included her WISH LIST here, but please visit the blogsite to see the 45 she has finished -- you will  leave changed, touched by the faces and the simplicity of these quilts telling such meaningful life-changing choices that the people have made.
MODELS NEEDED FOR:

Title: Midwife. (Preferably someone who both delivers babies and has had a child at home!) Stitched words: Helping and having babies at home.

Title: Homeschooling. Stitched words: Both mother/father and primary educator.

Title: Good Samaritan. Stitched words: I changed a flat tire for a complete stranger.

Title: Terms of Marriage II. Stitched words: I signed a prenuptial agreement.

Title: 20/20 Vision. Stitched words: I had Lazar eye surgery.

Title: Dieter. Stitched words: I lost weight. (Must be a lot of weight....I'm envisioning one of those "before" and "after" sort of images...or the model inside of or holding a very, very noticeably larger pair of pants.)

Title: On Call. Stitched words: Hotline crisis volunteer

Title: CEO. Stitched words: My decisions affect hundreds (I'd prefer a rather large company!)

Title: Smaller. Stitched words: I had my stomach stapled.

Title: Hitch Hiker. Stitched words: Thumbs up!

Title: Smoker. Stitched words: Two packs a day (or something like this....must be someone who really enjoys smoking and isn't trying to quit.)

Title: On Fighting Cancer I and II. Stitched words: I chose chemotherapy over a mastectomy and I chose a mastectomy over chemotherapy. (I am interested in any other type of medical decision!)

Title: On Fighting Cancer III and IV. Stitched words: After Chemo, I wore a wig and After Chemo, I didn't wear a wig. (I am interested in any decision regarding hair loss....due to cancer or any other situation.)

Title: On Aging I. Stitched words: I've dyed my hair for years.

Title: On Aging II. Stitched words: I've had a tummy tuck.

Title: On Aging III. Stitched words: I've had a face lift.

Title: On Aging IV. Stitched words: I've had botox.

Title: On Aging V. Stitched words: Viagra

(I am interested in any significant decision that deals with a pursuit to ward off signs of aging.)

Title: I am a Woman. Stitched words: I was born a man. (Also, vice versa....any gender decision, including transvestism are of interest.)

Title: Creationist. Stitched words: Darwin was wrong and/or The universe was made in seven days.

Title: Adoption I. Stitched words: I contacted my birth parent(s).

Title: Adoption II. Stitched words: I contacted the child I gave up. (I am interested in any other decision regarding adoption, especially people who have adopted special need children.)

Title: Enhanced. Stitched words: I took steroids.

Title: Unfaithful. Stitched words: I cheated.

Title: Injured. Stitched words: I didn't buckle up. (This needs to be someone who, not wearing a seat belt, was permanently injured as a result of a car accident. Of course, it would be my honor to also stitch a photo of someone who unfortunately died....with permission from his/her family.)

Title: Thinner. Stitched words: Liposuction.

Title: Divorced. Stitched words: Irreconcilable Differences (Ideally, this would be both people...a mutual decision.)

Title: Whistle Blower. Stitched words: I turned in my employer

Title: Learning to Read. Stitched words: I taught; I learned. (Ideally, this would be two adults in a literacy program.)

Title: Marijuana. Stitched words: High on high.

Title: Astrologer. Stitched words: Spiritual advisor and/or It's in the cards.

Title: Surrogate Mother. Stitched words: I gave birth for someone else's family.

Title: Draft Dodger. Stitched words: I refused to go to war or Conscious Objector

Title: Vegetarian or Vegan (or one of each!). Stitched words: No meat. (The list could go on and be quite impressive! I'd like someone whose lived with this decision for many, many years!)

Title: Overcoming Domestic Abuse. Stitched words: I pressed charges. (This one is actually complete but I'm leaving it on the list as I'd love to stitch Dealing with Domestic Abuse with stitched words, "I didn't press charges" or another variation.)

Title: Graffiti Artist/Vandal. Stitched words: (symbol of the "tag")

Tile: DUI. Stitched words: I made a mistake.

