Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Attention Last Minute Shoppers...St. Jacobs Quilt and Fibre Art Festival Starts Today!

Robin In The Apple Tree, 8" x 8" x 1.5", Vintage Embroidery Floss, Tempra Paint, and Beeswax on Wood Panel
So my Spring plan to get fit resulted in a sexy case of bursitis and I've spent the last two weeks with my feet elevated. I made great use of the couch time by whining piteously whenever Doug walked through the room.

Poor guy. I am not a tolerant invalid.

The upside is that I couldn't work on my large piece, which requires standing, so I had a chance to follow through on some ideas for small pieces that I had been storing up.

Do you remember my initial idea for a milkweed piece when Nan Nichols from Gun Plain Pygoras sent me a sampling of her luxurious yarns? Okay, it was almost two years ago, but I finally did it!

Asclepius,  8" x 8" x 1.5", Assorted natural fibres, tempra paint, and beeswax on wood panel

I used Asclepius as an opportunity to try out a new idea. Before coating the panel with beeswax, I painted a winter sky on the wood and then left parts of it exposed when I added the milkweed image. The effect is very three dimensional and moody. The pygora yarn is so light and flossy, it was like working with real milkweed seeds.


Garden In Blue, 8' x 8' x 1.5", Vintage Embroidery Floss, Fabric, Tempra Paint and Beeswax on Wood Panel

Next, I finished a piece I've had on the back burner for awhile. Garden In Blue is the follow up piece to Grandma's Garden, working on the same idea of sandwiching a layer of fabric in the beeswax and playing with the pattern. I tried out a different colour scheme and worked the design over the edges onto the painted sides a bit more.

Robin In The Apple Tree, 8" x 8" x 1.5", Vintage Embroidery Floss, Tempra Paint, and Beeswax on Wood Panel

Finally, I tried out an idea for my upcoming display at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga this September. With a working title of Native Exotics, I want to create pieces that depict native flora and fauna while exploring some textile traditions, such as Indian tree of life motifs and the designs of William Morris. 

Robin In the Apple Tree is the first experiment and I am happy with the results. The definition and shine of the embroidery thread gives the piece an air of luxury and complication. More to come on this theme!


Robin In The Apple Tree, 8" x 8" x 1.5", Vintage Embroidery Floss, Tempra Paint, and Beeswax on Wood Panel
I am finally back on my feet again, just in time for this year's Waterloo Region and Beyond Quilt and Fibre Art Festival. It's on from today until Saturday and I'll be hosting a yarn painting workshop on Thursday in St. Jacobs, which is always a great experience. There's space still available, so register now or drop by on Thursday.

This year's festival also marks the sad closing of The Silo Weavers,  a St. Jacobs icon and one of my favourite textile stores. Elsa Brigden-Elliot, the weaver behind the Silo Weavers, is retiring from the store (but not from weaving!) and May 31st marks the last day. Elsa is a lovely person who has opened many doors for me. I will miss having my work for sale at the Silo Weavers, but look forward to seeing what she does with her time freed up!

Be sure to stop by The Silo Weavers during the festival to wish Elsa well and check out the store closing deals. My art work and cards are all on sale until the end of the month.