Kwanzaa 2015 Day 6

Habari Gani,
Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Kwanzaa 2015 Day 5

Habari Gani,

Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kwanzaa 2015 Day 4

Habari Gani,

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Kwanzaa 2015 Day 3

Habari Gani,
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.

Happy Kwanzza 2015 Days 1 & 2.

Habari Gani,
Day 1 of Kwanzaa
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Day 2 of Kwanzaa
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Merry Christmas! 2015

History in the making...

Greetings All,

I just got the ok to share this and I am so excited to have been invited to participate in an exhibition with collaboration of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation (DLTF) and the Michigan State University Museum (MSUM). This exhibition will honor Desmond and Leah Tutu’s lifelong commitment to human rights. What another great opportunity and for this I am truly grateful for thanks to Aleia Brown for asking. History in the making.

Thru The Trees - Update

Greetings All,

Here are the two other pieces in my series "Thru The Trees".  This focus was about the birch trees, the black birds, and the color.  All of the fabrics with the acceptation of the black birds are from my "Parking Lot Shibori" fabrics that I created last summer and now with every opportunity that I get I am using them and loving it.

Black Birds/Crows/Ravens

For most Native Americans, the raven/black crow is a great trickster. However, it also sometimes symbolizes transformation or change.

In ancient Egypt, however, the crow was a symbol of faithful love because of the bird’s monogamous nature.  The crow urges you to think outside the box, to examine what tools and skills you have at your disposal, and to apply them in perhaps unconventional ways to achieve your goals.

The crow reminds you to have fun while you’re working to understand life and how you fit into the cosmos, which can too often be an overly serious enterprise. Are you denying yourself the opportunity to play?

If you are having trouble handling some sort of change in your life, call on the crow to be your companion through it.  This is why you will see black birds/crows/ravens in my work.

Thru The Trees

 Greetings All,
I have been working on a series of landscapes with my painted shibori fabrics and loving them.  The title of the the series is "Thru The Trees".  At the left is Sunset and below is Twilight.  I also have two others and will post later.  I love the outcome of these pieces and it was all about the fabrics.

Landscape workshops.

Greetings All,
I have been working on an outline for a landscape workshop and here are some of the image of pieces that can be completed in this workshop.  Below is Landscape-I my stage one workshop.

Below right is the next image of Landscape-II that can created in my workshops and it's a bit more complicated.  It is a flip-n-quilt piece and I love the easy of the wedges that allow you to add some highs and lows to this piece.  More to come, so stay connected.

Marion Anderson - Finished!

Greetings All,

She is finished (below center).  I tried adding the microphones and they did not work.  I tried rearranging them and they did not work.  I tried not adding any thing and that did not work.  I remembered that I had a bag of white gloves and that did work.  She will make her debut at the Gems Of The Prairie Quilters show.

WHEN:  Saturday Sept. 26 & Sunday Sept. 27, 2015

TIME:    Saturday 9 am – 5 pm   Sunday   11 am – 4 pm

WHERE:   Peoria Civic Center   HALL D

ADMISSION:   $7 per day or $10 for 2-day pass      Military Members & Veterans with valid I.D. $4.

CIVIC CENTER FREE PARKING FOR QUILT SHOW ATTENDEES—-IDENTIFY THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING THE QUILT SHOW AS YOU ENTER!

We hope to see you there if you are in the area.

Marion Anderson - Update

Greetings All,

Here are photos of the microphone bank to be appliqued in the foreground.  The top photo is without embellishment and the bottom is with embellishments.  The buttons come from three different people who I am so very grateful to have in my life and their love keeps on giving.  Now for some handwork to get this completed.

Marion Anderson - update

Greetings All,
I have been working on a new piece for to debut at the Gems of the Prairie Quilters show for a couple of months and thought that I was there.  However I made a mistake in the photo-transfer product that I bought.  I did my research on the images I wanted and I did my editing in Photoshop.  I printed by collage and learn during my ironing that I had gotten the wrong thing.  This product dose not like water.

Below on the left is my 1st effort and the image on the right is my completed choice.  I used water as my friend and shaded the whole image in the foreground and bought some Scotch Guard fabric protector.  Lemons into lemonade and loving it.  More to come later and you know it.

