CHALLENGE: Collaboration Quilt

Carolyn, from my Art Quilt Group, organized a collaborative slice quilt for members of the group. Here is the panoramic photo that Carolyn took of Bronson Park; she sliced it into 10 pieces, we each picked a slice and our collaboration began.  

I believe all (or most of us) started with such enthusiasm, but then we realized this was much more difficult than first glance.  We began in the Fall of 2014, and played with it (except one member who finished hers within 30 days!).  In February 2015, we received an invite to show our slice quilt at a gallery during our Kalamazoo's monthly Art Hop.  We pulled together and created a work that we are all proud of as shown below:

Here are the individual pieces (in order):

Jackie S.

Jenny G.

Kathy Kerstetter

Ann B.

Diane O.

Jean D.

Carolyn Z.

Sheryl D.

Mary B.

June B.

We were honored when our local Public Radio station, WMUK, came and interviewed us, you can listen to it here:

One Quilt Ten Unique Views of Bronson Park

We ended up with a wonderful Art Hop and all of us are very proud of the final product.  Next week, I will show a close-up of my individual slice and some things to consider if you are going to enter into a collaborative quilt.

Have you ever participated in any collaborative art?  Are you interested in being part of a collaboration?

Remnants

As you may or may not know, I teach at our local community college (and I LOVE my job).  Winter term was probably one of the toughest terms in my ten years at the College. I had almost three new classes to prep and definitely had my hands full.  I woke up most morning at 5:00 am to get a jump on the day and then work late into the evening (can you tell that my blog suffered during this time?).  At the end of the semester, I was exhausted!  I vowed that this summer I was going to take more time to read and create.

Mt favorite place to read at our home is a small balcony that is off of our bedroom; it is over three stories high.  Here is my little heaven:

And the view from above:

 

I love how peaceful this spot is and I feel like I am hiding from the world when I am there.

Do you have a favorite place to slip away to?

Have a wonderful week!  Kathy

CHALLENGE: Erosion

e·ro·sion

əˈrōZHən/

noun

the gradual destruction or diminution of something.

My 12x12 group had the challenge "Fear". I had to think long and hard about fear; I finally decided to focus on erosion.  Erosion can be applied to many areas of our lives...erosion of the beach at Lake Michigan..erosion of your health as you age...erosion of world-wide safety...so many things can gradually destruct creating fear.

My piece is inspired by an Edward Burtynsky photo shown below:

A close-up of my piece is below. After creating the landscape, I used rust to create a tributary-like flow across the piece.  Some seed stitches finished it.

  

Remnents

I found this delightful sewing reality show on British television called The Great British Sewing Bee. I watched the first season via this link: Sewing Bee Season 1 . Season 2 and 3 can be found on YouTube.

I loved this show because of the people.  I used to manage a plant in England and this show brought back memories of the workers.  I believe you, also, will find these contestants every day, lovable people with outstanding skills.  I smiled through much of this first season.

Do you have a favorite sewing show that you watch?

Enjoy!  

Kathy