Sunday, November 28, 2010

Hi All,
Just a quick note from the sunny but not so warm beach.
The show season is over for 2010 and it is time to enjoy
family and friends,
sand and sun!
Have a wonderful Hoilday Season
and Thank You
for following the Embellished Spirit in the past year.
I look forward to sharing many new quilts,
artistic figures,
and techniques
with you in the New Year!
Robbie

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Work for the Rivercity Figurative Artists' Guild Annual Show and Sale

Along for the Ride
The mermaid riding the turtle is finally complete (well, I may still add some beads to the turtle).
What a joy this doll has been. The idea was conceived in Virgina Beach, VA while walking on the beach in November of 2009, so she was a year in the making.
Posted here are views from the back and front
of this Artistic Figure in Cloth
Titled "Along for the Ride".


A Detail of her clothing, created with hand painted lace.


A Detail of her face.




Monday, November 8, 2010

Work for the Fall Gallery Show and Sale

Work continues on the turtle doll and the mermaid.
To be titled "Along for the Ride"
I have lots of help on this project, as you can see in these photos!
Before the week is over I'll send photos of the now
"underconstruction" mermaid and the finished sea turtle.
Please note my previous posting
that carries the information about the
Rivercity Figurative Artists' Guild Gallery Show and Sale,
coming up this weekend, November 13/14, 2010.



Friday, October 15, 2010

And finally I will catch you up on where most of the summer/fall has gone. Enjoying creating art
for the following shows happening this fall.
Dates and times are listed for all the events
and I hope you will attend!
Rivercity Figurative Artists' Guild
A show of Artistic Figures
13th Annual Gallery Show and Sale
Saturday November 13. 2010 10am-5pm
Sunday November 14, 2010 12pm-4pm
Kennedy Heights Art Center
6546 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati Ohio 45231
The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center
A show of Mandala Quilts
1028 Scott Boulevard
Covington KY 41011
Opening Reception Friday October 22, 2010 6-9pm
Exibition runs through November 23, 2010
Annual Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Artists
Quilt Show and Boutique
October 22-24, 2010
9am-5pm
Cincinnati Nature Center
4949 Tealtown Road
Milford, Ohio 45150
Opening Reception Friday October 22, 2010 5-8pm
Pictured here is the Quilt I designed for
the Cincinnati Nature Center
Annual Quilt Raffle
Tickets can be purchased at the show
or anytime at the Nature Center this fall.
The drawing for the Raffle will be held in December, 2010.


Third . . . Wandering around New England



Second. . . Crusing. . .


pictured here sailing out of New York Harbor


past the Sature of Liberty.
Where has the summer gone?
For that matter where is the fall going?
This poor blog has gone unattended for months,
but I'll give you just a few hints about what has occupied my time.
First to the garden...........


Saturday, June 19, 2010

SEA GLIDER A bead embellished Mermaid

Sea Glider was the first is a series of mermaid figures
designed to be "in motion".
She was created after many patterns were developed in muslin fabric.
(see an earlier post)
Her hair is composed of individually quilted sections
which echo the shape of the tail.
The beads that embellish her body were collected from bead stores in at least six different states including Maine, North Carolina and Minnesota.
Front View

Bead Details on the base Sea Glider's Sister
"The Magic is in the Hair" is shown in one of the first posts on my blog.







Figures that Flow

Designing a mermaid figure that expresses movement has been the goal of the most recent series of figures. So often mermaids are seen "sitting on their tails" but I want my figures to move through the space. (or water)

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

A Little Magic

Now here is a doll for you to see . . . my great grandson Aiden with his mother Irene at the zoo in Asheboro NC riding the endangered animals carousel.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Quiltfest Rising Sun, Indiana

The Rivercity Figurative Artists' Guild
spent the Weekend of April 9-11, 2010 in Rising Sun, Indiana
at the 2010 Quiltfest.
It was a beautiful venue and a lovely show of Quilts, Dolls and various other art. Pictured here is my part of the space we occupied in the
Ballroom of the Grand Victoria Casino.Doll Pins and other items

" My Garden is Growing on Me"
ART DOLL

Small Art Quilts and Dolls
As part of the actual Quilt Show I entered two Art Quilts.
My Sea Glass Reflections ( quilt laying on the table)
and Perfect Symmetry (dragonfly quilt on the wall)
won First and Second Place Ribbons. Robbie with her ribbon winning quilts




Wednesday, March 10, 2010

More Mermaid Work

The Turtle continues with the embellishing of the fins. The next step will be to sew the back onto the fin and slide it in place on the armature.
At last, the Village of Batavia is out of the snow. And here is a pix of the first flower to spring forth in my yard. I've taken two days off from "Mermaid Work" to clear flower beds and play in the yard.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Winter Art Inspired by the Snow







Snow on the Dogwood tree became the inspiration for this art quilt. A photo transfer technique was used to create the center of the design. The branches were embellished in satin ribbon. The outer part of the quilt was created with Batik fabric in a simple patchwork design.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Studio Cat as ART

Daisy has been a muse for several works of art. She was the motivation for the kitty in the pink dress seen in this photo. She is also pictured with her friends made by several artists in a workshop at Artistic Figures in Cloth.


Studio Cat







Today I would like to introduce you to my studio partner. Daisy May joined my little family after I rescued her from near death. At just a few weeks old, Daisy was shot thru the front leg. My daughter found Daisy in her garden and the cat was seriously wounded. A wonderful vet put Daisy back together and she has enjoyed a life in my studio for almost two years.


You will see here photos of Daisy the week I brought her home as a kitten, how here leg looks today and a photo of her obvious enjoyment of our studio space.

Monday, February 8, 2010

The Pink and Green Mermaid







The Magic is in the Hair

Mermaids have become a fantastic surface to experiment with beading techniques. They provide a unique opportunity to not worry about what an image really looks like. Who knows what a mermaid looks like - can she be pink and green?

Why I create what I create

My ART:
What does it mean to me “to embellish my art”?
A definition might be
- to make more beautiful with ornamentation
- to increase attractiveness with decoration and fanciful details
To me beads and embellishments are about a deeper meaning. Embellishing an art quilt or cloth figure captures my attention, my “spirit" and brings joy to the creative process.
The glitz and glitter of beads and sequins add joy to my work. My work sparkles with JOY and reflects the delight I feel in life.
My desire is that the viewer will not just see the work but feel the joy.
That is why I sign my work
Enjoy, Robbie