Work continues on "Fall Farm Stand"

After some delays, I‘m back to work on a piece based on a photo of gourds I took last fall. I’m calling it Fall Farm Stand. It is for a nice couple who traded me a piano for my daughter to play. 

The gourd I painted today is the one in the upper right hand corner of the photo below. It is dark orangish-red with dark gray sploches and a big yellow place where it was sitting on the ground while it grew.

I’ve decided that I should try to keep track of the hours I spend on some of my new pieces. Everyone always asks me “How much time did it take you to make this?” and I never know exactly what to say. I wonder whether these people place a monetary value on things that take a long time to make, or whether they are simply curious. Or do they think I just whip these things out, and that my prices are way too high? What is the appropriate hourly wage for an artist, anyway? Pricing is always a difficult issue for an artist.

After about two hours, here’s how the gourd looked, with the dark orange and yellow painted in:

Here’s how it looked after four hours, with the dark and light grays filled in, and some highlights and shadows added:

I will be adding the rest of the details with thread sketching and quilting. I’m doing all of the gourds on this piece separately. Some of the bumpier ones will have melted Tyvek pieces on them. Then they will all get needleturn appliqued down to the background before thread sketching. 

I spent about two hours working on the gray pumpkin earlier. You can read about it in my previous post. Total hours on this piece so far: approximately 6.

Underway: SAQA 2011 Auction Piece

I've started working on a piece that will eventually (hopefully sooner rather than later) be submitted to SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) for inclusion in their annual fund-raising auction. The pieces for the auction are small...measuring between 10" and 12" on each side.

Last year my piece was a miniature version of my "Out of the Mouths of Babes" mosaic series.

This year, my starting point is a single 5"x5" square that I made some time ago.









The technique for the square is one I learned a while back from Phyllis Tarrant, a member of the Charlotte Quilter's Guild. Phyllis, in turn, learned it at a workshop that she took. Phyllis, can you help me out here? I'd love to give credit to the workshop leader. (Phyllis to the rescue: the workshop she took was from Sue Brenner...)

You start out by ironing some fusible web to the wrong side of a fabric square. In the picture here, the fabric is sheer organza.

Other squares of fabric (also with fusible web) are cut up into funky shaped strips and shapes which are arranged on the the first fabric square.
Eventually, the various bits of fabric are ironed down and the "embellished" square is ready for use.

The squares can be used in any number of different ways.















In this piece (called "Havdalah") I took 16 squares, butted them up against one another, fused the squares and a border onto a piece of batting and backing, quilted the piece and then bound it.


The auction piece, will be different. I plan to use a single square and place it on a background of orange Dupioni silk. I like the texture and sheen of the silk.


The fun will be in making the rest of the decisions: what fabrics to add, what type of quilting, how to handle the binding....

Stay tuned, I'll let you know how I progress....

Debbie

Great News!!

Just received word that Kousa: A New Dogwood's in Town will be in Sandra Sider's upcoming publication: The Studio Quilt, no. 6: State of the Art.

A detail of the quilt is shown here.

Originally planned for 30 artists, Sandra is including 60 because of the great response and quality of the submissions she received.

This makes four books that will carry some of my work in the coming 12 months. The first out will be Susan Brubaker Knapp's book. Point, Click, Quilt! coming out next month. Susan's book will feature her extraordinary work, projects using her techniques, and a gallery photos and art work from other artists who use photos for imagery for their quilts.

Martha Seilman's book: Art Quilt Portfolio; The Natural World will be published in 2012. She selected me for one of the featured artists for the book and it will include both an interview and discussion of my work, my inspirations, my work processes and several of my quilts. I am very humbled by this terrific honor.

The last book will be the next publication of SAQA's Portfolio series of work by the Professional Art Members. It will be available as an on-line e-book on the SAQA site and as a printed book. This should be out in October 2011.

Nancy

PJ's Little Weaving Obsession

Inspired by a small handwoven pincushion from one friend and a credit card/cell neck wallet by another friend, I began playing with some small cardboard loom handweaving. As you can see by these photos, I've gotten a little obsessed -- maybe because it's so portable or easy or mindlessly soothing.

I started with some simple "intro to weaving for children" info on the web, like that found here http://www.biglearning.com/article-cardboard-loom.htm. Here's my starting loom: a cardboard insert from an old 5"x7" photo frame, notched with scissors every 1/8", and warped with pearl cotton.

