FOUND

 

A lovely new site filled with stitch and fiber,

called textileartist.org from all over the whirled

(sorry,  couldn't get the link to work even after 3 tries)

Take a peek.

Bet you'll find some hand stitchers you'll recognize.

TOO BEAUTIFUL TO USE

Recently I received this gorgeous handcrafted pillow in the mail 

from a remarkable Mixed Media Artist,

Jen Mullen of Bayou Quilts and Dolls.

I have showcased a couple of her pieces over the years under Professional Fiber Artist Jenclair,

but she is so much more than a fiber artist!

I hope you are able to take the time and pull her up in my search engine

 to see the pieces she has made for me over the years,

and to visit her blogsite to  see all that she does.

Her work is exquisite as you can see here in the close-ups.

When she read on my blog that I had retired she created this amazing piece for me.

It's too special to put on a couch or chair 

so my husband suggested I put it in a shadowbox type frame

and display it on a wall in our home.  

Brilliant idea!

The only thing about that type of display is you won't be able to turn it over

and see this very cool hand holding a pen writing with Kantha stitch around it.

Love that detail Jen!!

Thank you,

I adore your work and so appreciate all your time and energy you put into this.

DISPLAYING ARTWORK

This tiny & stunning piece of hand stitching (4" by 4")

was done by one of my favorite Fiber Artists,

Hazel Montes of Handstories.

I purchased it from her shop about a year ago

 and finally figured out how I wanted to frame it out.

I have used this technique now a couple of times with Hazel's tiny Sailing Ships,

and love that you can hang them in a window to enjoy.

I also love the fact that I'm re-purposing 

these vintage crochet doilies.

Now I'm going to send this off to one of my all time favorite students 

whose coming to visit in August from her second semester abroad studying Architecture,

Karisma Dev. 

While with me for each of her 6 years at Whitney,

she studied all the Fiber and Sculptural Arts,

Beginning thru Special Studies 3-D Art,

as well as Beginning 2-D art. 

I know she will love and appreciate Hazel's handwork & design as much as I do.

If you have the time or interest,

insert Karisma's name into my search engine

 and you can see many of the pieces she created for me over the years.

She is also top in her class at Syracuse University

and I couldn't be more proud of her!

FRENCH GENERAL INSPIRED

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I spent the weekend with my son and his fiance'.

They asked me where I'd like to visit and I immediately said French General,

a fabulous French based arts, crafts & antique store in downtown L.A.

It was my second visit to this impressive store,

and to really see everything it would take at least an hour.

But I tried really hard to not make the kids wait that long.

  LOL 

I spotted this very cool Boro Tote kit.

It came in Indigo or French Reds.

I asked Zach's fiance' Nicole if she liked the look of the finished tote on the package

and which color she preferred.

She chose the Indigo Blue.

YES!!

I was actually buying it for her mother as a Xmas gift.

Her mother Mary is an outstanding stitcher/quilter/knitter,

but after I brought it home to wrap I just couldn't seem to part with it.

It seemed to be calling to me.

So I ended up getting Mary something else just as nice.

I've been interested in Japanese Boro for about the past 5 years,

researching the techniques,

even looking for an original antique piece to buy to teach with from Japan.

But I've never used the technique myself.

It's a mending process,

used for hundreds of years to patch clothing with.

I rationalized this was my big chance to try it out.

So I kept the kit for myself and worked on it my entire Xmas break and beyond.

I have to be honest,

at first I wasn't a fan,

but the more I stitched the better I liked it.

Hundreds of stitches go into it, 

and I was sewing thru 3 layers of cloth;

the indigo fabrics, many of them overlapped,

a piece of cotton batting and the linen tote,

so sometimes 4 where the overlaps were.

What was really great was that there were leftover Indigo fabrics,

so I used them to make a pocket on the inside (above).

which wasn't part of the original kit instructions.

I also didn't use the stitch patterns they suggested.

