Great opening!

Last week I attended the opening for "Small Works VI, by Webster Arts. They did not hang my mini quilts in the way that I envisioned horizontally, but I think they still work great! So glad to be included in this lovely exhibition.

Coyote progress!

I think the quilt top is just about completed! Next up- making a "quilt sandwich"- which is layering the quilt top (below) with quilting batting and backing fabric. I will use a loose long stitch to sew the three layers together and that will keep everything in the right place while I am quilting. Hopefully I can get going on that tonight!

Coyote progress!

The trees really add some interest!

The trees really add some interest!

I clearly need a bigger dining room table for the purpose of laying out my quilts! I think I will add a little snow to the mid ground and a little green to the foreground to connect the two spaces.

I clearly need a bigger dining room table for the purpose of laying out my quilts! I think I will add a little snow to the mid ground and a little green to the foreground to connect the two spaces.

Coyote Quilt update!

I've been working hard and having fun building the quilt top for my coyote quilt. Here's a few pictures showing how an evolution in the mid-ground. Something about those prints just was not sitting right with me. Luckily, I work at a beautiful art museum so I took a trip up to the third floor to see some American landscapes, and I noticed how the mid-ground usually had rolling hills that folded neatly into each other. This was the perfect solution for my quilt, so I got to ripping. I love how it is turning out!

Old mid-ground....something is just not quite right....

Old mid-ground....something is just not quite right....

much better!!

much better!!

Art Shows!

Spring is busy! I have work up in two shows right now.

I have 4 plein air landscape paintings hanging in "Lovely as a tree" at the St. Peter's Cultural Art Center in St. Peters, MO. Their address is 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd. St. Peters, MO 63376. That show will stay up until May 7. I also have my recently completed 3 Dogwood Quilt panels hanging at the Webster Groves Library in a show called "Small Works" from April 1-30. Ill try to get some installation shots soon!

Next up!

I've decided to focus solely on landscape quilts in the year 2017, in hopes I can build a portfolio of quilts that will grant me another National Park Artist In Residence program for 2018. I drew a little sketch of my next big landscape quilt project- 10 coyotes running in the snow in Montana. I will start this week!

Dogwoods finished!

I finished these guys up just in time to submit to "Small Works IV" a show being put on by the organization Webster Arts, near my home. The guidelines were 2D Media less than 16" square. I will find out March 22 if I am accepted. I am very happy with this little project!

 

Getting there!

I quilted the flowers down in pink, and added some quilting in black to the inside of the flower. I think the contrast really help make it pop. I'll use clear thread to quilt the leaves and the branches next time.

I also picked out some backing fabric that was left over from my Hot Springs Quilt. It's coming together! The entire quilt was made from scraps.

 

Dogwood progress!

Progress- I got the middle of the flowers added, as well as the border! I used the same fabric for the border that I did for the flowers. I really am loving the mix of textures with the batik I used for the leaves and tree bark with the floral I used for the pedals.

Starting some dogwood quilt squares

I am making these quilt squares to enter a show in Webster Groves called "Small works", where everything has to be 16" square or less. I hope these mini quilts will get accepted! If they don't, Ill just make them into a wall hanging or maybe some pillows. Fun either way!

Another landscape quilt!

Alright, long story short:

When I got back from my residency in Arkansas, I thought I just had a few finishing touches for my landscape quilt that I would finish up and send back in the mail. But the more I looked at it, the more I knew I had to remake it. It just wasn't as technically correct as I knew it could be. I had my deceased grandmother in my ear silently judging me for not giving them my best work. So I remade the quilt. The new quilt is one that I am proud will hang in their beautiful museum at the Ozark Bathhouse among many other incredible works of art in their collection. I am so happy to finally have this finished!

 

Other projects

Over January I worked on some flowers for a logo for a radical nursery and garden center in St. Charles, MO. I offered a lot of options so the owner and the graphic designer could chose what they liked. The bee was already drawn in, I just added the flowers.  You can see the first two are the blank logos and the rest are what I drew up to add. It was a very fun project! Cant wait to see the final product on a huge sign! I will be sure to update ya'll on which flower design she chooses!

 

 

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Vacation time!

You haven't seen an update lately because I've been on vacation in Hawaii! Here's a quick plein air sketch I did on Maui. Mahalo!

 

Back at it!

I gave myself two weeks of rest off of commissions for the holidays but I'm back at it! This is Chiquita and Milly! Couple of snuggle bunnies. 

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My babies in the wild!

I love seeing pictures of my paintings all framed up and ready to be given as gifts! I did SO MANY commissions and sales for the holidays. I was exhausted. Seeing them framed up makes it all worth it!  

And a ringing endorsement!  

And a ringing endorsement!