Freedom

Approx size: 13” x 13”

You know all the little messages going around in your head? Like the ones that say you can’t do that, or, there’s no time for this, or, what if you waste your time, or make a mistake, or get criticised, or totally MUCK IT UP. Well I wanted to be free of that, and I’m my own worst enemy, believe me. So this week I just made time for absolute FREEDOM from all that and I set out to play.

Aside from a wonderful feeling inside (that is still with me) my day resulted in this little piece. I started with double batting and a backing. I had a rough idea of the image I was going to make, and so I trialed scraps of fabrics for the sky, water, boat, and sail. (There, I told you what it was, so you don’t need to embarrass me by asking). Next I placed a piece of navy sheer polyester on top and started free motion stitching with cotton thread. An hour later I brought it outside and blasted it with the heat gun until the sheer melted away. Ahhhhh. My favourite technique at the moment. That’s it, no paint, and the binding is only pinned on at the moment, but you don’t know that.

Oh yes, the spiral. I’ve used it before as a symbol of growth, which I hope I’m working on. I think it also holds the spark of freedom today. Hop on board!

Fabrics are a mix of hand dyed, batik, commercial, and an African print for the boat. The pieces are neither fused, nor sewn. Only the top stitching holds them in place.

Here is a close up:

My Place

Approx size:  16 ½ “ wide x 14 ½ “ tall


This piece is done in response to a summer challenge of 2013 which was to interpret 'Your Place' in fabric.  This could be a literal translation of your house, your property, or  your garden.  Or it could be a wider interpretation of 'your place' in the world, your community, or your family.  Included was to be an object of personal significance in your picture (real or copy).  For example, your pet, your favourite chair, the tree you planted.

All pieces are hand-dyed.  The orange fabric is stamped with a hand carved stamp.  The green fabric is stamped, but also sketched using wheat paste medium.

My challenge to myself was to incorporate these varied fabrics into one piece, and then let them play off one another.  Repeated shapes, repeated colours, and rich texture in a formal, yet informal layout keep the eyes moving around, searching for an element of harmony.  The paintbrush becomes the object to which all other elements relate.


Here is a photo of the pieces beginning to take shape:

And here is a close up of the stitching which includes quilting, thread painting on the leaves, and background infill on the orange.  

Salish Sea

Size:  yet to be measured...

A stylized view overlooking the Salish Sea (Georgia Strait) and towards the Coast Mountains of BC.

This was a very fun, experimental piece that involved lots of burning, cutting, and painting.  I tore my hair out more than once over this!  In the end though, I am happy with the results and am planning more like this.  I am enormously inspired by the Canadian artist David Blackwood, His use of line to create texture, and his moody atmospheres draw me in.

Here is a close up where you can see the texture, the paint, and the stitching: