On to the Next Challenge

The January challenge for FibreArts Toronto is "Graffiti". I had trouble with this one. Unless the "artwork" is commissioned or sanctioned by the property owner, I view graffiti as vandalism, no matter how artistic it may be. So my association had to be that most graffiti is the "artist" leaving his/her mark. While trying to think of a marking, I remembered a book of Yiddish stenography that belonged to my Aunt Nechama. When she had to give up her apartment in Brooklyn to move into a nursing home in Buffalo (closer to Toronto, easier to visit, long story), I went to New York and helped clean out her apartment. Since I was in my Yiddish phase at the time (i.e. studying Yiddish at U of T for my B.A. in Jewish Languages and Literature), I took all of her Yiddish books. I guess the concept of Yiddish stenography fascinated me. Anyways, I looked for symbols for words which might be appropriate and found two. In the middle square, the top squiggle is the word "mazel" (luck) and the bottom work is "bracha" (blessing). I chose these words because the words are the same in Yiddish and in Hebrew. Then for the other markings, I turned to braille (in English, although there is also Hebrew braille and perhaps also Yiddish -- I'll have to google that). From the top left hand corner, going clockwise, on the organza are my rendition of the braille for "luck", and also going clockwise from the top left hand corner, on the other fabrics are the braille for "blessing". And the overall feeling is one of softness, which contrasts the harsh feel of graffiti.

One by One

I spent my days off during the winter break in my studio, oblivious to the weather outside, listening to classical music while stitching. This was my inspiration:



It was made as the December challenge for my FibreArts Toronto group. The theme was "wash, rinse, repeat". My first association was to hair. I must admit I had the "repeat" more in mind -- I wanted to repeat the use of fabrics already in my stash and I had the colour scheme left over from my slice of the "Orwell's Corners" quilt. The background is in shades of grey (self-explanatory), the squiggles are bright browns and reds (touch ups, perhaps?), and the circles with embroidery in the round and beading using circular beads and sequins are the bubbles of "wash and rinse".

Ring Out the Old, Ring In the New

I guess the changing of a year is a good time to look back, see what's been accomplished and look forward and see what's yet to be done.
Hands down the most important event of 2009 for me was the birth of Amit. Nothing I create will ever come near.
That said, I have had a productive year, creativity-wise.
I participated in three exhibits, two with my "FAT" (FibreArts Toronto) Ladies, one-month long exhibits at two branches of the Toronto Public Library and one of mezuzot with the Pomegranate Guild which displayed at Baycrest, and is now a travelling exhibit.
I made two chuppot for two family (either biological or considered family) members.
And numerous other pieces, both utilitarian: Inbal's quilt, Rotem's quilt, a ton of baby quilts -- it's been a good year for babies in the Erez family!, oven mitts, placemats, etc.; and wall hangings.
Blogging has allowed me to post about the experience and conundrums of designing and making these pieces. And the uploaded photos give me a visual record of what I have accomplished.
And I did sell some of my work which is always a boost for the self-esteem.
While I create, I have time to think. And with classical music in the background, what could be better?
So that's looking back.
And looking forward? I'm just going to plug away at creating. It enriches my being. And if I can sell some of it, even better.

Spurt of creativity

So this weekend was busy but fun.
Friday night, we had family over for the last night of Chanuka. It was laid back and nice.
Saturday, I didn't do much of anything. Also nice.
Sunday morning, I started on a new piece, using bits and pieces from other projects.
Then Yunkie, Alanna, Jeremy and Michelle came over for lunch and the kids and I got busy making fabric portfolios.
Also a lot of fun.
Now if I could get the photos to go where I want them, I'd really be happy.

Last blog enty in 2009? Maybe yes, maybe no...

I can't believe it's been two months since my last posting. First we were busy getting ready for our road trip to NYC to meet up with Carmit and Michael. We had a lovely visit, even though Menachem was laid up the entire time we were there with back pains. Carmit and I did manage to do part of the Garment District walking tour. Some of the fabrics were to die for, as well as the trims, buttons, beads, etc. But I was a good girl and only bought 5 spiral buttons and one spiral charm.
Upon our return, we were busy getting ready for our trip to visit Mitki (and Inbal and Rotem). Then we spent three wonderful weeks with them, during which time I did no fabric shopping nor quilting related outings (if you don't count the birds for beading I bought, but not very many of them...) Since we've been back, I've been battling jet lag and fatigue.

I did finish my FAT challenge 12" x 12" "Wash, Rinse, Repeat" and was quite pleased with the result. I am not sure that it can be called an art quilt. I'm thinking of redefining what I do as "fabric collage". Anyways, it inspired me to do more. And since our January FAT challenge is "Graffiti", I have another one which I'm pondering.

Yesterday I got back into my studio to prepare "canvasses" for these 12 x 12 challenges. I cut up all of my quilt batting leftovers into 14" strips and pieced the strips together to make 14" x 14" inch squares. I got 21 squares made up! No pressure, eh? Since I am planning to use only fabric I already own (ha, ha, who's heard that one before?), I am also trying to take stock of my fabric samples, bits and pieces, etc. I have some lovely duppioni silks which I should just cut into and use as well.

Someone on the QuiltArt list has suggested using December as month zero of 2010, thinking about where we're going, setting goals in place, etc., sort of pre New Year's resolutions, so we can hit the ground running in the new year.

So right now, I'm doing my thinking and we'll see where it takes me.

Machine down

I've got all six quilt tops ready to go, backing fabrics washed and ready for pressing, batting cut.
This morning I pinned my first baby quilt and as I was about to get ready to quilt, I went to fill two bobbins and the bobbin winder stopped winding. I can see that there's some thread wound around the winder underneath the thing the bobbin sits on. My attempts to gently pull it out failed.
I put in an S.O.S. call to my service person. If I have the machine at his place in Newmarket at 9 a.m. tomorrow, he will fix it on the spot (and maybe fix the automatic threader as well). So I'll try to be patient and perhaps press and pin another quilt or two while I wait for my machine to return home safely. I guess I should really have it serviced in general but there's a waiting list for that. Maybe while we're away...

Long weekend, busy weekend

Middle day of three day weekend. 9 a.m. I have finished Missed Deadlines I, II and III. The labels were a pain to do but the hangings turned out alright. The stitching on the back of one of them didn't look too hot so I took a magenta Sharpie and went over the stitching lines. The back looks great but when I flipped it over, I saw that the stitching on the front, originally white, is now slightly magenta in some places. But the effect is nice so I'm not obsessing. Not my best work, but finished.
Yesterday we went to Sew Sisters to buy batting (half the price of Fabricland's...) so I can progress on the baby quilts. I still have to go to Fabricland to buy backing materials. Hopefully at noon-ish so I can continue sewing until then and we'll probably combine the trip with a visit to my mother.
So the sewing plan for today is to finish ripping out stitches on an unfinished quilt in preparation for requilting, making journals and fabric journal covers for Jordie and Eli, and maybe placemats or a tablerunner for David and Judy.
But first a bite of breakfast.