Planning for the New Year in My Studio

031As I look at my fabric art plans for the coming year, and take a hard analytical look at where I stand in my fabric art today, I am really excited about 2016 in my studio.

Here are my plans for the coming year.  I hope you find them fun and potentially interesting, and invite your comments.

Books: During the past couple of years I have been fiddling around with writing several books for sharing what I have learned over the past sixty years of sewing, art, and past ten years of art quilting.  I looked first at one and then another subject, trying to get a focus.  Very recently, after much thought, my direction has solidified in such a way that I can use what I have already done and direct my writing in a more focused way.  While I am using “techniques for fabric art” as the focus, I believe these books can apply to traditional work also.  These will be short books, complete with practice projects.   I may get all four done, but I only really expect to complete two this year and two next.

  1. Techniques for Fabric Art:  Applique Methods
  2. Techniques for Fabric Art:  Surface Design
  3. Techniques for Fabric Art:  Threads and Threadwork
  4. Techniques for Fabric Art:  From Digital to Fabric Art

Lectures/Workshops/Videos:  Develop these along the same subjects as the books listed above, using the same samples.

2016 Show Quilts:

  1. Quick quilt 1: Hawaiian Garden…a vintage panel central theme (for MQX special exhibit, not a long project).
  2. Major quilt 1:  Waiting 2…a storm at sea…second in the series of women (wives, mothers, sisters, friends) and children through history waiting for their men to return from difficult missions while keeping the home front.  (note:  while I realize that women have also fought in wars and carried out difficult missions throughout history, that is another subject that I may address at some point in another series).  Underway
  3. Quick Quilt 2: Hoffman Challenge 2016.  A two week project, more or less…just a small quilt.
  4. Major Quilt 2: Deep Space 3:  Spiral Galaxy M51
  5. Major Quilt 3:  Ancient Manuscript Series 3…TBD

I know this seems a lot, but realize that I work on this full time, have already been working on much of this for the past year, and some of this is bringing that work to completion.  I’ve already written much of book 1 and some of the other three books, I’ve already designed and begun construction of Quilts 1, 2, and 3, so I think it is a viable plan.

In the process of planning this work, I have decided to abandon the Bernina v7 workbook I was working on.  I got it about 80 percent complete and couldn’t seem to get it any further.  So instead, I will use it here in my blog and share it in sections  across the year.

I am considering developing a project for my readers to work along with me..kind of like a block of the month…but focused on making a small wall quilt.  Would you be interested in this?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Let me know what you are working on, and if you have any suggestions for me.

Sew Happy everyone!

 

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God…

As many of you know I have an ongoing deep space quilt series.  I am deeply moved by the glory of the deep space photography that shows what is out there we can’t really see with our human eye.  And yes, I am aware they enhance it with colors and merge many photos to come up with the pictures, but the fact is, they are real.   We are very blessed to be able to “see” some of this through the efforts of astronomers and NASA.  I can just imagine there are even greater things in deep space than we will ever be able to see in this life.  Sometimes when I look at such photos, I mentally hear the passage from Psalm 19, set to music by Haydn, that I sang so many times with several choruses. (Here is the Morman Tabernacle Choir version of this anthem)

The other day I saw this fabulous picture of our Earth home:

content_earth_and_limb_m1199291564l_color_2stretch_mask2048p

 

King David wrote this psalm specifically to be sung, according to the Bible.  “For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”  During the time of the birth of our Lord, there was a “Star” that caused men (and probably women and children accompanying them) to take a long journey from Today’s Azerbaijan to Bethlehem to see Jesus and what had come to pass.  (my personal belief…I have no question that God caused this space event, whatever it was, to happen in conjunction with the birth of Jesus).

NOEL...completed in 2012. This quilt is currently missing, possibly stolen. I'm going to make a new Nativity quilt.

NOEL…completed in 2012. This quilt is currently missing, possibly stolen. I’m going to make a new Nativity quilt. This one had some design issues that I would like to correct anyway. (Good news:  Since posting this blog, my quilt has been found…the church had it in their Christmas decorations…so now I can get it appraised and give it to the church).

