Summer solo show

 Yesterday I took the time to plan the art quilts for

my solo show in August. It is called CHAIRS.

Think relaxing in a lawn chair overlooking the

bluff onto Lake Michigan. Sitting under the shade

of a tree reading a book.

 The show is all about relaxation.

Kicking back.

 I printed several photos on fabric to incorporate

into small art quilts for the cash and carry crowd.

I am doing Open Studios at the International

Quilt Festival in Chicago in March and all of

what I did will play into that. 

Photos onto Fabric quilted.

Quilting and Painting your quilt.

So I am ready for Chicago and as I make my 

smalls for the solo show I will have my examples done.

I like it when a plan comes together.

The year in Review

 

Thinking I did not accomplish much this year I went

back through the photos from 2014.

Even with 4 months out for knee replacement I find

my year was awesome and jam packed regardless.

My big project was the big quilt.

5 panels  a total of 18 feet wide and 6 foot tall.

I mentioned it to Kit from Machine Quilting Unlimited

and ended up writing an  4 page article for the magazine

that was published in September. 

 Barb Lucas and I did a joint show in Lafayette at

TAF. Her wildlife photography and my big quilt

plus another one called Minnesota Hills.

 We enjoyed many beautiful sunsets at Cedar Ridge during an extremely

snowy winter which was perfect for keeping me in the studio.

 I tried my hand at a modern quilt called

Colors of Winter.

Minnesota Hills ended up being quite large and

had 2 weeks of hand stitching on it. 

 The finished 5 panel quilt that took 5 months to make.

I entered 3  of the panels in the Salon Show in Munster

and received best of show. I was amazed.

 I made the Sunflower quilt (43 hours of stitching)

for In Full Bloom it was rejected but Kathy loved

it so it will be hers when it is done with shows. 

I thought if her when making it.

 I created several smaller quilts during the year and

sold a few at the Holiday show in November. 

 

This beauty went off to Montana and found a good home.

I need to repeat this one it was nice.

 Sumac Ridge finished off nicely and will be good

for shows. The evergreens looked good.

 Did I say there was lots of snow.

 I made 2 bed quilts one for Liz and one for Jordan.

 A donation quilt for SAQA,

I took time for class in April with Jane Dunnewold on

altering fabrics and surface design  held in St Charles

Illinois. 5 days of fun. Learned a lot. Jane is a really

special teacher, So kind and intelligent.

So 2014 was a very good year with many enriching

experiences, I met many great artist. I am so blessed

to be able to spend time creating art influenced by the

world of nature I see around me.

2015 is going to be a year of creating summer and

flowers. I look forward sharing  the new year with you.



Mounting an art quilt.

 Vivian asked about mounting a quilt.

I thought I would show you the way I attach my

quilts to supports ( stretched canvas) or wood frames.

When my quilt has a sleeve I cover the edge of the

stretched canvas with fabric to match the quilt

than holding the sleeve edge along the top of the

canvas I staple the sleeve to the stretched canvas.

I show my art quilts in lots of fine art venues and

the requirement is usually having a hanging

wire on back of the art.

 Smaller art quilts are made a little larger to

accommodate pulling the quilt around to the back

of the stretched canvas and stapling on the back.

Than I fuse a piece of coordinating fabric to the back.

 I use either 3/4 inch or 1 1/4 inch canvases as a base.

My wires I roll around a marker pin to form the

loop than staple to the back. I pound the staples

firmly in with a hammer otherwise the wire slips.

 As you see this makes a neat presentation and makes

the art quilts easy for the customer to hang the

art easily at home. I sometimes cover the edges of

the stretched canvas with matching fabric and

glue the quilt to the front of the canvas.

I would never do this for a quilt meant for a

competition. They require the quilt to have a

hanging sleeve. When I do staple the sleeve to

a mount the staples are  easily removed with

a pliers. Hope this was helpful Vivian.

Barb Lucan photographer

 The show I am making the big quilt for is a joint

effort with Bark Lucas. She will have photographs

and I will have art quilts. The Southern shoveler in the

above photo I am using in the middle panel.

