What I'm currently working on...

I've always loved mosaics and wanted to play around with a mosaic quilt concept, so I decided to do a scrap mosaic. I'm using double stick fusible web which I apply to the back of the fabrics before cutting them up into small pieces and pressing them on the base. My plan is to put a sheer fabric over the top before either hand or machine quilting.

Better Together: An Art Quilt Inspired by Japanese Boro

This piece was inspired by the Japanese art of boro. "Boro (Japanese: ぼろ) are a class of Japanese textiles that have been mended or patched together. The term is derived from Japanese boroboro, meaning something tattered or repaired" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boro_(textile)).

I started with a cotton sheet and layered fabric pieces to cover the entire surface having them overlap in different ways. I basted them first with safety pins and, after rearranging until I was happy, I then basted by hand with long running stitches. The boro stitches were the last step. As the quilt came together I decided to add the red stripes giving it the feel of an abstract flag of the USA. The fabrics are denims, cottons, linens, and silk blends, primarily from up-cycled clothing and other textiles. Stitching was done by hand with 100% cotton yarn.

I found the up and down hand stitching, while slow, to be very rewarding. As I worked on this piece I often thought of the origins of the technique. I imagined a woman sewing a fabric patch onto her husband's heavy fishing coat in order to repair a worn area. It may have been passed down through generations and so had many repairs done by many hands.

Works in Progress

These are a couple of items I'm currently working on. Both are fabric with beads/other elements and measure approximately 10 1/2 inches square.

Mixed Media Cross

I completed this piece for the 2016 J. Wallace James Elementary School Art Walk. Hand beading, quilting, and wood block.

Donated Quilt

This is my first "traditional" quilt. The asymmetrical blocks are composed of fabric scraps from making children's clothes. I donated the quilt to the 2016-2017 J. Wallace James Elementary School Silent Auction to raise money for the school.

Mixed Media Wreaths

Playing with natural elements, I created these wreaths with dried stems, faux and dried leaves, fabric, wire, and paint. The first was featured in an Etsy.com curated collection. 

 

Leaves on Water

This piece was my entry in the 2009 Art Exhibit “Show Offs!” held at Upstairs Frames & Photos Gallery in Breaux Bridge, LA where I received an honorable mention award.

 

Sewing Business Venture

This is a magazine article written about a sewing business started by a friend and I. We sold handmade and custom children’s clothing and accessories at local craft shows and through social media. My daughter is modeling one of the outfits I made with primarily re-purposed textiles.   

 

Postcard Quilts

These are some of the mini quilts I made after attending a workshop taught by fiber artist Claire Waguespack about postcard quilts. They are backed with heavy paper and can be sent through the United States postal service.