Virginia A. Spiegel

Revealing

My big goal for this year is to have some work to enter in Quilt National. To that end I have started a new series. And if you know anything about Quilt National, you know I won’t be sharing even a peek until I’m sure I won’t be entering that specific piece.

Having said that, what I’m working on is a series very different from any of my other work. It is based on a 365 Days of Art project I did in 2006. I made a collage every day in a Fabriano book out of “stuff” cut from magazines or my own photos.

I am revisiting those collages for this new series. I am thinking of the new work as riffs on the existing collages as what I have available is only the fabric and paper I have created in the past through painting, dyeing, screenprinting, etc. So, lots of compromises. I’m thinking not just about the structure of the collage, but the subconscious messages my often hurried choices revealed.

But I am trying to keep the “cut-and-paste” subconscious flow of the paper collages in the textile works. So far, I have settled upon a 8×6 size which is somewhat larger than the original. I have been flipping through the book, marking about 20 pages and then making a textile work based on every page I marked.

First I draw the paper collage into my studio notebook, so I see all the shapes in the collage and then I just start cutting fabric freehand and using Mistyfuse to collage it all together. I have surprised myself by adding cotton batting for the last stitching for a more solid feel to the piece.

I don’t like to talk too much about a series in its infancy because some never go beyond the first five pieces. But I’m still interested at this point.

See all the ATCs here.

I know artists donating their artwork to patrons for Collage Mania II (May 5 and 6) are doing it to contribute to Fiberart For A Cause’s fundraising for the American Cancer Society, but, hey, everyone deserves a little pat on the back.

So I made 60 ATCs and they will be given to the first 50 (I’m optimistic!) Collage Mania artists who send in jpegs that are accepted for Collage Mania II.

If more than 50 artists (wow!) donate collages, the last 10 ATCs will be given in a drawing among all other artists.

There are no restrictions on content. “Accepted” means only that I will do a quick quality check to be sure your jpeg is of the right size and useable on the web AND I do ask that your work be the same quality YOU would want to receive. FFAC patrons have come to expect the hightest quality and I know that you will, in any case, want to send your best work.

Please read ALL the directions for submission carefully and then send in your jpegs.

The deadline is April 1 and do remember that you will be shipping your collages to the patron who acquires them during Collage Mania II.

Thank you in advance for your generosity in donating your work for Collage Mania II and please do contact me if you have any questions. Again, you may see all the available ATCs here.

Tufted Titmouse

Ok, the name probably makes you laugh, but I have never had one of these at my feeders before. It is quite a friendly bird, a bit like the chickadee that will come right up to the feeder while you are hanging it.

A note to subscribers of Art, Nature, Creativity, Life: There is a new photo essay (A Prairie New Year) now added to the book under “New Stuff - 2008.”

You will notice my posts will be fewer in January and February - to the studio!

Winter River

Best wishes, dear readers, for a happy, healthy and creative New Year!

Generous subscribers to Art, Nature, Creativity, Life donated $5675 through Fiberart For A Cause to the American Cancer Society in 2007. That is 19% of our goal of $30,000. THANK YOU!

Here are the winners in the A Book For Book bonus drawing for subscribers. Many thanks to the talented authors who donated their books for this special promotion.

1. Susan Kennedy - Art Quilt Workbook by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston

2. Lesa Barne - The Uncommon Quilter by Jeanne Williamson

3. Diane Becka - Creative Quilting: The Journal Quilt Project. Edited by Karey Patterson Bresenhan.

4. Jenny Williams - Embellished Mini Quilts by Jamie Fingal

5. Marylee Drake - Fabric Memory Books by Lesley Riley

6. Fiona Brockie - 1000 Artist Trading Cards. Edited by Patricia Bolton

7. Wanda Moon - The Quilt: A History and Celebration of an American Art Form by Elise Schebler Roberts

8. Linda Dunn - Beading on Fabric by Larkin Jean Van Horn

9. Donna Johnson - Fast, Fun & Easy Book Cover Art by Jake Finch

10. Barbara Potoczny - Picture Your World in Applique by Margaret Cusack

11. Sylvia Wier - Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette

12. Susan Thibald - Bead Creative Art Quilts by Nancy Eha

13. Susan Armstrong - Portraits for Fabric Lovers by Marilyn Bedford

14. Teri Springer - Compost Dyeing and Other Fermentation Techniques by Kimberly Baxter Packwood

15. Vicki Anderson - Rust and Clay Dyeing by Kimberly Baxter Packwoods

For more information about these books and authors, please follow the links on the post prior to this one.

We still have the $100 gift certificate to Flourish!

for subscribers to Art, Nature, Creativity, Life who donate $50 or more by March 31. All the information is here.