serene flight

Here is another collage using the same techniques as '3's Company' but as well, I couched some fancy threads.  This one is called "Serene Flight", I inserted some iconography of the 'Hamsa'  (the eye of G-d), a symbol of good luck to some, and a warding off of the evil eye to others.
 Below I insert a detail.

As you can see, I have opted to stretch my work on a canvas stretcher to reference painted art.  I do think that we in the fibre art world need to try and bridge the gap between 'craft' and 'art' for our viewing audience, in an effort to gain an equal footing.

Three's Company

The theme of animals is a re-occurring one for me, and I am especially drawn to birds.  I suppose, their grace in motion is compelling.  I am so stuck to the ground and quite clumsy.  This piece is called "Three's company".  The birds have been painted on a layer of fusible with watered down acrylic paint and then sandwiched between organza and cotton fabrics.  Then pieced together and free motion quilted.  A detail is below.

teaching at OCAD

In January I was invited to introduce OCAD fibre students to the wonderful world of quilting.  I was given 2 sessions of 3 whole hours to teach the A-Z of quilting arts!! Seeing this as perfectly do'able I took on the challenge and had a great group of very engaged and eager students.  Some of whom had never used a sewing machine!  It was lots of fun and I am proud to share with you the completed piece of one of my students.  Shiva pieced the elements, free motion quilted, and appliqued the rose and butterflies  (the butterflies are her 2 children and she is the rose)  and then she created and applied her own binding.  I think this is a remarkable effort for her first time quilting.  Way to go Shiva!

neat discovery! Repetition that makes a statement

I have been working on my "ritual and repetition" project  (which I will hopefully be able to complete in time and upload onto this blog) but in the meantime I came across this inspiring fibre artist and wanted to share the image as well as information about her.

Her name is Chris Motely and she is working with a knitting/ felting technique.   I thought this piece especially striking as a repetition that speaks volumes as a whole.  Her website is http://www.motleyknits.com/ and so many of her pieces are worth checking out!

trees after they lose their leaves in the fall

This is my most recent exploration with a tree theme.  The fabrics are all hand dyed silks and cottons. It is on a stretcher frame and I layered the elements using a mat medium.  The trunks have extra batting behind them so they come away from the canvas slightly.  They were quilted and painted before being sewn to the background. Layers of cotton and organza create the sky and then I painted a medium after everything was in place.  It was a fun process to put the bits of coloured silks down with the medium and I understand that they are secure with this product. Time will tell.

Yahli and Yoni

These are the adorable children who have been created as a result of the joining of two under my 'seven fruits' chuppa.

Michele's Costa Rica

Here is another tree themed quilt that I created more recently.  Honouring a 'girl's trip' we took to Costa Rica for a friend's birthday.  All the flora and fauna are native to that part of the world. I used a combination of techniques including applique, embroidery, beadwork, free motion quilting..... 

Some detail shots.

Frequently I return to the theme of trees and the tree of life.  This is a quilt I created in 2006.  It has a poem embroidered around the edge which is unfortunately difficult to read but was my inspiration.
" A Tree of Life is the word of God to all who seek its strength
and those who tend and cherish it shall be enriched at length
Its wisdom and enduring truth make joy of life increase
Its way are ways of sweet content and all its paths are peace".

Miguel and Dana's Chuppa

This is another wedding canopy that I made a few years ago for a young couple who now live in the lovely town of Zichron Yaacov, Israel.  They had wanted the seven fruits represented and I chose to design a pattern that was circular so that there would be no top or bottom to the design.  Here they are showing it to you from their beautiful backyard canopy handcrafted by the groom.

Some detail shots.

This is the back of the chuppa as the gorgeous Israeli sun is reflected through the backyard canopy.  There are already two amazing children as a result of the union under this canopy.