Title: Gang Member. Stitched words: I wear my colors

Title: Neo-Nazi. Stitched words: Master Race

Title: Public Servant. Stitched words: I ran for office (Must be a non-career politician! I have a lead on this one...I hope!)

Title: Homeless. Stitched words: No Fixed Address (This can't be someone with a mental disease but someone who chose to live this way!)

Title: Illegal Immigrant. Stitched words: I want the American Dream (I don't need to picture anyone's face.....an image hiding one's identity would be perfectly fine!)

Title: Voters. Stitched words in front of three people: Republican, Democrat, Independent

Tile: Runaway. Stitched words: I left home.

Title: Shoplifter. Stitched words: It wasn't mine.

Title: Nun. Stitched words: Married to Christ.

Title: Monk. Stitched words: A Vow of Silence. (Or other wording depending on vows.)

Title: Prostitute. Stitched words: By the hour.

Title: Exotic Dancer I. Stitched words: Single mother providing for her kid(s)

Title: Exotic Dancer II. Stitched words: Paying for my college tuition

Title: Speeder. Stitched words: Too many mph

Title: Relief Worker. Stitched words: I went to Haiti to help

Title: Cremated. Stitched words: My daughter/husband/friend scattered my ashes

Title: Peer Pressure I. Stitched words: I got into a car with a drunk driver

Title: Peer Pressure II. Stitched words: I called my parent(s) for a safe ride home

Title: Accepting Help. Stitched words: I never thought I'd need food stamps

Title: Drop Out. Stitched words: I quit school

Title: Custody. Stitched words: I fought to raise my child/grandchild

Title: Boomerang. Stitched words: I moved back in with my parent(s)

Title: Bike Rider. Stitched words: I don't even own a car

Title: Volunteer. Stitched words: Giving my time for _____ (Name of cause or group....prefer someone who is a very serious volunteer donating regular hours over a period of years.)

Title: For Science. Stitched words: I donated my body to the medical school.

(I'd like a Hindi...because I don't even know how to phrase these!)

Susan adds: "I am open to creating new portraits that are similar to any that are completed....another way of depicting a similar (or even the same) decision." Contact Susan via her email. And thank you!

Whos Who of Subversive Stitchers at Art Quilt Elements!

It is thrilling to announce that so many guest bloggers and members of Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles will have their work included in the Art Quilt Elements exhibit from April 17 through May 19 at the Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA.

Jurors who made the difficult choices for this exhibit are highly respected and strike fear in the hearts of fabric artists. OK, more like AWE in the hearts of fabric artists. Jason Pollen, Robin Schwalb, Deborah C. Warner.

Photo: Susan Shie's The Food Scales/Justice which has a long and interesting journey studed with awards and near misses on its way to this exhibit. Check out her blog.

Below is the list of  PARTICIPATING ARTISTS with the name of their entry:

Natalya Aikens* NY Piter I

Elizabeth Barton GA Strange Beauty

Linda Beach* AK Dawn

Regina Benson CO Night Bloom

PHOTO: Virginia Spiegel's Boundary Waters 48

Dawn W. Boyd* CO Le Croix de Guerre

Peggy Brown IN Changing Colors III

Benedicte Caneill* NY Units 19: Cityscape

Cher Cartwright* CA On the Other Hand

Paula J. Chung* NV Japanese Anemone I

Jette Clover BEL White Wall 1

Linda Colsh BEL Cabinet of Curiosities

Yael David-Cohen* UK Musical Explosion

Wen Redmond of NH -- Perspective of Trees. For more of her work visit her site.

Fenella J. Davies* UK Shadows

Helene Davis KY Incarnation

Sandra T. Donabed* FL Evil Apples

Linda J. Engstrom* AZ Web of Life

Dianne Firth AU Cell Structure #7

Denise M. Furnish KY Nine Patch

Leesa Z. Gawlik ITA Timeline II

Lutgard Gerber-Billiau* BEL Black Hole #I

Dianne K. Hricko* PA Urban Rhythm

Jeanette Jacobs* RI Splash

Terry Jarrard-Dimond SC Joy and Sorrow

Jess E. Jones* TN Ligament

Anita Kaplan* CA Graffiti III, Cappadocia

Katherine Knauer* NY Katrina

Paula Kovarik* TN Spring

Pat Kroth WI Pathways

Liz Kuny* NJ A Steady Beat

Judith Larzelere RI I (Heart) Summer

Eileen Lauterborn NY Afterimage

Susan Lenz of South Carolina with her first art quilt for this exhibit: Father and Mother, part of her Grave Rubbings series.