Almost every week I see some picture showing a space scene I would like to create a quilt from.  Do I think my quilts come anywhere near the photo–no I don’t, but I do enjoy trying.

butterflyblue_hst_3919

The Butterfly

 

Pillars of Creation

Pillars of Creation

 

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has trained its razor-sharp eye on one of the universe's most stately and photogenic galaxies, the Sombrero galaxy, Messier 104 (M104). The galaxy's hallmark is a brilliant white, bulbous core encircled by the thick dust lanes comprising the spiral structure of the galaxy. As seen from Earth, the galaxy is tilted nearly edge-on. We view it from just six degrees north of its equatorial plane. This brilliant galaxy was named the Sombrero because of its resemblance to the broad rim and high-topped Mexican hat. At a relatively bright magnitude of +8, M104 is just beyond the limit of naked-eye visibility and is easily seen through small telescopes. The Sombrero lies at the southern edge of the rich Virgo cluster of galaxies and is one of the most massive objects in that group, equivalent to 800 billion suns. The galaxy is 50,000 light-years across and is located 28 million light-years from Earth. Hubble easily resolves M104's rich system of globular clusters, estimated to be nearly 2,000 in number - 10 times as many as orbit our Milky Way galaxy. The ages of the clusters are similar to the clusters in the Milky Way, ranging from 10-13 billion years old. Embedded in the bright core of M104 is a smaller disk, which is tilted relative to the large disk. X-ray emission suggests that there is material falling into the compact core, where a 1-billion-solar-mass black hole resides. In the 19th century, some astronomers speculated that M104 was simply an edge-on disk of luminous gas surrounding a young star, which is prototypical of the genesis of our solar system. But in 1912, astronomer V. M. Slipher discovered that the hat-like object appeared to be rushing away from us at 700 miles per second. This enormous velocity offered some of the earliest clues that the Sombrero was really another galaxy, and that the universe was expanding in all directions. The Hubble Heritage Team took these observations in M

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has trained its razor-sharp eye on one of the universe’s most stately and photogenic galaxies, the Sombrero galaxy, Messier 104 (M104). The galaxy’s hallmark is a brilliant white, bulbous core encircled by the thick dust lanes comprising the spiral structure of the galaxy. As seen from Earth, the galaxy is tilted nearly edge-on. We view it from just six degrees north of its equatorial plane. This brilliant galaxy was named the Sombrero because of its resemblance to the broad rim and high-topped Mexican hat. At a relatively bright magnitude of +8, M104 is just beyond the limit of naked-eye visibility and is easily seen through small telescopes. The Sombrero lies at the southern edge of the rich Virgo cluster of galaxies and is one of the most massive objects in that group, equivalent to 800 billion suns. The galaxy is 50,000 light-years across and is located 28 million light-years from Earth. Hubble easily resolves M104’s rich system of globular clusters, estimated to be nearly 2,000 in number – 10 times as many as orbit our Milky Way galaxy. The ages of the clusters are similar to the clusters in the Milky Way, ranging from 10-13 billion years old. Embedded in the bright core of M104 is a smaller disk, which is tilted relative to the large disk. X-ray emission suggests that there is material falling into the compact core, where a 1-billion-solar-mass black hole resides. In the 19th century, some astronomers speculated that M104 was simply an edge-on disk of luminous gas surrounding a young star, which is prototypical of the genesis of our solar system. But in 1912, astronomer V. M. Slipher discovered that the hat-like object appeared to be rushing away from us at 700 miles per second. This enormous velocity offered some of the earliest clues that the Sombrero was really another galaxy, and that the universe was expanding in all directions.

 

V838 Monocerotis

V838 Monocerotis

Merry Christmas my friends.  I send this even to those of you who do not celebrate this time as the birth of Jesus, I hope you have an especially beautiful time during this time.  Consider the heavens…

 

Artistic Applique

Applique is a big part of my work.  I use multiple styles within the raw edge and turned edge machine applique methods to help achieve the look I want.  I am currently writing a book about this and working up samples to go with the book.  This book will deal with how I decide which method and style I need.  I have as many as four or five styles of applique on some of my quilts.  I sometimes have joined machine applique with machine embroidery and come up with some interesting results.

In The Storyteller, my Hoffman Challenge quilt from 2013,  I embroidered the tree trunk off quilt on brown fabric, using my own digitized tree trunk, and cut it out with about an eighth of an inch turn under and appliqued it onto the quilt with turned edge machine applique. This gives the tree trunk almost a 3D appearance.

The tree was embroidered and then appliqued.

The tree was embroidered and then appliqued.

The sun and island are a combination of piecing and applique.  Sharon Schamber calls this piece-lique, and Carol Bryer Fallert calls it appli-piece.  Whichever you call it, it is a technique that is wonderful for certain looks that are difficult to achieve any other way.

turning the back over freezer paper and starching the turn- down.

turning the back over freezer paper and starching the turn- down.

gluing the sun into place ready for stitching.

gluing the sun into place ready for stitching.

Then there is the stitched raw-edge applique.  This can produce many different looks, depending on the stitch, thread, and stitch size one picks.

Stitching down a broiderie perse cutout from the Hoffman challenge fabric.

