Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Mystery Sack winner / Special announcement



70% silk, 30% cotton 4 ply thread

a.k.a. India Flint's Favorite

a.k.a. Beautiful Silks no. 5 yarn

 It is also, my thread of choice

I usually use one strand rather than all 4 

but oh my goodness, it is lovely and does dye beautifully!  


For those of you who participating, Thank You! I placed everyone's name into 
a random-name picker program, and Beth won.
After her name was selected, I read on one of her blogs that
she is going to be at Nancy Crow's barn to take a mark-making class
from Dorothy Caldwel, this thread may come in handy
post class, as you are making your own marks via stitch.
Will need her mailing details...

The Mystery bag was filled with
this

Contents of cotton bag
from Beautiful Silks in Melbourne, Australia.

COMING SOON

My new website, blog and online shop


Yes.

Opening May 7


Need to finalize shipping details before I hit the "Live" button.

Will be selling India Flint's favorite thread
a.k.a. Yarn number 5 (from Beautiful Silks, AU)

And

A few other pieces of wool and a little bit of silk
Just a wee bit.

I will post more details later this week.

Come back for more pictures and previews.

Thank you,
Christine





Saturday, April 27, 2013

Guess the contents of the Mystery Sack Giveaway EXTENDED UNTIL MIDNIGHT APRIL 29


This sack arrived yesterday.What can be inside?

You tell me.


Please write your guess in the comments section below 

 and ask your friends to stop by my blog to take a stab at it too.

I will select a winner at random from all correct answers and
send the lucky person an item from within the sack.

If you are not able to access the comment section,  

please email your guess directly to me here 


Winner will be announced on Monday, April 29, 2013.

EXTENDED UNTIL MIDNIGHT APRIL 29, WINNER ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 30.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

FiberArt International 2013

Terry Jarrard-Dimond
Morpheous, 2012
Cotton fabric stained with ink and tea
machine pieced
raw edge appliqué
machine quilted
My good friend (and artist), Christy and I drove from Cleveland to Pittsburgh on Friday 
to attend the opening reception of FiberArt International 2013 

79 works created by 63 national and international artists are included in this stellar exhibit of contemporary fiber art.

Jurors, Kai Chan, Paulina Ortiz, and Joyce Scott had a formidable task to review a little over 470 pieces. The resulting exhibition is a fine example of contemporary trends in fiber art.

Excited to see my good friend, Terry Jarrard-Dimond, who has been a mentor to me since we connected, see here. Her workshop, entitled, What If? changed the way I approach my art practice. Brilliant woman!

We attended the Fiber Art Forum on Saturday where Juror, Joyce Scott gave a key-note talk. She walked to the podium singing And When I Die (made famous in 1966 by Peter, Paul, Mary, then later in the 1970s by Blood Sweat & Tears). Joyce is a prolific artist herself and I learned much about her point of view. 

So much fun to see the work of my friends, Elizabeth Brandt & Sandy Shelenberger. And to see other friends who came to the Forum.

See more about this exhibit on Jennifer Qudeens blog. Go here for nice photos of other art in the show.


Monday, April 15, 2013

Laying Groundwork - It is official




Ground Work, 2012
Rubylith (transparency film)
thread, tulle
Textile installation
28 inches x 30 inches x 18 inches deep

Machine stitched cut rubylith sewn to a header of transparent tulle.
Installed 3 overlapping layers and suspended from 3 rods in ceiling



I received a most welcome letter in my mail today
regarding my submission for review to the 



Congratulations, it is official! The Ohio Arts Council Board 
met and ratified your recommendation for an 
Individual Excellence Award

It is an honor to have been given this award.



Having set my intention to make changes in my life 
so that making artwork would become a vocation, 
it is a good thing to know I am on road paved with support
from both my state and my county.

The groundwork has been laid. 

Off to my studio to make more work and push myself further.











Thursday, April 11, 2013

Hildur Asgeirsdottir Jonsson

Hildur Asgeirsdottir Jonsson
b. Reykjavik, Iceland
Presently lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA

CORE
H. Jonsson
2013
10 x 14 feet
Silk, Handpainted

This is Hildur Asgeirsdottir Jonsson standing in front of CORE.

Today is the first time she herself is able to see the work in its entirety.