Susan Lenz* SC Father and Mother

Susan L. Lumsden* MO Slipstream Adventure

Libby & Jim Mijanovich* NC All In

Lori S. Moum VA Kimono Form #4

Sharon Nemirov* AZ Leaf Flakes

Wen Redmond NH Perspective of Trees

Toot Reid WA Aug 5, 2008 - March 28, 2009

Photo: Leslie J. Riley IL Chutes and Ladders (she also won first prize at Quilts=Art=Quilts)

Leslie J. Riley IL Chutes and Ladders

Luanne Rimel* MO Touch

Deidre Scherer* VT Into Light

Susan M. Shie OH The Food Scales/Justice

Diane Siebels* VA His Remembered Tree

Mary Ruth Smith* TX Crossover

Virginia A. Spiegel IL Boundary Waters 48

Daphne P. Taylor NY Quilt Drawing #11

Amy Thomas* WA Quilt No. 1

Bette Uscott-Woolsey PA Passing Fancy

Cynthia L. Vogt* VA Ishi-Datami

Kent Williams WI Light Emitting Fabric

For more information about the exhibit and the artists, visit ArtQuilt Elements 2010 site.

A visit to Mesa Art Center by Jean Judd and her art quilt Scribble #2

The Mesa Arts Center 31^st Annual Contemporary Crafts exhibition is currently displayed in the South Gallery and runs through March 14 in Mesa, Arizona. Jean’s textile artwork, Scribble #2 (Black Pathways) was juried into this prestigious exhibition. This piece was one of three art quilts selected for the exhibition.

 Eligible work included ceramics, fibers, basketry, metals, wood, glass, jewelry, papermaking and book art. 42 artists from 18 states were selected to be included in the exhibition by gallery owner, Jane Sauer of Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

In Ms Sauer’s juror’s statement, she is quoted as saying: “From a field of 425 objects submitted I had the task of selecting 45-52 pieces depending on size. After six rounds of elimination, there was an exhibit of 118 objects. It was such a rich field of entrees that the reduction of pieces was very, very difficult.” The final exhibition included 48 pieces.

by Jean Judd

Textile artwork by Gillette, WY artist Joan Sowada entitled Mainstream USA and Dominie Nash’s (Bethesda, MD) piece Stills from a Life 29 were the other two art quilts featured. Note Dominie’s piece behind me in this photo on the left.

My husband, Danny, and I were able to attend the Artist Reception (6-8pm) as well as the Members Only reception (5-6pm) on January 22. 

In spite of the heavy rain and flooding that was occurring that day, more than 500 people attended the receptions that evening. Many artists were on hand for discussions with patrons about their artwork.

I was impressed with the selection of artworks included. It was a diverse and exciting display. Plenty of white space between artworks on the wall and items on pedestals were not crowded or not properly lit. The three art quilts were all on separate walls and I thought displayed beautifully. That is me (center) in the “blend into the background” bright orange dress. Not sure what I was thinking when I packed that dress for the reception.

A four piece Latin Jazz band provided musical entertainment during the reception, and there were three other exhibitions happening in the other gallery spaces for collectors and patrons to view. One of the exhibitions included a photo exhibition by internationally known photographer Paul Nicklen, entitled Polar Obsession funded by National Geographic. An exhibition by bead artist Teresa Sullivan was in the adjacent gallery room and included a video and some very interesting installation pieces.

The time just flew by and as the evening progresses, I became more comfortable. Not many of the artists in attendance stood by their artwork. My husband herded me over by mine a few times, but I felt a bit uncomfortable doing that. For me, it felt better to circulate and I had more opportunity to talk to patrons and other artists this way.

