Summertime Thoughts

Well, the temps are continuing to rise in the southeast.
As well as the humidity.

Heat + Humid = Tired Irritable Carol.

I've spent a few moments asking my friends about their energy levels during this hot weather.
I never know if it's some external force affecting my energy levels or my immune system showing its tail...so I ask others.
Everyone that I ask answered the same way...
They tell me that the heat zaps their physical energy as well as their creative energy.
So I've decided to quit worrying about whether I have any energy to create (or anything else ftm).

I'll take the advice of a wise friend...
"When you're tired, just rest. Sit your ass down and quit worrying about what you should be doing. Your body is trying to tell you something...like sit your ass down..."

Good advice, huh?

So right after I pack my stuff for a Fiber Freaks get together tomorrow
and get my stuff ready for a First Friday showing in Greenville SC,
I'm going to sit my ass down.

What about you?

Fiber Freaks

Well, I finally got up and managed to do something in this heat.
My fiber art group, Fiber Junkies (more commonly known around my house as the "Fiber Freaks"), got together at Val McGaughy's house for some Deconstructive Screenprinting. I love doing that but it's a lot of work, especially in the heat. It was cooler in Asheville though.
Judy Simmons and Val McGaughy did the prep work for us, mixing dyes, setting up the space...all that "pre-work".
All we had to do was show up with the rest of our supplies and get to work.
I didn't take any pictures (bad Carol) but I'll be willing to bet that if you go to Mary Stori or Judy Simmons blog, you'll find some in a day or two!
I've got two screens here at home that I am going to print. I'll post some pics of that.
And I also have several pieces of fabric that I am batching. When I finish them, I'll try to post some photos.

So - there you go.
I FINALLY got up and did something!

Fiber Freaks

I traveled up to Fletcher NC last Thursday to my buddy Judy Simmons house for a holiday get together with my "Fiber Junkies" group (that my sweetie calls "Fiber Freaks") (gee, wonder why?!).
What a great time we had!
I'll direct you to Mary Stori's blog for pics and details since I can't seem to manage my time well enough to carve out a few extra minutes to do all of that...
Wonderful food, great company and awesome fiber work.

I can't encourage you enough to spend time with like minded people.
If you don't have a group close to you then find one - or better yet,
Create One!
It is always so inspiring to spend time with other artists - and it doesn't really matter if they create the same type of art as you...
it's that creative personality.
I hang out with a bunch of potters, sculptors, painters and fiber freaks...
and I love them all!

Deconstructive Screenprinting

Well, back to the blogger photo uploading issues...
Which, by the way, I am still having.
I'm having to upload
One Photo At A Time!
Hopefully, it will be resolved soon.
Back to the last meeting of the fiber group I am a member of -
my beloved Fiber Junkies.
This month, Judy Simmons led the group
in Deconstructive Screenprinting.
Check out her blog for details on where she learned how.
It was just fabulous to learn this technique!
We have tried regular screenprinting, which I loved, but I just don't have the space (at my home) to make my own screens.
But this screenprinting technique would be easily managed at home.
And I love the fabric that we made!
Here was the first one that I made.
I used all sorts of things to make my texture - paper that had been shredded,
scraps of lace, a round rubber thing I found in a parking lot, sliced mushrooms, a pine tree tip, wadded up exam gloves...
maybe more but no less.
The round bubble shapes on the right lower side are where I had left too much thickened dye on the screen to begin with.
It dried and left small round "blobs" of dye.

This was the second print with the thickened print paste.
You can see how the print has a few subtle changes.

The third pass...

Notice how the dried dye "blobs" are beginning to take center stage as the other images change.

There was another piece of fabric between the next one and the last one but it wasn't much different.

The paint (or dye) was beginning to fade out too much

so I added a bit of another color to my thickened paint paste on this pass.

The drip lines on this next one came about from where I had sat the screen next to me while I was messing with something else.

I love the way that they add such great texture to this piece of fabric without any extra work!

The next five photos are one of the other screens that I made.
I included shredded paper, ferns (or maybe a maple leaf), a stencil, some kind of plastic wrap
and a couple of polyester flowers that Nancy brought.
You can see the progression of the prints on the fabric.

