WOW! Just received the batiks I ordered for my business. I thought I would share a sampling with you. Might I say that they are even better in person. They are produced totally by hand using traditional methods. The artisans start by using a very high quality cotton fabric. I also love the fact that the artisan that make them are paid a fair and live able wage. Batik is a skill that has been handed down for generations. It also gives the young people of the villages an opportunity to stay and work in their village for a fair and live able wage, rather than being forced to move to the city.

I can't wait for everyone to see them. And I can't wait to use them. These batiks will be perfect for quilting. I have some larger pieces (2.5 yards) that will be wonderful for clothing. I envision stitching on them, beading adding them to pieces. So many ideas and so little time.

So I'm running a little behind, but I'm sure you can all relate. I have been busy creating hand marbled fabric. Experimenting with some new colors. I am also in the middle of creating a wearable garment from a new pattern. I had to add 3" in length to the sleeves and the body. It features bleach discharged fabric, hand dyed fabric and my hand marbled fabrics. And it is just really starting to take shape. Currently it looks like an explosion took place in my studio. But I am having so much fun creating it. I will post a photo of the jacket when it is finished and I have come up with a name for it.

I also finally was able to change the Featured Fabric on my web site. It is now Ugly Duckling in the Freestyle pattern. I got just a little carried away with making this one. It's personality changes so much depending on the hand dyed background mix.

I have just been reading an article in the magazine Cloth Paper Scissors entitled For Love or Money? The question was posed "Would you rather sell a piece of art that you were not completely happy with for a grand sum, or make a piece that you thought was the perfect expression of their artistry, and never receive any reward except personal satisfaction?"

The question really made me think of the saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I have learned that just because I am not happy with a piece (art quilt, wearable or marbled fabric) doesn't mean someone else will not Love it. It never fails to surprise me when a piece of marbled fabric I'm not happy with is the one I find people fighting over. I love creating and consider it a huge bonus that others will pay money for my creations. And I'm not sure that any given piece will ever be that 'perfect expression of my artistry". I hope to always be learning, growing and creating. My goal is to learn something new with each creation and if it needs to be tweaked somewhere in the future, so be it.

Have fun creating!

Here we are in our winter Wonderland. We hit a low of 7 degrees F last night. Those kind of temperatures are really unusual for our area. This is one of my dwarf apple trees in my back yard with all the snow. The sun is shining and with the snow you have to wear shades it's so bright. Just something beautiful I thought I would share with you.

Last night I finished a jacket based on a sweatshirt. It occurred to me that not everyone knows how to sew garments. A great way is to start with one of the many patterns that take a sweatshirt apart. You have all the pieces and you get to create, quilt, embellish till your heart is happy, then put it back together. I have found two patterns that offer several ideas and inspiration. This is my version. Photos are a closeup of the fabric on the back. Then the back and front of the garment. And no it isn't that stiff, I have a tube on the inside to hold out the arms.

It really became an experiment in machine quilting. I played with different styles and shapes. One thing I discovered is that I do much better with organic shapes as opposed to geometric shapes. All in all the sweatshirt was fun to create and I cant wait to wear it. Jeans and a t-shirt and it feels like wearing a bit hug.

Happy New Year
Here we are at the start of the new year. I am looking forward to a year of creating new fabric, quilts and art projects. I will be experimenting with a new color combination this afternoon. It is always so fun to see just what comes out. I have been busily hand marbling Fat Halves. I think I have finally gotten most of the kinks worked out of the process. I'm now creating more usable pieces than not. Yippee! The FH is much more usable for Wearable Art pieces. And yes I already have several in mind. Now I just need the time. I'll keep you posted on the progress.