While photographing the glass sculptures at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, I
happened to capture a snowy egret coming to investigate.
Click any image for a larger view
He gave it a close inspection, looking for food, I’m guessing.
When he didn’t find it he curled his long neck in, hunched up his
“shoulders” and I think I heard him say “Humph.”
And then he marched off.
I guess he’s not a Chihuly fan.
Ellen Lindner
Are you familiar with the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly? This work is amazing and his installations in public gardens are truly awe inspiring.
I got to see his current exhibition at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables, FL, (Miami area.) Wow! Today, I am showing you just one of the fantastic pieces, in detail.
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This is God Bless You, the other UFO (unfinished object) I recently completed.
God Bless You, Ellen Lindner 8 x 8, $79
Like the first UFO, I worked on this one, primarily, in medical waiting rooms. Fortunately, I got to know many others who were also waiting and I made some good friends. One of them always said “God Bless You.” And He did bless me – with her friendship.
It sure was nice to get support from new friends away from home! I chose bright colors to reflect that.
This one can be framed in a square frame, 10″ or 12″, or mounted on an artist’s canvas.
Ellen Lindner
See more abstract fabric collages here
You know about UFOs, right? Unfinished objects? Like all quilters, I have my fair share. The holiday break seemed like a good time to dig some out, rather than to start something new. So, I worked on two very small collages, adding lots of hand stitching.
This one is called Making New Friends, photographed on black.
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Making New Friends Ellen Lindner, 10″ x 8″, $79
I worked on it during a long trial away from home which included MANY hours spent in medical waiting rooms. But there was a silver lining, since we eventually made friends with other people who were also waiting. This was a HUGE blessing that I am still thankful for.
This gives you an idea of how this small collage it would look in a 14 x 11″ frame.
The frame shown is called a floating frame, since it has glass in place of a mat. A white mat would also look nice.
Ellen Lindner
P.S. How are you coming with your won UFOs?
I’ve recently discovered/rediscovered some products that are making my quilting life easier. The most significant is Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It.*
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The great thing about this glue is the long skinny nozzle. This allows me to add glue under fabrics that are already in place. A BIG improvement over ALL THE PINS I’ve used in the past!
I’ve also been on the hunt for the perfect marking tool for dark fabrics. I think I’ve found it with the white Sewline mechanical pencil.**
Finally, I recently had to quilt on a slightly slick fabric. In search of a better way to control the quilt, I pulled out the machine quilting gloves I already owned – but wasn’t in the habit of using. They really helped.
BTW, does anyone know the best way to wash these? Mine are beginning to look well loved.
It sure makes me happy when I find things that make life’s tasks easier!
Ellen Lindner
P.S. * I tried Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It many years ago. Although the glue worked well, the nozzle continually clogged. A recent recommendation prompted me to try it again, and I’m SO glad this problem has been corrected! (I’m not sure, but it might be important to buy the version that has the blue cap on the nozzle attachment.)
P.P.S. **The newest Sewline pencils have white lead, but the outsides are generally red or pink.
I recently purchased a beautiful hand dyed fat quarter, from Gabriele Bullard, of Fabrilish.
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Isn’t it gorgeous?!?
I spent a bit of time deciding how to best use it. Certainly, it was tempting to keep it intact and to simply add other fabrics around it.
But, I wasn’t sure that would quite meet the full potential of this fabric. What if I tore it up and added other fabrics in between? I auditioned this idea on the computer and liked it quite a bit.
So, I started tearing into my beautiful fabric. Literally. I began to arrange pieces on a muslin base, adding contrasting fabrics around each one. I had no plan for what went where or what size or shape it would take. (Which make it both challenging and great fun.)
In the photo above, all the original fabric was used and I had a very odd shape. I knew from experience that unusual shapes are hard to handle, so I wanted to fill in the corners to make a rectangle. The photo below shows the two left corners filled in, and more underway.
But, it wasn’t enough to just fill in the corners. I wanted the pieces to have a lot of different sizes and proportions, and to contrast with one another. I worked on creating interest in this manner as I continued to fill in corners, and this is where it stands now.
See what I mean about adding interest? Compare the “after” picture, above, to the “before” picture, two above. Changes were made throughout most of the left side.
