Inspired by Maggie Grey

I'm doing an experiment with the first series of techniques from Grey's book. At this point I have applied Wonder Under to Timtex, ironed tissue paper over some areas and then applied very heavy gesso and a bit of "cement" medium plus a smattering of coarse salt. It will be drying over night.

Favorite Book (of the Moment)

If you've been following my blog for awhile you are aware that I am a huge fan of the contemporary British needleworkers. I've studied with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn for a week on three occasions and read and collect everything that I can get my hands on in this vein. My latest find, published in 2008, (how did it take me four years to find this???) is this gem from Maggie Grey who is in the pantheon of these embroiderers. Here she layers gesso upon Tyvek, upon felt upon paint and MUCH else, zaps it all with heat and magically creates the most wonderful textile art. No, I'm not getting a commission, sadly, but I do recommend this book to anyone who wants to push fiber into the world of deep texture and sparkling color. I'm playing around with some of these techniques and will post when I get some samples.

Off to FiberPhiladelphia for lots openings this weekend including Lines and Numbers at the Crane Old School Galleries where I have a piece - Harem - in the Art Cloth Network shows. Be there if you can!!

All Moved in to My New Studio Annex

Everything is now set up at the annex and I've begun some preliminary work there on the Chroma Project which I expect to occupy me over the next year or so. More about that later...

5 Strands Challenge

I have finished my 4th embroidery in the round robin series we call 5 Strands. This is a response to three other pieces I received in the mail last month. I don't feel free to post the others' work (yet) but here is what I have come up with. All the work is 8" x 8" There is one more round to go which will start in April then we just may put the entire 25 pieces out into the world.

Check it out

For great photos of my Lamination demo for the Southern CA SAQA region, take a look at their blog posting: http://saqasocal.blogspot.com/

New Workshop!

Please let me know if you need more info!

Ready for tomorrow

About two dozen members of the Southern California region of the Studio Art Quilt Associates will be here for a show and share plus a demo tomorrow. I will be demonstrating the addition of paper to fabric and then its visual integration into an overall composition by using ink, paint and other media, and then stitch. This is a day-long workshop I offer but tomorrow's version is just a teaser. The pix show FiberFly Studios in pristine condition awaiting the excitement of tomorrow's events.

Okay, how the . . . am I going to stitch that???

So I had the underlying quilt done and then I decided to add the painted tulle ghost circles. And there they are just waiting to be stitched but on top of all that laminated paper??? Am I really going to have to resort to the sewing machine? Me, the hand-stitcher? What to do. Maybe I'll have an inspiration while I'm sleeping tonight. Let's hope so, I'd hate to submit this baby with the pins still in!! (Or with any machine stitches either.) Got any suggestions?

Fun!!

We are rushing off to San Diego for the opening tonight of Art Meets Science at the Visions Art Museum. My piece Wood Cells is there and other than the catalog I have not seen the whole exhibition so we are excited. Meanwhile I'm posting my new enthusiasm (my answer to not being able to get Korean mulberry paper for joomchi) - cotton linters. I've been painting and dyeing up a storm with it. Better photos to come!