Where are They Now - Nikki

Where have I been -- definitely not doing the art thing.  Being a twelve was so inspiring creatively and the timeline forced me to be focused.  Art was a priority in my life and my family's lives because of these wonderful women.  Since our last challenge the demands of family have drove me (literally about 500 miles a week) in different directions. My four kids are busy playing sports.  I'm working full time with my husband at his engineering firm.  Since his partner decided to retire at the beginning of the year, we are now full owners and have the joys and challenges of owning our own business.  Most days I go to bed very tired.  We do have plenty of fun and excitement though.

Two years ago we bought a small, fixer up on the water.  We have been working on renovations and using it more like a vacation home even though it is just on the other side of town from our old house.  We wanted to move in permanently, but 1200 square feet with four tween and teenagers is a little challenging.  

While mowing the lawn last spring I had the brilliant idea to buy the little 1922 bungalow next door that has been for sale for several years.  We took possession last month.  After a crazy month of ripping out 60's wallpaper and old carpet, painting and repairs, we are now living in two houses. Its a little unconventional.  Everyone sleeps in our first house, but we use the other house for the living spaces and the two extra bathrooms.  And I once again have a studio.  I claimed the upstairs bedroom that looks over the water for my own.  I am still very much moving in, but one day soon I will be creating again.  Plus it is like Christmas rediscovering all my supplies.

I have my desk set up to look out the window.  The moorings are especially beautiful with the sun rising over the water.

My bookshelf is packed to the brim.  I do need to get a countertop for cabinets.  I still don't know where to put everything, but I'm sure it will find a home.

We have some strong friends who were willing to help us get the letter press and metal backers cabinets up the very narrow stairway.  The did say that they wouldn't be available I we decide to move again.  I was impressed because I didn't think they would fit.  I'm very glad they did though.

One day soon I will have to unpack my Twelve by Twelve quilts from those envelopes and proudly display them on the walls.  

I do have our book out on my shelf though.  I need to buy another copy though so all my children can have their own.

And living here is what makes all the crazy hard work worth it!

2012 Series by Nikki

The Twelve by Twelve website has been updated* and now includes images of all of the works in our 2012 Series including the latest Sweet Challenge. The Artist Gallery pages have been updated too.  It's fun to see the art quilts of each Twelve all lined up together.

Here is an overview of Nikki's 2012 series: 
Nikki has been busier than ever this festive season and has Stocking Stuffer Art, Treasure Tea Boxes, Mixed Media Art Quilt Kits and other goodies for sale.  Check out Nikki's Etsy Shop.

* Please e-mail Brenda  if you spot any glitches or broken links on the website.

Sweet Memories

For this final Twelve by Twelve quilt I wanted to play homage to the last 5 years and 336 quilts.  "Sweet" was the perfect opportunity to reference the dark brown quilted, painted fabric of Chocolate and the lollipops from my Lollipop Forest quilt.  12 Lollipops are for the "12" theme (and of course the 12 of us) and the colors are from each of the colorplay palettes.  Laying out the quilt, I was a bit worried about how the colors would play together. Now that I'm finished, the quilt is growing on me.   It may not be my favorite artistically, but it warms my heart to think of everything this quilt represents.  This certainly is a bittersweet challenge!

Unbranded

For the longest time the only thing I could think of for Maverick was Tom Cruise in Top Gun.  It must have been because he was my only big celebrity crush growing up.  I was just the right age when the movie came out.  I had poster hanging above my bed all through my early teen years.  But there was no way I was going to attempt a portrait!  I started to get a bit desperate as the weeks (ok months), so I headed to the dictionary. Maverick: an unbranded calf, a lone dissenter, a rebel.  I took those ideas and went abstract.  

My quilt definitely doesn't scream Maverick.  It whispers with its soft colors.  I have my field of branded cattle and the big unbranded steer.  The lone dissenter in the sea of conformity.  Ok, that may be forcing meaning on the quilt.  Those were the thoughts I had beginning the process, but in the end it doesn't feel like a rebellious quilt.

