Five Days of Stitch Heaven

Christina standing below hand-dyed
embroidery threads

I'm back from five days in "stitch heaven" with Gail Harker.  The class, "Experimental Hand Stitch" focuses on Procion MX dyeing of embroidery thread and a wool/acrylic felt to stitch on, and then learning some of the basic embroidery stitches and how to use them in a contemporary context.

My friends", Debbie and Rebecca, dyed felts and threads

The felt and threads are vibrant and beautiful.  Gail feels that having your materials inspire you is important, so she helps her students understand their color choices and combinations to be successful with the dyeing process.

Some of my dyed felts and threads

I basically stuck with an analogous color scheme from yellow-green through red-violet.  If you're unfamiliar with analogous color schemes, it means that you pick colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel.  So the colors I worked with were greens, blues, and violets.

After our dyeing days, we started doing small stitch samplers.  Each stitch will have its own page in a small stitch book (we even learned how to bind our books!)  We also worked on documenting our samples within a sketchbook, including what threads we used, any observations we have, needles that were chosen, etc.

La Cebolla (Onion)

I finished my third piece for my 'Salsa!' quilt this evening:

"Onion" by Christina Fairley Erickson - Machine freehand embroidered, freemotion quilted and decorative stitching

Layers of batting for trapunto effect

I had a bit tougher time with getting the trapunto done well, so that the depth perception of the onions in back would be complemented.  So I did several layers of batting which I stitched together to help create this effect.

For the freemotion quilting background, I used "Stone Portals" from Leah Day's FreeMotion Quilting Project.

I'm not sure that I got quite enough contrast in this piece, particularly for the background.  However, I think once all the pieces are put together, it should hold its own.  You can see the contrast issue, when I compare it with the other two pieces completed so far:


You might also be interested in:

Week 4 - Tomatillo

5 x 7 Week 3- The
 Start of Salsa!

52 Week - 5 x7 
Challenge to Readers

Other great blogs to check out:

Leah Day's FreeMotion Quilting Project

Nina Marie Sayre's Art Quilts

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

FreeMotion by the River

QuiltStory

Freshly Pieced

A Quilting Reader's Garden

Winter Project Time

Today was a fairly low-key day.  I'm trying to go along with Leah Day's Freemotion Quilting Project focus on UFO's each Sunday.  Today her FMQP blog post discusses getting negative reviews online.  I guess I'm kind of shocked.  I feel like Leah has given such a wealth of knowledge out for free and that she does a beautiful job.  Please stop by and give her some positive comments (if you haven't seen her blog before, you really need to check it out!)

Back to UFO Sunday, here is the UFO that has been on my wall without progress for 6 months.  It's a color progression with a contrasting curved piece through each block.  Although I don't normally do block-based quilts, I wanted to practice some simple curved piecing and started on these 8" squares.  I kind-of ran out of space on my design wall however and obviously haven't finished up the curves in all the blocks I have up yet.

My thought has been to sew 1-2 vertical rows together at a time and then quilt them in those rows, putting the whole quilt together after doing the quilting.  I'm still struggling a little with how you put the quilt together after quilting, but want to try it out, since I hopefully have quilted my last king-sized quilt on my home machine after it was all pieced!  I'm thinking that using Leah Day's "Mesh Curtain" pattern for the long vertical rows.

So, my commitment is to make some progress this week with this quilt, before the next UFO Sunday!

The other piece I've worked on today is my second week's 5 x 7 Challenge piece.  I completed the paper piecing and now need to aapplique the center circle and rungs of the windmill blades, before I can start quilting it.

Beyond my indoor projects, my husband Randy and I, along with our two boys Ryan and Coleman and our dog Dexter, went for a winter's walk at Marymoor Park in Redmond.  It was about 30 degrees and the frost twinkled on the trees and shrubs.

Reflections on the water

Partially frozen stream through the marshlands

Ice and frost in marsh grasses

Beautiful winter light and reflections

Christina with sons Ryan (left) and Coleman
(right) and Dexter (with the long ears)

Husband Randy with Dexter

Golden Hour at Penn Cove 
& Monet's Haystacks

What I Want My Children 
To Know

Sunshine and Sand 
Design Inspiration

Week 1 of the 5 x 7 Artist Challenge

For my first week of the 5 x 7 Artist Challenge, I completed a little freehand machine-embroidered piece that I've been thinking about for some time.

