Another book

So I'm working on another leather bound book. I can't help wondering...why must everything be 8 feet long?? Even with my studio at ECU, my studio at ACME, my entire two bedroom apartment in Greenville, and the livingroom floor at home...I'm running out of space. Haha

More felting experiments

This is a felted vessel and a felted geod that I made with wool

New felted scarf

Today I did some more felting and about half way through the process I tossed it into the washing machine. At first I thought it was a disaster because some of the black "dread locks" came off and got tangled up. I just laughed it off and put it around my neck for fun. As I walked around the art building, I got quite a few compliments so I decided that it might be salvageable after all.

The birthday girl

What better way to spend my birthday than to be up to my elbows in sheeps wool??

Wilmington Fur Ball

Don't miss out on the 2009 Wilmington Fur Ball !! Check out their website to bid on some artwork donated by yours truly. I'm a dog lover, what can I say.

When:
December 5th
6:30 - 10:30 PM
NEW LOCATION!! Hilton Wilmington Riverside
Wilmington, North Carolina
A black tie, red carpet gala
Wine, beer, champagne, Lavish hors d' oeuvres, Live Band, Auction and more!
Returning psychic entertainers Lisa Gerd-Rankin and Katherine Turner
Admission $75
All proceeds benefit;
Pender County Humane Society
Adopt An A.N.G.E.L.

Silk Painting

Today I tried my hand at silk painting. I did a quick design using a clear liquid resist, let it dry, then started laying in my MX Dyes. The end result wasn't as good as it looked in my mind...but I'll post a photo after I steam it out.

Masonboro Moon

I worked my tail off during the Fall break to complete this fabric collage called "Masonboro Moon". It's inspired by Masonboro Island where my husband and I love to go kayaking with our ACME friends Sandy and Dick Ihly. Masonboro Island is the largest undisturbed barrier island along the southern part of the North Carolina coast and is located approximately five miles southeast of Wilmington, in the most populous part of the North Carolina coast. The Island can only be reached by boat and since everything is dictated by the tide, we relish the nights when a full moon is out and we can paddle over for a camp fire and some good conversation.

Of course it can't go overlooked that the moon's phases play a role in the cycle of fertility, which is of interest to me.

Anyway, I employed a variety of techniques to complete this 6 foot wall piece. I started by hand dying all of the fabric (distressing some with coffee), I also created a silkscreen from an old Farmer's Almanac which advises on when to plant according to the phases of the moon. I worked out a sketch, then created it to scale using paper, and then started cutting out the fabric. The entire piece is made up of synthetic sheer fabrics and silk organza, which is a challenge to work with but so beautiful. I love the layering I can get with transparent fabrics. I did all the stitching on my machine using the zigzag stitch. I like the look of it and I really wanted to practice using the stitch. Lastly, I backed it and hung it from a piece of drift wood found on the Island. I really enjoy the two long dark lines in the right of the piece. I wanted to add some rectilinear lines to balance all of the curvilinear lines, but I also wanted them to be somewhat organic. There's also a lot of variance in the color, which is what I was aiming for.

Family Dynamics

These are the first two little books in a small series I'm calling "Family Dynamics". Originally they were prototypes for a much larger accordion style book, but I think they turned out great and stand on their own. They are both 6 inches square (when closed), and will be exhibited at the Miniatures 2009: Portraits Exhibition at Daniel North's gallery, the art studio, in Cutbank, MT. They are copper etchings in handstitched, stained, and branded leather bound books, with printed and machine stitched fabric collages. When I finish the larger book, I'll be sure and post some images so stay tuned...

Sneak Peek

Here's a little teaser of a new 6ft fabric collage I'm working on...

Rebel 52 at Emerge

Last Friday night Rebel 52, a literary and visual arts exhibition, opened at Emerge Gallery in downtown Greenville, NC. The show looked great and I am pleased to say that my piece, Toward Wholeness and the accompanying time lapse video, took first place in Textiles. The work will be featured in the annual Rebel publication.

New Masks at Edge of Urge

Don't forget to check out all of my latest handmade leather masks at Edge of Urge!

More Leather

After Jen Swearington's workshop in pattern making, I realized that I could draw out a design on paper for a messager bag and make it out of leather. It took a couple of weeks to get everything right but overall, a success. I love carrying this bag because it's made from scratch and all hand stiched! The leather is thick but after I stained it this rich fudge brown, I twisted, tugged, and pulled at it which distressed the leather making it much softer and more flexible.

Exhibition Opening Tonight

FYI The 2nd Annual Joyner Library Graduate Student Art and Design Exhibition opens tonight. I have two pieces in the show, which runs through November 11. The Juror is Hank Foreman, Director and Chief Curator of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Please join me if you can at the Joyner Library Exhibit Space, second floor (on the campus of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC!!

Jen Swearington Workshop

Funny lady Jen Swearington came to ECU as a visiting artist. She gave a talk about her personal work and also the clothing line she does for production. In the workshop, she showed us how to make a pattern from a good fitting knit shirt and then make another garment from the pattern. I'm new to sewing, but by golly, in the end I had a perfectly fitting t-shirt. Jen has an MFA from the Savannah Collage of Art and Design.











See all of the photos on the ECU Textile Guild Facebook page....while you're at it, become a fan!