Virginia A. Spiegel

Cynthia St. Charles

Cynthia St. Charles is known for her art quilts that exemplify her love of nature and her beautiful work with surface design techniques such as pole wrapped shibori, rust dyed, and discharged pieces.  She has been published several times in Quilting Arts magazine, including the latest cover.  Her blog, Living and Dyeing Under the Big Sky,is updated daily with her latest art and adventures.

1.  How do you find/make time to be in your studio?  
Since my studio is on the lower level (walk out basement) of my home, it is easy to start my day there with my first cup of tea.

2.  Describe your studio in five words.  

Spacious, salvaged, whirlwind, colorful, productive.

3. What is the best/worst space you have ever had as a studio?
When I first began art quilting, I had a small table (2 x 4′) for my sewing machine in the laundry room squeezed between the door and the washer.  There was a 4′ square design wall above the sewing machine.  I did my dyeing on the floor between the dryer and the kitty litter box.  That was the worst.

My current studio is the best workspace I have ever had.  I have a wet studio with a dedicated washer and sink.  My regular studio is very spacious and although it is furnished with salvaged retail store displays for storage and work surfaces, it is extremely efficient.

5.  What would make a “dream studio” for you?
My current studio would be a “dream studio” if only I could make it more private.  There is no door separating it from the rest of the house (and no easy way to install one in the arched entryway).  The only lower level doorway to the outside is in my studio, so it gets a lot of traffic, which I resent.

6.  Any exhibits or special projects we should know about?

My work is on the cover of the December 2011 / January 2012 Issue of Quilting Arts.

I am curating the first ever group show for the Montana-Idaho region of SAQA.  The show, called Broad Spectrum, opens at the Rynkier-Morrison Gallery on the campus of Rocky Mountain College in Billings Montana on February 17, 2012.

Of course, Cynthia’s two Foto/Fiber 2012 Fiber BONUSES will have something to do with chickadees. Cynthia sent this note,”I did my studio pillaging for Foto/Fiber and can now say that each bonus will include not only one of the special postcard series, but also a hand carved printing block, monoprinted fabric, block printed fabric, and some of my hand dyed specialty yarns – all from my hand.  More if I can fit it in the envelope.”  Thanks, Cynthia!  Cynthia will be having more about her Fiber BONUSES on her blog.

Please join us for this fundraiser for the American Cancer Society on February 15 and 16. 100% of the proceeds are donated directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.  Here is the donation page if you want to check it out before February 15.

Vivika Hansen DeNegre

Vivika Hansen DeNegre was recently named Editor of Quilting Arts magazine.  Vivika’s artwork has been shown in exhibitions throughout the United States and is in many private collections. Recent public acquisitions of her work include the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Quilt Study Museum, as well as Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Medical Center. I’m excited to have Vivika join us for Foto/Fiber 2012, one of many of the Fiberart For A Cause fundraisers for which she has donated artwork.

1.  How do you find/make time to be in your studio?
I love the time spent in my studio, and value every minute that I can be creative.   As a busy working mother of four children and avid art quilter, those moments can be few and far between unless they are scheduled in advance.  I routinely plan to spend about an hour a day creating in my studio, with bigger chunks of time set aside on the weekends to pursue my passions.  Sometimes the best laid plans need to be set aside, but I try!

2.  Describe your studio in five words.

Colorful, calm, cheerful, natural, quiet.

3.  If you could pick only one thing from your studio to represent your art practice, what would it be?

My pincushion… Isn’t it great?  This is a piece of felted wool that was sliced to make a wonderful pincushion, but the best part is that it doubles as a cover for a jar that holds slivers of fabric and yarn which I use in my nest collages.  It really does represent my aesthetic:  I love repurposed fabrics, practical designs, and clever juxtapositions of texture and color.

4. What is the best/worst space you have ever had as a studio?

I like where I am now and would absolutely call it my best space.  I converted a spare bedroom to studio space, and it also houses my home office.  What could be better than making art quilts or writing about them and promoting the work of others all day long?  I am thrilled to be working in this industry, and my office/studio environment constantly reminds me how lucky I am.

5.  What would make a “dream studio” for you?
I’d enjoy having a modern space with awesome task lighting, a wet studio, and several sewing machines ready to go.  The reality is, you don’t really need a studio to be creative, but it is certainly a luxury that I’d rather not live without!  Let’s not forget that my dream space would come with an assistant who would anticipate my every need, clean up my piles of thread, and keep my scissors sharp…

6.  What would you advise someone setting up a studio for the first time?

Invest in good lighting, a sewing machine that will last a lifetime, a sewing table that allows your machine to sit flush with the top, and a large cutting mat.

7.  Any unique features/studio pets you would like to share? 

My trusty pug Elvis is my studio mate.  We rescued him several years ago, and he is forever greatful to have a family that loves him, a patch of sunshine, and a quilted dog bed designed just for him.

8.  Any new exhibits or projects we should know about?
Last June I made a prayer flag every day and posted about them on my blog.  A number of artists expressed interest in joining me in this endeavor, and I started a group blog (theprayerflagproject.blogspot.com) where anyone from around the world can express their hopes, dreams, and prayers in the form of a prayer flag.  So far, these flags are flying in the back yards and studios of more than 30 participating artists.  Join us if you’d like!

Okno V Dom/Window Into the Home 2
Natalya Aikens 

Artist Natalya Aikens is donating a most special artwork, Okno V Dom/Window Into the Home 2, to the Invitational Reverse Auction of Fiberart to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The artwork is featured on the cover of Quilting Arts 2009 Calendar.  The lucky patron of this artwork will also receive a copy of the Quilting Arts 2009 Calendar donated by Pokey Bolton of Quilting Arts. 

The artwork is 12×12″ and materials include silk organza, synthetic organza, dryer sheets, painted, free-handmachine embroidered, hand stitched.

Natalya’s art is an exploration of her heritage.  The Russian fairytales, folklore and decorative traditions infuse her work with their fanciful spirit. St. Petersburg, her birth city inspires her with its elegance, grace and grittiness. The pagan/Christian-intertwined history of Russia makes her dig deeper into her soul.

Natalya has exhibited her fiber art in juried shows throughout the US. Her artwork has made several appearances in Quilting Arts Magazine and Quilting Arts TV.

Her work has also been published in The Quilting Arts Book by Patricia Bolton, Art Quilts at Play by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston and SAQA’s Portfolio 15. She is a member of SAQA, Surface Design Association and the FiberRevolution.

Natalya earned her BFA at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and had a previous career in the fashion and film industries.  She currently lives and works in Westchester County, NY.

The Invitational Reverse Auction opens March 24.