From Edge 2 Edge Blog - From Edge 2 Edge Art Quilts

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A Dry Spell - Arizona Understated II

10/8/2020

I hadn't realized I had skipped so many weeks of blogging. I guess if anyone had really been concerned about it, they would have commented or said 'where are you?' I have been having fun finishing up projects, getting out on the bicycle and trying to get more fit.

SAQA Arizona extended the deadline (November 10th, 2020) for Arizona Understated (12W x 16L) and also said that artists are now allowed to submit more than one. I have decided to create another one and am actually going to do two based on my sketch and see which one I will be submitting as my second piece.

I will be sharing a bit of my process over the next few posts and if you reside in Arizona and are a SAQA member I hope it will inspire you to participate.

Working on SAQA Auction Quilt

4/24/2020

I have been working on some smaller pieces lately and decided to make my SAQA auction quilt. I still have a little bit of work I want to do to this but for the most part I am happy with the result. I still have to block it, add a sleeve and a label.

I am thinking I might do just a touch more color work on it to add a bit more contrast in both the background areas and the foreground. I will be darkening some background so the hills are a little more defined. I will consider adding some lighter areas in the foreground to give a bit more definition in a few areas to draw the eye a little more.

The layers consist of painting and stamping on fabric in the background then as I moved forward I added commercial fabrics, batiks, dyed silk organza, tulle, and cheesecloth. I had a lot of fun working on this piece and I hope you enjoy it.

What have you been working on during the COVID-19 social isolation time?

Arizona Understated - SAQA: Part Two

3/27/2020

I decided that I wasn't satisfied with my first attempt at creating a piece for the SAQA Arizona Understated exhibit. So I started over.

You might be interested in my design process. This post is about the steps I go through to create most of my work and this one in particular. If I am creating a piece for an exhibit I verify all criteria for the work. Size limitations and any other requirements. I make notes and may create a 3 x 5 card or notebook entry with all relevant information.

I create a preliminary thumbnail sketches of my piece, using reference photos I take. Next is a larger proportional sketch with more details and value information. Once I am satisfied I create a full scale sketch to make my master pattern. From that point on, it is fabric selection and decisions on how the final stitch out will be done. Sometimes stitches are removed as the look or flow is not what I had intended.

Questions? Comments?

Arizona Understated - SAQA

3/20/2020

I have started working on a piece for a trunk show for SAQA. Here are the details of the exhibit. I am still deciding if I am going to do a representational piece or more abstract. I decided to start with the realistic and then play with the abstract to see which I like best. It is always fun to work in a series as so many ideas are bouncing around. Working in a series allows me to experiment and play without feeling like I have to make the 'correct' choice on the first piece. I never know where an idea will go and it is alway fun to follow the trail.

I had a lot of fun playing with my Derwent Inktense blocks, oil pastel sticks, artist pens and stencils. I have been working on trying to complete some more traditional pieces and this was just the break I needed to get refreshed.

ARIZONA UNDERSTATED (SAQA REGIONAL) • Trunk show for Arizona members
Deadline: September 10, 2020 This is a Call for Entries for a State-wide Trunk Show Collection of 12” x 16” works about the Understated Arizona.
What image comes to mind when you think of Arizona? Desert, the Grand Canyon, the London Bridge. Most people have been to or heard of these signature places. Let’s go beyond the obvious.
What is it about Arizona that is that little gem not many people know about, that hidden treasure, that unexpected place that maybe only you know? There are places, a creek, a vista point, a roadside attraction that warms your heart when you think of Arizona.
Our state has a rich history and varied topography that in our minds are unmistakably Arizona.

What We Are Up To...

7/8/2019

David and I are starting to get plugged in to the local groups and guilds in the area. As I mentioned before, we have joined the Thumb Butte Quilter's Guild and are enjoying meeting the local quilters.

I currently belong to a subgroup called the Creative Gypsies and they have quarterly challenges for the members to try to stretch each other in new directions. There is no local SAQA group but I have contacted SAQA members from Flagstaff to Sedona to see if we can get a group started for getting together and exchanging ideas and inspiration. The closest one meets in the Phoenix area at this time and is a bit of a drive for members that reside in the Northern Arizona region. I would like to unite some of the far flung single members so we would feel a bit less isolated.

