Peg Keeney

Getting Ready

2010-12-12T14:41:00.003-05:00

We are snowed in today. I have finished Christmas banners for the girls...the bird word tree was for Becky and the boys.
So now I am taking the time to begin to get organized for my 3 week residency begining in February. I need to start now because on the 22nd we go to Boston for Christmas and then when we return we head off to Arizona. Therefore I need to pack now and have stuff ready to mail to TX
My dear friend Laura and I will be sharing the space at the Creativity Center. Big thanks to Karey Bresenhen for the wonderful opportunity.

3 new works

2009-09-16T16:21:00.003-04:00

Three pieces I made during my wonderful 5 day fiber arts retreat. Working with Kerr Grabawski I learned how to silk screen using thickened dyes. What a wonderful starting point for design.

As you know I love trees...and using some handdyed fabric I screen theses three pieces. Trying to capture the essesnce of old Sugar Maples is not an easy task. However I do like these. Now the question is are they three Separate Works? or a tryptic?

What do you think?

Detail

2009-06-26T13:58:00.003-04:00

Here is a detail of the section that shows young love as in "Will you marry me?"

America Celebrates

2009-06-26T13:36:00.005-04:00

This is one of the hardest things I have done in a long time. I was invited to be part of a traveling exhibit whose theme was America Celebrates. After looking over the list of open holidays I chose Earth Day, which I thought was a theme that I could easily work with.

A few days later I got an email that that had already been chosen. Looking over the remaining topics I rashly chose Valentine Day. I was thinking of the box of antique valentines I had from my grandmother and mother. All winter I agonized of this...how to present "love" in a non Hallmark way.

I began by making several small works in my normal style with shadowy figures. This is the result of that experiment. It is meant to celebrate love throughout life...from earliest friendships with friends, and relatives.....though the enduring love of 50+ years.

SAQA Auction

2009-06-19T12:00:00.006-04:00

SAQA is having its annual auction of one foot square art quilts. It is a great opportunity to own wonderful piece of fine art.

The auction will begin on September 10th. So I encourage you all to go to the SAQA web site and look at all the wonderful works. My donation "The Promise" is on the top left side on page three!

I will try and feature one of two pieces per day up until the auction! So watch for tomorrows post!

http://www.saqa.com/

click on benefit auction and enjoy!

SAQA conference

2009-05-19T13:48:00.003-04:00

Greetings from Athems, Ohio. I am here working with Desiree Vaughn who is the conference coordintor.

Monday through Wednesday are the pre-conference workshops. Two of the workshops are being held at the Dairy Barn. The others at the Baker Center at Ohio University.

Today was a beautiful, warm spring day, with peony's in full bloom and the birds singing their hearts out.

Desi and I just returned from a visit to the Dairy Barn classes. The students were ecstatic about what they were learning and doing. The Shibori class.s walls were draped in colorful dyed fabrics...and the design clause's walls were covered with wonderfully complex exercises. The energy was amazing! For additional information see Sue Dennis's blog...she is a student in the design class

Musings on this day

2009-04-12T11:19:00.002-04:00

As the chair of Studio Art Quilt Associates' exhibition committee part of my job has grown to include some educational issues. These are issues that we face as an organization , and as individual artists. Today one of the issues I have been trying to address is how we contract with art venues like museums and galleries concerning how the exhibition is to be hung.

Initially I was surprised to learn that some of these institutions have no idea about how to hang a fiber exhibit. The problems we have experienced include double hanging of work, work hung with very little space between work, and movable walls spaced in such a manor as to preclude adequate room to view larger work.

To help with these issues when approaching a venue where we are trying to place an existing exhibit we inform them of our guidlines which include minimum liner footage needed for the exhibit. This calculation includes a minimum of 24"-36" between work. It also stipulates that no work is to be double hung. If the prospective venue is interested in an exhibit, these are included in the contract between the institution and SAQA.

In additions we are including these in our curator documents. If a SAQA member contacts a venue it is important that they bring up these guidelines in their discussions. Ultimately it effects the number of works that the curator would be asking a juror to select. Jurors should be given the liner footage available. This allows the juror to make a selection that is cohesive for the space. In some instantes a minimum number of quilts could be suggested.

more on this later this week

Leaving

2009-03-30T12:39:00.003-04:00

Well all good things must come to an end. I will miss the sunny warm days in Arizona. The roses and, the palo verde trees are in full bloom . The desert is turning green, pecan trees are flooded and I can see some the cactus flowers.

My winter time has been productive, but I am ready to head home and work in my studio. Lost of ideas to make new fabric...and new quilts.

The drive across the country looks ok...two good days and two fair days. Jer and I like to stop a lot along the way...so if things turn bad we will just hole up and wait it out.

Friends in Michigan say today is the last big snow predicted....after that just the wet slushy stuff followed by brown....hopeful spring will get serious soon.

A Walk in the desert

2009-02-23T15:52:00.005-05:00

Yesterday Jerry and I drove up towards Phoenix to meet Becky. We met her in Maricopa....just south of the city and drove about 25 miles to the Maricopa Wilderness. The Wilderness area is thousands of acres of land and is home to a section of the old Butterfield Trail

We were both happy and sad to find that the wilderness area is closed to all motorized vehicles/ Happy because in the past few years we have noted a huge increase in off road vehicle damage. And sad because we would not have enough time to hike, nor were we prepared to the areas we wanted to share with Becky

We did walk for a few miles....and saw a lot of beautiful scenery.

I could not resist in taking a photo of the old cactus ribs and spines....decaying with new life growing all in the same spot. If you click on the image at the right you will see tiney white and yellow flowers growing amoung the old cactus spines and skin.I continue to be fascinated with the shapes one finds in nature.

Reorganiztion

2009-02-21T10:26:00.003-05:00

I spent time yesterday updating my web site. I hope that it is more logical now. I have changed the "gallery" page to include all catagories of work...landscapes, statements, abstract, small works etc.
I also included 5 new poieces. Three in the small works section and two in the reflections series.
The Promise has been sent to the SAQA office for inclusion in our September, 2009 auction. The other two are for sale .

Take a look....click on gallery and see the new work and let me know if the site works better!

http://www.pegkeeney.com/

Good images.

2009-02-17T12:22:00.009-05:00

Good images are so important to getting in exhibitions. I know this, and yet I keep trying to take my own images.

Take for instance Reflections V at the left. I took this photo in my studio...knowing that the lighting was less than perfect. Given Michigan's gray winters it is no wonder the murky quality of this attempt.

Also I had to consider that this work is largely silk...which has such reflective qualities. I managed to ignore that fact as I tried to capture the textural quality of the work.

After studying the piece I concluded that I needed a professional who could shoot this work and perhaps bring out its best qualities

So I contacted Gregory Case...photographer extraordinaire!

and here are the results.

Greg did a wonderful job getting the color correct. down playing the reflections and emphasizing the over all design work.

The quilting lines and overlays are evident but do not overwhelm the work.

Lesson Learned! I can't do everything....I am an artist who works with fiber...not film or digital imagry.

let there be light

2009-01-29T10:29:00.004-05:00

Jerry has been cruising the highways and byways....roads and deserts . I could not resist snapping a picture of his trusty bike parked in the entry way of our casita.

Sometimes I wish the bike could talk to me about the many miles it has traveled.

Like Jerry and I it has seen "better days" but is still rolling!

2009-01-16T12:52:00.001-05:00

Here I am in Arizona.....yesterday I spotted a heart shaped cactus. A reminder that everything out here has teeth!

I think I will use the image for my valentine post cards. What do you think?

Blue Forest

2008-12-29T10:57:00.003-05:00

I finally finished the "Blue Forerst" a commission work. It was a challenge to use all the blues to create a this piece and still have it reflect "forest".

there are more then several surprises in the forest...fox, wolf, bear, dear,eagel etc

We have had to postpone our start to Arizona today as we lost power yesterday. We had a huge snow and wind storm making traveling not possible. Hopefully tomorrow.

2008-12-27T13:12:00.004-05:00

Like many other artists I was energized by the campaign and election of Barack Obama.

After the election I decided to make a small quilt celebrating the election. The theme would be "together"......that is as Americans we could put aside our differences and come together in a new spirit of patriotism to solve our problems and create a more perfect union.

Then I heard about Sue Walen's idea for and exhibit of Obama art. She has worked had to bring us all together. I am happy to be part of this exhibit.

If you are going to be in the D.C. area during the inauguration please try and see the exhibit.

President Obama: A Celebration in Art Quilts
Location: Cafritz Art Center, 150 King St., Silver Spring, MD
Dates: February 9 - March 5, 2009
Opening Reception: Friday, February 13th

contact: Sue Walen 301-469-6969, by email: suewalen@me.com
(high resolution photos available)

This show, organized by Susan Walen, comes from an all-volunteer,
grass-roots, multi-ethnic group of fiber artists from all across the
United States and as far away as Australia. Our work is in tribute to our
new President, in gratitude for the hope and inspiration he
has brought us. We present these art quilts at an unforgettable
historic moment in our country's history

Back of the quilt before the sleeve!

