History of Dead Birds

I was digging thru my tubs of miscellaneous dye samples and discarded unfinished projects when I stumbled upon this lovely piece of dyed cotton. I knew it was about time to pull it out and turn it into something but thought it would have to wait until after graduation when inspiration struck! I've been toying with my independent study final project of 3D quilting and here was just the fabric to get the gears rolling.
My desire was to do all my samples and final about suicide but who says it has to be human suicide?

A few months ago my husband came home from a hunting trip with a dried out dead bird. A fragile tiny baby bird that he kept safe in his truck ashtray for me. While unusual to some this was a true gift for a gal like me-the Ellie equivalent of a dozen red roses. This spurred a theme and not long after I found another dried out dead bird on my own, then even had a baby bird fall out of his nest right at my feet.
These occurances inspired me to even include a dead bird in my senior exhibition. (We all made a letter of our title FABRICATION and being one of the I's I wrapped a dead bird in wire and hung it up. Only one other classmate would touch it!)
Now with quite the collection of dead birds I needed a place for them to call home. During my trash collecting I found a perfect dead bird house!

So, dead birds, dead bird houses and then my recent spell of quilting disturbing interior spaces like the blue chair quilt...

looks nice and comfy but is actually screen printed with hand guns and the wall paper is filled with bombs while a live and dead rats cover the floor...
And I was running to some paper to sketch out ideas for a
Home For Dead Birds quilt.

Sketches in place, dead birds and bird house for inspiration I went back thru my fabric stash for pieces of vintage fabrics with prints that spoke of comfort and home. I also found a great color reference fabric whose dark blues referrenced bordering darkness and bright pink flowers were cheery and happy and dyed the other fabrics to match.
This is where it all begins...

Baggin' It All Up!

This is a time for celebration! My last semester as an undergrad and since I have no clue if or when I'll ever get back to college I should be livin' it up in style.
I made myself an awesoem tote a few years back with just the right amount of space and uber pockets But it has two thin little handles that do fit over the shoulder but cut in when heavy. I walk nearly a mile to class folks and as an art student who knows what all will be in my bag. I'm one of those best to be prepared kinda gals, ya know. So my priorities were 1)lots of space 2)comfy for long hikes 3)trying a zippered pocket 4) handy place for ipod and id card (which I need to get into all the art buildings).
The fabric is all vintage, baby! And of course, this is Ellie we're talking about so I threw pattens and together that don't quite "go" and yet work somehow. I just laid my sketchbook down on the fabric and cut from there leaving plenty of room top to bottom and left to right for the odd ball of yarn or roll of fabric.
I found a great tutorial online for how to put in a zippered pocket
http://creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/creative_little_daisy/2007/02/dont_fear_the_z.html
I put mine on the outside of the flap for those things you want super handy like car keys and markers. Perhaps even a notebook or dayplanner. The only problem is I really wish I had possitioned it to unzip the other way. It looked right laying on the table but is a little akward when worn on the body. Just something to keep in mind on future projects.
[This is where I really need to get better about in progress photos!]

Then I tackled the lining giving myself pockets for the things I know I carry. Since I designed it all myself I could put in as many of any size as I wanted. I did one large pocket with a smaller sectional one on the outside. Pockets are easy peazy mac and cheezy. Just cut the rectangle, hem one edge, fold under the other edges and sew!


Last was attaching the strap which gave me problems. Not because I couldn't technically handle it but because of my own indecision and lack of selection at local craft stores. I had envisioned this with big metal hoop handle attachments but since I made the bag (and strap) extra wide I couldn't find any rings or d-rings large enough. I settled for smaller than I wanted but that caused the bag to sag in weird places and the flap to not seem large enough. SO I seam ripped the d-rings off and just attached it to the sides using the same triangles I had made to go thru the d-rings.
Inside the strap where it hits my back and shoulder I placed doubled quilt batting to keep it from digging in or rubbing when its full of notebooks.
Then last but not least I added a small pocket super handy on the strap for my id and ipod. I need that stinkin id to open building doors and it can be a pain to dig it out from buried deep in a bag. And the pocket could also hold my ipod and be close enough to my head for my earbuds to reach.
I am really happy with it for my first ever messenger bag and only my second book bag. Go Me!

Judy Fox Ceramics-Amazing!

I don't want to claim to know a lot about this artist but I do recommend that you read up about her if you find her work as fascinating as I do. I am particularly drawn to her human figures-being a doll maker at heart. But there is something equally intriguing about her lustful explorations. They are at once repulsive and attractive making for an interesting push/pull.
Find out more about her here http://www.newyorkartfoundryinc.com/artistindex/judy_fox.html

Self Portrait: Cow House 2

Step 1: Divide the photograph into four major values; darkest, dark, light, and lighter. These numbers were then transferred onto the pattern. Then each pattern piece with the same value determination was traced onto white cotton cloth. These pieces of fabric were numbered by its value and then dyed. To dye the same color but with different values I started one dye vat and then pulled out the lightest fabric first, then the second 20 min later ect. Since each piece was pulled out at a different time they were rinsed in a soda ash bath serperately to set the color then hung to dry. Since I knew they were then going to be screen printed I left even the darkest grey pretty light so that the lines of the screen print would show up.

