Journey featured Art Quilting Studio Magazine

My art quilt "Journey" was featured in the Winter 2020 issue of Art Quilting Studio Magazine with a photo and the process that I used to create it.

Art Quilting Studio is published quarterly and is packed full of new quilting techniques and innovative design ideas.

This magazine is one of many publications put out by Stampington & Company. I've heard it's available at some Joann stores. You can find a store near you where it's sold or order it directly from the Stampington website.

Art & Soul art show this Sat, Nov. 16 in Yellow Springs

My last show of the year this year is Art & Soul, which features over 30 exceptional artists who “put their souls into making art.” The show is this Sat., Nov. 16 from 10 am-5 pm. It will be in the Mills Lawn School Gym, 200 S. Walnut St. in Yellow Springs, just one block from the Xenia Ave. There's plenty of free parking in town and also in the lot behind the school.

There is a $4 admission fee, a portion of which will go to the Yellow Springs Schools and the Yellow Springs Police Coat Fund.

You can find photos and bios of all the artists participating on the Art & Soul Facebook page.

Yellow Springs Open Studios this weekend

This weekend is the Yellow Springs Open Studios event. There are 18 artists at 10 locations. This year I'll be a guest at Libby Rudolf's studio, located at 3950 Grinnell Rd. just outside of Yellow Springs.


The event is Sat. & Sun., Oct. 19 & 20, from 11 am-5 pm. Click here for an interactive map of studio locations (artists are organized alphabetically by FIRST name). Printed brochures will also be available at the studios, and also in downtown Yellow Springs.

Mini Quilts with Cats and Birds

"Cat Love" (top left), "Cat Love Profile," (top right), and "What?" (bottom), all 6" x 6" x.5", handmade by Pam Geisel, October 2019

For most of my adult life I've always lived with a cat. They are often a joy to have around but as I type this, my current cat is just about on top of the keyboard.

"Tweet" and "Sing!" both 6" x 6" x.5", handmade by Pam Geisel, October 2019

Along with "Letting Go" and the two "Breathe" pieces, I also used some of the Robert Kaufman, Effervescence fabric (this is the "Mardi Gras" colorway) along with a rainbow stripe from Timeless Treasures and some white from my stash. The white used for the cats has small white circles on it and the white for the birds has a white zig zag on it.

All of these pieces were wrapped around a canvas frame.

More about Cat Love - Cat Love Profile - What? - Tweet - Sing

"Breathe - Inhale" and "Breathe - Exhale"

"Breathe - Inhale" (left) and "Breathe - Exhale" (right), each 12" x 12" x .5", handmade by Pam Geisel, October 2019

When I was looking for fabric with circles printed on it (that I used in "Letting Go"), I also found this Robert Kaufman fabric Effervescence Gradation Rainbow.

Robert Kaufman, Effervescence, Gradation Rainbow

I only bought 1/4 of a yard but it was enough for me to make the two "Breathe" pieces using the same oval template that I used for "Letting Go."

I also used the same technique, ironing fusible to the back, cutting out the petals, and fusing them to a white fabric that had small white stars printed on it. I pin basted the quilt top with batting and a backing fabric then quilted around the raw edges of the petals.

Both pieces are wrapped around a 12" x 12" canvas frame.

More about Breathe

"Letting Go" (gray) and "Whoo?"

"Letting Go," 20" x 28.5", handmade by Pam Geisel, October 2019

I don't tend to use a lot of fabrics with bold designs or a lot of printing but I have noticed I'm attracted to artwork that has layers of circles on them. I did have a design idea that could use a bold print so I searched for fabric with circles printed on it and came across some Robert Kaufman fabric called Effervescence, which came in several colorways and blends. I was drawn to this fabric that blended from a light gray to black.

Robert Kaufman, Effervescence, Gradation Gray

I played around with an idea and came up with this flower shape made with oval petals. I cut a template so I could determine that I'd have enough gradation in each petal.

