Baskets - Contemporary Vessels

 Baskets to hold all sorts of things and everyday use.  I love them in all shapes and sizes.  Most baskets for everyday use are the common rattan or willow type commercially made for use.  Quilters make rope bowls which are popular at craft booths.  But, what about the textile artist who creates art using basketry techniques out of all sorts of fibers, found items, discarded fibers and embellishments like beads, cork, bottle caps, twigs, and twisted paper.  They are using basketry construction, but it now becomes a contemporary vessel.  

I find this art form intriguing and makes me want to learn more about it.  About 14 years ago, I made a textile bowl using metallic threads and a stiff pelon to form the bowl.  It was a learning experience and after making that one piece, I never made another.  Not because I didn't like it, I actually love it.  So, maybe it's time for me to revisit some of the things I've made and learned on my journey but exploring the textiles or found objects to construct them.  

First steps to my creation will be to sketch some vessel shapes using pencils adding some texture and color just to see what direction I may want to go.  Acquiring found items and textiles to add by stitch, glues, wires, etc... I want to experiment with paint, stamping, or dying as well as knotting, stripping, and burning.  There are limitless possibilities and making samples are a valuable process.  However, I like creating as I go being serendipitous with fast decision making.  

Now to make time to put these creative thoughts into actions.  This is the most important thing to do even if it's only 30 minutes at a time.  

Challenges in Quilting

There's so many challenges in quilting from perfecting techniques, exploring color combinations, learning from mistakes, using materials on hand, percision piecing, adding perspective to designs, and on and on...but, the best take away from challenging myself is learning new things all the time.  The tools available in today's world are almost endless.  Certainly, you will find a cool tool to do just about anything you can think of.  My favorite tool at the moment is a simple needle minder.  They are magnetic, so all you have to do is attach it to your project and set your needle on it.  Sometimes I attach it like a brooch.  No more poking it into a pincushion or putting an unnecessary hole in my project to hold the needle while I take a coffee break.  I also just installed a high density felted tile design wall.  It is proving to be invaluable.  

Along with these challenges, I love to take on quilt challenges from places like the Virginia Quilt Museum, who announce a theme every year.  The size requirement is always 15" square, so it's enough and not too daunting.  To submit the challenge, you pay $10 and send it to them to display in their museum.   They give you the choice to donate it to them to sell which helps fund their museum or have it sent back to you. Check out their events, shop, and display dates here 

The theme for this year's mini quilt challenge for the Virginia Quilt Museum is "BLUE".  How would you represent the color blue in a mini quilt?  There are unlimited possibilities to design, so I may go in the Improv direction.  My ice dyed fabric bin is full of blues so this would be a good time to use some.  It is due in July, so there's plenty of time to get started on it.  

The Cherrywood challenges for art quilters are a popular choice.  Cherrywood fabrics can be found online and at some quilt shows.  They will be choosing a new theme on June 10th.  The challenge just completed was Storytime theme.  

"Sarah's Garbage" 

Poem read by Shel

This is my interpretation of Shel Silverstein's poem Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout would not take the garbage out!  My son read this on an audio recording when he was 9 years old and sped it up to sound goofy.  I kept it all these years, 31 to be exact.  He took the audio recording and had AI make a storyboard video to go with it.  Well, it was amazing, so I just had to use this as my challenge topic. 

Yesterday I found out that my quilt is one of many many finalists.  It will be on display in the coming months at various shows across the nation in the Cherrywood booth.  The web site lists the shows they will have a booth in and which challenge themes will be on display.  Son's rendition of the story is on this link.   If you participate in this one, you use their fabric selection for the chosen theme and create a quilt that measures 20" square.  If you want to enter it into competition, it's submitted on their web site along with a $30 entry fee with 3 detailed digital images.  It's certainly a rewarding experience just to enter.  Last year I did not qualify to enter due to my embellishments were too jagged and the size was not spot on.  But, here is a picture of it.  

"Leviathan V"