OURstory!

I responded for another call for entry entitled "OURstory" which will tell the stories of disenfranchised people and their fights for equal rights.  I created a 25" X 40" quilt inspired by Rosa Parks.  I chose to base my art quilt on the iconic mugshot photo of her, but I changed it up a little, by putting equal on the sign she was holding up, and in the background, I used an original thermofax screen, to "inscribe" common words and phrases from that time on the brick wall behind her.  I included words like, "colored, segregation, whites only and back of the bus" to name a few.  I am REALLY proud of the job I did quilting her face.  But, I can't post pictures of the finished product just yet.  Here is a photo my daughter took of me while I was working on it, and a small shot of the back!  More to come.......

Herstory News!

A while ago, I posted that I had gotten accepted/juried into the HERstory book and possible exhibition.  Well, not only did I get into the book, but my Hattie McDaniels quilt was featured in Quilting Arts October/November issue, and my Misty Copeland quilt was on exhibit at the International Quilt Festival and in the Houston Chronicle!!!  I am so excited! 

Quilting Arts:

Houston Chronicle:

IQF-Houston:

Juried!

As I said in an earlier post, I created three quilts for the Herstory book and exhibit, and two of them got in!  Here is the one that did not get in!  It is in honor of Oprah Winfrey and the work she did with her Angel Network and with Hurricane Katrina victims.   I drew it first to make the pattern, and hand painted the background with textile paints as well as the likeness of Ms. Winfrey.  The houses and clouds, etc. were made with fused applique.   I really liked this one, but you never know what the jurors have in mind.  Plus, I am almost certain that someone else also did an Oprah quilt, too.

Accepted

The same person who brought us the "Fly Me To the Moon" quilt challenge, came up with another opportunity entitled "HERStory", which was about women who have made great contributions to society and the world in general.  I was approved to make quilts in honor of Oprah Winfrey, Misty Copeland and Hattie McDaniel.  Talk about a learning experience....Whew!  I would say I really loved the way the Oprah quilt came out, but I was most proud to make the quilt of Hattie McDaniel. The Misty quilt, called "Misty in the making" was in honor of her, but it was based on a photo taken of three little ballerinas that I happened to run across of a classmate's daughter. There were other people who submitted quilts about Oprah, and mine was not accepted, but both my Misty Copeland and Hattie McDaniel quilts were accepted!  I can't show photos at this time.....(I know, I know!)

The Sisters Quilt

I have been wanting to do something with my mother and her sisters for a long time.  I finally was able to take my own picture of them together, to make some art with them as the subject.  They just weren't cooperating with my requests for pictures.....

So anyhoo, I drew their likenesses in a cartoon style and painted and quilted it.  I also added my grandmother and one sister who weren't present.  They are no longer with us, but I still wanted to include them in "The Whitfield Girls"!

SAQA Benefit Auction 2014

For the 4th year in a row, I am participating in the SAQA Benefit Auction.  My pieces have sold every year, so I am hoping I can keep the streak going!  If you get a chance, go to www.saqa.com to check out all of the wonderful pieces up for auction.  It begins Sept. 15th.  In the meantime, here is my work in progress:

And the finished product:

I created this 12"X12" piece by starting with a glue gel resist.  I then hand painted it, let it dry and hand stitched it in the resist areas.  Finally I accented the image with beads and sequins. What do you think?

Black and White

Although I haven't posted in a couple months, I have been busy.  This is my first commission in a while. For the most part, most of my art has been gifts to others.  However, I was approached by someone who wanted something original for his fiancé for Christmas.  Although I had done plenty of photo inspired fiber art, I had yet to just do some in black and white and have it remain that way.  That presents its own set of challenges, but I think it came out nice.

Here is the painting I did on fabric based on the photo:

Here it is once I did the quilting:

Finally, here it is as it was presented to the client, framed:

One thing I really like about it was that in the background, although it looks like random stitching, it spells DREAM.  I didn't want it to smack you in the face....I wanted a little subtlety.  (You see it now, huh?) The client said that my rough draft drawing reminded him of a dream.  I was also really inspired by a quote I found by Dr. Seuss: "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams".  They are such a cute couple anyway, and so is their love story.  No details on that from me though!

Quilt Festival!

