Art Cloth Mastery...in process

Some of you may remember that I have enrolled in Jane Dunnewold's
 Art Cloth Mastery Program.
This has been a fabulous experience to date.
  We meet 5 times over 2 and a half years
and are mentored in technique and concept by a world leader in surface design.

This piece was one of my submissions for session 2.
The assignment was to create depth using only one hue by changing value.
My concept is still connections as I continue to be preoccupied with the
notion of human interaction.

It has been so exciting to learn about new techniques
 such as the great joys of the ancient thermofax machine.
But, by far the richness of this program is learning with Jane who's depth of
artistic know how is only equalled by her brilliant spirituality of inclusiveness.

If you are unfamiliar with the work of Jane Dunnewold, it is worth googling her name.  

www.janedunnewold.com/

 In March I will be having my third session with Jane and my co-students. 

 (10 of us were accepted in this group)

 I have been working hard on my next series, and I am

 look forward to sharing them with the art mastery group and then with you, 

 my cyber friends in cloth!

my first publication!

I am excited to share that my thesis work has been published!  This work was a collection images, sewn on to tea dyed silk.  The images were from my collection of photographs that I have taken in my travels.  My concept is focused on human interconnections.  I am hoping that the viewer is intrigued by the work and is drawn towards 'the other', thus lessening the distance between the other and the self.

here are a few small sewn pieces that I mounted in shadow boxes

These were larger elements of the installation, hung from the ceiling

close up view 

another close up view

If you would like to read the published article about this body of work:  feel free to follow the link below.

http://www.textileartist.org/daniela-tiger-create-grow/#.VJTFzVxDHZk.email

The celebration of lights

You may remember that in the summer I created a bird feeder out of this beautiful stone
 that was being pulled out of my friends basement.
 Their entire cottage is built on this sparkly rock.
In honour of the season, I created a menorah for them.

A menorah is traditionally used for the holiday of Chanukah in the Jewish tradition.  It honours the eight days of light that was created with a tiny bit of oil that should have only lasted a few hours.  A candle is added and lit every day for the  eight days of the holiday.
 And so, as we approach the festive season,  whether we are either lighting our menorah candles or our lights on our Christmas trees, or being led by the light of Rudolph's nose, or the lights of other traditions...may we all have the light of kindness and wisdom for now and for the future.  May we connect with each others traditions with this shared light, and find a way to illuminate our common ground.

mixed media mini gift cards

Recently I have participated in a conversation with other creative souls
 and it led to an exploration of 'stuckness'.
Fortunately or unfortunately, I have, to date, never had this issue.
Mine is the opposite:

I have so many ideas floating in and out of my head,
 especially when I am supposed to be sleeping peacefully!
 I lay, awake, thinking ....but what if I did this??? or tried that????

Recently, my solution to this A.D.D.'ish challenge was
 to create a series of mini gift cards to try and exhaust my 'what if's'.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, ideas and explorations
 beget more ideas and explorations...
 I made over 100 cards!

I included this picture since in it you can see my beloved Bernina! 

Luckily, my guild recently had a show,
 and so I had the cards for sale in the gift shop.

If the idea of exploring mixed media techniques intrigues you,
 I would encourage you to check out your local stationary store.
Often they have overstock of plain cards and envelopes that they sell off very cheaply.
 Good paper stock is essential.

 

baby bliss

Dying Fun

Recently I was lucky enough to travel to Israel to meet the newest member of my extended family.  As it happens he is this most adorable red head!  Open hearted and full of curiousity, it was a joy to be with him.  In his honour, I created several dyed 'onesies' that I bought prepared for dying from Dharma Trading:
http://www.dharmatrading.com/
It is so much fun to dye clothing that has already been sewn and prepared for dying.  All that is left is choosing the colours.  He just turned 1 year old but I bought him size two since he is such a big healthy guy!

Discovering Nana's Canadian pine cones!

new publication

Exciting News

Great news!  A new quilting book is about to come out on the market, and I am so pleased to have had some of my work be selected!  I haven't seen the book yet, so am not sure what was finally chosen but am excited to find out.  Apparently they will be selling at the Houston Quilt festival show and it can also be ordered on line.

This is a link to the publisher's site if you just can't wait to get a copy of your own!

http://www.qbookshop.com/products/215337/9781592539840/1000-Quilt-Inspirations.html

Sailing

Wall hanging for Newlyweds

Detail

Recently my nephew was married in a beautiful garden wedding with an arbour trellis covered in flowers as his wedding canopy.  Simply and naturally beautiful.







 As they didn't need a canopy made by me I decided to get creative and work with a favorite photo of the newlyweds.  This photo was taken before they were married, at one of the family's favorite places in the world.  Our beloved Lac Notre Dame in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec.  My nephew shows off his ability to multitask, sailing while kissing.

 Working with the photo in photoshop, I changed it to a black and white image, printed it onto watersoluble paper and then free motion stitched the highlights.  I had asked the young couple to send me some fabric that was meaningful to them.  They sent this lovely batik that was aquired while travelling.  I used it for the framing fabric, keeping the dark shades at the bottom and the lighter ones at the top.  They sent a pretty burgandy blouse and I used a piece of that for the rod pocket.  A piece of the wedding dress was used to stabilize the image as I was sewing through silk organza.

After it was all put together, I decided to do a little hand stitching to add texture.  The browns and dark greens in the distance are to suggest our evergreens in the mountains that surround the lake, and I stitched a bit of bright blue into the lake.  In this close up you can see the free motion stitching of her hair and bathing suit.