 I will be using the photo of the Heron and the Squirrels

in two other panels. Her photographs which she

generously let me use for inspiration are superb.

I really like the Heron. She is so clever and set

up a stump and long with natural vegetation

in her front yard to photograph the wildlife

as they eat at her feeders. The other photos she take

as she goes on bird watching walks with our mutual

friend Lynn. Our circle of friends are all nature crazy.

Our joint show will also feature a power point on

her computer during the opening showing more photos.

Barb also does lectures taking about birds.

More of the Wisconisn trip

                                    Outside one of the galleries I found this old car.
                                     I love old cars reminds me of the car I drove in
                                     high school. Back in the 60's. Memories. The trees
                                     had already changed in Wisconsin. Ours are in full
                                     color now in NW Indiana. Tonight was the opening
                                     of the Art League show Trees. The art work was
                                     awesome. Such talented artists in the group. 
                                     

July heat wave, Show opening and County fair.

What a week-end.

Friday's night opening.

Saturday 5 am getting my flower entries  ready for the fair.

Gathering my flowers, paintings, photography and art quilts

Getting to the fairgrounds by 8:30.

Whew .

Thank goodness for my son and grandsons

They helped me carry everything inside.

At Friday's opening of Hoosiers Roads & Rivers

This is what caught the crowds eyes.

I am so glad they like my art quilts.

I enjoy making quilts from my paintings. 

Sunday afternoon I went to the Fair.

My Grandsons did great.

Grand Champion's and Reserve Champion's.

Great  kids.

I work hard to keep up with them.

5 am Saturday I thought maybe just skipping it this year.

Not an option though.

My Art Quilt received Reserved Champion.

A Sunset Photograph Grand Champion.

In the floral Department.

The succulent planter Grand Champion

plus best of show.

I forgot to mention it is a small fair.

I love giving my county something good to look at.

Plus it gets me some time with the red heads.

They get to camp out at the fair all week.

Saturday at close they were heading

back to the camper at 10 pm.

 The food strands gave them free food.

They did not want to throw it away.

Being 6 'plus they are always hungry.

Happy boys.

Paintings from my friend Doris.

A mini show of new paintings my friend Doris painted this year.

She will be 90 this November.

Like a good wine better with age.

These will be in our show at TAF in June.

Back after a busy week.

What has been keeping me busy for the past 3 months.

Last nights opening.

happily lots of red dots.

To fund another few months in art experimentation.

A view of the gallery as you enter the show. 

 One of my art quilts , the Kankakee River Marsh painting
and a few sunsets taken at Cedar Ridge .

 More small art quilts.

This grouping of fall features paintings

small art quilts and a art quilt of a painting. 

The pond as depicted in a art quilt painting.

The Kankakee River Marsh on a Jasper red gesso background.

Note the glow of red through the water.

Check out Caroline Jasper on line.

A great artist. 

Jasper red gesso is named after her.

A small grouping of winter.

Art quilt, watercolor, acrylic painting and small quilted dreamscapes 

My sculptures of Adam and Eve.

I rolled a slab then went outside for a Canadian Hemlock branch.

I love how the branch wraps around Eve at the waist.

No one would ever know I love the woods, trees, water and birds.

Whats new at Cedar Ridge.

Yesterday I finished a small painting for the Art Barn's show.

 Worked on the larger one of birch trees.
I will finish this one today.
Liked how the birch tree trunks turned out.
Need to add the leaves.

 Rescued the 9 canvases from last Friday by changing the colors.
They will work great for placing an art quilt in the light space.
A great use of  the canvas and a great way to display the quilts.
Now to create 9 small quilts.
I will sell these at the mini bazaar at QSDS in June.

Collage for a day

Spent Wednesday with the paper scraps.

Today I will paint in the morning.

Clean the last of the flower beds this afternoon.

Then it will rain for another week.

What a spring.

Can you tell I like trees, birds and the outdoors.

I really like the last one with the yellows.

Must remind me of the sun we don't get to see much of.