I ironed fusible to the back, cut out the petals, and fused them to a black fabric that had small circles printed on it, including one petal that is moving away from the others (the one that is "Letting Go."). 

I pin basted the quilt top with batting and a backing fabric then quilted around the raw edges of the petals. I also quilted nine more petals (or parts of petals on the edges) in the extra space on the left side of the quilt. 

I added nine plastic brown buttons, sewing them on with black embroidery thread but not in the usual way you sew on a button. I also added a pink ivory wood button to the center of the "flower." I bought this handmade button in Paducah, KY, but the card didn't have the maker's name on it.

"Whoo?," 6" x 6" x .5", handmade by Pam Geisel, October 2019

I only used the left half of the fabric that I bought. Perhaps I'll make another one with the right half, which has more brown in it. I did have a few small leftover pieces that I used to make this small 6" x 6" owl piece that is wrapped around a canvas.

More about Letting Go - Whoo?

Using Perspective and 3D Art Quilt featured in Art Quilting Studio Magazine

Five of my art quilts are featured in Art Quilting Studio's Magazine's Autumn 2019 issue!

Four of the Americana Series art quilts ("Picnic at Ellis Pond," "Sunflowers at Whitehall Farm," "My Soul in a Blackberry Pie," and "Kings Yard Farmers Market") are included in an article about using perspective with foreground object.

I explain how I made the picnic basket, bicycle, pie, and baskets with apples all larger to indicate that they are in the foreground of the image.

My 3D art quilt "How Does Your Rainbow Grow" is in the "Quilting the Odd & Unusal" section.

The article gives a brief description on how I made this 3D piece and the challenges that came up when I created it.

Art Quilting Studio is published quarterly and is packed full of new quilting techniques and innovative design ideas.

This magazine is one of many publications put out by Stampington & Company. I've heard it's available at some Joann stores. You can find a store near you where it's sold or order it directly from the Stampington website.

Only On the Surface

"Only On the Surface," 16" x 14", handmade by Pam Geisel, August 2019

I belong to a Textile Art Group and for the last seven years we've had a biennial exhibit at the Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs. In 2013, 2015, and 2017 there were five of us who participated (not always the same five, but I've participated every time). This year we have nine fiber artists participating in the show which will be up through Nov. 3, 2019.

Since our last show, one of our members, Corrine, moved to Arizona. Bette was concerned that Corrine wouldn't be able to participate in this year's show so Bette selected a photo of lichen on a rock that Corrine had taken and posted on Facebook.

(Corrine did send us two pieces for the show.)

Bette was drawn to this photo because to her the lichen looked like it was made of fiber. So she challenged the rest of us to create a fiber piece inspired by the photo.

This is my piece. I immediately saw the lichen as lace (as did Bette) and I knew I wanted to use layered sheer fabric to build up the background. It wasn't until I started working on it that I realized how much purple was in the photo.

I started with piece of purple cotton fabric and I added some purple, green, and white sheer fabrics in layers to create the dark and light areas. I added the lace at the bottom then free motion quilted round shapes to hold it all down.

I added the large cream colored fabric border to act as a mat and let the lace hang over at the bottom.

I attached some gold glass beads and delicate silver leaf beads at the bottom, three brownish purple beads in the upper left corner, and one long, thin frosted glass bead on the right side.

The title is taken from the Joe Walsh song "The Confessor." I've always liked these lyrics:

   If you look at your reflection at the bottom of the well
   What you see is only on the surface
   When you try to see the meaning, hidden underneath
   The measure of the depth can be deceiving
   The bottom has a rocky reputation

More about Only On the Surface.

"Stitch by Stitch" YS Textile Art Group show at the Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs

Stitch By Stitch: A cross-cultural exploration of contemporary textile and fiber art is presented by nine members of the Yellow Springs Textile Art Group. The members, Corrine Bayraktaroglu, Carol Culbertson, Pam Geisel, Gayle Gyure, Bette Kelley, Ramona Kern, Macy Reynolds, Sue Rudolf, and Phyllis Schmidt are all local fiber and textile artists who create innovative embroidery, weaving, and art quilts.