A small (about 4"x6") not-yet-lined bag woven from leftover acrylic yarns.

A similarly sized bag woven from fabric strips

And, a smaller (about 3.5" x 5") drawstring pouch

I suspect these are not the last of my little wovens. -PJ-

Chuppah completed...wedding celebrated!

A while back I posted an entry about a chuppah (a traditional Jewish wedding canopy) in progress. I was commissioned to do the piece for two dear friends (Leslie Winner and Jerry Postema) who were about to be married.

Well, the chuppah got done in time to make its debut at the wedding.

You'll see, from the picture that the chuppah was held above the couple's heads, suspended from four wooden poles. As is traditional, the poles were held by those closest to the bride and groom - in this case their children and other beloved relatives.

I solved the problem of attaching the chuppah to the poles by sewing a fabric loop (heavily reinforced - but easy to remove at the end of the wedding) to each corner of the chuppah.

I threaded a binder ring, first through each fabric loop, and then through the "eye screw" found at the top of each wooden pole.


To pretty up the attachment, I passed streamers - made with fabrics used in the chuppah - through the ring binders.

The wedding itself was a joyous occasion...a celebration of two people finding each other, and love, in the 2nd half of life.


Here's the piece now...both the front and labels on the back.




I took off the loops, placed two sleeves on the quilt --- one for the hanging rod and a second on the bottom for a "weighting rod" (to keep the quilt hanging flat).

Of course, I'm looking forward to seeing the piece in Leslie and Jerry's home. But even more than that, I'm looking forward to watching them enjoy their lives together for many happy and healthy years to come.

Mazel tov!

Debbie

Grading a Quilt

Nope, we are not sending the quilt to school for one of the infamous tests.


At yesterday's meeting of Fiber Art Options, grading came up. Some of our members were not familiar with the term or concept. Those with some tailoring background were familiar with it, and why it is used.


Grading is a tailors term and technique to soften the edge that is created under the top fabric when sewing multiple fabrics together.


To see an explanation of the technique, tools used and results, check out my blog http://nancygcook.blogspot.com


Nancy

Shooting "The Quilt Show"

I went to Colorado Springs last week to shoot an episode of "The Quilt Show" with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. What a thrill to be on set with two quilters whose work I respect so much! “The Quilt Show” is an online TV show that can be viewed through the Internet by subscription. The shows feature fun interviews with all kinds of quilters and fiber artists, as well as lessons and information, and some great free stuff. 

I figured you might enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at my day. Ricky and Alex shoot some episodes on a set with a live studio audience, and some “on location.”

C&T Publishing had kindly provided copies of both of my books, Appliqué Petal Party (2009) and Point, Click, Quilt! (coming out in July). Actually, it was just a mock-up of my new book (the cover glued to the front of another C&T title), since my book has not gone to press yet. Here is the producer, Shelly Heesacker (below) holding the mock-up. Shelly produces segments for Oprah, and she was fabulous to work with, and a lot of fun.

Make-up on, quilts up, Ricky and Alex comfortably installed on the sofa in the Eaton’s family room, me squirming in an armchair, cameras rolling! We sat down to review with the crew how the interview portion of the show would run.

After that segment was shot, we moved to another room for the how-to parts of the show. Alex told me a funny story while I pressed the step-outs for the segment on creating bias vines that I shot with her:

Step outs are how you show all the different parts of the process you are demonstrating. (On a cooking show, they will show the ingredients, then some of them mixed together, then the batter in the pan, then the pan going into the oven, then the baked cake, then the iced and finished cake. Same concept here.)

Ricky found a piano and of course Shelly and I had to join in:

We even shot a little bit of me singing with Ricky as a lead-in to my segment with Alex. I have not sung much since high school (I starred in a few of my high school musicals), except in the shower, so I hope I sounded all right!

Alex and Ricky made shooting these how-to segments really fun and easy. Before each one, we set up all the equipment, step-outs, and the things we would use or talk about. Ricky patiently gave me a little lesson on how to use a high-end Bernina that has some features I was not familiar with because I don't have them on the Bernina I use at home. And yes, I had to free-motion thread sketch standing up!

Here is Ricky with the producer, director and crew watching me thread sketch to see if the camera was capturing everything from the correct angle:

This is a shot of me holding one of the projects (Nestling) that I demonstrated, which will be available from The Quilt Show as a free project when my show airs. I don’t know yet when that will be, but it will be part of the next season, which starts later this summer and runs through the end of this year, I think! Stay tuned and I’ll tell you the details once I get them.

