Tag Archives: fiber artists

February Studies

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image The daily square project is moving along slowly visually but the knowledge I have explored is vast.  There are two more squares to be completed for February, one I thought would be a value study in fine cuts since it is made up of “petals” around a center. But as time has progressed I decided to build dimensional shapes using a modified shirred technique.  Fine cut later this year, maybe. Winter lead me to work in the kitchen near to constant free heat from our wood cook stove.  I empathize with people who do not have a dedicated studio space and work within the family living area.  I had to consolidate materials, did not have all the tools available to paint, sew, use wire or sort through the unusual materials for inspiration, and ended up hooking more squares than if in the studio.  Back there this month though.

Red, Green, Purple, Orange

Red, Green, Purple, Orange

Workshops coming up were the topics for several squares.  The session at Green Mountain Hooked Rugs School in June will address color planning with a Mood — happy, sad, in love, sunny.  Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Green and Purple are interpreted with lines or motifs and in monochromatic palettes.

Complements, color and value

Complements, color and value

A presentation to With Hands & Hearts Antietam Chapter of ATHA covered relations of colors with values.  Squares address colors on white, black and textured gray backgrounds.

Fabric Studies

Fabric Studies

Just as in home decorating where the drapery fabric or a stunning piece of artwork cues the coloring for a room, I responded to a piece of wool or trim in four squares. March journal entries reflect the studying process.  Nightly a book from the library was reread, notes taken and a design exploring the technique or art style was drawn.

RETREAT 2014

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2014 participants at RETREAT INTO THE MOUNTAINS sponsored by Susan L. Feller, Ruckman Mill Farm

2014 participants at RETREAT INTO THE MOUNTAINS sponsored by Susan L. Feller, Ruckman Mill Farm

Seventeen personalities, piles of fibers, loads of tools and 1,400 acres to wander and be inspired means another RETREAT INTO THE MOUNTAINS of West Virginia on the grounds of Peterkin Camp and Conference Center, Romney, WV.

Our topic this year was the Design Process. Karen Larsen of Crows Foot Farm Designs described her approach as a graphic designer —  simplify and tell the message boldly.  As an example she used an organic shaped rug for her granddaughter depicting a fairy village, sharing their mutual memories.  Also her interpretation of the ‘Star Barn‘ outside of Harrisburg is bold while Nancy Parcel’s design evoked days gone by as a charming pictorial.

Karen Larsen explaining design process

Karen Larsen explaining design process

conversations about designing

conversations about designing

Casual learning sessions occurred throughout the weekend.  Lori LaBerge introduced us to working outdoors (Plein Air Hooking) with a few pointers. We do not have to sketch the design; rather locate a scene, arrange shapes of objects in a pleasing composition, draw in shadows and start selecting colors.  Get to work quickly responding to the environment which in our case was a creek rushing, birds singing, people chattering, winds blowing and sun all around.

capturing an inspiration for later

capturing an inspiration for later

 

appreciating friendly critiques

appreciating friendly critiques

Questions on process were exchanged; music inspired conversation and movement; the bell rang and we ate or traveled to visit the studio at Ruckman Mill Farm and enjoy a meal created by Jim.

Amazing how everyone’s talents combined for a wealth of fun, learning and friendship. Same time, same place next year.

Support the Arts

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Willow 21st Century, Susan L. Feller

Willow 21st Century, Susan L. Feller

One hundred years ago craftsmen and women dedicated their skills to creating work by hand.  The Arts and Crafts movement is alive today. As a lifestyle or during a piece of their time, artisans and arts organizations are presenting unique objects to reflect on in your personal environment.  This was a long way of suggesting you BUY ART, buy from an artist you met or who’s story is communicated to you at a gallery, BUY LOCAL.

I am grateful for the support of clients who chose original pieces from the studio and through Tamarack in Beckley, WV.  Those of you who are working up rug patterns or using our dyed wools from Ruckman Mill Farm, thank you.  To the participants in workshops this year I look forward to seeing your personal designs.

We purchased these pieces for our collection.  I am sure each artist has some more work if you are interested. Look up Lori LaBerge, Gail Becker, Marie Sugar or visit my work at Ruckman Mill Farm. One was purchased at an auction supporting ATHA, one through an art gallery during a hooked art exhibit, and one directly from the artist.  I admired each of the individuals work before and was happy to be able to select tangible memories.

November Study Finished

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I am thrilled to create this post of the studies created in November 2013.  The variety of techniques include painting canvas, beads, hooking, applique’, using found objects (ceramic mug, twist ties, clothesline), alpaca yarns, proddy, wire.  Styles ranged from realistic, dimensional, abstract to geometric.

Inspired a larger piece

Inspired a larger piece

During the month I created three larger pieces inspired by the studies and like the feeling I had while making two random squares.  They too could become runners at least.  The palette is changing to softer, colder, and more subtle as the seasons change.  I am going to bring out the alpaca yarns in a range of neutrals and softness for winter and the bare woods.  Missing the FALL foliage wools already.  Sure the small sparks of color will be much more enjoyable as our birds, the evergreens and wintry sky become subjects.  But that is for December and into 2014.

I began this journal on October 18 and was literally in the studio or outside working each day.  As November’s weather changed and the work space became a warm corner in the kitchen (with wood cook stove going) my work ethic changed.  In the studio all the toys were accessible adding to pieces easily.  Away from those inspirations more of the squares were just hooked.  Those which I envisioned needed different materials awaited a trip downstairs.

