Best of Dinner@8

I am thrilled and honored to have my art quilt, Clan of Misfits, 

accepted into the "Best of Dinner@8" quilt exhibition debuting Houston 

this November at the International Quilt Festival.

This is the 10th and final exhibit of "Dinner@8", 

an amazing exhibit curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Jennison. 

My work begins with dozens of empty, and used tea bags, 

most specifically from Celestial Seasonings. I use hand-painted papers and 

fabrics to create collages on each bag. Machine sewing and hand stitching add detail. 

The bags are then arranged on a background and appliquéd with more stitching. 

This piece measures 30''X50".

Thank you Leslie and Jamie for curating this amazing exhibit and accepting my work.

Lots of Watercolored Monoprints

These are mono prints on watercolor paper made with acrylic ink, 

watercolor paint and acrylic paint.

From a few years back.

Fun stuff!

Who's Late for Bed?

The sun is rising and this grumpy owl is ready to crash.

This is my "Wisdom Owl", made as a sample for my friend and fellow artist, 

Larissa Davis of Soul Path Art.

Larissa's self-guided workshop led me through a series of steps to reflect on my intentions,

and to paint assorted fabrics to use in my art quilt. Machine stitching added the detail lines.

By following Larissa's pattern, I created this creature with a bit of artistic license. 

It was a pleasure to spend some time quietly reflecting on my goals and 

bringing this grumpy guy to life. 

He needs a name.  I'm still throwing around some ideas.

Please head over to Larissa's website to see what she's doing. 

And make an owl!

http://larissadavis.com/owl-wisdom-self-guided-workshop-pattern

Call Wendy

'Call Wendy'

An art quilt that I exhibited a few years ago at the New England MQX show.

This piece is made entirely of fabric and paint. 

It measures 23" X 30".

And it won the Faculty Award! A lovely honor!

White fabric backed with stabilizer. Lines stitched to simulate notebook paper.

Glossy polyester fabric fused to the corners of the 'Photos' to simulate Scotch Tape.

Detail of the succulents. Paint, fabric, and free-motion stitching.

I love to paint and stitch!

Balboa Art Walk

A day at the beach. Balboa Art Walk 2019

I set up shop along the boardwalk on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA

for a day of art and vending.

Colorful collages with paper and stitching

Art dolls and tiny Tea Bag Banners

Repurposed Altoid boxes made into little houses each come with a doll of your choice.

More art on tiny tea bags. Painted papers, collage and stitching.

A beautiful day!

Fractured Circles

I was hugely honored when my art quilt, "Fractured Circles"

was accepted into the SAQA Cal/Nev 

combined regional exhibit, "ART QUILTS". 

The show opened in Santa Monica, CA at the historic California Heritage Museum 

on December 8, 2017 and then traveled to 

the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock, CA where the show opened on April 19th. 

I was able to attend both openings are celebrated with an amazing group of artists.

My piece measures 24" X 27" and is constructed with 36 used Tea Bags which were dried and emptied, and then collaged with hand-painted papers and fabrics before adding both machine and hand stitching. 

Three generations. Mom, daughter Katie, and me trekked up to Santa Monica to see the show 

but the museum was CLOSED! Of course I checked the website before we left; 

the calendar showed that the museum was opened that day. 

(Wrong.) Closed for the holidays. 

2 1/2 hours round trip in LA traffic. But we got to see the sign!

At the opening at The Carnegie Arts Center with Deb Cashatt and Kris Sazaki.

A joyful event.

And my quilt sold on opening night. Cheers!

Prayer Flags for a Friend

Prayer Flags for my friend

A dear friend of my was hit hard with some medical complications.

I painted the flowers onto white cloth and then added stitching lines to refine the shapes.

When she returned home from the hospital, these were hanging to lift her spirits.

They now hang in her amazing art studio.