New Work Under Way

I have a new series of small work underway. These rose hips are the first design. It is also a study in creating depth. For more details on depth, check out an earlier post on http:nancygcook.blogspot.com. For background on the rose hips check out my recent blog at: http:nancygcook.blogspot.com

Nancy

Sewn By Hand Book Review - Loved This Book!

Sewn by Hand, by Susan Wasinger and published by Lark Crafts, is a delightful book of two dozen projects to be stitched with needle and thread.


The projects are varied to suit many interests and styles. The inside front states: unplug sewing from the machine and make 24 super-cute projects the slow crafts way: by hand. Sewing without electricity is fun, eco-friendly, and mobile, allowing everything you stitch to tag along to cafes, on trips, to sporting events, and to other social occasions the way knitting and crochet projects can.


The layout of the projects makes it easy to determine the level of skills needed, the portability of the materials, the required materials and tools. Templates are included as well.


My first project will be the Sewing kit for on-the-move stitchers. The author states :"This clever little kit carries all the tools-of-the-stitching-trade. Even better, the very making of it teaches you all the stitches a competent hand seamstress will ever need. It's a tiny treasure (5 x 7 inches closed, 11 x 13 open) that holds your gadgets, your notions, and a good bit of your stitch wisdom, too." Looks like the perfect way to stay organized with my hand sewing needs on trips and moving from studio to living room sewing. Practical but a fun project as well.


The project on the cover, Owie Puffs for Boo-Boos, is perfect for a new baby gift or the loved grandchild. It consists of 3 sizes of thermal packs to soothe little ones' bumps and bruises.


The author, Susan Wasinger (who was taught to sew at age four by her couture-trained grandmother) reveals simple embellishments and embroidery techniques that will give your work designer style.


This book is the perfect way to join the slow crafts movement. When you sew without a sewing machine, you plug into community and portability.

It was a great pleasure to read this book and to contemplate the different projects. I recommend it heartily.

Nancy

Twelve by Twelve Book Review - A Charmer!!

This delightful art quilt book was sent to me by Lark Books to review. What a pleasure that is! I love books, especially when they are interesting, tell me something I want to know, and are written by people who have a new experience to share and share it well.

The concept for the book is simple, 12 people each came up with a different theme for a 12" x 12" quilt series, such as: Shelter, Illumination, Water, Identity. Then each person interpreted the theme in her own way, resulting in 144 different small quilts with unique styles and concepts for 12 themes. For each theme, the artists had 2 months to create and reveal their artwork to each other.

In the two years of doing the challenges, the twelve women from three different continents, got to know each other well and formed on-line friendships. Since beginning they have each gotten to meet at least one of member of the Twelve.

While the concept is simple, the execution is excellent and the resulting book that documents their two-year quilt adventure is a highly engaging book that can be read quickly or slowly for more depth. Each of the twelve themes is laid out in a chapter, with one of the Twelve writing about her experience and often telling a bit about the others' experiences as well. Each person writes a brief note about her quilt on the theme. Photos for each of the pieces makes the book rich. In addition, there is information on how to form a challenge group, even an international one. And lots of tips along the way.

I wanted to wait until I had read the book entirely, but it has become my favorite bedside book for slow reading and absorbing. So this review is based on a overview of the layout of the book and a careful reading of the first three chapters (themes). The book is a delight. I recommend it heartily.

Nancy

My new book is coming out in July!

I have some very exciting news that I’ve been wanting to share with you for more than a year, but I had to wait until now… I’ve written a second book! It is called Point, Click, Quilt! Turn Your Photos into Fabulous Fabric Art, and it will be released by C&T Publishing this July.

The book includes 16 artful projects inspired by my digital photographs.

In the book, I show how to compose and shoot dynamic digital photos from a quilter’s perspective. You can follow the fun workshop-style exercises and step-by-step directions to turn your photos into small art quilts, both realistic and abstract. Most of my projects use fused batik and hand-dyed fabrics, but four projects include innovative materials (paint, Tyvek, Angelina fibers, and foils).

I think you’ll also be inspired by the gallery section of the book, which includes beautiful work by other gifted art quilters I know, including some members of Fiber Art Options.