This quilt is not finished. I want to:
– Add interest with many smaller pieces
– Add some curving lines
– Add a lot of texture with quilting, and
– Add hand stitching of some sort.
Plus, I’ll audition the orientation. I think it will probably end up turned.
I’m also thinking about the theme and title of this piece. Perhaps it has something to do with sunset through trees. We’ll see.
I’m having fun with it!
Ellen Lindner
P.S. This quilt reminds me a lot of the quilts my students make in the Instant Art Quilt class. Check out the gallery.
I completed a quilt in mid-December and didn’t want to start anything major during the holidays. So, I dug into my UFO (unfinished objects) drawer and my scrap bag for some small projects.
I got the idea of fusing scraps onto muslin in order to create a random background. But then I thought, “Why do it on muslin and risk white fabric peaking through? Maybe I should start with something else.”
So, I pulled this lovely fabric from my stash and cut a piece.
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I fused a sheet of fusible web to the right side of this base fabric and got started. Next, I decided that I would VERY LOOSELY imitate the color placement of the base fabric as I added scraps. (Why, I don’t know.)
Here’s a detail shot of the process. The hazy areas are the background fabric with the fusible making it look that way.
As you can see, I cut a lot of little pieces and used lots of prints to emulate the underlying fabric. Not sure why I created such a task for myself, but it was keeping me entertained.
And this is the finished background. It’s DEFINITELY not a finished quilt design, but I think it has interesting possibilities as the start of something else.
I might try to merge the colors with paint or tulle. Or maybe I’ll cut it up as the start of several small works.
But for now, it will go back in the UFO drawer, because another project has caught my attention. I kinda figured that would happen. No worries. Any time spent creating induces more creativity.
What wacky ideas have you acted upon lately?
Ellen Lindner
The online version of “Grow with the Flow” is ready to go, starting on January 23rd. Since online student’s have more time and space than participants in the live class, their project is larger and the proportions are taller and skinnier. Like this:
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But the fun process and dramatic project remain! Students will go with the flow as they make a dramatic background using free rotary cutting. Then, they’ll master “fussy fusing,” a process which makes the handling of tiny fused pieces much easier.
Find all the class details here.
BTW, I named this quilt Dancing with Delight. Hope to “see” you in class!
Ellen Lindner
P.S. You can also book the live version of this class for your guild.
P.S. Scroll back a bit to see the student results from the first live class.
Here are a few more eye catchers from the West Palm show.
Susan Rienzo does a wonderful job of combining colors.
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Sunshine State of Mind, by Susan Rienzo
I thought Eyvonne handled the water reflection beautifully in this next quilt.
I See You – detail, by Eyvonne Smith
A Newborn Star, by Atsuko Matsubara. Best Use of Color in the World Quilt competition.
Even though I got an arm in this photo, I thought you’d enjoy seeing the quilt.
Peeking In, by Anne-Marie Miro
Perhaps you can tell: Einor’s flowers and lily pads are, indeed, floating. Very dimensional and lovely.
Floating Flowers, by Elinor Dickinson
I’ll see you at next year’s show!
Ellen Lindner
P.S. I’ve also had other quilts win awards in previous years. See Ripening and Crotons.
I was thrilled to win Best Pictorial at last week’s World Quilt Show – Florida, in West Palm, FL. My quilt, Carefree, did the trick.
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It was a lot of fun to visit the show, accept a few compliments, see all the great quilts, and – of course – visit the vendors!
Here are a few of the pieces that caught my eye:
Daybreak in my Garden, by Elsbeth Kooyman
This quilt was part of a group exhibit from Curacao. Each quilter copied the style of Leslie Gabrielse, who is an excellent Dutch quilter/painter. He uses large stitches to finish the edges of each piece, which these quilters did as well. I love the sheers in the background.
A group of quilters from Miami had an exhibit, which featured images from that city.
Stiltsville Too, by Sandra Marietta
Janet McCallum’s piece was done with deconstructed screen printing. Very subtle and beautiful.
Pebble Beach, by Janet McCallum
I don’t normally study the traditional quilts too closely, but the TINY yo-yos making up this piece were definitely worth further investigation.
Stars and Hearts – detail, by Debra Cathy Linsley
Don’t you love a quilt show? I’ll show more photos in the next post.
Ellen Lindner