In addition,

I wanted the bag to have more structure so I sewed up the bottom corners,

(something else that wasn't in the instructions),

used a piece of Indigo Shibori fabric I had in my stash,

and a piece of plastic netting material,

and made a bottom to support the bag.

All hand sewn and appliqued.

A 7th grader last year had given me an Indigo dyed velvet button he made as a gift.

I saved it and used in on the front along with an antique crochet covered button from my stash.

This Wednesday I'll be attending the courthouse wedding of my son Zach to Nicole,

and it will be one of their many wedding gifts I have planned.

I'm super excited and just can't believe this day is finally here.

We will be flying to Hawaii for their actual destination family/friend ceremony 

so I'm hoping they can use it as their beach/travel bag.

The courthouse wedding is just a technicality 

because the state of California requires it if you are getting married out of state.

This is news to me.

But two celebrations are better than one!

P.S.  I gave the bag a good washing to help fray many of the cloth edges

Look closely at the third photo.

WITH HER HANDS AND HER HEART

Hazel Montes of Handstories blog fame 

stitches the most delicate and lovely stories onto tiny pieces of cloth.

These delicious works are no more than 3 inches by 3 inches

and come wrapped in their own lovely piece of indigo dyed cloth

encased in a handwritten note card that Hazel has printed her stitchery on.

Absolutely delightful to open and enjoy.

When I open one of these

(I have bought several over the past couple of years to teach with)

I gasp with awe at her fine stitching with the tiniest of thread.

She sells select works in her shop,

but you've got to be quick as they sell out extremely fast.

I have been trying to scoop up one of her trees for a couple of months now and I recently scored!

My 3-D student where in awe the other day when I brought in this piece to share with them.

They couldn't believe how small it was and how she manages to do such fine work.

Incredible Hazel,

we love you!

FOR YOU INNA

For the past three years I've purchased a piece of needle art from Handstories Hazel Monte

to give to one of my most hardworking 3-D students.

I adore Hazel's work and follow her blog religiously.

Her stitching and intuitive designs are remarkable and I love sharing her with my students.

This year I chose senior Inna Sikar.

I have adored Inna since the 7th grade Art Wheel class where her 

goodness & positivity shone brightly.

She brings joy to my classroom 

and the younger kids adore her because she is like a second mom to them.

She is one of the most giving, encouraging youngsters I've ever worked with.

She returned to me last year for the Beginning 2-D course where I got to know her even better.

One of the things that most impressed me last year 

and continues in the Beginning 3-D class she takes with me this year,

is her ability to read my mind and anticipate my every need during class.

Oftentimes when I go into Right Brain when I demonstrate I will forget my words,

 and she will remind and fill in for me which is so appreciated,

or when I need someone behind the checkout counter she will go back there and get out supplies without me asking her too.

She just gives and gives,

and is always so happy to help out.

She gives me all her effort on each assignment,

oftentimes turning in one of the best pieces in the class.

She also comes in after school to touch bases with me & check on me,

asking me if I had a rough or a good day.

And if it's been a rough one she sits and listens while I vent.

And then offers very real, uplifting advice,

so that I go home feeling her positivity & good heart.

So Inna,

I hope you know how much you are thought of,

how much you are appreciated,

and how much you are loved.

And as you sail off from here this June and make your way in the world,

know that you are taking a piece of my heart with you.

When you look at Hazel's piece,

 I hope you will remember how special you are,

and how very proud  of you I am

& how blessed I feel that you have passed thru my classroom & my life. 

xoxoxoxoxo

And I bet those three 8th grade boys that sit & surround you feel the same way

with all the sage advice you give them!

ha ha

TOO/TWO COOL & NEW!

I'm really excited to share with you that my all time favorite Yarn Store,

Alamitos Bay Yarn Co. in the Marina Pacifica in Long Beach Ca.

not only is offering (besides Knitting & Crochet) Weaving, Spinning & now 

Stitching on hand dyed fabrics classes.

Oh yeah!

The Fiber Arts are alive and thriving in Southern Ca.

The owner of Alamitos Bay tells me that the recent revival of weaving is keeping 

a lot of small owner yarn shops in the area alive.

