Charity Quilt -- giving back

My art group which meets one Wednesday a month chose to make a quilt to be donated to Safe House, a group which helps those dealing with domestic violence.   Last December, the call went out for 18 inch wonky squares of red and white fabric.  At wasn't able to make any at that time. I was happy when there was a request as few weeks ago for additional squares.  I realized that I would be able to contribute to this project. You can see the progress  here.  Below are the blocks I made.  They will be cut into 8 x 8 inch squares and added to the quilt.

Where have I been

It has been just a little over a year since my last blog.  I spoke with a fellow artist who assured me that when she started blogging it was a challenge to keep it up.  That is my challenge for 2012 -- to post at least once per week on Fridays. Once a month on the second Thursday a small group of us get together to make art.  We keep it uncomplicated, although not necessarily easy.  Different member of the group come up with the "art project" and we talk about art while we work.  Last night, Took was in charge of the art and we were given pencils, markers and paper and told to make marks without looking at the paper, rotating it as we did.  We were then told to look at the lines and squiggles and find images in them.  Well I discovered that I wasn't very good at doing this.  You can see what the others did on Took's blog. There is not photo of my work, but if you look carefully you can see me in the gray sweater looking perplexed.  After I have done some of these and have a measure of success I will post them here.

Sketchbook Challenge

I have joined the flickr group for the Sketchbook Challenge and plan to add at least one photo of my sketchbook per week. I was inspired by Lyric Kinard to add drawing to my list of goals for 2011. I have been keeping sketches of various items I thought that I would like to make, including dolls, vests, art quilts, jewelry, etc.  These are scattered in any number of books, some real artists sketchbook, others any old notebook or diary that was handy. I seriously doubt that at this moment I could even locate all of these books.  I have never gotten into the habit of keeping a journal with me at all times, so I tend to just put notes on whatever paper I have with me.  Some make it into more permanent locations, but most do not.  I am challenging myself to draw something each day. Right now I am not going to narrow the focus, but at some point it will probably make sense if I want to really improve my skills. 

Three Creative Studios

I have been following Three Creative Studios since it was only Two Creative Studios.  These three artists have a wonderful site that offers free instructions for personal use, classes, and many interesting challenges.  They have changed how they running all of their offerings and are having a giveaway for persons who go and comment on their site.  Visit Three Creative Studios and make a comment for a chance to win some really awesome stuff.

The Sketchbook Project

I procrastinated for months ignoring the little blue book from the Sketchbook Project that sat on the printer table.  I was not certain where I wanted to go with the project, so I did nothing, not even some scribble in a notebook with ideas.  I am now giving the pages a wash of color and then will make decisions about what to do next.  My topic is lines and grids, so I plan to use on some of the techniques I have learned in the last few year.  I will actually draw designs with  markers, pencils, etc. As a fiber artist this will be a stretch.  I do not draw, but I will now.  I will create some temporary screens using freezer paper and print grids on some of the pages. I will glue and/or stitch paper and fabric designs on some pages.  I will stitch by hand -- something I never do unless it is a binding on a quilt. I am a machine person, but this project calls for hand work.  Pictures to follow when I begin adding the lines and grids designs to the pages.

Happy New Year

I posted on facebook that I would do art every day and that I would blog at least once per week. I want to use this year to find my artistic voice.  To play with all the techniques that I have learned either in classes, from blogs, online courses and reading.  I want to make art that reflects me, not those whose techniques I have learned, if not entirely mastered.

I Love Detroit

Those who know me, know that I can be very vocal about my love for my adopted city.  I live in a beautiful old Tudor in Sherwood Forest -- no kidding  -- that's the name of the sub, but no Robin Hood.  We are just around the corner from Palmer Woods, just north of University District and the University of Detroit Mercy and south of Green Acres -- no not that Green Acres. Over the months, I will be sharing more of my favorite places, businesses, etc all within the city limits. As I have been searching for topics and inspiration for my fiber art I had a ah ha moment and I decided to base my new art around my passion for this city.  I will use photographs taken in locations around the city which meet the topic of my Sketchbook Project -- lines and grids. Photographs of rows of flowers in the gardens, storm drains, doorways and windows etc -- as the basis for the art.  Realistic or abstract?  Don't know, maybe both.  I also see a different series -- more of a social/political statement -- about the condition of some the structures.  One which stands out in my mind is the old train station which looms near Michigan Avenue, just past the field that was once Tiger Stadium.  I am appalled at the number of structures which have been abandoned, stripped and left to decay.  A tentative title --  Benign? Neglect.  To counter this series I will create one which celebrates the good things about the city -- places, events, people wherever it takes me. As I create new pieces I will post progress or the finished piece and share informaition about the place/person/event that inspired it.  Again, real or abstract?  Only time will tell.