TAFA Market Focus: Jwrobel

TAFA is having its first public event during the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah.  We are excited to introduce TAFA to the public at large and are hoping to raise funds for our new website.   We have a silent auction and raffle, both available to online participants and an exhibit and vendors.   These are ways in which you can donate to support our efforts.  This blog will feature the works and vendors in the next two weeks.  You can see all of the TAFA Market posts in one place by clicking on this link. 

Today's TAFA Market focus zooms in on:

Jwrobel

Visit Jwrobel's Member Profile on TAFA

Organic and Sustainable Baby Accessories by JWrobel

I always thought I would have my own kids, fantasizing about dressing them up with little outfits from around the world or beautiful handmade, natural clothing like this fun green cap.  Probably a good thing it didn't happen as the grown-up kids would probably have ended up in therapy for all my other eccentricities.  Although, I must say: My dogs do like me!

Those who do have a baby or a little one in their lives need to take a look at Jwrobel's beautiful baby clothing and accessories.  Carefully knitted, using sustainable materials like organic, hand dyed wools, alpaca, and silk, the results are soft and luxurious.

Baby Pixie Hat by Jwrobel

Jwrobel, or Jess Wrobel, will have several baby items and adult accessories in our TAFA Market.  She said grandmas are some of her best customers and we all know that there will be plenty of you coming to Paducah who have little ones on the way or recently arrived.  This is your chance to score big points with your child or grandchild!

Jess has been a great asset to TAFA ever since she joined us.  Freely sharing business tips and ideas, I have already learned a lot from her and look forward to continued growth in the future.  All of us have to wear so many hats as we make, design or buy our products, photograph them, get them online and then engage in the often tedious tasks of marketing what we do.  Jess has successfully integrated her products into a sensibility which reflects her commitment to being green and natural.  

Babies are not the only focus at the Jwrobel studio.  Adults have plenty to pick from to accessorize themselves and their homes.  Jess integrates an old world feel, sometimes calling out to Central Asia and the Silk Road and at others harking back to Victorian sensibilities.  She makes beautiful purses, bags, pillows and much more.  A couple examples of what will be at the TAFA Market:

Satin Garden Rose by Jwrobel

Knit Purse by Jwrobel

If you are coming to Paducah, definitely check out our TAFA Market to see Jwrobel's work in person.  Meanwhile, you can check out her shops on Etsy:

TAFA Team Etsy Pick of the Week: Button Necklace by Gilgulim

I love jewelry that is fun and whimsical, and this necklace fits the bill!  Using folded fabric and buttons collected by her mother and grand-mother, Hagar Arnon Elbaz created this one of a kind necklace for her shop, Gilgulim. 

Buttton and Folded Fabric Necklace by Gilgulim

Hagar creates beautiful, unique, planet-friendly pieces from her studio in Beit Shemesh, Israel.  You can read more about her and see more of her work, by visiting her on the TAFA List, her blog, or on her Etsy site. 

*Etsy Pick of the Week feature by Stacey Sharman from Peppermint Pinwheels.  Every Thursday, we will post one item from a TAFA Team affiliated Etsy store. In choosing a Team member photo, we will be looking for beautiful, Etsy Front Page worthy photos.

TAFA Market Focus: Rose Hughes

"Riding the Thermals", by Rose Hughes, 45"x45", $3,500

TAFA is having its first public event during the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah.  We are excited to introduce TAFA to the public at large and are hoping to raise funds for our new website.   We have a silent auction and raffle, both available to online participants and an exhibit and vendors.   These are ways in which you can donate to support our efforts.  This blog will feature the works and vendors in the next two weeks.  You can see all of the TAFA Market posts in one place by clicking on this link. 

Today's TAFA Market focus zooms in on:

Rose Hughes

Visit Rose's TAFA Member Profile

When I first saw Rose's quilts on her website, my eyes popped out.  I shoved them back in and studied her compositions, choices of color, and fell in love.   RavenSpeak Quilts are about the fecundity of nature, the freedom of hills and sky, the beauty of sunsets, trees, and life.  Roundness, calling you in for comfort and a hug, her work invites me to a walk outside, to slow down and let the air move around me.