So it took until December 13 to complete November’s squares.  That’s ok with me.  For the year each month will remain as you see on the header image, one large piece of linen divided in a calendar grid.  After that I will divide them out and finish in appropriate manner for the piece.  I have photographed changes, documenting the lessons I am learning.  Considering this year to be my Independant Study.  Self issued certificate at end.

December has each square drawn out but I felt completing one month was important in the new discipline.  These pieces are revisiting some of the subjects with the new high contrast which snow adds.  Tree branches, railings, even a chair are different when defined by a blanket of snow.   Enjoy the Gallery of selected pieces.

Juried work in 2013

Haying Stages, Iconic Liberty, Caraway Garden Runner

Haying Stages, Iconic Liberty, Caraway Garden Runner

The studio has offered me organized space to work and explore.  Several pieces were submitted to different juried and invitational shows.

Haying Stages was accepted in 7Stitch shown at Morehead State College in Morehead, KY this summer.  It was a Surface Design exhibit and juried by the President Jane Dunnewold.  It was also accepted in the WV Div of Culture and History Biennial Juried Exhibition to be hung in the Dunn Building in Martinsburg, November 24- Feb 27, 2014.

Iconic Liberty received first place in West Virginia in the national theme American Heritage for the NSDAR.

Caraway Garden Runner was accepted along with Veins of Energy – Coal in the Best of West Virginia juried show at TAMARACK in Beckley, WV.

Friends who blog more about art

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It is time to spread your reading base with some much more active bloggers than I am.

I look forward to reviewing the artistic approaches to rughooking,  nature, design and life each of these friends share.  Hope you visit and enjoy their tidbits.  Each are active links in the sidebar to your right under Blogroll.

Lori LaBerge sends out a weekly post.  See her site http://www.LoriLaBerge.com

Laura Pierce lives on the West Coast and travels, reporting on her teaching destinations at http://laurawp.wordpress.com

Mary Jane Peabody’s rug graces the cover of my book ‘Design Basics for Rug Hookers’.  She has been posting for over a year now at http://www.maryjanesrugs.com/blog

Retreat again into the Mountains

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For the 6th year our RETREAT INTO THE MOUNTAINS was a rousing success.  Friday through Sunday in mid April is a beautiful time to wake up your creative juices with SPRING bursting out all around at the Peterkin Camp and Conference Center in Hampshire County, West Virginia.

The theme this year was COLOR… Participants selected their color of the weeeken and developed a small design evoking the hue with motifs and selection of fabrics and techniques.  This gallery shows works in progress throughout the session. 

During the weekend we participated in a yoga session sitting in our seats which focused on the tight back, arm, hands and eyes.  Music and levity loosened us up too as we moved our extremeties making letters and pasta shapes in the air.  We sat for a group photo, reviewed finished pieces on the porch and listened intently to Beth Tembo’s talk and display about African fabrics.  Several jumped into a dye session on Saturday and we all caravaned out to Ruckman Mill Farm to visit Jim and the chickens.  We were well fed by our host.

Juried into 7Stitch: Kentucky Surface Design Exhibit

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Exciting email today, juror Jane Dunnewold, President of Surface Design Association accepted “Haying Stages” into the upcoming 7Stitch: Contemporary Textile Art from Kentucky & the Surrounding States exhibit at Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky. 

Haying Stages
side view of braided “hay roll”, continous weaving

Coordinated by the Kentucky region of Surface Design, the collection of 35 fiber works will open on June 1 with a reception from 3-5pm at the Claypool-Young Art Gallery and continues through August 30, 2013.

Painting With Wool

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Congratulations to Pat Levin and the Artisans Gallery, 114 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA for coordinating an artistic exhibit (and sale) of hooked works.  The artists representing the full range of techniques and design styles in this Septemer show are: Judy Carter, Peggy Hannum, Cindy Irwin, Pat Levin, Marie Sugar and Margaret Irwin.

Think of supporting these artists by purchasing a holiday gift or art for your own collection and stop in through September 29.  www.114ArtisansGallery.com. Each Saturday from noon until 3:00 there will be demonstrations and an opportunity to meet one of the artists

Country to City Artists Abound in Philadelphia

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The end of March was an exciting time for Fiber Arts. 

 Surface Design and Studio Art Quilts combined to present a three day conference near Philadelphia, PA.  Off I went armed with business cards, wearing a necklace of punched work by Kira Bacon, and distributing postcards promoting the Schwenkfelder exhibit of hooked rugs just up the road.  The preparation paid off as participants asked what rughooking was about, and I learned much more about the contemporary visions of artists.

The two organizations created a wonderful format with informative panels and individual presentations.  One day we were transported into the city to independantly visit as many of the 50 exhibits featuring fiber arts as we could in 8 hours.  FiberPhiladelphia has grown in venues to a happening every two years.  Plan on your own visit in 2014.

Students and professionals attended the conference.  Eastern Carolina University was represented by graduate and undergraduates in the Textiles program.  These women were invigorating and conversations started about sharing skills in workshops at the University. The editor of Fiber Art Now, Marcia Young co-sponsored the event and introduced herself to members, gathering future topics and writers for the magazine.