Great Time in Florida!

Well, I am heading back to Rhode Island today after spending five weeks or so here on the Florida Space Coast! The last 10 days have been action packed!

 Finally March 17th and the opening of the SHOW!!! Midge, Jeanine Taylor - owner of the gallery, Allison and Mary the lovely hard working gallery person! The girlz opening was glorious...filled with friends, family and strangers all enjoying the work, the girlz and each other.

 Let the games begin!

 Beachside!

Christy and Cathy enjoying poolside!

 

Sara Beth

 Sue enjoying poolside with her book!

Lots of good art work sold, food consumed, bracelets finished, walks, reading, swimming...

 

Beth, Allison, Tracy and Heather Stilwell...sistas

 

Midge and daughter Beth...Al and daughter Sara

The whole crew in for the show! 

As the events connected to the opening started to wind down, we started gearing up for a class with Kerr Grabowski that took place in Indian Rocks Beach, Fl...St. Pete's area. Midge, Al, Linda Willis and I gathered print boards, pencils, rags, fabric, rubber gloves etc for a deconstructed print making experience and we were all thrilled to the gills. I could have stayed for dayz! Kerr is a fabulous teacher and the techniques are endlessly exciting and unpredictable! Everyone was thrilled! Kerr is now in Ft. Meyers doing it all over with another lucky bunch! More about that later!

Back to cooler weather, my girl!!, the chickens, the gardens and piles of seeds, my yoga and of all things, a job! Thanks girlz for all of the goodies, hair cut, purple toes, food, rides, a bed, a monster tv, good music, good company, inspiration. Looking forward to fun in the sun in little rhody this summer!

Midge and Al's Big Show!!

I have been lucky to be in Florida for the last 2 or 3 weeks helping my sister Allison and her girlfriend Midge get ready for their first gallery show together.  The Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery in Sanford, Fl is a very cool place specializing in work from the south. 

It should be a great week, with friends and family flying in from all over the place. There is lots of good food in the freezer just waiting to be chowed down. The first airport pic up is this evening. 

The work is amazing and if you are in the Orlando area check it out. Opening March 17th all day!

 

 Midge and Allison by the river...

Midge giving me the eyeball while Stitching.

Midges "Out of the Closet" Series made from cigar boxes.

Painted, stamped, stitched.

Allison working on her "found" lamp girl.

Base of one of the displays.

Left over paint on "found" shutter.

I made them a book for folks to sign at the gallery with a cover made from cardboard that has

been used by all of us in arty ways over many years.

Blue Birds on the top of one of Al's Paper Mache Heads...

May the Blue Bird of Happiness Fly their way!

in Stitches Blog Tour!!!

 Hey Stitchers! I feel so lucky to have had my figure "Is the War Over Yet?" in Vol 6 - in Stitches!! I am very grateful. The work of the other artists is amazing!

 Quilting Arts is giving away the sample tools for free motion stitching that were used in the article "A Show of Hands". Just leave me a message after you have studied these photos and I get to pick the person that will win the Grip and Stitch Quilting Discs.

So, speaking of free motion stitching, I have been at it this year, and combining it with gelatin printed cotton and hand embroidery to make dolls and pillows.
I am lucky enough to have a Bernina with a BSR...Bernina Stitch Regulator that just helps the free motion task right along. Below are examples in various stages, showing the front and back of the free motion stitching, mostly being made into pillows.

My work wall with work in progress.

I heart Farming! 

You know when you are always going to start whatever tomorrow????

This girl is just distressed...

 

Ohnoo detail...

 

 Are the wars over yet? The Pillow...

 Quiet Mind

Where Are the Chips?

 Heather's Pillow - Inside and Out 

 Did I Weed the Garden??? - Inside and Out

Enough...get stitchin'...if you haven't tried free motion stitching, just put those feed dogs down and get to work!!!!
Check out the other talented women that have work in this issue!
 

Lindsey Murray 

 Betty Busby

Barbara Schneider 

 Nancy Cook

Sandy Donabed

Jane Davila 

AND ••••••• leave some love notes at the end of this post and you might win the Grip and Stitch Pads!!!

Inside Story of the Doll!

Here are a few more images of the construction process for the doll that is in 

the current In Stitches Vol 6! The name of the piece is "Is the War Over Yet?" and it is built on a wooden yarn spool.

Love carving stamps!

Don't forget that your image will be inverted...pay particular attention to words!!

 

The stuffed head pillow offers endless opportunities for embellishment!

 

Spool with skirt and batting wrapped around top.

 Checking placement for arms. Dowel wrapped with batting.

  Arm base covered with fabric and secured to body with wrapped yarn and hot glue. 

Arm options included an old baby doll arm, cotton tassel, a small wire whisk and a carved wooden hand on a stick.

 

Here she is with "arms" attached and fabric draped for shirt.

Head is sitting on a key at her neck to check placement.

Details of skirt embellishments that include paper, felt, beads, plastic army truck, charms, and found jewelry...

Have a good day and make great stuff!

Warm Florida!

 

Down in Florida with Midge and Allison, helping them get ready for their big show at Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery...

and preparing for my Friday stop on Interweave's " In stitches vol. 6" blog tour! 

Check it out!

July Embellishment Gathering!

Make Embellishments of all sizes, shapes and materials for all of your projects!

What is better than that?

2 Teachers. Guides, Task Masters

3 Dayz of creating, sharing, relaxing!!!

The BEST homegrown, homemade food in town!

by hand
by machine
fabric
threads
beads
yarns
metal
paper
plastic
found objects
and more!

Charlestown,
Rhode Island
02813

July 27-29, 2012

$400
$135 per day for one or two dayz

$100 holds your spot!

Local Beds for Rent:

Surfside Motel, Charlestown, RI

General Stanton Inn, Charlestown, RI

LaQuinta - Stonington, CT

You can check Westerly and Charlestown area for other choices!

Tracy Stilwell and Linda Willis

for more info and registration info:

tracystilwell@gmail.com

Don't Miss the Fun!

Bruce Winn

My dear friend Bruce died a couple of weeks ago. 

Last spring I started going to Michael and Bruce's home once a week to helping with any tasks that needed doing. He fought a graceful fight. His love and creativity are missed by so many.
I shared the words below at his memorial service...with great difficulty...
My heart weighs ten tons.



folding laundry

fixing lunch

fixing breakfast

feeding lunch

feeding breakfast

cleaning the kitchen

up the stairs

down the stairs

always check on the patient

scheming and preparing sweet treats

dumping urine

rinsing vomit bucket

watering plants

dusting

vacuuming

wiping

brushing

applying

water, gatorade, straws

checking pills

pop tarts, crescent rolls

talking:

business

design

foundry

store

family

friends

doctors

hospitals

living

dying

holidaze

holiday food

the girlz

glee

downton

changing focus

changing sides

changing sheets

changing meds

slowing down

narrowing the view with

grace

humor

fatigue

rebounding

regressing

releasing

a precious intimate gift

and michael, you are the best!