Rose will have one quilt in our TAFA Market exhibit, "Riding the Thermals", pictured above.  She describes it:

"This design was originally created for a Quilting Arts article showing the effects you get when discharging silk and velveteen and then using crayons and paint for surface design. This second version was completed and traveled as part of the special art quilt exhibit Noble Elements."

It happens to be one of my favorites and I can't wait to see it in real life.

The Raven shows up often as a symbol in Rose's quilts.  She explains it in her Artist's Statement:

"Inspiration for my quiltart is drawn from my love of the ever-changing hills that make up our landscape, and from the ravens that mirror and mock this region's boisterous, and sometimes-crazy human residents. Watching ravens, I see how they live and weave their lives among us. Keeping an eye on us, laughing at us, they point to a layer of life that often goes unnoticed. 

Poet Mary Oliver refers to these rowdy creatures as “an advertisement for the more than ordinary life.” By allowing myself to experiment with materials, techniques, and color my works are attempts to express our always wondrous, always changing landscape. 

In my work I use the idea of layers to transform fabric. I began by creating a layer of strong structural shapes that are important for their initial impact on the senses, and the suggestion they give of the landscape. 

Like a raven, stealing and hoarding the ‘shiny objects', I embellish the areas of the base quilt canvas. I use handspun yarns to create strong lines to highlight each shape, and I add whimsy, texture, and sparkle by using a variety of glass beads and magical, shiny found objects. These embellishments used in combination with hand painted, hand dyed fabrics, imported silks and selected textural layers bring each original piece to life."

Here is another example of Rose's quilts:

"Desert Tango", Art Quilt by Rose Hughes

I absolutely love her sense of color!  And, apparently other people do, too, as Rose has a busy schedule of workshops, teaching others around the United States how to see in a new way and how to translate that vision into fabric.

Rose has taken time from that full life to help out here with our TAFA Team Blog, where TAFA members who have Etsy shops showcase their work.  She does this even though she has closed her Etsy shop!  Pretty generous in my book...

If you would like to purchase "Riding the Thermals" and are not coming to Paducah, you can do so via Pay Pal.  Just email me and I will give you the details.  We will ship to you after the show.  Meanwhile, explore Rose's website and take a look at her schedule of workshops.  Who knows?  Maybe she can help you see the world in a new, colorful way!

New TAFA - Etsy Treasury

For all to enjoy! A new TAFA treasury on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d9da26eae108eef59413779/red-as-a-ruby?index=1

Have a great week!

Cindy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cindyrquilts

TAFA Team Etsy Pick of the Week: Hand Printed Lavender Sachets

Whoops!  Did you notice that the Pick of the Week was missing last Thursday?  Sorry!  I was on vacation in New York City, and while I thought I would be able to do it while I was there, I got completely overwhelmed with all the things there are to do in the city!

So after all the grey of New York City in March, it makes me happy to see a little spring greenery.  I found these Chartreuse Sage Sachets in the shop of Lotta Helleberg from Charlottesville, Virginia.  Everything in her shop is wonderful!  Using all natural materials, she creates lovely hand-printed fabrics and uses them to create beautiful and simple home goods.

Chartreuse Sage Sachets by Lotta Helleberg

You can read more about Lotta Helleberg and see more of her work, visit her on the TAFA List, her blog, or on her Etsy site. 

*Etsy Pick of the Week feature by Stacey Sharman from Peppermint Pinwheels.  Every Thursday, we will post one item from a TAFA Team affiliated Etsy store. In choosing a Team member photo, we will be looking for beautiful, Etsy Front Page worthy photos.

Priming the Creative Pump

  

Sometimes the well runs a little dry when it comes to ideas, and I find that's usually when I haven't been working much.  Because when I'm working, there always seems to be no shortage of ideas that I can't get to because I'm too busy . . . well, working.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a continual fountain of ideas --

a library of sketchbooks to mine for gold, for instance, or a gigantic rolodex with an index card containing every great idea we've ever thought of but didn't take time to write down and therefore forgot?

I'd like to come up with a way to record those fleeting ideas that wouldn't result in piles of paper scraps bearing unintelligible scribbles in a shorthand so abbreviated that even I have absolutely no idea what it was originally intended to represent.

I think it's helpful to do a little something creative every day.  Because even when I'm not actively working on a project, if I flip the "creative switch" for a second or two I notice it's like throwing a drop of oil on the gears, keeping them ready to move should I provide them the opportunity.