I sure hope that's happening across our country as well.

In the last 10 years we have lost so many wonderful yarn stores here in the southland.

Every time one has closed it just hurts my heart so much,

because one of my favorite activities when I have time off 

is to travel far and wide to visit yarn stores.

And..........  I also recently discovered that one of our Alum,

Lacey Koch,

along with her mother,

 own a yarn store called 

Yarning for You in San Marcos, Ca. which makes me jump for joy.

I can't wait to visit her store this summer.

Her sister Leslie was one of my best ceramics students back in the day.

And Leslie and I just found each other last nite on FB.

What a small exciting world!

INSPIRED

About 6 or so years ago I found textile artist Deborah Lacativa 

and fell in love with her and her work.

I wrote to her to introduce myself and told her about my young 3-D students.

She graciously sent me a box of her delightful hand dyed linen pieces

that I gave to my students to work with.

From each of those pieces I cut a small piece for myself to stitch with alongside my young ones.

Of course my students finished their pieces 

but it wasn't until this summer that I finally finished mine.

I was tremendously moved and inspired by her art pieces at the time,

so Deb,

this is what I came up with.

Thank you for sharing with us,

and letting me learn from you.

And I dedicate this to you and your generosity.

I don't know about all you stitchers out there,

but I carry my work with me wherever I go.

I have with me at all times at least 3-4 bags with different ongoing projects

that I toss onto the floorboard of my car.

They get accidently stepped on,

spilled on,

tossed into the backseat when I travel with a passenger,

generally abused to the max.

The bag that held this baby traveled in both my car & mountain jeep

for the past 5 years until I finally finished it this summer.

It went in with me every time my hubby and I went into Denny's for breakfast/dinner

(once a week).

So over the years I was working on it, 

water spilled on it or it picked up condensation from my water glass on the table,

and some of the fabrics bled a bit on the white linen backdrop

(see the turquoise piece above, and some of the pinks below).

But I felt it added to the look of the piece and kind of tied everything together.

It was this summer that I used the Kantha stitch to quilt 

(in the white areas only)

the finished piece to the light turquoise border.

I used a slightly off white #12 perle cotton thread.

Then I put it in the washing machine on my most gentle cycle and laundered it

(cuz it was pretty filthy after all those years of working on it)

It did a bit of shrinking and fraying which I really liked,

and I received the nicest compliment from my harshest critic,

 my daughter.

 She thought it was pretty cool.

Oh yeah!

I'll have to mount it now for wall hanging.

Hope I can get it done by Xmas for my girlie.

Shop Update - My Work

I'm finally feeling able to part with my very first quilt, so into my Shop it goes.  Not a machine stitch anywhere, completely hand stitched and quilted.  Hoping I can find a loving home for it  :)  This was made in 1983-84.

Appliquilt Journal - My Work

One of the many peaks of my job is to get to be able to create right along with the kids, only I have to keep one day ahead of them so I have a piece to demo. on.  This is the Appliquilt Journal I got to build this year, and it was a blast.  I got to start with two tye-dye pieces for the out and inside foundations that I thought looked really good together.  I also forced myself to work in colors that I wouldn't normally choose, I find it's good to push yourself every now and then.  I bought the great butterfly button years ago, knowing that one day I'd find a place for it.

I'm loving cheesecloth right now so I incorporated a bit on it on the front and back side.  And I wanted to balance the butterfly on the front with one on the back so I found a handmade piece of paper that I ripped into butterfly shaped pieces and collaged them onto a piece of posterboard to strengthen them so I could sew it on onto the backside.  That beautiful paper bead was a gift from mixed media artist Kelli Nina Perkins, again, a special piece I've been saving for the perfect art piece.  I put in a lot of quilting stitches for additional interest...

and added a bit of donated lace to extend the journal edges because I accidentally made the journal pages too wide :)  I added a lace pocket on the inside jacket and slipped in an older picture of my daughter and her best friend Hope when they were 5 years old, something else I've been saving forever.  A little hand tie to keep the journal pages organized.

