Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thursday Feb 23, 2012 Light

February 23, 2012 admin 1 Comment

It is a bit gray this morning, but the last few days have been beautifully sunny. The planet is shifting slowly south and the sun dose shine into my studio that is on the east end of the house. I am not changing the time I rise so I am aware of the increasing light every morning when I enter. In a week I find I am no longer looking at the pin wall and seeing works in shades of gray and white. Color greets my eye and not just in the studio. The group discussion at QEG’s and the books on color that I have been reading have really made me aware of its presents. I even used my 3 in 1 color tool to make a choice when it came to color for one of my works this week.

Progress Report Adventure Challenge- Blue Frogs

Here is where I use the color tool. I would not have selected the “orange”- I see it as golden brown to add to this blue combination if I had not looked at the chart. I love the way the frogs are created with a continuous line. This idea is from the same book”, by Louis Ericson, Design It and Sew It Yourself. I know there will be more work with this idea. I find it so very fascinating.

Spiraling Out

My continuing fascination with the orange and blue combination has also lead to this new work. I really think the print fabric is mostly responsible though. I love how the artist put so many colors together and they really dance well. Not until I though of using fabric that had very little or no print of its own did I find a way to use it. This work is getting a texture treatment in the form of various buttons that will spiral out from and off center location. I started with an enamel button that I had purchased years ago. It has like the fabric always been such a strong bit that I have not been able to use it in the past. I do not think it will over power this work.

Sax Circles

This quilt top is an extension of the DMC project. I added two other pieces of fabric to the combo of the Crimson and blue green to do this one and I used the same construction method I used on the last three works in that group. I though that is needed a little kick of texture so I am adding to the surface. Years ago a friend gave me some old pads are from the keys of Saxophones. I painted some blue and aqua and now I am adding them to the surface to add the interest I think it needs. As you can see some of the pads took the paint better than others.

Cycle Circuits

This quilt is now a full top. I like the openings and that is just a continuing explorations thing for me. I am to the tedious part of this project were I have to carefully add the batting in between the openings and add parts to the back by building onto the facings of each opening too. I am much more excited about some of the other work I am doing so this keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the work stack.

Golden Rounds Paper Quilt I picked the paper quilt and after a bit of sketching, I started cutting away at it. I am not sure if I am done with the cutting- but I do like what is happening so far. I am thinking about adding beads in the opening to do a bit more Faggoting. It is worth a try

Mini’s Lastly I did frame two of the mini works. I am having trouble shooting them as they do show the light on the glass. I have though about that as I have been working this morning and I think I can conquer that problem if I put the light source from the side.

Matted and framed fiber work with black and fusha and beads of black with sequins — Mini1

I also want to get a little closer next time to show the detail more.

It has been a full week as they all seem to be. I will keep looking at and thinking about color and light in the days ahead.

Keep Creating

Hugs

Carol

and Brugundy, Bias Bound, Mini's, Paper Quilts, Re Work, Rocks and Water, Uncategorized

Feb 16, 2012 Color

February 16, 2012 admin 1 Comment

When I walked into the studio this morning before I turned on the light I looked at the pin wall. Because the day is gray the light was not strong so the wall appeared in colors of darks, grays and tans. Is this what a color blind person sees all the time I wondered? I love color and it dose effect my life. I am keenly aware of red this week for lots of reasons- Valentines day being a big part of that. I was a hostess and had to bring balloons as table decorations to the luncheon on Tuesday. Getting four of these clusters of balloons in the car was a challenge. But the process made me smile all day long. I have one cluster in the studio now and I am still grinning about the whole idea. My husband gave me Red Roses for the holiday too. They are another study in the wonders of red. Color is a strong influence on my life. Color is so very complex. There are labels like tint, shade and hue. They are used to label feelings like” black moods”, ” seeing red”, and “feeling blue”. We all have our favorites and colors we dislike for various reasons. Angela’s suggestion from the QEG’s meeting was that we study color, so I have purchased two books on that subject.( there are lots of them) I intend to read do some exercises and see if I can build some additional color confidence. In the mean time I will keep my eyes open and try to be more aware of the color that fills my world, being thankful that I see them.