There are actually two more pieces to this screen...

I just got tired of uploading one print at a time.

I was going to put up some of the "show and tell" photos but I neglected to ask permission to show them...

so I'll save those for later.

This was a great meeting! I can see that I will use this technique again...

I've already started a box of "texture" items for my next experiment with this technique!

Mountain Views

Once a month, I meet with a group of fantastic women...
Even though my husband calls us "The Fiber Freaks",
we call ourselves "The Fiber Junkies".
We are a bit freaky about fiber though...
We all have varied interests in what we do with the fiber that we work with.
Some bead, some felt, some do all kinds of surface design.
There is a screen printer.
One of the group is a master machine quilter.
I personally do all sorts of mixed media "things" to the fiber that I get hold of.

This month we met at Val's house in Asheville NC.
Here is a photo of us (minus me) sitting on her top deck at the back of her tree house.
Notice the beautiful trees around us.

This isn't a duplicate photo, just a slightly different view of the side of the porch space.

When we look out from the house, this is what we saw.

The most beautiful view that you could imagine!

I can't remember how many mountains that you can see from her house but it was a lot.

We had a fantastic day!

We did some deconstructive screen printing.

I'll show a few photos of our "show and tell" tomorrow.

Fiber Freaks, umm Junkies I mean

I have been so busy preparing for the (now in town) Big League World Series and the upcoming retreat I am teaching at (see side bar Textile Evolution), that I neglected to post on the last Fiber Junkies meeting.
I am still incredibly busy but really want to share what we did - so, I'm going to cheat and send you to Judy Simmons and Mary Stori s blog to read.
We had a blast screen printing and I have a whole new appreciation for those that do screen print. Especially those that burn your own screens. If I had a larger studio and easy access to water, I'd do it myself...but right now, I just don't have the room.

Now onto a little more exciting (and scary) news...
I submitted an application and images to be considered for the West Greenville Art Festival this fall (right after I get back from Colorado Springs!) and I was accepted! They limit the artist number to 40 so I am so really excited to be a part of this. I have never participated in an festival before so I am working like crazy to get enough work together in time.
I've got some new collage pieces in the works - they include my doodle sketches and vintage papers and stuff. A little watercolor paint, a little matt medium and
wa la!
I'm hoping that they are accepted well - they are all excited about being in the show!
I have to run and tend to my duties at the ball park.
Do run over and read all about the screen printing adventure we all had!

How Time Flies

I haven't posted since last Tuesday or Wednesday.
I have mostly been at the hospital with a beloved family member. She getting better but could you send up a prayer or two for her? I sure do appreciate it.
Yesterday I did take a break and headed up the "Big Hill" to Weaverville NC.
I know that you have read about the fiber group I am a member of...I love this group!
They continue to impress me with their skills and their willingness to share them.
I didn't take any pictures but I'll refer you to Judy's and Mary's blog. They have lots of photos.
We went to Patsy Thompson's house (yep, That Patsy!) for a day of learning, laughing and food. Maybe a little Pumpkin beer thrown in the mix too...
gotta love those Renegade Fiber Freaks! (I really think we should change our name ladies...)
I'll try my best to do a "real" post soon. In the mean time I sure do hope that all of you are continuing to flex your creative muscles!

Early Spring Peeps

This week was one of my regular "Peep Meets"...
meaning that I had the Immense Pleasure of spending some time with my Fiber Junkie Friends (you know, my Peeps!).
These ladies never cease to amaze me!
Nancy has been absent from the last two or three meetings but returned in full force that day.
She brought several pieces of her felted work.

My photos DO NOT do her work justice but I'll show you anyway.
The vessels and 3D work are amazing! The sides are so thick and solid.
Love these tassels.

This cuff is heavily beaded. I'd love to have a blue one (like indigo blue).
If you're reading this Nancy - just saying...

Look at this awesome mask! Again, you would not believe how thick this piece of work is.

This mask is one of my favorite pieces. I adore the colors and the combination of the felting and the hand stitching.
See the small dimensional flower to the left side of the vessel? Nancy is going to teach us how to make one of those. If you look closely, there is a small crocheted flower in the center of the flower.