Then on the inside back jacket I cut off and saved pieces from each of this years 3-D students tye-dye pieces so that they could be together in my journal, a piece of each of them.  I like that. They were a very special group of kids with great chemistry.  A remembrance.

Felted Fingerless Arm Warmers - My Work

One of my goals this summer has been to finish up the numerous projects that I start, only to be distracted by other new ideas.  So every night this summer has been my crafting night, it includes artfully mending tired clothing (hate paying tailor's when I know I could do it myself), trying out possible new assignment ideas, and getting as many old projects done as possible.  These felted mittens where started last summer when I went thrift shopping and found this great old wool Xmas Sweater.  I  threw it in the washing machine and felted it down then cut off the sleeves and body of the sweater for further ideas.  So recently I pulled the pieces out and turned the sleeves into fingerless mitts.  I used an expensive merino wool yarn to crochet around the edges, as well as do a bit of embroidery throughout the body of the gloves.  And then I finished them up with antique buttons from my mother and Jim's mothers button boxes, with chained yarn loops.They are going to be the first items I put up on my new "Shop" page.  I will be selling them for $39.  If you are interested, e-mail me and I'll send them out to you. 

Fiber Artist Grace Forrest

I want to share the textile work of Grace Forrest, a woman who inspires me on a daily basis with her lifestyle in New Mexico;  her goats, her yard, the wind that blows thru, and her art.  

Grace calls this piece below "Luring Crows", and she graciously decided to part with it so that I could enjoy and display it in my home.  

From the moment I watched her begin this piece on her blog,  it was love at first site.  The colors of the natural dyes on the cloth, the textures, the stitching and finally the girl calling to the crows.  I used to call to the crows myself when I was a youngster, then later again as a young adult (they are such spiritual birds).    I asked Grace if her piece was for sale and she said she needed 6 bales of hay for it or the price of the bales  LOL  "Sold I said!"  

It lives at our home now, and hangs to my right as I write this post.  It is such a feel good piece to me.  I love glazing at it from afar as well as close-up.  Thank you again Grace for sending it my way.

I hope Grace, you don't mind, me sharing your intriguing story about how you packed the quilt and sent it to me, and what happened as you did.  Perhaps I should ask you first, I don't know, since you posted it on your blog,  I'm assuming it might be alright.  Well here goes...

"i wasn't going to say anything about this.

but then, as time goes on, it feels like i am dishonoring something.  This is the cloth and the stick that i sent to Debra in California....Luring Crows.  i packaged it in a very LARGE cardboard folder, much larger than the cloth, to accommodate the stick.  it was more than 2ft square.  all kinds of feelings and thoughts were present when i was taping the stick down, wrapping the cloth in tissue.  making it secure.  all kinds of thoughts and feelings about exchanging this THING for money.  a LOT.   and in it i enclosed a short note to her telling her about what that meant to me...luring crows.

how there are crows that go overhead and have recently swooped low, seeming to be interested in the arrival of the Goats, seeming to be, just more Willing to look down.  and how i call them.  how i hang laundry on the clothes line almost for them,  how i wave and yell to them  if they are high.  and what it is i want.....is just that they might come here, for just a  moment  to light on the dead branches of the big Russian Olive, or on the fence, fence post.  Just that.  that it would be enough.

so, i put this note in with the cloth and stick and there is a great Wind doing what it does out there and i go out, to go to the post office to send this and as i am unlatching the gate, i for whatever reason, look to my right and then

up

and there,  There on the top branch of the Russian Olive is

a crow.

a crow.

i stand there and see it.  i watch it seeing me.  seconds pass and then in a kind of slow motion, it's wings raise just barely and extend, just barely and Wind lifts it up and sails it off to the right, up and in the current....the crow making no effort at all and it is gone from my sight.

i stood there.  hanging on to the cardboard envelope.  not knowing what to do.  feeling like i should fall to the ground or something, i  should DO something.

but what i did is to continue through the gate and latch it closed and get into the car and head off for the Post Office.  staring straight ahead.  continuing.  and i mailed it.  and now it's a couple days later and i think as i did in that moment driving down the road,  that That's also probably like how it is even when we are dying.  When we somehow know we are about to exhale for the last time.  and we

exhale.

we Just Go.  

and i wasn't going to write this here.  it seems so improbable.  so surreal.   But it happened. 

it was no more, but no less."