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T15:08:00.003-05:00

We were so blessed as a family to be together over the Thanksgiving holidays. Mike, my son-in-law planned a wonderful get together at Disney World in Orlando, FL

We had quite the gathering:
Allison, Mike and their two beautiful daughters Sophia and Marisa came from Boston
Rebecca, Phil and their two lively sons, Julian and Gabe came from Golden, CO
Jennifer and her partner Joe arrive from Houston, TX
Aunt Gail, from Florida
and Grandma Ann Cofone also from Florida
We were joined by Steven Cofone, Mike's brother on Thanksgiving.

So today we are not traveling....but we are thinking of the family and all the wonderful adventures we have shared together.

I am finishing up an Obama quilt...and enjoying the process.
Happy holidays to everyone along with wishes for the New Year to bring us peace and prosperity.

Some New Work

2008-11-10T13:23:00.003-05:00

I have been working on several mixed media pieces. Fall ( on the left) is one of the ones I happen to like the best. At least today that is my feeling.

I started these pieces hoping to make something for Virginia's collage project. However they kept growing and are WAY to big.

In fall I tried to capture the feelig of the capriciousness of the wind...and the sense that something is coming to an end.

This one started with a collection of scraps of paper and pictures from magzines that captured the media during the so called "bail out"

I thought that the image of insurance companies being treated like meat on a chopping block was approprite as was the golden parachute.

Some how it all evaproates into nothingness.

These pieces all started with stitching and then the fun begins.

I find if most freeing to work on these collages. I like using gesso. paint. gel medium, oil crayons, paper and fabric to create an image.

Tomorrow I will post two more

I would be happy to have your response to these.

One Square Foot Auction

2008-11-09T12:18:00.004-05:00

The Studio Art Quilt Associates benefit reverse auction, One Square Foot, opens tomorrow. My Rose Hips IV is in the first group of 12″ square art quilts that will be available with the price dropping each day.

RoseHips IV is part of an on going series I am working on'

SAQA is “a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development and documentation.” I am happy to donate this artwork to further the goals of this professional organization. Please take a look at all the beautiful artistic offerings on SAQA's acution web site/

election eve

2008-11-05T12:41:00.003-05:00

Last night I need something to keep my anxiety level in check. After working for two years on the Obama campaign it was crunch time.

Every year I make some little soft dolls for our local Alternative holiday fair..This year I was making good wishes fairies....

Last night while watching the returns I took a blank doll body and made and Obama doll..complete with "change we can believe in" and "Yes We Can".

In the bright light of morning we can be proud of our country and the amazing turn out to vote. We are definitely turning the page.

2008-08-10T10:24:00.001-04:00

Congradulations to my daughter Jennifer!

Jennifer Keeney Affiliate Artist of Flute
email: office: office phone: address: 120 School of Music Bldg, Houston, TX 77204-4017
Jennifer Keeney is the Affiliate Artist of Flute at the University of Houston, Moores School of Music. Her teaching and playing reflect her joyful, creative and dynamic approach to music. Ms. Keeney uses these strengths to create a vibrant, supportive flute community here at the Moores School of Music and wherever she is teaching and performing.
Currently the Second Flutist with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, and a founding member of Trio Angelico, Flute (Jennifer Keeney), Mezzo Soprano ( Sonja Bruzauskas) and Piano (Anita Kruse). She performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Houston, the United States and Japan. This year Ms. Keeney will perform on the Rothko Chapel Series, Villa Maria Song Salon Series, the Segner Series, ROCO Upstairs, The University of Houston, as well as concerts in Michigan, Maine, Colorado, Louisiana and in Japan.After being named as a flutist in the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, Ms. Keeney was appointed as the Principal Flutist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. She has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Ann Arbor Symphony, Flint Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Houston Grand Opera, among others.Ms. Keeney is known as a caring, inspirational, and informative teacher. This year she will give master classes at The University of Texas, Rice University, Colorado University (Boulder), Texas Tech University, Bowling Green University, and The High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Houston. Her community service includes the Purple Songs Can Fly Project, The Music and Arts program at Texas Childrens Hospital, assisted care homes and the Young Audiences of Houston.Having taught at the Interlochen National Music Camp, University of Michigan Division, for five years and at the Bowling Green University Summer Flute Camp, she is now on the Flute Faculty of Floot Fire, at the University of Houston and The Panoramic Flutist with Christina Jennings and Leone Buyse. Ms. Keeney continues to give her annual week long Creative Flutist Classes in Houston and Austin, Texas. She enjoys performing in a variety of Summer Music Festivals such as The Pacific Music Festival ( Japan), The Colorado Music Festival, Mainely Music and The Interlochen Music Festival.She is the author of Creative Practice Recipes Set 1 & 2 and the flute pedagogy book, The Creative Flutist. Creative Practice Recipes are an informative, innovative, inspirational set of Flute Flash Cards teaching tools for flutists, teachers and other musicians. Each Set contains six Cards each on Preparation, Tone, Technique, Creative Ideas, Music & Performance. There will be a total of 5 Set's, one being published each year. Please visit Keeney's web site for more information.Ms. Keeney may be heard on a variety of recordings with the New World Symphony and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Purple Records with Anita Kruse, as well as her solo flute recordings Spirit Spirals and Sound Journals. In 2009,Trio Angelico and her new flute & piano CD, Fluting, will be released.Ms. Keeney received her education from The University of Michigan (B.M. in Flute Performance), Royal Northern College of Music in England (Post Graduate Work), University of Southern California and The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (M. M. of Flute Performance). Her principal teachers include Leone Buyse, Jim Walker, Walfrid Kujala, Trevor Wye, Judith Bentley and Clemente Barone. She has had lessons with and performed in Master Classes for; Julius Baker, Jean Pierre Rampal, Jeanne Baxtresser, James Galway, William Bennett, Paula Robison and Carol Wincenc.

Moores School of Music web design and maintenance: Timothy Koozin and Andrew Davis Last updated 7 August, 2008

Ah Summer

2008-07-27T16:29:00.008-04:00

I have just picked a quart of raspberries, weeded the garden, eaten my first sweet corn and most importantly finished four quilts. Some times being a full time studio artist is not easy. But other times it is almost effortless. Not in terms of energy spent, but in terms of seamless productivity.

My new series Mixed forest has been an eye opener for me, the work just seems to

flow in an endless stream. The connecting themes are forests and the idea that sometimes the past, present and future seem to collide and when they do you experience strange things. In Late Afternoon the one gets a glimpse of the past or perhaps the future?

Early Morning is another such encounter. As a young couple walk off into the woods, and way ahead are shadowy figures of an older couple

I have done two others...and have three more on the design wall.

House project

2008-05-04T11:22:00.002-04:00

I have completed a house as part of a local invitational exhibit. 20 other artists from all mediums have been invited to create a home. This is a picture of the front of 7 Meadow Drive 2008

House is simply the word for a physical structure;

A Home is the word for the place where individuals live. It congers up feelings of birth place, belonging, togetherness, cooperation, assistance, joy and above all love.

My home is a place of warmth where you hang your hat It is a place of refuge, full of laughter, music and conversation. It is a place that nurtures dreams, innovation, art and creativity. It is a place of wonder

where you imagine and share/ Finally it is a place of love and growth.

Materials: Pellon, acrylic paints, gel medium, molding paste, watercolors, pastels, grass,
color/black and white photo copies of photographs and pictures, various fibers, beads and embellishments.

Techniques: The pellon was cut to size and covered with a layer of gesso. Paint and molding paste was applied to simulate the interior and exterior walls. Copies were appliqued. Various paints were layered and sanded and layered again. Details were added with molding paste and painted. Dried grasses were added to roof the exterior. Finally various fibers and embellishments were added.

Onward.....

2008-05-03T16:46:00.002-04:00

I have now recovered from my month of travels. Seems like I have almost been from one end of the country to the other. Michigan to Texas to Mexico to Texas to Arizona to Michigan to Pennsylvania, to Michigan to Illinois to Michigan.

The SAQA/SD conference in Wayne, PA was a resounding success. The workshops were by enlarge good and provide a ton of good information. The exhibit at the Wayne Art Center was outstanding. And as always it was good to see familiar faces and to be able to put a new face with a name. I hope it is the first in a series of collaborative efforts.

IQA in Chicago was great fun for me. I went wearing my SAQA "hat" and tried to be an ambassador for the organization. Clairan Ferrono did and outstanding job as coordinator of the SAQA table and all the volunteers. She made it look effortless, even though I know how many hours she spend.

