Dyed Paper Towels

I save not only my paper towels from dyeing, but I'm not too embarrased to ask fellow dyers for theirs, even at a Carol Soderland workshop as these were from. They are fused to Timtex.

I haven't had a lot of time to play with this as I'm working on my big wall art, but I can't wait. What fun!

Crime Scene

The back story:
Four local (SF Bay Area)police officers were shot and killed one day last month. It is a real tragedy and affected me personally because I have several family members in law enforcement and public service. A cousin is a police sargeant. My sister works
in the behavioral unit, my father was a deputy sheriff, a nephew is in the
police academy, and my brother is a firefighter. So this story made me think of the dangers public servants face every day.
I overdyed commercial fabric for the background. I then discharged the scope
sight in the center. I stamped the crime scene letters on hand-dyed fabric and
foiled the police badges. I then fused the black "grieving" strips over the
badges and printed the names (with paint pens)of the four officers after
stitching them down. I used Fabrico pens to write around the scope sight "I saw
the news today, Oh Boy."

I hope to complete this piece tomorrow. And as you can see, I am so encouraged by all your wonderful words. I'm also sending my congratulations to a fellow guild member Vicki David who got a second place on her first try at Padukah. Her piece is exquisite.

Current Exhibits

This image is mine from the Black and White Challenge. It features elephants. These are huge yet mystical beings who seem to have a connection to each other and relate to each other even when death intervenes. Amazing creatures of whom I have the utmost respect. This is a detail image. Full shot of fiber art piece is below. This is a commercial fabric I purchased years ago because of my affinity with these mammals.

Trees and Birds is my second Textile art piece in the Black and White Exhibit now touring the country. It is currently showing at the MidAtlantic Quilt Festival.



My Vineyards exhibit just closed at Moshin Winery. Next on tap is Along The Russian River exhibit at Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

Submersed in Art

How about the newest picture of my niece? She is adorable (and will be greeting a sibling this summer). It just makes me smile and want to snuggle up with something. So I'm wrapped in a comfy shawl, warmed by a cozy fire and ruminating on the last weeks. I've been extremely lucky to live in the SF bay area where two creative regional meetings were held. SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) regional held the yearly weekend meeting and Marion Coleman gave an inspiring and instructive lecture and trunk show of her public art projects. Show and tell was eye candy and inspirational. Today, I journeyed to SF for the SDA (Surface Design Association) regional meeting held at a member's loft in an artist's building. That was inspiration in itself. The encaustic textile artist Daniella Woolf gave a presentation of her work. I have been familiar with this medium for several years, as I have a friend (Lisa Schoutsen) who paints in encaustic and attended another demo in encaustic painting at AWS (Artist's Workshop of Sonoma County). I like the process, but, as Carol Larsen says, " I work in textiles because I love the feel they create." Me too. There were several Sonoma County artists present, some of whom shated gorgeous work). And last, but not least, I spent the last two weeks working in a small series for Liz Berg's Advanced Design class (See previous post). I'm not completely finished, but have a good start. I found it amazing what I learn about myself as I work on my pieces. And working like this led me to fashion my ideas about a very personal piece I've wanted to do for years, and have finally found the courage to begin.
My thanks to those who comment publicly or privately and provide the encouragement I need. And now my finger is tired, plus Paul Mc Cartney is on the Grammys. Till next time.

O's for Obama

I'm sure these circles are really O's, since today is inauguration eve and I am sending my best wishes to President Obama. I did this piece for Liz Berg's Advanced Design online class. Every media I see or hear is all about tomorrow's ceremonies, and rightfully so. I was in my teens for JFK's ceremony and subsequent tragedy. I wept for Bobby and Martin Luther King. To be alive to see this history is remarkable.
I watched the concert and was so proud of all the talented performers and of the huge crowds. I am hoping everything stays peaceful.
The piece is mt hand-dued cottons and is quilted with Superior Neon Orange.

Autumn colors

Autumn vineyards is my latest work. It is not completed yet and I am actively requesting critiques. Also, check out this site: http://dianedidit.com/stayathome.html. It chronicles the pieces made for the Ami Simms Alzheimer's challenge by those of us who didn't get to Houston. And if I don't get back to my blog, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Alzheimer's Quilts Plus

I had to start with this photo. This is my grand niece, Addison. There is a photo of her baby quilt in a previous post. She is one of the prettiest babies I've ever seen, si I thought I'd share her with you all.

This has been an interesting and productive week. At Tuesday's Pointless Sisters meeting, we played with stamping fabric. I brought dyed, discharged and overdyed fabric to play with. I also brought my own handmade stamps. This piece includes fabric stamped previously. New pictures at another time. This is one of my Alzheimer's Quilts for AAQI. It is hand-dyed, stamped and painted fabric fused and soft-edged applique. I called it Sailing thru Life. If only we could.

IThis is another one of my Alzheimer's Quilts for AAQI. Paradise is Not Lost. It is hand-dyed and painted fabric fused and soft-edged applique. A message of hope.