The International Quilt Festival in Houston has come and gone.  There were four great things that transpired:

 

1) I had the pleasure of attending for two days, and I took classes from two fiber artists that I greatly admire: Hollis Chatelain (www.hollisart.com) and Frieda Anderson (www.friestyle.com) .  Overall, I was able to get some good ideas on how to approach my quilting in terms of design, and I got some more practice with free motion quilting motifs. 

 

2) I had the opportunity to do some shopping, and I actually only (mostly) bought the things on my list.  I was not wooed by all those tempting deals that always seem to be coming at you from every turn. This very well could have been because I had no spare time to wander.  Hmmmm, we'll never know!

 

3) I was so inspired by all of the spectacular artworks, both traditional and contemporary, and

 

4) I myself had my own fiber art exhibited there.  It was such an honor!  I cannot wait until next year when I plan to enter numerous works in several categories.  I am getting started now.  (But more about that later!)

 

 

 

Here I am in front of my "Jumping The Broom" quilt.

It was juried into the Traditions exhibit.  It was very interesting to see what traditions were interpreted in fiber.

 

This quilt is based on my favorite wedding photo of my husband and I jumping the broom.  Jumping the broom is an old tradition in African-American culture which dates back to slavery.  During this time, slaves were not permitted to legally marry.  It became a tradition to "jump the broom", to symbolize sweeping the past behind you and starting afresh together.  This display showed a couples love and commitment to one another. 

I also had another piece in the "What's for Dinner" exhibit.  My "dinner" was Pizza and Green Salad.  Back when my husband and I had the time and moolah to go out to eat regularly, we would eat pizza every week at our favorite pizza joint.  While we were waiting on the pizza to be served, we would always get a salad first so that we wouldn't feel like we were eating too badly. 

"Pepperoni, Please!"

The exhibit was set up really nicely!  Each entry had to be a placemat of the same size, 15"L X "24"W, and they had an extra long, decorated table set up with each of the entries placed along the perimeter. 

 

I especially loved the entries with the crawfish boil, the sushi, and the placemat with the spilled milk, mac and cheese and French fries with the title "I Do It!, I'm Two!" because my two year old daughter says that all the time!

Artsy Shoes.....Finished!

It took about two weeks to finally finish them, but I got them done!  Now I just have to spray and protect them.  Overall, I am pleased!  Check 'em out.....

From this........

To this...



The outside



The inside



The back



The front



Laced up



On my Feet

Artsy Shoes

I have always admired the graffiti that I see on moving trains, and this past summer my husband surprised me with an anniversary trip to an artsy destination I have always wanted to visit:  San Francisco.  I got to see lots of awesome graffiti all over the place:

I also have been wanting to do my own "graffiti" on a pair of shoes, and I finally took the step to do some.  They are still a work in progress, but I have finally drawn everything on it. 

 

They have some of my favorite things, plus a little doodling.  Now, I just have to add the color!  I have to have them done by Halloween, so I can wear them to the Quilt Festival!

Quilting Arts

Quilting Arts Magazine recently had a reader challenge entitled "Friendship and Devotion".  I don't read the magazine as soon as I receive it most times, because I want to read it when I have time to sit and take it all in.  (Having two little ones certainly takes up a large portion of my attention, of course!)  So, there wasn't much time for me to get something done.  Luckily, I immediately thought of an artwork I began years ago, that was just sitting in my closet with no home.  It was about the size it needed to be as well.  What was the problem? You see, it was inspired by friends who are no longer friends with one another.  So I took a look at it, and changed it up just a bit to fit the current status. Then I appropriately called it, : "Frenemies"!  Here is a snippet of it.....

I don't want to show the entire thing because...da da da dummmm....It was accepted as a finalist in the challenge!  Hopefully you will be able to read about it and see it in the February/March issue of Quilting arts!
 

Happy Daddy Day!

I decided to create a piece of art for my husband for father's day.  I like the way it turned out for the most part.  I love the way the quilting on the face turned out!  I usually shy away from that.  Anyhoo, my hubby was pleased. 

Mini Abstract Fiber Art Class

Here is the example for my Mini Abstract Fiber Art Class.  Students will create their own original fabric painting and embellish it.

 

It has been embellished with hand stitches and beads.  I liked the way it turned out.  So what do you think?