And when I can't bring myself to actually DO something creative, it seems to be equally effective for me to look at other people's creative efforts.

The more art I absorb, of any kind,
the more my mind

seems willing to produce.

Charles Horton Cooley said,

"The mind is not a hermit's cell, 

but a place of hospitality and intercourse."

And yes, there is plenty of coming and going in my head . . . 

I guess I just need to up my hospitality a little

in hopes that my ideas will be tempted to 

sit down, relax awhile and maybe talk to each other.  

Susan M. Hinckley

Small Works in Wool  

  

Cherry Blossoms Show in Vancouver, British Colombia

"Spring Blossoms"  Art Quilt by Terry Aske

I'm thrilled to announce that my newest art quilt Spring Blossoms will be displayed at The Silk Purse Gallery in Ambleside, West Vancouver from April 5th to 17th.

It is one of several fiber and textile works in the "Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation" exhibition.  This show, in conjunction with the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, will feature works made in a range of techniques from indigo to sashiko dyeing to fusing real blossom petals to quilted and painted surfaces. This third annual cherry blossom exhibition promises to delight with entries by 16 artists from BC, Alberta and Japan. There is a Japanese legend that the cherry blossom generates positive energy.  Come and experience the positive vibe at the Silk Purse Gallery.
 
The opening reception will be Tuesday, April 5th from 6pm to 8pm.  I'll be there, and would be thrilled to see some of my friends!  See the attached brochures for more information.

Or, drop by the gallery between April 5th and 17th.

The Silk Purse Gallery
1570 Argyle Ave.West Vancouver, BC 
604-925-7292
open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5pm

Terry Aske Art Quilts

 ... where fiber art meets quilting

www.TerryAskeArtQuilts.etsy.com

Ann Brauer's Contemporary Quilts- Soaring Beyond Tradition

Art Quilt by Ann Brauer

Interview with Ann Brauer
by Barbara Harms

Your work has received so much recognition. What led to your choice of fiber as the creative medium for your art ?

That one is very simple, although a bit of a story. I grew up around fiber--specifically the quilts that my grandmother made. Although I never thought I could make a quilt, I loved to work with different fabrics and in fact probably drove my mother crazy having her drive me to all the fabric stores within sixty miles of our home so I could look at the different fabrics available. I was very lucky because in the adjacent town, there was a store where the owner would go into New York once a year and purchase cutaways and remnants from famous designers. I did lots of sewing--made my own dresses, costumes for the high school musical, etc but never a quilt. Eventually I quit sewing because I was not wearing any of the tailored clothes that I enjoyed making.

By training I am actually a lawyer. As a lawyer I had my own company that did research for other lawyers. I would drive everyone crazy because I had to write out the arguments by hand and cut and paste them before I could figure out how to win cases. At one point I had a roommate who made quilts. I realized if I made quilts I could buy fabric. I loved the patterns that were created when I pieced even simple patterns together. Soon I ran out friends to give the quilts to and began selling them. Shortly thereafter I decided to move from Boston where I had been living to western Massachusetts and see if I could support myself as a quilt maker. The rest is history.


Who or what have had the most influence on your work?

My grandmother is the most obvious influence. She was quite the character--spunky and opinionated. She made a quilt for me when I was born which had pieces the size of a postage stamp. It was and still is a wonderful quilt made with so much love and care. For her quilts were her chance to express herself as a person and show her worth in what must have been a difficult life. She not only made quilts for the beds in the house--some for warmth and some for show--but she also made a quilt for the closet of the guest bedroom. This quilt was too special to ever be used but I am sure that she brought it out for every guest to see. The stitches are so tiny and even--after she took her work to the local quilting bee, she would come home and take out their stitches.

Rainbow of Summer, Art Quilt by Ann Brauer

How has the recognition and acclaim effected you as an artist?

OK--I will be honest. I love recognition. I want more. Recognition spurs me on to further push myself to create the best possible quilts. And yet I do not work just to get recognition. When I try to make a piece just to get noticed usually the quilt does not work. When the quilt just happens then often I have a stronger piece. For instance rainbows of summer is a quilt that occurred to me. The colors seemed to just happen. I knew from the start that it was a winner and sure enough it was selected as a Niche finalist.


What have been your proudest accomplishments to date?

