What's Up With Cotton?

American Quilt Retailer magazine contacted 30 fabric companies for explanations related to the current and upcoming prices of cotton fabrics. Top executives of 11 of these companies responded: Avlyn, Inc.; Clothworks; E. E. Schenck; Hoffman California Fabrics; In the Beginning Fabrics; Marcus Fabrics; Michael Miller Fabrics; Moda Fabrics; Northcott; Robert Kaufman Fabrics; and Westminster Lifestyle Fabrics.

Their responses:
http://www.americanquiltretailer.com/cotton/

Fine Cell Work

Fine Cell Work is an organization devoted to teaching needlework to UK prison inmates as well as to sell their products. Twenty-six prisons are involved with male inmates comprising 80% of the project participants. Each devotes approximately 20 hours a week to the project doing the emboridery in their cells.

Abstract Painting Design - Fine Cell Work

Detail - Abstract Painting Design - Fine Cell Work

Fine Cell Work website
http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/home/

Video - 16 minutes
http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/audiovideo/

The Intergalactic Quilts of Jimmy McBride

Jimmy McBride is fascinated by astronomy and focuses his artwork

on various aspects of it. He states that his work is machine quilted

with hand embroidery, but I think he means that it is machine pieced,

 hand quilted and hand embroidered.

M64 - Jimmy McBride

Whether the focus is on galaxies, planets, nebulae, wormholes, etc., Jimmy likes to incorporate as many elements as possible into the work.

Phobos V2 - Jimmy McBride

Detail: Phobos V2 - Jimmy McBride

Jimmy's website:
http://jimmymcbride.com/home.html

Blog - this contains a lot of information not only about how his work is conceptualized, but he also shares some of the mechanics of how the patterns are drafted and put together.
http://www.intergalactictransport.blogspot.com/

Ethereal Artwork by Gabriel Dawe

Gabriel Dawe creates fascinating and mesmerizing installations
and other artwork primarily using only Gutterman threads,
nails and wood.



Plexus No. 4 - Gabriel Dawe

 Plexus no 2 - Gabriel Dawe

"Gabriel Dawe was born in Mexico City where he grew up surrounded by the intensity and color of Mexican culture. After working as a graphic designer, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 2000 following a desire to explore foreign land. In search for creative freedom he started experimenting and creating artwork, which eventually led him to explore textiles and embroidery—activities traditionally associated with women and which were forbidden for a boy growing up in Mexico. Because of this, his work is subversive of notions of masculinity and machismo that are so ingrained in his culture. By working with thread and textiles, Dawe’s work has evolved into creating large-scale installations with thread, creating environments that deal with notions of social constructions and their relation to evolutionary theory and the self-organizing force of nature." http://sweet-station.com/blog/2010/11/gabriel-dawe/

Gabriel Dawe's Website

http://gabrieldawe.com

Gabriel Dawe

http://www.booooooom.com/2010/12/02/thread-artworks-by-artist-gabriel-dawe/

A Stitch in Jewish Time: Provocative Textiles

Coat of the Agunah - Andi Arnovitz

Middle Matzah - Leslie Golomb and Louise Silk

An amazing exhibit is currently on display through June 30, 2011 at the Hebrew Union College's Jewish Institute of Religion Museum (located at Brookdale Center, One West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012).

This exhibit "...explores how exceptional contemporary artists apply their skillful creativity to the ever evolving understanding of Jewish values. Individually addressing issues of memory and reflection, interpretations of history and ritual, and links between the past and present, they delve into aspects of the Holocaust, war, patriotism, celebration, prayer, feminism, and sexuality, frequently through the inclusion of Biblical texts and sometimes challenging traditional forms."
http://huc.edu/ckimages/files/Digest/August%2026,%202010/Press%20Release%20-%20A%20Stitch%20in%20Jewish%20Time.pdf

More Info About Some of the Artists:

Leslie A Golomb and Louise Silk - "Deez Nites Be All the Same to Me" : These two artists have created a series of quilts depicting the linked story of a Jewish slave-owning family, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lyons Moss, and their run away slave boy.
http://www.lesliegolomb.com/deezlobby.html

Blog Post to The Jewish Chronicle by Louise Silk - Why Don't Jews Quilt?
http://thejewishchronicle.net/pages/full_story/push?blog-entry-Why+Don%E2%80%99t+Jews+Quilt-%20&id=10679000

