June 30th, 2009
I had an acquaintance on Facebook comment that she bought a $10 antique quilt, washed it and it fell apart and she should have gone to Pottery Barn instead. Instead of commiserating with her, I took the opportunity to inform her of the proper way to clean old quilts, and asked her if she really wanted to purchase quilts from China made with “slave labor.” Of course I am being blasted by others. Oh well…
There is a place for those China quilts, in my house it was for tricking the cat away from the real quilts. I purchased the quilt before I was “enlightened” and, before I washed it to find the whole thing bled and stitches started falling apart. I paid more than $10 for it.
Some of those Chinese quilts are enticing in their hand stitching and ribbon decorations, on some. I just will never purchase another one knowing the person who made it worked under slave-like conditions and wages. I try to be aware of where my clothes are made too.
It would be wonderful if we could purchase more products like these made in the US but our companies and unions have run those out of the country. There is a place for unions, don’t get me wrong. My grandmother was a seamstress and worked in a factory under less than good conditions.
It comes down to what you want, your conscience and your stand on such things.
June 25th, 2009
QuiltArt Challenge:
This event is also open to SAQA members.
Challenge: The purpose is to make as many quality 9″x12″ art pieces
as we can to help the Altzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). Ami
would like to take 1,000 art quilts to the Houston International Quilt
Festival THIS year. The piece should be no larger than 9″x12″
finished. Read the guidelines at http://alzquilts.org/rules.html
before you begin. You are encouraged to make more than one piece.
Theme: The theme is open. The pieces should appeal to a wide range
of people and employ excellence in design, whatever theme the artist
cares to render. Pieces with a strong visual appeal are best.
Deadline: Friday August 14 – email photo in correct format to Lynda
Thompson at lyndathompsonartquilts@gmail.com. The correct format
would be to have your image in at least 450 pixels, and name the file
as: Lastnamefirstname_nameofpiece.
jpg, for example:
LyndaThompson_floral.jpg. This step is for posting the pieces as one
show on QuiltArt.
Shipping: All quilts must be registered and shipped to arrive no
later than September 1. See http://www.alzquilts.org/rules.html for
guidelines on shipping and other rules. The piece should not be
folded or rolled when shipping. You don’t have to send via priority mail.
Labeling: A label should appear on the back of your piece in the
lower righthand corner with the minimum information as to title of
your piece and the name of the maker. Placing the label in this
location will help give the correct hanging orientation.
Registering: All quilts must be registered before shipping per the
guidelines on http://alzquilts.org/rules.html. Please remember to
include the registration form.
Photos: Please post your photos on your website along with a link to
http://www.alzquilts.org. This will help publicize the event and the
cause. The badge information is below. A specific link will be set
up for this challenge on the website.
Finishing: See http://alzquilts.org/bind.html.
Sleeve: Fast Finish Triangle method is preferred (described on
http://alzquilts.org/sleeve.html), but really any hanging method is
fine.
Donation: If you prefer to make a tax deductible monetary donation,
please see http://alzquilts.org/donation.html.
Badge: The html for AAQI can be found on
http://www.alzquilts.org/logolink.html.
Questions: If you have questions, please contact Lynda Thompson at
lyndathompsonartquilts@gmail.com. Please note that no Yahoo group
will be set up for this challenge.
June 19th, 2009
This is for Breaking Traditions 2009
It uses multiple techniques. It’s a bit folksy looking.
June 19th, 2009
I was at a restaurant the other day that we are regulars at. I was doodling on a napkin, a design related to the restaurant’s decor. I left the napkin on the table since I really had no reason to take it. It has been hanging on the wall ever since. I didn’t sign it. It’s funny to me that they kept it, and I have wondered about making a piece of real art for them to hang.
I guess that brings up two things. A) I know I am self critical of my own art, and I guess I think it is nothing at times. B) Other people have differing views of what is art. That brings A and B into conflict at times since what I may toss, others may want. That is always an artist’s dilemna.
June 18th, 2009
More and more calls for entry are going to 12″x12″ formats and I love it. I have to tell you I didn’t use to. I was afraid of that format – the need to be consistently 12×12, how do you cram things into that size, etc. After I started working in the format I realized it wasn’t so difficult, it was generally a time saver, and it is easier on me physically.
I do still make larger pieces, but it is so easy to go back to the 12x 12 format. I need to make three 8.5×11 size art quilts for journal quilts for QuiltArt. That will try me again to see if I can think smaller. I will also work in 8×8 formats.
I have been in the studio more lately, but often in short spurts. A lot of the newer techniques require dyes to dry, paint stiks to cure, photo transfers to dry after rinsing, etc. So I do those things, work a bit on other things, rest and come back to them sometimes in just 5-15 minute spurts. Those add up.
I have several pieces in “drying and curing” processes right now so I am resting.
June 18th, 2009
This is a new piece dedicated to the local Hanover Tomatoes:
June 18th, 2009
6/15/09
I am entering this into a show that requires a photo transfer. The hibiscus blooms in this piece are photo transferred.
June 18th, 2009
6/14/09
Shiva Oil Paintstiks ™ are popular with a variety of artists right now. Take the hard paper cover off of the sticks. The stick will seem to be dried up, but it isn’t. Push down on a paper plate or paper towel until the outside skim on the stick is broken – the color will come through at that point. The item you are using with it will need to air dry for 2-3 days or longer in order to dry fully. If you use on fiber, after the curing period, use a pressing sheet between the item and your iron and press to set. You can use the sticks in a variety of ways, including brushes with stencils. To clean up your hands and the mess, use the Wet Wipes, etc. Be sure to clean off your texture sheets also if you use them. If you are sensitive to the odor, open a window.
Waiting for quite a few designs to dry right now, see them in 3 days to finish the projects.
June 18th, 2009
6/14/09
I enjoyed taking Patti Culea’s class today. It was on the first project in her book. We went over techniques instead of pressing toward getting the project done. That would have been difficult anyway since the fabric with the Paint Sticks takes several days to cure. She had a great personality and was fun. I’m glad everything was about techniques.