Oh, there are so many of them. I would say my proudest accomplishment is that I have supported myself making art quilts for nearly thirty years!!! Not many can state that. In terms of specific pieces I would of course go for the series of quilts I made for the Federal District Courthouse in Springfield, MA--the quilts I made for the Lodge at Turning Stone in Verona, NY--winning an Award of Excellence at the Baltimore Craft Show. I love seeing my work in place and knowing that the quilt is indeed right.


What do you do for fun [besides quilting]?

I love my garden. In particular I love the daylilies in my garden. I am a proud member of the American Hemerocallis Society and even dabble in spreading pollen to create new daylilies. I also love to be outside--hiking, boating and snowshoeing. I am lucky to have a really great DH and two wonderful step-children. Of course I also like to read and have lots of fun on social media.



How have you handled the business side of your career?

I am very lucky that my father was a farmer. This taught me how to be a small business person. I think this is essential and I do spend a lot of time promoting my career. After all, if I don't sell quilts, I don't get to make quilts. Business is a very important aspect of my career. When I began making quilts I chose to sell them by doing a number of fine craft shows as opposed to doing quilt shows--I like interacting with the public and finding out how the react to my work. Recently I have become very involved in learning about the potentials of social media. In particular I love my blog. I love the process of writing about my work and then discussing it with my readers. I am always curious to find out what else I can learn from social media.


Describe yourself in 5 words.

Smart, focused, determined, sincere, kind



What have been the biggest obstacles in achieving your success?

The biggest obstacle--the need to earn money--has also been my blessing. By always having to stay focused on creating work that will sell while also knowing that I needed to justify internally the decision to leave being a lawyer to become a quilt maker, I had the freedom and determination to push myself to make the best quilts possible while also realizing that if I did not like the quilts I was making, I could support myself doing something else.


Ann Brauer is a TAFA Member. Visit her Member Profile.


Post by Barbara Harms /Asian Art And Quilts
Visit Asian Art And Quilts on Etsy.

Learn with Susan Sorrell, The Creative Chick

"Teacup Bulldog" by The Creative Chick

TAFA: The Textile and Fiber Arts List grew out of a group that I had formed on Ning, a platform that hosts independent groups who organize themselves around a theme.  I had been looking for a community that was interested in the international side of fiber arts and textiles and when I couldn't find it, I started a group called "Fiber Focus" on Ning.  Through that and as I kept learning about social media, I kept bumping into The Creative Chick (Susan Sorrell).  She joined my group and I joined hers, Fiber Arts/Mixed Media.  Once I launched TAFA, I realized that I would not be able to lead Fiber Focus anymore, so I closed it down.  And, I have also not had the time to get involved on Fiber Arts/Mixed Media, also known as FAMM.

BUT, Susan is a diva of knowledge and if you are looking to learn more about how to network, learn, teach, then you need to connect with Susan and FAMM.  I am serious...  whenever I go check out a site that is art or social media related, there she is, burning the paths ahead of me.  I know a lot and she knows way more!

The Creative Chick will help you focus on your art.

Connect and Share

If you are looking for a creative community that focuses on edgy and innovative interpretations of fiber art and mixed media, join her group on Ning.  You will meet other artists and see many, many techniques explored in great ways.

Learn and Teach

Susan teaches several different workshops that zoom in on creativity, embroidery techniques, color and other topics.  See a list of her classes here.  She has also encouraged FAMM members to teach and Spring classes have just been announced.  If you are interested in also teaching and have never taught an online class, Susan suggests taking a class from someone else first so that you understand the process.

The Creative Chick is also a TAFA Member!  See her Member Profile here.  If you are looking for a creativity boost, do check her out.  She is contagious!  And, if you are a member of FAMM or have taken one of her classes, share your experience here with us. 

Snippets.

 Breath is the thread 

that ties creation together.

-- Morihei Ueshiba

The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary.

-- Mary Kurtz

It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.

-- Simone Signoret

If everyone gives one thread, 

the poor person will have a shirt.

-- Russian Proverb

She watched and taught the girls 

that sang at their 
embroidery frames 

while the great silk flowers 

grew from their needles . . .

-- Louise Jordan Milne, The Feast of Lanterns

A gentle heart is tied with an easy thread.  

-- George Herbert

Susan M. Hinckley
Small Works in Wool