quirksandquilts

2009-03-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

As my daughter would say OMG!
It's the end of March already and it sure feels like spring. A balmy +15 today and sun, sun, sun.
Working at a "real" job way too much and not getting nearly enough art time. I hope to start setting aside some time as the daylight hours increase. It's too easy to just vegitate after work when it's always dark out.
There's a new round of fibre art classes at Walkerworks in Stittsville, hopefully we'll get a bigger response now that the weather has improved.
Jackie the crazy puppy is growing like a weed and has definitely become a big part of the family.

Spring is a time for renewal and i'm looking forward to renewing my art adventures.......

2009-02-20T04:30:00.000-08:00

Still trying to get some classes going at Walkerworks in Stittsville. The new schedule is on the web at their site (walkerworks.ca) and we've added a third workshop on image transfer. The classes are very "hands on" and i plan to do a lot of playing with the various media to give participants lots of tools and techniques to create with. Amy and Jim at Walkerworks have been really helpful and supportive and i hope we can get something special going.

I taught an Paintstick workshop in Almonte for the Crazy Quilters in January. What a blast! The group was enthusiastic and very creative. I'm looking forward to getting together with them again.

I was also the guest speaker at the Kemptville Quilt Guild's February meeting. They are a great bunch of ladies doing amazing quilts and lots of charity work. We will be doing a jacket workshop together in the spring.

I love connecting with other quilters. It recharges the creative batteries and challenges me to make new things!

2009-02-20T04:15:00.000-08:00

Just checking up on my blog and i can't believe it's been a month since i posted! Where does the time get to?
January was very busy; what with the new pup, working and getting some quilting projects done.
Right after i posted we discovered that Jack is actually "Jackie". She's turning into a wonderful dog and we're really enjoying her even if she's chewed through almost everything we own!

2009-01-11T12:35:00.001-08:00

My classes at Walkerworks in Stittsville have been finalized!
The workshops run three classes and the information is posted on the walkerworks.ca website

Monday afternoons January 26-Feb 9; Water Colour Paint on Fabric
Thursday evenings January 29-Feb 12; Oil Sticks on Fabric
Monday afternoons February 23-March 9; Oil Sticks on Fabric
Thursday evenings February 26- March 12; Water Colour Paint on Fabric

This will be something new for me as some students may be painters and some quilters, a nice mixed bag! Should be fun and I am looking forward to it.

2008-12-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

Well, we went a whole month without a dog and then this little guy needed a home. We call him Jack, after the famous pirate Jack Sparrow. So far it fits. He's now 8 weeks old, very active and VERY clever! I'd forgotten how much work a puppy can be.
He has already wormed his way into our hearts and filled a bit of the space left from losing Cappy. I'm already getting greetings when i come home, they're just smaller.
Jack's dad is a border collie (55 pounds) and mom is a german shepard/giant schnauzer mix (110 pounds). Should be interesting. Right now he looks like a shepard pup-his ears are even starting to point up. We'll see what he looks like in a few months.

2008-12-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

These pieces were made using "Paintsticks"-oil based sticks of paint. These techniques will be explored in the oil on fabric class at Walkerworks.

2008-12-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

Many of the fabrics used in these two pieces were painted and texturized using water-based paint. These are the techniques we'll be exploring in the class at Walkerworks.

2008-12-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

New January classes at Walkerworks in Stittsville.
I am trying something new and reaching out to artists in other media as well as my fibre sisters. I will be teaching two three-part classes at Walkerworks- a framing studio. The classes should be posted on their web site soon www.walkerworks.ca
Monday afternoons, Jan 26-Feb 9 we will be doing water-based paint on fabric
Thursday evenings, Jan 29-Feb 12 we will be doing oil-based paintsticks on fabric
Check with Walkerworks or email me for more info. Should be a lot of fun!

2008-12-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since my last post and lots has been going on. I've picked up a "paying" job to help fund my fabric addiction, booked some new classes for the new year and worked on some new stuff.
November was a hard month. My family lost a cherished pal, our dog Cappy, mid-November. He was a very special animal and a treasured family member. We miss him terribly. I am trying, so far unsuccessfully, to create something in his memory. I had been working on some "Cappy" pieces and am not sure what to do with them just yet. Think I'll put them aside for awhile until I can look at them and not be so sad.

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2008-10-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

Techniques used to make the "snapshots":
Left to Right: Oil paintsticks on fabric; needle felting and Textiva film, machine stitched.

2008-10-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

Detail of "snapshots"

Left to Right: Rocks made from tissue paper and gel medium, hand painted; water colour pencil on fabric, quilted; hand painted fabric, hand applique.

2008-10-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

Just finished a small art show at The Goulbourn Museum with my "Like Minds" group and some others. A beautiful day, a nice setting and a really nice show. This is a mixed media piece I took to the show. Each of the "snapshots" on the quilt are a different textile technique. It was a lot of fun to make and allowed me to explore a bunch of techniques.

2008-10-10T03:50:00.000-07:00

Think I'm finally catching up with what I need for the museum show. Next project is to prep for a workshop I'm teaching on photo transfer. It's being offered through the Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild and I believe there are still a couple of open spots. If interested, contact me or the guild. It's being held on October 29 from 10-2.

2008-10-06T04:46:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for a show! Great group of artists, great location. It's a small way to help support our local museum.

2008-09-29T05:38:00.001-07:00

Here are a few more ATC's. The current challenge is "O" for one group and "Spooky" for the other. We'll see what happens......

2008-09-29T05:25:00.000-07:00

I belong to a couple of Artist Trading Card groups.
Here are a few cards.

2008-09-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

This quilt is a more traditional style and was donated to the charity "An Evening With Abigail". I love flannel and homespun fabrics and have always loved Teddy Bears.
The title was "Some of my bestest friends are bears".
I think it may be time to revisit my bear friends in a quilt soon.

2008-09-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

My family loves to camp and one of the best places is Killarney Provincial Park.This stained glass style quilt depicts George lake where the brilliant white quartzite of the La Cloche range meets the pink granite common to the Canadian Shield. Tall, wind blown pines cling to the rocks-it's a spectacular place!
This piece was called "Killarney" and is now in a private collection.

2008-09-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Thought i'd start by posting a few of my favourite pieces.
This one is called "My Favourite Birch" and it is a stained glass style quilt of my poor old tree that sits outside my front window. After the ice storm we thought we might lose it but it has recovered (it's just shaped a bit funny now). I wanted to celebrate it's survival by picturing it in front of the landscape it deserves to be in.

2008-09-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

They say that today is the first day of the rest of your life. They also say you should try something new everyday. Well, here goes.....
Today I embrace the blog. Got it set up, now I just have to figure out what to do with it!