Share Your Quilt & Fiber Art : Quilt Art, Beaded Quilt, hand beading

Hear What I Say

Nancy Smeltzer — Sat, 28 May 2011 20:14:11 GMT

“Hear What I Say” (8.5”W x 11”T x .5”D) was created for the “Tag, You’re It!” Reader Challenge sponsored by “Quilting Arts” magazine. The idea was to incorporate words into the piece in the “spirit of individuality”. One of the suggestions was to “incorporate text as a “fun graphic element”, but it seems that my piece became a way of speaking my truth. My experience as a woman working in “women’s art” in the art quilt world when I first began in 1981, was that the medium was not often treated seriously by other art form practitioners. That situation has fortunately changed, with a wide variety of venues quite accepting of my work for their exhibitions. I would like for viewers to hear what I’m trying to say in a particular piece, and then hear what I mean as they get closer and closer to the surface details. While each viewer is always free to interpret what they’re seeing through their own filters, I would like to think that I would be perceived as trying to say something with my work.

You can see more of my art quilts at my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

Flowers in the Sky

Nancy Smeltzer — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:11:55 GMT

“Flowers in the Sky”, 9”W x 8.25”T x .25”D, was created and accepted into the sixth international biennial exhibit, of the World Textile Art Organization. The subject for all of the five exhibits was “Aire”, and were held, along with countless lectures and events all over Mexico in May, 2011. This piece was displayed in the Salon for Small Textiles. For more info, see http://www.wta-online.org/

I adore flowers and gardens and wanted to simulate how they might look if they were made of air. Since the work was restricted to a small size, every element used had to count. My usual way of working is to just piling on buttons and beads until it looks right, but for this work, I needed to keep the transparent quality of the overall look. I used 2 pieces of clear plastic and sandwiched some motifs in between, along with some air, of course. Clear plastic thread was used to stitch the two layers together. Clear and white buttons, sequins, and beads were used to simulate the flowers. What’s interesting is that when the thread is taken out of the needle on the sewing machine, patterns are made by the holes made by the needle piercing the plastic layers. The whole piece shimmers when held up to the light, which was exactly the effect I wanted. I hoped that the piece was displayed against a window, as that’s when it’s appears its most ethereal.

You can see more of my art quilts at my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

Angels of Darkness, Angels of Light

Nancy Smeltzer — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:24:06 GMT

"Angels of Darkness, Angels of Light" - Ó 2005, (30”W x 28.5”T), is based on a vision that I had where I was visited by angels of two kinds, those of dark and those of light. For me, the experience was very profound, as it impressed upon me that there are lessons to be learned from both sides. Having spent a large part of my life hiding from the dark side of me and feeling that I was unlovable, I now embrace the "ugly traits" as just another facet of me.

The actual fabric chosen for this piece helped to determine the image. I found a fabric line of two colorways, one with dark angels, and one with light ones. While much of those fabrics got covered up, you can still see some of those small angels. I decided to make the actual angels much bigger, and they ended up looking like butterflies. Those insects, for me, are some of the happiest creatures in the world, and I love the way that they look in the piece.

As with most of my art quilts, there are countless hundreds of pieces of fabric, lace, and beads on this work. All of the fabric is pinned in place, before any sewing begins. I then observe the work for several weeks to insure that I still like the placement of the fabric pieces, as I hate to rip out. (Cover it up, when at all possible, is my guiding premise.) Sometimes, several bits of fabric fall off and end up on the studio floor as the sewing commences. Rarely do I ever know where the original location was, so the image is constantly evolving. Buttons and beads help to add to the sparkle. I think that I was a crow in another lifetime, as I do love shiny things.

You can see more of my art quilts at my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

"Circles of Black,Circles of White V"

Nancy Smeltzer — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:59:12 GMT

“Circles of Black, Circles of White V”, (24.25”W x 27.25”T), while 5^th in this series to be cut out, is actually the 2^nd to be completed. I love the bright colors and buttons. All of the pieces in this seven parts series have the same black and white striped circle fabric, which was a challenge to keep using in fresh ways. In the past, I haven’t done a series of more than three pieces. Since the work is so slow, (1 square inch of beading = 1 hour’s work), I would usually be sick of the colors upon completion. However, the first four pieces were all cut out at the same time while visiting friends out in WA, so the drive to have longer series was there. I am, however, getting really tired of black and white seed beads.

