Category Archives: Little Jellyfish

Curvie Cuts, Felt Work, Label Blocks, Little Jellyfish, Rainbow Tree, Teasel III

Travel

July 7, 2017 admin 2 Comments

Hello,

Summer is here and the long days are warm and pleasant. I had a good time on my travels to visit Frank Lloyd Wright Houses. I saw four from dramatic Falling Water to the simple Duncan House. The house I really loved and thought I could live in was the Kentuck Knob house. It has a hexagon theme that he repeated over and over. We were only allowed to take photos outside the house so this shot of the ceiling over the porch is my best example. It was all built on one level under the brow of a hill and had a studio. I really liked the crenulation and the cutouts he added in the window openings too. His use of local materials is wonderful , epically stone ,as well as his love of fire places.

Gray Stone, outside Buffalo was the only place we could take photos inside and so I am showing this shot of the fireplace. Please note the black fire irons so you get a sense of scale here. This house was very livable too. The association that owns this house is restoring it and some of the local artisans are building furniture from photos to fill it. This table is an example. I had a good time and enjoyed seeing all the houses. It was a trip to see an American Artist whom I have long admired.

Before I went on my trip I went to an opening at the Edgewood Gallery where my friends Angela, Carol and Sharon were showing their work. Angela’s felted works looked divine. She did 25 new pieces just for this show and only showed 18 of them. She is a powerhouse. This shot shows Sharon’s new style- on the wall and the sculptured bird is Carol’s. I was so thrilled to know three of the four artists in this show.

I have had two dye days with Liz sense I wrote last too. This is a shot of the ones from last week and the new stuff is in the wash this morning. We are having fun and I am working on a quilt using some of the fabric we have dyed now.

Progress Report: Little Jellyfish This quilt is 34” w X 43’ l. I was working with transparency and feel I still need to explore this subject. I have learned so much about jellyfish sense I started exploring this topic. Their only predators are sea turtles and they come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. I love how they can change there appearance with ease.

Rainbow Tree This work is 16” w X 20” l. I had a good time adding all the beads and sequins to this work. Everything I used on this work except the wool I felted with was a gift to me at some point. Yarn form Judy,beads from Ethel and sequin from Sharon. Perhaps I should call this a friendship tree.

Wool 1 Cut up some wool from Tanya with the idea of using it to build bases for the three sets of 12” X 12” stretchers that Joyce gave me a week ago.

Wool 2 This is the second start. It takes me about an hour of work at the felting machine to build this base.

Wool 3 All three works are based on the light and dark patterns from one of my rock face photos. I was liberal with the colors though.

Bits and Pieces Liz challenged me to use the fabrics we have been creating. This work does some of that.

Teasel III I am creating this work with my friend Vyvian in mind. She liked my first two teasel works but they were too big for her use. So this time I did the design with her in mind. I am to the hand stitching of the spears around the heads now. Six completed and five to go- with one half way done.

Label Blocks This was the only project I took on the trip with me. It is small and easy to transport.

Keep Creating

Carol

Dream, Ethel's Nine Patch, Fly Fast, Green Dargaons, Label Blocks, Little Jellyfish, Machine Drawing, Wind Blown Tree

Summer

June 22, 2017 admin

Hello,

It is the first full day of summer and now the days begin to get shorter. It is also the beginning of what as kids we called “Maple Whistle Time”. As a kid for about a week we would use the maple seeds as a devise to make a whistle sound and drive my mom crazy. There is also a mulberry tree that is dropping its fruit that I pass under when I walk. That too brings up great childhood memories of climbing the mulberry tree in the front yard and eating those berries. They were so juicy. We even tried to make mulberry one time . Summer was always one day of adventure after another.

Progress Report: Green Dragons This piece is 31” w X 37.5” t. It is quilted with stitch in the ditch work and then machine drawing of five dragons was added on top. I stated out by outlining the dragon that was printed on the fabric panel in the work. I did little research on Google and then some drawings I then did the others in a mimic of fist dragon.I have not done a dragon quilt for many years, but there was a time when I did one as a yearly thing. It is fun to revisit themes .

Wind Blown This quilt is 16’ w X 29” t. I built up the background and then painted that ground. I knew I wanted a tree on the surface so I did some drawing.

After this step I had to decide how I wanted to build the trunk of the tree. I used tear away paper and drew the image again. Then I laid out yarn for that trunk and the limbs and free motion sewed them all together. After pulling away all the paper I free motion stitched the tree down. Next decision was how to make the leaves. I placed a piece of wash away on top of the tree and then sprinkled shredded bits of green fabric on top of the wash away. Last, I placed a bit of green organza on top to create a sandwich and free motion stitched the everything together. After washing out the wash away I flipped the organza to the back and free motion stitched it to the tree area.

Little Jellyfish I am still doing the hand work on this piece. Stitching down all the tentacles is slow.

Ethel Scrap Work I sewing sold blocks to the 5” pattern ones at this point.

Flag- Fly Fast For this banner I set the machine on zig –zag and drew the letters in free motion. I like the strange effect.

Flag-Dream This is the last banner that I made in Florida this spring. The letters are done with a chain stitch.

New Work I am building this in the build a unit technique that I use. The challenge Liz made was to use some of the hand dyed materials we had created.

Label Block # 130 I can see the end of this process now.

Keep Creating

Carol

PS I will be away again next week . I am off to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright house Falling Water.

FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Green Dargaons, Label Blocks, Little Jellyfish, Rainbow Tree

Spring Warmth

June 15, 2017 admin

Hello,

The north east has finally warmed up and we are enjoying the weather. I have spent a lot of time pulling weeds and moving plants. I do like playing in the mud almost as much as doing studio work. I did spend and afternoon dyeing with Liz, but I have yet to wash out the dye so there is nothing to show for that yet.

FAB did meet on Tues and there was lots of activity. Judy was tying three baby quilts during the meeting. She always uses such bright colors for them that it is a joy to the eye. Nancy is finally finished with her Blue Bird quilt. It is beautiful. Unfortunately my photos of it are not- so take my word for it.

Progress Report: Spring Jacks This work is 18” X 20”. The background is all felted work and the Jacks are appliqued on top. Sense the big Three Jacks piece has a new home I did this smaller one to remind me of that other project.

Prayer Flag Pins As the picture shows I am having too much fun using little bits of projects and stuff that ends up on my desk making these little guys. The freedom of no size or shape restrictions is wonderful.

Rainbow Tree I keep working away on this project in one hour units. I love the effect so I am not at all unhappy that I am only about one third done with this project. I am sure it will be well worth the time when it is complete.

Little Jellyfish I am working by hand on this piece with a fly stitch. The tentacles are couched. I do not want to use the machine to pull away from the movement they produce.

Green Dragon I am doing machine drawing on this piece. I did outline the print( its from Ethel) and started to continue the body. I took a lot of that stitching out yesterday as it was too big for the body. I will try again this week.

Texture Project I painted this background this week. In doing a second look I think it needs another layer of horizon so I will go back in and add some more paint before I machine draw on top of it.

Label Blocks # 127 #128 #129 Do to the warmth I spent a lot of time out of doors in the evening this week and did a lot more work on this project then usual. I am having fun as I see the pile of black square diminish.

Keep Creating

Carol

PS I made an error last week I Label this jewelry as being created by Carrine and it is by Linda C.

This beautiful work is by Carrine. Please accept my apologies.

Along the Shore, Button Weed, Felt Work, Flag Challenge, Label Blocks, Little Jellyfish, Monkey Business, Play Time, Pond Water, Rainbow Tree, Soeing Jacks

Travel plus

June 8, 2017 admin 2 Comments

Hello,

We hit the open road to test out Eric’s new car. It was fun but we spent a lot of time in the rain. We went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Coppers Town first. Then on the Norman Rockwell museum. We saw Edith Wharton’s newly restored gardens were a sculpture show was going on. The sculpture was mixed among the woodland paths too. We did the Emily Dickinson home and then moved on to Shaker Village in Canterbury. I really liked all the wonderful innovative machinery there. These machines were in the wash house. We made it all the way to the Maine coast before we headed back west. This model boat was in an old boat house that was converted into restraint where we had dinner. We stopped in the Adirondacks for the night and then went to the Adirondack Experience museum and had a good time looking at the treasures there. The travel was great but as always I am glad to be home with many great memories, lot of photos and the ideas are flying in my head.

Tue as the the QuEG’s meeting so I got even more stimulation. Corrine has been doing a lot of beading and the results are beautiful.

Linda C showed us this beautiful top. There is a lot of hand work on it.

Liz is finding lots of UFO’s as she dose some spring cleaning. She shared three. I look forward to seeing the finished work too.

Linda H shared this hand printed fabric that she has started doing hand work on. We all had stories and lots to share. It was a good time.

