quilting – Page 8 – Hilary Clark Studios

Jeep on the Grill

My oldest stepson, formerly Lacrosse Boy, newly nicknamed Off-Road Man, just graduated from college. His father and I, his mother and stepfather, all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and brother are ridiculously proud of him. He studied mechanical engineering, nailed his senior project, interned for the same company for three years (an offer of employment is expected soon), maintained a GPA above 3.0 all four years, and had a blast through it all.

We watched Off-Road Man grow from a teenager who loved to sleep to a man who is happiest when he is busy. Throughout it all, his extracurricular interests did not change much. In fact, he had the opportunity, through new friends at school and the internship, to explore interests while in college that he had dreamed of for his future.

Off-Road Man drives a 1995 Jeep Wrangler. His love for this vehicle inspired his desire to get a degree in mechanical engineering. In fact, one of the ways Off-Road Man keeps busy is working on that Jeep – he is always updating, replacing, or repairing something, and then he loads it up to go hunting, fishing, to lacrosse games, and off-roading.

To commemorate the occasion – it is momentous, after all – I knew I wanted to make an art piece for him. Something Jeep-related seemed the obvious choice and so Jeep on the Grill was created.

I traced the outline of a Jeep and the grill from photos, then cut the fabric to the pattern. Fusible web was used to build the piece. The pistols, fishing poles, and lacrosse stick in the back of the Jeep are scrapbook stickers, sticky stuff removed. The gears symbolize Off-Road Man’s college degree and future work path. The whole art piece is gifted to him with love, pride, and joy.

We know his future will be bright and are excited to watch that future unfold.

Please let me know what you think. All input and constructive criticism is appreciated.

Jeep on the Grill (no poem – not his style)

Jeep on the Grill

Next up: An attempt at abstract art, created for submission to a Call for Entry put together by my SAQA region.

Rustic (Hot Cross Four)

When I posted the first art piece in the Hot Cross series, Crossroads, I requested input and constructive criticism. I’m grateful for what I received. My brother, in addition to his comments, also presented me with a challenge:

He wrote: “I’m hoping one uses mixed media of some sort to look like a rustic cross made from the wood in an old barn… Consider that a challenge put forth.”

To my mind and my eye, Rustic doesn’t look like wood or an old barn, but the colors are indicative of those weathered structures one sees when traveling down a lonely rural road.

Rustic (Hot Cross Four) 01 — Quilting away

Rustic (Hot Cross Four) 04 — Closeup and texture

Rustic (Hot Cross Four) 05 — Rustic: The completed piece

Rustic (Hot Cross Four) 06 — Poetry label

This piece incorporates burlap, with burnt edges, and hand dyed cheesecloth (not mine…created by Frieda Anderson – http://www.friestyle.com/ ). The burlap and cheesecloth were anchored with single cross stitches using hand dyed embroidery thread (also not mine…created by Laura Wasilowski – http://artfabrik.com/ ). My Sweets suggested I extend the strip piecing beyond the edge of the quilt at the top and bottom of the cross to imply rough and rugged edges.

I’m not quite sure I like the final impact of those extensions, however, since this art piece began as a challenge from my brother, I incorporated Sweets’ suggestion as an additional out-of-the-box effort.

Please let me know what you think. All input and constructive criticism is appreciated.

Rustic (link to poem)

Next up: A break from the Hot Cross series, but I’ll back to it soon.

Resurrection (Hot Cross Three)

It seems appropriate that I finished the third art quilt in my Hot Cross series during Easter week. The timing is pure coincidence, but providential.

Resurrection depicts an abstract figure fused to the cross, which was fused to the background. The piece called for free form quilting rather than the linear stitches in the previous pieces.

Once again, I’d appreciate any input or constructive criticism in the comments.

Resurrection (link to poem)

Resurrection (Hot Cross Three) — Resurrection

Next up: Rustic (Hot Cross Four)

Blue Radiance (Hot Cross Two)

In my second to last post, I mentioned I am working in a series this year as a means to help define and find my artist’s voice. I chose crosses because they visually appeal to me. There are so many styles depending on the source. Just Google “crosses” and you’ll discover image upon image of plain, ornate, Coptic, Celtic, colorful.

I also chose this theme because there are so many ways to shake up that linear shape. I’m curious to see how many versions I can create.

Blue Radiance appears below (I was going to name it “Study in Blue”, but the final piece called for a different name).

Just like last time, I’d appreciate any input or constructive criticism in the comments.

Blue Radiance (link to poem)

Blue Radiance (Hot Cross Two) — Full piece – 12″x18″. Thoughts?

Next up: Resurrection (Hot Cross Three)

Light for Yvonne

In late January, SAQA sent out a request for 4″ x 6″ postcard quilts depicting candles for light in support of and encouragement for Yvonne Porcella. She is the founder of SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates). She is also family.

I made this one on a Friday night and shipped it off for inclusion in the collection to be forwarded on to her. This wasn’t on my list of “planned” art. I’m such a planner type person that means something. However, the request — a physical prayer for Yvonne’s health — provided appropriate inspiration. The experience of designing on the fly in my head one afternoon, then making a quick stop at the fabric store for the black and white check (her signature fabric), then getting home and spending the next three hours putting this together was exhilarating. I didn’t know I had it in me to make art that way.

I have always considered Yvonne and her sister, Marilou, to be “aunts” more than the cousins they are. I believe this is because they are “double cousins” to my mother — their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisters. My mom is an only child, so if I was going to have aunts on her side, those two seemed the most logical choice. A child’s brain often creates connections that click and never break, regardless of the vast number of years that pass.

My mom taught me to sew and to embrace color, to revel in color. I owe her for my interest in quilting and I am grateful for that.

From Yvonne, I learned that quilts could be art, that they didn’t need to be traditional, that rules are made to be broken, that the only rules necessary are those that allow the imagination to soar free. I am grateful for that as well.

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On Friday, February 12, 2016, Yvonne passed away after a 6-year battle with cancer. Her fight was valiant and seemingly fearless. Her zest and her spirit were never diminished. She was, and is, loved. As long as her family, her friends, remember her, as long as the art quilt survives, her light will not go out.

She was laid to rest today, Friday, February 19, 2016. As her youngest son, Don, an artist in his own right, so beautifully stated, she has gone to her “studio in the sky”.

Rest in peace, Yvonne. ❤