Stitching down a broiderie perse cutout from the Hoffman challenge fabric.

And here’s the quilt.  Some of you may have seen this quilt in person since it was shown throughout the year of Hoffman Challenge 2013.

The Storyteller

The Storyteller…this picture shows a little distortion from the camera lens, but I assure you it is nice and square and flat. This quilt is currently on sale in my shop for $1050.00. It is 38.5″ x 37.5, which is a nice size for a home or office wall.

I hope I can finish my book in just a few months, but realistically, it probably won’t be ready until mid 2016.

Sew happy everyone!  Try your hand on applique, however you do it.

Differences in Threads Are Helpful for Fabric Art

In a recent conversation with my Daughter-in-law Beth while we were looking at one of my ongoing quilt projects and discussing how I might make something look right using different weights of threads, it occurred to me that the use of thread in fabric art requires a different set of considerations than for other types of sewing and even for other types of quilting.  That being the case, and the fact that I frequently use differences in the broad array of great threads now available to accomplish certain looks, I decided to share my viewpoint on this subject.

Recently, my thread stash has grown to be almost equal to my fabric stash.  In fact I am getting simpler with my fabric needs, and more complex with my threads as I grow as an art quilter.

Here are some basic things to know about threads (a lot of you may already know this, but bear with me):

  • The higher the number the thinner the thread.
  • Polyester thread may melt if overheated with your iron, but just require a little care to prevent that.  Polyester comes in many different lusters and qualities and some are more susceptible to melting than others.
  • Rayon thread is usually the shiniest, although there are some polyesters that are also prettily shiny.  Rayon has a higher tendency to fade or run and shrink when washed.  I actually had a quilt nearly ruined when a dark brown thread decided to run when I blocked my quilt.  High quality rayons, however, will usually not run.
  • You can use up to 12 weight in your machine if you use a large needle (I use a 100/16 top stitch/embroidery need for this).  Adjust your needle size to your thread size.
  • Thicker threads need to be used either for bobbin work or for couching, but are still great options for certain looks.  I used Ricky Tims Razzle Dazzle for bobbin work to do the horsehead outline in “Sky Horse” (see my last post).
  • The quality of monopoly threads vary widely.  My favorite is Superior’s new reduced sheen lightweight thread.  It sews beautifully (using a 60/8 or 70/10 needle) and virtually disappears on the fabric.
  • The standard weight for sewing clothing is 50 weight (using 80/14 needle) and most machines are calibrated for this weight thread.  This means you may have to adjust the tension for higher weight (thinner)  and heavier weight (thicker).  The thing to take away from this is that it is OK to adjust your machine tension for both the top and the bobbin.  You only need to figure out how to put it back to the default setting BEFORE you do any changes (like a tiny dot of red ink or reading the manual).
  • 90/16 embroidery/top stitch needle does great for 40 wt threads.

Sew how do I use this information?

  • I have a small notebook where I keep notes on threads, usages, settings.  At some point I’m going to put this info together to share, although your machine may need different settings.
  • I frequently “draw” with my machine stitching as if my project were an ink drawing.  My best example of this is my quilt “Perspective in Threads” that is basically a whole cloth quilt with a border.  The main lines were 12 weight cotton, and the fills were varied as needed with the tiniest being the section under the stairs in 100 wt silk.  I used four different weights in this quilt (I don’t have a great picture of this quilt at the moment…it’s being rephotographed).
Perspective in Threads - This quilt was recently juried in to Houston's Tactile Archetecture special exhibit and will be in the Houston show and traveling for a year thereafter.

Perspective in Threads – This quilt was juried in to Houston’s Tactile Archetecture special exhibit 2014.

  • I use the various thread lusters to enhance the look I’m trying to achieve.  For instance, hair should have a slight luster and have a moderate variety of colors in the same family.  I find Superior’s Rainbow to work best in this situation.  See her hair below where I used two different variegated threads.

finished detail as shot 2

  • I found that Superior’s Glitter pretty much matches the qualities of Angelina Fibers.  So if you are trying to match that, it works well when you use a 90 top stitch/embroidery needle and loosen the top tension way down (see that little bit in the top of the wave in the picture above). I used both that and monopoly for that.
  • Glitter also shows well when you want to add bling. Longer stitches show both glitter and metallic threads blingier than shorter stitches.
  • Around those rocks in “Waiting…” and for much of the rock quilting (see the picture above), I used Superior’s Rainbow.  I also appliqued them with the double blanket stitch because I wanted the edges to stand out and look like separate rocks as much as possible.  I loved the look…not sure what anyone else thinks about it.  It’s what I’m planning to do with my current project, which is the second in this series and something of a remake of it with quite a few changes (she has her daughter with her, and there is a small lighthouse in the background scene, for instance).
  • However, I used 100 weight black thread with my deep space quilt Angelina Fiber applique.  I have found if you match the background with fine weight thread it makes a very nice look (see my last blogpost).
  • For my latest quilt “Kanazawa Memories”, in which I did a great deal of Sashiko stitching, I used King Tut by Superior.  That is a 40 weight cotton thread and does well when you are trying to create a hand or antique looking stitching by machine.
Kanazawa Memories, Completed August 2015