Andi Arnovitz - Unchained: While Trying on New Artistic Hat, Artist Develops Series of Paper Coats:
http://www.tabletmag.com/arts-and-culture/26293/unchained/#3

"One series of coats is devoted to agunot, the so-called “chained women,” who, according to Jewish law, cannot remarry due to their husbands’ refusal to grant a divorce, or inconclusive evidence of a husband’s death. Arnovitz obtained and photocopied hundreds of ketubot (marriage contracts), and tore them into small pieces. With thread she affixed the fragments onto massive paper coats. The sleeves, hems and collars were sewn shut, and the threads, evidence of her painstaking process, were left hanging, a metaphor for the agunah, herself."

Robert Forman - String Pictures - "Forman's work is about the journey-his, theirs, ours. It is about transparent shadows of the real world, shifting as we shift, fortelling our own ephemerality even as they document us for posterity, playing tricks on our vision like Puck, like the trickster spirits of every culture. It is about surface, but also about deeper layers and juxtapositions-of thread, form, subject matter, symbol and meaning."
Website: http://www.glueyarn.com/site/Home.html

Robert Forman: The Journey of Self and Other (Surface Design Journal - Spring 2000)
http://www.glueyarn.com/site/Surface_Design.html

Jacqueline Nicholls - "...uses art to explore traditional Jewish ideas in untraditional ways. This website shows the variety of media I use in my work - paper-cuts, embroidery, corsetry, drawings & print, clothing - and explains some of my thinking behind each piece."
http://www.jacquelinenicholls.com/ 

Blog - http://jacquelinenicholls.blogspot.com/

Nancy Koenigsberg

Jane Sauer Galleryhttp://www.jsauergallery.com/sagemoon/MainPages/BasketryInPerspective2009.html#NK

Snyderman-Works Galleries
http://www.snyderman-works.com/artists/nancy-koenigsberg

Elaine Reichek - combines "...vintage and current photography with stitching..."
http://www.elainereichek.com/
.
Adam Cohen - "Embroidery offers me a way to explore imagery while still feeling connected to the piece through my hands."

Snyderman-Works Galleries
http://www.snyderman-works.com/artists/adam-cohen

Free Creativity Coaching Sample

Many of us are familiar with Quinnn McDonald as an artist and as one who has graciously shared tutorials, but did you know that she also is a certified creativity coach as well? Coaching sessions are phone based and are scheduled to fit when you have the time to be focused.

Quinn is offering a free 30-minute sample session and states that it is:

"Not a demonstration or a pitch, this 30-minute free coaching session starts with the issues that you want to be coached on. It's a real coaching session.

At the end [of the free session], we will decide on an appropriate challenge as 'homework.' You'll ask any questions you have on coaching. There is no pressure and I won't sign you up after the coaching sample. You'll have time to think it through if you want to start coaching"

To learn more and to schedule your free session:
http://rawartjournaling.com/Coaching.html

Imagination Works - Quinn's free creativity newsletter that is e-mailed twice a month. To sign up for it:
http://rawartjournaling.com/Newsletter_IVFF.html

Creativity Ariticles - written by Quinn and available through Creativity-Portal (scroll down):
http://www.creativity-portal.com/cca/quinn-mcdonald/

QuinnCreative: Tips, Slips, Stumbles, and Leaps on the Creative Journal - Quinn's Blog:
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/

The Amazing Leather Work of Winfred Rembert

 "Winfred uses a canvas of cured leather to tool memories from his life.

These 'snapshots' offer an unprecedented view into the true lives of

African Americans in the Deep South only fifty years ago. The themes

present in his work transcend age, racial, gender and religious differences.

Through Winfred's work, we are encouraged to persevere and find a blessing

- to find redeption in the suffering we each experience as human beings."

- from his website

Many textile artists use leather in their work - Winfred Rembert, however, uses this "textile" as his fabric to create stunning and masterful narratives. The detailed imagery in the slices of life that he gives us from his own memories and experiences are fascinating, riveting and incredibly moving.