Can you imagine, not being able to see your work until it is off the loom?
I know that all weavers experience this, but to me, it must be a bit nerve-wracking
to not have distance from the work.

10 feet high x 14 feet wide (304 cm x 426 cm).


I went to thWilliam Busta Gallery with my friend Christy 
to see it.
Bill Busta has represented Hildur since 1997 in Cleveland.
He has traveled to Iceland many times to install her shows
and has supported her and helped to develop her work.






We spoke to Hildur, who was generous with information about how she works.

She said that this is the 5th piece in a series 
Each work is 10 feet x 14 feet.
The weavings reference the landscape of Iceland.
She hand-paints the warp before weaving.


She said that the colors in she uses represent the colors 
she sees in the Icelandic landscape.
There is a moss that grows and has a bright luminance when the sky is grey.
(almost fluorescent) textiles dyes on warp are used to evoke those colors.

Core is the interpretation of a volcanic rock that she found in Iceland, 
the rock is no larger than a small apricot.
It is a volcanic rock and has a rough surface lumps and holes.
Hildur says, most rocks have a long history, these rocks are new volcanic rocks.
(referring to each of the 5 very large weavings)

 Her ability to take a small object from the earth and interpret its shape 
in a large weaving an impressive task.


Core, detail


Core, bottom edge detail

I will go to visit her studio soon and report more on her space. 
I am anxious to take pictures of the loom she used to make this piece!



I was thrilled to see this work in person.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
and please go to her website here to see more 
of her beautiful weavings.


 All photos are by permission of Hildur Jonsson.

Thank you Hildur.



Monday, April 8, 2013

Pojagi/Bojagi

A Pojagi trial, in my window

Last week, I saw this technique of piecing cloth together called Korean Pojagi (Bojagi) .
The seams are finished on both the front and
back of the work. Much like a flat felled seam  (my guess).

I decided to try my hand at it.
This technique dates back to the 12th century in Korea.

Traditionally, it is hand-sewn together
I decided to use my machine
and some bits and pieces of
materials from the thrift store mixed with eco-dyed silk
and some of my hand-stitched work.


Hanging on the design wall

Found patched hole in a cloth (from thrift store)

My older hand-stitched line work 
Apiece of hand-stitching from 2009

Korean Fiber Artist, Chunghie Lee  has written a lovely book
I would like to find a library to loan me a copy
but it is available here.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

13 Threads


Black Cotton Lawn Dress with Ties and Side Drape
via 13 Threads Etsy Shop
see link here


13 Threads is the name of a blog written by a woman who
is interested in the history and design of fashion, traditional costumes and textiles.
She writes that many of her pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited editions
and are all designed, cut and stitched by her in her room with a beautiful view of 
Edinburgh Castle.

Sigh...

Tunic Style Dress
Via 13 Threads

Her clothes are
 available on Supermarket and Etsy 


Dark Grey Linen Jacket

Want this.
A girl can dream.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Apron Obsession I think

I like this apron
while I would probably be able to afford a few from Fog Linen, I thought it would be 
more fun to make a few of my own
 using deconstructed clothes

At my thrift store I purchased 
a Leather skirt for $10.00 
and
2.5 yards of Grey pin-stripe mens-wear wool for $2.50

Also a cotton white and blue striped jumper for $3.50

This week, post  flu, I am hitting the ground running - here are a few pics
Upper Left- Leather skirt
Bottom Right- the pieces of leather I have remaining



Then

Navy blue jean material at a close-out price 2 years ago. 



I am loving this mix of leather and pin-stripe




Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon 
Something special might happen
For me, it was winning the Creative Workforce Fellowship for 2013
I previously wrote about it here



I started this piece a few days ago, once I began to feel well again.
(Nasty Flu!)


Work in Process, Blue Moon, 2013
C. Mauersberger
is not as rare as we think, but for me, this year is yielding several.


In June, I will be hosting a conversation about my work at 
Squam Art Workshops in New Hampshire.


The very lovely Mystic Vixen herself, Elizabeth Duvivier
who is the creator of Squam Art Workshops posted a little interview about me today here
I posted a little entry about Squam in January.
I cannot wait to attend this special gathering of like-minded 
people and make new friends and share my story.