Sunday, December 6, 2009

School of Fish


This school of fishes are fabric postcards that I took to the Elverhoj Museum to sell in the boutique there. The fabric backgrounds were painted with thickened dyes on cotton sateen, then screenprinted with seaweed and fish. The fish were machine quilted and embellished with rhinestone eyes and studs in various places. Tonight is the big Christmas celebration at the Elverhoj - I hope some of the revelers want to give these little guys a good home!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Redefining A Material World


Tonight's reception for Redefining A Material World was so much fun! Esther Jacobsen Bates was the curator for the show and she did an excellent job of hanging the work and throwing a great artists reception. If you are traveling through Solvang, California between now and January 24th, be sure to stop by the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art for a fantastic display of fiberart. Plus, Fibervision members have stocked the boutique with some wonderful (and some are even practical) works of art that would be perfect for holiday gifts.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I almost forgot to invite everyone to the artist's reception for Redefining a Material World - this Saturday, November 14 from 4pm to 6pm. Wish you could all be there!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Ya Win Some....

Over the weekend I finished up this small quilt entitled "Practice Interruptus" in time to enter it in the upcoming show "Redefining a Material World" at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art in Solvang, California. Unfortunately, it wasn't selected for the show, but my other piece, "Arrellaga Tree" was chosen. I actually like this piece better, so am a tad disappointed,but now I get to enjoy it at home sooner than expected.

Mark your calendar - we will hold the artist's reception on Saturday, November 14 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Elverhoj.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

New Views 2009








Here are some photos of the reception last night for Fibervisions New Views 2009. The show looks fantastic and we had a great turn out. I will return to the Cabrillo Pavillion Arts Center sometime between now and when the show closes on September 27th to take some photos of my quilts hanging at the show. I was so busy taking crowd pictures last night that I forgot to take pictures of my own work.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Invitation Reminder


I am so excited! Tonight is Fibervision's reception for New Views 2009. I have seen a couple of the pieces and a few photos, but am looking forward to see the exhibition in real life. Hope to see you tonight at the Cabrillo Pavillion Arts Center, 1118 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA. The reception is from 5:30 to 7:30 - there will be some great art and some great refreshments, You'll be sorry if you miss it!

The show is up until September 27, but the Cabrillo Pavillion is closed on weekends and has variable hours during the week because of various events held there. Please call 897-1983 to find out available viewing times.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Finally! Some Fiberart!


Finished this piece at the last minute for entry into the Fibervision New Views 2009 show to be held at the Cabrillo Pavillion Arts Center for the month of September. Sorry for the poor photo, but I just didn't have time to set up the tripod and etc. before I had to be out the door to get the piece turned in this morning.

You might recognize the photo in the center from my earlier post about the tree that I see on my walk to work. I originally intended the piece to be hung in a vertical orientation so it more closely resembled the tree itself, but I found I liked it so much turned to the horizontal that I am keeping it that way. I'm still going to call it Arrellaga Tree!

I hope you get a chance to see the show if you are in Santa Barbara in September. And if you can, stop by the artist's reception on Wednesday, September 9th, from 5:30 - 7:30. Love to see you there.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Sunday Walk


Today I went for a walk through Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, or as we call it at home, Alice Keck Park Park. The waterlillies are abundant right now and there are dragonflies zip, zip, zipping everywhere.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Inspiration


My friend, Pam Klebaum, posts inspirational photos on her blog on the days she has no art to post. I am blatantly copying her today and may do so again in the future!