Progress Report: Biases Bound Adventure Challenge #1 18″X22″

Full quilt ,red black and biasis strip cirlcleing across the surface — Biases Bound

Biases Bound is now done. Those biases strips sure started a lot of different projects and I learned a lot about color using them too. I am still enjoying the process and plan to try to work again with solid fabric strips on the next one.You can see from the close up how complex the strips were and understand why they frustrated me a bit. I do like the way they look however. As you can see I have added the size to the title section of the blog. I am not sure if this is were it will remain- but I feel it is and important bit of information about the quilt. I also am trying to find a standard small item to add to my close ups so the viewer will get a sense of scale there as well. A postage stamp perhaps……

Paper Quilt – Rocks and Water 13.5″X22″

Paper quitl in blue, white, purple with wholes and cuts — Rocks and Water

I am quite happy with how this quilt finally resolved its self. My wanting the “river” like cuts to be uneven did not make it an easy process however. I like the use of the purple ribbon in the back as it adds to the depth of water feel I was after here too. The process is still a challenge to me so I will keep working in this fashion for at least a few more pieces. I can see so many ways to keep adding and playing with this concept- adding buttons or beads on top. More fabric and how about paper from other sources? Fun in the future.

Black White and Burgundy 18″X 24″. I am trying new ideas for presentation of my work. Some where I read about mounting art quilts on canvas. I do not remember where I read this or the exact method the author was pushing so I had to try my own thing. I just stitched the work to the surface- only at the top this time.

Colors in the title with silver and red beads added as accents — Black, White and Burgundy

This quilt grew out of the Adventure Challenge . I made this background for the biases work and it is strong- but far too much action for the biases strips. I like the color balance here. The mounting process does shows off the quilting well. I like the way the beads show up here as well.

I am learning that I must really keep myself in check when I am building a small back because I get into the design process so much this type of thing happens. The work that I referred to at the beginning of the blog is one where I have let that happen. Over doing is so easy for me.

Mini Series I have lots of old quilts. Some I am reworking like ” The Moon She Called Me” ( Feb 2 posting), but after talking with my friends Barbara and Beth at there studio a few weeks ago- they suggested I look at some of the older work and try to make them into smaller units. Here is my attempt. This quilt- Juggling a Friendship was 38″X44″ and it was created in 1994. Now I feel there is just too much happening in this work so seeing it is a prim candidate for the cut up. I made a frame with a 5″X7″ opening and moved it around on the surface until I found an area I though was pleasing. Then I pulled up my courage and cut…….. I kept moving around the surface until I ended up with a dozen little works that are about 7″X9″. That size because then I can put them easily in standard matts and frames. I then zigzagged around the raw edges to stabilize them. I discovered that the edges would not warp as much if I put paper under the edges. The picture shows the pile of mini’s with the paper bound pieces in the top. It is going well I think and I am happy with the little works. Now I am off to do the framing and the glass. I hate to admit that the pile of scraps is calling up a new idea too……..

I hope you are all being creative and enjoying the wonders of the season. Have a productive week.

Hugs

Carol

Amended Squares, Limber Loss, Paper Quilts, Slight Slip, Twinkeling Tracings, Uncategorized

Feb 9, 2012 Active Week

February 9, 2012 admin 1 Comment

This last week has been an especially active one for me. It really started last Thur evening. My friend Barbara had encouraged me to enter an art show with her. The title of the show was “Figurative Art”, and she remembered some of my older quilts with figures in them. So I pulled the work and went to Rome NY to the Arts Center there with Barbara two weeks ago and entered my work along with her. To my delight I was accepted and the reception was last Thur eve. Again Barbara made the drive to Rome and went to the reception. The show although small, only forth pieces was very strong for a first time show in this venue. Barbara had all four of her pastels accepted and won a fist place ribbon for one of her works.

pastel on right Barbara on left — Barbara at show with work

I had two pieces in the show and got an Honorable Mention for my piece “Gals in Green.” After the awards ceremony I was approached by a fine couple who really were drawn to the work. We talked a bit and they later informed me that they had purchased my piece. I was/am so excited by this I still can not believe it has happened. I did not know how validating it can be to have a stranger be so taken by your work that they wish to poses it. I get all sparkly inside when I think about it.

quilt with green stitched figures — Gals In Green

Tue was the other big day this week. I am fortunate to be a part to two different Art Critique groups. They bot consist of about a dozen women and bot happen to meet on the first Tue of each mouth. One meets at noon and the other in the evening. Not only do they become a goal post for the completion of work on a monthly basis, but they also are great places to get feed back on work in progress and stimulation for new ideas. At the noon group- called Quilt Exploration Group or QuEG’s for short we ended up talking a lot about color. This grew out of my showing all the DMC challenged together.