Freehand machine embroidered and quilted by
Christina Fairley Erickson

This zebra was adapted from a photo, drawn onto the fabric with pencil, then stitched on top.  It's difficult to see in this photo (see enlargement below), but his mane has white stitching between the black parts, although I didn't stitch the white over the rest of him.

My choice of fabric is all cotton, with an interesting weave (again tough to see in the photo)- nubby- sort of like raw silk.  This proved to be a factor in choosing the background quilting, as when I made some practice samples using different freemotion quilting designs, it seemed to look best with a more geometric style, rather than one that has lots of swirls or undulating pattern.  I think the grid works well to not compete with the main focus of the zebra.

Close-up of stitching.

I think the piece works for me... it was good practice both with the machine embroidery and the small-scale quilting.  The zebra is a natural extension of my equine quilts and passion.

Tomorrow I'll finish up my story of the quilt show theme: "Fiber Artists Look at Innovation and Civic Action."


Hopefully we'll have a few other photos to post on our 5 x 7 Artist Challenge as well.  Remember, you can join at any time.  Post your photos to: http://www.flickr.com/groups/5x7_artist_challenge/

You might also be interested in:
2013 Open 5 x 7" Challenge
Getting Started May be the Hardest Part
52 Week 5" x 7" Challenge to Readers

Other Blogs You might want to check out:
Freemotion by the River - Lovely Traditional Quilts and Projects
QuiltStory - Quilts and Patterns
From My Front Porch to Yours - Beautiful Home Decor Projects

Getting Started may be the hardest part

When I first discussed my 52 week 5" x 7" challenge here on this blog, I really didn't think much beyond my desire to get myself in the practice of creating and being accountable to do my work each week to my readers.  However, since then I've recognized that many of you also may have the same issues as I:  not enough time, too many competing demands for the little time we have, the desire to develop ourselves as artists, and the big one... fear of failure.

Well, I've made the commitment and have extended the invitation and I hope you'll join me in going for the challenge!  I admit I'm a little ahead, as I started my first week's piece back in early December.   I finished up my freehand machine embroidered Zebra over the holidays and today I spent my studio time making a "pillowcase binding", practicing micro-stippling, and starting the quilting for the piece.

I was inspired this last week when I went to the LaConner Quilt and Textile Museum and saw a piece there that was made by Cathy Erickson (no relation, but she's also a member of CQA.)  Cathy's quilt on display had won the best machine quilting for the LaConner International QuiltFest last October, and it's no surprise.  Cathy has some of the most beautiful micro-quilting that I've ever seen.  If you're not aware of micro-quilting, it is quilting designs in miniature... almost microscopic.  Lines may be as close as 1/16" apart.  In general, you need to use lighter weight threads to get this incredible lace-like effect.

To get some practice, I started with one of my favorite blogs, Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Project and found her instructions and video on Microstippling.  I did a sampler using Leah's instructions and then made several samples of micro-quilting, using different pattern ideas... one with a squared edge stipple, one like grasses, one irregular stripes (like the zebra) and another grid pattern.  I looked at each of them alongside my zebra and then chose one for my quilting background.  Which one do you think I picked?  Tune in next week....

I also found from Leah's site a wonderful blog which shares work in progress each Wednesday.  It's called "Freshly Pieced".  Make sure to check it out!

Tonight I spent a little time thinking about my next design.  As you may know, I've had windmills and the Moulin Rouge on the brain for many years.  Since the late 19th century, the Moulin Rouge has been an inspiration for artists.  It has symbolized the bohemian lifestyle and served as a gateway to Montmartre, the neighborhood in Paris where writers, artists, and philosophers congregated.  Most notably, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec captured many scenes of the Moulin Rouge in the 1890's, helping to assure its fame through his lithographic posters.   Most people are familiar with the Can-Can, a dance popularized at the Moulin Rouge.  My quilt pictured here is the exterior of this famous windmill (Moulin in French) at night, from a photo I took in Paris in 2009.  The reader board image, freehand machine embroidered, of "120 ans" is celebrating the 120th anniversary of continuous operation of the infamous nightclub.

So, I was playing around with colored pencils and here is my potential for next week's 5x7 challenge.  I'm thinking of doing the four areas in between the windmill blades in two pieced groups of complementary colors (blue & orange, violet & yellow). I'm still considering how I want to do the windmill blades.