When I really think about it my quilting style is actually quite Maverick.  I don't follow any of the traditional rules or practices.  I approach the whole process backwards, starting with the the quilting, then adding color and finishing with the piecing.  I skipped the binding.  The whole thing isn't even square and I have loose threads hanging on the edges.  I'm sure I drive the quilt police crazy, or they don't even consider my work a quilt. Even with all that, I don't feel like a Maverick.  How could I feel like a loner with all the support of this group?  

Twelve by Twelve @ NW Quilting Expo 20-22 September

Are you going to be in the Portland area later in the month? In just two weeks, the Northwest Quilting Expo opens in Portland, Oregon and runs from 20-22 September 2012.

Don't miss the last opportunity to view both the Theme Series and the Colorplay Series of the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge all together, in the cloth. Bring your partner, bring your parents, bring your children. With 288 art quilts on display, there's something for everyone! You might get to meet Gerrie or Terry (and maybe Nikki) too.

Nike's Wing

I have always been attracted to Nike--the greek goddess, not the shoes.  My name is derived from her's and who wouldn't like the idea of victory.  I have always held that promise of victory in my heart and known through all the struggles that victory is at the end.

This quilt came together surprisingly quickly.  I'm especially grateful of that fact given all the end of school and early summer activities happening these last few months.  I found an image of Nike with her wings folded back and down on an ancient vase.  From there I made a sketch and zoomed in on the wing.  I cut the various pieces out of fabric paper I already had made and sewed them down to a quilted, painted background that I've had in my stash for years.  I then added a wash of gold paint around the wing because a goddess has to glow.  I'm now ready to fly with her wings and claim victory.

Studio hopping

Whenever I look at Deborah's Twelve theme piece Seven Houses, Five Trees I think how fun it would be if I could just skip over the hill and visit one of the Twelves.  Fortunately the internet allows for some virtual studio hopping. After I conducted a chakra-enhancing purge of project piles and paperwork, my studio is once again fit for visitors.  I invite you to take the Serendipity Studio Tour:
I have a view of the ocean while the vista from Helen's studio is more bucolic. The building project, painting and decorating are over and Helen is happily esconced in her new creative space.  Check out Helen's Studio Tour:
Meanwhile, thanks to the magic of video, you can some of the Twelves over to your place anytime. As outlined in Deborah's blog post, this week there is some special pricing on the STITCHED - a collection of 20 online video workshops including Deborah's Branches, Buds and Blossom: A Botanical Collage and Nikki's Mini Treasure Box of Dreams:

Also, Deborah's new Quilting Arts video workshop, Contemporary Fabric Collage: Design, Stitch and Finish, is now available for download! It's just like taking a workshop with Deborah. As she prepared for the shoot, Deborah made long lists about all the tips, suggestions, ideas and directions she wanted to include. Plus, there are lots of visual aids and examples throughout the DVD. The video workshop includes chapters on fabric selection, composition, using sheer fabrics, stitching by machine and by hand, and unique finishing options.

The Game of My Life

Thinking about maps made me want a road map for life.  Maps are so helpful.  You can find the destination you would like and then simply follow the path to get there.  Unfortunately, life isn't that easy and more often than not I don't know which road to take.  Sketching life road maps led to thinking about the one place "Life" is mapped out, The Game of Life.  I tried to find our game, but after years of playing and the kids not always putting it completely away most of the pieces disappeared and it was purged on one of those clean out the house days.  So instead, I decided to create a game board loosely based on my own life.


To create my quilt, I started with the basic path and then added all the fun details.  I didn't quite have space to add as many side paths as I would have like, but I did include as many twists and turns as I could fit.  When I first started sketching I had the paper once again turned horizontal.  Luckily I caught that right away and quickly turned it vertical.  I pieced together the path from bits of quilted fabric in my stash.  For the background, I followed Gerrie's advice and used chartreuse as a nice bright neutral.  Adding the details of life was the fun part. Once again I was hampered by space, but I managed to include most of the important ones.  I have my husband and four kids, the dog and cats, life on the sailboat, various houses, and even a camping trip.  I added a hurdle and hoops to jump through for some of life's challenges.  Missing are all those little choice that in the end make a huge difference in the final destination.  I also didn't go far in the future.  I added a cupcake and running shoes for my goal of running the Hawaii marathon for my 40th birthday in less than two years.  After that I just have an arrow leading to the next chapter in life.