Family Picking Cotton - Winfred Rembert

Chain Gang (All Me) - Winfred Rembert

Website
http://www.velocissima.com/winfred/

The Indelible Images of Winfred Rembert - Folk Art Messenger Magazine
http://www.folkart.org/mag/winfred-rembert

Call Him "Artist" - includes a slideshow with 10 images of his work
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/05/13/entertainment/doc4bec01551d0fd865045524.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Adelson Galleries - Winfred Rembert - can view 44 images of his work
http://www.adelsongalleries.com/exhibitions/2010-04-07_winfred-rembert/

Winfred  Rembert at Work - 3:17 minute YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UTfKyjHB_g&feature=player_embedded

WFXL Interview of Winfred Remnbert - 6:03 minute YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2hPEitmam4&feature=related

Business Support for the Arts from Large Businesses Dropped Significantly

As we probably all could have predicted, a survey for the Business Committe for the Arts found that between 2006 - 2009, business support for the arts from large businesses "...fell from 43 percent to 28 percent, while the number that gave to any charitable cause dropped from 70 percent to 52 percent." Interestingly, however, over the same period support from small to mid-sized businesses actually increased.
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=316900003

To read the executive summary of the Triennial Survey of Business Support for the Arts:
http://www.americansforthearts.org/pdf/information_services/arts_business_partnerships/bca/BCA%202010%20Survey%20Executive%20Summary.pdf

Textile Related Tutorials - Part 10

Your colleagues continue to share unselfishly...

Part 9    Part 8    Part 7    Part 6     Part 5     Part 4     Part 3     Part 2     Part 1

Learning to Critique Effectively - Jane Dunnewold - Excellent article on this topic.
http://www.artclothstudios.com/userfiles/file/New%20Critique%20Essay.pdf

Bobbin Work: Dealing with Distortion - Ellen Anne Eddy
http://practicalthreadmagic.blogspot.com/2010/09/bobbin-work-on-loose-dealing-with.html


Silkscreen Mask Using Plastic - Wen Redmond
http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com/2010/09/silkscreen-mask-using-plastic.html

Multi-Color Screen Printing Without a Press - Craft Chi
http://craftchi.com/blog/?p=1304

On a Roll: Create Your Personal Mark Using Brayers - Wen Redmond
http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com/2010/09/on-roll-create-your-personal-brayers.html

Who Wants to Color
http://practicalthreadmagic.blogspot.com/2010/09/bobbin-workwho-wants-to-color.html
Coloring In and Out of the Lines
http://practicalthreadmagic.blogspot.com/2010/09/bobbin-work-coloring-in-and-out-of.html
On the Loose - Dealing with Distortion
http://practicalthreadmagic.blogspot.com/2010/09/bobbin-work-on-loose-dealing-with.html

Fabric Covered Beads - Twirling Betty
http://twirlingbetty.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/fabric-covered-beads-a-tutorial/

Gel Glue Resist Tutorial - Janice Paine-Dawes
http://thedistoriatedquilter.blogspot.com/p/gel-glue-resist-tutorial.html

Thread-U-Cation - Laura Wasikowski - She continues to share her excellent instructions
The Basics - http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/p/thread-u-cation.html
How to Make a Little Dot in 3 Easy Steps - http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-make-little-dot-in-3-easy-steps.html
Snail Trail - http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/10/thread-u-cation-thursdays-snail-trail.html
Stitch Placement - http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/09/thread-u-cation-thursdays-stitch.html
Whipped Running Stitch: http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/09/thread-u-cation-thursday-whipped.html
Colonial Knot: http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/09/thursday-colonial-knot-put-on-your.html
Coral Stitch: http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/10/thread-u-cation-thursday-coral-stitch.html
Combining Stitches: http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/11/thread-u-cation-thursdays-combining.html
Tulip Stitch: http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/2010/11/thread-u-cation-thursday-tulip-stitch.html

Beaded Fringe - Lyric Kincaid
http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/2010/10/tutorial-beaded-fringe.html

Five Ways to Use Angelina Fibers - Stephanie Forsyth - Stamping; Trapping; Textures; Roving; Making Angelina Beads
http://thefibernation.blogspot.com/2010/10/5-way-to-use-angelina-fibers.html

Stamping - Melanie Testa - Creating stamps using Plexiglas
http://www.melanietesta.com/mtype/archives/2010/10/stamping-tutori.html

Carve Your Own Rubber Stamps - Alma Stoller
http://almastoller.typepad.com/almastoller/2007/09/carved-your-own.html

