New Work at 4 Ravens Gallery

Posted on by under Announcements, applique, mixed media, nuno felting
Framed textile artwork with golden sun streaming through trees from behind.
Golden Grove – 16″ x 22″ – Framed – Available – $625 – Four Ravens Gallery

I have four new pieces available at 4 Ravens Gallery in Missoula, MT. Please feel free to contact the gallery if you are interested in one of these pieces.

Framed textile artwork with spring birch trees on green and blue background.
Secluded Intricacy – 8″ x 13″ – Framed – Available – $185 – Four Ravens Gallery
Framed textile artwork with spring time birch grove and hidden lake in the distance.
Hidden Depths – 8″ x 13″ – Framed – Available – $185 – Four Ravens Gallery

All of these pieces are framed and have a base of nuno felt and then a variety of techniques.

Framed textile artwork with appliqued Indian Paintbrush flowers on green and blue background.
Painting the Landscape – 13″ x 29″ – Framed – Available – $675 – Four Ravens Gallery

I have been busy with my classwork but I have finished all of that work now. We will be having an exhibition at the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Art Museum beginning February 25 through May 31st. I will update you with more information soon.

The First Leaf and First Light Framed

Posted on by under Announcements, applique, nuno felting

The framers have completed framing on two of my recent pieces. These will be going to 4 Ravens Gallery in Missoula and should be available after February 14th.

Framed textile artwork depicting birch trees in autumn.
The First Leaf – 14″ x 18.5″ – Framed – Available – $450.00

This one based on birch trees in autumn, is called The First Leaf. I love the texture of the nuno felt against the smoothness of the birch trunks. The birch trunks are made from silk paper.

Framed textile artwork depicting trees at dawn with light coming from behind.
First Light – 13″ x 19″ – Framed – Available – $450.00

First Light is all about how the morning sun reacts in the forest. The color palette was an interesting change for me but I enjoyed the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flowers Inspired by Rebecca Crompton

Posted on by under applique, hand stitching, Level 3 Stitch, nuno felting

One of our assignments for Level 3 Stitch was to create a piece inspired by Rebecca Crompton. She was an embroidery teacher in Great Britain in the early 20th century. You can read more about her on the V&A site and see some of her work.

Nuno Felted sample with grey wool and red/green silk in woven pattern

As I was thinking about what to create, I came across this old sample of nuno felting in my stash. I was thinking of gardens and flowers (Rebecca Crompton has several garden themed pieces.) I thought this would work for a background piece.

Nuno Felt stitched with Kantha stitch in hand dyed wool lace weight threads.

I decided to add some base stitching. I used hand dyed lace weight wool thread with running stitch.

Applique fabric pieces applied to stitched surface of nuno felt.

The next step was finding different fabric for the flower elements. I cut out various flower shapes and tried them out in a variety of places on the background. I wanted the colors to move throughout the piece but for it to all feel cohesive. Now to stitch them in place. I could have fused them down but I don’t like the way fusing flattens everything. I prefer raw edges, a bit of fraying and texture.

Completed piece of nuno felt, stitching and hand stitched applique

Here is the final result. I added a few French knots and couched down a bit of yarn for the branch at the top left. This isn’t my usual style but I enjoy the movement and liveliness of the piece.

Laidwork Samples

Posted on by under hand stitching, Level 3 Stitch

On to a couple more stitch samples from my Level 3 Stitch class.

Here’s another mushroom. This one used Bayeux stitch for the orange section, that much I remember. The remaining stitches were “laidwork” which is essentially different methods of couching. I have forgotten the exact stitches. I have them written down in my class notebook but don’t have that handy at the moment. It’s interesting how easily I forget what stitch is what. When I learn a stitch, I think to myself, I’ve got this. But then if I come back and try to remember how to do the stitch or even what it is called, I’m at a loss. Good thing I have books and the internet to look up how to do these stitches!

Knowing that I was never going to remember the stitches in the next sampler, I wrote them all down. With this many different stitches, this was the only answer.

Here is the finished sampler. The background is Bayeux and Kloster Stitch. Then all the other stitches are noted on the guide above. It was a way to try out a bunch of different stitches to fill a space. I used hand dyed wool thread for this sampler. I ended up framing this piece and it is now hanging in my studio.