Sprite

This is a small study in pinks and blues that I have just finished.  (7 by 10 inches)  Yesterday, I bound this piece and selected fabrics for a large traditional quilt that I am making for a class I will be teaching in January.  It feels great to start a new one, and to finish an older one!!!

Check Nina Marie's Off the Wall blog to see other fiber art!

Dragonfly

Here's a little piece of an art quilt I put together today.  I LOVE Thursdays.  That's the day my hubby goes to the golf course and I can work uninterrupted (for the most part).  I love the fabric I found for the wings - it used to be a man's shirt.  The light green on the top left is from a hospital gown that my dad gave me after one of his many recent visits to the ER.

Quilt donated

This is a large quilt that I made shortly after my parents moved into an assisted living facility.  It shows a woman playing an electronic bowling game from her wheelchair.  I was impressed with all the activities offered, but some of the  players were less than enthused!  The machine quilting contains images of many objects that elderly people have had to give up, like their homes, baking pies, climbing ladders, and objects they now have to deal with, like dentures, walkers, hearing aids, etc. 
The quilt was selected to travel with an exhibit called, "I'm Not Crazy" which was sponsored by an organization called SAQA - Studio Art Quilt Associates.  When the quilt returned home to me, I decided to give it to the facility where my parents lived.  I felt like it belonged there.  The quilt is titled 'Whee at the ALF'.

Dude

This is a dude I have been handquilting.  I am trying to force myself away from realism.  I am happy to report that besides my local classes, I have been hired to teach in Orlando and at a retreat in Sebring in 2014.  Looking forward to more fun experiences with quilters across the state.  And what could be better than a retreat with other Art quilters??? Lucky me.

Newest work

I can only show parts of this because it is for a competition.  Finished quilting it late tonight!!
One of my favorite parts of this one is the shoes.

Cleaning house!

I have been getting organized.  Because company is coming, I have had to clear all my stacks of papers off the kitchen table.  I moved all my projects off the couch.  I cleared my sewing table and cutting table, and vacuumed everything.  I feel so accomplished.  I have also been knocking off many customer quilts, and finishing several of my art quilts.  Wow!  The planets must be aligned or maybe it's the cooler weather that is making me frisky.  I even trimmed a bunch of trees in the yard today. 

I should have taken 'before' photos, but really don't want to remember what it all looked like before I cleaned. 

Linking up to Nina Marie's Off THe Wall blog

Banner

Not my favorite kind of sewing, but my church needed a new banner.  The old one was crumbling.  Now I can get back to Art quilting.  :- )

Fill Up

We have been on the road quite a bit recently.  I spotted this woman on a windy day, gassing up her car in heels.  I thought it would make a nice composition.  I tackled it kind of backwards, by cutting out shapes of the negative spaces, instead of the positive shapes of the figure, car, and gas hose.  It was a challenge that way, but I like how it came out, and I like challenges!!

Be sure to check in at 'Off the Wall' to see other interesting fiber art work.  I am probably the last one to post there this week. 

Mom's quilt

Worked hard all afternoon and evening today to finish this top.  It is made using some of my momma's favorite clothes.  It was hard to cut into them, but the quilts made will be a comfort to family members.  It is fitting that the pattern is a basket weave, since mom was a big collector of Longaberger baskets! I also love that a cross is visible in the weave.  She would have liked that too.

Emerald

So, here's the new girl who emerged on my wall last week.  I just love the green fabric on the right, which comes from a man's shirt and looks like part of a motherboard!!

Forest

This was made for a Fast Friday Fabric Challenge about circles.  I enjoyed the various prints from recycled fabrics, and playing with values.  I was rebelling against what I call lollipop flowers, so I made marshmallow ones instead. 
I am thinking I may start machine quilting my backgrounds before adding all the little parts and pieces... I think that would make life much easier. 

Check Nina Marie's blog for more fiber creations!

Looking back

I have been prepping a slide show for a presentation that is coming up soon, and looking through some of my past work.  These pieces have been travelling across the country with the Mancuso quilt shows as part of an exhibit of work by Pamela Allen's online students.  One of my snowbird friends spotted them in the World Quilt Show in New Hampshire this past week!!

Boom!

