going around in circles

During this  last year  i have become quite interested in dots and circles and round shapes. i know these shapes are everywhere in nature and man made contructs.it is just that i noice them  more  . many a song lyric ponders the ins and out of circles and what it  might mean . cycles of life .beginning and ending. these shapes  have always been  there  but lately they stand out to me . cheerios, tires, spots on the ceiling  that are patches in  a remolding restaurant as i look up, my glasses,hives, rings, sunsets, and polka dotted fabric all greet me hello .
  the banner of my blog shows painted fabric drying in the lids of dairy product containers.
these dots appear on my fabrics and papers using  paint, corks , eraser tips, and my hands.

 painting with the originals tools, hands  especially finger tips, is  a most  playful way to apply color to surfaces.

if you are wondering about the last photo of a clock with out hands

i would have to say when painting i don't notice time.
so
"Who knows where the time goes"
Fairport Convention,late 1960s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2xODjbfYw8

fragrant friday

opposites !

opposites challenge with arts in the cards was fun. i started with the impression of velvet to sandpaper, the musical styles of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan that as a teenager i was privileged to hear in the Hollywood Bowl. looking for used sandpaper disks left me empty handed so i went on with the theme.

Sandpaper /velvet

black/ white

gold/silver

wrong/right

burlap/lace

rough/smooth

early/late

finished/soothed.

 the train of words   got me through  without over thinking this trade.

 i am happy with the results. very simple .

trimmed burlap on coffee filter and card stock same size layered. machine stitched white lace with black threads. some gold and silver glitter paint in random area

 gave way to yet another pair .... dull/bright!

be well, Sonja

                           

pat's hawaiian hibiscus quilt finished 2011

Pat is amazing. i posted on her a while back when this fabric  was still in pieces. she painted these flowers and fabrics several years ago in a quilt hawaii class i lead and last winter they began to talk to her, to tease her into putting them together and quilting . some of the sections are drawn and painted, some painted, and some are the wipe up cloths i ask folks to put in their non paint brush hand. after a session, left to dry on their own some become random works of art. she used these too and the resulting quilt is beautiful. she used threads that sparkled when the light hit them just so by Superior and the bobbin threads told their own story on the back along with her fabric choices and free motion quilting.  i am in love with this quilt and had the privilege to  keep it in my booth for a while to share with other quilters

 and the folks that say..." what do you do with this fabric? " 

 thank you Pat for sharing and making the world more colorful and alive!

                   

                              

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

HI HO come to the fair!

                                                        Hi Ho come to the Fair, 

        the Hale'iwa Arts Festival!

2011 

   this is the veterans war memorial right next to the park

        The Hale`iwa Arts Festival  is next weekend!

 July 16 and 17 10 to 6 Sat…10 to 5 Sun 

 On the  north shore of O`ahu!

Free trolley car rides through Hale`iwa Town, some ono food,

Music throughout the day-all kinds and dance too.
Art for kids to make,

 and the art, oh the art by artists of all media !

come and be inspired !

 I will be in booth #108 near front of show and water booth.

I hope to see you at the fair.
aloha, Sonja

                                                                                                          

                                                       

wordless wednesday - 4th july paddle to Waimea Bay

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

quilt hawaii 2011 in waikiki at marriott !

Aloha, this is the year of the poinsettia to be painted .
 quilt hawaii aka quilt ventures is hosting the show at the
  MARRIOTT  WIAKIKI BEACH  RESORT
and SPA
 JUNE 28-JULY3 2011

wordless wednesday with Noodles

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

painting fabric Pat

 this is my  quilting friend Pat from Washington state that has taken my class several times , the  orchids, hibiscus, anthuriums, gingers, and will be back again this July.  in the hibiscus class Pat paints up a storm. she is very enthusiastic and driven and organized and makes beautiful quilts , some with the pieces she paints. we  just   might see the hibiscus  quilt  one this summer. i for one can hardly wait!

                                    below is some of her painting afternoon  2007.

so this morning i get a call and it's Pat getting excited about putting this quilt together from her painted pieces  and seeing plant forms and colors she had not noticed before in her fabric  and making me happy  that we paint. and together it is really fun. she was trying to describe what i call atmosphere and that is almost impossible to paint with words but cloth and paint ,YES.   congratulations Pat, i can hardly wait to see what you do with your fabric painted art once you get to designing, cutting and sewing and piecing and quilting!

ps
 this quilt went on to be born and win best machine  ribbon at quilt hawaii 2012!

painting fabric

Aloha,

Yesterday  i started to paint up fabric  as the weather was good and i needed more colors for  my projects. and shows.  theses are a few of the pieces i did  outside on my 4x8 plywood table top.   i like to paint one yard to  half yard pieces as they are manageable. For larger i like to use the lawn as a surface.

I love the way two colors merge, it is the magic the cloth and paint make together  when cloth is damp and a spray of water makes it even more so. I am not interested in control, 

rather than that letting gravity and sun have the freedom to play out. 

the one just  below i call "underwater garden "

and was done on the lawn.

                          

The one just above is another example of what i call atmosphere painting. done very wet and left to make its own migration. yummy possibilities here.

After pieces dry, i  heat treat with iron and wash and iron again.

This would be boring but for the fact the fabric is interesting as i iron and gives way to design time. i like to let the fabric drape from old wooden hangers  to inspire new work or finish a  project started.
i have been happily painting with Versatex screen printing inks since  1983,
 both making yardage for my quilts and for painting figuratively and florals more deliberately.
My choice of these products from Dharma Trading Company have been a pleasure to use, making my artistic life colorful and creative.