David and I looking more for a group like we had with Quilts on the Wall and the Visions Art Museum critique group. Those groups have an artist critique component where you could get constructive criticism on current projects in work. It is also a great way to find out about new techniques that other artists are using or exploring. That is the best way to grow, stretch and get inspiration for a piece that may have a sticking point in the design.

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous and creative summer. I hope to visit with a few of our art quilt friends the next time I find myself in San Diego.

Pink fabric challenge for Creative Gypsies. Any size but need to recognize the challenge fabric.

Tranquility / Turmoil Rejection

3/30/2016

Got my rejection notices for the twin SAQA exhibits of Tranquility & Turmoil. Can't say that I wasn't a bit disappointed but I heard that they were slammed with entries for these exhibits and I know that the usual top names probably got in on the 24 slots available. At least now I don't have to keep wondering if I missed the notification in all my email!

I am in good company because I know some of the other artists that did not get accepted either. This does allow me to look around for other exhibits that my two pieces "Will Chi?" and "Will Chi Not?" might be a good fit for.

Looking forward to seeing the exhibit. Should be fabulous as most of the SAQA exhibits are. Don't think I have been disappointed with any of them.

Will Chi? (detail)

Stitch Dialectic Exhibit in Poway

3/1/2016

Join David and Trish Charity at the SAQA exhibit in Poway. The artist reception is Sunday, April 10th. If you've ever wanted to ask questions about the art, the reception is the perfect time. Most of the artists will be there to talk about their pieces and answer any questions you may have. This is a great venue and lots of fabulous art will be on the walls.

Make an afternoon of it and enjoy a local lunch at some of the great restaurants in the area.

Tranquility and Turmoil

12/26/2015

I guess those two words could easily describe the last week before Christmas. Lots of prep and getting cards, presents and food ready for the holiday. Work was a little crazy so I worked two days that I was originally planning on having off. The good news, I got all the stuff done that I needed to, so the rest of my time off is worry free. I hope that everyone had a great Christmas with family and friends.

Today was spent putting some finishing touches on my quilt for the SAQA Tranquility exhibit. David thought I was nuts to be splashing paint on something that was all quilted and bound. I am starting the first processes on my Turmoil quilt for the sister exhibit. Now the fun part of waiting for the paint to dry. As soon as it dries on Turmoil, I can start my "pre-sewing" like I did on Tranquility before I sandwiched it for the quilting. I am working on quilting designs to convey the turmoil feeling. Both pieces were cut from a design that I had printed in black and white from Spoonflower.

What are you doing for your "end of the year" activities? Spending with family/friends or trying to get a little art done (or both}?
Check out the SAQA calendar to see if there are exhibits in your area to see over the holidays.

Tranquility - detail

Turmoil - detail

Blocking "Tranquility"

12/5/2015

I have the preliminary color added to the art piece I am doing for the exhibit "Tranquility" for SAQA. I did a basic trim of the edges and now I have it up on the design wall for the first blocking.

After it dries I will be able to determine where it needs more quilting and or color added to enhance the texture and add depth. I will be able to determine the best composition for the final size of the piece and get it trimmed and squared up.

I also need to keep in mind the companion piece "Turmoil". My goal is that they will be the same size and be able to hang side by side and look like a set while also keeping true to the theme of the exhibits.

I am hoping to get the piece mostly done in the next couple of weeks so that I can start on "Turmoil". I want to have enough time to devote to both pieces. That means I start thinking about titles for both pieces.

How is your December shaping up? Projects in the works or just enjoying the holiday season?

Working on my Tranquility quilt for SAQA

11/29/2015

I have been sewing frantically the past few days over the Thanksgiving weekend to try to get this piece ready for more "color work". I want to finish the base quilting so I can overlay more color. I can then decide if it needs more stitch work. This is a very small detail of the whole piece. I want to finish this before the end of December so that I can start on the companion piece for the Turmoil exhibit.

This piece was started in Photoshop and printed at Spoonflower in grey scale. Using a variety of paints and inks I layered in the base colors. To increase the depth of the piece I will layer in colors with more inks, paints, etc. I love doing this technique although it is a bit scary adding the additional paints as there is no going back.

I have been having a lot of fun stitching out with a variety of colored threads. The Baby Lock machine I have makes changes threads a breeze and I no longer avoid color changes like I used to.