Is it cold where you live? It's actually warming up nicely in north Texas where I live, but I've been thinking about all the beautiful things we see in cold weather. I'm sharing three things related to ice that I came across recently. (I'm also remembering the amazing trip I took to Antarctic in 2019. Check out some of the ice we saw there!) I hope you'll also enjoy images of a new art quilt collage I just completed, lots of resources and links to some other interesting finds. |
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- Polar Bears Wild life photographer Dmitry Kokh discovered polar bears in an abandoned weather station on an island in the Arctic Ocean. I love the pictures of the bears' faces, the beautifully textured walls and windows, the colors of the earth, and the shapes of the old buildings. He asked a bear expert why they might have moved in and the expert responded – bears are curious. Curiosity may be the greatest source of inspiration.
- Cake Rose McAdoo is a visual artist who uses cake to raise awareness around global issues. Yes, cake! I love her ice break up cake and glacier flood dessert. She's getting ready for an artist residency in the Arctic Circle. Can you imagine?! I am so inspired by the fact that Rose found a medium she loves and completely leaned in to its potential!
- Ribbons When just the right conditions exist, frost flowers can be extruded from the long stems of dried plants. They look like glistening, white ribbons. Kathy York found some in her yard in January. I'd love to see them! It feels like a bucket list sort of thing to see – like lady slippers blooming in the Maine woods, or bioluminescent sea creatures, the Northern lights, or a solar eclipse. It's their rarity that makes them inspiring.
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Scattered Thoughts, 41 x 57" |
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Scattered Thoughts, details |
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This is the first art quilt collage I completed in 2024. I'm returning to the chair motif I've used in other works. (Like this one and this one.) It's a visual representation of a scattered feeling. Even when I have the opportunity to sit quietly and observe everything happening around me, sometimes my thoughts are chaotic and interrupted. Other times they are ordered and predictable. Maybe this feels or looks familiar to you? I'm working on a new technique – couching. The chair is couched on the surface with a couching foot and orange yarn. It's a little tricky but I like the results. The birds are stamped with an original foam stamp – actually, that fabric was a test piece where I was trying to find just the right color of paint for the birds. You can see the same bird stamp in this art quilt collage. |
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Will I see you at QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC on February 23, 24 or 25? My friend Kristin LaFlamme and I are super excited to be making the trip. If you see me, please say hi! Kristin's quilt, Crooked Path, will be in the show! |
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Deborah's Studio Resources You can support my work and connect with my art in lots of ways. Let me know what else you'd like to see from me. Drop me an email. |
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This and That - Some of my new work requires marking stitching lines. I love this Sewline Aqua Erasure Pen for removing marks.
- The “Art But Make It Sports” account on Instagram is brilliant. He matches sports photos with images of fine art.
- My friend Christina interviewed me for her series of conversations with authors.
- I learned so much about cooking eggs from Sola's video.
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Pausing Pattern, 20x16", $480 |
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Sometimes we just need to take a moment to sit quietly. To Pause. To examine all the patterns around us. In the irregularity, frayed edges, and juxtaposition, there is growth. This art quilt collage incorporates raw edge fused applique, original surface designed cloth and commercial fabrics, free motion quilting and hand embroidery. It was featured in February/March 2019 Quilting Arts Magazine. Available in my Etsy shop. |
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Use the code ICE15 for 15% off anything in my Etsy shop through February 29. |
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What do you find inspiring and beautiful about cold weather? Tell me about it. |
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