There so many great SAQA members who volunteered their time. Ir is wonderful to be a part of an organization where members are energized and willing to give something extra to the group.
A big thank you to:
Karen Abramson, Carol Abramofsky, Jane Aldretta, Darcy Berg, Jennifer Conrad, Jane Cooperman, Margaret Cusack, JoAnn Deck, Cheryl Dineen Ferrin, Sheila Haberman, Denise Havlan, Cathy Jeffers, Gwen Jones, Mary Jo Lawrence, Kate Lenkowsky, Karen Musgrave , Stephanie Nordlin , Linda Olson, BJ Parady , Virginia Spiegel , Kathleen Stuart , Desi Vaughn , Kathy Weaver and Carol Vinick

In addition I did a gallery walk for SAQA's two exhibits, Creative Force and A Sense of Place. My idea was not to do all the talking like a lecture, but rather speak a little and encourage those who were there to have a dialogue about the works that we were viewing. I was pleasantly surprise on how enthusiastic the group was. In fact it went on beyond the planned 40 minuets to an hour and a half!! I really was energized by the discussion and would happily do it again.

Collage Mania

2008-04-24T08:52:00.003-04:00

This is a shout out for Virginia Spiegel!!! and the 100 artists who have donated their work to benefit the American Cancer Society. Go take a look.

More than 100 artists worldwide have donated 235 fiber collages to benefitthe American Cancer Society.Collage Mania will be held May 5 and 6 with a preview of all collagesbeginning April 28. More information is available here:
http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageManiaDetails.html
100% of the proceeds are donated directly to the American Cancer Societythrough Fiberart For A Cause. Fiberart For ACause has already donated more than $150,000 towards cancer research andeducation in the past three years.

Leaf Out Day

2008-04-22T14:47:00.003-04:00

Today is officially *Leaf Out Day* here in northern Michigan. Every year for the past 20 years I have celebrated these first brave leaves. Now I have to say they they are the poplar leaves...sort of a wimpy grayish green. Very delicate and apparently waiting for chirorphyl to make its self known. But Leaves they are and abundantly displayed..fluttering in the wind like little handkerchiefs.

I had a wonderful time in both PA and Chicago. My gallery talk went well, and I survived the two segment taping for Quilting Arts TV. Now I am home and cleaning the studio and working like mad.

Home at last

2008-03-29T14:52:00.006-04:00

We are back in Michigan, and happy to be home. Even if there is still two feet of snow on the ground and it is 13 degress outside right now at two in the afternoon.

The drive across the country was as usual wonderful. The southern central states were awash in spring bloom, so I know spring will come sooner than later.

I am getting ready for the SAQA / Surface Design spring conference. Desi Vaughn and I will leave on Wednesday morning for the 850 mile trip to PA. I am looking forward to emersing my self in art. We return to MI on Tues and Thursday we leave for the IQA spring festival in Chicago. Desi is giving a lecture on Saturday and I am doing a gallery talk on Fridsay. It will be great fun to see everyone there.

This winter has been somewhat productive for me...more in the area of using my sketch book.
The landscape in AZ is so different from what I am used to, that I tried hard to record some of my impressions. This happened when another artist asked me why my work did not reflect the time I spend there. My answer was ????? I rather think it has to do with the fact that I am slow to internalize my vision...so I started to look especially at the textures that are so amazing in that part of the country. I suspect that some of this will creep into my work shortly.

The other thing I have been playing with is some photos. This an original of a cactus

the needles are an interesting design element. I wanted to look at

negative space. So I used photoshop to do some initial exploring.

So I did a cutout after removing the color. I think this has some design possibilities. I will be trying to take a section of this and traslate it into fabric

Welcome Sweet Spring Time

2008-03-21T12:10:00.003-04:00

Here in Arizona it is spring. The flowers in the desert are in full boom and the temperature is in the high 70's Ahhhhh Spring.

Last month I was honored to be part of the Fiber Art For A Cause auction. I donated a new work Rose Hips I which is part of a series I an currently working on.

3 Day until the opening of FAFC Auction

2008-03-07T10:08:00.002-05:00

Ten generous artists have donated beautiful art quilts, beaded jewelry, and wearable art with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.

The artists' are well known in the area of fiberart in which they specialize: Frances Holliday Alford, Terry Grant, Peg Keeney, Jay Rich, Susan Sorrell, Del Thomas, Larkin Van Horn, Laura Wasilowski, Leni Wiener and Maggie Winfield

Please check out the work, and help us spread the word

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionArtwork2008.html

Fiberarts For A Cause: Day seven

2008-02-26T17:48:00.004-05:00

Laura Wasilowski has donated The Optimist: Bluebird and the watermelon which was featured in the Summer 2005 issue of the AQS magazine.

Laura, a founder of the Chicago School of Fusing, is both a contemporary quilt maker and creator of vibrant hand-dyed fabrics and threads.

Check out the Fiberarts For A Cause web site for all the interesting art that is coming up for auction soon. 100% of the proceeds goes to the American Cancer society.

Fiberart For A Cause: Day six

2008-02-26T17:34:00.004-05:00

Today's featured artist is Larkin Van Horn from Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest.

Larkin has donated Hidden Gold a talisman necklace created from glass, stone and shell beads, on a base of cotton fabric and batting. which she then free-form beaded and embroidered by hand.

She enjoys the alchemy and serendipity of dyeing and painting her own fabrics and yarns to create her "paintbox" of materials.

I hope you all are continuing to spread the word about the Fiberarts For A Cause auction.

Fiberarts For A Cause: Day five

2008-02-26T16:38:00.009-05:00

Susan Sorrell is a fiber artist living in South Carolina

Describing herself as a "southerm fried folk artist, her work captures the whimsey of the monment.

She has generously donated three small collages to this years auction, The Paint Brush, The Storm and The Flower.

Treat your self to another look at the works that are part of this years auction.

Fiberart For A Cause: Day four

2008-02-26T13:48:00.005-05:00

This morning I am featuring Jan Rich's beautiful silk shibori jacket. Jan is an multi talented artist working in Omaha, Nebraska.

It is a kimono style jacket made from Gunma Prefecture silk organza that was resist scoured, then resist dyed using origami shibori. Woad extract was used to produce this unique blue.

It would be a wonderful displayed on a wall or proudly worn.

I urge you all to spread the work about the Reverse auction which opens March 10, 2008.

Fiberarts For A Cause day three

2008-02-25T11:34:00.009-05:00

Day three features a detail of Del Thoma's Color Bowls II.

Her piecing and wonderful use of color is amzing.

Del feels that curing cancer is an important cause, and asks everyone to help us as much as you can by letting everyone know about this event.

You can see the rest of the wonderful work by to visiting Virginia's web site

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionArtwork2008.html

Fiberarts For a Cause - preview day two

2008-02-23T10:08:00.005-05:00

Today's artist is Terry Grant from Portland, Oregon. She donated one of her favorite pieces Judith's Garden for the anction.

Terry lost both of her parents to cancer ... her words explain why she is pleased to be part of Virginia;s efforts.

" I feel I lost them both far too soon and I miss them every day. I am always glad to do whatever I can to help raise funds for cancer research."

Fiberart For A Cause

2008-02-22T11:49:00.005-05:00

The Invitational Reverse Auction of Fabulous Fiberart is now open for a preview viewing. The Reverse Auction will open March 10. Each year, ten artists are invited to donate artwork for Fiberart For A Cause's Reverse Auction with 100% of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

The artwork, includes art quilts, beaded jewelry, and wearable art, and is now available for preview by clicking here.

The artists included are Frances Holliday Alford, Terry Grant, Jay Rich, Susan Sorrell, Del Thomas, Larkin Van Horn, Laura Wasilowski, Leni Wiener, Maggie Winfield and me.
Today I share one of the works with you. Approaching Storm by Leni Weiner.

Please take time to check out all the wonderful work.

Gem and Mineral Show

2008-02-03T15:25:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Jerry and I registered for two of the four large wholesale shows at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. As usual it boggled my mind...one simply can not imagin that there can be that many gems in one place....The J and LW show has two huges spaces, each with over two hundered dealers. Many of them are from all around the world and every contentent.

Because it was the first day there was a lot of unpacking...power outages and additional glitches.

Here piles of beads for $1.50 per strand Bali Silver by the kilo

Here is a long view showing one of the hundreds of tables.

more beads and more beads of every imaginabele color and shape . Monday we will see what is at the other venue. Later in the week we will visit the fosil and geode shows. You have to do this in stages.

Political

2008-01-10T12:02:00.000-05:00

Arts Vote 2008 http://www.artsactionfund.org/artsvote/001.asp is a wonderful site for the arts community. I am happy to see that they are checking out the policy statements of the candidates.
I have become a political junkie of sorts...and am energized by Senator Obama. I checked out his statement on the site. there is also a place where you can send information to other candidates. So check it out when you have the time.
Peg
in sunny Arizona

Still coming down after a great trip

2008-01-06T11:43:00.001-05:00

Here we are ....a view from the sunset bar at the Catalina, which is nextdoor to the Sotavento. We stayed many years at the Catalina which used to be part of the Sotavento. Now they are two separate places.

