This time I will talk about the Retreat in General. It is a 5 day event (six if you count the opening reception the night before classes start) that is workshops aimed at fiber art junkies. People go there to do wild and wonderful things with color and fabric. And we have this lady; Cathy Arnett, to thank for our week of fun and learning. Thanks Cathy!!

Lynn K

This is Lynn K and she was the curator of Blurred Boundaries – a fabulous Mixed Media show that graced our common room where all the social events went on.

Blurred Boundaries

There were many wonderful works…

Blurred Boundaries

That surrounded us…

Blurred Boundaries

As we soaked up the great atmosphere.

Kerr & Lyric

We had three incrdible workshops to chose from this year – the one I have already gushed about; Lyric Kinard‘s “The Elements of Art”, Kerr Grabowski’s Deconstructed Screen Printing, and Laura Cater-Woods “Tempting the Muse”.

Patrice and Pat

There were serious art discussions…

Von

And some, not so serious 

We had a fabulous breakfast every morning, a hearty lunch to get us through the day, snack time in the afternoons, and more sweets and goodies than were good for us but we ate them anyway! There was wine, but I pretty much covered that last post. (!?!)

Musical Interlude

There were evening events and even a musical interlude. Turns out Martha (left), Lyric (center), and Cathy (right) are quite talented!

Morning Yoga

We even had Yoga every morning and yes, I went – and joined Kathy B, Maggie H, Margot L, and Lyric for a great way to wake up and energize the creativity.

Line

Only 348 days until next year

Deb H

I spent all last week at Fabrications in Kalamazoo, Michigan becoming a famous fiber artist.

Well, a girl can dream! I took a five day workshop with Lyric Kinard (I have her new book in my hands as I type – tricky, that – and it’s fabulous!) learning The Elements of Art. Give me a couple of more months and I’ll knock your socks off!

But don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to knit more  (socks).

If  you have been reading my Blog, you know all about the best Fiber Art Retreat in all of Michigan (and several other states). It was the best 5 days of art, fabric, wine, friends, more art, wine, excellent food, colorful fabric, music, wine…

Did I mention wine?

balance

So we did really cool things to fabric and had a generally great time. We did not sleep much but I guess a week of creative exuberance is a sufficient substitute 

About my class; it was pretty much based on Lyric’s new book “Art + Quilt” (pictured above). For this ol’ ducky who has had very little formal art training, it was perfect. I absorb art and art knowledge in bits and pieces and odd places; reading books and magazines, watching videos, taking workshops aimed at fiber art, hobnobbing with artists, staring at artwork of all kinds, and playing with color,  fabric and yarn.

4 days of learning

To work through exercises on texture, shape, line, color and value made it clear to me that I had the knowledge, I just couldn’t control it. I now feel like I have the gift of (at least some) control. Knowledge is power they say. This is true for artistic endeavors as well. I now have the power to know why some of my pieces are triumphs and some are, well…

dismal disasters.

I know my weak spot (value) and to watch for it. I know my strong point (color) and will aim to capitalize on it. Although I even learned new stuff about color and I thought I had that one nailed. I learned about unity, focal point, balance, motion, rhythm (doesn’t that word look like it needs to buy a vowel?), how the eye travels through a piece.

All good stuff!!

I even learned about “seeing” in daily drawing exercises. That was tough! I’m the girl who dropped out of college Drawing 101 when my art teacher would not let me use my triangles, straight edge, and scale to draw a leaf. I had a nervous breakdown! I still can’t draw but at least I will try – progress

I learned about kicking the muse in the boot, finding inspiration when it’s being illusive, storing ideas for when inspiration is coming too fast and furious.

I learned about critiquing; our work and others.

New work started

I learned about my own creative nature. And I started a new work that I’m excited to explore!

Lyric teaching us

The workshop was soooo fabulous. And so is her book. A must have for anyone who does not have that MFA after their name.

My cup is full.

Deb H

Ginkgo Leaves On Water - Water Series #1 by Deborah Harowitz

12″ x 12″ – hand dyed and hand painted cottons and silks by me and multiple artists, commercial cotton, fused glass by me, clear vinyl. Machine quilted, hand stitched and beaded. Mounted on a stretcher frame.

