'Mini Quilts' for a Convention

This Week

Art Donation:

Last week I was asked to donate an art piece for a door prize at an upcoming convention. Since it would have to be mailed, I thought fabric 'mini quilts' would be best. Wanting to showcase the something of our area, I decided to depict the bird sanctuary where migrating birds rest and feed on their journey north and south. Of course the mountains and trees had to be a part of the picture because they are so prevalent in our valley.  

This textile art was created with my hand dye painted fabrics (left), free motion stitching and free form fabric piecing.

 Birds:

Patience and my point and shoot camera got me these bird photos this week.



Goldfinch getting bird seed from the finch feeder.

Mockingbird on a bike carrier.

Costa hummingbird. Could this become a new clothesline series watercolour painting?

I finished carving a winterwren in butternut wood recently and a friend lent me her wood burning tool to add in some details before mounting and finishing. Butternut wood is so rich in colour.



A guest this week showed us some of her Zentangles and in a short time had this cardinal created.

 Back to Basics at the Watercolour Painting Group:

We have a few new members at our art group and since one is interested in painting faces and figures we have decided to spend a few minutes sketching each time we meet.

Blind drawing, gesture drawing and studying facial proportions were good ways to start so last week I gave that lesson.

This week Linda gave us pointers in adding shading to portraits which was great.
Anyone walking in the art room is fair game and when asked, Dick agreed to sit for a 10 minute sketch.

Sketching from a family photo.

After the lesson, a  member adds shading to her previous piece.

Well that's it folks. Thank you to those of you that received my newsletter this week and either provided feedback to questions asked or signed up for the free draw of hand dye painted fabric. If any readers are not signed up for my newsletter and want to be, just send me an email egidman@kootenay.com

Artisan Button Embellishments

These handmade artisan buttons have been niggling my creative thinking since I purchased them from 'Lavender Lampworks' in Nov of 2014. Click here for a post about the buttons. Below are two ideas I came up with.

Those of us who quilt and sew like to give and receive little gifts. At least I think so, don't you? So I've been designing card fronts for those lovely 'one of a kind' buttons to be attached to for gift giving. Do you have a favorite of the ones shown below: 1-4? I would love to hear about your choice in the comments or in an email egidman@kootenay.com  

 

CARD DESIGNS ON WATERCOLOUR PAPER

 

Card front design #1 with a little colour added to the design

Card front design #2

Card front design #3

 

Card front design #4

More bird designs, I'm a thinking!

TEXTILE ART

Then I thought I would try free motion stitching on white cotton. These are only small 4 X 6" size samples again for card fronts or to be used in textile art.

Textile Art # A

Textile Art #B

Textile Art #C

Textile Art #D

 Using coloured fabrics could take these pieces in so many directions. "Would raw edge pieces neutrals work as a background", I wonder?

Textile Art #E

What about adding some pieced work? Do you have some other ideas to share with me?

Splashed Dots: A New Design in Textile

This past week was full of textile art and turkeys. Yes I did say turkeys.

 

Cherry Quilted Mat by me, Eileen Gidman
new at Creston Card and Stationery for Art Walk
The beautiful cherry mug is by Pridham Studios. Click here for their site.

 

Sold.
Off to a new it's new home in Calgary.

Eileen Gidman's Art Walk Display
at Creston Card and Stationery http://crestoncard.com/
See it at it's new location in the store (right in front as you walk in)!



14 new Textile Cards: dyed, stitched and ready for sale at Creston Card and Stationery.
 

 What do you think of my newest design? I am thinking of a whole range of splashed colours with whimsically stitched flowers.

 






My newest design. Splashed dots with whimsical stitched flowers.



Each card in the series will be it's own unique piece of art work that is suitable to give as a gift card or for framing.



My favorite.

Here is what else is happening in my world this week. These two turkeys have been diligently raising these chicks all summer. It's hard to believe they are nearly the size of chickens now.

Art Walk 2014

Mike Poznikoff of Creston Card and Stationery http://crestoncard.com/ in front of his store.

This is my venue for Art Walk 2014 in Creston, BC for July and Aug. Thank you Mike for supporting the local artists!  Greeting cards by local artists are also available at the store.

'Grapes': Textile Art; painted by Eileen Gidman
Sample of my art work available at Creston Card and Stationery for Art Walk July & Aug 2014

Display panel for Art Walk. It is located right beside the checkout counter. My art work includes watercolour paintings, artisan pillows, mug rugs and hand painted fabric squares for framing or sewing. If you are in Creston in Aug come and check it out.



Need a present? Like something unique and locally made? These one of a kind textile art 'mug rugs' have been popular this summer. Women and men alike seem to appreciate them. Customers have told me they use them not only for a coffee cup but also a wine glass, reading glasses, cell phones and TV remotes. They are washable and keep in mind, they are easily mailed. Available at Creston Card and Stationery, this month only for $25.

Watercolour Paintings by Eileen Gidman. These are featuring birds and botanicals.

Two Textile Commissions To Their New Homes

If you think this is a 'mug rug', you would be wrong!
Check out the last picture of this post to see what one lady commissioned.



Quilted 7 X 9" mat. One option for the commissioned piece.



Red! I must paint more reds is what I learnt from doing the following commission. That is such valuable information. Thank you. The new owner wrote: "I am blown away by these and cannot wait to frame them.. Thank you so much...Wow you did a perfect job. I love them".  That was lovely to hear!

Commission of three pieces of textile art: 'Red Art'. They will be framed and hung together.

 

New material ready for thread sketching and then making into??? What am I going to do with that orange, blue and brown piece (upper middle)? I'd be happy to hear some ideas.



This afternoon I pressed these 4 1/2" X 6 1/2" pieces of hand painted textiles onto interfacing in preparation for free motion stitching.

The buyer chose this piece for her commissioned 'Glasses Mat' (somewhere to rest glasses at night). The teal colour was chosen to match summer curtains. For contrast the golden yellow and red add warmth and interest. I'm glad she liked the red free motion stitching on the poppies.

We are enjoying lovely summer weather where I live and this is what is blooming in our yard right now. Yes cactus can grow in Canada!

Canada Day: What from your country shows up in your art?

As Canada Day approaches, I started looking through the photos of my small textile pieces. Here are a few that represent what Canada means to me.

The most favorite textile card I've ever made.
This card reminds us of our constant challenge to balance nature with human inhabitation.

A bear and a cabin. Can't get much more Canadian than that.

Our beautiful wheat fields in contrast with our picturesque mountains.

Canadians like to grow things.

Maple leaves. We even have one on our national flag.

Our precious wetlands.

So many different wildflowers.

Often in Canadian gardens. Cheery.

Bees. We are thinking of them lately with their declining numbers. Very precious. Very needed.

Robins. We like our birds.
Creston, BC where I live, even has a festival for them.

Dragonflies. Well we like them too.

Iconic symbols of the prairies. Disappearing fast.



 What symbolizes Canada for you?