Today I will try and call Thelma, she should be back from her travels. I hope that we can get togeather and do some playing. I know that she has or is taking a printmaking class. It sure would be fun to make some wonderful fabric!

More tomorrow.

2008-01-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

We are in Arizona now...after a wonderful family vacation in Mexico. Twelve of us met in Ziahuantenjo and played for a whole week. Westayed at the Sotavento on La Ropa beach...356 steps to down to the ocean!!!

I am setting up a place to work. and hopefully will get at it the first of the week.

I wish you all a very happy, creative and peaceful new year.

Seasons

2007-11-20T10:23:00.001-05:00

This is a series of photographs taken from the same point at different seasons. The Cedar River in the upper peninsula of Michigan is a beautiful river. I am blessed to be able to go there and experience its restorative powers
The winter sparkles with snow outlining each branch and the particle ice covering the river.

In the summer it is rich with a multitude of greens and flows gently towards Lake Superior.

Spring comes with the promise of abundance. The new green leaves shining against the dark branches.

Fall brings changes as the colors go from green to rich yellows and golds, hearkening to the end of the growing season and a time for rest.

Mothers Acting UP

2007-11-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

In the small town where I live, my niece belongs to a group they call Mothers Acting UP. One of the things they do is to organize an alternative holiday art fair.

The idea behind the fair is to support local charity's. Instead of giving a another tie to Uncle Fred, buyers are encouraged to make donation in Uncle Fred's name to a charity. They have 12 local charities that are participating as well as 4 international ones. This is their second year doing this and it promises to be an even bigger event then last year.

Copeland asked me to work be part of their committee. One of my jobs was to find artist to donate small things that could be given out when individuals made a donation to a particular charity. It was an easy sell.

For my part I have gone into the angel pin business. I needed something to do on two recent plane flights. What better then to turn and stuff little angel bodies. I have really enjoyed doing this...and it has become my evening entertainment...so much so that I do not seem to be able to stop. Everyone need an angel.

Houston

2007-10-27T09:18:00.000-04:00

I never realized that Houston was so tropical. The trees and the flowers are amazing. I arrived here Wednesday afternoon...after leaving the rainy, foggy north country. What a treat to see sun in late October.
Friday I went to the convention center to see about the hanging for A Sense of Place. Karey's crew was busily unpacking and hanging the show. I wish everyone could see this process...the hanging the lighting the signage....everything is so professionally done.
One of the things I watched was the hanging of the huge Belonging Quilt. I can not remember how long it is////but many many feet and it is curved. It is made of hexagonal blocks, one for each country in the world and one for each of the indigenous peoples of Canada. The stories behind the blocks brings tears to your eyes. It is a must see if you get a chance.
I will write more tomorrow about the adventure of hanging A sense of Place

form

2007-09-23T09:03:00.001-04:00

My garden is at its fall prime. A blaze of colors and beautiful dried forms. Yesterday I finally got around to taking some picturesThis is part of a once yellow coneflower. The seed head is a great example of symmetry. The points on the end catch the light and seem to shimmer

This is another shot of one of the seed heads.

I think I should print both of these on some silk

organza.

Not sure about this one, but it does remind me that winter is coming. Looks like snow to me!

Print Day

2007-09-22T11:34:00.001-04:00

We had a great day. Weather was warm, not windy and sunny. We gathered at Kathie's studio by the lake. Kathie had begun the set up...and the dyes were mixed. Desi and I helped mix the

print paste.

Here I am printing !

Desi can not wait to get her hands on screen

Kathie is pinning the fabric to the print table. She made the tables from 4 x 8 foam core, with carpet padding and vinal covering ....all cleaverly ducktaped.

This is a detail of one of the pieces of fabric we printed.

Ahhh September

2007-09-01T08:47:00.000-04:00

I noticed yesterday that the trees are beginning to turn. Alongside the road to town there are scattered yellow and red patches of leaves.,.,.,the ferns are turning golden, and the tall native grasses have wondrous seed heads.

My garden is in is glory...reds, yellows. blues abound. Everything looks so luxurious after the wonderful rain we had earlier this week.

I have only one morning glory plant but it has outdone itself, climbing to the top and covering of the rustic ceder arbor. The shade of blue varies from flower to flower.....some pale others deep blue like this. the markings also are different. Some have diffused lines other blurred and mottled.

I marvel at the structure of plants...the wonderful crown that the mature zinnia displays. Is is purpose to attract bees?

Other plants just demand that you look closely. The 6 foot tall grasses have sweet pea vines and flowers clinging to the stalks.

Black eyed Susan's are like beacons in the garden...with their radiant golds.

Giant Hibiscus flowers with their sensuous centers are definitely show stoppers.

I am off this morning to photograph seed heads...they are always and inspiration for my work.

FORGOT!

2007-08-01T15:36:00.000-04:00

You can see see more of Bodli's work check out her web site.

www.bodilgardner.dk

From the Heart

2007-08-01T09:52:00.000-04:00

I have been busily packing up the "From the Heart" exhibit. I has been such a treat to see all the work up close and personal. Mancuso is getting a wonderful taste of European art quilts.

Working with Marion Barnett has been great experience. She is knowledgeable, funny and pays attention to details.

Here is our curators statement:

'From The Heart' is designed to provide a showcase for European art quilt making today. We asked artists to submit pieces that expressed ideas or themes that were close to their hearts; they responded wholeheartedly. Curators often find it difficult to select work that is synergistic; in this case, the exhibit almost selected itself. It forms a wheel of personal expression that begins with the whimsical, moves to fantasy and non-representational/abstract work, and continues through political expression and representational finally circling back to whimsical art. Unusually for an exhibit of this nature, we have chosen, in many cases, to include multiple works from individual artists. We believe this gives the viewer and opportunity to see the development of individual work, as well as providing a cadence to the total exhibit. We also believe that the exhibit highlights the quality and originality of artists working in Europe today.

Over the next few days I will share with you images of the exhibit. The wheel of personal expression begins with the whimisical. Bodil Gardner lives and works in Denmark. Her work is indeed whimiscal

Figures at Rest
45.5” x 40 “
2006
Two people enjoying the Danish Countryside, which is always close to my heart.

Girl with Teacup
52” x 52”
2006

Women, balancing the challenges of life, are my favorite motifs.

Ancient Sunlight
58” x 58”
2005

The ancient, ancient sun shone on the fresh grass and the flower (Richard Jefferies)

auditioning

2007-07-10T10:38:00.001-04:00

I have been working on a mixed forest series....the background is raw edged appliqued and I am in the process of auditioning tree trunks. This is a fun process. Several friends like the idea of the trees extending beyond the border. Wonder how I could accomplish that?

Will post another picture tomorrow when I move the trunks around!

I also finished the second of the Anchored series...and am working on the third. This one is definately affected by the wind

2007-06-30T14:32:00.000-04:00

I have been in a creative zone for some time. My work space shows the evidence of the spree I have been on.

The design wall is full and I just moved to the floor. After months of procrastination I am finally producing some good work.

this morning I finally completed the task of writing the curators statement for A Sense of Place. For me it has been a steep learning experience. I feel that the exhibit is good and am hopeful that it will be well received. So now I guess I will have to make reservations for Houston!

full design wall

2007-06-26T11:42:00.001-04:00

My design wall is chocked full of work! Yippi

After a period of doing little work things seem to be coming in batches. I now have 8 pieces on the wall in various stages of completion.

Dialogue VI is ready for some work on the silk. I want to do some embroidery before I put on the backing and do the actual quilting.

I most likely need to take a close up to show the surface design work..but that will have to wait for another day.

On another note, most of the images for A Sense of Place: Artists working in a series, with landscapes as their inspiration are in. I am excited about the exhibit. It was truly amazing to me to discover h0w each artist has a highly personal view of their "landscape." The diversity is an interesting study within itself. I need to sit down and write the curator's statement and get the images off for the catalogue.

Sing

2007-06-24T12:54:00.000-04:00

Finally finished Sing. Here is a small view while still on the sewing table.

I thought I had it finished in April, but was not happy with it. So I put a lot more quilting in the background and it looks wonderful.

You can not tell from this photo but it is a Kirkland warbler...a small bird with a yellowish chest. It only nests in young jack pine forests. And then in the grass at the base of the trees.

Kirkland's winter in the Bahamas and nest in northern Michigan. Experts say that it is about a seventeen day trip for them to fly either way.

They were listed as an endangered species in the early '70's and have been recovering well sense the DNR agreed to manage a section of the forest for young jack pine growth. The whole process was helped two years ago when there was a wildfire that burned several thousand acres. The result was natural jack pine regeneration = more Kirkland habitat.

Nature does have a way of taking care of its own, if only we humans understood that better.

A walk in the woods

2007-06-23T09:01:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Jerry and I decided to go for a short hike. There was a soft breeze which helped keep away the flying critters...which made it even more pleasent. We chose a section of the North Country Trail that is located in Wilderness State Park. It follows along and old dune ridge...which is now an almost mature forest.