I think getting started is the hardest part... I feel a little bit of trepidation about whether I'll be able to sustain my production or not.  Anyone else sharing this fear?  I can't wait to see what you create!

You might also be interested in:

52 Week- 5 x 7 
Challenge to Readers

52 Weeks of Art- 
A Personal Challenge

Making Fabric

52 Week-- 5" x 7" Challenge to Readers

At the National Quilt Museum, Paducah, KY

Here's a call to all you other artists out there!  I'm starting a 52 weeks of art challenge for myself and others to get creating consistently throughout the year.

I went through 3 years of design training by Lorraine Torrence, an art quilter, pattern-maker, and graduate with a Masters in Fine Arts.  Lorraine started the first session with a story from one of her teachers about a study for art students done in a university.  In it, the upper-level students were told to either 1) make one piece of art for the semester, but have the quality be their focus or 2) don't worry about quality, the grade the second group was going to be based on quantity... make as much art as they can and show the result at the end of the semester.  The result?  The work from the second group was by far of greater quality... not every piece, of course, but just the fact of repetition and developing a practice of making art regularly helped the artists really become much more than an effort at doing one really good piece.

Should you wish to participate in this challenge, you need to do the following:

1. Make 1 piece of artwork in a 5" x 7" format (13 cm x 18 cm) each week.  This can be in any media.  I recommend trying to incorporate specific design principles into each piece or play with things you haven't focused on previously.
2. Post your photos to  http://www.flickr.com/groups/5x7_artist_challenge/ I may even add these photos on the blog as examples as we progress.
3. Post a comment that you're participating in the challenge at: http://fiberartistjourney.blogspot.com/p/2013-5-x-7-challenge.html  This will help you by having you state your intention publically and be accountable to the group.
4. Do your best!  Nobody's perfect and we all have things come up... but the more you participate, the more successful you will be in your personal artistic journey.

Christina at the National Quilt Museum  with the Museum
Curator, Judy Schwender and Christina's Quilt
"Friesian Dream Come True"

Here's proof of how making a focused commitment can work... I saw a call to artists for Equestrian Art Quilts for a special exhibit at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY.  They planned this show to coincide with the World Equestrian Games (WEG), which was being held in Lexington, KY (for the first time ever on American soil.)  As both a horsewoman and quilter, I couldn't let this opportunity by, even though I'd never attempted to show on a national level before.  Not only did I get accepted to the show, I was able to go visit (as well as go to the WEG), meet the curator, and see all the amazing Paducah show winners that that museum has in their permanent display.  

I hope you'll join me in the challenge... whether starting this week or anytime later in the year.  It's going to be a fabulous journey!

You might also be interested in:
52 Weeks of Art- A Personal Challenge
Fiber Funsters 10 x 16 Group Challenge

Artistic Goals 2013

Frozen bush from Dec 2008
No snow yet this year!

     I've been working on putting my artistic goals down on paper (or in electrons) for some time now:

•      I defined what's working and what's not in my post "Painfully honest - Where am I Stuck?"
•     I thought through "Questions to Ponder While Writing Your Goals"
•      I structured a challenge to do a weekly small composition in "52 Weeks of Art - A Personal Challenge"
•      And I originally started thinking about "Goals for the Upcoming Year" back in November.

So, the clock is ticking towards midnight (and 2013) and I'm ready to state my goals and intentions, as well as to ask you to respond back to me what you are going to commit to doing.

Goals 2013:

1.      Find and define my artistic voice or style. 

a.      The first way I will work on this is through my work with Gail Harker.  Seeing the work of other students of Gail’s, I am struck with how each student makes artwork that is unique to each of them.  I believe Gail has an incredible skill in teaching her students skills and processes, as well as how to make design decisions, without specifically teaching them to make artwork that is a particular style or that is similar to anything that she herself makes. 

b.      From my previous studies, one of the main things I’ve learned is that one’s artistic voice is found through practice, practice, practice.  To this end I will do the following:

Ø  Make a5” x 7” composition each week, working to enhance both my design and technical skills

Ø  Make a 10” x 16” composition every 2 month as part of the Fiber Funster’s challenge

Ø  Do all the coursework from Gail’s classes with a serious attitude toward excellence

c.       Document my progress in my blog at least weekly (preferably daily) as well as documenting all my work for Gail.

d.  Open the 5" x 7" challenge to anyone who is reading this blog to give others support, encouragement, and critiquing.  

