Hybirds

I recently made a small quilt to donate to an auction for an international Art quilt group called SAQA - Studio Art Quilt Associates.  I had just come from a retreat, where people had shared some of their fabrics.  I challenged myself to use these fabrics for my 12" square auction quilt.  It was a very mixed bag of prints, including a navy with white scissors, and a navy with white bicycles.  And some beautiful feather print with gold details.  I decided on birds, and was able to make it all work together, I think.  Here is the finished, hand quilted piece:

I thought later, that I should have made a more beautiful, subtle, generic quilt that would appeal to more people, but maybe some quirky person will enjoy it.  I hope so.
To see many more SAQA Auction quilts, go to:   http://www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?ID=3325

Local exhibit - April 2015

My students from the recent City of Inverness Art Quilt class are exhibiting some of our finished work in the Lakes Region Library, Inverness, FL.  I will go tomorrow to set up the exhibit.  We are showing 12 pieces - landscapes, still lifes, portraits, room interiors.  Come and see them if you are in the area!! 

 Gotta Dance! by Marsha Millich    All hand applique and hand quilting!

Still Life by Judy Doten   Again all hand applique and hand quilting.  I'm a proud teacher!!!

Queen for a Day

Photos from my Art quilt reception at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach, FL.  I was surrounded with love and friendship.  I hope everyone enjoyed my images as much as I love making them.

Solo

Excited about the reception tomorrow for my solo exhibit of art quilts.  I love that it is scheduled at the same time as the Focus on Fiber retreat, so that my fiber art buddies can attend.  We are having our usual wonderful time working, playing, getting to know one another better, and many side adventures. Will post some photos next week.  Cheers!

Wildhaired Winged Woman

I've just finished tweaking this piece.  I tend to overwork my art pieces, but I like to hang unfinished ones in my kitchen, where I can study them from time to time and change what needs changing. 
She started right around Christmas, and I wanted to give her some wild hair.  And wings.  She started abstract, and I fiddled with her until I almost lost that abstract quality.  I like her.  Here is step one:

And after quite a lot of facial surgery, highlights, and implants, she morphed into this:

My dad's doctor saw me working on her yesterday and asked if she was from The Wizard of Oz.  Is she scary?

Inspiration

I got a new camera for Christmas.  It will take quite some time to learn how to use it well.  It's complicated.  I love taking photos.  I love noticing the beauty around us everywhere.  I have a folder on my desktop full of inspirational images I've collected.  Someday, they want to be made into art quilts.  I would like to take a year off from my usual life, and work on them.  I need a sponsor miracle!!!

Looking back over these photos, I realize that each of them is a miracle.  Thank you God.

Piecing Together

On Sunday, Dec. 7, I had the pleasure, along with my daughter, of attending the opening reception of a SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) exhibit in the beautiful Biscayne National Park in Homestead, FL. 

I want to thank Maya Schonenberger and her team for organizing this exhibit.  There was a tremendous amount of work and planning involved - this exhibit will be traveling to ten national parks in the next two years. 

One of the artists, Marianne Williamson, hosted a wonderful brunch before the reception in her lovely home.

The exhibit is called, Piecing Together a Changing Planet, and is about various climate change issues.  This is Gabriele DiTota, of Melbourne, with one of her pieces.

Inverness, Fl was well represented with two artists juried into this show.  This is Suzanne Evenson and her work.

And yours truly, Karol Kusmaul with my quilt, entitled, AIR.  I was explaining how I use repurposed fabrics from thrift store clothing to get the variety of interesting patterns in my work.  My quilt was inspired by a conversation with a friend who had visited China for two weeks, and said he never saw the sun because of the polluted air there.  Not having fresh air to breathe, or water to drink, is incomprehensible, but it is happening now, in our world, maybe not too far from where YOU live.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to Ranger Jerry, who was instrumental in the planning and did research for the exhibit, and is one of our biggest cheerleaders.  Here he is in conversation with my friend Mara.

This is a link to more information about the show, the artists, and the travel schedule.  Check it to see if it will be appearing at a venue near you!  It is our hope that our work will inspire positive changes regarding these important issues.
 http://www.nationalparkartexhibit.com 

Please also visit our facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/piecingtogether