We were looking for a nesting pair of bald eagles...And we found them. The nest is huge...in a white pine tree just off the trail. Both the male and female were there...sitting in the branches.

We sat on the ground for at least a half hour and just watched in amazement as they soared, swooped and hunted .

We never saw the babies, but could hear them.

I wish I could have gotten a good picture of them flying

I will just have to remember it in my mind.

Continued

2007-06-19T14:09:00.000-04:00

This is a quick and dirty shot of one of the pieces I am working on. It started with a piece of fabric that Virginia Spiegel had painted during her virtual studio in Chicago.

When I came home I added a little to the surface and them cut it up into approximately 15 pieces.

Then I dyed and painted some cheesecloth light blue to blue green...and now I am about to quilt all those little squares BEFORE I mount them on the background.

Quick and dirty image of new work

2007-06-16T11:14:00.000-04:00

Dialogue V is up o the design wall. It is about stories and how they develop from fragments of information. The central story is a piece of hand dyed silk with markings. I still need to do some more stamping or painting on the blue areas...

I have been defining the marks with hand stitching.For me hand stitching is akin to meditation. I love the feel of thread and fabric and the rhythmic movement of stitching.

I have three other pieces in the design stage and they are all crying for some form of hand work.

Enriching your "voice"

2007-06-15T10:54:00.000-04:00

Last night I finished reading a really wonderful and informative article in the SAQA’s Spring Journal. It was written by Katie Pasquini Masopust on her experiences taking classes outside her medium. She writes about her experiences over the past 10 years which include photography, chalk and painting classes. Each class led her in a new direction and added greatly to her growth as an artist. She ends her article by encouraging every artist to study with someone outside their medium and see where it will take you as an art quilter.

If you are looking for such an experience I would encourage you to go to the Fabrications Retreat web site http://fabricationsretreat.com
and look at the class description for Del Michel. Del is a mixed media artist whose work is exhibited internationally. He has a wealth of teaching experience and on top of that is a thoroughly delightful man.

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a day with a small group of artists working in his studio. The result of that experience helped me see possibilities I had never considered. I felt it was instrumental in enriching my “voice

Reworked

2007-06-07T12:15:00.001-04:00

One of the interesting sessions at the Studio Art Quilt Associations conference was a workshop intitled Eye of the Artist: Approaches to critiquing quilt art conducted by Sandra Sider.

Sanda stated that every successful studio qult develops from a concept, theme or aesthetic focus. She presented basic principles of design which she organized to suggest certain priorities for fiber art l

Primary principles

texture

line
color
mass
Secondary principles

contrast

repetition

variation

balance

focus

The workship was small and each person brought a work to be critiqued.

The work was put on the wall and the artist given time to state the inspiration for their work and what they intended.

After that the group discussed the work on the basis of the priniciples and made suggestions if needed.

We had been incouraged to bring work in process that we were having difficulty with...or a work that we were not pleased with

This is the work that I took...which was ready for the cutting block!!!

After an interesting discussion...someone suggested turning the piece upside down...

I can away from the critiquewith a postive feeling that I could make some changes and the work would definately be stronger

so voila...new Dialogue III

Back from Athens, Ohio

2007-05-28T12:55:00.000-04:00

I had such wonderful intentions. Though I could blog during the SAQA conference. I had totally forgotten how busy one gets when you are not only an attendee, but part of planning group.
I left early Wednesday morning and picked up Kathie Briggs. We drove down I75 to just below Flint and met Cathy Arnett for breakfast. Cathy is the organizer for the Fabrications Retreat which occurs every October at the Garland Resort in Lewiston , Michigan. We talked retreat for an hour or so and then we left to drive to Columbus. We got to Columbus around 3:00 and picked us Desiree Vaughn who had been visiting her family. After a couple of wrong turns we got into Athens around 6. We stayed at the Ohio University in in a wonderful room with a balcony. That balcony would prove to be a wonderful treat as the weather was very warm...so the air conditioning was running full tilt. We northern woman needed to go outdoors to warm up.

The next morning we were up bright and early. We were the set up crew for registration, It was the morning to make executive decisions on how that would be done,,,where to hang banners...settle last minute details with the Dairy Barn staff and a pocket full of other matters.
Katie PM joined us as she had to redo the members slide show, because her NEW computer had crashed the day before she left New Mexico.

The morning flew by...and suddenly it was time for the Regional reps meeting...and my hour long presentation on curating an international exhibit. The meeting was well attended and after the presentation we exchanged many ideas. Judith ended the meeting by thanking each representative and presenting them with a handmade heart badge. We all immediately attached them to our name tag lanyards and wore them all weekend.

At 6:00 there was a members welcome reception followed by the members slide show. This year it went by without a hitch. Each member could contribute two images. Each member stated their name and the inspiration for their work.

I will write more tomorrow on day two and the opening of Quilt National

a walk in the woods

2007-05-20T14:03:00.000-04:00

It was definately cooler today. Rained last night and was 31 degrees early this morning. By 11 the sky had cleared and the sun began peeking out and we were well underway on the trail. The further we walked the more the ffowers seemed to open. They too were seeking the warmth of the sun.

The wet areas were a blanket of red to purple fringed polygala...a thumb size flower that grows in colonies among the pine needle duff. The are tubular in shape with petals shaped like wings on either side.

The drier areas had a variety of Lady-Slippers in both yellow and red. This year I did not see the more rare white Lady Slipper. I suspect that it is just too early for it to bloom.

Some times these orchids grow individually and other times they appear in clusters. You may see them in the dense woods and also on a partly sunny hillside. Either place they make a dramatic showing.

I also like the to point out some of the oddities like Club mosses which are desendents of ancient Paleozic trees. Today we saw three types, staghorn which grows low to the ground and spread out like antlers. Tree clubmoss which looks like a miniture evergreen tree, and the Shiny clubmoss which is bright green.

Among my other favorits is the brightly colored Indian Paint Brush. Its electric red-orange is like a signal light in the forest. Nearby grows the ground hugging bunch berry. It has waxy green leaves and a single white flower which developes into a bright red berry in the fall. Its companions are the fragent smelling wintergreen with its glossy saw toothed edge leaves.

Lots more species were seen this is but a few of the many varieties we saw this morning.

ahh spring

2007-05-19T15:14:00.000-04:00

I have been working with Jer on the North Country Trail. We have a new nesting pair of bald eagles. The built their nest and have several hatchlings. Amazing to watch.

We closed that portion of the trail for the initial hatching when we discovered it. Now it will be a big job to reroute the trail around the nest site.

Wednesday I went out to walk section 10 of the trail. It is a beautiful section that at the beginning crosses the Carp River and winds though a series of wet lands and up hill to a section of hilly forested area. The section ends 4 miles later at French Farm Lake.

I was out walking to discover which spring wildflowers were in bloom The day was bright and sunny, the sky that Michigan blue and the birds were singing their hearts out I counted some 20 varieties of flowers from Lady Slippers to bird foot violets. Sunday I will lead a hike in the area. This afternoon I made a list with pictures to give to each of the walkers.

Today I sent most of the morning putting together my presentation for the SAQA convention. I have been asked to speak to the Area Rep's on what I learn on the way to curating Transflrmations 2006: Artists working with fiber. The process of going back and revisiting the process has been enlighting. I realize now that had I know what I know now....I probably would not have taken the job. Ignorance is definately bliss.

On Wednesday I will leave for Athens and the convention. I am going to take my lap top and camera so say posted for pictures and a daily blurb from the convention and opening of Quilt National.

Tomorrow I will post pictures of the wild flower hike...lets hope it does not rain

Dye Day

2007-05-10T14:33:00.000-04:00

Some of the dyed pieces from yestedays
wonderful dye day

Yesterday was a glorious day. I picked up Kathie at 9:00 am and we drove to Desi's studio in Suttons Bay. It was rainy..and we needed it, but we had a car full of dyes, fabric and Stuff to make any day a fun day.

By the time we got to Desi's the rain had stopped so it was a go to work outside. Most of the morning was spent chatting as we mixed dyes, cut fabrics, and set up the work space.

Actually I have to confess that I did not do much in the way of mixing dyes...got side tracked in making monoprints. I was crazed..could not stop...what a wonderful freeing experience.

After all was set up we took a break and went to Lunch...Driving across the cherry orchard country. The trees were in full bloom...looking like white clouds on the land.

The afternoon flew by...and we all had plenty of new fabric that would cure over night. I just finished washing and the picture is of some of the pieces drying on my deck rail
Tomorrow I will photo some of the mono prints...

Rusting and Lake Sturgeon

2007-05-07T15:32:00.000-04:00

I tried my hand at rusting today. Took some silk, one white and one dyed and soaked them in vinegar. Then out to my BIG very rusted iron pot....it has been rusting in the snow all winter. I wrapped the silk around the pot, and put it into a plastic bag. I am not sure how long to leave it, but will check tomorrow.