Mapping Twelve by Twelve

Deborah has selected such a rich and inspiring theme.  Maps, of course, are everywhere! Looking back through the Theme Series and the Colorplay series, there were several "mappish" works. Deborah has already mentioned Everlasting from the Shelter theme. When I was touring with the Theme Series in New Zealand in 2010, I stayed at Kirsty's parents home for a few days. They were travelling overseas and it was my first visit. Yet, somehow, thanks to Kirsty's schematic - it all seemed very familiar.  Here are some other pieces with a map element:

Everlasting by Kirsty

12N 12W by Helen

Terra Incognita by Nikki

Flight Path by Diane

As illustrated in the BBC series The Beauty of Maps (click for map highlights and video tour), cartography is full of art, intrigue and discovery.  I can't wait to see what 1 May reveals!

Emergence

Okay, time for the big confession -- somehow I had it in my mind the quilt was suppose to be a landscape orientation instead of portrait and just realized this morning that I was wrong.  I'm not sure where I got that idea.  It must have been the fact that I was so busy last November when we were setting this challenge that I didn't read the details carefully.  I have had it wrong in my head for the last three months.  I guess I just couldn't be trusted to switch from a square to rectangle.  So here is my quilt, turned on its side.  This quilt really wanted to be vertical, but I forced it to be horizontal.  So, just imagine the quilt with the color coming from the top downward. 

I struggled a bit with the whole idea of Metamorphosis.  I was trying to capture all of it in my head and I couldn't come up with a concept. I thought about a quilt showing the stages of a frog from tadpole to adult.  I thought about the work of M.C. Escher and perhaps showing one shape changing into another.  I then realized I was trying to show to much.  I didn't need a wide angle, but could focus upon one little detail.  I decided to focus just upon the moment of emergence--the moment the butterfly comes out of the cocoon.

This quilt is the result of a bit of trial and error and I now see there will be least another trial.  I'm sure working in a sketchbook would have been beneficial, but I skipped that step and went straight to fabric.  My first thought was color emerging from darkness in the center.  Instead it just looked like some strange hump projecting from the side of the quilt.  After taking a break from it, I realized it needed to be the cocoon breaking open and the color coming out.  I set the first quilt aside and started on this one.  I quilted the background with gold spirals and painted it with a rainbow of colors.  I then added the black and gray fabric around the edges.  At first I had the color emerging upwards, but it just didn't look right.  I double checked some photos on google and realized that cocoons hang upside down and the butterfly emerges from the bottom.  I simply flipped the quilt around and kept going.  I hand stitched the gray fabric with embroidery floss and wrapped the edges around the back.  Hand sewing through the densely quilted, painted fabric was a bit of a challenge--my fingers still look a little rough from the process.  I added the circle beads and finished the colored edge with seed beads.

I now see this quilt becoming a series as I finish the first I started and remake this quit the way it should have been!

STITCHED Workshops!

I am thrilled to tell you that two of the 12x12 artists (Deborah and Nikki) are instructors in the new STITCHED collection of online video workshops!

Deborah's workshop is titled "Branches, Buds and Blossoms: A Botanical Fabric Collage."

Join Deborah in exploring botanical shapes, textures and patterns! She'll share her process for creating a collage incorporating fabric, machine and hand stitching, and a variety of unexpected materials and techniques. You’ll choose your own fabrics, compose an original design and experiment with layers of detail. I’ll teach ways to add personal design to your fabrics with painted patterns. We’ll use simple construction techniques, then enhance your collage with a variety of unusual materials and interesting embellishments. Plus, I’ll share tons of fun embroidery stitches to add more detail. Check out more images and details on Deborah's blog.

Nikki's workshop is titled "Mini Treasure Box of Dreams."

In Nikki's workshop we will make these Mini Treasure Boxes of Dreams.  We will explore my quirky method of backwards quilting, make fabric paper, secretly share our dreams and wishes on some fabric beads, and share the big secret of sewing these boxes 100% on the machine.   Plus I couldn't resist throwing in some extras, like Treasure Tea Boxes and Nesting Boxes. Read more about it on Nikki's blog.

