New Work 

 

At first sight, an art quilt presents an image on a two-dimensional plane, but the quilting stitch makes subtle indentations in the surface.  Appliqué pieces are slightly raised from the surface, giving a textural effect uniquely characteristic of the quilt medium. I wanted to take this slight three-dimensionality a step further and explore the effect of free-standing pieces of fabric emerging from the quilt surface. I decided to experiment with the basic design element of line.

 

The Lines Series

 

Lines I

15” x 17.25”   $125

These red lines on a grey and black printed background were formed from bias strips pieced into the freely cut seams.

 

 

 

Lines II

12” x 21.5”  $125

In this small piece, I explored the technique further. The contrast of black lines on a figured cream background appealed to me.

 


 

 

 

Lines III

24” x 31” 
(Private  Collection)

 

I used folded fabric strips pieced into the freely cut seams to enhance the three-dimensional effect. I added a few roughly circular shapes to balance the composition.

  

 

 

Lines IV

25.5 x 33”  $425

 

In this piece I used blue lines on a coral background, accented with one line and a few squares in rust color. 

 


 

 

Lines V

32” x 28.5”  $450

To the horizontal lines of folded fabric strips on this piece I added some prairie points, further emphasizing the three-dimensional effect.

 

 

Lines VI: Diurnal Journey

12” x 19.5”  $125

 

Taking the technique a step further, I reverse appliquéd a curve into the background and crossed it with two vertical lines of folded fabric strips.

 

 

Lines VII

20” x 20”  $200

(No image available) 

Made for a challenge which is traveling in Europe, this piece has three curved folded bias strips with yo-yo flowers using the two challenge fabrics.

 

 

 

Lines VIII: Ripples

15” x 16”   $150

 

 

 

 

Lines IX: Ridges

18” x 16”   $130

 

Both of these small pieces were made using techniques similar to the larger works in this series.

 

The Life Cycles Series

To celebrate my 70th birthday, I look back over my life. It seems appropriate to remember the past decades in my favorite medium of fabric and thread. The series of Life Cycles quilts is the result.


  

 Seeding   (Life Cycles I)

         31.5" x 38.5"  $650                  

 

Seeding, the first of the series, was a time of sowing (sewing?) the seeds of the woman I was to become in the fertile ground of close and loving family relationships. I grew up in a small country town in Australia, where nature was all around us. Although the country was at war for most of those years, children were sheltered from much of the horrors of warfare overseas. I remember it as a happy time, full of sunshine.  In this secure background, I began to develop the intellectual and emotional strengths which have sustained me during my life.

 

   

Leafing  (Life Cycles II)

37" x 37"  $700

 

Leafing, the second in the series celebrating my 70th birthday, reflects a time of learning and growing as I completed my secondary education and went on to graduate from the University of Sydney. As the sown seed germinates and starts to put forth leaves, so I began, hesitantly at first, to recognize the power of my mind and spirit as a unique individual.
The eucalyptus leaves in this piece symbolize the influence that the natural world of my youth has always exerted on me. Until I began to make art, I did not realize how strong was this influence or how often I would use it in my work.


  

Branching  (Life Cycles III)

36.5" x 48"   $925

 

Branching celebrates my third decade. The years from 20 to 30 were adventurous: I left home to travel to Britain and then to the United States; I met and married my husband and earned a master's degree. I began to advance in my profession as an academic and special librarian.  I realized I was branching out into a new life and taking on stimulating new responsibilities that I was equipped to handle competently. I relished the opportunities that came my way to learn and grow in my profession and in my personal life.

 

 

Blooming (Life Cycles IV)

38" x 48"  $950

 

 

Blooming represents the fourth decade. In the years from 30 to 40 I felt as if my life had come into full bloom. My marriage was happy, my health was good, and my work was challenging but well within my capabilities.
In these years I enjoyed the opportunity to travel with my husband and visit different parts of the world, including India, South Africa and many European countries.

Sometimes conditions in the countries we visited were rigorous but travel is always stimulating. I learned a lot from the people we met but I was always glad to return to my home in California, where I had put down my roots.


 

 

Burgeoning  (Life Cycles V)

33" x 43"  $800

 

Burgeoning reflects the years from 40 to 50, in which I continued to grow in my profession and was heavily involved in the use of computers in library work.  At the same time I began to explore the creative side of my nature by taking classes in surface design and other textile arts. I found that I enjoyed experimenting with batik to make pictures on cloth. Towards the end of this period, I was able to begin a new life as a full-time quiltmaker and wearable artist.

 

 

         Ripening (Life Cycles VI)
              41" x 41"  $820 
   Award for Theme Interpretation at Rural Roots and Mysteries Exhibit, Aullwood Audubon Center, Dayton Ohio, 2005.
                                                         
Ripening marks the sixth decade of my life. In these years from 50 to 60, I learned by making traditional quilts and by studying with renowned quilting teachers that I was more interested in my own original designs. I began to experiment with different themes and techniques and to exhibit my work at local and regional quilt shows. I found that working with fabric and thread filled a previously unrealized need in my life for creative expression. 

 

  

 Harvesting  (Life Cycles VII)

43" x 47"  $1050 

Harvesting celebrates my seventh decade. Gaining confidence in my work, I began to enter juried art and fiber contests and was gratified to be accepted into many of them and to win awards. It delights me that art quilts like mine are being recognized in art galleries as well as in quilt exhibits as a vibrant art form. I make art quilts because I cannot now imagine my life without them. I look forward to continuing to make art throughout my eighth decade and beyond. 

                                        Bagatelles

 

                    Light On The Water
           16" x 9.5"  $100

Heavily stitched pieces of fabric were cut and woven on a blue background. The quilt was embellished with metallic threads and braid.

 

   

                    Shinto Screen
                    13" x 37"  $215

This abstract piece has a Japanese flavor and reminded me of the screens seen in Japanese paintings.

 

 


 

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