You can view the show during the months of Sept. and Oct. at the Winds Cafe, 215 Xenia Ave. in Yellow Springs. The Winds Cafe is open Tues.-Sat. from 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 5-10 pm, and on Sun. from 10 am-3 pm, they are closed on Mondays.

There will be an opening reception on Sun., Sept. 15, from 6:30-8:30 pm.

This is our fourth biennial exhibit and this time we've added something a little different.

Since our last exhibit two years ago, Corrine and her husband moved to Arizona. Bette was concerned that Corrine wouldn't be able to participate with us this year (spoiler alert: the owl was made by Corrine) so Bette selected a photo of lichen on a rock that Corrine had taken and she challenged the rest of us to create a fiber piece inspired by it.

Interpretations by (from left to right) Ramona Kern, Bette Kelley, Pam Geisel, and three woven purses by Carol Culbertson. 

I also wrote a blog post about my piece which I call "Only On the Surface" and Bette took a video of the exhibit, which is narrated for her granddaughter (it's about 16 minutes long).

Art on the Lawn, Sat. Aug. 10 in Yellow Springs

Art on the Lawn is this Saturday, Aug 10 from 10 am-5 pm at Mills Lawn, 200 S. Walnut St. in Yellow Springs, Ohio. I'll be there under the shade of the trees with my art. There will be around 100 artists, plus some food vendors and live musicians. The show is sponsored by Village Artisans, where I am a member.

Daybreak is Your Midnight in TWO QuiltWeek shows

"Daybreak is Your Midnight," 35.5" x 36", made by Pam Geisel, 2014

My art quilt "Daybreak is Your Midnight" has been juried into TWO of the American Quilter Society's QuiltWeek shows. The American Quilter’s Society is a body of quilters with a heritage that encompassing all ages, design styles, and methods. They sponsor QuiltWeek events that are held in multiple cities across the country.

My piece will be at:

Grand Rapids Quilt Week from Aug. 21-24 at the DeVos Place Convention Center, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI

Paducah Quilt Week from Sep. 11-14 at the Schroeder Expo & Carroll Convention Center, 414 Park Ave, Paducah, KY

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing with Moon Quilts

 

"Time Lapse Moon Rise" (above) is the art quilt that I made to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the moon landing. It is still travelling as a part of the "Fly Me to the Moon" exhibit and was also included in the "Fly Me to the Moon: An Art Quilt Journey" book. 

But it seems that I like to use the moon in my quilts as I've included it in at least five other quilts. Usually I like to use it as a full moon, but there is one that has a sliver of a moon. Some of the moons could also be suns, if that's how you want to look at them.

 Millefiori Moonlight

This moon (or sun) on this quilt doesn't have any quilting on it so it puffs out away from the quilt. I did add some extra batting behind it to give it even more shape.

Quilt Encounters of the Thread Kind

One of my more recent quilts, this one uses hand dyed fabrics and the fabric for the moon has some light purples in it.

Sheep Dreams Counting Sheep

This moon, and the counterpoint circle of light green fabric behind the sheep in the lower right corner both have yarn couched around their edges.

Mr. Moonlight

This piece was made from a silk necktie that was cut apart and sewn back together in a square. I usually make neckties into purses but the image on this one was so interesting I beaded it and wrapped it around a frame so it could be hung.

Gypsy Moon

The moon, and the swoosh above it, are a peach-colored taffeta. This quilt uses several non-cotton fabrics including silks, velvets, and shiny denim. 

