Can you stand one more snippet experiment? This is a photo of a tree printed on rust-dyed fabric (a white-on-white print). It has been thread painted with a YUMMY variegated thread from Linda Palaisy. The leaves are snippets of several different fabrics, stitched down with a very fine bobbin thread from Wonderfil.

It's a little busy, but I like the 3-d effect of the snippets.

It's been snowing here all day and it's beginning to pile up. I love sitting in front of the fireplace, wrapped in a quilt, sipping hot tea and watching the snow fly by the window. Cozy!

This little piece is for Holiday Mail for Heroes, sponsored by the American Red Cross. Here is the URL, if you'd like to know more:

http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

Details for the give away are almost complete. So, stay tuned!

I delivered four holiday postcards to Artlink yesterday. They have more than 200 entries for this exhibit! Deb Washler the executive director said this was an experiment and they are thrilled by the response. The "hallway" gallery had been designated for this exhibit and next year they will dedicate the main gallery to it! Cool!

Well, I think I finally have a handle on the snippet technique. This vintage Father Christmas is printed on silk and framed with snippets.

Compare it with the Winter Bouquet, which is also printed on silk and framed with snippets. In Winter Bouquet it looks like the background is all one fabric; in Father Christmas the background is obviously more than one piece.

Tips:
1. Use larger pieces
2. Use fabrics with greater contrast
3. Stitch with larger thread
4. Stitch with less density

This is all in readiness for a major piece I'll be donating to my church just before Easter 2009.

First Snowfall

What a beautiful day! Snow is falling, covering grass, roads, and the skin of ice on the ponds. Elsie has never seen snow before and she is fun to watch as she romps and throws it into the air. She’s doing better leaving the sweatshirt on while outside, and even for a few seconds inside.

I’ve been working on fabric holiday cards (see example above) for an exhibit at Artlink here in town, some art exchanges, and for Holiday Mail for Heroes (sponsored by the Red Cross). Here’s the link, if you’re interested: http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

Between the snow and the holiday cards, I am in a CHRISTMAS MOOD! Christmas music is playing on the CD player and there are plans for a fire in the fireplace—and maybe even getting holiday decorations out of the attic.

I finally figured out how to put artwork in the title box across the top of the blog, but still can’t center the text inside the box. Fortunately, the color and stitching texture draws the eye and disguises the spacing problem.

It’s cold and bright today. The sun is streaming through the windows, providing the perfect nap spot for Sydney (black lab), Elsie, and The Doggie Daddy (DH). Sydney is stretched out on the catwalk upstairs, safe for the moment, from the rambunctious puppy. And Elsie is snug on the lap of whomever is in the sun. She still won’t leave the little sweatshirt on and shivers in the slightest chill, which is no surprise given her size and lack of insulation.

The photo today is the two-page spread in the next round-robin book. The rust-dyed fabric background provides interesting color and texture—and I really like the additional complexity of the stamped ivy leaves.

I'm putting the finishing touches on a rust-dyed gift set give away, so stay tuned for details!

Beautiful Thanksgiving Day!

The frost(ing) is on the pumpkin (cake) and my family’s all in shock! (With apologies to James Whitcomb Riley.)

What a wonderful day it was yesterday! With family and new neighbors gathered around the table, we paused to remember loved ones who could not be with us and celebrated the holiday with laughter and love. (It was my dad’s birthday and would have been 93 years old. He died in 2000, but wonderful memories keep him close.)

It wasn’t quite cool enough for a fire in the fireplace yesterday, but the overcast sky and chilly temp today holds great promise for tonight.

I didn’t work at all yesterday, but enjoyed spending time on a website with examples of beautiful fiber art of a Japanese man. Follow this link and click on the slide show. The pieces are very interesting and it would be a treat to see them in person. The textural detail is fascinating!
http://www.wallpaper.com/art/tetsuo-fujimoto-exhibition-london/2796

This is the two-page spread in the altered book round robin with some local arty friends. There are eight of us in this round robin, which will be complete next June!

The theme is "Home" and the pages are cut from Fast2Fuse heavyweight, my favorite stiff interfacing.

The book rings are holding the pages together temporarily, just until the pages are all completed. Then I'll bind it properly.

The first spread is so important and it's fun to set the tone for the whole book. The background is rust-dyed fabric with painted surface details. There is a tag inside the pocket on the right and the quotation reads "Home is heaven for beginners. —Channing Pollock."

My studio associate Lori will work in it next. I can't wait to see the next book!

DH is out of the studio for coffee with a friend, so my job is to complete the DSL installation while he's gone. Elsie is helping and we're having a grand time. LOL!