Got Jazz? - update

Greetings All,
Here's a slide show of the artists reception for Got Jazz at the CAC.  Enjoy because I sure did.

Illinois Quiltcape - update

Greetings All,

Below are images from the Illinois Quiltcape exhibit at the Jacoby Art Center , 627 E. Broadway Ave, Alton, IL 62002 and I just had to share them with you.  The exhibit looks grand and again I a grateful to be included.  This exhibition runs thru Oct 10, 2015

In addition to the Illinois Quiltcape exhibit there's a solo show of works by Mary Jo Bowers and the photos to the below are of her work.

All the photos are from the Jacoby Art Center Facebook page with the exception on my piece (Where Two of More...) at the top of the page.

Ain't I a Woman? Ain't She a Woman?

Greetings All,

From Shahar Caren Weaver

The art exhibition I am curating, "Ain't I a Woman, Ain't She a Woman?" has been accepted as a venue/participant in CHICAGO ARTISTS MONTH 2015. It's a response to Truth's historic speech. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, October 3rd - 2 pm @ St. Thomas Hunter Gallery 3800 S. Michigan and St. Thomas Episcopal Church 3801 S. Wabash. Opening reception, auction, artists talk, as well as gospel and jazz music. The artists are: Gerald Griffin,Joyce Owens, Viktor Le, Felicia Grant Preston. B Rael Ali, Fiber Artist Trish Williams, Tony Smith, Carol Neal, Patricia A. Stewart, Renee Williams Jefferson, Rose Blouin, Shahar Caren Weaver - Artistic Visions, Charisse Linder

Many thanks to Rev. Fulton Porter for supporting our arts ministry, and helping to make this happen. "I sell the shadow to support the substance." Sojourner Truth

I am so very honored to be a part of this exhibit with such amazing and talented artists.

Got Jazz?- update and 1st Friday

Greetings All,

Today is the opening of Got Jazz?  Also it's 1st Friday all around town here in Peoria, IL.  So if you are in the area stop on by one or more of the venues.  I will be at the CAC on the 3rd floor in the resident artist studio of Pat Keck.  Got Jazz? is an FAC exhibit.

ths

Got Jazz? - update

 Greetings All,
Here is the official postcard for Got Jazz?  at the CAC coming this September and if you are in the area do stop on by and view the exhibit.

1st Friday @ the CAC - Sept 4, 2015

Greetings All,
Here's my announcement for 1st Friday at the C.A.C.  I will be there on the 3rd floor in the resident artist studio of Pat Keck.  This will also be the opening for Got Jazz?  If you can make the artist reception on September 12th please stop by on the 4th.  And if you would like to say hello to me on the 4th I will be upstairs on the 3rd floor of the Contemporary Arts Center, Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, till 8:00 pm on Fridays.

305 SW Water Street, Peoria, IL 61602

Illinois Quiltscape - update

Greeting All,

Here is the official poster for "Illinois Quiltscape" that will open this weekend, August 28th at the Jacoby Arts Center, in Alton, IL.  Illinois Quiltscape explores the complexity and diversity in contemporary quilt making across Illinois. Twenty quilters from across Illinois have been invited to exhibit a quilt of original design. Inclusive of Art Quilts, Modern Quilts, Functional Bed and Wall Hanging Quilts, the exhibition highlights how traditional and contemporary 

quilting techniques are used to best tell each quilt’s unique story.

Included in the exhibition are:

Cheryl Adam (Bloomington), Frieda Anderson (Elgin), Gail Baar (Highland Park), Mary Jo Bower (Chicago), Rhonda Byrd (Flanagan) , Georgia Dawson (Bloomington), Connie Guhlstorf (Normal), Gwen Jones(Chicago), Lynn Kunz (Woodstock), Donna Lee (Melvin), Barbara Miller (Normal), Pam Riss (Streator), Barbara Schneider (Woodstock), Diane Skidmore (Bloomington), Penny Waldrip (Bloomington), Laura Wasilowski (Elgin),Fiber Artist Trish Williams (Peoria), Betty Woodruff (Normal),

FAC - Got Jazz? - CAC

Greetings All,
Got Jazz?  is coming to the Contemporary Arts Center of Peoria, IL Sept 4 - Oct 23, 2015.   Opening reception: Sept 12th from 6:30 - 8:30 with music by Sandra Mosley.