Cosmic Connectivity & Aye, Eye Captain at Sacred Threads in Virginia, July 2019

Eye Contact art quilts at the Sacred Threads show. Photo by Theresa Martin

I have two pieces in the biennial Sacred Threads exhibition. The photo above, taken by Theresa Martin, is from the "Eye Contact" part of the exhibit. For this part artists were asked to make small art quilts that measured 5" high by 23" wide featuring human eyes facing the viewer. (There are more photos of the Eye Contact exhibit on Theresa's blog.)

I thought this was a very creative way to display all of them. Mine is in the lower right of the photo. I call it "Aye, Eye Captain" and it is a pixelized image of a pair of eyes.

My art quilt "Cosmic Connectivity" (left) is in the main portion of the juried show, which highlights art quilts that have a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of spiritual journey exploring themes of joy, inspiration, spirituality, healing, grief and peace/brotherhood.

This is what I wrote about my piece when I submitted it:

Some people look into the night sky and feel insignificant. I look into the night sky and feel connected to everything else. This is my interpretation of that feeling, that even if I’m not physically attached, I am still connected to other things, similar to the lace pieces that aren’t a part of the larger lace but still connected by the yarn. Carl Sagan says “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”

The show is up from July 11-28, 2019 at the Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road in Herndon, VA (near Washington DC).

Quilt Encounters of the Thread Kind - my 600th Quilt AND and Art Panel

 

"Quilt Encounters of the Thread Kind" 16" x 21", handmade by Pam Geisel, 2019

I'm a member of Village Artisans, an artist co-op in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Several years ago some community members created art panels that hung on the outside of our building at 100 Corry St. Unfortunately time and weather caused some of the panels to warp and split and we decided it was time to create some new panels.

I knew my 600th quilt was coming up and I decided that I wanted to make a panel (24" x 48") and also a quilt with the same image. I actually had a lot of ideas and was having difficulty narrowing it down but I also wanted to use paint that I already had on hand. Eventually I settled on a UFO and camping idea.

Luckily when I went to use the paint, most of it was still good (a little surprising considering the paint was 18 years old! Way to go Do It Best High Gloss Enamel!). I had originally planned on the body of the UFO being red but the red paint can was rusted shut but fortunately for me I also had a can of purple and hadn't planned on using it, but it was still good.

I wanted to use the shapes on my panel as solid colors (instead of blending them while painting) so it would translate better when I made the quilted image, which I also made a little wider, proportionally.

Once the panel was finished, I made the quilt. I used hand dyed fabric which I fused then sewed down the edges when quilting and I added some quilting around the moon and coming out of the UFO.

I used my favorite knife-edge binding but I liked the look of the ground floating in the blue so I left part of the background showing at the bottom and on the sides.

There's an inside joke among quilters: UFOs are what we call our Un-Finished Objects (projects). 

The Art Panels

Here are some photos of all the panels. To see more photos of the other panels, visit the Village Artisan's blog.

The 14 panels on the building.

L-R: Rosie Huart, mine, Sue Brezine, and Cynthia McDonald

As always you can click on the photos to see them larger.

More about Quilt Encounters of the Thread Kind.

Double Sided Scrappy Table Runner for Quiltsy Scrappy Quilt Challenge

Quiltsy, my on-line Etsy quilting group, is having a scrappy quilt challenge. Here's a small double-sided table runner that I made using 5" batik fabric squares that were left over from a couple of different "charm" packs. A charm pack is a collection of 5" squares with each square being a different but coordinating fabric. I'd already used most of the charms and I wasn't sure what to do with the leftover pieces so voila!

Originally I was going to make a larger table runner with all of the fabrics on the same side and a solid backing fabric but I couldn't find an arrangement that I liked. Then I realized that the black and brown fabrics complemented each other, as did the blue and greens. I did have to add some fabric from my stash for the half square triangles in the "corners" as those have to be a little larger than 5".

I was able to find a navy/gray fabric to use for the binding (it looks navy on the blue/green side and like a dark gray on the black/brown side). I also used a navy thread for quilting because it looks like black on the black/brown side.