I think Nikki and I would both say that being a part of 12x12 made a huge positive impact on our artistic lives! We're both thrilled to find ourselves exploring this new endeavor of online video teaching. We hope you'll join us!

My Beautiful Blue Plate

I absolutely love my plate! I still can't believe what an amazing gift Karen and Ted have given each of us.  I was so surprised when I came home one morning from dropping the kids off at school and found a package on my porch.  Amazon? I tried to think of what I might have ordered? I read the label to make sure it was my package.  Karen didn't have her name on the label.  I think it must have been a packing/mailing company.  I was very confused up until the moment I opened the card from Karen. 

Ted based the plate on my blue, white and black quilt, Reboot.  I like the plate much better than the quilt. I love the depth and layers of the glass--truly stunning. 

I was very happy that I had just finished cleaning my art room when the package arrived because I have somewhere to display it away from the jumping dog and flying nerd bullets.  I've even managed to keep the table top clean in its honor (or at least that half).  I love how the card matches the plate! 

Thank you so much Ted and Karen for such a beautiful and personal gift!

Short Summer

Now, this is the flower garden I wanted but didn't have this year!  Summer didn't arrive in the Northwest until about  three weeks ago and the garden never quite did anything.  I don't even have much research for dandelion this year.  I can't blame it all on the weather though since I didn't get out there to help it along. 

Once again, I was behind on time and inspiration (I think I need to go back and read the sidebar in our book about creating time and space for art! and that was in my chapter) and didn't really get started until last week.  Luckily, Terry and Gerrie invited me to meet them at the Pacific West Quilt Show where I was reminded about how much I love playing with color and embellishment.  Seeing Gerrie's quilts in person especially helped.

I decided to do an embellished flower garden.  We had warm, sunny days last weekend so I was able to get outside on the deck to create some bright orange fabric paper.  I had to add a few hints of pink ever since  Terri introduced me to the color combination of pink and orange.  I did take pictures for a blog post but before I could get it done hubby had us off for a late afternoon sail and the rest of my time was dedicated to getting her done.  I thought about going all orange for the quilt and using soft orange for the background, but I was worried it would all blend together.  I didn't have time to start over if it didn't work, so I went with the same color scheme as my chartreuse quilt: orange, purple and green. After sewing down the fabric paper flowers, I started adding embellishments.  That was when I discovered that I have used up most of my orange beads--either that or I didn't have many to begin with.  I looked for orange yarn, wire, miscellaneous fibers--nothing but a couple vintage buttons.  So here is about my entire stash of orange embellishments.  I had to turn to copper a bit, so I hope that isn't too brown.  I really like how the quilt turned out.  I really need to create a whole series of embellished gardens.  Maybe now that all the kids are going back to school full time.

June in the Northwest

June is suppose to be a time for playing outside and running in the sun.  That hasn't been the case this year.  Most mornings we wake to cold gray skies.  The temperatures top out in the sixties.  Everyone is wondering if we will ever see the sun again.  My kids have given up waiting for the heat and now play outside with the hose at the first sun break, never mind what the thermometer says.

Pinwheels always make me think of carefree summer days.  Gray pinwheels are the perfect portrait of spring and early summer this year.  I did add a touch of silver for those few time the sun has poked out and the silver lining of at least nobody is complaining about being hot this year.

Spicy Night Out

Okay, maybe this dress is a little sweet to be a spicy night out, but this girl doesn't get out that much. Lately, a night on the town has consisted of chaperoning the elementary school dance, watching the girls take countless trips to the bathroom as a pack and my little guy dance like Justin Beiber with his kindergarten teacher.

