Thursday, January 29, 2015

Playing with my Silhouette Cameo cutter

I tend to doodle a lot.  Some doodles are just that.  Others are more complete.  Some stay on the scrap paper, others get done over and over again.  Some get added to my sketch pad, others go in the garbage.

But this one doodle has been intriguing.  It has made it from the back of an evelope, to a piece of paper, to my sketch pad, to being done again in ink, to being scanned, to being cut on my Cameo.  I am not quite sure it is ready for prime time yet, but I do think I know where I am going with it.  Can't share it just yet, but when it is ready, I'll let you know.

In the meantime...  here are some shots of that innocent doodle along the way...

This is the fist sketch (cleaned up with a lot of eraser) done on the back of an envelope

Next I traced it into my sketchpad...


The Cameo didn't like the glare from the lead in the picture, nor the thickness of the lines.  I kept getting a double cutting line, so to eliminate it, I had to color in the positive space with a permanent marker.





  At this point I was ready to take another picture and import it into the Cameo.  I had already spent over 8 hours trying to get a good clean trace of the circle medallion.  Luckily, there were no issues with the trace this time, so I sent it to the Cameo and prayed....  and it WORKED!...


Neck I have to size it.  This is about 5" and for my idea to work, I don't want it bigger than 4".  But now at least I know what to do.  Oh yeah, I am going to eliminate those tiny inner circles.  My goal is to cut about 20 of these out of felt, and it will never cut those tiny circles cleanly....

Wish me luck!

Sunday, January 11, 2015

"The Colors of Life"...still riding high!

I have been so focused these last few months on getting new pieces made for my first solo exhibit, that even Christmas didn't seem as important to me this year...  and for those of you who know me, that is big as I am addicted to everything Christmas.  But having my first SOLO show was MAJOR to me, so first let me thank Julie Saviano, the owner of Etui Fiber Arts for her confidence in my work, that she wanted it to hang all alone!  I have been in other gallery shows before, but never has a body of my work hung all by itself.  I was full of mixed emotions...  what would be the reaction, am I kidding myself to think my work is worthy enough to stand all alone..  I was truly going to be standing NAKED on those walls with no other supporting artists to prop me up?

Well as I noted in my last post, I hung my 10 piece show Tuesday night.  Folks in the knitting classes were complimentary, admiring the work as it went up.  Julie told me that over the next few days many commented on how gorgeous they were.  I was still skeptical.  I wanted to be there and watch peoples faces as they looked at each piece.  I could barely contain myself as I waited for the Opening Reception.  As I drove up to the gallery Friday night, I saw some had beat me there (and yes I was early).  I could see them taking pictures... I realized it was my niece and nephew who had driven up from Virginia to show their support during the opening. OK, I can do this, folks cared enough to come.

As the gallery started filling up, I could see the smiles on their faces and in their eyes.  At first I wasn't sure if it was shock or true enjoyment, but as the comments started coming and folks started asking me questions about the pieces, my inspiration and my process, I knew I would be ok.  They liked my work!  I began to relax and enjoy the evening a bit more.  Again I looked around... there was family and friends and fellow quilters, ok, those I had hoped would attend.  But wait, there was one of my high school teachers (yes from almost 40 years ago) whom I had recently reconnected with on Facebook.  There was a college friend, whom I hadn't seen in over 30 years, another follower of my work on Facebook.  But to my surprise, there were folks who I didn't know, who had heard of the show from social media and pictures people had shared on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter about the show.  Pictures that had intrigued them enough, that they came out on a frigid 10 degree night to see MY work. 

So now, 2 days later, I am still riding the high, still feeling elated with the reception my work received.  Still feeling BLESSED that so many would come to see what started as a stress reliever that has grown to be one of my greatest pleasure givers...  the time I sit with my sketchbook, or gaze at fabric wondering what if, or the time I sit at my machine creating.  I truly enjoy the process.  The good news is, I am on a continual journey...  the more I create, the more I learn, the more I want to do.  That in itself is so fulfilling, to be inspired to learn, play and create.

Ok, enough about me.  I know many of you have asked for pictures from the show, so here they are...

Fire Dancer 2015 (30" x 36")

In The Spotlight 2011 (31" x 28")

Let's Here It For The Girls 2015 (51" x 40")

Sea Glass Pathways 2015 (36" x 30")

 Splat * It is All That! 2014 (18" x 30" each piece... can be hung side by side as well as separately)

Swinging Willows 2015 (53" x 31")

Pathways 2013 (3 separate pieces to create a Kimono shape, center is 19" x 30" folded lengthwise, each sleeve is  12" x 15" folded lengthwise)
Knock, I'll Be There For You 2014 (18" x 30")

Paisley Visions 2013 (33" x 33")
Sister Chat 2009 (32" x 27")

The rest are pictures from the Opening Reception and views of the gallery.  Hope you enjoy...





























The exhibit is up until January 31st.  I hope you get a chance to see it first hand.  I would love the opportunity to walk you through and share my thoughts on each piece and the 'farm to needle' shop that Julie has created in downtown Larchmont, NY.   If you are interested, just let me know and we can try to coordinate a time.

Euti Fiber Arts is located at 2106 Old Post Road, Larchmont, NY.  Hours are Tues/Wed 10am-5pm; Thurs 10am-9pm; Fri/Sat 10am-4pm; Closed Sun/Mon

Hope to see you there!
Renee

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

It's Up! My show is now hanging!

WooHoo!  Sorry no good pics, yet, BUT my quilts are up!

The Colors of Life, a Fiber Arts Exhibit is now hanging at Etui Fibers Arts in Larchmont, NY.  Hope you can join me for the Opening Reception on Friday night...  6:30pm - 8:30pm.

Etui is located at 2106 Old Post Road, Larchmont, NY .  Gallery hours are as follow:
Tuesday, Wednesday:  10am - 5pm
Thursday: 10am - 9pm
Friday, Saturday:  10am - 4pm
Sunday, Monday:  CLOSED

The exhibit is up until January 31. 2015

Here is a piece that will be in the exhibit...


Renee