Workshop at Teahouse Studio

 I traveled down to Berkeley, California recently to experience a two-day workshop at the Teahouse Studio,

 which is the workplace of artist, and gracious host, Mati Rose McDonough.

 The star of the workshop titled "Layers of Lines, Layers of Meaning: Thick Embroidery" was our instructor, Rebecca Ringquist, who is a wonderful fiber artist from Brooklyn, New York.

 Rebecca shared with us her techniques for creating richly layered, embroidered pieces.  These are some examples of her beautiful stitched art.

 Rebecca, on the left, checks out the work of her students on the sunny patio outside the studio, where we also gathered for delicious catered lunches.

 One of my classmates, Penny, had a clever way of organizing and storing her threads...wrapped around photographic slides in a carrier.

 One of the exercises in the workshop was to do some timed embroidery sketches...I was Penny's subject for one of her pieces. :o)

 Here's a portrait of our class group, from left; Mary, Jessica, Rebecca, Penny, Leah, and myself.

Below is a sampler I made in class, using hand and machine embroidered sketches on sheer fabric and linen, and applique.  I came away from the workshop with new embroidery techniques and a load of inspiration!

new things

The sun finally came out for a while today so I ran out to take a few pictures of recent projects. This wall hanging started out as a table runner but in the interest of being completed within a reasonable time frame became something a bit smaller. All of the prints used came from a deconstructed rag rug. I will explain... One of my very creative friends, Tory, discovered that within a modest rug may be some very interesting material (you can see what she did here). So, while in World Market one day I decided to pick-up a rag rug that was on sale and see what I could do. When I got home and took it apart I ended up with a pile of super-colorful cotton fabric scraps of wax block prints. They needed to be washed and pressed but it was worth the effort. With the addition of some Kona solids and silk pieces, I was able to put together the panel, and there are still a LOT of scraps left. It was fun to use fabrics that I probably wouldn't come across anywhere else but in that rug.

I decided to add a beaded fringe to the bottom border as it just seemed to be the right finish.

I couldn't resist deconstructing another bargain rug, this time finding some lightweight silk scraps. My grand dog, Baxter, decided they made a comfy resting place.

In another instance of using what you are given, I created a quilt block for a challenge from the Portland Modern Quilt Guild to use some lovely cotton solids donated by Michael Miller Fabrics. Some of the blocks created by our guild members will be made into a quilt to be displayed at quilt market in Kansas City this year.

back to blogging...

It's good to be here again, been a while...my computer-savvy son managed to restore my blog background. Isn't it great when our kids grow up to be so helpful? It looks different here now, but I kind of like the change.

Lots of things going on in the last couple of months, and several fun things to look forward to this year. I'm trying to be more focused with my art making; and more recently, learning how to use a new camera I picked up on craigslist (purchase initiated by the above mentioned adult child...).

One of my customers from the PAC holiday sale requested that I make a few more wire-worked pins so have been working on those. Also, I've finished a quilt and taken on a major project in re-doing my work space above the garage. More on that later.

Day After

The Portland Art Collective holiday show is over for another year and I'm feeling gratitude and relief; thankful for having spent two fun days with over 20 of my art friends and their work, and relieved that I can now clean things up at home and move on to new projects. These are a couple of shots of my space.

The show was quite a success! We had good attendance and sales that exceeded all previous years. The publicity committee did an excellent job of getting the word out. Robin Olsen, who started our group and Lorraine Jones, chairperson of the show, were interviewed at a local community radio station last week which you can listen to here.
All of the participants worked very hard to make the show a great time for us and our guests.

Edit: Lots more photos posted to the PAC blog, thanks to Dayna!

what's going on over here

Just popping in to say "hello" and share some of the holiday goodness that is developing in my little workshop. The Portland Art Collective holiday show is only two short weeks away and true to form, I'm feverishly creating things to fill my space at the last hour. These rag ball ornaments will hang on the "danglie tree" at the show. They're made of muslin and silk sari scraps wrapped around a foam ball.

The inexpensive rubber stamp sets I purchased here makes quick work of personalizing the muslin ribbon; the individual letters snap together...viola!

Some of these little matryoshka dolls will sit in a basket on my table and others will hang on the tree.

Lots of hooky business going on here, too, making crocheted scarves.

And sewing a few totes, as well. Somehow... it will all get done in time.

field trip

A trip to the farm in Hood River, Oregon to get apples...but first, a stop along the Columbia at Cascade Locks for lunch.
Most of the flowers at the farm were a little past their prime but they still looked colorful on this beautiful fall day.

Someone had a little fun with the produce.

Loads of pumpkins everywhere.

And the stuff of pies and good eating.

"Nothing is worth more than this day".

--Goethe

wired!

I came across an article recently written by Inna Gorshtein for Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine (Sept. 2011) on making scarf pins with wire and beads and decided to try my hand at making a few of my own.
Wire jewelry is something I've enjoyed doing for a while. Sharilyn Miller's book "Bead on a Wire" is my favorite go-to resource on the subject.

I seem to be on a roll with these pins...they are really fun to make. They are worked with 16 and 20 gauge brass wire, oxidized in a solution of Novacan Black Patina and water, then put through a tumbler with stainless steel shot for strength and a final polish.

I think they would look nice on a scarf, shawl, or sweater.