I had a wonderful day yesterday. We drove over to Black Lake and got to see lake sturgeon spawning in the Black River. We followed 4 Michigan state PhD students as they netted and tagged both males and females.

Did you know that female sturgeon live to be 150 years old? And that males live to be maybe 80. The females are larger ofter more them 7 feet long. Females do not begin to spawn until they are at least 15-20 years old and them spawn usually only once every two to four years.
Males seem to mature earlier and spawn at about 12.

It was a beautiful day to be on the river...just enough wind to keep the bugs away but still warm enough for just a light jacket.

Yesterday we saw one that was 100 lbs...and about 5 to 6 feel. While they tagged the fish, we got to see it up close and personal. If you want to calm the fish while it is being tagged you put your fingers in its mouth!

Moving along

2007-05-05T14:48:00.000-04:00

Oh I have been working....on a variety of things. This is the current look at one of my two tables.

Yes there is still some "stuff" I got in Chicago. Some thread I am using, and naturally paint.

My design wall is covered two layers deep. The bottom layer has two pieces from the tree series

the third and forth are on the chair along with another work in progress. I do feel a bit scattered, but it is good to be working.

The top layer of the design wall has a three piece work that I discharged last fall. "I hear the Willow weeping" is partly quilted. I need to find some way to weight the bottom so it maintains its shape.

Tomorrow I will show you my paint and print table.

Very Busy three weeks

2007-05-03T13:27:00.000-04:00

I have not posted much lately as I have been working on an invitational exhibit for Studio Art Quilt Associates. It has been a most enlightening experience. The thought behind the exhibit was to show 3 to 4 works of artists who work in a series. Like artists in any medium, many art quilters work in that manor. Some work from a theme, say forests. Others may work with a single idea and add or subtract form it. Still others use color or line or texture.

In the past three weeks I have spent many hours looking at hundreds of web sites...made lots of notes. I was mildly surprised after I sent invitations inviting artists to send me images, at the positive replys, and wonderful images. Taking a page from Thelma tutorial on curating, I did do a mockup of the wall space and worked to choose images, while diverse, complement one another.

Naturally the jury is still out....the exhibit is not until the end of October. However I do enjoy looking at the work. I hope the viewers do too.

2007-04-07T12:01:00.000-04:00

It surely has been quite the week. After being teased with a few days of 60 degree weather, winter returned big time. We have had to fill the bird feeder at least twice a day. This was taken three days ago...that blurry stuff is the blizzard.

All this is definatly grist for the mill...but I think I will wait for warmer weather to process this visual information.

AHHHHH Spring

2007-04-07T11:58:00.000-04:00

one foot square

2007-04-04T08:46:00.000-04:00

Just finished one foot square for the Studio Art Quilt Associates auction. It is a combination of hand and machine quilting. Some how it is so very satisfying to do hand work....tranquil. So off it goes to Katie. If you are interested in seeing other "one foot square" work go to www.saqa.com

I am also working on a small tree series called "Anchored" which I will begin to show you all the first of next week. 4 are in particial stages of completion and another 6 are layed out and stacked up awaiting quilting.

It feels so good to be productive again.

I also started a crazy project the first of the year. The idea came when I had to take the some 360 pictures of memorable women off my Amazons All piece. So what I am doing is randomly taking 7 pictures each week and making a collage....experimenting with surface design techniques. When finished it will make a 33 page book! If there is any interest I could publish a page per week..or maybe I should put them on my web site?

Gift

2007-03-22T09:34:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of my stairway, which is open to the living area and loft.

I just hung the two wonderful Mandal works that my dear friend Thelma Smith gave me.

I feel blessed to see them every day.

2007-03-21T11:33:00.000-04:00

Thus far I have sorted all my fabrics and got some type or order. Donated the fabric that I will most likely not use again. Then it was off to organixe dye stuff, painting stuff, and other such wonderful catagories....ie embillishments....of all manor.

Then, this morning I tackled the dreaded thread jam. I bought a new piece of peg board and a friend mounted it on the wall. I do still have to paint it...most likely this afternoon. But there they all in all their organized glory.

I am a happy artist this morning. I will post final studio reorganization photos the next nice sunny day.

Studio clean up and out

2007-03-21T11:29:00.000-04:00

I have been working for the past 8 days on cleaning and organizing the studio. Now this has become a MAJOR task. Basically I have not worked since Thanksgiving...what with holiday travel and 2 months in Arizona. So there was STUFF everywhere, except where it was supposed to be.

Journal

2007-03-11T17:06:00.000-04:00

I have not been too prolific, in fact I have done nothing for over three months. However I have kept a journal. Well not faithfully but kept nevertheless. Pictures, sketches, found objects are tucked in the pages.

This morning I was looking through it and had a strong urge to run to the studio and start work. Curbed this thought...as I have errands to do tomorrow and then at least two days of organizing the space and all the things I just left in piles in December.

I am turning over a new leaf..and as of next week I am going to work on a schedual...3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. I have found that unless I do this I get distracted by what is going on around me and allow my "working" time to be eaten up by a myrid of disruptions.

So wish me luck and perserverance

I am posting a picture I took one sunrise in Arizona...I think it could be a wonderful art quilt!

March 10th. Home

2007-03-10T14:08:00.000-05:00

I want to thank all the people who helped with my gathering the names of 360 famous women for my Amazons All piece. I did manage to finish it..after several attempts. First problem was after I printed out the 360 pictures of the women chosen,and attached them to the background I discovered they looked awful. After looking and playing with it for a few days, I simply ripped them all off. (I now have a large bag of pictures).

After some additional thought I simply chose to write the names subtly in the background.

I do like the piece, and was disappointed that it was not chosen to be part of the She Made her Mark or She Made Her Mark Too. But that is just the breaks of this art game. She makes me happy, and I like thinking about the achievements of the individual women. Tomorrow I will post the list of names for those of you who may be interested.

2007-01-22T18:44:00.000-05:00

Snow

2007-01-22T18:39:00.000-05:00

Last time I posted I was ready to do some painting. However, the weather did not cooperate. It became cloudy and windy. Kept blowing the fabric away...even with tape.
Last night it was raining, and I took the hummingbird feeded down. When I woke up this morning everything was covered with snow.
Later in the morning I took this picture of two birds huddeling on the aguave branch.
so much for coming 2000 plus miles to get away from snow!!!

The Desert Southwest

2007-01-20T13:26:00.000-05:00

Greetings to you all from south of Tucson, Arizona. Jer and I are getting settled for a two month stay.
The weather here has been cool, but the environment remains unquestionably beautiful. Yesterday the clouds were below the mountains...I felt as though I were living in the world between!
So far I have spent 4 days working with Thelma Smith doing data entries for She Made Her Mark. It has been a most interesting process to watch her work. While I am busy entering data on one computer, Thelma is on her lap-top....muttering to her self as she views the images and begins a sorting process.
At the end of the day she showed me her progress...whooo eee its going to be an interesting exhibit.
Today I will begin to do some fabric painting..just waiting for it to warm, up a bit.
will take pictures and post them tomorrow.

From the Heart: Prospectus

2006-12-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

Prospectus
From The Heart : A Special exhibit of European Art Quilts
In Association with Mancuso Quilt shows
August –November 2007

Art Quilters in the United States have long been aware of the unique qualities of quilting making in Europe. This juried exhibit is an opportunity for all art quilters in Europe to showcase those unique qualities in a special exhibit which will tour four Mancuso venues. Show us the things that are close to your heart; your country, your environment, your beliefs, your values, your art…

30 quilts will be selected to be part of the exhibition with the Mancuso Shows INC. It is a unique opportunity for European art quilters work to be seen by literally thousands of people.

Eligibility and Guidelines:
• Entry is by digital image only (directions below). Each artist may submit a maximum of three works for consideration. Submitted works must have been completed after 31 Dec 2004
•Due to shipping issues, no 3-D works will be accepted.
• Artwork must meet the following definition of an art quilt: a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the whole range of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, assemblage and sculpture, but which retains, through materials or technique, a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends.
• Accepted artwork will travel as a Special Exhibit for the Mancuso World Quilt and Textile on Tour XI beginning Aug 16, 2007 in Manchester, NH, then on to PA National Quilt Festival, Harrisburg, PA September 6-9, Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara, CA October 11-14 and Greater Chicago Quilt Festival, Chicago , IL November 2007.
• Artists are responsible for shipping and insurance to and from a collection point in the United States.
• Artwork will be for exhibition only, and must be available to travel the entire circuit.

Size: Artworks may vary in size within the following parameters:
smallest side 1 metre/40 inches - largest 1.5metres/ 60 inches.
Each work must have a standard 3 inch sleeve

Curators: Marion Barnett and Peg Keeney

Fee: If your work is accepted, there will be a $10.00 fee to cover packing costs.