I pass this tree every day on my walk to work and I just love to watch the changes it goes through. Right now there are several layers of bark visible, from the newest to the oldest. Beautiful color and texture changes.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Fabric Jewels

Here are the results of a fabric dyeing session yesterday with my friend, Linda Cassirer. We had fun and transformed a lot of yardage. I find myself a little frustrated because several of these pieces have white splotches where I used Procion Mx "Misty Gray". It just rinsed away, leaving unplanned white areas. This happened last time I used the Misty Gray, there must be some way to handle it that is different from the other colors. Anyway, these are all gorgeous in their own way. I'll post some more photos of some of the individual pieces later.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Last Week




Last week I was lucky enough to be at Girl's-Week-Out in Kaua'i with my dear friends Mary and Linda. The top two photos are the view I got to see every day. Kaua'i is incredibly beautiful and we had a great time. I took tons of inspirational photos, we'll see where they lead.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Day Two





These three photos were taken on the afternoon of May 6th in the space of about 40 minutes that started with an almost clear sky. We were lulled into a false sense of well-being during the day because the winds were blowing away from Santa Barbara during the day and the smoke could barely be detected in the sky. At about 3:30 pm an incredible windstorm blew in and everything changed.

I left this location at the office where I work and went home (six blocks toward the smoke you see here) through 60 mph wind gusts laden with smoke and huge hunks of ash raining down. It was 95 degrees before the windstorm and the temperature steadily rose during. These winds pushed the fires into the residential areas of the foothills above Santa Barbara, so homes have been lost once again. Not nearly as many as in the Tea Fire, but similar conditions are expected again today so anything could happen despite the increased air support coming in to fight the fires from the air today.

It is Thursday morning, day three. Our car is packed and we are home despite being under evacuation orders. We are watching news reports and observing conditions and are ready to leave at a moment's notice. Thanks to everyone who has called to offer concern, support, and a place to go if we have to leave. We are grateful for our friends and families always, but especially appreciate your support now.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Once Again

Once more, there is a wildfire in the hills behind Santa Barbara. This fire is in the unburned area between what burned during last July's Gap Fire and last November's Tea Fire. And once again, we are under a high wind warning. For the past few days the temperatures have been in the 70s until near sundown when the wind kicks up and the temperature rises. No homes have burned in this Jesusita fire yet, but there is a large mandatory evacuation area. It will be another long night in Santa Barbara.

Fiberart For A Cause Finale

Virginia Spiegel is ending Fiberart For A Cause following this final Collage Mania sale which starts today. The works are donated by artists to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. I have been involved since the first postcard sale, not long after my father died of cancer, and have been thrilled to see how much money has been raised by those who love fiberarts. I don't have a piece in this sale, but I'm going off now to make a purchase!

Collage Mania, a Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American CancerSociety, opens today (Tuesday, May 5) at 10 a.m. CDT. There is an officialclock on the first page of Collage Mania, a Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American CancerSociety, opens today (Tuesday, May 5) at 10 a.m. CDT. There is an official clock on the first page of collages:http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html

Choose from 383 fiberart collages (many of them small art quilts) donated by161 artists from around the world. Each artwork is finished or mounted to8x10". Today's minimum donation to the American Cancer Society is $80; the minimum donation drops to $40 on May 6 and 7. All the details on how to acquire collages is here:http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania09Directions.html

Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 for the ACS in just three days. Thank you for your support!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

A New Purse

Well, I figured it was time for me to post something to this blog despite the fact that I have not been doing very much creatively lately, so here's my new purse. That's right, I am now carrying a rubber chicken purse. I have always liked things that are a bit whimsical and I think this fits the bill. I just crack up every time I look at it. My sister once told me she wasn't going to be seen with me when I bought some polka-dot rain boots, looks like she'll have to avoid me again!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Time Sure Flies ....





I was shocked to see how long it has been since I posted anything to this blog! I would have sworn it was only about a month! I sure hope I was having fun during that time that was flying by.

The only things I've completed in fabric are the postcards above. It was very hard to photograph the President Barack Obama card because one of the things I did was attach the photo with gel medium and a stiff brush to show the brush marks, but the glossy gel caused reflection in the photo and partially obscures the face. I didn't get a chance to get a better photo before the card went on to its new home.

I'll be back with something before three more months go by!