I'm going to crochet one of these for everyone to use on their flower.

Our newest member, Val, is an awesome screen printer.

I can't wait until warmer weather as we're going to learn that too! I am totally excited about this. Since I draw a lot, I'll be able to use my own prints in my art fabric.

And Val hand dyed her fabric also. I love the organic look of it.

I think I'll put that technique on my "Wish List" too.

This is the beginning of a piece of art cloth. She will add more images and colors to this piece as time goes on.

Love, love, love this.
This little birdie got out of order in the grand scheme of things...

I think I'll leave him here so you can enlarge the photo and see the beading work.

What an awesome way to keep track of your scissors!

I'll just bet if you go to Judy Simmons and Mary Stori's blog, you'll find more photo's.

I did the demo for the meeting.

This month we covered Stamp Carving.

I didn't get any photos of this but everyone did a great job.

It was a ton of fun!

Calendar pages and Stamp Carving

I found an old sketch book that I had drawn a couple of calendar pages on.
Thought I'd share them with you.
I wish that I could remember which artist I had gotten my inspiration from
but the name escapes me right now...
If I remember later, I'll be sure to post it. I don't even remember the month I drew them.
I do remember that the images were drawn very quickly
and the color was added with really cool markers
that I learned about from Martha Lever.
They are called Brushables (by Zig).
Very nice pens to do calligraphy with.
Oh, and drawing/coloring calendar pages too!
The gray one is my favorite,
as you can create a shadow on something with just the swipe of a pen.
See above!

I had a very lazy day today -
hmmm...yesterday too now that I think of it.
I did work on a stamp carving demo/short class I'll be doing soon.
My Fiber Freaks, I mean Junkies will be learning how to do that this month.
This is SO much fun and SO darn easy!
The only problem is that it can be very addictive also...
consider yourselves warned ladies...

Recap of last week

I admit it.
I'm a slack blogger...
No posts since week before last.
Bad me.
I'll do a recap from last week for you, how about that?
Finally, someone that won't argue with me!
Last Monday, I went with my Fiber Junkie buddies to Mary Stori's house.
What an nice house she has too - it's for sale if you're interested in the most awesome views eva.
We always do our little "show and tell" first.
Here's Mary's quilt that she made for her son and daughter in law.
I love the touches of red! And Judy Simmons is making her daughter's wedding gown (can you believe that?!)
(it's going to be beautiful too!).
Here is a preview of the beading that she is doing on the lace.
She will continue to add beads to the lace and then attach the lace to the dress.

Judy is also working on this small quilt that she is holding up.

I love the colors that she is using.

Can you see the marbled fabric in there?

She did that too!

Patsy Thompson brought this nerve synapse quilt that she added some beads to.

Look at that machine quilting, would ya!

A cool side view.
I think that I have already posted pictures of what I took to show.

This month's meeting was time for Mary's demo on beading.

We learned SO much!

It's a wonder that any of the beads I have sewn on actually stayed on after seeing how it's Supposed To Be Done.

Actaully, I have Mary's DVD so I was doing some of it correctly.

Today I am going to the Lake and Mountain Quilt Guild for a lecture and another form of show and tell.

I get to show my work and talk about my inspiration for it.

It's always so much fun to be around like minded folks.

I hope that all of you have a week filled with inspiration.

Remember to flex your creative muscles -

cause if you don't use it, you lose it...

Fiber Freaks

ummm...I mean Fiber Junkies.
I've talked about my fiber buddies before.
We got together this past Monday at Mary Stori's
beautiful mountain top home near Waynesville NC.
What an awesome view from almost every single window!
We had our First Annual Planning Meeting...sounds all formal and important, doesn't it?
Well, it IS important to us...
but believe you me, it was no where near "formal"!
We did have our regular "show and tell" - which is always so fun and inspiring.
Fellow Fiber Junkie (they will always be Fiber Freaks in my mind - my husband calls them that...) Patsy Thompson was showing us a small quilt that she was working with feathers on.
I would have never imagined this color combination but it looked really good!
I don't know if you can see how perfect her stitches are but they look great...no stitch regulator for this girl!


My favorite part was the corner motif...looks like one of my crazy flower sketches.

