Christine Scarsella of Art@830 Gallery has put together one of the first fiber art shows in Key West and I am pleased to be part of it. It has inspired me to finish a long languishing Japanese quilt and whip up a few patterns for bags that have been floating in my brain for a long while – actually I haven’t actually drafted the patterns yet but will make at least two because I am happy with the way they turned out. I am inspired by the gorgeous Japanese fabric that I’ve collected for years. It’s amazing what a deadline can do.
This quilt began with my love of Japanese fabric – mostly vintage kimono silk . The name of this piece is “What I did for love” and shows sticks and rabbits acting out. 
I like the idea of a big and tricky project – something that takes at least a year to complete. This one took three! It wasn’t that much work – sheesh . . .
My best pieces happen organically. I made the center out of vintage Japanese kimono silk and that was entertaining for some time. When the thrill wore off I wanted to recapture it by adding something interesting. I was tired of traditional treatments but wanted to continue the Japanese theme – only updated and more personal. When I came upon a Japanese fight animation video on youtube, I thought it would be perfect for the quilt. So made a series of sticks out of taupe bias binding and hand appliqued them to a daiwabo indigo background eventually sashiko stitching a revolving background.
When I took this picture, the border still had basteing stitches around the rabbit.
I am thrilled that this work is going in a gallery. The vernissage is tomorrow 6-9pm and I am going to be in very fine company. Tomorrow I’ll take some pictures of other artist work and post them.
These are a few of my bags. This first one is not yet finished. It needs handles and a bit more embellishing. It’s made of ruched kimono silk and cotton.
I really like the way this turned out. Sushi was kind enough to bring me a new Obi from Japan (okay, alright so I begged her – so what!!) and I challenged myself to make a sexy clutch with it. I know she will die when I waltz in to the club, plonk it on the bar and (very slowly) pull out a tube of red lipstick from it’s drapey folds. Oh yeah . . .
Friday I go to the Houston Quilt Festival for the first time ever and I surely will have a very large very empty suitcase going in.
Life is good!
Good Luck with the show! I know this is beginning of MANY successful exhibitions for you. Wish I could be there….
I’m looking forward to your blog about Houston and the Houston Quilt Show.
I’m anxious to find out if everything IS bigger in Texas.
They are going to love you and your art of course!!! Thanks again for the warm hospitality you both wraped us with during our visit – it was simply fabulous!!