How to Make Fabric Beads - Alma Stoller
http://almastoller.typepad.com/almastoller/2010/07/how-to-make-fabric-beads.html

Fabric Silhouette Tutorial - Maria Elkins

http://mariaelkins.com/index.php/2010/11/silhouette-tutorial/

Family Silhouette Tutorial - Maria Elkins
http://mariaelkins.com/index.php/2010/11/family-silhouette-tutorial/

How to do those Innie Corners - Margaret Hunt

http://scquiltaddict.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-do-those-innie-corners.html

Using Golden Digital Grounds - Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/tutorial-using-golden-digital-grounds-1/

Monsoon Paper: Tutorial + Variation - Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/monsoon-papertutorial-variation/

Making Glue Work for You - Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/making-glue-work-for-you/

Gel Medium Transfers - Easier with Videos - Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/gel-medium-transfers-easier-with-videos/

Using Fixatives on Your Artwork - Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/tutorial-using-fixatives-on-your-artwork/

Monochromatic Collage - Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/tutorial-monochromatic-collage/

Gallery Hanging Tutorial - Judith Ferguson
http://judysfiberart.blogspot.com/p/gallery-hanging-tutorial.html

Quotable Quotes

"A man who works with his hands is a laborer;
a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman;
a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist."
Louis Nizer
.

"Life holds no promises as to what will come your way. You must search for your own ideals and work toward reaching them....If you are willing to take the opportunities you are given and utilize the abilities you have, you will constantly fill your life with special moments and unforgettable times."
Dena Dilaconi

Until the lion tells his story, you only hear the tales of the hunters.
African proverb

Art is not for the cultivated taste. It is to cultivate taste.
Nikki Giovanni
 
"Ideas must be put to the test. That's why we make things, otherwise they would be no more than ideas." Andy Goldsworthy
 
I tamed my personal art demon – the tendency to think about painting rather than actually painting – by throwing the stuff on the blank paper and telling myself I didn't care about the end result.
I believed it and was saved.
Rich Hawk

I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that.
Your mind must know it has to get down to work.
Pearl S. Buck

Process trumps plans. That's why our job is called "creative."
Robert Genn

Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.
Bob Dylan

Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul - and you answer.
Terri Guillemets

"Your art isn’t for everyone.
Once you understand this, you’ll have an easier time
finding the people who appreciate your work."
Alyson Stanfield
 
"I think finding your voice is making the implicit explicit.
It is making what you already know on a subconscious level
conscious and repeatable."
Jessie Carty

"I tamed my personal art demon
 – the tendency to think about painting rather than actually painting –
by throwing the stuff on the blank paper and telling myself
I didn't care about the end result. I believed it and was saved."
Rich Hawk

"With age, art and life become one."
Georges Braque

"Never be afraid to do something new.
Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the titanic".
Anonymous

Free Online Course - The Creative Pathfinder

Mark McGuinness is a poet who also is a coach for creative professionals. Starting from the premise that "creativity isn't enough", he has developed a free course that offers "...an alternative take on professional development for creative people. It’s a practical education in the artistic and professional skills you need to thrive in the real world of the creative industries...while maintaining your integrity, peace of mind and enthusiasm for your work."


An email with a link to the lesson will be sent once a week for 6 months. Each lesson contains:

• An article explaining the what, why and how of the topic
• A practical worksheet for you to download and complete
• Links to additional resources (articles, books, e-books etc — most of which are free)

You can register for the course on the following link which also will provide more detailed information about what the course covers and why he is offering it for free:
http://lateralaction.com/pathfinder/

Ben Cuevas - Knitted Skeleton & Organs

Ben Cuevas is a fiber artist who has knitted a skeleton

and internal organs that are incredibly detailed and intricate.

Knitted Head & Thorax - Ben Cuevas

Transcending the Material - shows many detailed close-ups of his knitted skeleton

http://bencuevas.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/transcending-the-material/

Ben Cuevas Interview, 2010 Wassaic Artist Resident - video of Ben Cuevas discussing his work in his studio in the Luther Barn in Wassaic, NY

http://vimeo.com/13860849

Healing Disparities: The Condition of Embodiment - Interview

http://arttistsspeak.blogspot.com/2010/08/ben-cuevas.html

Healing Disparities: The Condition of Embodiment - Includes links to detailed images of knitted body parts including: Rectum; Genitosexual; Intestines; Heart, Thyroid; Brain

http://bencuevas.wordpress.com/2010/07/26/healing-disparities-the-condition-of-embodiment/

Test Your Knowledge

Do you REALLY know as much as you think?

