Ellen Lindner: Art & Creativity

Those books have got to go somewhere!

 My work table was already pretty full when I added a couple of shelves worth of books.

Then, there was all the stuff that was crammed between the bookshelf and the wall.  Like shipping noodles.

And the little “suitcase” with the backgammon game.  So that’s where that went!

Many of the knick-knacks ended up on my sewing table.

Including this, my “Lifetime Achievement Award.” 

It was awarded to me by my Sunday School class, many years ago, at an Academy Awards style party.  I’m not sure what my “achievement “was.  Definitely something silly!

Now, to put everything back.  I suspect I’m sure I’ll get distracted by one of those books.  But, that’s not so bad, is it?

Ellen Lindner

What do glass shards, junk mail and parachutes have in common?  They’re all fodder for Nancy Judd’s creativity.  She uses these items and other cast off or recycled materials to create wearable garments.

Although this evening gown seems to be laden with sequins, it’s actually covered with over 4000 shards of glass.  Click for a larger view.
 

Other garments include tires, airplane seats, police tape, nails, and shopping bags.  It’s all VERY creative!  As you might imagine, Judd’s message is an environmental one.  She uses the beauty of fashion to engage her audience about the wastefulness of our society.  (More images)

The exhibit is on display, through April 27th, at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, in Melbourne.   Not only is it very intriguing, it’s also free.

Ellen Lindner

Ooh, I love the hot fucshia line in “Note for a Friend #6.”  These were the colors I set out to use and I think they’re very effective.  I was really happy with the embroidery, too.  (Click the image for a much better view.)

Note for a Friend #6
5″ x 7″

$59 unframed, or $79 framed/mounted on glass
See this post for an example of the framing.

To purchase, email me at ellen@adventurequilter.com  (If you want the set the price is discounted:  $149 unframed or 199 framed.)

Ellen Lindner

Here’s “Note for a Friend #5.  I didn’t intend to use yellow.  However, my green and yellow scraps share a container.  As I was working some green out, a yellow piece of fabric fell onto my composition and it really seemed to work.  The orange happened in a similar way.

I planned to use fucshia in this piece, but it ended up as the embroidery only.

  (Click the image for a much better view.)

Note for a Friend #5
5″ x 7″

$59 unframed, or $79 framed/mounted on glass
See this post for an example of the framing.

To purchase, email me at ellen@adventurequilter.com  (If you want the set the price is disounted:  $149 unframed or 199 framed.)

Ellen Lindner

“Notes for a Friend,” numbers 4 through 6, feature yellow-greens with bright accents.  Here’s number 4 complete.  I especially like the curly-Q yellow stitching at the top.  (Click the image for a much better view.)

Note for a Friend #4
5″ x 7″

$59 unframed, or $79 framed/mounted on glass
See this post for an example of the framing.

To purchase, email me at ellen@adventurequilter.com  I’ve got two more coming soon, and I’ll be offering discount pricing on the set.

Ellen Lindner

I’m loving some of my new tools.  I learned about a couple of these while teaching in Colorado.  (Are tools regional?)

The scissors have micro tips.  Boy are they sharp!  Right down to the very tip of the blade.  I’ve been using them to trim “hairy” collages, right on the surface of the quilt.  Which means I have to be careful, because I could easily snip fabric accidentally.

The Frixion pens are not intended specifically for fabric, but they work beautifully.  They disappear with heat!  So, when I wanted to add stitched curly-Qs to a recent collage, I drew them on with these pens, did my stitching, and then ironed away the ink.  Note:  since publishing this post, I’ve had several warnings about the ink returning in cold conditions.  Please read this blog post for more details.  (Thanks to Monica Spicker for the information.)

And the ironing was done with my new Clover mini-iron.  I’m loving it!  Why did I wait so long to get one?

Finally, I’ve been using Fons and Porters fabric glue stick.  It’s about half the width of a regular school glue stick, which makes it easier to aim.  And the glue goes on smoothly without being gunky.  It came it very handy as I glued individual “stones” on my York City Wall quilt.  (STILL in-progress.)

What new tools have you been using?

Ellen Lindner

I think hand stitching really brings these little “notes” to life.  With each one, I’ve added any of the group colors that are missing.

I made the lines a little too long on this first one, and they floated away from the fabric.  So, I couched the middle of each one with a contrasting thread.  I really like the effect.

Click any image for a larger view
This one had none of the orange.  But it does now! The large blank area on this one begged for something special.  These yellow curly-Qs seem to be the perfect touch.  (The drawn lines will be removed later.)

I sure am having fun with these!  There’s a large piece on my design wall that’s nearly complete.  But, I’m having a hard time motivating myself to finish it just yet.  Oh well, who says I need to?

Ellen Lindner

A brief view of the current exhibit at the King Center for Performing Arts.  All created by members of the Dirty Dozen Fiber Artists group. 

The two foreground pieces are my own:  “Security,” and “Caring.”  On the back wall, I can see a piece by Jill Brown.

The exhibit continues through February 4th.  Hope you get to see it!

Ellen Lindner

Have you ever made a quilt that you liked more as you worked on it than after it was nicely finished?  I’ve done this enough times that I’ve finally learned how to deal with it.  The issue is one of composition and proportion, and it’s especially dramatic with small pieces. 

When creating a collage, I work at making the composition well balanced.  However, this is tricky since some of what I’m seeing will soon be invisible.  It will be lost either in trimming or in finishing of the edges.  Once that extra fabric is missing, I may find that the proportions of my quilt are off. 

Here’s an example.  I like the balance of this little in-progress quilt.  I especially like the placement of the bright accent fabrics.

Click any image for a larger view

But, once it’s finished to only 5″ x 7″, it will look more like this:

Hmm.  Now that fuscia fabric seems too close to the edge.  I’ll need to move it to the left.  When I do so, other things may need to be adjusted, as well. 

To gauge this sort of thing, I use a simple paper frame with an opening that’s 5 x 7.  A very useful trick, don’t you think?

Ellen Lindner

No, not money.  More small collages in my “Notes for a Friend” series.  I’m now working on three new green collages, with accents of fuschia, etc.

After making the first three red ones, I thought maybe I could do a sort of assembly line process with these next three.  Wrong!  There’s absolutely no substitution for thoughtful consideration of each piece of fabric.

Here’s #4 well underway in the colors I originally planned.

I’m working with scraps only on these small pieces.  My green scraps share a container with the yellow ones and at one point one of these spilled onto the work table.  That gave the idea to add a little yellow.  Like this.  Just a little spark: 

 Then this one, #6, got quite a bit more.  And some blue, too!

After some initial frustration, (when I was trying to force a production line approach,) I’m now enjoying these quite a bit.

Ellen Lindner
P.S.  See December 18, 2012 and forward to see the first three red notes.