Happy New Year!

 It has been a very busy year and I have neglected my blog since September! So sorry ! My New Year's intention will be to keep up my blog. It really started with a new computer. I am still trying to navigate around my picture files. And then I got very busy teaching classes, entering shows and so on. I do a lot of volunteering which takes some time. I am the editor of my embroidery group's newsletter, membership coordinator for my fine arts group and I will be a communication person for another fibre group. I did give up some groups but I still have little time for house cleaning! :>)
Above and below is a highlight for me for 2011. My little house was published in Cloth Paper Scissors! There it is with the little green roof and orange door. This kind of collage and embroidery is really my style!

 Here I am at a Mixed media workshop I helped run for the Fine Arts Society of Milton.

 This my collage piece that is being critiqued by my instructor, Jill Segal.

I also taught an adult class at the new art centre in October called Art Quilt.

Below are three of my students, Sharon, Shelia and Annie.

 Mary was the also in my class and I enjoyed introducing her to fibre art.

 My other class was at the Canadian Embroiderers' Guild Guelph. I was teaching The Book of Stitches from the Jan Messent book on Celtic, Viking and Anglo Saxon Embroidery. This is 92 year old Dorothy who put the rest of us to shame with her creativity and work ethic. Her book of stitches was completed at the end of six weeks. Ellen, a retired teacher enjoyed the class as well.

 Barbara Lee, below, created a very beautiful accordion book!

I taught a children's art class at the Milton Centre for the Arts for 10 weeks. ( once a week ) We had a delightful art show of all student's art work at the Holcim Gallery in December.

Whew, it was a chaotic season! Did I mention I taught at my friend's Open Studio, did Studio Tour with the best sales ever and fitted in a few supply teaching days? I did make a bit of art in the evenings watching television to sell at the AM Gallery. I continued to do the Sketchbook challenge each month, even if it was only one sketch or collage.

Its two hours into the New Year and I will not be making New Year's Resolutions. I will work at addressing my intentions for 2012 which will include my passion for all things fibre and stitch and mixed media.





July Sketchbook Pages

                                                              A Seed Becomes a Flower

doodles collaged, gesso, paint, black marker

A tribute to my aunt in my Little Bird series

Inktense pencils, marker

Collograph printmaking samples

Made at Sandra's Open Studio

Cover of my mixed media book

Little Bird Speaks

More to come!



Calendar and Sketchbook Challenge

Here is a little bit of my Quilting Arts Calendar Challenge Entry.
Yes, it is Oatis!

I first made my background from fabric and paper and paint.

I drew my cartoon drawings on vintage feed sack and thread sketched them on my sewing machine.
They are coloured with pencil crayons.

This is the back of the fabric paper. I free motion stitched around the motifs from the back.

Here is the finished 12"x 12" art quilt, called:
PUPPY ANTICS
Oatie is in a large bucket while gathering leaves at the cottage.
Oatie playing with the neighbour's black cat.
Oatie sleeping with his paws up. Yep, he really does.
Oatie standing while we dance to the Black Eyed Peas: Boom,boom,pow!
Finally a portrait!
I made this art quilt in a mere 3 days and had the photos in the mail.
But alas, I didn't make the list of finalists,
but I have a very cute quilt!

A page from my new 2011 Sketchbook.
Sketchy animals drawn while traveling in my new car.

My Highly Prized Page for the Sketchbook Challenge.
I followed a video instructed by Pam Carriker.
I am really loving Pam's art.
She has a book coming out soon called, Art at the Speed Of Life.
The little girl is a copy of an old photo I bought in Florida.

A birthday card I made for my friend Sandra Spagnuolo, a mixed media artist.
The focal point is from an old pattern I found in an antique market.
I hope you have time to check out the Sketchbook Challenge.
I am enjoying it daily!