Pacific Blues art quilt #2 progress Happy Monday!!

Pacific Blues #2, more beading added...

 Close up, beading, button, running and fly stitch.

Last few days I've been adding embroidery to a few of my current projects. I like to keep several things going at the same time, it keeps inspiration flowing. It's a balancing act to keep working through a piece to the finish and holding on to vision for new projects. All the while not loosing your  'voice' or style. That's why art is so great, the artist's particular unique interpretation and statement  of life comes out. That's the 'wow' moment, when you connect to that 'voice' when you see what they are trying to say with their art.
Happy Monday, remember to stop and enjoy something beautiful!

New Quilt, with Wash and Dry crinkle effect...

Santa Clara #3, after wash and dry.......

Santa Clara art quilt #3 after wash and dry. That crinkly look adds great texture. It's the result of close machine quilting and the cotton batting in the quilt. I enjoy the organic look of the batik fabric I used in this quilt too.

 

Happy Friday! Contentment is a choice, happiness an art.

Santa Clara 3 hand embroiderey finished, binding on...

Santa Clara art quilt #3 in series finished.

The binding is on and hand embroidery finished on my Santa Clara #3. I finished it over the weekend. All that's left is to wash and dry it for that crinkly look I love. It measures 39" x 22". 

I also had time to put together a small art sampler 5" x 3". It's made on card stock with scraps of art paper and fabric and vintage crochet lace. I watch Karen Ruane put together her gorgeous little art sampler books and thought that I would benefit putting together some of my own.

Happy Monday and enjoy something beautiful today!

Happy World Embroidery Day... what memories do you have?

 

Happy World Embroidery Day!

I was always drawn to color whether in nature or fashion, or the colorful embroidery in my grandmother's house. My grandmother's embroidery was her on pillowcases, dish towels and table cloths. I loved them because she had made them and there was colorful embroidery thread in them. So it was natural that I too learned to embroider with that colorful thread.

I've been doing a bit of research into the 'roots' of embroidery and it appears the art of embroidery has a very glamorous and ancient history. The East Indians have done and are doing amazing things with embroidery and color. They've been known for their skill in embroidery and embellishment for centuries. Embroidery is a fascinating subject.

And here is a link for textile enthusiasts, Hand & Cloth

They support 'dignified work to skilled women artisans creating beautiful, functional textiles.'

They sell traditionally made Kantha quilts. I think that's a great idea, have a look.

California State Fair @ Sacramento, quilts...

 Guess where we went for fun Friday?

Street entrance to the fair.

Entrance to the CA State Fair.

California State Fair Monorail.

Entrance to the amusement section.

Thrills and lots of color.

Game vendor.

Amusements at the Fair.

Quilt and Costumes at the Art and Craft Exhibition.

Art and Craft Exhibition entries.

Sacramento City College at the Tech Exhibition

Technology Exhibition

911 Memorial at the fair.

Pacific Blues Art Quilt #2 fly stitch WIPW

Pacific blues art quilt #2 WIP Wednesday, fly stitch and running stitch have been added the last few days. Also, more beads have been sewn down. I like fly stitch it's organic, living and unpredictable when you want it to be.

For fun I've been researching Kantha and Sashiko stitch. Basically they are a running stitch used for reinforcement and decoration. The Indian, and Japanese cultures have an amazing tradition of beautiful embroidery. Talk about inspiring! 

I always say, "Stop and enjoy something beautiful," well, I've been doing just that and it's refreshing.

Pacific Blues art quilt, Embroidery, Beading...

Pacific Blues #2, beads added, interviewing others.

Tropical theme #3, adding stitches.

 Last few days I've been beading and embroidering. It makes me feel tribal which is a relaxed sort of organic feeling. I know that word 'organic' gets over used, when I use it here I mean natural, as in occurring in nature. In the quilt world there is such a variety of styles as you all know. Everything from super formal, in which the critiques flash their magnifying glasses and rulers around. The poor quilts in this category have usually been machine quilted within an inch of their lives. Woe is the poor person who would try to get comfort and warmth from such a stiff, scratchy 'quilt'.

Then on the other side of the spectrum are the Gee's Bend type quilts. Made in a much more relaxed atmosphere with the quilter having an inner trust in her own ability to work with her hands using color and design as she likes. These are the quilts that are nurturing and comforting. Kind of like mothers. The best mothers are warm and nurturing, you would seldom find a good mother on the cover of a fashion mag. Not that she couldn't be there, but she doesn't want to be there. She has nothing to prove, she has an inner trust in her own ability and she's doing what she wants. A mother, a woman, like that is the most beautiful woman in the world.

I like the texture of hand stitching, more 'organic'.