In the detail shot, you can see some of the intensive use of glass buttons and beads. There is a retro button in the lower left side (lime green outside, orange center) that looks like gummy candy. In the upper right, are some elongated orange glass tubes, with yellow edges, that look like Halloween candy corn. While working on this piece, a lot of people said that it reminded them of a Mexican holiday, or Mardi Gras, While I didn’t necessarily have any of that in mind, as I was just playing with the fabrics and embellishments, I do think that this piece is the most celebratory in the series.

You can see more of my art quilts at my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

Circles of Black& White 1

Nancy Smeltzer — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 19:58:39 GMT

24.75”W x 28”T x 1”D

Hand Appliqué, beading, and quilting

Glass, plastic, and metal buttons and beads

I don’t often do series, as pieces this size take about six months to complete and I get tired of the colors and fabrics. “Circles of Black, Circles of White I” is the first of a series of quilts that all have the same black and white striped circles in them. While visiting out in Yakima, WA in 2008, I decided to cut out 4 quilt tops all at once. I had none of my fabric stash with me, so all of the fabric that I needed to “paint” with was purchased out there. (The resulting purchases filled two large boxes that were shipped back home to my studio). Since that time, 3 other pieces have been cut out, so the series includes a total of seven pieces.

This first piece is in response to all of the softly colored, flowery work that I had been doing right before then. (I was also working on “Japanese Irises” while out in WA.) I wanted something more vibrant that would take advantage of the bolder, retro fabrics that were coming out in the stores at the time. I still have some of my beloved flower motifs in this piece, but this work’s image is quite a departure from the pieces that immediately preceded it. Of course, it is heavily beaded, as there is a well-stocked bead store in the Yakima Nation Reservation, so I always stock up on seed beads when I’m visiting out there.

Art quilts are not as fragile as people might think. Yes, light will fade the piece over time, but that change in the intensity will only give it a patina or mellow look, which is highly prized by many collectors. To clean it, put a piece of window screening over the entire piece, and then you can vacuum off any dust. Should you have to wash it, then please hand wash the piece in lukewarm water with a very mild soap, and then block it on thick towels while damp in order to insure a straight, flat look when it dries. DO NOT EVER DRY CLEAN IT! On the back, art historians might one day be interested in my "field of stains". The occasional small coffee spills, tiny blood spots from pin pricks, and twisted threads indicate that this quilt was made by a real person. Finally, please give it a special home, as you are being entrusted with one of the beloved outpourings of my hands and heart.

You can see more of my art quilts at my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

Feathers & Stars...

Nancy Smeltzer — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:09:28 GMT

"Feathers and Stars, Stars and Feathers" - 22.75”W x 29.5”T x 1”D

Many times, the ideas for my quilts come from compiling a number of similar motifs and materials over time. I had had the black and gold iron-on feather appliqués for awhile, and then found the lacy, gold feather pin in a thrift store. Then I found the quail and pheasant feather motifs in a store in NC. I have always been fascinated with stars and will buy up metal star buttons when there’s a sale on them. Hence, this piece came about because the materials wanted to be used together in a piece.

By 2006, I was heavily into covering the fabric surfaces with beading. The colors and designs in the fabric serve as an image on which to couch the beads. I could just draw the shapes and colors onto a plain piece of fabric, but I like working directly with the printed designs. Besides, not every square inch of fabric is covered with beads and some of the original textile choices do show through.

You can see more of my art quilts at my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

Fabric of the Universe

Nancy Smeltzer — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:22:40 GMT

"Fabric of the Univers e"(31” W x 26.5” T) is dedicated to the energy that loving people put out into the Universe. As their energy weaves and blends with others, an etheric fabric is created out past our planet. I hope that the smile that you generate when you read this description will add to the tapestry of Love that we all are creating.

The black on black beading is incredibly intricate, yet doesn’t photograph well. Even though I knew that that would be the case, I still liked the idea that a complicated pattern of beauty was being created. I find that to often be the case, that some of the most amazing things in life are only seen on close examination. Another facet of this piece that I particularly like are the shi-sha mirrors from India. They collect little pools of light and send them out into the room, much like the stars in the sky.

Most of my pieces are done without any sketches. I put the background fabric up on the wall in my studio, and then start putting up the other pieces of fabric, lace, netting, or whatever is called for in the piece. When all of the big shapes and colors are in place, I then sew them down. Next, the quilt sandwich is made, and then my favorite part begins. I have a huge collection of buttons and beads laid out in boxes and jars by colors. These objects are my “paint”, and I work with huge piles sitting around me from which to choose. Working from the largest shapes to the smallest, I finally end with the seed beads.

DETAIL PHOTO below in the "Comments" section.

You can see more of my art quilts at my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com