Back in the Studio

It has been a few weeks since I posted and I am sorry for all who kept coming to visit my blog and kept seeing the Gangi post.

I have been back in Toronto for over a week and my suitcase is still on the floor in my dressing room... open... but full!

Today, I made some time to sew.

journal cover

I made the book wrap for my Umbria journal.

I have the stone walls represented, the cypress trees, the rolling hills, the gorgeous sky at sunset, the red string from the textile-art therapy workshop.

Piece on the left shows the lining fabric of the wrap.

And even the olive trees! I happen to find a piece of William Morris reproduction fabric in my stash and although his branches are willows, the colouring and the shape reminded my of the olive trees from Umbria.

I used scraps from Sofia Verna's Ms Emma Designs. Fitting since she taught one of the workshops we did.

I plan to bring it to the Oakville Guild this Thursday when I give my talk.

The theme of my talk is Inspiration. Where do my ideas come from? I hope to inspire the audience!

Art Work Back

I received my art work that was touring for the past 2 years.

My art work photographed from the catalogue.
Waves

"Radiation emits from objects at many different scales, from stars to atoms. This piece reflects my interpretation of emitted radiation waves interacting with other matter, including human bodies." (taken from the catalogue)

It is always nice to get things back.

 Waves, detail

The curator and her team packed up the work nicely. I usually roll my work. I was once told to avoid tubes for shipping because they often roll off trucks and belts. So I now use a long triangular box.

Waves, detail

Oddly enough from Germany it was going to cost a fortune to send to Italy! So she put the triangle box into a square box and it cost much less.

Waves, detail

Inside, there were a few treats! One of which was a catalogue of the exhibit and all the places it went (except for the last place as the opportunity came after the catalogue was printed.)

catalogue cover for the Radiation exhibit

I liked many of the other works. I liked reading what the artists said about their work and its inspiration related to radiation. All works are 60cm x 120 cm, measurements set by the curator.

Without natural filters life on earth would be impossible.

Merce Gonzalez Desedamas, Spain
Life Filters

When charged particles such as a proton pass through a cloud chamber they leave behind a trail of ions as they strike molecules of air along their path. Mist droplets form around these ions creating a cloud track.

Tonya Littman, USA
Particle Trails

Magnetic resonance images.

Rita Berghuis-Ensing, Netherlands
Diagnose Braintumor 1

A chemical reaction transforms 95% of a firefly's energy into light and only 5% is set free as warmth. Up to now no form of man-made light has met this level of efficiency.

Barbara Lange, Germany
Monochrom 8- Fireflies

There was a CD of the show works. There were a few printed note cards, postcard size, and a thank you note from the curator.

Since it is in Italy, I am going to submit it for the Ad Maiora member exhibit which is happening in November, even though most of the other works will be traditional quilts.

Inspired by the Surroundings

I have been holidaying in the south of Italy for the past 9 summers. Every year there are fires in the mountains. Man made. Illegally.

Controluce
2004
120 cm x 80cm
artist: Maria Teresa Sansotta
note:
In this photograph the art work is hanging on a black-coloured wall

How long does it take to grow a tree?

How long does it take to burn it?

detail, Controluce
free motion, hand dyed cotton

Having this textile work exhibited in Italy brought this issue forward. Her work sold to a southern family who lives in the north of Italy.

There were 4 fires in July where I was staying. Driving down to Calabria later in July, it was evident there had been many fires in their province as well, either recent or in the past.

The plane arrives to put out the fire only about 3 to 4 hours after the report is called in. It scoops water from the Tyrrhenian Sea and flies back to the mountain fire, repeating that several times until it is out.

It is quite spectacular to see the skills of those pilots!

Ms Sansotta used these fires as inspiration for her work, Controluce. Anything can inspire. Be open.

Dancing Woman

A 15-minute postcard.

I like it. There is movement.

I can feel her leaning back and swinging the fabric across her body.

I wrote a thank-you on the back and gave it away.

"Dancing Nude"
4" x 6"
fabric scraps, tea bag, thread drawing

Last Few Classes before the Holidays

My Fall teaching calendar is coming to a close.

fabric scraps to use during the free motion class

Last weekend I taught a free motion technique class.

Student at work making her collage

I just felt so good after the class. The students were successful and all enjoyed their day. I did a good job!

This student decided to make her collage, cover it with a piece of fabric
then sew over all of it.
 She cut away sections of the top fabric to reveal
some of the brighter fabrics underneath.

 I love sharing my ideas. I know the students will be applying the techniques they learned when creating their own quilts, art projects, crafts and even felt work!

Using the darning foot to create curved designs.

