2 More Commission Pillows

These are both 18" square and are meant to be accent pillows.

Now off they go in the mail and I will wait to hear from the client.
I think they turned out really great. I hope they look right in the room! In my mind's eye - they are perfect.

I can't really explain it, but I really enjoy these projects. I love working with the color - getting it right - and coming up with something that will have a big impact on the appearance of a room.

Mail Art Project - Week Eleven

Christmas Card Mail Art

I made 28 of these so I could use them as my Christmas card this year.
Honestly, I don't think I have done a Christmas card since my kids were very young and I used to create sort of a newsletter with their art and poems. It was fun, but when they hit their teen years they were no longer interested in participating so it just fell by the wayside.

This week, extra Mail Art will be going out to:
Carol in Billings, MT,
Marybeth in Powell, WY,
Karin in Minneapolis, MN,
and Victoria in Bethesda, MD.

Pillow Commission, Continued

Here are two more of the pillows - 22" square.

Just as I am finishing these up - I get an email - the furniture has arrived.

Can't wait to see how these pillows look in the room!

Pillow Commission, Continued

Here is the first pillow, front (above) and back (below).

After I made all the pillow fronts, I sewed strips from all the remaining fabrics to create the backs. I inserted a black hidden zipper in the black stripe near the edge.

Front and back of the second pillow. These are made for a 22" insert, which will look just right on the back of the chairs.

Pillow Commission, Continued

Working on the commission for seat cushions, I found I was not satisfied with any of the red orange fabrics I had on hand, so I chose to paint about 1 1/2 yards, and I was satisfied with that, so I proceeded to printing the blue and red fabrics with my hand cut printing blocks.

I used black and mixed up the correct red and taupe shades. I knew I would be cutting these fabrics into strips.

The other fabrics I settled on were a group of gelatin plate prints (below) I had done several years ago using plant material. The colors were perfect, I thought - and the design would be great for their house. There are lots of windows and the landscaping is really beautiful - lots of big old trees and shrubs.

I think the one below was printed with an onion - it is on raw silk.

Here are all my fabrics on the design wall.
Now to put them together in some way!

Commission

I've been commissioned to make back cushions for two upholstered chairs and a love seat.
The owner has chemical sensitivities and the furniture is coming from a company called Zola, which makes eco-friendly furnishings. Here is a link to the Sofia style furniture. This furniture is quite stylized with a very deep seat. A pillow at your back is necessary to make it comfortable.

The color in the upper picture (at least on my screen) is a bit off. The picture below is a better representation of the red/orange shade called "Rhubarb" and the taupe shade called "Mushroom".

I started off by pulling fabrics from my stash that I thought would work with the two swatches and the oriental rug that will stay in the room.

Edith Freeman at Yellowstone Art Museum

I could not resist sharing a few more images from the Edith Freeman exhibit at Yellowstone Art Museum. I LOVE her work!

Edith Freeman at Yellowstone Art Museum

During our recent visit to Yellowstone Art Museum, we were introduced to local artist, Edith Freeman.

Edith did not begin her art career until she retired from her career as an elementary school teacher.

Her medium? Woodblock printing!

We were totally entranced by her mystical depictions of the landscape of Eastern Montana.

So inspiring! Each color was carved and printed individually!

Mail Art Project - Week Ten

Rusty Washers

This group of postcards is made of rust dyed fabric embellished with screen printed petroglyph imagery - (I think I took the picture in Arizona). I have added some rusty washers - stitched in place with pearl cotton.

I have two extras to mail to blog readers this week. They are going out to Sandra in Bismark, North Dakota and Sally in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. Email me your mailing address and full name, if you have not already done so and I will add you to the drawing for all future extra Mail Art!

John Buck at Yellowstone Art Museum - Wall Art

Not only does John Buck do fabulous moving wood sculptures - but his wall art is stunning.
Both carved wall hangings (above) and woodcut prints are hanging on the walls all around the gallery.

The woodcut prints really captured my imagination.

This carved wall hanging is so striking! Huge - probably 6' diameter.

I am SO inspired!

John Buck at Yellowstone Art Museum

This is absolutely the most impressive show I have ever seen at our local art museum!

All of these sculptures have moving parts. Essentially every piece moves. Amazing!

We lingered in this gallery for a very long time.

I am now a huge fan of John Buck's work! If you live near Billings - get yourself in to the show sometime before January - when the show closes!

This event has restored my faith in Yellowstone Art Museum (which has had some pretty pathetic shows in recent times!)

Yellowstone Art Museum - Small Works Auction

"Rock On"
acrylic, thread, and stones on watercolor paper.
5 1/2 x 9"

Today is auction day at Yellowstone Art Museum!
Every December, the museum sponsors a small works auction to raise funds.
This particular event - the Miniature Masterpiece Mystery was an "invitation only" event.
I was invited to submit a piece in a particular size.
The artist is not revealed until the piece is purchased.

This is a fundraiser for an arts scholarship to be awarded to a child who's life has been affected by AIDS.

Here's the wall! Auction tonight!

Spiral Tree Design

I love this spiral Christmas tree design that began as a doodle.
I converted my pencil sketch into a Thermofax screen, and I printed with gold onto green hand dyed fabric. After the fusible web was added to the back of the green, the individual trees were cut out and fused to this nice red hand dyed fabric (left over from the placemats I made for Christmas gifts)

I measured for correct placement - I am planning to make this as my Christmas greeting postcard. Looks like I will have 28 of these to mail out in mid December!

Now that the green trees are fused to the red, I can layer with batting for the machine quilting.

Doodle to Design

Today, I started working on my Holiday Mail Art Postcards.
As always, my imagery needs to be original - so I decided to use this pencil doodle (above) to create a Thermorfax screen sized to print onto postcards.

I am a compulsive doodler and many of my doodles are based on spirals.

I used gold Speedball Fabric Ink on green hand dyed cotton. When the ink is dry, I plan to add fusible web on the back and cut the trees out. I am thinking I will fuse them onto red hand dyed fabric, but not certain yet.

I love this print! It has my mind spinning with other spiral doodle fabric I could create!
In fact - I have a whole series in mind!