I have such great friends . Yesterday I got a treasure box from Debbie. I love all these little bits of trim and ribbon. She knows me too well. They will all go into the next batch of Creative Assistants that I will begin as soon as QBL is over this year.

Progress Report White Iris This work is 15”w X 19”h. The white blossoms where originally created for the 9 Blue Iris quilt that I showed in the last post. But they were too pale and faded into the background.

So I did a felted and fabric wall and used the flowers on top. I do like the shape of iris and hope to do some more of them.

Button Weed I did a little rework on this piece. It needed a center of interest so I added a dragonfly. The body is three cords twisted together and then zig -zagged over with a satin embroidery thread. The wings are a florist’s ribbon.

Pods These are the last two pods. I have 36 of them and I have had a good time. I also have all my little Christmas Favors done for this year.

Prayer Flag Pins I made these after reading the June/July issue of “Quilting Arts Magazine”. The article made it seem so simple and it really was. This shot makes them about life size on my computer. I will make a lot of these little guys as they are fun too.

Spring Jacks When I make felted backs I try to do more then one at a time. I did three when had the felter out and this one is going to be my support for the third Jack In the Pulpit project.

Rainbow Tree This is the third of the felted pieces. I am having fun using my many clear beads to embellish this work.

Pond Water

This project is also done with a lot of hand work so it usually does not get much attention. I did add the gold units and a lot of stitching this week because I got a head on my Label Block project while traveling.

Jellyfish I continue to struggle with this work. But I keep at it. I sliced the top layer of the organza and did hand work on top of that. I like the texture and will continue to work on all the Jellies in this fashion.

Green Dragon This work is all assembled and I have done the stitch in the ditch step on it. Now to move to the dragon quilting.

Flags- Play Time I worked on the flag project from my trip to Florida this week too. I only have two more images to alter. I used oil paint sticks to add color to the works this week.

Flag- Monkey Business With this flag I used a paint marker to do the lettering.

Flag –Along the Shore With this piece I used the oil sticks for the water. The lettering was done with markers.

Label Blocks #123, #124, #125, #126 This was the only hand work I took on the trip so every night I worked away on these blocks. The pile is getting smaller.

Keep being Creative

Carol

Button Weed, Curvie Cuts, Felt Work, Label Blocks, Little Jellyfish, Pods, Pond Water, Truquoise Street Studio

Going Forward

May 18, 2017 admin

Hello,

We continue to go forward into the wonders of spring. I love all the smells that assault my nose as I take my daily walk. Some flowers are fading, but others Like Spiraea, and Lily of the Valley seem to quickly take their place and demand the attention of the bees.

I went off to see the art show at St David’s last week. It was very impressive and with so many of my friends represented I really enjoyed the powerful work. This is one of Sharon’s new works. I like how she is building up the surface and overlapping the leaves. Carol had two sculptures in the show. I know she struggled with this one.

Barbara had two pieces as well and this one is a part of her street seen series. Beth had two pieces too and both of them had red stickers on them. She was delighted with the sale news.

My Friend Angela had work in the show too. I learned later that this piece sold too. It is always a powerful show with lots of interesting work. I am delighted for my friends.

I went off to play with Beth and Barbara on Thursday afternoon at the Turquoise Street Studio. They were both working away on pastels as is there usual thing. It is fun to work in a parallel setting.

Progress Report: Button Weed This work is 16” X 20”. I enjoyed working on this piece as I have good memories from the Iowa farm and picking these weeds. We use to use them as noise makers when we did Indian dancing. I was always taken by the fact that they where such a strong spring green.

Pods I keep working away and finding new ways to embellish these little pods. It is fun to find homes for the last few odd beads and buttons that I seem to have lots of.

Pond Water I did hand work on this project at Turquoise Street. I am adding the gold units now. It is very calming almost meditative work for me.

Iris This project had proved to be a challenge. I made all these iris blossoms and then discovered that they just got lost on my background. I guess there will be a second one in this grouping. So I built some in blue and purple for the actual project. I am ready now to go back in and build up this flower with more detail and color.

Curvy Cut Jellyfish This project is moving forward. I really like the shapes of these jellyfish. I have had to really challenged myself with I could how to build them up to get the effect I want. I am sorry that the dark centers get lost with the many layers of organza.

Brown Back I found a use for the back I made last week already. I am ironing down all the cut-a way’s from the fusing I use in my work.

Red Scarf I keep working away on these works. They are fun to build, but they do take a lot of time. I will add the soft neck unit when I have all the nets filled. Only three more to complete.