I met a wonderful fiber artist, Dona Anderson (back to camera), from Seattle, Washington who uses reeds wrapped in pattern paper to make abstract sculptures. (see photo) 

I talked to her about gallery representation (she is represented by GrottaBrown in Wilton, CT) and how successful that has been for her. 


Note: Mesa Contemporary Arts' Annual Contemporary Crafts exhibition has become a benchmark for innovation and quality. Representative of traditional craft mediums including ceramics, fibers, basketry, metals, wood, glass, jewelry, papermaking and book arts, this exhibition showcases 52 artworks by 42 artists from 18 states.

Artists Include:

Dona Anderson (Seattle, WA)

Lynette Andreasen (Mesa, AZ)

Heather Bayless (Kihei, HI)

Nicholas Bivins (Red Lodge, MT)

Edda Blume (Pittsburgh, PA)

Jocelyn Braxton-Armstrong (Westport, CT)

Jonathan L. Brown (Chandler, AZ)

Tom Budzak (Chandler, AZ)

Holly Carter (Phoenix, AZ)

Mary Chuduk (Tempe, AZ)

Michele Collier (Oakland, CA)

Angela Cunningham (Somerville, MA)

Sheila Ferri (Middletown, NY)

Arti Goulatia (Peoria, AZ)

Carol Gouthro (Seattle, WA)

Kazu Ikegami (Tempe, AZ)

Jean Judd (Cushing, WI)

Thomas Kerrigan (Tucson, AZ)

Connie Lippert (Seneca, SC)

C.A. Michel (Seattle, WA)

Julie Mikelson (Tempe, AZ)

Carol Milne (Seattle, WA)

Ann Morton (Phoenix, AZ)

Susan Murphy (Rio Verde, AZ)

Don Nakamura (Philadelphia, PA)

Dominie Nash (Bethesda, MD)

Farraday Newsome (Mesa, AZ)

Zachary Noble (Bakersville, NC)

Kathy Pallie (San Rafael, CA)

Sarah Perkins (Springfield, MO)

Jeff Reich (Mesa, AZ)

Kathleen Ryall (Oxford, NC)

Patricia Sannit (Phoenix, AZ)

Chuck Sharbaugh (Holly, MI)

Dana Smith (Tucson, AZ)

Joan Sowada (Gillette, WY)

L. Sue Szabo (Toledo, OH)

Christopher Torrez (Phoenix, AZ)

Stephanie Trenchard (Sturgen Bay, WI)

Peggy Wiedemann (Huntington Beach, CA)

Kimberly Winkle (Smithville, TN)

Peggy Wyman (Macomb, MO)

Guest juror for the 31^st Annual Contemporary Crafts exhibition is Jane Sauer, owner of Jane Sauer Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. With over 34 years of experience as an artist and arts activist, Sauer is considered an expert in the craft community. 

A Life Lived Artfully: Marilyn Wall

Marilyn Wall draws on her life's work and her favorite things to create art that makes us all breathe a sigh. The flowers from her garden never die once she has captured their beauty, as in this first photo:  Luminescent is fused applique, hand-dyed fabric, paint, thread painting and hand quilting.And her joyous Blue Atlas makes me want to try my own wings. The butterfly is actually a moth and is machine appliqued of hand-dyed fabric. The markings on the moth were fussy cut to achieve the desired effect. Marilyn used hand-dyed thread to quilt the moths in the background and used a big stitch.(See the second photo).

As you will see by the samples of her body of work, Marilyn is versatile as well as talented and most of all sees with her heart as well as her eyes. She also has a fun sense of humor! -- Dawn

I am a retired writer/photographer whose passion is fiber art. We moved to Lake Keowee, SC in 2004 and I would live nowhere else.

Most of my life, I have made art. Often the tools were different. I have created ever since I can remember.

First it was with a needle and thread. My first memory of sewing was as a young child. I had a chenille doll bedspread that I cut up and made into a bathrobe for my doll. During my school years I sewed most of my clothing and actually made clothing for other people as well.

After I became a mother I sewed for my four children, my husband and myself. My children love to look at photographs of that era and laugh at my poor son, Gary who had to wear striped bell-bottom pants. Hey! They were the style then.