Step 2: I photocopied a map of southern Arizona and had it turned into a transparency along with a photo I took of a lizard camoflaged on rocks. These to me reperesented Sam and I's journeys into the wilderness. The map also included where I was involved in a head on collision that left my body scarred and my state of mind greatly altered. Both of the transperancies were turned into silk screens. The map was done on all the fabrics in black, then the lizard screen was done in varying shades of grey to match the tonal value I was shooting for. Though some of the details of the prints were lost what remains is a visual texture similiar to that of the concrete walls.

Step 3: The dyed and screen printed fabrics were heat set and then cut up to match the pattern pieces. Some found and recycled fabrics were incorporated into areas I wanted to stand out-such as the floor.
Since all the printed pattern pieces I wanted sewn in one piece this involved some 90 degreen angle piecing and inserting pieces into holes cut in a larger section of fabric. Overall the different values start creating a feeling of subtle space.

Self Portrait: Cow House 1

Inspired by this genius http://www.jeanaeveklein.com/
And my own very large collection of "middle of nowhere" photographs I set out to create a self portrait that truly embodies where I've been, where I am now, and the people who have greatly influenced me. This is a big project that took a lot of thought and personally investigation to get to the root of what I want to say.
Place and Home are big parts of who I am. Home being not only my house (which is an amazing experience to own) but also places I have lived and learned the most about myself. For me these are the Iowa/Wisconsin border, Asheville NC, and the wilderness of Arizona. Starting here in AZ I stumbled across this photograph that moves my heart in ways I can't explain.

In finding this photo I also came across hundreds of pictures of cows. Arizona is a free range state and in my adventuring with my husband and best friend in the AZ wilds we will often turn the corner on a nothing dirt road and come face to face with a heard. Though domesticated, branded beasts they have a wild look to them buried among the cactus and bramble. Cows also speak of my rural life in the midwest with feilds full of dairy cows. I decided that I pick some of my favorite cows and put them in the space.




So now that I had my composition decided on I used a projector to transfer the image onto large sheets of butcher paper. This became my pattern.

Going Vintage

I'm trying to get back into my studio-a taunting task since my bunny has been wreaking havoc in there lately. So this weekend I ventured in, hoping to make some purses to post for sale. A few years ago I got a ton of vintage fabrics, some recycled, that needed to be backed or quilted to lend them the stability some 30 odd years of wear had robbed. The developement of the Bitch Bag was a perfect project for them with some minor alterations.
Working with recycled vintage fabrics means getting creative. Fabrics may have to be pieced to make enough yardage for a project, which has its only little problem. Vintage fabrics can use tonal values or colors that can be hard to match. In these cases I had two panels that related well and just enough odds and ends to finish two bags. I only had to substitute one modern fabric (for the lining on the mushroom purse).
I am about ready for quilting on these two but first I have to decide what they will say. As cliche as it is the kitten panel may be perfect for "Pussy" but nothing comes to mind for the mushrooms. Progress is moving along as long as I can keep all the stray hair off my projects. If not from the dang bunny then from other furry projects like this Flying Pig/Yorkie I made a few months ago :)

Making Smiles

Sometimes you just have to cave and work on making smiles. We recently found out that the girls both have to wear school uniforms next year, abandoning their cute, brilliantly colored wardrobes for khaki bottoms and navy/burgundy polo shirts. I almost cried for them-imagining the humdrum of the same dull colors day after day. So we've decided to find ways to spice it up. Their dress code says that jewelry and small accessories are allowed so off to work we went.
First thing we did was use this adorable squirrel playdough mold to make these pins. We just used sculpty clay and beads. Mine is the one with the scissors, of course. After baking we just hot glued pins to the back (the jewelry finding kind available at most craft stores).

The other thing I tackled the other day was making lots and lots of little girl smiles. I had made this little mermaid doll a couple of weeks ago for my youngest. She's only about five inches tall. I drew the pattern myself and hand stitched the details into her tail and attached hand dyed wool hair. Then while cleaning out my studio I stumbled upon this mini lunch box. I decided to turn it into a little mermaid house complete with bed, pillow and blanket and a little trinket box filled with "treasures". I just dug some beads and other little odds and ends out of my craft drawers. Then I had my daughter cover the outside of the box with stickers and a hand made label that says "Sami's Mermaid House". It now gets carried all over the house and played with more than anything else. Its hard for her now that her sister is becoming a mini-teen and not so into childish games. Hopefully having a little friend to carry around will help.