Sacred Threads Quilts Eye Contact

View of Eye Contact Installation

Every two years the huge undertaking of the Sacred Threads Quilt Exhibition is curated and displayed at Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Va. This year included a side exhibition to the quilt show titled EYE CONTACT.  The exhibit guidelines were:

• Use Human Eyes
• Facing the Viewer
• 23″ wide by 5″ high

The examples shown on the website prospectus were another hint as to what was wanted by the curator of the show. After seeing the samples on the prospectus I envisioned a wall of eyes for the display. It was a pleasant surprise to see the totem like displays which gives the eyes a figurative presence. There is a large variety of styles and techniques on view. Anyone who entered this section of the show was given a spot in the exhibition.

Close Up of Group Shot of Installation

Group shot of installation

Close up of theresa mARTin’s eye contact piece titled “All Shall Be Well”

Catalog page 122

If you are in the area, this is a must see show.  If you can’t see the show in person I highly recommend the Eye Contact Catalog. The catalog is available online HERE.

The show details:
Floris United Methodist Church
13600 Frying Pan Road
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 793-0026
http://www.florisumc.org
Just minutes from Dulles Airport, outside Washington, D.C.

July 11-28-2019

Hours for the exhibit:
Mondays – Saturdays: 11am – 5pm
Sundays: 1pm – 4pm

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Former student work from Noir Magic Class – new class coming soon.

By former student Mary Kay

I’m always thrilled when a student takes what they’ve learned in class and builds on it.  I encourage students to make what they learn from me their own.  A former student shared this image with me of the work she did in the weeks after the class was over. WOW, right? Join us for the next class.

Marking with the gel pen on black paper is a wonderful meditative process.  I’ve tested a lot of gel pens, metallic pens and paper and provide the best of in class.

Information about the upcoming class in Alexandria, VA is below and the link to sign up is HERE.

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Noir Magic: Lettering, Flora and Fauna with theresa mARTin
Saturday, July 27, 2019
10:00 – 2:30 pm, ½ hour lunch break

All Supplies Provided! Back in the days when monks transcribed books by hand, Illuminated letters were the enlarged first letter in a page or paragraph, often enhanced with decorative elements, flora, fauna and or mythological creatures. In this popular class, learn a variety of mark making techniques to create a modern take on these classic papers. The metallic and color pens against the black paper produce a WOW effect from even the simplest designs. Theresa will guide your through her process and provide a large variety of lettering examples from books to be inspired by (and trace if desired) and other inspiration material, including her own work. This is a meditative and fun process requiring no drawing experience — anyone can doodle a repetitive design! You will leave class with hand made designs perfect to frame, use in book arts or as a greeting card, and more. $48 workshop fee and $20 materials fee, which includes a pack of 10 gel pens plus a white and a gold gel Uniball metallic pen (yours to keep after class!) and the following for use while in class: gold ink, black paper, metallic pencils, woodless pencils, metallic paints, stencils, punches and more. New in 2019! For a $10 cash fee payable directly to Theresa on the day of class, you may purchase a 3 in. x 4 in. pocket journal with 160 acid-free black pages to journal in! Visit Theresa’s blog here, here and here to view student work from previous sessions of this popular class. Her blog also features views of filled pocket journals here as well as here for inspiration!

ATC’s and a Noir Magic Class in July, Alexandria VA

This is my work page for Artist Trading Cards for the next open meeting of JAMS. Info for the meeting is below.

JAMS (a.k.a. Judy’s altered minds)

When: Sun, June 23, 1:30pm – 4:30pm

Where: Artistic Artifacts, 4750 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304 (map)

Description: Note date change from usual 3rd Sunday to 4th Sunday this month! Judy’s Altered Minds (JAMs) is open to anyone interested in Altered Art — both fabric and non fabric art. There is a sit fee of $3.00 per person. We start with ATC Trade at 1:00, group meeting and announcements. Then one show and tell item. We try to arrange a demo, informational part of each meeting, email us to volunteer.

Earlier I wrote about the little 3″ x 4″ black sketch books by Pentalic. They have 160 pages. I’ve filled two books with drawings and am working on a third. They are addictive to work in and lovely to hold.

In my next Noir Magic class, there will be an option to purchase a little blank book for use during the class and beyond.

Class is Saturday, July 27, 2019 at Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria VA
More info and sign up HERE

What I’ve been doing:

I’m planning to sell these finished books at the Fall Market at Artistic Artifacts. Date to be determined.

Dream Layers Workshop coming in March 2019

Stitched Dream Layers with theresa mARTin at Artistic Artifacts, Alexandria VA
Saturday, March 16, 2019
10:00 am – 3:30 pm, ½ hour lunch break
$70.00
Sign up HERE

Former Dream Layers Student Work

Most Supplies Provided! Enjoy creating a hand stitched meditative collage as theresa shares the secrets behind her Quirky Embroidery artworks. Learn ways to use hand dyed fabrics (including doilies and textured fabrics) to assemble a background collage and simple embroidery stitches and “stitch meditation” style sewing to transform that layered base and a focal image into a fiber work of art. Students will be provided a choice from several images created by theresa mARTin, or if you have created your own digital collages and have an image you’d like to provide, you may email us to make arrangements. If you already know a lot of stitches, wonderful! If you don’t know how to embroider or sew, three simple hand stitches will be taught (basic sewing skills are all that’s needed to do the embroidery/sewing). Your registration fee includes a $10  kit fee, which includes your choice of digital collage art,  a variety of hand dyed fabrics, and trims, regular cotton embroidery threads in a wide range of colors and metallic Japanese threads in many colors.

Student Supplies: please bring a 6-inch diameter embroidery hoop and embroidery needles (Tulip Needles are available for purchase at Artistic Artifacts) with you to class. Optional supplies (no need to purchase if you don’t have): your own hand dyed fabrics, doilies and trims, Tentakulum and/or Wonderfil Specialty Threads and small beads, buttons, charms, etc. that can be sewed onto your mixed media piece. Visit Theresa’s blog to view her Quirky Embroideries for inspiration.

Sign up HERE

Impulse Buy – Pentalic Traveler Black Sketch Book

I found this little Pentalic Traveler Black Sketch Book on a visit to a local art supply store.  It’s only 3″ x 4″ and was sweet to hold. I opened it and saw all the black pages, some drawn on by customers with metallic pens. It was love at first sight and a quick impulse buy.  I’ve had hours of fun using metallic gel pens free drawing designs.  If you’re interested in finding one of your own, here’s a link to their website where you can read about the different books they make: https://www.pentalic.com/traveler-pocket-journal/  They have a where to buy link. If you get one, show me what you do!   

Wonky Quirky Heart ATC’s

Merry Christmas!

These are my wonky, quirky Artist Trading Cards for Valentine’s Day. Handmade felt with beads.

Paperwhimsy Ornaments Class at Artistic Artifacts

Here is the wonderful collection of paperwhimsy ornaments by students Lisa, Ellen, Kare. Trudi, Carolyn, Sharon and Mary Kay from our Artistic Artifacts class.

You can find the ornament forms here and here and here at paperwhimsy.com