Fresh - why can't I get beyond ........

"bluetooth" paste by mauren veras
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FRESH SHOOTS !!

I took this picture yesterday with a dual purpose (for both blogs).  I finally got round to replanting this miniature rose bush which has very happily sent out lots of new 'fresh' shoots. Happiness is!

New Work for May Show

This is one of the pieces just finished based on our Text'Art theme for an upcoming May show. It is painted and stamped, stitched and reassembled onto a black canvas 15"x 30"










-Michele Meredith

Hello All

Hello to all the 12 by the dozen members.Thank- you for the invitation to join your talented art group. My name is Michele Meredith and I live in Hudson Quebec, near Montreal. I have been a member of the Text'Art group that meet for a playdate once a month to explore surface design tequniques and discuss all things creative. My background is in landscape design and I have been involved in making mixed media art with a paint / fabric/ stitch process for a few years now. I really look forward to exploring themes together with all of you and learning from the experience. I hear your themes are re"Fresh"ing.

Welcome to a new member

A warm welcome to new member Michele Meredith whose beautiful atmospheric Structures quilt was a guest piece last month.  Michele lives in Montreal and I'm sure she will introduce herself when her feet have touched ground.

Hilary

New Project

I have taken on two "commissions" for my husband's new medical clinic. The projected opening date is May 1.

First, I plan to collage about 16 canvases of various sizes, using photos taken in mid-October of the construction site. I will manipulate the photos with Photoshop Elements, and add touches of texture, metal, oil pastel, whatever, to enhance the images. This arrangement of canvases will hang in the stairwell of the building. I'm going to go with a clean, modern look. After all, the "rusted and deconstructed" look might not send the right message about a brand new building.

The other project is meant to hang in the waiting room, and it is already started. It is a modern take on the traditional Log Cabin. At this point, it is mostly single blocks on my design wall.
The red squares are meant to be the focal point, and most of the other fabrics are very greyed-down, with a transition from darker in the upper right to lighter in the lower left. In that way, it is a bit like the traditional log cabin, with one side dark and the other light. The outside edge is meant to be irregular. I will probably finish it with a facing.

I plan to have a look at the current arrangement in a black-and-white format, to gauge the contrast. Also, I am considering whether to add very small touches or red, or at least rose, in the lower left, for more unity.

Your input would be welcome. Also, I'm looking for advice about the physical hanging of it. Right now it's about 5' high and 6' wide, and I intend to add more blocks, especially on the left side and the lower edge. Design wall is only 6' wide! (Isn't it interesting how the size of my work is growing now that I am in my bigger space?)

Fresh Snow!

This was the new snow last week.  We have since received 70cm at the cottage, which I haven't seen yet, and we are due to receive another 20  or so tomorrow.  When it is quite cold, the sun always shines and the sparkle and the blue shadows on the snow are some of my favourite sights.  Trouble with fresh snow this late into the winter is that we are all getting just a little tired of it!  If you click on the picture you can see the sparkle!                                         

With regret, I have decided to remove myself from the "12 By the Dozen" group. It has been a wonderful experience being part of such a talented group. I enjoyed seeing all the challenge entries- so different and beautiful. I will continue to follow the blog with great interest and I wish all of you the very best. Marion Perrault

re "FRESH" time

For those who may have missed my early disclosure of the next theme it is ....................

'FRESH'

        ............................................ have fun !

Comments on my comments

I want to thank everyone who commented so kindly on my entry . I had such a hard time with this piece when I expected it to be quite easy and pleasant. I learned a lot on the way. Old acrylic paint is not a good medium if you are not sure what you are painting- oil and water color paints much more forgiving. Better not to try to cut thick fusible foam circles with a scissors . etc etc. Piece looks better in photo than real life .

I thought this entire group of entries was amazing. So varied and original. So many techniques. Congratulations to everyone.

Common Threads

I have just picked up Diane's contribution to the Twelve by Twelve group's latest challenge:

http://twelveby12.blogspot.com/2011/03/flight-path.html

So Heather, not only are SAQA thinking Structures but, some of us are thinking maps - and also that method of printing on water soluble for transfering images.

Girls, we are in great company!

Hilary

It's all happening!

As if we haven't had enough excitement the original Twelve by Twelve group have their deadline today and theirs are coming in - stunning pieces - wow!

http://twelveby12.blogspot.com 

You might remember that theirs are all based on colours this year - the present combination is sage, brown and blue.  It's a fascinating concept and has produced some beautful pieces so far.

They have produced a book of their work which is available online today.



Hilary