Fiber Fever...it's back!

I wrote about the items in the picture to the left on my Miss Matchy Matchy jewelry/accessory blog (OMG...why am I writing two blogs...I...love...it!) To find out more about these pieces, stop by there and see...there is even a funny video clip...

But let's talk about textiles.  I love'em.  I double majored in Art Education and Textiles in undergrad and then focused on that again in my studio classes with I went back for my MAEd.  Its funny because I started off in my artistic journey with drawing and painting...then discovered textiles and went INSANE in college...hoarding yarn, felting in the bath tub at the dorm (no one used it, it was pretty gross!), saving scraps of fabric and trims, stirring pots of hand-dyed fabric (and running around with dyed hands!), standing on tabled to layer screen prints, getting very fine glitter everywhere (ummmm...and getting banned from using glitter and being dubbed 'tinkerbell' and 'sparkle' by my studio mates)...then the BEADS...do...not...get...me...started!!!

So yeah, fibers- I love 'em.  And sometimes I forget how much I love all things fiber.  My daily art and what I create is usually based on drawing and painting with the occasional collage/mixed media.  It's like I made a full circle back to where I started.  But there is something about fiber arts that touches my soul, I really love it.  

Yesterday one of my morning stops was the World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach.  I knew about it from my art friend, Trina...and I needed to see her anyway...so I just went.  And I am SO GLAD that I did.

Just....just LOOK.  Stop and LOOK at these amazing pieces:

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It was honestly all I could do not to rip them all off the wall and bury myself in a gigantic pile of color, texture, stitch, pattern and sparkle. 

And that is the thing about fiber art...sometimes I see a painting or drawing that I have a strong reaction to, but with textiles I want to touch the work, I want to be in the work.  

Its time I just admit it...I have a sickness...it lies dormant...like a beast...but when it awakens- WATCH OUT.

Don't believe me?    

http://www.jenniferlovegironda.com/blog/fiber-fever

This fibers fever isn't anything new...it's just that I get caught up with my drawing and painting...due to the time it takes with bead and stitch...it's just an area that gets neglected...I wonder how the experience at the quilt show will impact this part of me...hmmmm....

One immediate inspiration/impact- I decided to #AngelDrop on some 'Sisters in the Cloth'...not 'cause that was the name of their booth, but because that is truly something that unites them...and even me! Trina is a fellow fiber-lover and supported of the arts and ARTISTS and Kianga is an super sweet and talented fiber artist that contacted me (several times!) with carloads of stuff for my art students!  

Friday night I stayed up painting three special angels (I wanted to make one for Barbara, too, even though I had not met her yet!) For these angels I looked at images of African textiles to try and give them a more unique dress.  

The gals were happy to be a part of this special #AngelDrop!  

...thanks again Trina (see you soon at the Continuum event...already have some ideas for my sneakers!)...Kianga I cannot thank you enough for all the AMAZING items you have donated to the art program at LWHS...and Barbara, nice to meet you!

One more stop...ARTHOUSE 429 to see Raquel, a songbird that I know...also a fellow friend of fibers (she makes handbags!)

Not too much to say about this stop...just I just knew of an art friend that was in need, so...I  gave my #heART.

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...and now to my daily piece...the story of Miss Matchy Matchy continues.  In today's episode, MM and Trinket travel to the quilt show, to fall in love with textiles all over again.

  (More details on the accessories that inspired the piece, click here!)

This piece is for all you friends of fiber... makers of fashion, knitters, crochet people, textile designers, quilters, embroidery artists, bead makin' divas (and divos!), screen printers, felters, hand spinners, weavers, folks with dye covering your hands, doll and soft sculpture makers...men and women, young and old, all over the world... we are all eclectic and colorful and intertwined like the warp and the weft of the most amazing tapestry.

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