I have two more classes left to teach before the holidays. There are still places for the paper piecing class. 

I bought a small envelope like these (above) many years ago made by
Toronto artist, Carolyn Flood.
I altered her design slightly and use them in my Free Motion class
so the students can practice the techniques they learn
 in the first half of the class.

My last CQ (Club Quilt on Thursday mornings) is this week also open if you want to come and sew whatever you are working on for a few hours.

I am preparing my Winter teaching schedule so check here  later.

More Teaching

I was invited to teach a textile workshop at a high school in Mississauga, west of Toronto.

I taught a three-part workshop on Textile Art Expression. The students were from grade 10 and 12, between 15 and 17 years of age.

For many it was their first time using a sewing machine. They explored free motion stitching, hand stitching and fabric painting. They worked with Tyvek and soluble film.

It was a new medium for them. I compiled a list of Canadian and international textile artists they can research on-line.

What makes my workshop a success is that all want to continue exploring.

The teacher wants to repeat this workshop next year and eventually have students at a level where they can create a cooperative textile work that can be considered for exhibit at the textile forum, Verona Tessile in 2015.

Italy Inspired

There are about 250 Jewels of Italy and the town Gangi is one of them.

Gangi is in the province of Palermo in Sicily.

The first celebration dedicated to the Jewels of Italy will be held in Gangi in 2015.

This textile art piece was done my artist Maria Teresa Sansotta of Verona, Italy. She has patented her technique of using crinoline as the outside (front and back) and fabric as the in-between layer. All her stitching is done using the Free Motion technique. By dropping the feed dogs on the sewing machine, she can draw with the thread on the fabric.

The piece was inspired by the town of Gangi and its architecture. It measures 1 m x 2 m. It was part of the touring exhibit Le Città Invisibile.

Gangi is also part of the Most Beautiful Townships of Italy. Worth visiting I'd say.

Milano Inspired

This is the piece I was working on before I left in July.

untitled, made just before I left

The guidelines stated the work needed to be 10"x10" but art is the size art wants to be!

Collage 

It turned out to be larger and I did not want to cut it down.

paper, paint, free motion stitching

I did not have time to make something else so unfortunately I will not be participating in takepART this time around. It is a mystery-art, scholarship fundraiser for Branksome Hall.

I hope to be invited again!

The event takes place at Snell Hall, St. James Cathedral on October 9, 2013.

Postcards

I won't be seeing my neighbourhood for a while.

In about a week I go to Europe.

I don't really miss the neighbourhood much while I am away.

Does that mean it's time to sell? and move to Italy??

(postcard, 4"x6", free motion technique on photo transfer image of a cracked sidewalk)

Today's Postcard

No, this isn't that self-portrait I was thinking of making. LOL

Dijanne Cevaal Made the Cover

I picked up a magazine in anticipation of my upcoming train ride to Montreal.

Australian textile artist, Dijanne Cevaal,
 has her travel blanket on the cover of
Quilting Arts, December /January2013 issue

My friend Dijanne's work has made the cover of the latest Quilting Arts magazine.

They have a good article about her- she's in the Spotlight.

Last spring, I signed up for her on-line travel blanket course. I am sorry to say I have not finished the work. I had planned to stitch during the summer but that never happened. I still will get it done. It will look great. Her on-line class was really fun to do! Here is another look at my blanket.

CONGRATULATIONS, Dijanne!!

If you are interested in her class, click here.

When I was in Parma, Italy, translating for Dijanne in her free-motion class, I bought this small piece from her.

Dijanne Cevaal's free motion work.
I did frame it...ah, framing artwork...
I will comment on that in a future post!
You know not all ART has to be framed!!

Teaching

I taught my last class for this term at a Toronto high school. Last week I taught the students Free Motion stitching. Today the grade 10 students saw a presentation about different effects one can achieve with Free Motion sewing.

Cathy Bredyk-Law's work, detail of Laurentian Hills,
a piece that was part of Tradition in Transition

I showed images of textile work from Canadian, French and Italian artists. All recent works.

Italian artist Maria Teresa Sansotta,
"Le Tue Rughe Le Mie Radici", detail

We talked about cut work,

His Twinkling Perch, detail,  by Francie V-
a great example of cut work

I introduced the addition of materials that are not fabric,

painted and melted tyvek
Birth detail

I showed them works that had image transfers,

detail of an old piece of mine

I also brought some of my works to show them as well as works by other artists.

Some traditional quilts and some contemporary fibre art.

It is a technique that will open up many possibilities for them as creators. I look forward to seeing their creations towards the end of the school year. It will be interesting to see how they integrated this sewing technique in their art work.