Another AAQI quilt. Circle of Life. Hand-dyed and commercial fabric, fused and soft edged applique. With a gorgeous piece of rusted fabric from Lois Jarvis, donated specifically for AAQI.She also is dinating $5.00 per quilt using her Rust-Tex fabric and registered before 11/5. I made the cut-off date.

On Thursday I attended a Community Service "retreat" with guild members. I quilted 2 baby quilts and 6 doll quilts, all of which will be donated to needy families and children. Our group is very active and has donated 1050 quilts so far this year. Some go to Wounded Warriors, others to YMCA shelters and hospitals. If you ever need to purge your stash, our group would welcome the donation. Everything is put to good use.
On Friday, I attended a wonderful lecture and demonstration by Claudio Jiminez Quispe, a Peruvian artist who specializes in creating Retablos. The pieces he created for this exhibit focused on Day of the Dead scenarios and some Frida Kahlo works. He will be exhibiting and teaching next at Shasta College in California. Check their website for info. He does amazing work with few tools (small toothpick, large toothpick and small knife). There were also beautiful alters done by various artists included in the exhibit. I learned a lot about the creation of the Retablos and the tradition of the Dead ceremonies.

Time is flying by

I'm back. I've been keeping up on all your blogs and the list and am so inspired by the work out there. Speaking of inspiration, I just watched Diane Sawyer's interview of Randy Rausch.( The Last Lecture) What an amazing man. I may even buy his book.

"Maya - Still I Rise" is my entry to the Breaking Traditions Exhibition highlighting someone or something out of the ordinary.

It has been a month since I last posted but I haven't been sitting around munching chocolates (altho it sounds yummy). I completed 2 acrylic paintings for a local exhibition. I may post pics tomorrow. I took Carol Soderlund's Pot of Gold workshop and have some yummy new hand dyed silks to play with. It took me 3 days to iron them. I also went to 2 of her lectures. The 15 elements lecture is terrific. I completed another little quilt but can't show it yet and I am working on some others, so I've been busy. And it's Spring and I've been doing some clean up outside and a little weeding and would love to plant some color. Not sure if I can do that myself yet. Oh, if anyone has info on Moo cards, please let me know. Thanks. Off to bed, another big day tomorrow!

Resist some more

This is one of the pieces I experimented on with flour resist. I originally used a very watered down black Seta color and let it sit for 3 days. Upon inspection, it didn't look dark enough so I added Versatex black to the mixture and overpainted it and let it sit a few more days and then rinsed it out. It is a little muddier than I expected, but thay may have been from the overpainting. The original piece was dyed with Procion MX dyes then discharged. Am I finished with it? Who knows. I'll have to let it simmer in this crazy brain of mine. I'll do some more of this. I still haven't done the potato resist yet. I will soon.

I completed Lesson 4 of Liz Berg's Better By Design online class and the homework for Lesson 5 gives me a chance to put what I've learned to work while making a couple of small pieces. Great teacher, great class.

No Guests Please

Well, this is my guest bathroom, but I am using it for other purposes these days. We've had 15 or 16 straight days of rain here in sunny California and even tho I saw sun today, we still had rain. Yes, I have a clothes dryer but I got my utility bill last week. Yowser!
These are some hand dyes that I discharged. Tomorrow I'm going to try potato dextrin resist vs. flour resist to check out the differences, if any.
This is something I'm working on because I am procrastinating on my homework from Liz Berg's design class. But Liz, I'm working on movement here! It's a really good lesson and I'll have some fun with this one too. I'm off to bed early. It's freezing in here. Night all.

Butterfly Parade

Butterfly Parade is my entry for this year's Pointless Sisters challenge. It is due next month, but I showed it today at our annual luncheon at Pat's house. We were told we had to start with white fabric and it must measure 8" X 42". The fabric is a silk/cotton mixture that I love. It has the luminosity of the silk, but the cotton makes it much easier to work with AND it doesn't fray. I dyed the fabric with Procion dyes and painted the details with Tsusineko inks. Each butterfly was fused individually then machine appliqued and machine quilted. All the pieces will be hanging in the Rincon Valley library show in March. To bed. Class homework tomorrow!

New Year, New Stuff

Well, I have survived another year and another birthday. I survived the New Year's storms with only a few downed branches, but I may not survive the bill from the pump and well company who gave me back my water (no flushing). I have been creating consistently since the holidays. I completed one piece, hints are in the pictures, and am working on another. So, what's the problem?


Part of my problem is that the house is still decorated for the holidays and I have to wait for help to UNdecorate it! My workrooms are full of all the things I moved to make room for Christmas. The birdcage is on my surface design table and my kitchen table is a poor substitute.
Too cold to paint today. I'll try to do some tomorrow. I've been missing it. I've been thinking about doing some artwork in my guest bathroom.I'm not sure I'm UP to it, but I may be able to get part of it done. (the lower part). I've also been making some new stamping materials. I have decided that I will experiment with several of the techniques I've learned but haven't put to use yet. More on the pictures later...