Kanazawa Memories, Completed August 2015

  • But the quilting for the moon was different.  For the flowers I used Superior monopoly for appliqueing, 100 wt. Kimono silk for quilting the actual flowers and for the fill on the moon, King Tut for the little critters around in the moon to give them a little more character and make them stand out just a little.
Kanazawa Memories detail shot

Kanazawa Memories detail shot

Sew back to my original comment…Beth and I were discussing how I could make a light house beam look right and we came out with using 12 wt toward the outside pointing down and using 100 weight toward the top outside pointing upward and something in between, like King Tut perhaps, toward the middle all in slightly different tones of yellow, if I can find all that and if it works (I’ll have to experiment with that first).  This should result in a more intense beam down toward the ocean and more disappearing beam toward the top toward the sky.  The lighthouse will be up on a hillside and fairly small and should not “take over” the scene.

See?

Sew happy everyone.  Please comment  with your thoughts or questions.  Cheers.

 

I Am a Magpie

This nice drawing is from Dover's Chinese Designs.  Whatever would I do without Dover!

This nice drawing is from Dover’s Chinese Designs. I THINK this MAY be a magpie, but it’s pretty even if it isn’t.  Whatever would I do without Dover!

I have concluded after several years of art quilting that am “a magpie”.  I love light and how it plays across crystals, water, shiny paints, Angelina Fibers, and Metallic Threads.  It seems magical to me.

This week my oldest talented son Ken, who doesn’t share my love of such things, nevertheless rephotographed “Sky Horse”, because even though it has been out in the shows for a little over a year now, I want to show it a bit more and I didn’t think the photos I had of it were adequate.  This is a very difficult quilt to photograph just because of the way the light bounces all around.  I thought he did a really wonderful job, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Sky Horse photographed by Ken Tatum

Sky Horse photographed by Ken Tatum November 2015

I don’t have sparkles or gold or some such on all my quilts, but I do on a lot of them.  I am planning a new deep space quilt for one of my 2016 show quilts.  I am basing this one on M51

One of the many NASA photos of the Whirlpool Galaxy.

One of the many NASA photos of  M51.

One of the things that inspired me to use a spiral galaxy for my next deep space quilt are these two  photos featured by NASA on their pictures of the day.

This image shows the galaxy Messier 94, which lies in the small northern constellation of the Hunting Dogs, about 16 million light-years away. Within the bright ring around Messier 94 new stars are forming at a high rate and many young, bright stars are present within it – thanks to this, this feature is called a starburst ring. The cause of this peculiarly shaped star-forming region is likely a pressure wave going outwards from the galactic centre, compressing the gas and dust in the outer region. The compression of material means the gas starts to collapse into denser clouds. Inside these dense clouds, gravity pulls the gas and dust together until temperature and pressure are high enough for stars to be born.

This image shows the galaxy Messier 94, which lies in the small northern constellation of the Hunting Dogs, about 16 million light-years away. Within the bright ring around Messier 94 new stars are forming at a high rate and many young, bright stars are present within it – thanks to this, this feature is called a starburst ring. The cause of this peculiarly shaped star-forming region is likely a pressure wave going outwards from the galactic centre, compressing the gas and dust in the outer region. The compression of material means the gas starts to collapse into denser clouds. Inside these dense clouds, gravity pulls the gas and dust together until temperature and pressure are high enough for stars to be born.

And

ngc3521_hstGendler_960

Ken and his wife Beth are into astronomy.  They own a telescope and are part of a star gazing group.  So I have some interest and guidance from them in my deep space quilts even though neither of them particularly like the way I approach them with sparkly Angelina Fibers and crystals.  But we will see what they think of my spiral galaxy quilt when I get it finished.  Sky Horse is not as close to the look of the Horsehead Nebula as I had hoped to achieve, but I think maybe I can get closer to the look of a spiral galaxy.  We’ll see.

I am fairly backed up in my quilt making with some deadlines, so I probably won’t get to this one until sometime in January or February.  Once I improve my technique significantly and feel I can really explain it well, I have plans for sharing how to make one yourself, but not just yet.

Sew happy everyone.  Are you a magpie too?