The color interpretation element alone is one of the most complex elements of this project. The Crimson has created three interpretations here showing various hues and values. The same can be said of the other two colors. I am excited about the idea of working on this aspect of my work with others over the next few mouths.

The DIVA group is the one that meets in the evening. I was really excited by Cindy’s work. She uses big swatches of color with such confidence and power.

Here is an example of one of her new pieces. I like how the muddy brown that represents the flood waters passes through the work.

Ruth also had a great piece at the meeting. She is creating cell like shapes with silk and her quilts are wonderfully rounded shapes with openings.

Ruth and one of her cel quilts — Ruth with one of her cell quilts

The other person’s quilt I want to show from the meeting is a part of Sharon’s quilt. She is doing this huge work to hang in the chapel of the cancer unit of the hospital. I will add her web sight to the blog when she posts it and you can checkout the total work there. This is only a shot of the crown but you can see the hands of the children are woven into the branches in a beautiful fashion.

Mulit colored tree crown with childres' hands amoung the branches. — Healing Tree

All this activity has my brain going at a fast pace. Now to get a little sit down time to work at the machine myself.

Progress Report

Adventure Challenge- Sand Bar

I created the background of this work for the Bias project. But it was too soft. So when I was looking to try a second Adventure Challenge I started out with it. I saw the Yo-yos and like the idea. I added the beads as well for additional texture. I need to finish tacking down the facings and the sleeve and this quilt will be complete.

pale background with spring green yo-yos on top and beads — Sand Bar in progress

Pillows- Twinkling Tracings

2 pillow cases in the Twinkling tracings style — Beth's Pillows

I created these two pillows to go on the white leather couch to accompany the Twinkling Tracings quilts that I completed in early Jan. I used the extra fabric strips to make the surface. The blue lines are similar to the ones on the quilt units only much narrower. I will deliver these this eve.

Paper Quilt I am continuing to work on this paper quilt. I do not have a title yet, but feel it will be something with flowing water, because it makes me see a river pattern and the paper “rocks” created from the wholes continue that feeling.

The purple is a ribbon that I am thinking about adding in the cracked sections of this work. I am having fun on this piece even if I am very unsure about were it is going.

Valentines I love to get hand made valentines so I like to make a few to send to friends. I cut a stamp of hearts from an eraser on Monday and stamped some white fabric with it that day too. Yesterday I collage some net, ribbon and the stamped images together for my cards. They will go into the mail on Friday.

hand made valentine sin red and white — Valentines 2012

I hope you all have a Happy Valentines day too. Keep Creating

Hugs

Carol

Adventure Challenge 2012, Bias Bound, DMC Challenge, Slight Slip, Slight Slip, Uncategorized

Feb 2, 2012 Lost and Found

February 2, 2012 admin 6 Comments

The Spring like weather yesterday made me do a bit of cleaning and tidying up. Something I tend to put off as I want to get to work. But there were lots of piles of fabric sorted for furture projects- or at lest things I though would work together well. I put some fabric back on the shelves were it belongs and put the potential stuff in the yellow bins that I have for that purpose. It looks a lot better with the bins on the shelving were they go and the cutting table all cleared off. My goal for the bins is to keep all the parts of projects in one area. I then did a more of the same to the bay window. That area was filled with plants, painting supplies and lots of items that did not seem to belong any were else. After putting the paints back were they really go and watering the plants, I decided to give away the old printer that I have not even plugged in for over a year and a half . I can use the one in the computer/office room if I want to copy things. And de-cluttering the space was part of the mission. This morning I went confidently to the shelves with the yellow bins and started searching for a project. I remember putting the created, but unsuccessful parts in one bin. And in deed there was a bin full of just such items- but the background that I was looking for, the first one created for the basis project that was too soft in color, was not in the box. So I looked in all the bins…. no background. A side benefit of the cleaning the day before was that I had found some spring green fabric that I though would make great Yo-yo’s for the next Adventure Project. So I had cut the circles and did the work last eve while I watched TV and I wanted to scatter them on the background. “It has to be here,” I told myself. ” How could I lose it?” Then I looked across the studio to the area I had not cleaned. The chair serves as my staging area for work that I will do by hand had been overloaded and the pile had slipped to the floor. OK, I though, I will at least pick that up before I start the blog- and then look again for that back. So I plied the whole bit on my desk and sorted and folded. Found the lost back!

