Sun and Sea

     This is one of many ideas I have about what I would like my "art quilts" to look like.  A real attempt for me to incorporate my hand dyed fabrics, commercial fabrics and all the "treasures" I collect wherever my path may take me!  (Truth be told - I am one of those people who looks at the ground as I walk, looking for little pieces of metal and non-gross items to pick up and use in my artwork!)  It may be the texture that catches my eye, anything round or just simply something rusty.  Read here about how I would go with my daughters on treasure hunts and end with what I titled a "Discovery Vase".
     After following Deborah Boschert and being so inspired by her work.  I decide to take the plunge and create my own art quilt with my various ideas and found objects.  Mrs. Boschert is part of the group Twelve by Twelve, where her and 11 friends create 12x12 quilts on various themes every 2 months or so.  They just compiled a book titled Twelve by Twelve The International Art Quilt Challenge.  Click on the link and you will see it on the right side.  I purchased it recently and it really is a feast for the eyes!  So many interpretations!!  Very inspirational!!!
 

And here is my first real attempt at an art quilt....  still so much to learn.....



 

Sun and Sea

12x12

Materials used:  hand dyed fabric, commercial fabric, burlap, silk gauze, dark-annealed steel wire, buttons, shells, rocks, various beads, fabric paint, various sewing and embroidery threads, twine

A detail photo of the "sun"

Another detail photo of an attached treasure

Sea written in wire and attached with twine

Porous shells and pebbles.  Some thread trash also used. 

Most wrapped in wire and or hand dyed fabric.

back view

Self critique:  Very raw, which has a good appeal but still needs a more polished look.  Binding is troublesome.  Is the theme too obvious, needs more subtlety?  Not enough variety, too many horizontal lines maybe?  Sleeve too long in back.  Needs more texture with hand stitching.  Nice attachment techniques.  Needs more free-motion quilting.

Rebuttal:  I strongly dislike binding and is probably a large part of why I have taken this long to create an art quilt.  I also find difficulty in placing the sleeve on the back in just the right location.  I enjoy the gray background and love the raw edges.

I am happy to have a finished piece under my belt and know that I am one step closer to gaining more knowledge and experience in this interesting world of art quilts and "assemblage" if I may.

Looking for the small treasures in this world on this artist holiday,

hannah

Some Summer Pictures

My summer travels did not take me around the world or even around the country but I did get out none the less and enjoyed the patterns and textures all around me!  Her are just a few...

Avon, NC

June

nothing like a beautiful wave

colorful sunfish sailboat out just a bit

nice fire on the beach

kids looking for sand crabs with flashlights

My Aunt Rosie's shell garden

a shell waiting just for me on my morning run

had to be quickly sketched!

Washington, DC

August

The beautiful ceiling at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

A favorite artist of mine - Wayne Thiebaud

Jack Pot Machine

just stunning in person

Lloyd G. Schermer

An American Puzzle

hard to say good bye to such a fun summer!

trying to catch the last rays of summer on this artist holiday,

hannah

30 pantry sketchbooks

I decided to use my pantry sketchbooks ..

30 of them...

for journals/memory verse dwellers and journaling/drawing.

I am helping teach in the 2nd grade class during Wednesday night church meetings this school year.  Our time is limited and I thought the pantry sketchbooks would be a great idea for many reasons;

1.  Practice writing skills by writing short verses from the weeks' lesson

2.  Each child designs their own cover

3.  Teaching the thought "use what you have already"

4.  Explore journaling and drawing

5.  Hoping the children will thrive with having their own personal sketchbook to go to every week!

Each was bound with black acrylic yarn.  Each book has 10 blank sketchbook pages.

Week one results:  I am happy to report that they were received very well and the creativity has begun!

taking a simple idea and running with it on this artist holiday,

hannah

Another First

Now that the routine is coming back around, I am ready to dig in and find my artistic flow again!  I have had a summer of craziness, relaxation, travels and adventures!! But all good things must come to an end - which means fresh beginnings for the fall.  And what a way to push into this coming of a new season than to share my first published magazine article!!!!  I am delighted to share (because I have handheld proof now) that I am officially a "free-lance artist and writer"!  Details below;

Magazine:  Quilting Arts Gifts  Holiday 2011-2012

Pages:  68-70  (Yep, 3 page spread!!!)

Article subject:  Rag Ball Ornaments 

My article title and name in the contents!!!

And here it is...

First and second pages

Close-up of the first page of the article.

Last page of the article.

For those not familiar with this publication, Quilting Arts is not your run-of-the-mill sewing magazine!  This magazine covers various fabric techniques and other creative outlets for your artistic endeavors.  I like to think this publication is for those of us who love to go "off roading"  with our sewing supplies and collage elements!  And Quilting Arts Gifts is a publication they do one a year as a holiday issue.  It is packed full of project instructions and also each artist submitted their favorite holiday recipe!

Thank you to the staff at Quilting Arts for this opportunity!!  I am excited to be a part of this year's issue!

attempting and succeeding at new ventures on this artist holiday,

hannah