Peace to you this wonderful summer Sunday afternoon.
Author: JP Dawes Artist
No Picture Saturday and 100+ heat
Nope, not starting a new feature since I think we all like to see photos. There is none today since what I’ve been doing is not photographable..if that is a word. First off, I got out my discs and decided what I had to submit to the Lark books call for art quilts that use the natural world. I was skeptical at first that I had anything but I found 3 that seemed worthy and were definitely my style and palette. It took an awfully long time to get those 3 pieces entered, the online uploads were so slow. I’m blaming some of that on the heat that has hit across the USA. I know in my part of the country cable and phone lines have been suffering right along with the power companies and people. It’s been so bad here that the volunteer fire departments have issued an emergency order that if a rancher/farmer calls that his livestock is heat distressed, they can go out with a pumper truck and cool off the herds.
The other thing I’m working on is trying to finish up a couple of pieces to jury for Quilt National. This was a huge goal I set for myself. I often have felt I bit off too big of a bite but I didn’t make the decision early enough to have lots of time. STRESSSSSSS….Of course there can’t be even a small bit about what these look like or photos. All hush hush sweet Charlotte. After I get them entered, I will start thinking about the next one and give myself plenty of time to get pieces done.
Studio Make over FINALLY!!!
I have been working in a small room, shared with the clothes dryer and the deep freeze. I’ve tried to be good, tried to be organized and tried not to complain. Then Ron built my large sewing table that fits all my machines. It had to go into the adjoining bedroom because of it’s size. Now I’ve been half in one room and half in another….not a really good situation.
So we made the decision to turn the larger bedroom into a studio workspace. Now I have the fun of redoing the paint colors [there are neutral tile floors]. Here is a scan of the 4 colors I think I’m working with. I love the earthy ones and adore the water. I wish I could use them all but it’s still a small room. I’m leaning towards the water. My Koala table and shelving is white and I collect split white oak baskets that will be displayed. They might get lost on the earth colors.
I have a happy addition to my storage space. An acquaintance is moving to Colorado and had a moving sale this week. I purchased 6 long flat drawers from her that used to be Hallmark card drawers. These will be used to hold papers, acid free cellophane envelopes, stamps and other things that live best in flat drawers.
Wish me luck! Want to come over and help??
Bug Juice or Juicy Bugs ATC

You may know that the ATC group I belong to has themed challenges for each of our swaps. this month’s theme was “Sew What Bugs You?”
We could interpret the theme how ever we wanted either literally for bugs or feature something or someone who bugs us. I had a few ideas along the way but nothing really jelled into a design.
I just got home from driving about 3000 miles to Illinois, Colorado, back to Illinois and home to Arkansas. Ron spent a good deal of time washing squished bugs and bug juice off the van front and windshield. He was sure bugged about that! So while driving along among the corn fields I took a picture out of the windshield.
After printing it on tee shirt transfer paper and pressing it onto canvas, I tinted it to look like a vintage postcard. The bug parts and bug juice were applied. I cut cardboard corners like I remember from childhood vacations for mounting postcards into an album to complete the vintage look. I hope my fellow artists like these and I can’t wait to see what they all come up with.
Biennial of the Americas, Denver 2010
This picture isn’t quilt related, but it is fabric related. The Biennial of The Americas was wonderful. This building is the normal aged neutral stone color. If you click on the link, you can see the building before the transformation. With the installation of the shocking pink fabrics on the front, the building takes on the pink reflection and for me it looks like a flamingo. Those really are ferns at the tops of the columns that contribute to the look of feathers. I usually don’t care for installation art pieces, they just aren’t my cup of tea, although I can appreciate the artistic effort put into them. This piece is one I love so there must be hope for me yet. I feel I was fortunate to be able to see it.