Patsy made us all these really cool pin cushions for Christmas gifts. I love how she is breaking out with using her heat gun to burn through layers.
You go girl!

And, as usual, Mary Stori has wowed us all with her beading.

One word here - Perfect.

Just Perfect. And Val McGaughey blew us out of the water with this piece of art work.

It has layers and layers of screen printing, resists and applications of paint.

I can't wait to learn how to do this!

My friend Judy Simmons is making her daughter's wedding gown

and pulled out the beads that she is trying to pick from.

I love the way that the light hits on the side of the beads. Just beautiful.

And the lace. That lace is about 18 inches wide (I think).

One yard costs about 200.00. Woo Wee...No mistakes, huh?

I meant No Pressure!

Judy will do fine...

as long as we keep the gold and purple fabric away from her.

Perhaps you can read that story on her blog.

Holiday Get Togethers

Last Friday, I ventured to Fletcher, NC to a fellow Fiber Junkies house for a holiday get together.
Several ladies gathered to share some food, some finished work
and some holiday food and spirits.
I took a bunch of (not too good) photos but like any proud mama - I mean friend - I'm going to make you suffer through them anyway.
Kinda like summer vacation photos, ya know?

First things first -
Martine House.
Have you ever seen any of Martine's fiber work?
Not photos of it - but in person?
There are times in your life that you walk up on a person's art work -
you are just in awe. No words to describe it.
You can hardly ask sensible questions about it because it it so enthralling and captivating.
Martine House makes fiber art with her hands - no machine work here.
Old fashioned hand work. Her felting is indescribable...
Her latest piece in the "Offerings" series is called "Iceless?".
The outside is hand felted - it looks like the sides have grown up and over the structure...
like it has been growing there a very long time - little crooks with rocks peeking from them - twists and turns with hand stitching.
Just.
Magical.
As I said, my photos are NOT good ones (sorry Martine!)
but even professional ones can't catch the enthralling beauty of her work.


Opening the first layer of the Offering.
Note the trees, the limbs inside.
These are all hand embroidered by her - with one strand of DMC floss...
ONE strand.
Her embroidery is Meticulous.
Perfect.

The center of the box is opened to reveal a silk pouch with the Offering inside.

Look at the beading on the strands holding the inside section together.

I think that some of the same beads were used on the Offerings inside the pouch.

This photo shows the first section opened with the second one still having its closure on.

Hand molded copper with patina applied.

This is a close up of the closures that she fashioned.

The Offering has been removed from it's resting place.

See how the different levels speak to each other - different yet the same.

This is the beautiful, enchanting necklace that she made.

Martine has more photos on her blog - go have a peek.

She also talks about the process of making the Offering.

Such a fascinating artist.

NC Arboretum

I love trees. And bark.
Leaves are cool too just harder to come by this time of the year around here...
I went to the NC Arboretum today and met with a few of my good friends -
fellow Fiber Junkies, to be exact.
(Missed you Mary!)
All the trees and landscape plants are labeled...
really nice way to keep up with the names if you remember to either write it down
or take a picture of the label...
Which I forgot to do.
Anyway -
look at the bark on this beauty!

See how the areas of the trunk that are between the peeling pieces of bark is that sand or tan color?
I picked up a few pieces of bark (off the ground)
and the back side is that same color!
The front is just what you see on the photo- gray brown with the reddish/rust areas sprinkled around on it.
The back side is that beautiful tan/sand color.
I can just see those bark pieces in a nature themed book, can't you? I loved the ferns in the background area. They look like the same ones that I have in one of my flower gardens. Except bigger. And better.
Sorry for the duplicate photo.

I have many more photos of not only the Arboretum but some Show n' Tell pieces too.
I'll post them later this week.
We had a blast, talking, laughing, drawing and painting.

I am really blessed to be in the company of such talented artists.
You know, if you are able to meet with, hang out with or just generally tag along
with a group of similar artist like yourself, you really need to.
It's so fulfilling to listen to the interaction as well as the things that you can learn from them.
And you never know - you just Never Know what you have to offer them...

So what you need to do is reach out.
Find some like minded peeps and gather them close.
Share your talent and
Let your light shine!