The quilt is actually very square, my camera does this whole fish-eye thing which really bugs me but I haven’t figured out how to avoid it – yet. Any suggestions?

I gave you a teaser a few weeks ago about an art quilt I was doing for a barely made deadline. This quilt was for a juried exhibit called Blurred Boundaries in conjunction with Fabrications Fiber Art Retreat.

detail of fused glass and beading

I cut a hole in the quilt through all layers and sandwiched in a piece of clear vinyl to create a window in the quilt. Holes were drilled in the four corners of the fused glass (2-3/4″ x 2-1/3″) and hand stitched with beads to the vinyl window to create a floating look.

I was going to wait until September 1st to post pictures of my quilt since that is when the show will be hung. Well… I’m posting it now because I didn’t get in. But that’s OK, I kind of knew when I sent it off that it was not really blurring many boundaries as far as being a mixed media piece. The judge’s comments were a reiteration of what the show was looking for; work a bit more edgy and mixed in techniques and materials/medium. She was gracious and diplomatic in her response and her decision became obvious to me as I read the guidelines. Not only am I OK with it, I agree wholeheartedly and am excited about stretching my creative self even more in the next project. I’m also very eager to see what did get in! I did a second quilt in this series (Water Equals Life – Water Series #2, 20″ x 24′) that will be exhibited in the MQAI (Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational) traveling exhibit from September of 2009 through August of 2011. I can post pictures of that after September 11th, the show opening. And, since MQAI is an “invitational”, it was a sure thing.    Both pieces are more “quilty” than mixed media. For the MAQI exhibit, it is totally appropriate and blends well with the other entries.

Going for the "floating" look

As a summation, I’m very happy with my Ginkgo Leaves piece. I got to use some of my glass I made and I experimented with some techniques and ideas that were new to me. I’m happy with the colors and overall effect I got; being very much what I was going for.

Deb H

June's Fabric of the Month

I have successfully made my next quilt deadline. I have finished a 20″ x 24″ Quilt for the 2009 Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational traveling exhibit. It’s the 2nd in a “Water” series. I can’t post pictures until the show opening on September 11th but I’ll post them then. I was quite pleased.

July's Fabric of the Month

Meanwhile, I have a studio to clean up, a brain to unclutter, and some catch-up to do. Here is my first Blog catch-up. June and July’s Fabrics of the Month from Just Imagination. I love getting these in the mail, it’s like a little present on the first of every month and who does not like presents? Even when we give them to ourselves.

Deb H

Ginko Leaves on Water

The photo is a teaser, I’ll post the full view on September 1 (ish), as soon as the show is hung – that’s assuming I get in – I’m a great positive thinker    The show is Blurred Boundaries, a mixed media exhibit in conjunction with Fabrications this year.

And I have been busy doing other things as well, but since I have a whole ton of photos to process/sort through… that will be next time. I’m also working on another art quilt for a different show with a very near deadline (7/18), apparently I love pressure!

Deb H

deadline is close - ack!

Deb H

A Time for Change and Growth

Fabrications is an annual Fiber Art Retreat that is the fiber art highlight of my year. This year (2009) is it’s 5th or 6th year (I’ve lost count, but I’m thinking it’s the 6th. I’ve attended 4 so far) and it has grown to a truly fabulous experience. Having spent it’s first 5 years in the Fall in Mid-Michigan, it has had an expansion; from the original two days to a full five
a date change; now the first week of September,
and a location change; Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Quickie Collage

Of all of these changes, I heartily approve! The longer session for the workshops from two (then three) to five days was so needed. Those of us who attend regularly were always feeling like things just ended when we were getting in our stride after the third day. Five will be better, longer strides  ;o)

My Wall of Work

Kalamazoo (yes, it has a very funny name) is a wonderful little college town with so many more perks than the small rural communities where we have been in in the past. Yes the scenery was luscious but, we will now have access to several wonderful restaurants, art galleries, fabric shops, bead shops, art stores, coffee houses (Water Street and Fourth Coast are my two favorites there) and other wonderful distractions.

Detail of "Too Many Directions"

We almost need to go two days early and stay and extra two days to take advantage of the extras K’zoo has to offer. There are even going to be some special Fiber Art exhibits just for us!