2.      Ramp up my pictorial / representational quilts.

           

What does “ramp up” mean to me? 

a.                  Increase my technical skill/proficiency to a high degree

b.                  Increase my composition skill-how the composition is placed/cropped, color usage, understanding innately and using good design principles with my compositions (balance, unity, contrast, value, movement, focal point, relationship (color, size, value, shape, texture, style, theme), visual bridges/elegant choices, integration.

c.                  Make and execute a plan to develop an intentional body of work that is authentic and expresses meaning to me.   Meaning includes work that expresses my interests, my feelings, and my values.  I will work on exploring meaning through writing about my work on my blog.

Beautiful icicles

3.   Work at increasing my competency at working in a clean and organized studio space.

           

4.     Explore opening my own Etsy storefront to sell my work by July 30, 2013

5.      Work towards my goal of having a solo show by September 2015.

     Steps to have a solo show:

            a.  Minimum of 12 finished pieces reflecting my integrated artistic voice

            b.   Find venues that would consider my work

                  i.    Talk with other textile artists to find out where they've shown

                  ii.   Make a running list of galleries 

                  iii.   Visit galleries and talk with gallery owners

            c.  Increased technical competence

            d.  Continued showing at national and local levels

            e.  Professionally marketing myself as an artist

                  i.     Re-do my artist statement

                  ii.    Update my website

                  iii.   Write out a description of key phrases to describe my work

                  iv.    Write up descriptions & diagrams on how to display my work

                  v.     Write/send out press releases on my shows (build reputation)

                  vi.    Create an artist portfolio

                  vii.   Develop 10 ways to promote my art

             f.   Continue working as CQA Exhibitions co-chairperson through March 2014, to gain knowledge and experience on putting on exhibitions.

Hope you're warm and safe
for the holiday!

6.   Complete at least 1 art quilt or art cloth to enter in the Salsa! show at Mighty Tieton.

7.    Complete at least 1 other medium-large piece and enter it in 1+ shows.

8.     Complete at least 1 driftwood art sculpture to enter in the show in May.

Well, that's my year for you (and a little beyond.)  I'd love your support and comments, as well as hearing what you have planned for the upcoming year!

Hugs and Happiness in the New Year to all of you!

                  

                  

An Unexpected Journey

This weekend I took 6 teenagers to "The Hobbit- An Unexpected Journey."  Parenthood can certainly be described that way (and I'm not talking about unexpectedly becoming a parent.)  The stages and changes you and your children go through take one by surprise.  I love being a Mom and getting to watch my sons (and their friends) on their live's journeys.

I'm taking a bit of time to get ready for the holidays now, so my art and stitch are slowed down.  I've been practicing my hand embroidery stitches in the evening, as well as working on design ideas for the "Salsa!" exhibition at Mighty Tieton.  If I slow down in writing my blog over the next couple weeks, know I'll be back with my 52 week 5 x7 challenge at the start of the year!

Sunshine and Sand -- Design Inspiration

Our dogs playing in the water at Moclips, WA, Pacific Ocean

Is there anything as wonderful as a beautiful ocean beach?  There are so many aspects and differences between beach types and we have some truly marvelous variations on the Pacific coast.    I took these photos for design inspiration, when on a trip to Moclips, WA.  The waves carve out intricate patterns in the sand and the incredible play of light brings out fascinating textures.

As design sources, the sand has many possibilities.  Line and shape are represented with rhythm and repetition.  Due to the brightness and contrast, there is very little color, making the images great for playing with a monochromatic color scheme.  Value contrast can be studied and played upon.

When in nature, I look for these types of elements.  Pattern, shape, line, repetition and variation, symmetry, contrast, and texture all create interest in a composition

While I may never make a composition from one of these particular photo, using a camera to train my eye toward good design has become a habit for me.


 At the same time, using these photos could make an interesting series.

The process of just getting out into nature and seeing, REALLY seeing, can help infuse your creative well with more life, giving you the inspiration to bring forth new ideas in your chosen artistic endeavor.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I struggle with getting out.  I tend to get a little insular, wanting to hole up in my house (especially on cold, rainy Seattle days!)  I always have too much I want or need to do, and I can get caught up in wanting to have time making, rather than gathering more inspiration.  But the process of looking for inspiration can help keep you creating.