Calendar: 2007
March 10: Deadline for entries to ARRIVE
April 5: Notification of acceptance.
July 25: Artwork due to collection point in United States
December: work returned to artist

Guidelines for Submissions
• Submit one overall image and one detail image for each piece of artwork you are entering in this exhibit, to a maximum of three works.
• Save your digital images at 300 DPI with a maximum of 6” width or height (1800 ) as JPEGS or TIFF. Save to a CD disk – DVD disks will not be accepted.
• Title each digital image with your artwork title and the size of your artwork in inches. Example – Last name MyTitle36Hx36W.
• Create a Word document with the entry information below and save that to the disk as well.

Mail your CD disc to
Peg Keeney
7750 Bay Meadow Drive
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
U.S.A.

Socks and more socks

2006-11-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

I have been working steadily in the studio at least 5 hours per day. The Kirkland warbler....Sing...is almost finished. It has definately been a labor of Love. I am blocking it as it got rather wigglie due to the intense amount of stitching. I will try and put the border on today and get some good photos.

In the evening I have another life...knitting. I have knitted since I was six or so and find that it is a very relaxing. Of course, just like my stash, the left over bits and lengths of yarn can be overwhelming. so I have taken to knitting funky socks. These are my latest pair...very warm, and very much a conversation starter when I was out shopping.

Hot off the Machine

2006-11-03T15:13:00.000-05:00

I just finished quilting #4 in the dialogue series

Knitting

2006-11-03T13:56:00.000-05:00

I am finishing knitting a sweater for my friend Desiree. She purchased some beautiful hand painted wool..and wanted a boxy roll neck sweater. So here it is, in the final stages of completion.
There is something that is suductive about fiber. I love working will it in all forms.

Fiber Art Retreat

2006-10-24T16:43:00.000-04:00

I am home and recovering from a busy and productive fiber arts weekend. Fabrication, our local group organized its third retreat. Cathy Arnett is the leader, and Desie Vaughn, Kathy Briggs and me are her help mates. The weekend was almost with out glitches...if such a thing is possible. Organizing this event has been a huge learning curve for us.

This year we had 50 participants. What a wonderful, creative and lively group it was. We had three workshop leaders, Pamela Allen, Jeannie Beck and Laura Cater-Woods. Each workshop had a wonderful room, with lots of natural light. Actually Jeannie had two rooms, one for printing and other wet messy work, and another for sewing. All the rooms joined a central "pod" where participants gathered for lunch and evening activities.

We we pleased that attendees were pleased with the experience and eager to preregister for next falls retreat.

When we started this three years ago, we hoped in 5 years to have a maximum of 100 participants. Looks like we will make that next year.

The only downer was I came home to a rejection letter from Form Not Function. I had really thought that my new work would be accepted. Since you get so little feedback I feel rather in never never land. I am not sure why these new works are having such a difficult time. People whose opinion I value say they are good work..distinctively keeney..interesting, good composition etc etc

S0 I have been thinking that I should probably take some time off from entering exhibits and just do work.

2006-10-07T09:45:00.000-04:00

I have been on the edge of tears for the past two days. Trying to adjust to not hearing from Quilt National. I know in my heart that it is foolishness...as this is the first time I entered. However, at the time I was so confident that my work was right up there and could compete.
I entered one work that was sculptural..I really enjoy working over wire mesh..and being able to "shape" the finish structure. Flying High is one such piece that I did for the Michigan Artists Invitational...The rich jewel tone colors were a joy to work with.
SO even though at this late date I have neither an acceptance or rejection letter I feel in limbo. Perhaps I should just take a break from entering exhibits and just regroup.

Amazons All...in progress

2006-10-04T17:43:00.000-04:00

Today I finally had a block of time to start serious work on the Amazons piece.
She is ment to represent all woman, and when she gets her face it will (hopefully) depict wisdom...
I rather like her floating. She will be surrounded by pictures of famous and not so famous women thoughtout the ages. I have done a ton or research and am truly enjoyig this project.

2006-10-01T15:36:00.000-04:00

The detail of # IV shows her eyes as she looks directly at the viewer...her staff in hand

Corn Mother

2006-10-01T15:31:00.000-04:00

Late in the summer I always think about two of my greatgrandmothers. Both of them were wonderful story tellers. Each of them had a series of stories to go with every season. At harvest they would regale me with stories about Corn Mother. Corn Mothere they said was the female spirt that kept the Earth in ballance.
Remembering these stories, I began a small series with Corn Mother as the focal point.

Gathering Names

2006-09-27T15:55:00.000-04:00

I have been busy gathering names. Have had some wonderful help.
So here is what I have so far
Also have picture of everyone!

Sabiha Gökçen Turkey first female combat pilot
Bodicia Celtic warrior queen
Calamity Jane American
Abigail Adams American presidential advisor early woman’s rights activist
Jane Addams English Writer
Isabel Allende writer-Chile
Tarsila do Amaral painter-Brazil
Susan B. Anthony American Suffragette
Marie Antoinette French Queen
Aung San Suu Kyi-- Myanmar
Saint Joan of Arc French commander
Aspasia of Miletus
Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Jane Austen English writer
Rani Lakshmi Bai India led revolt against British rule, killed at 22
Ella Baker American Christian Science
Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike
Clara Barton American Red Cross
Florence Bascom geologist
Simone de Beauvoir French philosopher existentialist
Aphra Behn
Ruth Fulton Benedict American cultural anthropologist
Benazir Bhutto--Pakistan
Shirley Temple Black American Actress - Diplomat
Elizabeth Blackwell
Bonnie Kathleen Blair
Rosa BonheurLouise Arner Boyd American arctic explorer
Pearl S. Buck American writer
Charlotte Bronte England novelist
Dr. Helen Caldicott Australia
Maria Callas Greek soprano
Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo Belgium transformed ballet dancing
Mary Stevenson Cassatt American painter
Rachel Carson American Ecologist
Dame Silvia Cartwright Governor General New Zealand
Emily Carr.... Canadian artist, writer
Coco Chanel French designer
Catherine the Great
St. Catherine, Italy hermit, reformer, mystic
Madame Chiang Kai-shek Nationalist China leader
Chien-shiung Wu
Margaret Wolcott Webster DesRocher American pioneer/ milner and seamstress
Mary Prendergast Slinger Candian farmer, wife, mother
Karey Bresenhan
Nancy Puentes Amer. executive vp quilts inc cofounder of international quilt association

Cleopatra Egyptian Queen
Julia Codesido painter-Peru
Juana Ines de la Cruz Mexican playwright poet
Marie Curie French medicine
Agnes George de Mille American dancer choreographer

Dorothea Dix American advocate humanitarian reform
Emily Dickinson English Poet
Isadora Duncan American founder modern dance
Amelia Earhart American Aviatrix
Marian Wright Edelman advocate of children's rights
Eleanor of Aquitaine French patroness of arts crusader
Beatrix Jones Farrand American landscape architect
Edith Flanigen American molecular chemist
Anne Frank German diary Occupation Netherlands
Rosalind Elsie Franklin English Pioneer Molecular Biologist
Betty Naomi Friedan American feminist
Elizabeth Gurney Fry American Quaker prison reformer
Nell Gwyn English actress
Margaret Fuller philosopher transcendentalist
Indira Gandhi India Premier
Emma Goldman American labor activist
Jane Goodall American biologist
Sarah and Angelina Grimke American Abolitionism
Helen of Troy wife of Odysseus.
Sonja Henie Norwegian Olympic gold skater

Caroline Lucretia Herschel German astronomer discovered comets
Judith E. Heumann American Assistant secretary of Education
Dorothy Mary Crowfoot Hodgkin Egyptian Nobel Prize Chemistry
Ariel Hollinshead American vaccine four major types of lung cancer,
Hsiao-Ch’on express of china
Mary Phelps Jacob American invented the brassiere
Aletta Jacobs Netherlands first female physician, activist for women rights
Jane Jacobs Canadian writer sociologist
Barbara Jordan American first black Congresswoman
Frida Kahlo Mexican painter
Helen Keller American Deaf-blind author, activist, and lecturer
Sister Kenney American Nurse therapy for treating paralysis from polio
Billie Jean King American athlete
Aleksandra Mikhaylovna Kollontai Russian revolutionary, diplomat, and novelist
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, American psychiatrist, writer
Aung San Suu Kyi-- Myanmar nonviolent movement for human rights and democracy
Susette La Flesche Tibbles Native American lecturer, writer, artist
Maya Lin architect designed Vietnam Memorial
Juliette Gordon Low American Girl Scouts
Anne Sullivan Macy American founder American Foundation for the Blind
Wilma Mankiller Native American Chief
Golda Meir Israel Premier
Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai Kenya Nobel Peace Prize environmentalist, politician,
Lata Mangashkear Indian singer most songs recorded
Barbara McClintock American Nobel Laureate in Medicine/genetics
Nellie McClung – Canadian. Politician, women's activist.
Margaret Mead American anthropologist
Catherine de Medici Italian patron of the arts
Lise Meitner Austrian Nobel price chemistry nuclear physics.
Rigoberta Menchu Tum Guatemala Nobel peace prize
Gabriela Mistral poet-Chile
Maria Montessori Italian educator
Marilyn Monroe American actress
Mother Theresa American saint
Baroness Murasaki Shikibu Japanese author
Florence Nightingale American nursing
Annie Oakley American legendary markswoman
Georgia O'Keeffe artist
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis American Icon
Vijaya Lakshimi Pandit India President of UN general assembly
Emmeline Pankhurst great Britain suffragette
Rosa Parks American Civil Rights
Alice Paul - American Women’s suffrage
Eva Peron Argentina First Lady
Christine de Pizan Italy scholar and astrologer
Pocahontas Native American
Queen Anne English patron of art, literature and scientific advancement
Queen Elizabeth I English queen during golden age Virgin Queen
Queen Isabella Spanish Queen sponsored Columbus
Queen Victoria British Queen of Empire longest reigning monarch
Aishwarya Rai Indian Bollywood actress

