Posted, January 2007

I thought I had better explain the comment on the home page that states I am no longer quilting as a primary medium, nor quilting by machine. If I don't, I am sure I will be inundated with questions - and I get enough email as it is. Also, I am excited about new directions and will discuss that here as well.

Before I begin, let me state that I have nothing against advancing technology in the quilting industry for those who want it.

Why no sewing machine work... (a very adamant statement)

The invention of the sewing machine is right up there with the "best ever" inventions as far as I am concerned. That being said, I think they have gone too far with the "whistles and bells" features of today's high-end home sewing machines. I used to joke if they ever added the feature "it even cleans the toilet" I would want that model.

In the past few years we have seen home sewing machines come out with the ability to regulate stitches. One no longer has to strive and practice to get nice even freemotion stitching. I used to feel good about all the time a quilter had to put into creating original embroidery and quilting designs. Simple automated embroidery software and ready-made designs on disks and cards are now the norm. There are machines that even needle felt.

With these high-end machines the sewer really doesn't have much need for the skills we strived to perfect just a few short years ago. Yes I understand they still have to learn to use the machine, but that is not what I mean. I can't take pride in work that technology does for me. True, there is no reason I have to use a high-end machine. Also, there is nothing wrong with using technology if that is what you want. Yet in my mind, I am watching quiltmaking going from art back to craft with fancy toys.

As a quilt judge, I very often had a difficult time telling which quilts were done with technology, which the quilter did with attained skill, and which the quilter sent out* to someone else to quilt on a professional long arm machine. You might think you can rely on the honesty of the quilter, but sadly, you can't. It has come down to who has the money to buy the fanciest machine and who doesn't.

I didn't compete in judged shows myself, still I find it hard to look at a quilt I made with what talent I may have and see one done by technology, and still take pride in the industry. That was full of unique talent, skills attained by lots of time and practice, and much originality. Of course that still exists, and always will, but what I see more and more is automated, cookie-cutter quilting. I don't want to be part of that.

My solution... primarily handwork (which as I said, I happen to enjoy). I feel comfortable knowing when someone admires my work (including and most importantly - me) it is because I did it, not some "do it all" machine or ready-made aspects by others (such as computerized embroidery designs by others. Note: I have no personal issues using a basic sewing machine for simple piecing or garment construction.

I should be fair and say that for many years I enjoyed using what was a top-of-the line machine in its day - and its basic design software. It was still a tool and I had to learn to use it accordingly, with much practice. Today's machines and software make it too easy now - which is exactly what most people want.

New directions...

I am very excited about what I am doing now and what I am going to be starting up again. Many never knew that prior to quilt making, I did do other creative things. Quilting became so consuming, addicting, at the time that I gave up other artistic mediums.

I have come to appreciate texture much more than ever before. I am having a great time with Fiber Art and by that I primarily mean - felting in combination with yarns, cords, beadwork, weaving, etcetera. I am not buying ready-made felt. I am cleaning, combing, and dying the wool fibers, then hand felting them. I am also working with my own hand-made paper as well as silk fibers. I have enjoyed dye-painting wool fabrics and creating wall art with manipulation, hand stitching and embellishment.

Something quilting exposed me to was Art Characters. I have been doing that off and on over the years but have now got into it with far more enthusiasm and determination. I am working on a few different series and have tried whenever possible to shy away from traditional art doll styles and techniques (just to be different and more challenging).

Pen and Ink drawings and Colored Pencil work is something I remember doing as a teenager. Now I am combining them in the same illustrations. I am also using Pastels.

I still enjoy painting fabric. I like knowing the fabric I begin with is a high quality (200 count) and that what I create will be soft, colorfast AND resists fading (unlike commercial fabrics). I also have more commercial fabric than anyone has a right to own (grin), despite continuing to give much of it away. So, I have been working on what I call Fabric Compositions on Canvas. I don't think I can explain what that is in short, but it does not involve sewing at all (nor fusing, ugh), so you will have to wait until I upload a new section for it on this web site. Suffice it to say, I am still working with fabric.

Something completely new I am pursuing with passion is Painting (on stretched canvas frames I am making myself for quality control and unlimited size options). I have been studying the history and techniques of Fine Art, both old and new. I find myself leaning more towards three styles: post-impressionism, surrealism, and energism. Realism doesn't do anything for me. Unless you are a painter or a collector, you may not know exactly what these terms mean so I will show examples below. I am primarily working with high-end acrylics.

Appreciation...

I am very grateful to the many students who have come to learn from me - I have learned much from them. I am especially thankful for the merchants and industry leaders who made it possible for this to happen. To all the regular web site visitors, I hope you will continue to stop by occasionally to see what I will create and show here in the future. I still enjoy seeing what you do.

Impressionism

Energism

Surrealism