While the children were young, I worked on many crafts, I knitted, cross-stitched, did needle point, and made a rug or two. However, I longed to be an artist. Mind you I didn’t know how to draw or paint, I had never shown any talent in this direction but the desire was there.

We lived in Meadville, PA at the time and someone told me about a teacher named, Marie Firster who could teach anyone how to paint, and she did.

Later my husband went to work for Michelin Tire Company and this job took us to France to live for about two years. I will forever be grateful to Michelin for the experience our family was able to share by living in a foreign country. Never would we have been able to fly a family of six to Europe and visit all the wonderful places we visited.

Later I took art classes in Greenville, SC and became enchanted with the camera. This led me to a job with a major construction/engineering company as a writer/photographer for their company newspaper. I traveled all over the US documenting construction projects and the people who built them.

(Photo: Flowerfly features cone flower and butterfly. Flowerfly: The technique for the flower was the same as Luminescent. I used a black on black printed fabric for the butterfly. This fabric proved beneficial, because the back was just as usable as the front, when I decided to make part of the butterflies wings 3-D. I painted the markings on the wings with pastels and used acrylic paint on the flower. This piece was machine quilted.)

After a move to Alabama, the first without children to get settled into a new school and no job I became quite bored. One day, while feeling very sorry for myself, a light bulb seemed to go off. I had wanted to learn to quilt for years and never had the time. Well, I had the time now. I found a lady who was willing to teach me the basics and once I put my first quilt together I was HOOKED. This was in July and by Christmas I had made three small bed quilts, two crib size quilts and several wall hangings. These were all hand quilted and two were hand pieced Tumbling Block quilts.

The following April I went to my first AQS show in Paducah, KY and saw my first art quilts. Never knew such art existed. I was smitten.

I tackled my first art quilt with no knowledge of technique, and just blundered my way through. When I show this quilt it is always a favorite with my audience. “Geraniums” is my interpretation of a photograph I took during our stay in France. (See photo) Geranium is hand appliqued on a background of half-square log cabin blocks. The sidewalk was made from the pointillist fabric from years ago. It was cut and pieced back together. Flowers were made in the technique of Fabric Origami and the leaves were sewn together and turned for a three-D effect

I continued on my journey, had a class here, a class there and have honed my technique. I started painting on my quilts many years a go to develop depth within the design. I teach my technique now in a class titled “Fabricating Nature”. One of my favorite places to teach is J.C. Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, NC.

As a Master Gardner my preferred subject over the years has been flowers and the landscape. I have become very interested in portraiture and am presently working on a series of people I find interesting.

Frequently, I combine the tools I have used in the past in conjunction with my quilting. Often I go to my photographs for inspiration and ideas. Sometimes the images from my photographs find their way onto the fabric and become part of my quilt. Just as often, I may need to embellish my quilts with paints, dye or inks. (See photo of Oriental Lilies for different treatments of the same design)

My journey is far from being complete. I have much to learn and many more quilts to make. My desire is to make an impact on people when they view my work. That impact can be good or bad but I hope it is not indifference. My latest piece is a tribute to a friend who died  in July after a year of fighting esophageal cancer. I wanted to make something for his wife to console her in her loss: Jana's Guardian Angels. 


After establishing my design on paper I traced the pattern onto PDF fabric with an Ultra find Sharpie. I had to be very mindful while doing this to keep the ink from puddling. I had researched the word love and dog on the Internet for all the sayings. After filling in the sky background I started writing in the words. I then finished painting Bob and Skeeter. I choose a small 1/4" loose boarder to act as a matting to the outer boarder. It was hand quilted, using hand-dyed thread and silver thread..

Marilyn tells more about Bob's quilt in her Fabricating Nature blog.

She also steps away from nature now and then to capture faces and people in her Mother and Daughter quilt as pictured here.



Mother and Daughter was done in a class by Marilyn Belford at QBL (Quilting By the Lake) in July. It is basically the same technique I use for my flowers, fused applique. This photo is not of the finished piece. It is now attached to a landscape that can be seen on my blog.