This challenge had me stumped. I spent a lot of time thinking about the colors -- thinking in the car, thinking at dance class, thinking while walking the dog -- but I just can't seem to design in my head. I have to use my hands to experiment and play. The kids and dog didn't leave me a lot of time to play. Crazy me thought I would have more time for myself as they got older. I'm learning the hard way that's not the case. I did sneak an afternoon on the computer researching imagery, but didn't come up with much. Next stop on the search was the sewing machine. I went to work free motion quilting and came up with the rough paisley pattern. I thought maybe I would bead and embellish it, but didn't have a real plan in mind. Over the course of 5 days I managed to find the hour needed to quilt the background. Another day's work consisted of pulling out all my spicy paints and setting up my painting station. I snuck in some time for painting in between dropping off the kids at school, walking the dog and heading back to school to pick up my youngest from half day kindergarten. I did have to sacrifice a shower that morning to fit it all in. And then the painted quilt sat there, and sat there, all weekend. I tried laying out some beads, but it lacked a focal point. In desperation yesterday, I went back to the dresses I was playing with for Mother's Day cards a month ago (and relied on Wii Lego Star Wars to babysit). The yellow fabric paper matched the colors of asafoetida and cumin so perfectly I had to use it. I added a little embellishment and there we go. The dress faded into the background a touch, so I added some cumin colored pearlescent power around the edges to create more contrast. I think I need to feather it out a little more now that I see it on the computer screen. Maybe I will sneak that in, maybe I wont.

In the end, I'm really happy with how this one turned out and amazed that I managed to pull it off at the last minute.

Spicy Dress



 I am way behind on this challenge.  Maybe it was my husbands first reaction when he saw the colors -- let me just say that it put a damper on the spiciness and brought me back to the early days of parenting.  I'm definitely not going in that direction.  Instead of doing any serious work, I have been playing with mini quilts and making cards.   I couldn't resist adding "spice" to this little dress.

Crescendoh: Week 2

Nikki, Terry and Diane are spotlighted on the 12x12 feature on Crescendoh this week! Be sure to check out their inspiring essays and beautiful images of art quilts!

Twelve by Twelve Art & Soul Radio Podcast

Four of the Twelves, Deborah, Diane, Nikki and Kristin are interviewed by Lesley Riley on Art and Soul Radio about our project and the book.

Download the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge podcast (18.3MB).

Play, On a Mossy Day

I really wish we had more time for this challenge.  Reveal day snuck up on me and I really wanted more time to play.  Our gray, wet days had me uninspired and depressed.  Once again, making myself get to work on my Twelve by Twelve quilt help tremendously and the hope that spring will return is renewing.

I really didn't have a plan when starting this quilt.  I began with quilting the background and painting.  I tried Terry's method of mixing yellow and black to form chartreuse, but I didn't like the results.  I prefer a clearer color and mine just turned muddy.  No problem, I just added more paint, yellow-green, yellow, gold, citron.   I pulled out all my chartreuse embellishments, hoping for inspiration.  I had fun coloring anything metal with alcohol inks, but still didn't find direction.  I knew I would need to add other colors -- straight chartreuse may be bright, but not very interesting.  After much experimenting, I fell in love with the purple, orange, chartreuse combination.  My plan of attack was to cover the quilt in orange and purple circles, perhaps add in some of those embellishments.  The trouble was that after sewing  down all those circles it lacked a focal point.  I found the Textiva film in a box of long forgotten materials.  It's perfect for the color scheme--all three colors depending on how the light hits it.  I didn't have the right color of fabric paper made for the chartreuse circle so I used hand dyed wool felt.  And of course, I had to include one of those dyed washers.  My final question was how to finish the edges.  I like the look of a pillow case finish that so many of the other Twelves use.  Didn't work so well with this one.  The fabric paper circles along the edges perforated and it was just a mess when I tried to turn it right side out.  I cut off the backing fabric and pulled out some ball chain.  Into the alcohol ink it went .  I carefully machine stitched around each little ball to create the beaded edge. 

In the end, I love how this little quilt turned out.  I went to my husband for help naming it.  His thoughts were about fish eggs and fertilization.  It wasn't working for me.  Instead I just went with "Play" because that was what this quilt was all about.

Laundry Day

I couldn't resist posting my latest chartreuse discovery.  I don't think I will follow this line of inspiration, but it added a smile to my face as I'm trying to catch up on the lack of underwear in the family's drawers.