As an artist, my work is a growing collection of the special moments that speak of the rhythm of my soul and the creative spirit that energizes me each day. Whether the artworks are formed from fibers and fabrics or canvas and paints, the inspiration for them tumbles through my brain like the rushing Lake Erie waters that crash against the rocky shore and drain back into itself generating another wave. How does one channel this energy into an artwork that speaks of that time and place? That’s what my blog site will share with you: How to take solitary moments and pull them into a kaleidoscope of color, beads, threads or paints that speak of that to you, the artist, and to you, the reader. Come join me on this journey. . .
Monthly Archives: May 2022
Graffiti: Checking out all the Wall Art
The Cherrywood Challenge this year was “Graffiti” so research included checking out all the local and world wall art projects, online examples, graffiti alphabets, and more. Since it couldn’t be political and by nature, graffiti is often “making a political statement”, it was a challenge! “What is Art”, the name of my entry, has always been a question so I free motion quilted definitions on top of the sunflower-like splats that had been quilted and then painted over. Lots of fun techniques on this! I love the vibrancy of the colors and the final design so am just waiting to see if the fabric company also likes it and wants it included in the touring show.
Anyone Need an Art Jacket?
After a number of requests, I held an art jacket making class this spring and found some wonderful ladies who created some very unique jackets. I expect each of them to enter theirs in the wearable art section of the September MVQG show this year. Mine will be entered too unless it is selected by Hoffman Fabrics to go on tour as part of their “Into the Meadow” Fabric Challenge. I’m waiting to hear about this at the moment but just finished the final beading of the buttons, creation of the appliqued dimensional flowers and painting portion.
A Green Wedding
Finished this beautiful all green quilt for Faith and Josh as they celebrated their wedding this spring. She graduated in landscaping and set the tone of their wedding for shades of green so . . . Figured she might like this! She did and even used it on the table going into the ceremony and reception. I loved all the greens going together in this modern wedding design. If you look closely, the free motion quilting overall is one of leaves, vines, small flowers and pebbles. I wanted to keep with a nature theme so tied this into the design.
What Happens at the End of the Semester?
It’s Wacky-Do Time for teachers, students and those of us with Fiber Arts challenges all due! No matter what, we all seem to gravitate to “school time” whether we are in it or not. So here goes:
___ Challenge for “Harmony” (Sacred Threads, Broadway gallery in northern Virginia on exhibit). Finished, submitted, juried in. (“It’s a Yin Yang Thing”)
This image was selected because balance as in Yin Yang just seems to go together with Harmony. Fabrics that were white with black and black with white were balanced within and circles were duplicated overall in the quilting pattern.
marykayhdesigns 