Happy Easter

Some people dye eggs... thanks to a lesson from my friend Vickie, I dyed wool first!

I'll get around to the eggs tomorrow...

Dimensions

Last night was the opening reception for Dimensions, the national juried art exhibit at Associated Artists in Winston-Salem. From over 400 pieces submitted, 85 were selected by juror Jennifer Coolidge (Executive Director, Museum of Florida Art) and will be shown through May 22. She did an amazing job...it is probably my most favorite exhibit at AAWS so far and the turn out at the reception reflected that opinion. It was elbow to elbow...I'm guessing in the neighborhood of 275-300 people attended. Among the artists in this exhibit are fellow Cosmic Cow member Jude Lobe with 'Mandolin and Friend', acrylic on linen; Jennifer Toft with 'Gardening Progenitor', mixed media; Ralph Henzler with 'Siphon', silver gelatin print; Stephanie Quattrini with 'Lake Hayes, Arrowtown', textile; Pat Spainhour with 'Enfold', pastel (and you should see her encaustics!); and oh yeah, my 'She Stands by the River and Weeps No More' (seen a couple of posts prior to this one). Plus too many other talented artists to name here...so if you are anywhere nearby, it is a must-see show!

Kudos go out to show chair Lee Reynolds and the volunteers who assisted her, to Pat Spainhour for her awesome work in designing the show, to the staff of AAWS for all of their hard work, and to the sponsors who made this exhibit possible: Hawthorne Gallery, Bronson Chiropractic, John W. Byrd Investments, Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects, Downtown Thai, Mooney's Mediterranean Cafe, and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem.

before the crowd

here comes the crowd

my piece seen through the crowd

Girl's Morning Out

Yesterday morning I met my friend Salem Stitcher at Reynolda Village for a fun girl's morning out. We started at Simply Yummy for some tea (which lived up to the shop's name...it was YUMMY!) while we awaited the opening of Karen Gray Design, a new fabric shop and working studio. It is a very elegant and inviting space with a unique offering of fabrics, patterns, accessories and gifts.

This little trio caught my eye so of course I had to adopt them. I'm not sure yet what I will use them for...I think I'm leaning towards a summer purse...

Next we went to Simply Needlepoint. They have an amazing array of delicious floss, yarn, metallic threads, and needlepoint designs. Now mind you, I don't do needlepoint, but I could have stared at their fibers all day. Beautifully displayed in every hue you could imagine. I came home with some spring green fuzzy stuff (that's the name of it..it's fuzzy with a little bit of sparkle) same color velvet floss, taupe bamboo floss and silver tubular ribbon. Embellishment heaven!

I didn't have time to walk through the gardens but I did snap a picture of this tree. I love the shape and texture of it...it seems ancient, like a formidable guardian of the greenhouses.

The morning was simply divine. Then it was off to a day full of meetings!

Dimensions

Today I packed up 'Eventually You Must Choose' and shipped it off to the Durham Arts Council for the PAQA-South exhibit ArtQuilts:transitions. I always feel a little pang of angst...though fortunately, so far, I've never had problems with the shipping companies. So I trust it will get where it's supposed to and I can't wait to see all the other pieces that will be in that show! The opening reception will be held April 17 in conjunction with PAQA-South's Spring Conference. It will be fun to see everyone and to meet new friends as well.

The next piece that will be heading out into the world is 'She Stands by the River and Weeps No More', which has been juried into Dimensions, a national juried art exhibit at Associated Artists' gallery in Winston-Salem, opening April 2 and running through May 22. This piece first showed in Martinsville, VA at the Piedmont Arts Association invitational Art of the Quilt, and I'm super excited to have it also accepted into a national level art exhibit!! I had a lot of fun with the various techniques I used on this one.

There is bonded tissue paper accented with Lumiere paint, painted batting, double fused fabrics, commercial fabrics, couched yarn, and LOTS of thread painting with a bunch of different threads. The leaves are all dimensional...sewn on by hand at the top tip of each one (I thought I had lost my mind at the time but I love how it turned out!) Have a closer look and let me know if you see her...

Sacred Threads

The good news just keeps pouring in...in my mailbox yesterday was an acceptance from Sacred Threads for my piece "Temptation"......this exhibit will be in Reynoldsburg, Ohio June 17 - 28.

Road trip anyone?

How Cool Is THIS!?

While reading one of my most favorite blogs today I discovered this. What a nice surprise!

Golden Apple Gala

This past weekend was the Golden Apple Gala in Raleigh, NC....a black tie fundraising event for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT). You may recall from this post that I was the interior designer for their Ocracoke facility, and I have done some work for them at their Cullowhee Campus as well. They are great people and the mission of NCCAT is as great as the people who carry it out, so of course I wanted to be part of this event!

It was an elegant evening...beautiful gowns and tuxedos, ice sculptures, great food, live music, dancing, and a wonderful offering of silent and live auction items. I donated my art quilt "Linear Time", which was won by Ocracoke resident Kenny B- one of the most entertaining people I've ever known. Well, next to my pirate friend that is! Arrrrr!

Jim & I

Kenny B

"Blackbeard"

And after our beautiful weekend, we awoke Monday morning to this rare Piedmont treat:

...and NO POWER!! Ugh!!! Thanks goodness for gas logs....