If you are interested in learning more about my book as it gets closer to the release date, please e-mail me at susan@bluemoonriver.com. I'll add you my mailing list and let you know when you can order the book.  

Here’s a peek at the projects:

The Unexpected Rewards (and Awards!) of Internet Surfing.

I was off in cyberspace a while ago and came across a call for entries from the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences in Rocky Mount (NC).

Rocky Mount lies between Raleigh and the North Carolina coast. It's a town rooted in tobacco and cotton...the hometown of musician Thelonius Monk and novelist Kaye Gibbons. If you're looking for a burger and fries, it has the oldest operating Hardee's fast food franchise.

But the arts? Not exactly - or so I thought.

Still, the description of "Handcrafted," a juried national show intrigued me.

The show celebrates traditional and non-traditional craft media and so I took a chance, sent in some images. I was delighted when "Out of the Mouths of Babes: Purple Lips" and "Under the Watchful Eye of Queen Charlotte" were juried in.

Husband Joal and I had the pleasure of attending the opening and seeing the Arts Centre firsthand. We were stunned by what we saw:










a 135,000 square foot state-of-the-art cultural facility that houses an arts center, children's museum / science center, and community performing arts theatre.

The Centre occupies the former sites of the Imperial Tobacco Company and Rocky Mount's Braswell Memorial Library.


The huge iron doors of tobacco furnaces and the high-ceilinged exposed brick galleries are a perfect backdrop for the center's eclectic collection of sophisticated contemporary art and craft.



















The show itself was a treat, with its mix of metal, ceramics, glass, and - of course - fiber.


Including "Emergence" by Nancy Kimpel (Oconomowoc, WI)...












Laura Gaskin's (Fairview, NC) "Lost"











and a stunningly different piece, "Nasar," by Leslie Pearson (Leland, NC). This intriguing scroll (10 feet long?) was accompanied by a time-lapse video showing the scroll as it was being created.





..











Of course, I was delighted to see my pieces hung in the gallery as well...

Both "Out of the Mouths of Babes..."



and

"Under the Watchful Eye of Queen Charlotte."





And if a lovely day at a wonderful opening wasn't enough, "Queen Charlotte" won 2nd place!

A very happy ending to be sure....

Debbie

A "Chuppah" Under Construction: process and progress

I've recently been commissioned to do a chuppah for some friends who are about to tie the knot.

"What's a chuppah?" you may well ask.

It's a Jewish wedding canopy, a structure that forms a roof over a bride and groom during their wedding ceremony. Although the chuppah symbolizes many aspects of love and marriage, it's most often described as representing the couple's future home. It's openness -- no walls surround it -- symbolizes the hospitality and generosity that the couple hopes will be a hallmark of their home.

Fortunately, my friends prefer simplicity. A good thing since the wedding is at the end of January and a highly complex design might have put me in a tailspin.

Since I've never made a chuppah, I thought it might be fun to document the process:

So where to begin? I wound up being inspired by a Celtic chain that forms the borders of my friends' ketubah (a traditional Jewish marriage contract) and abstracted the chain into a series of braided designs.



The braided theme seemed apropos. It's reminiscent of braided challah bread that's served for Sabbath and festival meals. But it also seemed symbolic of the marriage: two friends weaving the individual strands of their very full and active lives into a new, even richer, life together.

The couple chose the 2nd design...shown
here with the strands of the braid shaded.

The basic design seemed "okay," but I wasn't quite satisfied
with the dark strand. It seemed too clunky...

So back to the drawing board for revision:

I decided to add a couple of twists to the darker braid and this has become the final sketch....





and here's the mock-up with fabric in the couple's chosen colors: deep blue, claret red, and harvest gold.



The only problem here, the braids seemed too "flat."

So back to the drawing board one more time to add some dimension with some lighter colored fabrics.





Here's the pencil sketch mock-up for the "final" final draft...












and the "final" final mock-up in fabric...

Well almost...the braids need to be lowered a bit so that the design is more or less centered on the vertical.

And I'm still pondering the top and bottom borders (shown here in blue)...

We've all (bride, groom, and me) decided not to use a border on the sides. We wanted nothing to restrict the flow of the braids and the life that my friends will share together.

But perhaps the border should contain all three colors? or maybe just the blue and claret (since a light gold will form the background for the piece).

I'm on my way with this...and I'll post the finished product...*eventually.*

But in the meantime...suggestions for my border conundrum are welcome. Please feel free to leave a comment!

Debbie