Bohemian Christmas Tree

Bohemian Christmas Tree is done in my improvisational tapestry style. I made several of these little panels for Christmas presents for friends. It was all done from scraps of previous projects. I call it bohemian because of the combinations of random colors and fabrics. I think that this sort of combination has a charm of it's own. All fabric cuts were laid on a muslin panel and water soluble stabilizer placed on top. Quilting patterns of random meandering is done on top of the stabilizer with heavy quilting thread. The whole top is put into the washer and dryer before it is placed on the batting and backing. This gives it a very textural tapestry look. I love this process. It is painting with cloth.

Around the World Blog Hop

I am participating in an International Blog Hop which means that I must tag someone here Kathie Schmidt is a mixed media fiber artist and author. She does improvisational piecing workshops and hand beading classes. I think you will enjoy seeing what she does. 

The rules are to answer these 4 questions about my art. So here they are:

1. Q. What am I currently working on?

     A. Currently, I am doing a study of Modern Quilts so that I can teach a design class in March. This class with be taught to traditional quilters and we will studying modern art and principles of design. 

2. Q. How does my work differ from others of it's genre'?

    A. Because I am also a painter, I do a lot of my work similar to painting with fabric. I particularly enjoy using a muslin base as my canvas and with scissors, cutting snippets and hunks of fabrics from scraps in my stash. I hand dye many fabrics for more vibrant colors but also use commercial fabrics. I have also designed a line of quilt panels I call Bohemian art. Made from a large variety of colors and patterns. Everything is done improvisationally. Much like knife painters. 

3. Q. Why do I write/create what I do?

     A. I found this one a little difficult to answer. It is a pleasure to create, of course, but it is also a lot of work. The only thing I can compare it to is a compulsion. A compulsion to communicate through expression, color and design. It is just a natural talent that I can't ignore. 

4. Q. How does my writing/Creative process work?

    A. My process usually comes from inspiration. Inspiration leads to imaging and imaging to planning. I make rough sketches to formulate my ideas, but don't spend a lot of time perfecting those ideas. The exception would be when I am doing a portrait. This is the ultimate perfecting process. My priority is balance and contrast for most things. Color comes next. You can decide to use color or just rely on contrast. They are both interchangable. 

THIS CAN BE SEEN ON OFF THE WALL FRIDAYS

Local Color

Local Color: Tapestry Series. 20 X 36. This is another in my series of tapestry techniques. I call it my tapestry because it goes through a washing and drying process that makes it turn out very textural. Like an old quilt that belongs to your grandmother. Much like a tapestry. Everything you see is improvisational. A piece of muslin is the base. Fabrics are rough cut with a pair of scissors.Much like a painter puts down paints onto a canvas. Once I get everything arranged onto the muslin, I place water soluble stabilizer on top of the whole piece and begin a sort of tedious process of pinning it down. I use the long daisy pins so that they can be easily removed, as I sew over the whole piece. I try to do a running stitch over all the raw edges that I can see. I use a free motion foot and do some circles and curves, just enough to hold this piece together in the washing machine. I like to stay with one neutral color of thread. This gives it unity and seems to bring all elements together. Of course, you have a million little pricks on your hands and arms before you get all the pins out; then throw it into the washer and dryer. It will be all puckered and textural. Iron it flat again. Place it on the top of your batting and backing, and pin. Treat it just like any other quilt that you do free motion quilting on. If any edges are dangling, you can sew then down with your free motion stitching. And there you have it. A tapestry wall hanging. Looks like an impressionists painting. I will try to enter this into an upcoming exhibit called Local Identity. This can be seen on Off The Wall Fridays SOLD.

Solstice Tapestry

Solstice Tapestry

Solstice Tapestry: Landscape Series. This 19 X 20 Tapestry is a continuation of my exploration into raw edge technique and composition. This time, I have stepped up the color and added depth. I have used my favorite style of work, which is Surrealism. Realistic representation combined with elements of the abstract. It is similar to something you might see in a dream. I want to continue the exploration of this style, to see where I can take it. I work like a painter; picking up fabric pieces instead of paint. I did not use the improvisational method of composition here. I worked from sketches to position my main elements. There are merits to both of these methods.