Jeannette Rankin American first female member of congress
Ann Richards American Governor
Sally Ride American Astronat
Anna Mary Robertson (Grandma Moses) American artist
Alexandra Romanov Russian Tsarina
Eleanor Roosevelt American First Lady, delegate to the United Nations
Betsy Ross - American Flag
Sacajawea American Explorer Guide
Margaret Sanger mother of birth control
Sappho Greek poet known as The Tenth Muse,
Annie MG Schmidt Netherlands writer, books and song lyrics
Rose Schneiderman Polish born émigré labor organizer
Laura Secord - Canadain 1700 patriot
Carols Shields... Canadian Pulitzer Prize novelist
* Baroness Murasaki Shikibu--Japan--may have been first
contemporary novelist
Utako Shimodo, Japan--educator, writer and advocate of women's learning
Sappho Greek poetess
Mollie Spotted Elk Native American dancer
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, (1815-1902) – United States social activist
Gloria Steinem American feminist movement
Lucy Stone American suffragette
Harriet Beecher Stowe American writer abolitionist
Harriet Russell Strong American pioneer irrigation and water conservation
Bertha von Suttner Austria/Hungry writer peace activist
Maria Tallchief Native American dancer
Kateri Tekakwitha Native America saint
Emma Tenayuca, Chicano labor leader during Depression
Valentina Vladimirovna Nikolayeva Tereshkova Russian first woman in space
Margaret Thatcher Great Britain Premier
Alexandrine Pieternella Francoise Tinne Netherlands explorer
Sojourner Truth American Civil rights
Harriet Tubman American Civil Rights
* Rigoberta Menchu Tum--Guatemala--Nobel Peace Prize
Tz'u Hsi * Tz'u His--China— ruled as Regent
Yoshiko Uchida write of Japanese-American culture for children,
Alice Walker American poet and essayist
Laura Ingalls Wilder - American Writer
Phyllis Wheatley American poet early abolitionist
Mary Wollstonecraft British writer, philosopher, and early feminist
Rosalyn Sussman Yalow American medical physicist, a Nobel Prize in Medicine
Catherine Verfaillie Belgium stem cell research
Christine van Broeckhoven Belgium researcher in Alzheimer's and dementia)
Kim Clijsters Belgium tennis)
Queen Fabiola Belgium Ceres Medal promote rural women in developing countries

Names Names Names

2006-09-20T12:24:00.000-04:00

I am working on a project that will include pictures of notable woman from around the world. To that end I am solicitating names...so far I have about 200 names of women though out the ages. If you can suggest someone please do email me.

North America
Canada
Mexico
United States
South America
Argentina
Chili
Guatemala
Peru
Venezuela

Europe
Austria
Austria/Hungry
Belgium
Celtic
England
France
Germany
Greece
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Troy ancient
Spain

Africa
South Africa
Kenya
Asia
China
India
Japan
Egypt
Myanmar
Taiwan

Middle East
Israel
Pakistan
Russia
Australia
New Zealand

Still Harvest Time

2006-09-16T14:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I managed to process two bushels of tomatoes that I got at the farm on Thursday. I made salsa from the bright green stripped heirloom tomatoes. It is fantastic and pretty too. Also roasted a few more peppers, made tomatoe sauce and applesauce. Feeling definately like Suzie homemaker...but it all tastes so good in the middle of the winter.

The catalogue from Patchwork Europe arrived and it is indeed impressive. It has a nice writeup of Changing the World on Thread at a Time, using a photo of Valarie Goodwin's City Scape Grid. I must say I admire Thelma's persistance, as overcame all sorts of obsticals to make this exhibit a reality. I for one, feel that serious fiber artist need to support such efforts. Each one of these experiences brings us one step closer to being accepted into the world of fine art.

Harvest

2006-09-10T11:19:00.000-04:00

The Harvest is coming in. I am overloaded with red peppers, tomatoes and apples. Today I will finish making roasted red pepper sauce and start work on the tomatoes.
One thing is that it affords me plenty of thinking time....Standing next to the grill. Sink and pot. I am sorting out if I can claim to have a "body of work" that is...does each piece I do reflect me? So to that end I am putting together a portfolio, and will take a good long look at it, I also plan on asking several of my artist friends, who I respect for their critical eye, to give me some feed back.

Changing the World One Thread at a Time

2006-09-05T11:38:00.000-04:00

Thelma Smith is taking the expanded Changing exhibit to Val d'Argent, France. The catalogue she has put together is breathtaking. She has taken care to print the artist statements in three languages.
Check out her web site...buy a catalogue and support art quilts.

Detail hands

2006-08-31T07:34:00.001-04:00

Detail Feet

2006-08-31T07:33:00.002-04:00

Dancing on the Edge of Time

2006-08-31T07:29:00.000-04:00

Well I managed to finish and mail Dancing on the Dancing on Edge of Time. I love the image of the skeleton on the workings of a watch. We all, individuals, groups, corporations, cities, states and nations dance on the edge of time. I leave it to the viewer to decided on the identity of the skeleton.

tomatoes, peaches and frogs

2006-08-29T11:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had lunch with a friend and then came home to piles of tomatoes and peaches. Worked hard canning 12 pints of salsa before I ran out of fresh lime and had to stop. Froze cup size packages of yummy fresh peaches for smoothies this winter and made a fresh peach cobbler for dinner.

We have a small pond in our yard..it has a very secretive new inhabitant...notice the wonderful camouflage

New stuff

2006-08-27T11:31:00.000-04:00

I have been working contrary to common thought. Like always, I have more then on project in the fire. So I tend to finish things in batches.
Form IV is part of a series where I explore shape, texture and form. I stitch the piece over sculpture wire, then mold it when finished. This particular piece took many forms before I finally settled on this particular shape.

I also finished the third in the series Dialogue. Dialogue are my conversations with tracings, markings and fabric. Dialogues IV and V are on the design wall waiting quilting and handwork.

I always have some small work in progress. I began a series on Corn Mother
they all have shadow eyes..part of my relentless crusade to protect mother earth.

Allison and Sophia pitting the cherrys

2006-08-18T09:22:00.000-04:00

2006-08-18T09:20:00.000-04:00

Ah Summertime

2006-08-18T09:14:00.000-04:00

Some of you have asked for pictures of the Cherry Time. 10 of us went cherry picking and then made jam. The trees were just loaded, and close to the ground so all the kids could easily pick and eat.

Machines and things

2006-08-17T10:05:00.000-04:00

Both my machines are sick. The workhorse Janome needs a new bobbin case and the Bernina keeps breaking needles. Living in a rural area has it drawbacks. For the Janome there is only one dealer within 200 miles...and it is a major undertaking to get a replacement part. I did that one by phone..at least ordered it, now to wait 4 days for it to be delivered.
As for the Bernina, yestetday I drove 130 miles to Traverse City and waited for it to be serviced. I took hand work with me...so did not loose the whole day.
I also went to Borders book to try and find another copy of the article in Quilt Magazine. Alas it was not there, they already have a new issue out. So much for fleeting fame!

Postcards needed

2006-08-14T12:40:00.000-04:00

This is one of the postcards I did for the American cancer society's fundraiser.
I thought it would be fun to add a little "treasure" to each one...so made a flap that hides a little pocket...this one has a butterfly charm in the pocket.

Fiberart For A Cause: Fundraising for the American Cancer Society
International Quilt Festival - Houston
November 2-5, 2006

Fiberart postcards are needed for the fundraising effort at Houston this fall. The postcard above is that \I made for the FAFC. To date, we have raised over $53,000 for the American Cancer Society!

Consistency

2006-08-14T09:42:00.000-04:00

I am trying to do some simple marketing and be consistent in presenting my self as an artist. So I am leaving the Sweetgrass arts behind. Hence the necessity of getting a new blog.The old one would not let me change the name.