This is a big honor for me because it's my current hometown and I curated this venue.  The exhibit includes works by Pat Bishop, Kathie Briggs, Jennifer Conrad, Clarian Ferrono, Pat Kroth, Casey Puetz, Jan Rickman, Laura Wasilowski, Marianne R. Williamson, and yours truly.  So if you are in the area during this time do stop by and check out the exhibit.

Illinois Quiltscapes - Update.

Greetings All,

Where Two or More... (below) is moving on to the Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, in Alton, IL 62002.  The exhibit dates are August 28th - Oct 15, 2015.  This is a juried exhibition curated by the McLean County Art Center.  Thanks to the McLean for including me.

•  EnSaturday, October

Gems of Prairie Quilt Show

Greetings All,

I will be a guest artists of the annual quilt show of the Gems of Prairie here in the heartland of Illinois.  This is another honor that has been bestowed on me and for this I am grateful for the opportunity.  I will be displaying art quilts and garments.  I also will have hand dyed/painted fabrics.  If you are in the area do stop by and say hello.

WHEN:  Saturday Sept. 26 & Sunday Sept. 27, 2015

TIME:    Saturday 9 am – 5 pm   Sunday   11 am – 4 pm

WHERE:   Peoria Civic Center   HALL D

ADMISSION:   $7 per day or $10 for 2-day pass

2015 Gems of the Prairie Raffle Quilt

“Gems Stars” is an original design by Sue Krause and was pieced by Sue Krause and Sylvia Pace.  The quilt measures 100″ x 100″.  100% cotton fabrics purchased through TailorMade by Design and Hobbs 80/20 batting was used.  It was machine quilted by Sue Krause.  Photography is by Tammy Risinger.

The ticket price is 1 for $1.00 or 6 for $5.00!  The drawing will be held December 9, 2015.  You do not need to be present to win!

The quilt will be on display at our annual Autumn Gems of the Prairie Quilt Show, Saturday, September 26 and Sunday September 27th at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, IL.  After the show, the quilt will be on display in local Quilt Stores in the area.  You can purchase tickets at the show, or from any Gems Guild member.

If you want tickets email:  info@gemsoftheprairie.com

GEMS STAR

2015 RAFFLE QUILT

• 
  2015 Gems of the Prairie Raffle Quilt

Spirit Keepers update.

Greetings All,
Below is the latest in my Spirit Keepers series of mix-media.  This piece is composed of extruded stoneware that has been carved, painted green, embellished with fabrics, jute, keys, quilted effigies of burlap,  and an wooden mask.

Sayuri Sasaki Hemann: Urban Aquarium

Greetings All,
This past weekend I spent some time with Sayuri Sasaki Hemann: Urban Aquarium that opened at the CAC.  She transforms Gallery 3R into an aquarium full of soft sculpture sea creatures! The exhibit runs July 10-August 21, 2015.  Her work is awe inspiring check out this video https://vimeo.com/44358107 and it was a pleasure meeting her.

Here's a copy of Sayuri bio.

1st Friday @ the CAC - July 3, 2015

Greetings All,
I'm getting ready for this month's 1st Friday venue and her are a few of the small works that I have created or re-purposed for this event.  Below is a piece that I created in 2007 and only showed once, but love the piece nevertheless.  This piece is created with my hand dyed cotton, commercial cottons, and batik.  It was raw-edged appliqued, fused appliqued, and embellished with glass beads and sequences.  Sewn to a wrapped canvas that measure 18 x 24 and is ready for hanging.

The Wave below is a piece that I whole cloth quilted and then cut and reassembled.  This piece was created with Indonesian batik cotton and sewn to a 18 x 24 wrapped canvas and is ready for hanging.  On 1st Friday I will be a guest artist at the studio of resented artist Patricia Whalen Keck at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria. 

I am so very grateful for the opportunity to be in this space and I am pulling out all of the stops and I am including my wearables as well.