A Productive Day

As for the class offerings – they are fabulous (as usual). There is a button to the right that you can click on to find out more (it’s worth the diversion), I’m already signed up for Elements of Art with Lyric Kinard.

Art Journal

I am so Jazzed. Just dreaming about the week to come; a posh hotel, most of my meals taken care of, immersion in fiber and art, incredible evenings with like minded fiber artists that totally understand me (the best part)… makes for a wonderful day dream. That will hold me until the end of August.

Portrait of Cathy

The photos are all of past years at Fabrications, as usual click to big-ma-fy. See you there!

Von and Cathy take art seriously

Just so you know, all artists are not the serious Vincent van Gogh types  ;o)

Deb H

I’m currently out-of-town at Fabrications for 3 days of rapturous fiber art workshop. An additional perk is the free Wi-Fi in the lobby, hence this post. Besides, you have to love a Fiber Art Retreat that has a view like this out the classroom window.

I’m taking the class with Fran Skiles. It was a tough decision as Laura Cater-Woods is teaching here, as well a Jeanne Beck. I have taken two classes with Laura and was very tempted to take it again but I decided to jump of the comfort cliff. Fran’s work and techniques are very different from anything I have ever played with before. I’m so far outside of my box, I can’t even find it.

I’m having a total blast. I’m not the only one, here are two of my classmates – Pat S & Linda J. Aren’t they cute?

I have discovered a new tool (anything you use to make art it a tool).

Gesso.

Who knew?

We spent day 1 stitching on cotton duck cloth and then coating it with gesso. White gesso and – ta da, it comes in black too. The next great discovery was Clear Gloss Medium. I know, I know… you are thinking “they’ve been around since dirt was new, where have you been?”

I lead a sheltered life.

Here is one of Day One’s pieces (just started). Do I like it? I don’t know, it’s awfully busy. But it has a lot more layers to go.

The adventure continues…

Deb H

Well, the Quilt Show opening in Flint went very well and the quilts were all stunning. I was so pleased to see mine, and a few fibery friends (no photos allowed so you only get to see mine), have quilts hanging on the walls in that very crowded gallery! So many fiber art lovers – very good to see!  I don’t know how many quilts – I’ll take a wild guess at about 100? I can’t be too far off… well, yes I can, but I still stand by my wild estimate.

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The smaller photos you can click on to see closer (bigger). The theme for this year’s exhibit was “Ciao, Italy” and my quilt is titled “Italy: a Rough Sketch”. It is primarily a whole cloth quilt of silk noil that I hand painted, machine free-motion quilted/embroidered, added a dab of puff paint for texture, a touch of hand beading and even a Hot Fix crystal or two.

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I’m pleased with my efforts, painting is not something I have done a lot with but it was fun. The free-motion quilting and embroidery is still a skill I’m working to improve but I’m feeling much more confident with it after this. The beading and crystals are just because I had to    The stringy things  are to emphasis the whole “rough sketch” feeling.

Deb H

I have just gotten back from the Post Office. I mailed off my finished quilt titled “Italy: a rough sketch”. You saw peeks of it in it’s embryonic stage as the painted silk cloth I was calling grapes. This is my contribution to this year’s MQAI (Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational) traveling exhibition. Every year there is a new theme (last year was The Art of Music and this year it is Adventures in Italy) and this is my second year to be invited to participate. As a courtesy to the curators (thank you Mary Andrews and Marty Calhoun), I will not post a picture of the whole, completed quilt until after the official exhibit opening on September 12th. But because I only have so much self control and I’m so ecstatic to have finished it, here is a small detail shot (click to biggie it). I’ll post more information about the opening as soon as I have it.

So that is why I haven’t posted in two weeks; I’ve been nose to the sewing machine, so to speak. We did have a meeting for my art group last night and we played with fabric and did small “elements” (as in “design elements”) that can grow into larger things. They can become the focal point for small quilts, ATC’s or what ever!

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Here are two small “elements” that I made. I think I had water on my mind. The fact that we were in the middle of a raging and quite impressive thunder, lightening and rain storm may have influenced me!

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And every once in a while, Mother Earth wraps herself in such beauty, I have to record it even though I know a photo can’t possible do her justice. A recent view outside my back door, early in the morning after a vicious storm (we’ve had several lately). After seeing that, how can I not go to my studio and create?

Deb H