FIBRES and FABRICS
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=what-do-you-know-about-fibres-fabrics

QUILTING
http://www.pbs.org/americaquilts/fun/index.html

Funny! http://www.fonsandporter.com/aspx/FonsandPorter/fp/onlineextras/onlinearticle.aspx?id=173

KNITTING
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz21719018de4d8.html

CROCHET
Funny! http://www.freepatterns.com/content/content.html?content_id=621

CROSS STITCH
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz16362812bd1a8.html

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz317077244cae0.html

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz213275186b9b0.html

NEEDLEWORK TYPES
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz29609721e6080.html

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz28278620600f8.html

WEAVING

http://www.braingle.com/trivia/5414/a-warped-point-of-view.html

Couldn't find a quiz about baskets

Free Visual Journal Online Workshops

Starting January 1, Strathmore (one of the leading manufacturers of journals for artists), is making available a 3-part series on visual journaling. It will focus on visual journaling techniques, and each workshop will include 4 online video lessons along with supportin downloadable instructions. You also will receive additional ideas, tips and inspiration from the workshop instructor via email. Workshop sessions are self-paced and will be available online through August 1, 2011.

Workshop 1: Start Where You Are - January 1, 2011 - "We will explore the philosophy that a journal should always be a work in progress and discover the advantages of developing pages in layers using mixed-media techniques and materials such a gels, mediums, water media, paints and sprays...To personalize your journal, notice how the addition of fold-outs and embellishments make the pages interactive. Play with design layouts and spreads, and learn how to integrate writing and images while keeping design principals in mind… but not being constrained by them! And, whether you want to cover your journal with painted canvas or art it up with collage, you will see tempting examples to transform your Visual Journal into your very own masterpiece."

Workshop 2: Recycled Journal Pages - March 1, 2011 - "Reusing your own artwork in your journal pages helps you get the most out of the time you put into creating art. By using copies of previous journal pages and other art you’ve created, you will have a great stash of collage fodder right at your fingertips! Reusing your own art allows you to revisit your art in a totally new way and create pages that are uniquely your own. In addition to your recycled art, collage materials can also be found in other recyclables such as, newspapers, magazines, old book pages or other ephemera. Get the most mileage from your art and take it to exciting new places by recycling it in your Art Journal!"

Workshop 3: Building Your Visual Journal from the Page Up - May 1, 2011 - "Find your unique visual style while creating mixed media journal pages from the background up. Learn how to execute colorful and textured backgrounds with paints and inks. Work with collage papers and ephemera to explore composition. Master paper handling techniques that expand your page and enhance your journal’s flow. Finally take your journal into the real world to hone your on-site sketching and observation skills. The techniques and strategies presented in this workshop will enable you to discover your own authentic journal voice and unleash your creative energy."

To Register:
http://www.strathmoreartist.com/vjworkshop2011.html

UPDATE: The Grades Are In - "The Honor Roll"

This is an update to the October 29 post

Senate Arts Report Card Grading Criteria - Arts Action Fund

As promised, "The Arts Action Fund" of Americans for the Arts has released its report about those senators who are strong champions of the arts. Thirty-seven senators received a B+ or greater on the Congressional Arts Report Card. Thirteen have been singled out for special commendation. Click on the following link to find out why (NOTE: Use your mouse to hover over each one's picture, then click his or her picture to learn more):

http://artsactionfund.org/pages/honor-roll

Grading Criteria - The 6 criteria on which all senators were graded include: Keeps jobs in the arts; Supports public art; Supports museums; Shows initiative in the arts; Active in extracurricular activities; and Shows leadership in the arts.
http://artsactionfund.org/pages/senate-arts-report-card-grading-criteria

To View for the "Dirty Dozen" - those senators with abysmal records when it comes to supporting the arts:
http://www.artsactionfund.org/pages/senate-arts-report-card-dirty-dozen

To View the Grades for All Senators:
http://www.artsactionfund.org/pages/senate-report-card