Adventure Challenge III

pale green with purple and cream background. — Lost Back

The yo-yo idea came from the next book I selected. It is called “The Art of Manipulating Fabric” by Colette Wolff. This one is only 8 years old.

Apple green yoyos and purple matalic paper that is insidw — Yo-yo's

Adventure Challenge I Bias Bound

This project got a lot of attention this week. The quilting is reflective of the actual bias lines. I am calling this Adventure Challenge I even though this was the third back that I created, the bias was the first book idea that I have tried. The idea of doing “frogs” is still in the idea stage , but it will come to the surface with time.

Adventure Challenge II, DMC 4 , Slight Slip

This quilt fits under all three ideas. I used Dawn’s fabric in her layout for this project (look at old blog to see layout). When I decided that I wanted to slice the quilt in two I did not consciously think about the Faggoting stitches with beads until later.

Crimson, with blue green and turquoise squares — Slight Slip DMC 4

The close up is of the faggoting on the left and the metal beads across the center. I really like this look, but the process is very slow.

matalic triangel beads with green seed beads on top and the faggoting on the right sided — Slight Slip- showing Faggotting

This last detail shows the candle floats with clear beads in the centers. I like how this idea is similar to Sasha mirrors that are used in middle eastern works sometimes.

Close up of the candle floats on the crimson — Slight Slip - close up 2

Pillow Tops I created these two pillow tops from the leftovers of Twinkling Tracings. They will include the blue fabric when completed and will accompany the wall pieces. I still have lots of leftovers so I am sure the color combinations will turn up again.

Brown, blue and aqua blocks arranged in a random fashion for two pillows. — Pillow Tops

Wholes Series- Circular Openings I am still in love with wholes so I decided to start a new quilt in this vain. I also thought that this time I would create the shapes first and face them at the beginning. Then I would build the quilt around the pieces. I hope this is works.

Purple and blue faced shapes and cut opening — Faced Circles

This shot shows the fabrics sewn together and ready for clipping and turning. After I have done that step I will sew as close to the seam as possible so that when it is flipped it will lie flat.

There is lots of work ahead of me this week . I will try to keep the studio tidy so I do not lose anything this time too.

Keep Crating Friends

Hugs

Carol

Farctured Fragmants, Post Cards, Uncategorized

Thursday Dec 29, 2011 Years End

December 29, 2011 admin

We have reached the end of year 2011. I am happy to say that I feel that I have come a ways along my path toward a more creative life this year. Leslie Riley’s suggestion that I keep a log of the projects that I work on at the end of each day has been a real eye opener. By noting the slow but steady progress that I put in each project I can really see how much I am doing. I will admit that some days all I can write is the fact that I finished doing the hand work on the one facings of one quilt. But each little step no matter how small is all a part of the process and all those little bits add up over time. Now the fact that I taught school for 36 years and had to change what I was doing every 40 min makes me feel like I need to change gears every hour or so even now. I saw that idea as meaning that I was unable to stay with an idea, but I am now seeing that as a positive thing. It may mean that it takes me a long time to complete a project but it also means that I stop when I make a mistake and fix it. Completion of the task is not the main goal any more. Over the course of a week I really do get a lot done! Writing the” Night Notes” as I call them has made the idea come into sharper focus. That is not to say that some projects may set for weeks or mouths before I return to them – but the” Nightly Notes” help there too as I look back over the week and read the list of items I have touched. I can easily see stuff that has fallen by the way side and pick them up in the up coming days to finish or not. The listing keep me aware of the things I have done and I do not waste time lamenting what I have not done.

Progress Report

Post Cards

I made two post cards this week. I was using up bits that were on the cutting table and tidying up a bit. There seemed to be little time in the studio- so little quick projects like these filled the bill.

I will use the beetle as my entry to the Paper Scissors Cloth post card challenge and send the other to a friend.

I also created this stamp of Isis this week. It is the start of a new Egyptian piece.

Fragments

The only other work that I put time in on this week was the Fragments quilt. This is a close up of the parts that I am adding to the surface.

I am enjoying this project.

I hope everyone is having a creative and enjoyable holiday season.

Keep Creating,

Hugs

Carol

Cre-8

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thursday Feb 23, 2012 Light

Feb 16, 2012 Color

Feb 9, 2012 Active Week

Feb 2, 2012 Lost and Found

Thursday Dec 29, 2011 Years End

Creative Fiber Collage Artist Carol Boyer