This is a roughly pinned portrait that I made last week while away from home.  She just evolved - I really had no idea where I was going until I got well into the piece.  I was subconsciously channeling Modigliani, Picasso, and my idol, Pamela Allen. 
Be sure to check Nina Marie's Off The Wall blog to see other fiber art.

Cubist bird

This is a small study I did in an online Pamela Allen class.  It was fun to do and it is FINISHED.  There are some hidden eggs, if you look hard, you'll find three or four.

Finishing

This has been a week for finishing projects.  Here are two details from a large still life that is FINISHED. 
As you can see, I like mixing a bunch of busy prints. 

Saint Spouse of Perpetual Perfection

Been working on a new piece for an exhibit of Modern day Saints - or your interpretation thereof

 This is a detail of St Spouse of Perpetual Perfection, who has to pick up all the sticks in the yard as soon as they fall from the trees.  Check Nina Marie's blog party for more fabric art.

Summer purse

Have been away for awhile, but I wanted to share this purse I made from a pair of thrift store jeans.  The embroidery was around the bottom of the legs of the jeans.  Straps made from side seams, lining with more pockets made with a cotton print.  I did add a panel to the bottom, and velcro closure.  Easy and fun!!

Check Nina Marie's blog for more creative sewing stuff!!!

Cityscape

This piece is made using several screen printed fabrics that I made recently.  It is large - about 48" square, and FAR from finished.  Mostly pieced, but there are lots of little pieces to be appliqued on before quilting.
As always, I welcome constructive criticism. 

Linking to Nina Marie's blog party.  Check there for other wonderful fabric art.

RETREAT

I went to a retreat in New Smyrna Beach, FL the last week of March.  It was heaven.  All fiber artists, lots of studio space, three meals a day, yoga, wonderful art comeraderie, and the beach.  Doesn't get much better!!!!!  I worked on as many projects as I could, and dyed and printed lots of fabric.  My favorite was ice dyeing.  Easy, and great results.  Here are some photos:

This retreat occurs every year at the Atlantic Center for the Arts.  contact me if you are interested - kusmaul@embarqmail.com 

More exhibits!!!

Just received news that my quilt 'Multitasking' was selected to travel to the International Quilt festivals this year with the SAQA exhibit, 'Text Messaging'. They forbid posting a full image, but allow details, so here is a zoom showing my guy licking his ice cream cone while texting.

I also have several pieces travelling with the Mancuso shows, in an exhibit called Hens and Chicks.  This exhibit includes four of Pamela Allen's students' work from her online classes.  It is such an honor to have work displayed with other 'rockstar' artists!!!

Screen printing!

I am learning to screen print fabrics, and having loads of fun doing it! Now I need to figure out how to use the fabrics I'm making.

I got courageous and cut up some of the shibori.  I like this blue man I discovered. 

Dyeing again

I have been taking another online class at Quilt University.  This one is called Dyeing to Design, with Elizabeth Barton.  We are making shibori fabrics, and next, will work on ways to use them.  Here are some in my collection:

I am thinking feathers and foliage, but may try some geometric and other designs as well.  FUN!  Go to Nina Marie's blog and see what other artists are up to.

BUSY!!!

I have been working on some art quilts to enter in SAQA exhibits.  (Can't post those, so I'll show other projects that I've been involved in recently) First is a Tshirt quilt that I am making for a former high school student of mine.

She saved shirts that she got at concerts.  I think it is coming along nicely!!!!  It will have large borders, as it is for a queen sized bed.  The borders will be various black and white prints, with slivers of colors here and there. 

I'm also making some crazy pieced blocks for a young woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is having a rough time.  Some friends and I will make two quilts - one to raffle, and one for a comfort quilt.  The raffle one will be pinks and creams, and the comfort one will be hot pinks and blacks - her favorite colors. 
I am linking up with Nina Marie's Creative blog.  Check out what other quilt artists are up to there.

Memories

The day after I last posted, my dear mama passed away in her sleep. I have made several quilts about my mom and am working on one now, but I wanted to post some other memorial quilts I have made for customer/friends. This one was made using my friend's grandmother's clothing and a sweet photo of her.

This one was made using many linens that were gifted from a great grandmother over the years. The center is an embroidery that the great grandmother made.














Linking to NinaMarie's blog with other art quilters and their work.http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/