Books on Sunday

I'm a trifle distracted these days with too many deadlines, but I did want to tell you about a package that the postman brought earlier this week. The Customs Declaration said knitting book and DH suggested that I already had too many knitting books (preposterous, I'd say!). But honestly I didn't remember ordering the Art Quilt Collection book that was in the package.

 I spent some time looking through the book, lovely, yummy pictures and discovered this little gem on page 130! I had long forgotten having sent this in when I received a call for entry in Dec. 2009. So it was a wonderful surprise to not only get a book in the mail but discover that it had a quilt of mine too!

Window

There are many other illustrious artist in the book including my friend Daphne Greig (page 78), Elizabeth Barton (pages 38, 79), Marianne Burr (page 110), Lisa Call (page 41) and many more.

The back blurb states: Using the well-established methods and styles of the centuries-old handicraft, art quilts combine fabrics and other materials to create innovative, stunning, and contemporary results. Art Quilt Collection profiles several artists in the field-many of them award-winning-along with their creations, showing readers the step-by-step process by which scraps of fabric become vibrant works of art. Readers will be inspired to experiment with quilting techniques and create their own unique pieces.

This book would be a great addition to your art quilt collection.

Books on Sunday

Back again with another book....I figure I could post every Sunday for about 10 years and maybe get through my library. But, I have another friends who might still be working at it 20 years later......

I picked this book up on a whim, I loved the cover, stitch and paper and some yellow, rare in a book cover!

The Found Object in Textile Art by Cas Holmes

ISBN: 9781596683327

The back blurb says: Explore the elements and popular practice of using found objects in mixed-media and textile art with Cas Holmes. Cas, renowned for her use of "the found" and her many-layered, atmospheric pieces, presents a wealth of tips and ideas for this technique.

Inside you'll discover:

• where to search for found objects and how to recycle previously used materials
• techniques to conceive and build a piece around a found object
• the range of found objects--from natural materials such as driftwood to manufactured pieces of machinery to even mundane objects like CD cases
• how found objects can be used to create stunning pieces and lend deep meaning to a work

The Found Object in Textile Arts showcases how to combine mixed-media and fiber-arts techniques to create art with personal, narrative qualities.

What I like about the book:
     Lots of text and words, explanations, philosophy and concepts. Cas, the author, doesn't drive a car and so in walking has a different appreciation for her surroundings....interesting thought that we are insulated from our environment when we step into a vehicle.

My issue with this book and many others on the market is a lack of good foundations in design. A newcomer to mixed media might think that its all about putting "stuff" together. Art can never be just about that.

Would I recommend this book? Sure, borrow it from your library. If you want to buy it, then try: http://www.interweavestore.com/

Little Crazy Quilt - CD Release!

I'd like to introduce my special friend, Cathy Miller and tell you a bit about her. I first met Cathy about eight years ago when she and her husband, John Bunge, moved to Victoria. We crossed paths in the local quilt shops and became friends and kindred quilters. We've travelled together on several quilt cruises and meet once a week in our little satellite group. Cathy always has great stores about her adventures, travelling and singing for quilt guilds and shops around the world.
Now her latest CD (fifth in the "quilting" series) has been released and I've heard several songs. I think its absolutely dynamite! Here's a little bit of the promo "blurb" and a picture of the cover art that Cathy sent me:

This CD features an eclectic mix of songs in the folk/blues/rock and Celtic music realm. There are some history songs, some sentimental songs, and some hilarious songs – the winning mix that has made all of Cathy’s recordings so popular. Once again, she has recorded at The Millstream in Toronto, and the songs are enhanced by some of the best session musicians in that city, under the guidance of Paul Mills, producer.

Because this is Cathy’s 10th solo CD (there were 5 before she started writing about quilting), she has slipped into the mix a couple of “pre-quilting” favourites: one about a small cove near Halifax, Nova Scotia, and one that was sung at their wedding -- a love song written in Calgary. She’s also found two old songs: “The Sewing Machine” from the movie “Perils of Pauline” which Betty Hutton sang so lustily from her sweatshop; and the title track, “Little Crazy Quilt”, a gem from the Patti Page songbook. The rest are penned by Cathy herself.

If you'd like to learn more about Cathy and her music, check out her website: http://www.singingquilter.com/ . If she travels to a guild near to you, don't miss a performance!

One Word Wednesday

Sunken!

Books on Sunday

I collect books a bit like I collect fabric....I admit to being a bit of a book junkie, not as much as some friends but my library is growing at a rather disturbing rate! So I thought I'd introduce you to some of my collection.
I'd like to tell you a bit about the book, where you can find it and whether I'd recommend it to my friends and perhaps this can turn into a regular series of posts.

So, the first book has sat beside my bed for a couple of weeks and I read a few of pages every night.

Contrasting Elements by Jae Maries

ISBN: 978-0-9555371-6-5

http://www.jaemaries.com/index.html

The back blurb says:

Well respected textile artist Jae Maries shows how to bring dynamism into your textile work with the use of contrast: contract in colour, contrast in materials and contrast in imagery.

The techniques explored are very simple and are described through step-by-step instructions which can become the basis for work in greater depth. Paper techniques translate to fabric and stitch and the book's concentration on contrast will electrify your work.

Discover contrasts, by painting, cutting, knotting, knitting, weaving, wrapping and stitching.

What I like about this book:

• Like many books published in the UK, the photos are fabulous, lush and dynamic.
  The book layout is very good, its an easy book to leaf through with a cup of coffee.
• The content is laid out as a series of lessons or exercises with Extension Exercises and Exploring Your Work with good explanation of design elements.

You might have issues with this book if you were expecting to work just on fabric, many of the exercises are with paper, bits and pieces and stuff.
You can find the book at Amazon, but its out of stock, try http://meinketoy.com/index.htm

Definitely read Jae's article in the Embroiderers Guild website: http://embroidery.embroiderersguild.com/99-4/maries.htm

New Batik Workshop!

Surface Design Class

Resists, Rubbings

and Repetition

with Soy Wax

Susan Purney Mark

Learn three great techniques to apply colour to cloth with

thickened dyes and soy wax. Students will experiment with

painted batik, soy wax crayons and screen printing while

learning design principles, mark making and colour theory. Soy

wax is biodegradable and easy to remove with washing!

Students will make a variety of samples which can be used for

further exploration in quilting and stitch.

November 9-10, 2010

10am-4pm

$130.00 (includes kit fee and snacks)

Studio G Art

7298 Somenos Road

Duncan, BC V9L 5Z9

Call 250-595-4374 to register

One Word Wednesday

Starburst!

New Work

I have some pieces going into an Exhibition next week and I've just finished the mounting. A long slog, it took me most of the afternoon in the midst of making a couple batches of Salsa. That'll teach me for planting 25 tomato plants!
These two pieces are a departure for me, as they were worked over a couple of months, they were portable fabric collage work that I took with me on road trips, planes, waiting rooms and such. I used a variety of fabrics from vintage damask, linen, silk and dyed cottons. I dyed all the fabrics, screen printed and stamped and then hand stitched everything. It became a meditative exercise and entirely enjoyable!
I was inspired by Jude Hill at http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/ I greatly admire her work and the philosophy she uses in her work. Check it out.....

Fragmentia

12" x 22"

$250

close up

 a soma dos dias

19" x 19"

$375

close up

Visit the Exhibition at the Loft Art Gallery

260-2720 Mill Bay Road, Mill Bay, BC

from Sept. 28- Oct. 28th



One Word Wednesday

Just Seedy!

One Word Wednesday

Summers End