MIXED MEDIA CLASS

Last night was the beginning. I am calling my piece "HEAVEN ON EARTH". I gathered all my supplies together and started my first mixed media piece. Thinking that I would use some painters tape I would try for some straight lines on my canvas. Then I started painting even though I knew I would be covering it all up at some point!

CANDY HEAVEN AND HEAVEN ON EARTH

I don't know why I love candy so much! In fact I could eat everything in this store if I had the time. But lately I have been reading about going RAW and eating only a RAW diet. Then all this would only be "EYE CANDY" to me from now on. The more I read about going RAW the more it makes sense to me. If you know anything about it I would love to hear from you.

I started a mixed media class last week with my sister in law, Bonnie. I will start sharing the process of going through my first project with you. It is on an 48" by 48" canvas and I will use acrylic paint, paper, photos, and anything else sitting around in my studio. I am calling it "HEAVEN ON EARTH", SO STAY TUNED...

FAT QUARTERS, STASHES, AND STITCHES

Fat quarters, stashes and stitches are part of quilting!

Sherriequilt is an avid art quilter. Her mission by writing this article was to make quilt connoisseurs of all of you.

I wanted to share her words with you!

(Rule No. 1 of quilt appreciation: Don’t call them blankets.)

A good word to throw around with quilters is “stash,” as in: “I think you need that fabric (thread, gadget, $12,000 machine) for your stash. You’d better buy it.” Good stashes are bursting with “fat quarters.” These are quarter-yard pieces of fabric cut the fat way, which makes them cuter, and that’s all you need to know.

A “rotary cutter” is like a razor-edge pizza wheel that slices through six layers of fabric as if it were milk chocolate. All quilters have rotary cutters, so if the quilter in your life wants something new for the stash, you’d better just say, “Yes, you do need that. And some chocolate, too.”

So, basically, today’s quilters (and we are all around you) cut perfectly good fabric into little pieces with their rotary cutters and then sew them back together with expensive machines into colorful “quilt tops.” The top gets placed on top (get it?) of the “batting,” which is the fluffy filler. The “backing” fabric goes underneath it all, and now you have a “quilt sandwich.”

Then the layers are held together with “quilt stitches,” which can form a whole new pattern that overlays the fabric design — unless it’s “stitched in the ditch.”

Tidy and compulsive quilters “bury their tails” instead of snipping them off. (I’m talking about the thread tails; what did you think I was talking about?)

Not being one to follow the rules, I like to let my “tails dangle.” I use glittery gold thread, so dangling tails reflect light and add another design element. So do beads, shells, feathers and just about anything else that can be tacked on.

“Art quilts” have no rules and are made to hang on the wall and to be enjoyed solely as art. They are totally original and often use fabric that the quilter has first dyed — or painted, foiled, screen-printed, rusted, ripped, whatever.

They have a quilt’s basic elements — layers held together by some type of stitching — but you can have an art quilt without a shred of fabric.

I like to use those shiny wrappers from chocolate kisses that come in seasonal colors. Or you could use window screening, net produce bags and balloons all “quilted” together with staples. In fact, many art quilters build up their stashes at the hardware store.

Art quilts can be quirky, humorous, pretty, political, abstract, experimental — just like any other art.

Guest columnist Sherrie Spangler can be reached by e-mail at sherriequilt@yahoo.com and has quilt photos on her blog, http://sherriequilt.blogspot.com/ This article ran this week in the Peninsula Gateway.

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Something I am very interested in is Street Photography. I love shooting situations that are part of everyday life. Photos that tell a story about a situation or a person that is caught spontaneously by my camera lens. I ran across this photographers website and though you might enjoy looking at his work. Eric Kim is a street photographer based in Los Angeles. He is currently writing a book titled “Street Photography 101” which will be distributed to the world for free in a convenient PDF format.

http://www.erickimphotography.com/browse/1

SCULPTURES GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_16005749 Found this article about an artist named Jeannie Martin. She works with cloth to make her food sculptures look real. Her business is called Fabric Chef. Check it out.

MONDAY TRIATHLON

We went to Austin for Labor Day weekend to watch my oldest son Brent run in a triathlon. It was actually the first time I had ever watched one (other than an ironman on TV). I remember when I was his age I used to do the circuit of fun runs around Houston. But for someone to actually swim a mile, bike 26 miles, and then run 6 miles... OH MY GOSH!! I am so proud of him. I know he trained really hard for months. I am now inspired to get out there and start working out again. I would like to lose those 20 pounds I have put on over the last 20 years! Here is a link to all the photos if you want to see them. http://gallery.me.com/kathyzieben#100382