This piece below I will not have it available for 1st Friday because it has already been asked for and for that too I am grateful.  This piece was created with some of my hand dyed fabric that I painted and whole cloth quilted.  Once quilted it was folded and press into shape and sewn to a wrapped canvas.

6Ways2Praise

Greetings All,

I have spent this past week at 6Ways2Praise at FUMC of Peoria art camp. Children are inherently creative.  6 Ways 2 Praise Fine Arts Camp provides children the opportunity to express that creativity in various ways while growing their faith through that expression.  This Christ-centered camp for incoming 3rd through 7th graders, will offer students direction by qualified artists in the areas of mixed media, photography, drama, instrumental music, vocal music.    I had the opportunity to do a mix-media project with the children.

Here is a link to more photos of the camp.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/52890538@N03/sets/72157630202611398/

Illinois Quiltscape - update.

Greetings All,

Here is an update via a slide-show of the exhibit at the McLean County Art Center "Illinois Quiltscape"and I hope that you enjoy it.

Illinois Quiltscape explores the complexity and diversity in contemporary quilt making across Illinois. Twenty quilters from across Illinois have been invited to exhibit a quilt of original design. Inclusive of Art Quilts, Modern Quilts, Functional Bed and Wall Hanging Quilts, the exhibition highlights how traditional and contemporary quilting techniques are used to best tell each quilt's unique story.  For more information and to register, visit www.mcac.org or call (309) 829-0011.

McLean County Arts Center is located at 601 N. East Street in downtown Bloomington, IL. MCAC hours are Tues., 10am – 7pm; Wed. – Fri., 10am – 5pm, and Sat., Noon – 4pm. For more information, please call 309/829-0011. McLean County Arts Center is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.

Blue World/Green World - Going to Brazil!

Greetings All,
Blue World/Green World is going to Brazil!  This is an FAC exhibit.  I want get the chance to travel, but 3 of my pieces will be in the exhibit.  The following artists are included and what an opportunity.

Pat Bishop, Kathie Briggs, Jennifer Conrad, Clairan Ferrono, Cheryl Ferrin, Peg Keeney, Casey Puetz, and Marianne R. Williamson.  Below is an image of one of my pieces in this exhibit and this one is titled "A Trio of Trees".

Illinois Quiltscape - McLean County Art Center.

Greetings All,

Official poster for the "Illinois Quiltscape" exhibit that I picked up when I stopped by to drop off my piece for the exhibit at the McLean County Art Center.  Art work on the poster is a detail image of Linda Kunz  "Golden Limb Ginko".   

Included in the exhibition are:

Cheryl Adam (Bloomington), Frieda Anderson (Elgin), Gail Baar (Highland Park), Rhonda Byrd (Flanagan) , Georgia Dawson (Bloomington), Deborah Fell (Urbana), Connie Guhlstorf (Normal), Gwen Jones (Chicago), Lynn Kunz (Woodstock), Donna Lee (Melvin), Barbara Miller (Normal), Pam Riss (Streator), Barbara Schneider (Harvard), Diane Skidmore (Bloomington), Penny Waldrip (Bloomington), Laura Wasilowski (Elgin), Trish Williams (Peoria), Betty Woodruff (Normal), Carole Wool (Western Springs), and Evelyn Young (LeRoy).

This exhibition was generously sponsored by Judie Bey & Gary Hoover, Charlette & Roger Elm, Alaine Miller, Sewing Studio, Barbara & Bill Taft, and Deb Wozniak.

The Dye Pot update

Greetings All,
I had to add another color to my last damask tablecloth and I chose Rit Fuchsia 12 with result that are more pleasing to my palette and I hope yours also.  Now I am wondering do I want to push it and add another color???

In The Dye...

Greetings All,
Here are some images of my dyeing experiences with Rit Aubergine 33 (left) and vintage table cloths.  In the bucket is a lace tablecloth was my 1st bath and it came out so lovely thanks to Judith Koren Shanahan for the gifts of the cloth.

To the below is a banquet size damask tablecloth that was folded shibori dyed and now my question to myself is to over dye or not.  Once I washed it out I got more lavender and now do I over dye???

I love this close-up of the tablecloth were you can see more of the details.