Perhaps getting out with my camera each week should be part of my 5 x 7 challenge....  I'll have to think on it.  What do you think?  Would you like to see design inspiration photos each week?

You might also be interested in:
Skagit Skies
Pacific Madronna
Finding Inspiration Every Day

Making Fabric

Snow-dyed and then stenciled using oil paint-sticks

 A couple of friends and fellow CQA members met at my home today to do some surface design on fabrics to be donated to Stashfest, a fundraising event to benefit the La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum.

Patricia Belyea, on the organizing committee for Stashfest, spoke at our CQA meeting yesterday and really generated some enthusiasm for the event, as well as coming over to play with making fabric today.  Patricia's business, Okan Arts, imports yukata cottons from Japan, as well as promotes using these incredible Japanese fabrics.  She also teaches and makes artisan quilts.

Snow-dyed with Procion MX and
over-dyed with Dye-na-Flow

My other guest today, Carolyn Higgens, is one of two Washington state representatives for SAQA or Studio Art Quilt Associates, another group which I belong to.  Carolyn and I met some time ago in an ongoing Design series of classes by Lorraine Torrance.

Snow-dyed with Procion MX and
over-dyed with Dye-na-Flow

The most wonderful part of the three of us getting together was to find out the ties that we share... our commitment to promoting fiber art in our state.  Carolyn's blog "Fiber Arts in the Northwest" showcases some fascinating artists from the area.  She hopes to expand to covering classes and events that are taking place in the Northwest.

Snow-dyed with Procion MX and
over-dyed with Dye-na-Flow

The photos here are some of the pieces of fabric which I've made to contribute to Stashfest on behalf of CQA.  I love doing surface design!  These four pieces were initially snow-dyed with Procion MX dyes, then I overdyed them with Dye-na-Flow.  The top one was additionally stenciled with Shiva oil paintsticks and Seta-color transparent paint.  I'm also going to be offering a tour of my studio, as one of the special "Stashfest Insider Visits" for sale as another aspect of the fundraiser.  Anyone who purchases my studio tour will be given a choice of two different one yard pieces of hand-dyed/ surface designed fabric.

Freehand machine embroidery piece I'm working
on for my 5 x7 challenge

I also started my first piece for my 5 x 7 personal challenge.  I know, I'm not really supposed to be starting this until 2013, but I wanted to get in the practice now!  So, here's a look at the start of my machine stitched zebra which I'm creating.  I suppose I'm still a little anxious about committing myself to making something each week.  Does it count if I make something larger than 5 x 7?  For instance, if I finish a big project one week, but don't do my 5 x 7?  What do you think?

Photoshop Fun

WA State Convention Center

I'm spending the day at a Photoshop for Photographers workshop, held in a giant ballroom at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. I've been coming to these specialized training a in Adobe Photoshop for about 12 years now... Generally one happens each per year in Seattle. Some are geared for photographers, as this one is, while others for designers in either print or digital media. As my professional background has been in website design and development, I've been a member of NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) and always love to learn a few more tricks in this amazing program.

At the Photoshop CS6 for Photographers Class
(about 400 in attendance)

I love taking photos... whether on a trip or around my home. I see beauty in many minute details. Years ago, I was an avid scuba diver, and my favorite things to see were some of the very small and delicate creatures. I'd dive with macho guys who were always searching for big 4 foot long ling cods or 3 foot across sun stars (Pycnopodia helianthoide) while I was content to watch a delicately feathered iridescent nudibranch.

I love taking series of photos on particular topics. For instance, I have many remarkable doors, mainly from Europe, as a collection. I'm excited by trees, particularly their bark, and must have hundreds, if not thousands, of detailed shots. I've thought for some time that my photos would help me move more to series work in my fiber art. One of my struggles is that I've tried many styles, but haven't really found my own discernible style in my art. I've already determined that my number one goal for 2013 is to develop my voice as an artist.  In fact, one of my purposes for having my 5 x 7 personal challenge is to work on developing my artistic style.

After a great day full of learning, I'm looking forward to applying the tricks and techniques shared today on my photos.  I'll share some soon!