A few close-ups of the delightful detail that Grace has stitched into her work.

The girl...

 the crows...

and a tiny personal favorite, this wonderful mark that she has stitched into the cloth.  I wonder?  Does she always stitch this mark into all her pieces, kind of like her signature mark?  I like to think it is just for the crows.  I'll have to ask.

Susanne Bauer - Mixed Media Artist

Another new inspiration that I found thru Art Propelled is mixed media artist Susanna Bauer.  Again, her work is right up my alley.  She finds leafs, twigs and rocks and turns them into intricate works of art with her fibers and needle skills.  I recently purchased a leaf from her very much like the one above.  It also arrived from Fed Ex in a similar condition to the piece I posted yesterday after paying an enormous shipping and handling fee, for Susanna lives in Cornwall, England, and the package had to travel a long, long way.  Fed Ex, let's get it together!  

I borrowed these excerpts off Susanna's website with her permission:

"I go walking

I find a leaf, a piece of driftwood - or sometimes it finds me.

I take it home and its new life begins.  

This website is about the work that started alongside my career as a modelmaker.

I have worked for the television and film industry for over 16 years, making objects like King Arthur's chalice, cheeses for Wallace and Gromit, miniature buildings, robots and spaceships.

I have always been driven by a great love of making and working with my hands and over the years have acquired a broad knowledge of materials and techniques.

Most of my pieces are small sculptural objects often based on found natural materials. I like giving time to the inconspicuous things that surround us and often go unnoticed, paying attention to small details and the tactile quality of objects. Appropriating traditional craft techniques like weaving and crochet as a means of sculpture brings a contemplative element to the development of my work. I am interested in unusual combinations of materials, the experimentation with fragility and strength and the individual stories that evolve and shape themselves in the process of making.

I was born 1969 in Bavaria, Germany, and have lived in England since 1996 where I used to divide my time between London and Cornwall.

Since 2010 the West Penwith area of Cornwall has become my permanent home and inspiration for my work."

Susanna Bauer

Just a Little Peek :)

About two months ago or so, fiber artist Deb Lacativa was doing a fabric giveaway of her hand dyed vintage linens, so I said, sign me up, and just look at all the lovely fabrics she sent me.  I cut small pieces off each colorful piece and played with an arrangement that was pleasing to my eye and began stitching with pearle cottons.  I take it everywhere I go and am really enjoying the handwork.  Hope to get it done on my trip to Florida that's coming up real soon.  We are off to see Jimmy's and wife Bette.  This will be my 3rd summer with them in Hobe Sound.  

Hard and Fast

That's how it was for me when I recently saw a tease of Diane Savona's work on Morna Crite-Moore's blogsite, and fell instantly, deeply in love with her work.  This first piece that I'm showcasing, "Fossil Strata", is like magic for me.  I could stare at it for hours and marvel at her handwork, her composition, her subtle colorways, and her choices of sewing notions. 

Diane says:

My art is constructed of salvaged linens, found at the local equivalent of archaeological digs -garage sales. Once-common crocheted doilies and embroidered tablecloths are becoming extinct.  By presenting them as unearthed fossil specimens, I hope to change viewers perception of our textile heritage. 

Domestic Markings #2

Domestic Markings #3

Visit Diane's website and see other series she is also working on.  These next 2 pieces are based on maps, and aerial views of the disasters in New Orleans and Japan

Hurricane, New Orleans

Chalmette section

close up view

Tsunami, Japan

close-up

These next 2 she calls her Fossil Garment Series in which she deconstructs garments and overlays them on top of her strata work. 

Landscape of a Past Civilization

Overgrown Fossil

I hope you get a chance to explore her site for a real treat.