From me Lovinger-ly

Months ago I was reading an e-mail digest when Margot Lovinger's name came up. I clicked the link and went to view her site AMAZING. Not much longer I learned of a class with her. You can guess what happened next!



I trekked to upstate New York to the beautiful town of Greenville and the Greenville Arms. The Arms is a charming B and B with art classes/workshops. For five and a half days Margot lovingly supervised our efforts and shared her techniques. She is a most interesting person with a truly great eye and spirit. I enjoyed her as much as the knowledge.






To start I took a picture or some beets. Well it was supposed to be a simple image. I thought two beets were simple. I ended up cropping it down to one whole leaf and part of another. Simpl-ER...



Layers of tulle tacked down all creating light and shadow whose colors shift as the viewer moves slightly giving life and depth to the piece. Not the quickest stuff and yet breath taking. Well at least hers is -- I have some time to put in to the technique before mastery!



So here is my beet... can't wait to get started on a figure!

Prize Winner...

The challenge quilt at "Quilt Show by the Sea" for 2008 was 'War and Peace'.

I knew I wanted to do the challenge -- well, because it was a challenge.

I thought and thought about what approach to take. At first I wanted to do a portrait of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto after she was assassinated. As pumped as I was I could not secure rights to a photo of her in time to complete the challenge...

What to do?

I was looking at the three fabrics whose use was required in the challenge and the country-ness struck me and I started thinking about children, specifically the red reminded me of a school. Could a nursery rhyme be a catalyst?

Then it occurred to me that political leaders are like Jack and Jill. Going about their own business with little regard to consequences. And the victims of their selfish ploys (war) are the next generation and the hope they embody.

Jack and Jill the challenge quilt was born...


When my hill was pieced and the schoolhouse appliqued I turned to stump work (a form of embroidery that is raised).





Jack and Jill have shisha mirror faces. Reflecting the ones culpable...













The background quilting on the border repeats icons of war and peace; dove, nuclear symbol, heart, missile, star, pentagon, laurel wreath...


The poem is written around the border. It reads:

Jack and Jill
went up the hill
to kill off all the peace
Jack fell down
and broke his crown
and Jill thought it a joke
up Jack got
and down they trot
with all their ammunition
and when again to aim at hope
to doom this generation






Not a very uplifting sentiment and it makes you think. What part do you play in all that goes on to create war? How do you contribute to peace? Making you think -- one image at a time!