Ta Da! First Art Quilt

Piecing it on my design board

Hmmm...trying to figure out the rhythm

Detail of the finished quilt

Crib size completed art quilt



Quilt hanging in the Elijah Pierce Gallery at the King Arts Complex May, 2012

In January of 2012 I re-discovered my Bernina Pearl which had been patiently waiting  for me in the corner of my studio. After an unsuccessful attempt to sulk over my empty nest the eventual hum of my sewing machine was the cure much needed. Soon I would discover a free quilting class with @Amy Gibson at Craftsy.com and combined that with the exhilaration of strip quilting suggestions found in @Rayna Gillman's "Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts"...freedom best describes the rush that followed!

Didn't finish the class with Amy after my surge of creativity but do plan on completing it sometime in the upcoming months (the beauty of this on-line course is that it's done at my own pace and available anytime).

Once started on this journey I discovered a delightful quilt shop in Mt. Vernon, Ohio called the Paw Patch, co-owned by mother/daughter team, Jean Hunter and Carol Skinner, respectively. After checking around on-line their shop was the only place that carried a line of Australian aboriginal prints...the same as that sample piece I'd purchased years ago at a local quilt symposium. Carol was able view the tiny phone images of my pieces ...get excited about it and make sound suggestions. Thanks Carol, I did end up hand tying the quilt!

What I learned from this experience is: 1) I'm not good at "pity parties" 2) Internet instruction can be awesome 3) Quilting is in my blood and I need to honor that inner desire to work with fabric! 4)Don't listen to "naysayers"...some think quilting can only be approached from a certain way...hmmm...interesting.

This year try to work in a different medium or at least experiment with an on-line class to challenge yourself!

Never Too Old to Learn

Yep, you're never too old too learn! Such is the case with my students today and the things that I learned from them. After reading "The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County" by Janice N. Harrington(and beautifully illustrated by Shelley Jackson) to my young artists we talked about the different parts of the chicken for a few minutes and the things they remembered from the story. Next I explained that we would be creating our own chickens with various shapes of foamie material, construction paper, glue and sharpies.

Below are some photos of their work and what I learned today.

When asked if they had ever visited a farm, this young artist said, "Yes, today...and I got a pumpkin". Well today is February 27th...maybe it was a winter squash?

Chickens have "garbles" like turkeys

No matter the age a good story always seems to engage children.

Chickens have tattoos...the marks across the body.

That beautiful design in the lower left section of the picture is...POOP!

"We Like Aminah" Student Exhibit

Each year Art in the House students are invited to show their work at the Columbus Metropolitan Library downtown(main library). It's always exciting to see the creativity that the children possess and the many different ways the lead artists and apprentices work with the students at the various sites to encourage self-expression.

This year the students pay tribute to local artist, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson.




St. Stephen's Art in the House student prepares artwork for student exhibit.


Art in the House is an out of school time arts program of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, for children 5-11 years old. The children's art in this show is inspired by the wonderful work of Columbus artist, Aminah Robinson.

"We Like Aminah"

Show Dates:

March 5-29

 

Opening Reception:

Wednesday, March 6

4:30-6:00 p.m.

Location:

Main Library

Carnegie Gallery, 2nd Floor

96 S. Grant Ave.

Columbus, OH 43215

Presented by: The Columbus Metropolitan Library and the Friends of the Library Curated by Stephanie Rond

Our Partners: Franklin County Board of Commissioners Ohio Arts Council Greater Columbus Arts Council American Electric Power Foundation Transit Arts Columbus Federation of Settlements Friends of the Library Columbus Metropolitan Library

Bicentennial Celebration at the Ohio Craft Museum!

Yes, it's been a year since posting...not good in the world of blogging but "it is what it is" as I like to say.

Last year was full of wonderful learning/teaching experiences with many youth around town. Here's photos from one of several classes during the summer that focused on the many different ways to participate in the City of Columbus Bicentennial celebration which took place throughout 2012.
On this day we chose to celebrate with faux cupcakes...we were all hungry when finished.
Materials used= model magic, seed beads and dollar store paper cups. Thanks to Megan at the Ohio Craft Museum for her suggestion!